Why is it wrong to love Rent and Wicked?

[Defying--gravity]

Posted: 1/4/16 at 8:15pm

I've heard countless theatre people say loving Rent and Wicked (especially the movie version of Rent) is pathetic, wrong, and makes someone a "teeny bopper". Well, those just happen to be two of my four musical obsessions- and when I say obsessions, I really mean it, OCD brain heck yeah- along with Next to Normal and Les Mis. 

So here's my problem. Well, more like two problems. First of all, I have a crazy vicious anxiety disorder which means I can't be in any sort of theatre, among other things, which means I have no way to see any musical that hasn't been put on YouTube or been made into a movie. Of course I love movie versions of stuff, I can actually watch them!  And second of all, while some people's OCD makes them organize their socks or count things, mine makes me watch musicals over and over and over and over and analyze every tiny detail. So, I can only focus on one at a time. Watching a musical, if it is good enough for my OCD to grab onto, takes about a year. I can't see another one till the obsession has run its course. 

I try to be a well-rounded fan- even though the movie version and cast of rent (i never watch it without the deleted scenes halloween and goodbye love, however) is absolutely everything in my world right now, I go and watch other casts on the internet, see the originals however I can. Same for Les Mis. I know I'm not the most well-rounded theatre person, but I do the best I can- I also love Grease, Hairspray, Book of Mormon and Catch Me if You Can, and love the soundtrack of Hamilton. 

So why does the fact that movie Rent means the world to me make me less of a real musical lover? Why does really loving Idina Menzel's voice, and loving Wicked make me less of a real musical lover? She's not my favourite actor-- Aaron Tveit is. Someone will probably call me on that too. Somebody, help me out here!! Please!!

 

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 1/4/16 at 8:17pm

You should ask the countless people you've heard it from.  

 

And that's not OCD. 

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 1/4/16 at 8:20pm

It's not wrong.

[CindersGolightly]

Posted: 1/4/16 at 8:22pm

It's not wrong to love either. Opinions are opinions. I have some unpopular ones myself. However, that's what these boards are for. "Wicked" is a great musical! I'm glad you're passionate about both these shows. I think the "RENT" film was horrible. The show isn't about a bunch of 35 year olds. The casting was atrocious. But again, it's all opinion. Keep on loving what you love! 

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 1/4/16 at 8:26pm

I don't think there's anything wrong with liking something people don't like nor vice versa, just as long as you have good reasons for it.

[Jane2]

Posted: 1/4/16 at 9:00pm

I can't believe the inanity of this thread.

[Ranger Tom]

Posted: 1/4/16 at 9:11pm

Enjoy what you enjoy.  It's so PC and chic to slam certain shows and call people names like "inane."  Don't question what you love simply because pissy people post their drivel.  Enjoy what touches you, makes sense to you, moves you.

[gypsy101]

Posted: 1/4/16 at 9:14pm

Generally, Rent and Wicked (as well as Les Mis somewhat, less so for N2N) are viewed as beginner's musical theater fodder probably because they both are or were so ridiculously popular. To be honest, they were two musicals that got me into the genre. I'm not the least bit ashamed to say Idina Menzel is one of the best singers in the country. But what happened to me was that as I grew to explore other musicals, I saw Rent and Wicked's many many flaws. I'll still enjoy them from time to time, but it's more on a guilty pleasure basis. I just don't think they're very good, but I don't think there's anything wrong with liking them.

Updated On: 1/4/16 at 09:14 PM

[chewy5000]

Posted: 1/4/16 at 9:15pm

The problem, and this goes for everything really, is when people have an inability to to understand why something does or doesn't appeal to them, then believes their own feelings to be universal, or perhaps become unwilling to explore something different.

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 1/4/16 at 9:16pm

Jane2 said: "I can't believe the inanity of this thread."

 

Updated On: 1/4/16 at 09:16 PM

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 1/4/16 at 9:19pm

Ranger Tom said: "It's so PC and chic to slam certain shows and call people names like "inane."

"

PC? Really?

[CindersGolightly]

Posted: 1/4/16 at 9:19pm

It's....PC to slam "Wicked" and "RENT"? Do you know what PC means, Ranger?

[KCW]

Posted: 1/4/16 at 9:24pm

I will write a more complete explanation tommorow, but it is mainly that if a show gets to much hype, then it is unappealing to most as they can't act all important. I pesonsonaly love RENT and Les Miz too. However, how does one watch Wicked on a screen. (Is there a movie? Pirated copy?)

[Ranger Tom]

Posted: 1/4/16 at 9:24pm

The theater world is very much a political world. .

[CindersGolightly]

Posted: 1/4/16 at 9:26pm

Ranger Tom said: "The theater world is very much a political world."

 

...Anyway.

[gypsy101]

Posted: 1/4/16 at 9:26pm

Ranger Tom said: "The theater world is very much a political world. ."

 

LOL nice save. KCW, if you go to youtube, I'm sure you will see hundreds of Wicked bootlegs.

[Jane2]

Posted: 1/4/16 at 9:27pm

Ranger Tom, I called the thread inane, not any person. Look it up.

 

and PC? WTF are you talking about?

Updated On: 1/4/16 at 09:27 PM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/4/16 at 9:27pm

Lizzie I was going to post the exact same thing, but with the "chic" included.

 

I think there is a school of thought that looks down on those shows.  I think PC and chic is inaccurate language to describe it.

[Jane2]

Posted: 1/4/16 at 9:30pm

Oh come on, asking a question like why is  it wrong to love something?  What has become of this place?

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/4/16 at 9:32pm

but it is mainly that if a show gets to much hype, then it is unappealing to most as they can't act all important.

 

Are you insane?  There's so much to care about, who cares what these people have to say, whoever they are, and for whatever reason their thoughts on something you love should matter to you?

[HogansHero]

Posted: 1/4/16 at 9:38pm

No show that resonates for a considerable number of people is bad-that is the goal of every show and indeed every artistic endeavor. That does not mean that some people will not find fault with those shows-I happen to like one but not the other but see flaws in both as I do in every other show I have ever seen. Our individual affection for any show is not susceptible to right/wrong analysis. That does not mean that some people will not find some shows you love to be lame, lazy, poorly structured, inane etc etc. But that should have nothing to do with you. (And the same is true for shows that people love and that you can't stand.)

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/4/16 at 9:41pm

I think Cats is a bad show. 

 

If I write a post and it says "Cats is a bad show" that is my opinion and you can tell it's my opinion because my screen name and avatar are right next to the post.   Cats resonated with lots of people, most of whom spoke no English.  Cats is a bad show.  If you loved it, you're probably reading this page through Google translator and it probably got a lot of this post wrong, but what I have to say about it shouldn't diminish your love of that really bad show.

[tazber]

Posted: 1/4/16 at 9:42pm

I guess you're not aware that loving Rent and Wicked had been proven to cause OCD in users with multiple accounts.

 

 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 1/4/16 at 9:50pm

Whew!  I was beginning to think I was the only one that didn't buy into this post!  My troll detector went red almost immediately. (And I don't usually see it)

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/4/16 at 9:53pm

Mine went off during my first post.  It goes "bideebong."