Musical Theatre Haters

[OussyChang]

Posted: 10/18/15 at 4:01pm

Updated On: 12/7/21 at 04:01 PM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 10/18/15 at 4:02pm

Yes.

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 10/18/15 at 4:18pm

The original director of the film Amelie said Broadway was the essence of tackiness or something. Not sure if he feels that way about musicals in general though.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 10/18/15 at 4:22pm

Howard stern once said that Broadway is small and doesn't make a big impact such as Hollywood.

Updated On: 10/18/15 at 04:22 PM

[dramamama611]

Posted: 10/18/15 at 4:23pm

Any celebrities I know are in musical theater.

Oh, except my cousin Danny DeVito, and we've never discussed musical theater.

Updated On: 10/18/15 at 04:23 PM

[Pootie2]

Posted: 10/18/15 at 4:32pm

Call_me_jorge said: "Howard stern once said that Broadway is small and doesn't make a big impact such as Hollywood.

 

" How is that bashing/hating? It doesn't have as much of a cultural impact as Hollywood when you consider the limited audiences that Broadway plays to.

 

 

[Wee Thomas2]

Posted: 10/18/15 at 4:50pm

I have no idea what this means:
 

"should musical theatre be belittle despite its tantamount artistic qualities to other styles of theatre"

 

Could you ask the question in a way that doesn't look like a poorly conceived (and spelled) thesis?

[dramamama611]

Posted: 10/18/15 at 4:56pm

And if you have to search for important bashers, perhaps your thesis statement needs revision.

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 10/18/15 at 5:04pm

The BroadwayWorld message board is maybe the last place anyone should ever consult when writing a piece of academia.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 10/18/15 at 5:09pm

[Elfuhbuh]

Posted: 10/18/15 at 5:37pm

I don't think the OP is using celebrities' dislike of musical theatre as a thesis itself, but rather as examples to use in the paper. In order to make a thesis work (this I'm assuming being that musical theatre is just as important an art form as others), you have to bring up counter examples to argue against and thus prove your point.

That being said, I don't think you just have to go off of what celebrities have said, OussyChang. There have been celebrities in the past who showed their complete disregard towards theatre as an art form simply through acting out while attending a show, such as Madonna texting all throughout Hamilton or Shia LaBeouf making a fool of himself during Cabaret; in many ways, actions speak louder than words. I think you could take those examples and somehow build off of them. Explain why live theatre deserves more respect than it is being given, perhaps citing examples of how such behavior is disruptive to the actors and people working on the show.

Good luck with your paper.

[Jabere]

Posted: 10/18/15 at 5:38pm

BroadwayConcierge said: "The BroadwayWorld message board is maybe the last place anyone should ever consult when writing a piece of academia.

 

"I agree and most papers need to have peer reviewed articles.

 

[Ranger Tom]

Posted: 10/18/15 at 6:11pm

Elfuhbuh - solid points.  OP - For comedy-sake, check out comedian Tom Papa's opinion of going to see Drowsy Chaperone  www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8ECO90d6As (it's at the end of the short video).  Not sure it will do much for your paper but it's pretty funny.    

[Dave19]

Posted: 10/18/15 at 6:12pm

I think "musical theatre" is an artform too comprehensive to be able to say;"I don't" like it. 

It contains so many different approaches, styles, music genres, directions, musical theatre can be anything really, from shows that feel like rock concerts, to opera and everything in between. 

I can appreciate all the different forms of musical theatre, liking one more than the other. I noticed there is a huge difference in the way shows incorporate music and acting into a show. Some shows only use the music as "performances" of the actual character, while other shows use the songs more as "dialogue". I think this last thing (dialogue in song) is poorly executed too often. There is a very fine balance needed in order to make it feel truthful. This material is by definition not realistic, so the approach should not be too literal. That is what went horribly wrong in the Les Mis film. The approach in this film is way too literal (and that only tends to work in scenes where they cry, not in other scenes). That's why many people might get the idea that they "hate musical theatre". As if the singing feels silly and out of place. They should have embraced the singing more, and understand that the truthful quality and raw-ness lies in other things with this material. 

I feel that the way they do it in Miss Saigon in London now is the exact right way. Real singing and real acting, and using the notes. I truly feel that with that approach, after seeing the show, almost no one will dislike musical theatre, as they will feel that it clicks in their mind. It just works.

 

 

Updated On: 10/18/15 at 06:12 PM

[Showface]

Posted: 10/18/15 at 6:27pm

I think "musical theatre" is an artform too comprehensive to be able to say;"I don't" like it.
It contains so many different approaches, styles, music genres, directions, musical theatre can be anything really, from shows that feel like rock concerts, to opera and everything in between.
I can appreciate all the different forms of musical theatre, liking one more than the other. I noticed there is a huge difference in the way shows incorporate music and acting into a show. Some shows only use the music as "performances" of the actual character, while other shows use the songs more as "dialogue". I think this last thing (dialogue in song) is poorly executed too often. There is a very fine balance needed in order to make it feel truthful. This material is by definition not realistic, so the approach should not be too literal. That is what went horribly wrong in the Les Mis film. The approach in this film is way too literal (and that only tends to work in scenes where they cry, not in other scenes). That's why many people might get the idea that they "hate musical theatre". As if the singing feels silly and out of place. They should have embraced the singing more, and understand that the truthful quality and raw-ness lies in other things with this material.
I feel that the way they do it in Miss Saigon in London now is the exact right way. Real singing and real acting, and using the notes. I truly feel that with that approach, after seeing the show, almost no one will dislike musical theatre, as they will feel that it clicks in their mind. It just works.

_____________

I disagree.


Updated On: 10/18/15 at 06:27 PM

[Dave19]

Posted: 10/18/15 at 6:50pm

So if someone hates Phantom they have to hate the Bodyguard too in your opinion? Interesting.

 

 

[Showface]

Posted: 10/18/15 at 6:54pm

Dave19 said: "So if someone hates Phantom they have to hate the Bodyguard too in your opinion? Interesting.

 

 

 

 

 

"

What are you talking about, Dave?

[Dave19]

Posted: 10/18/15 at 6:57pm

About the diversity of the term "musical theatre" which you say you disagree about.

 

Have you read it? Or was your reaction just some trolling.

[Showface]

Posted: 10/18/15 at 7:01pm

Dave19 said: "About the diversity of the term "musical theatre" which you say you disagree about.

 

 

 

Have you read it? Or was your reaction just some trolling.

 

"

I disagree with your sweeping generalizations about why people do not like musical theatre, Dave--not about the diversity of the term "musical theatre"

 

 

[Dave19]

Posted: 10/18/15 at 7:01pm

Then why didn't you say so.

Edit: Have you listened to the arguments people use to justify their hate for musical theatre? In my experience it it always because the singing feels out of place to them and they love to make fun of it. Creating professional shows/films that feel like a parody is not a good thing in my opinion (not helping the stigma), don't you agree?



Updated On: 10/18/15 at 07:01 PM

[Showface]

Posted: 10/18/15 at 7:06pm

Dave19 said: "Then why didn't you say so.

 

"

 

Specifically, I don't agree with your statement that music that incorporates dialogue is what turns people off from musical theatre. On the contrary, I find that if there is one specific reason for it (which there isn't), it's probably the entire concept of it in general. People complain about Disney movies being musicals all the time, and they don't take the "Les Mis approach" you constantly talk about.

Updated On: 10/18/15 at 07:06 PM

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 10/18/15 at 7:15pm

Glen Hansard thought musicals were all about jazz hands and tap dancing, then Once became a musical and his eyes were opened. A lot of people who bash musical theatre are just ignorant or narrow-minded.

[Dave19]

Posted: 10/18/15 at 7:15pm

"Showface said:

Specifically, I don't agree with your statement that music that incorporates dialogue is what turns people off from musical theatre. On the contrary, I find that if there is one specific reason for it (which there isn't), it's probably the entire concept of it in general. People complain about Disney movies being musicals all the time, and they don't take the "Les Mis approach" you constantly talk about."

 

It's not about the given of sung dialogue, it's about the way it is executed.

And the reason people hate it is not the entire concept in general, because there is no concept. Like I said, some musical theatre only uses songs as actual performances in a performance, which has nothing to do with sung dialogue, That would be like saying that someone just doesn't like music in general. Other pieces only have instrumental music as backup of the scenes, which is also musical theatre,

About the Disney complaint, you do have a point there, but I feel like their opinions are already formed by other bad material out there.

Edit: For example, no one complains about "circle of life" or "a whole new world" being sung. But in Matilda "I'm just a little bit..........bar rest.......naughty", can be quite irritating to many.

Updated On: 10/18/15 at 07:15 PM

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 10/18/15 at 7:17pm

Of course, musical theatre is just too "gay" for a lot of people.

[Elfuhbuh]

Posted: 10/18/15 at 9:05pm

Once again, Dave19 is bringing up his hatred for the Les Mis film where the topic didn't ask for it.

We get it, man, you didn't like the movie; move on.