OVERATED SHOWS- Page 4

[musicals4ever]

Posted: 12/27/03 at 11:08pm

you're right. "true" isn't a fair word to use. Notice i changed it in my first post. :)

there is just alot of great musical theatre out there that goes unnoticed because it doesn't have casts of 50 and huge sets. i was just in a production on floyd collins, and the show opened my eyes to some amazing material out there.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 12/28/03 at 10:14am

I don't like Phantom of the Opera, but I can see why it is such a hit. It has this romantic score and beautiful sets and costumes with lots of special affects to dazzle the audience. Unfortunately, the book is extremely thin and the score is too repetitive. The themes recur at random in order to fill time. I think Lloyd Webber made much wiser decisions with recurring themes in Evita and Aspects of Love. Both shows could stand alone with minimal sets and still be strong shows. Phantom cannot survive without its sets and costumes.

[HotTicket]

Posted: 12/28/03 at 10:29am

The Producers because I expected so much and it didn't deliver. Also, I didn't hum one song when I left the theatre and I could have overlooked that if I didn't have such high expectations.

[BroadwayBaby3]

Posted: 12/28/03 at 12:24pm

RENT

[bwaygirl]

Posted: 12/28/03 at 3:37pm

Never Gonna Dance. I read all of these reviews about it and they were all amazing. Then I saw the play and the singing was average. The dances were professional, but they weren't good enough(that or else my head was still spinning from 42nd Street). I seemed to enjoy the monologue more than the music. My gawd this is supposed to be a MUSICAL.

[Elphie]

Posted: 12/28/03 at 4:49pm

Footloose!!
Uggggh. Just hate it.

[Elphie]

Posted: 12/28/03 at 4:58pm

Well I dont hate it- I liked it on Broadway and all, but so many community theatres are doing it and I cant take it! One of my best friends thinks its the best show since sliced bread and I want it to die! Another show I didnt like was The Lion King- I had no clue what the fuss was over. B&B and Aida are much better Disney productions.

[Phantom05]

Posted: 12/28/03 at 7:22pm

Mister Matt, I'm not sure I understand why everyone thinks that Phantom of the Opera's theme songs are too repetative. I don't think that Les Miserables is any less repetative than Phantom, and I love them both! Phantom constantly reprises it's title song "The Phantom Of The Opera", and Les Miserables constantly reprises "I Dreamed A Dream" and On My Own". I just don't understand why this is a problem, many musicals do this. Could you please exlain to me your thoughts on this?!?

Thanks,

Phantom05

[Phantom2]

Posted: 12/28/03 at 11:24pm

MisterMatt- How can you not like Phantom of the Opera? Come on.
The Producers is overrated.

[thirdrowcenter]

Posted: 12/28/03 at 11:37pm

Rent
The Producers
Metamorphosis Updated On: 12/29/03 at 11:37 PM

[bestofbroadway]

Posted: 12/29/03 at 1:39pm

Elphie- Overrated? Who liked Footloose?

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 12/29/03 at 2:32pm

Repeated themes are essential to sung-though musicals, but should be used sparingly and thoughtfully. Lloyd Webber overuses his themes in POTO as filler throughout more than 50% of the score. Most of the time, without any thought or meaning. In Les Mis, the repeated themes were often connected to a specific character or mood to support the book. Listen closely to POTO and you will hear Angel of Music 11 times as an all-purpose scene change filler. Act 2 only contains 3 songs not heard in the first act: Masquerade, Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again, Past the Point of No Return (the latter two being the weakest of the score). He did a much better job with Evita, JCS and Aspects of Love (and even Starlight Express).

I worked the POTO national tour twice and have a huge respect for the design elements of the show, but the score makes me just a teensy bit nauseous. Honestly though, take away the eye-popping sets, costumes, and lighting and you have a very long and dull evening.

[MyNameInLights]

Posted: 12/29/03 at 2:58pm

POTO (But it doesn't stop me from liking it)
Mamma Mia! (HATE HATE HATE IT!)
Hairspray (I was so very disappointed...)

[Broadwaylady]

Posted: 12/29/03 at 3:19pm

Staying on topic: Overated shows to me were:

Rent
Urinetown
Lion King - thought it was a children's story. I just liked the costumes

[sharon1]

Posted: 12/29/03 at 4:08pm

People are going to hate me saying this but......I just saw Boy From Oz yesterday. It sincerely let me down. A lot of talented people in a very weak show. Hugh J worked his buns off, but he did not move me. I know Peter Allen was not a great singer but rather a great entertainer, but HJ just did not get to me. I really tried to like the show but it left me flat. I know HJ is going to win a Tony for this and I will be happy for him but the whole show is less than stellar. Sorry if I got some of you angry but it is what I feel.

[Phantom05]

Posted: 12/29/03 at 4:32pm

It just always seemed to me that every time POTO's theme was heard, that it was meant to signal the arrival, appearance, or as a hindrance that the Phantom is near. I love Phantom of the Opera, and have seen it 8 times. I think that it is awesome that you worked on tour with the show Mister Matt, what was the most rewarding aspect of touring with POTO?

See Ya!

Phantom05

Updated On: 12/29/03 at 04:32 PM

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 12/29/03 at 4:54pm

I didn't tour with the show, I worked in the theatre that brought the tour to Houston (and many many others). I honestly don't think there was anything rewarding about the experience. Both Pace Theatrical and Wasser in London were horrendous to work with. Playing on the set was quite fun and the costumers were lovely people. Other than that, it was a nightmare I wish never to repeat. It showed me exactly how far people will go to get a ticket to a show. Not a pretty sight.

[Phantom05]

Posted: 12/29/03 at 4:57pm

Oh, hahaha....Nevermind!

Thanks,

Phantom05

[Elphie]

Posted: 12/29/03 at 5:34pm

To Best of Broadway:
Footloose may not be overrated to you, but my friends just love it so much and I just really dont like it. It wasnt overated on Broadway or anything- but in the high school show business, it very much is.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 12/29/03 at 5:50pm

The Producers; wanted to like it, but ended up hating it
The Lion King; saw it early in the run, too.

[MegGiry]

Posted: 1/3/04 at 10:53pm

The Snowman--even though it's not Broadway, I still don't like that musical.

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 1/4/04 at 6:02am

The current PRODUCERS hysteria needs a rest. It's a marvelously entertaining show with a lot going for it (and actually looks majestic compared to most of this season's musical crop) but it's not the bust-your-guts-while-you-gasp-for-breath-because-you-are-laughing-so-hard-or-maybe-you-feel-that-you-damn-WELL-better-bust-yer-guts-because-you-PAID-through-the-nose-for-these-friggin-tickets kind of musical it's supposed to be.

And WICKED has been cut a lot of slack (including from yours truly) because we like the stars and the idea of the book and the fact that it is a new score. But at the end of the day it really isn't nearly as good as its fans so want it to be.

Updated On: 1/4/04 at 06:02 AM

[Hello Gorgeous]

Posted: 1/4/04 at 12:16pm

I agree, I think the Lion King was a little over rated. The costumes were incredible, but I didn't see anything too special about the show itself. It didn't really have any substance to me. I also saw it a few years ago, so it could've gotten better, who knows?

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 1/4/04 at 12:27pm

MasterLcZ - "but it's not the bust-your-guts-while-you-gasp-for-breath-because-you-are-laughing-so-hard-or-maybe-you-feel-that-you-damn-WELL-better-bust-yer-guts-because-you-PAID-through-the-nose-for-these-friggin-tickets kind of musical" - That's Urinetown.

[cbrown828]

Posted: 1/4/04 at 12:37pm

the lion king... the costumes and sets are great and the opening number (the circle of life)is awesome but the rest is basically the movie with a few new songs.