Poll
Thu, 12 July 2001, 01:38 pmWalter Plinge44 posts in thread
Poll
Thu, 12 July 2001, 01:38 pmI have a couple of queries regarding the current poll. Firstly, it asks us to vote for our favourite "broadway" musical. By saying "broadway" I assume that means that angled strip in NYC around which most of the NY theatres are. So, does that mean we are being asked "Which of the current musicals on Broadway now (or recently) do you prefer?"? If so, I don't get it because there ain't too many of us here in godzown what get to go to too many "broadway" musicals. The voter base would be very small.
If the question should have been a more general "Which of these is your favourite musical?", why is there not somewhere for Leah and me to vote "None"?
If the question should have been a more general "Which of these is your favourite musical?", why is there not somewhere for Leah and me to vote "None"?
RE: Musical Bashers.
Mon, 16 July 2001, 01:21 pmWalter Plinge
OK. But it doesn't escape the fact that most musicals are trite in content, superficial in structure and emotionally artificial. Let me ask you this... What is theatre acting? Real life emotions in an artificial situation, perhaps? OK... so what is musical theatre acting then? Artificial emotions in an artificial situation perhaps?
Another problem with musicals is its tendency to trivalise and dumb down the plot of a play.
Think of 'The Sound of Mucus' (sorry, I meant Music). How wonderful would that story have been if it had been developed as a drama about political persecution, or whatever the story is about. Made as a musical it diminishes the plot and context of that period into sentimental drivel full of of syrupy catchy tunes, and hollow truths. If you take musicals for what they are - a collection of catchy little numbers to whistle on the way home - then that is exactly what they are. I don't mind singing 'Some Enchanted Evening' at a karaoke bar, but I would hardly think of that song as a serious work of art anymore then I would the musical itself.
Think of opera as a form of fine dining at a restaurant, then musicals are nothing more than the fast food equivilent.
Another problem with musicals is its tendency to trivalise and dumb down the plot of a play.
Think of 'The Sound of Mucus' (sorry, I meant Music). How wonderful would that story have been if it had been developed as a drama about political persecution, or whatever the story is about. Made as a musical it diminishes the plot and context of that period into sentimental drivel full of of syrupy catchy tunes, and hollow truths. If you take musicals for what they are - a collection of catchy little numbers to whistle on the way home - then that is exactly what they are. I don't mind singing 'Some Enchanted Evening' at a karaoke bar, but I would hardly think of that song as a serious work of art anymore then I would the musical itself.
Think of opera as a form of fine dining at a restaurant, then musicals are nothing more than the fast food equivilent.
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