What's good about Andrew Lloyd Webber?

I was interested to know what people think he has contributed to musical theatre, and whether his shows are of artistic merit, and if so, how....

He's certainly been an important figure in musical theatre during the past 40 years but has he changed the form? I'm sure there's no doubt that Sondheim is an incredibly important and artistic composer but can ALW be viewed similarly?

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Updated On: 1/4/05 at 11:14 AM

This may be long. I have been getting readi=y to post on another board and am very upset at how people hope the Phantom film will go down.

Everyday I chat with young people 13-18 years old who grew up on ALWs music. Most saw Phantom on stage at a young age, some have never see it, but they of course probably saw CATS.

ALW brought children into the theatre, that is something that I have seen. I worked in Los Angeles when Phantom first opened there. I was a volunteer at the theatre. Young kids 5 years old some would come dressed as the Phantom or Christine. Some of those kids are now 18 years old and posted a reply to me that they were probalby one of the kids I was talking about who grew up on ALW.

My children in their 40s grew up on ALW, not just Phantom, but JCS, Joseph, Sunset Blvd, etc. I have a grandson and hoping he will too get into musicals and go to the theatre when he grows up.

That is what ALW has contributed, his shows appeal to young people and then they see one show and maybe another show.

That is why I hope the film will do well, so more musicals will be put on film that young people can see. Most of middle America cannot afford to see stage shows they are priced too high. Most have the see CATS on PBS.

Today I got a email from someone in Guam who hopes the film comes to their country. I don't know as I have nothing to do with international distribution. This person loves the OLC and never saw a stage production of the show.

This is what ALW does for theatre and some of his shows flopped, but he did them because he wanted to. He has the money to do that and he has said that we need new blood in theatre. That is why I admire the man. He takes chances and told someone the other day he ignores those that bash him. Not in those words:)

So that is my comment. That is also the reason I was asked to moderate the WB message board for the Phantom film. They knew I would go in with an objective attitude and not put people down because they like the film. Even if I had not liked the film, I still would not have told others they were wrong that it was horrible. That is what is sad right now is people putting down the film. Well, if Phantom does not do well then SUNSET BLVD. willnot get released for filming by Paramount probably, Les Mis may never get done on film. These are things others are not thinking about. I do as I love musicals. Even some who have said they do not like the film, said they would buy the DVD. That makes no sense to me, unless they do like it enough to have the DVD. It is crazy how this love/hate thing is for ALW and Phantom. But the ones gettign hurt are those young people who may never see the Phantom film or any other musical on film/theatre.

Told you it would long and I am not even sure if it makes sense. I just got up and have been sick for few days, but still I do not let the kids down. They want to talk about the film and I will continue doing it, because that is the type of person I am.


Yours,

Carolyn

Even though I don't believe he has really changed musical theater, he did create a couple of pieces that will forever be seen as classics: "Jesus Christ Superstar" and "Evita". Don't take me wrong, I love some of his work, but mostly because it's fluff. The same way I love big action movies with no plot and awesome special effects. They're great, lavish entertainment. And because of that, as Carolyn stated, they're accessible to everyone. (and before I'm accused of not having any taste, yadda yadda yadda, as it's likely to happen on these boards, I am also a huge Sondheim fan)

What's bad about ALW? His lack or originality... how he uses a couple of melodies and rehashes them over and over in the same play. The last ALW musical I really enjoyed was Phantom... Sunset Blvd. was ok, but only because I saw Betty Buckley.

Anyway... my 2 cents.

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ALW has certainly given musical theatre some indelible standards and brought musical theatre into worldwide recognition more than any other composer. That's a pretty hefty accomplishment.

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On a worldwide basis, there are probably more people familiar with the works of ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER than any other contemporary musical theatre composer. Here in Asia, his music is well recognized and people are familiar with his musicals ( we have had local productions in Manila of Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, Tell Me On a Sunday, etc.,) and male and female singers have used his songs in many concerts. He has advanced the cause of music from the theatre very well.

He has also tackled many different subjects in his musicals and it is amazing how he can weave musical fantasies over unusual subjects ( sectarian violence in THE BEAUTIFUL GAME, poems about CATS, children's fantasy in WHISTLE DOWN THE WIND, a romantic albeit disfigured hero in PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, a story of intertwining love among Bohemians in ASPECTS OF LOVE, a murder mystery in WOMAN IN WHITE, political revolutions in EVITA, an almost revisionist story of Jesus in JCS and another biblical story in JOSEPH, even trains and the related human metaphors in STARLIGHT EXPRESS... isn't this quite a cornucoppia?).

I am a fan of his music and have seen almost all of his musicals, except for Jeeves and the more recent Woman in White. His music has brought me a lot of pleasure over the years and I hope we can look forward to more years of composing from him.

Updated On: 1/5/05 at 07:20 AM

"...it's a little hard to compare them."

BB06, my thoughts exactly... they are both good at their art in different ways... this isn't a competition between the two...

Sondheim's music has melodies?! Since when??

Just kidding! Sondheim, along with Webber, is a genius. He may not follow your typical musical theater style of composing, but that's what makes him excellent. I love Sondheim's music, but it is difficult as hell. Sondheim's music may have a melody, but I would love to hear someone try to sing one of his songs a cappella and ON KEY the whole song. That seems like a feat in and of itself!

Yes - that is the word on the street. I too appreciate ALW for his contributions to the theatre. Even though I don't listen to his stuff on a regular basis (except for JCS), I'm glad that what he has done for the theatre will surely be appreciated throughout the world - and for the rest of time.

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Well the shows you all listed are all awful IMO. If you can list some good shows of his I might be able to support you more.

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I grew up on ALW. My parents are huge ALW fans and always had his music playing. I've seen many productions of most of shows, and I love all of them, especially JCS. His melodies are catchy, and some are just amazing ("Heaven on their Minds" is one of my favorite songs).

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Aww.

Can't I be an ass every once in a while?

I don't do it often and its kinda fun.

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I can sing any of his stuff:) I don't mid challenging music but it has to have some kind of melody to be memorable to me. The only two shows of his that are ok are Into the Woods and Passion

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Sarah Brightman isn't a good thing...

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