Our Musicals, Ourselves

[son_of_a_gunn_25]

Posted: 2/17/04 at 8:30pm

Has anyone here read this book? I am thinking of reading it, and was wondering if it is a good read. (For theatre aficionados at least. :-P )

[son_of_a_gunn_25]

Posted: 2/17/04 at 10:25pm

Well I'll just read it then and let everyone know what I think.

[bestofbroadway]

Posted: 2/18/04 at 12:35am

It is an excellent book...extremely insightful. Now if anyone tells you that ALL musicals are just "fluff" you will have lots from this book to back up your statement as to why it isn't. It's a great, great book and I reccommend it to everyone.

[Phantom2]

Posted: 2/18/04 at 12:39am

Have you read Hairspray: The Roots?

[bestofbroadway]

Posted: 2/18/04 at 1:06am

No - but do you know what John Bush Jones would call Hairspray... "a diversionary musical" or "mindless fluff." Jones says that he would like to "believe that Urinetown is heralding a return to those kinds of shows from past decades in which "serious musicals" and "entertaining musical" were not contradictions in terms." Unfortunately with shows like Hairspray, Mama Mia and yes even Millie it seems as if we are just confirming the contradiction more and more...

Wow...I haven't talked about Hairspray in a while...thanks for giving me the opportunity to trash it more Phantom.

[Phantom2]

Posted: 2/18/04 at 1:10am

Just remember something bestofbroadway. Nice guys ALWAYS finish first! Have a lovely night. Oh, and be sure to wrap toilet paper around your head so you don't mess up your hair-do while you toss and turn!

[JeffG]

Posted: 2/18/04 at 1:15am

I wouldn't call Urinetown all the much of a "serious musical" nor all that"entertaining"

I thought it used cheap humour, easy gags and winked the entire time at the audience.

I hardly call Urinetown a good example of what theater SHOULD be.

I know I might be flamed. I'm not condemning the show, but it's not a valid argument to me from BestofBroadway.

But at least he admits he trashes it. Lord knows he can't rise above it.

[bestofbroadway]

Posted: 2/18/04 at 1:28am

And Hairspray is what theater SHOULD be?! Talk about cheap humour and easy gags. I completely disagree...for what lies beneath the "cheap humor and easy gags" in Urinetown is SO much more.

Jeff G- you provided nothing but to say that it doesn't suit your taste. Read the book and you will see why he finds Urinetown so appealing and important...it is an echoing back to musicals like The Cradle Will Rock and Of Thee I Sing.

"Urinetown is satire and parody at once. The show satirically raises serious questions about individual freedoms vs. monopolistic or totalitarian control....the result is a wildly funny show punctuated by some pointed, provocative, and even scary "moments of truth."

Urinetown proves that a "playful, entertaining socially meaningful musical can be a hit"

[JeffG]

Posted: 2/18/04 at 1:31am

BOB

Nowhere in my post did I even mention Hairspray.

I am entitled to my opinion just as much as Mr. Jones. And my opinion isn't any less valid because I haven't been published in a book.

I'm not going to endulge your sparing on this matter. Updated On: 2/18/04 at 01:31 AM

[bestofbroadway]

Posted: 2/18/04 at 1:38am

You didn't in this post, but you certainly have in past posts. And from those posts I know what you consider to be a great musical. You are certainly entitled to your opinion however I'm gonna have to agree with Mr Jones'. It seems a little more thought out than yours.