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Worst 'Best Musical'

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madbrian
#75Worst 'Best Musical'
Posted: 6/10/16 at 9:48am

Spamalot, which was the weakest of the nominated shows that season.


"It does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are 20 gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket, nor breaks my leg." -- Thomas Jefferson

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MrsSallyAdams
#76Worst 'Best Musical'
Posted: 6/10/16 at 1:46pm

leefowler I'll second the vote for Redhead judging from the original cast album. The Verdon/Fosse dances were the show. The score and plot are disposable. Even Verdon herself lacks a good song. Compare this to the album for her other flop, New Girl in Town. That one has several good songs for her and the supporting cast.

I found the screenplay and pre-Broadway script of Kinky Boots incredibly unpleasant. Charlie and the workers all use Simon to save their jobs while bullying and harassing him. I forget what year the show is set but such behavior in the workplace is pretty lousy. Some praise the book for keeping Simon/Lola's sexuality and gender identity ambiguous but I feel this just reduces him to a "Magical Other" with no inner life. Charlie's verbal attack on Lola in act two seems to have come out of nowhere and their reconciliation via voicemail is just as weak.

My inner dramaturge wants to see Charley struggle with his interest and discomfort with Lola throughout the first act. In the second act:

 

 
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there's a scene where Charley tries to model the kinky boots. He stumbles and falls about the stage like a fool till Lola takes over. I'd find it more interesting if Lola taught him how to walk during the course of their song till Charley gradually realized he was enjoying himself, ala Gypsy's first Strip. Having Charley gradually come to terms with his own kinky side would have been a more interesting arc than the daddy issues he's saddled with.

The pre-Broadway tryout ended with the child Simon and Charley hugging their fathers. Since Simon's father was established as abusive that moment felt creepy and dishonest to me.

 


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Updated On: 6/10/16 at 01:46 PM

neonlightsxo
#77Worst 'Best Musical'
Posted: 6/10/16 at 1:50pm

""Memphis" deserves much more credit than it's getting here"

 

Heartily disagree. Sorry if we hurt your feelings but the OP asked a simple question: what's the worst Best Musical? And the majority of us seem to agree that it's Memphis. End of story.



Updated On: 6/10/16 at 01:50 PM

funhamilton_rent
#78Worst 'Best Musical'
Posted: 6/10/16 at 2:33pm

Why did no one like Once? I do wish Newsies (or even Bonnie & Clyde) would have won, but I still love Once.

 

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hork
#79Worst 'Best Musical'
Posted: 6/10/16 at 2:54pm

The hate for Once and Memphis are the two biggest mysteries on here.

ebontoyan
#80Worst 'Best Musical'
Posted: 6/10/16 at 3:27pm

Once was a snoozefest! Boring and bland. And I couldn't follow the story and the cast recording was not appealing. IMO of course

Updated On: 6/10/16 at 03:27 PM

¿Macavity?
#81Worst 'Best Musical'
Posted: 6/10/16 at 3:45pm

I thoroughly enjoyed A Gentlemans Guide to Love and Murder... Hmm, no love for it here though... I think I'd have to go with Memphis... Sorry!

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BobbyBubbi
#82Worst 'Best Musical'
Posted: 6/10/16 at 3:56pm

Contact. No question. 

amymchugh
#83Worst 'Best Musical'
Posted: 6/11/16 at 7:51am

Have to agree on Once. Had me bored to tears.


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