The quality of writing is not being ignored _ some people are just deeming it of good quality, because you are not the High Judge of Quality, and someone liking it doesn't mean they " can't form their own opinion" _ they just saw it, enjoyed it and happened to form opinions counter to yours. To try to dismiss opposing opinions as "not thinking for themselves" is just evil. Many feel it is important with its message of focusing on the existence goodness in humanity in a world that too often focuses exclusively on the negative. I'm sorry it didn't have the positive effect on you, just as DEH did not make me feel how most viewers have. But your subtle implications that those who enjoy it are just brainless unthinking morons who can't see the light of your true unerring judgment of quality just makes you sound like a pretentious jerk.
I did not enjoy "Jersey Boys" regardless of however many awards it received. The audience response was that of a rock concert from the first scene and continued throughout, the lead was not a performance but an impersonation, overrated dreck. Yet wildly popular, so I must be wrong.
Oak, nothing you just said was what I was implying. If you enjoyed it, than that's fine, but I am also allowed to not enjoy it. That's all I was saying. I also said that I didn't really buy into the whole "it's so relevant" thing that's been going on. I implied that many people are seeing the show and deciding their feelings for it based upon what they have been told. I didn't say that you or anyone else on here has done this specifically, but rather that I know of people who fit this description.
Scott19 said: "@icecreambenjamin - Sending you a big hug.
I am so sorry, but I cannot tell if this was meant to be snarky or sincere. If it is the later, than thank you and hugs are always welcome and appreciated. :)
"Noel [Coward] and I were in Paris once. Adjoining rooms, of course. One night, I felt mischievous, so I knocked on Noel's door, and he asked, 'Who is it?' I lowered my voice and said 'Hotel detective. Have you got a gentleman in your room?' He answered, 'Just a minute, I'll ask him.'" (Beatrice Lillie)
Kinky Boots so much for me. I went into it excited because of the hype. And I've never been more disappointed. For a show with like 7 drag queens on stage, the choreography was completely subdued and boring. I've seen hundreds of drag shows with more energy, better choreography, more acrobatics/death drops/pizzazz than this show.
And the fact that the first ever woman to win Best Score went to Cindi Lauper for what I thought was one of the most atrocious scores I've ever heard on Broadway, especially when Jeanine Tessori has in all but name earned that designation several times over and didn't have the "former pop star" moniker going for her made me more critical and hate it more.
There are no overrated shows, in my opinion. The creative and performing talent on Broadway is extraordinary. I wish more attention was paid, not less.
@icecreambenjamin upon further reflection I want to apologize for my previous tone and statement s. I feel I over reacted and made a misinterpretation of you, as well as policing in my own way. I don't know why I took your words personally, but I shouldn't have. We are both free to our opinions is what we both agree on at the end of the day, so all's good. I'm sorry.
theatreguy12 said: "Interesting to see Newsies mentioned so frequently. Because I concur. My friend and I both looked at each other with a "meh" come intermission. There was this great dance number at the end of act one, but what led up to that was sort of uneventful. Something just felt missing. Either in the characters, or the storyline, can't really put my finger on it. Maybe I was expecting too much based on what I had "heard" about it.
As I recall, Newsies reviews were mixed to positive, with a lukewarm reception by the Times. The consensus seemed to be that it was "not bad but not great". I'm not sure I'd call it overrated, because the critical reception was nowhere near that of some of the other shows being mentioned here. But it was (and continues to be) a commercial success. It found a loyal audience and made money. Perhaps "overachieving" might be a better word.
Babe_Williams - I thought that Ben Platt showed some vocal strain during his performance on Colbert's show, as well. Glad that I'm not alone!
I thought that Book of Mormon was extremely overrated. It was an entertaining and enjoyable show, but that was about it. I think the issue is that I was really familiar with Parker and Stone's other work, so none of the jokes were really that new or shocking to me.
Jimmy, what are you doing here in the middle of the night? It's almost 9 PM!
The opinions expressed about "Evan Hansen..." are truly thoughtful and persuasive. Not glib dismissals, but rather analytical about both the craft and substance. It's a rare show for me. I enjoyed it in performance, but other than Platt's and Bay Jones's work, couldn't muster a strong opinion. At intermission, I felt queasily manipulated by "You Will Be Found," and still believe the song is as big a cheat as Evan's impromptu plan, making all the tears shed over its engendered emotion unearned. The song has a 70s/89s top 40 feel goodness vibe that in the show's story is entirely ironic, ultimately. Yet the show wants us swept up in the wash of good will. Sour is what it made me. And the show throws the character committing suicide under its dramaturgical bus rather readily, all to give our hero A Big Lesson. I dubbed it The Magic Suicide, because the show doesn't much care about Connor, ultimately. But listening repeatedly to the score, I just can't make a personally determined case for or against the show. So many people adore it, genuinely, for mysterious reasons. I'm at least subjectively relieved that a lot of folks in this thread have such damned good questions about its messaging and take-away. I was glad the show ended without big wins for the tortured protagonist, but it's still a confusing tale by its finish.
"I'm a comedian, but in my spare time, things bother me." Garry Shandling
(So this is going to be unnecessarily long, but) Come From Away - I can understand why it’s resonating with people, especially considering the political lunacy of the last few months that has left many uncertain and desiring something to make them feel good, I get that, but that doesn’t mean CFA is a a good show with a memorable score - it isn’t. I just did not get the appeal of this show at all.
Hamilton - I’m not saying it’s not wonderful, because it is, but the level of attention and hype it has received is ludicrously over the top. Was it the best musical of the 2015-16 season? Absolutely. Was it the best musical ever, or even of this decade? No.
Falsettos & Rent - I’ve grouped these two together, because I have the same issues with them. They are shows that I know tackle important topics and carry significance with them culturally, but I cannot bear to watch or listen to them due to how insufferable I find the characters, book and score (though I would consider Falsettos definitely the worse of the two)..
Wicked - I admit I’ve never been a fan of the “let’s make a classic villain the hero by making them sympathetic” trope, but i actually like the Wicked novel because it actually allows the witch to still be the bad guy in a lot of ways while just better explaining and showing us her reasoning - the trite, badly written collection of cliches and disney tropes that occupy the book of Wicked do not. Really, it’s baffling to me, the love for this one - I agree it has a good score, but the script is just unredeemable in my eyes.
I love DEAR EVAN HANSEN (at least the OBC, I haven't seen it yet) but at least from the plot summary I read, I can understand where people in this thread are coming from.
BOOK OF MORMON is a show I enjoy, but a lot of it feels edgy for edgy's sake, and while the some of the songs are really great, the libretto doesn't have the same energy, and watching it a second time in Chicago definitely didn't do as much for me the first time around. I like the show a good bit, but I definitely wouldn't call it one of the best of the century.
ChildofEarth said: "jpbran said: "So this thread is mostly just a list of the rare shows that have been both financially successful AND critically acclaimed. "
Well to be fair, that's how most shows get overrated.
Adding one that hasn't been listed yet: Beautiful.
This show was gratingly annoying to me. I went in knowing around half the songs and just wanted to enjoy myself because hey, it's a jukebox musical. But, the whole plot felt like "remember this hit song!" one after the other. I left not caring about her life story at all. It also didn't help that her best song was not even really in the show, but was the curtain call.
My #1 overrated show ever is an annual musical production, adapted from a classic, that is a long-standing treasure where I live. I don't want to get blacklisted by mentioning it though.