Overrated Classic Shows — Page 3

Thanks, Craig. I was wondering when someone would notice the paradox in this thread.

Now, if people want to debate which shows qualify as classic.....


And, um, Marc....? "Vomiticious"?

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Just to clarify, dears, before you get your panties in too much of a bunch, my saying CAROUSEL was a joke for Magruder -- he knew it, I knew it, Priest knew it -- but, I take it you didn't know it.

Now you do.

A joke.

OK?

And WHERE did anyone refer to WSS as overrated? Huh? If you'll notice, my statement was in response to CastAlbumFan saying that
Fiddler was the first major show in which the staging and choreography were more acclaimed than the score. I was pointing out that that had happened seven years earlier with the critical reception to WSS -- Robbins' staging and choreography were far more acclaimed than the brilliant Bernstein/Sondheim score which apparently went flying over the heads of several critics and Broadway observers at the time and received lukewarm notices. THAT was my point. Not that the score was overrated or less than genius, but that it wasn't universally appreciated when it debuted (which is a fact).

OK?

Clear enough, now?

So to repeat, in MargoChanning's opinion, Carousel and WSS are NOT overrated -- repeat, NOT overrated.

Okay?

Understand now?

Feel better?

You can now return to your regularly scheduled programming.....

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A person who goes by the name UnMasked05 writes

"To me the most overrated Classic Shows are
Oklahoma
My Fair Lady ( I never finish watching the movie)
Annie Get Your Gun
The Music Man"

<----gun to head.

Before I shoot, pray tell me, "Overrated compared to...what???

I think I just vomited in my mouth while reading this...

shouldn't that be blamed on Thornton Wilder?

cats... cats... and ... cats. I know that's a show for children and that's probably why it was on Broadway for so long (parents probably told their children "If you're good we'll take you to Cats" or something like that), but I hated that show as a child. I really never understood how any of my friends could enjoy that show. Ick.

Updated On: 1/4/05 at 11:30 AM

When Cats opened. It was something completely new and different on Broadway. Something many people on this board moan about when discussing the current state of Broadway, yet ignore when discussing past shows in historical context. It had already been well-received in London and by it's Broadway arrival, it's reputation had preceded the show. Cats featured costume and sets designs as well as a concept that was unlike anything in musical theatre. Not only was it entirely unique, but it was accessible to all ages. Lloyd Webber had introduced himself with Joseph, which had a respectable run, then the highly controversial JCS which flopped, but produced a couple of hit songs, and followed with the well-respected and well-received Evita. Cats was a brilliant move in musical theatre for the time, introduced a major standard song in the musical theatre canon and immediately after its opening success on Broadway, became an international sensation. Like A Chorus Line, the show became legendary both in London and on Broadway, and was one of the expected shows to see for every tourist in NYC. That is why it ran for so long. Phantom of the Opera will surpass Cats and expect to see Mamma Mia around for a long time.

The question is, after Rent and The Lion King, what will be the next long-running American musical? My money is on Hairspray. I think it will do well in London and survive replacements better than The Producers. Wicked has a shot, but its score may not be as universally embraced as Hairspray. The American 60s sound is HUGE in Europe, Australia and Japan.

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Marc, I was just about to post the same thing about Dolly's re-enterance to HG. It always made perfect sense to me.
And Matt, what a great post about CATS. It is a show that I lothe, but your post made great sense.

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Thanks.

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On a more serious note, I think the problem for many of you lies in the fact that most of the shows mentioned (Music Man, Oklahoma, Guys and Dolls, etc.) are nowadays seen mostly in high school, community theater, and mediocre regional productions. Oklahoma usually bores the socks off me, but when I saw the Trevor Nunn/Hugh Jackman version on DVD, I was enthralled. Same mostly negative feelings for Guys and Dolls until I saw a 99-seat theater production in North Hollywood last year with a mostly Equity cast headed by Tony nominated Jane Lanier. The production earned deserved raves and the run was extended due to huge audience demand. It was AMAZING! In the last few years I've seen Carousel twice and found it somewhat dated and dull, but the Nicholas Hytner revival from London which played L.A. in the mid 90s was one of the most thrilling experiences I've ever had in a zillion years of attending musicals. Would that I had been able to see the British National Theatre production of South Pacific a few years ago in London. Listening to the cast CD gives me some idea of what this overdone show can be if approached with imagination and talent. So I say...Give the "overrated" classics the kind of top notch productions they deserve, with directors who can bring out all the genius that was part of their creation, and then decide whether these shows are overrated or not.

Can we just talk about The Music Man for a second? Is there any other score for a "classic" that is as delightfully strange and off-kilter as The Music Man's? What show starts with anything as bizarre as "Rock Island"? And those percussive patter songs for Harold Hill? A show that's so in love with music that you know the leading man and leading lady go together because their songs ("Goodnight My Someone"/"76 Trombones") are secretly the same melody? And a show that champions subversive behavior in a red state? It think it's getting the bum's rush here.

Claiming My Fair Lady is overrated is too stupid to even be taken seriously.

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I have a feeling that Hello Dolly is something that has to be witnessed in all of its spectacular lushness and most importantly, with either Channing or another icon of major theatrical importance to be truly appreciated and understood. Unfortunately, I have never had the opportunity to see the show at its best. I have a feeling I would weep with joy if I saw Channing in ANYTHING, but I doubt I would do so to see Ziemba or Skinner as Dolly Levi, even in a top-notch production.

PS - I think The Music Man is actually one of the few perfect Broadway musicals. Better than West Side Story? No, but for an American musical comedy, it's tops.

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Updated On: 1/4/05 at 01:11 PM

I agree that maybe the title should be changed. It's difficult to comment on a show when not having a chance to see the original mountings of particular productions (not born yet). My first Broadway show was "Annie" and the mere mention of the show makes people cringe. But as a 13 year old at the time, I was absolutely mesmerized by what I saw.

Not all shows have the same affect on me, but there are certain shows that immediately bring me back to the wonderment of my first Broadway show.

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