What are your favourite musicals and why?

Hi all,

Now just what is your favourite musical/s and why ? I hope to get a great response from this one! (if i get any that is)

My all time favourites list include Les Miserables (of course!), also the King and I, Oliver, My Fair Lady. There are more of course but I don't want to go into too many right now.

I'll talk about why I adore these musicals when i get some kind of feedback on the topic.


The Review Master

*Pretty much anything by Sondheim. Why? He is just brilliant. His music does it for me in a big way, he collaborates with excellent writers and the stories are grown-up, fascinating and never twee.

*Maltby and Shire's shows (except for "Big"). Sure "Closer Than Ever" and "Starting Here, Starting Now" are musical reviews, "just a bunch of songs" to some, but they are bloody great songs - each one a story in itself! The lyrics affect me and the music is beautiful, inspiring, funny....

*Falsetto's. It's real, it's beautiful. It moves me.

Cheers,
Gill

Les Mis is and always will be my favorite - as those in the cast of the Regal Les Mis will tell you I can (and regularly do) sing every bar of it. It was the first major musical I ever saw, and it was the show which decided me on this profession (good? bad??) at the age of eleven.

Other musicals which I love (but have less of a personal and emotional connection with) include: Falsettos (always makes me cry), Guys and Dolls (IMO the musical with consistently the best music and lyrics throughout - there isn't one song I skip through when listening on the CD player), Jesus Christ Superstar (like Lloyd-Webber or not, this musical is genius), Funny Girl (the first musical I dressed up and lip synched to in my livingroom when I was 5), Blood Brothers (/really/ makes me cry), and Babes in Arms (the greatest musical from one of the greatest musical collaborations ever - Rogers and Hart).

Other honorable mentions include King and I (have to have a Rodgers and Hammerstein in there somewhere), A Chorus Line (and I'm not just saying this to impress Old Mill!:-), Cabaret/Chicago/The World Goes Round (contains all the greatest hits of another legendary collaboration, Kander & Ebb) and Hair (I got a helluva crush on the lead in the '92 national touring production).

My contributions,
Amanda Chesterton

like amanda, i like Les Mis - as it was what i ws brought up on. i also like cabaret, cats(also brought up on that), most of llyod webbers and a couple of others.

i was always a singer and dancer before i did straight acting. i come from a musical family. and none of them expect me like straight acting. poor little me! thats why they never go to the theatre!


xxAmanda T

Hard one. The trifecta for me, in no particular order, is as follows: (oh, and spot the link!)

West Side Story
Assassins
Sweeney Todd- the Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Aside from the Sondheim link in all three, the main reason I like these three is simply the dots on the page. They work.

Eliot

Oh yeah! I forgot to mention Hair (thanks for the reminder Amanda), that's a definite favourite! I love the music and the whole "make love not war" thing. The music in Godspell is stunning too and Boublil and Schoenberg have written a couple of beauties. There are probably more too.....

but dots on the page, i suppose El means the music.

yes el - music is a good thing to like in musicals.

as my teacher call it - FLY POO. anyone who reads music will understand that. especially anyone who has done or (in my case), going to do TEE music, or has studied music alot ( it's all about the analysing of tunes). it's all fly poo, my friends.

squint a bit, and you will see the fly poo.

happy reading,

xxAmanda

Thanks all for your reponses so far,


Now as I said, once I got some feedback on the subject, I'd discuss my favourite musicals and just why it is that I appreciate them. As I've said before my favourites include- Les Miserables, Oliver, The King and I and My Fair Lady. It's kinda funny, as I've almost just noticed that all are adaptations or some kind of novel, or play etc... Funny isn't it? Anyway- I'll discuss what I can for now regarding maybe some of these musicals.


LES MISERABLES:

Now you'll be hearing a lot about this musical from me, because it has got to be my favourite of all time. I could sit through a million different productions of this, and listen to different versions on recorded albums- and never tire of it!

Just why - I ask myself? Well I have never read Victor Hugo's novel and I have every intention on doing so when I get my hands on it, nor have I seen the filmic version- so I base my affection for this musical purely on the music by Boublil & Schonberg, the splendid lyrics of Kretzmer and so obviously some of the strong characters which Hugo has created in his novel.

My favourite pieces from this musical include the One Day More, On My Own, Master of the House and Stars.

"One Day More" really symbolizes a certain unity of the human spirit. When portrayed at its utter best, the peformance of the players set against the powerful orchestrations and lyrics which convey such a great determination that will not be forgetten throughout the entire story. In this piece- the situations of various characters fall together so effectively and contribute to the power of the piece. For example, Valjean begins the piece with his reminscience of the past and pondering of what awaits him and I guess he is also thinking Cosette's wellbeing ( if you really read into it), then there's Marius and his newfound love with Cosette who he cannot think to live without; Eponine stands by closely in hope that she will catch the gaze of the man she loves, Marius, but she doesn't - at least, not until "A Little Fall of Rain" where her last desparate moments are in his arms and he realizes that she needs, and even loves him; and Javert is still set on justice and the good of the law- his more human side is shown in "Stars" and of course the Thenardiers- who are still thinking about money and their mouths and "101 different ways to pickpocket the dead". All in all- this piece in my opinion shows strength and determination -a victory in itself of the characters.

"On My Own", is a great piece and the lyrics of Kretzmer are so magical. It's almost like you don't have to know Eponine's life- this piece sums it up and I still get goosepimples whenever I hear it . From this piece- you can see that although she is all alone in the world , that she truly has Marius with her in heart. And I feel "A Little Fall of Rain" adds such a beautiful closure to her story.

"Stars" as I said before shows a human side to Javert; the setting and vision of him alone at night gazing up at the stars, singing to them and unfolding their mysterious beauty while pondering his position in life as lawman and thinking of Valjean and how he can never lose sight of what he must do....

Last, but not least (because I love ALL the songs from Les Mis and can go on and on about them- but would just take up too much space) is the more humorous side to Les Mis , Thenardier's piece "Master of the House" with a little fill in from Mme Thenardier which is cheeky,sarcastic comedy at it's best. This piece shows a human, comedic side to humourous "scum of the earth" like Thenadier, you grow to love him though as he breaks up the dramatic tension in the story. The perfect setting, in an inn with sleazy characters such as the Master himself!! And Mme Thenardier's little walk in, in which she pities herself by telling a comical, cheeky story screams for laugh and applause!



Anyway- I've gone on about this enough already. I'll talk about the other musicals later- if you're all not sleeping already.


The Review Master

Does it make a difference if you're actually watching the musical or just listening to the soundtrack album?

Because I'd count HAIR as one of my favourites to listen to the songs, but I was really disappointed to see it on stage - it was significant in the late 60's but the concept just didn't work for me in the 90's. Similarly, I can sing or hum along to CATS, but the whole storyline (..?) and stageshow I found a bit tedious.

I do really like LES MIS, and I think it is a combination of character, tunes, lyrics, fantastic staging, and storyline.

JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR is another - one of the first really successful rock operas, and it scores on lyric, character, tunes (even though L-Webber perfected his technique of "one riff fits all", they really work) and the sheer audacity of the concept at the time.

MISS SAIGON, WEST SIDE STORY, GREASE, ROCKY HORROR SHOW, & LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS are all fav's.

And I personally include BARNUM, but only because I was cast in a major role in the WA Theate Co's production and got my name in lights outside His Majesty's, plus got credit for standing out in a relatively ordinary production..!

I don't think it ever got produced, but Jon English wrote a musical called PARIS, about the Greek & Trojan Wars, and the soundtrack is pretty good (Aussie cast including Doc Neeson, Barry Humphries, Trever White, Philip Quast)

And are we allowed to pick from animated musicals? Several Disney musicals really appeal, particularly THE LITTLE MERMAID. If you can be targeted at children and yet really impress the adults you've got to be doing something right!


Craig

<8>-/=========/------------

Was "Paris" written by Jon English? I always thought it was Jeff Wayne (War of the Worlds)

Eliot

amanda t wrote:
-------------------------------
*but dots on the page, i suppose El means the music.

No, I don't. Music is the end result of the dots on the page being performed. The recipe is not the meal. Unless you are very weird, you do not eat the recipe.

*as my teacher call it - FLY POO. anyone who reads music will understand that. especially anyone who has done or (in my case), going to do TEE music, or has studied music alot ( it's all about the analysing of tunes). it's all fly poo, my friends.

Yes it is- but you forget that someone sat down, fly in hand, and squeezed the little insect to get it to poop in THE RIGHT PLACES. So that when the fly poo is put in front of someone who can translate it into the vibration of air molecules- the end result is not cacophonous or lame, but something that stirs the depths of the soul of the listener.

I conceded that my unnatural bias definitely colours my attitude to most musicals and how "well" they're written. But that's the way it goes. If what I hear doesn't appeal to my ear, that is the only criteria the music has to meet for me to give the thumbs-up-or-down.

Eliot

Music/Lyrics by Jon English and David Mackay, with a few other collaborators on individual tracks. 1990.



Crg

Hi there crgwllms,


It's funny- "The Little Mermaid" seems to appeal to all ages although it perhaps was aimed at younger audiences ( not saying that's how it should be) Pushing aside the musical apsect to this Disney animated flick, I actually know ALOT of GROWN men who fancy her , Ariel the Little Mermaid!

As was mentioned during discussion byJason Bigg's character in a movie called "American Pie" , who exaclaimed something along the lines of "that little mermaid's a babe" and having his friend reply in some sort of horror, " but she's a mermaid.....???"

Jason's character replies, almost aroused (something like) :

"But not when she's on land man!"

I just thought I'd throw that one in, not that it had anything to do with the initial topic...


The Review Master

Okay - you got me. Maybe it's got something to do with my scuba instructor qualification...but I certainly do get a kick out of THE LITTLE MERMAID. Only, it's not for Ariel, it's for that crab with the sexy voice, Sebastian!


crg

<8>-/======/-------------

Thought so,


I just didn't want to bring the little crustacean up, in danger of embarrassing you.


The Review Master

I'd have to say Wizard of Oz, Rocky Horror, Hair, Singin in the rain, Return to the forbidden planet, and Beauty and the beast.

- Bec

Point of order Review Master:

> I base my affection for this musical purely on the music by Boublil & Schonberg, the
> splendid lyrics of Kretzmer

Alain Boubil had little or nothing to do with the music for Les Mis - he was the original French lyricist and presumably the advisor for Kretzmer's translation. Schoenberg wrote all of the music for the show, as was also the case for Miss Saigon and Martin Guerre.

And for those interested in other spheres of music (e.g. Eliot) did you know that the Claude-Michel Schoenberg of Les Mis fame is the great nephew of the famous German atonal composer Arnold Schoenberg of Transfigured Night/Pierrot Luniere fame? It interested me anyway...

Amanda Chesterton

Amanda Chesterton wrote:
-------------------------------
*And for those interested in other spheres of music (e.g. Eliot) did you know that the Claude-Michel Schoenberg of Les Mis fame is the great nephew of the famous German atonal composer Arnold Schoenberg of Transfigured Night/Pierrot Lunaire fame? It interested me anyway...

Hmm... I suspected as much, even though I've only ever seen his name spelt Claude-Michel Schonberg (can't do umlauts on this thing).

If only Claude-Michel's music was half as interesting to me as his great-uncle's.... but that's another story for another time.

Eliot "yes, dammit, I AM a musical snob!!" McCann

The Review Master wrote:
-------------------------------

Thought so,

I just didn't want to bring the little crustacean up, in danger of embarrassing you.




Thanks. Crabs can be such a touchy subject.


<8>-/=====/------------

Eliot McCann wrote:
-------------------------------


Eliot "yes, dammit, I AM a musical snob!!" McCann


that you are, my dear - that you are.


xxAmanda

Well I have answered this question on afew sites on the web, and it always takes me forever, so I have decided just to put the ones that particularly stood out for me, not necessarily the most popular ones (altho some are included) but ones I just particularly love!!!

*Phantom Of The Opera - of course
*Les Miserables
*Kiss Me Kate
*The Boy From Oz - have to have an aussie one in there!
*A Chorus Line - not to impress "Old Mill" either I have already
been cast:)
*Anything Goes
*Chess, Sunset Boulevard, Jeckyl and Hyde, Miss Saigon - I haven't seen these but I absolutely LOVE the scores
* The Sound Of Music - first musical I ever saw, but the movie version, I LOVE Julie Andrews:)

Well that's my short list!!! There are hundreds more, but this list will certainly do for the forum:)

Sherry

funny girl is it. barbra streisand is god. she is musical theatre. her performances in hello dolly, on a clear day you can see forever, yentl, sheesh she is amazing. i suppose that if barbra didn't exist we should look to gypsy and sweet charity, fabulous!
i don't care what anyone says annie is tops.
there are so many eeekkk

Rebecca wrote:
-------------------------------

Hi there CC Bloom,


"Beaches" fan eh? I wouldn't mind seeing "Beaches" the musical... or have they already done it in the States? Maybe I'll suggest it in another musicals&operas topic...

Yes, Barbra Streisand is brilliant, a great actress, a great voice and great personality despite all the fame she has! I must watch Funny girl properly someday but I've seen some of her other performances in various things.

I think that Annie is a great, family fun packed musical! I have a couple of different verisions of the stage play on CD including the original motion picture verison , yes- great music!


The Review Master.

Hi Amanda,


Yes, I as a loyal Les Mis Fan (as you) realize that Shonberg, is the musical part in the collaboration of "Boublil & Shonberg", and and yes I also know that Herbert Kretzmer, as I mentioned before, wrote the lyrics for Les Mis, and a splendid job he did!

Boublil may have not had a hell of a lot to do with the musical composition related aspects, he did work with Jean-Marc Natel on the French lyrics, but I think it was generally Boublil& Shonberg who came up with the concept of adapting Hugo's work- so he played a key role in that partnership and creation of the musical produced by Mackintosh.

Boublil, as is seen in "The Heat is on- The Making of Miss Saigon", also played a similar role- this time working with Richard Maltby JR who translated the lyrics into english.

But in saying as the RM said "music of Boublil & Shonberg", that was a very generalised statement about the whole production in general.

Thanks for your point of order, the Review Master is aware...



The Review Master

Review Master, unless you REVIEW something fairly soon, I think people might be justified in asking you to change your name to 'Les Mis Master', since that seems to be the primary focus for all of your posts. There is so much theatre out there and not enough people reviewing it - why don't you live up to your name and get reviewing?

jh

Hi Guys! I'm new to the site, joining you from Albany!

This is a really tough question to answer, but I'd have to say my favourites are: West Side Story, A Chorus Line, Sweet Charity (absolutely love Shirley McLaine), Hair, Godspell and Jesus Christ Superstar. I also like Les Miserables and just about anything Sondheim has written. I love musicals with lots of harmony and rousing chorus numbers, and dancing (I'm very partial to big dance numbers like the one in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers). I also like the old musicals with Doris Day that you could watch on a Saturday arvo in the seventies. OK lets face it, if it has singing and dancing I'm there!
I've enjoyed reading everyones contributions, thanks!
Hi Gill!! (That's my sister)

Be hearing from you
Jane

Justin Hammond, I don't think we've met. I'm Eliot. Can I please bear your children???

YOU DA MAN!!!

Eliot

Hi Justin,

The Review Master, is called the Review Master because of reviews in the past ( not just Les Mis, but you're right- i do have a tendency to go on and on about it...)

But, yes, the Review Master would like the opportunity to view more but due to time constraints and making a living out of peanuts.....it's kinda hard... Maybe I should think about selling my body....

But yes, The Review Master will justify their name soon.


The Review Master

Hey Eliot,

Hands off- Justin's mine.


The Review Master

>The Review Master wrote:
>-------------------------------
>
>Hands off- Justin's mine.


Um.... what?

j

The Review Master wrote:
-------------------------------
*Hands off- Justin's mine.

(can't resist this one...)

I wasn't thinking of using my hands.....

Hee hee heee!!!!

Eliot

ELIOT! how DARE you! dont you care about me anymore???????

i'm distraught!

:-(

;-) Amanda

JH respectfully exits this conversation, stage right.

Cheers.
j

The Review Master wrote:
-------------------------------
>>"Beaches" fan eh? I wouldn't mind seeing "Beaches" the musical... or have they already done it in the States? Maybe I'll suggest it in another musicals&operas topic...
Yes, Barbra Streisand is brilliant,



Um, who mentioned "Beaches"? and wasn't that Bette Midler, not Streisand?

crg
<8>-/======/------------



Thou dankish guts-griping dewberry!

The Review Master wrote:
-------------------------------
>>but due to time constraints and making a living out of peanuts....



Is there that big a market for reviews of SNOOPY THE MUSICAL?

<8>-/=====/--------------




Thou errant pottle-deep haggard!

crgwllms wrote:
-------------------------------
*Is there that big a market for reviews of SNOOPY THE MUSICAL?

<8>-/=====/--------------

Awful lot of Mormons out there....

Eliot

Hi again Crgwllms,


"CC Bloom" was the name of Bette Midler's character in Beaches.


The Review Master

Here we go!

Starlight Express is one of my absolute favs!! I saw it in London when I was 12 and LOVED it.

The movie version of Hello Dolly - I love Barbie!!
Sweet Charity - Love the score, pity about the storyline...
Three Penny Opera
Tea for two
Bye bye Birdie
Calamity Jane!!!! I love Doris Day! isn't she fab!

The Review Master wrote:
-------------------------------
"CC Bloom" was the name of Bette Midler's character in Beaches.

You're right - I completely missed that!

I only remember it now that you pointed it out. I stand in renewed respect!

crgwllms






<8>-/=====/---------
the monitorlizard

"Eliot "yes, dammit, I AM a musical snob!!" McCann"

So I guess this isn't a good time to admit I'm a sucker for Godspell?

Ok.

P.

Thou infectious swag-bellied foot-licker!

Hi i ám from the netherlands and mine favourite musical is les mis. Does any off jou know the fanclub or site from Philip Quast?
thanks!!!!