Wicked-lover bashers

DGrant, were you the same person who said something about "gossip" in another Idina Menzel post? You're posts are well said.

---

Edited - just thought it better to make it one clean sweep. Sorry for the bother.

Updated On: 8/29/04 at 01:48 AM

Let me throw in my "Amen" as well.

Today's Wicked obsessed kids may be tomorrow's theatre lovers. Everyone starts somewhere and if you aren't fortunate enough to catch a show every week then you are stuck with the memory of one show. This should be a place for them to learn about other shows...not to be yelled out for only having experienced one.

---

Amen!

---

I agree - we all start somewhere. Before, I used to listen to pop music: NSYNC, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Backstreet Boys, etc. I was a big Britney fan also - now it's getting to the point to where I know more about performers like Sutton Foster, Hugh Jackman and Idina Menzel rather than Britney Spears. I don't listen to my pop CDs anymore. People are running to buy the latest rap artist's CD, but I'm running out to buy the latest Broadway cast recording. Having a fan of a Broadway show is better than having no fans at all.

---

I really don't understand this either/or dichotomy. Either you're a fan of pop music CDs (or rap, or what have you) OR you are a fan of cast recordings? That makes no sense to me. This past week, for instance, I bought the double anniversary edition of Hair, as well as the new Polyphonic Spree cd. I can't imagine a life so limited as to only listen to show tunes. There's a whole huge giant world out there to explore, people.

I know it's profoundly American to divide the world into us vs. them, as if every single topic in life is a sports team you have to support. You see it when the Wicked lovers hear anything critical about that show and they get all up in arms and say "Oh yeah, how would you like it if I said that about Avenue Q? Huh? HUH?" As if these were two competing teams and we're at a pep rally. I'll tell yas something, I didn't like Wicked and I haven't had a chance to see Avenue Q.

And in conclusion, I know it is the ultimate point that gets made around here, a version of "What about the children?" Yes, yes, there is no greater thing than a young person getting involved with theater and learning to love it. Many of us were first exposed to theater by pieces of crap that we fell in love with because it was our first exposure to theatrical magic. That's fine.

But I can't say that I wasn't aware that the show I first loved was considered to be a piece of crap by many thinking people. And as I grew up, and gained some critical faculties, I came to see clearly what they meant. I still loved it, but I could see its flaws thanks to the ability to think critically that started by hearing what critical thinkers were saying about the show way back when.

It does absolutely no harm to budding theater lovers to hear that people don't share their obsession with work that isn't very good. None at all. In later years, they'll probably agree with us and yet still hold a soft spot in their heart for the piece they first fell in love with. I know I do.

It's my conviction that it's better that people learn to think, rather than strangely supporting every single thing that gets paraded past them on a stage because it's "Broadway." To quote The Life of Brian, "Think for yourselves." Different points of view are not dangerous things. Group-think, however, is.

---

"Either you're a fan of pop music CDs (or rap, or what have you) OR you are a fan of cast recordings? That makes no sense to me..."

I'm only speaking in my situation, and I'm sure it is present among many other schools, too. I'm not saying you must be limited to one or the other. See, at my school, you have people who like rap or people who like rock - music is essential to many of the students at my school. I find it more common to hear students talk more about, "Hey, did you hear 'so and so's' latest single?" rather than, "Did you hear that great song on the 'Gypsy' CD - Bernadette Peters surely can sing!"

I have listened to music other than show tunes. I've always hated rap, and I never cared 100% for rock (although I prefer it more than rap). My tastes in music have differed since when I was in middle school. I also enjoy listening to a bit of classical music, mainly piano music (probably because I play piano). If you are a fan of rap and showtunes, that's great. If you are a fan of only rock or rap or pop, that's great. If you are a fan of rock and showtunes, that's great too. If you are a fan of classical, rock, jazz, showtunes, country, that's, once again, great. It's up to everyone to decide what they want to listen to, but not everyone has to like it.

---

Updated On: 8/29/04 at 10:49 AM

I understand your points, jrb_actor and FindingNamo, and I agree that some posters get out-of-hand around here. But what good does mocking them do? Seriously, complaining about it is one thing (and even that goes overboard) but coming into a thread where a bunch of younger teenagers are talking about how they love Idina's voice and whatnot, and outright MOCKING them is in no way helpful (nor is it progressive, since that seems to be how you justify it, Namo). I think that is what Dgrant is mainly refering to, (I may be wrong) there comes a time when you have to let kids be kids, and take the high road of maturity and act like the adults you are.

Updated On: 8/29/04 at 01:18 PM

"...there comes a time when you have to let kids be kids, and take the high road of maturity and act like the adults you are."

Not necessarily.

---

bump

---

Because all the WICKED tix threads should be right at the top together where they belong!

---