I'm not a fan of musicals per se. I'd never go to see one at the theatre, though having said that I did see Dennis Waterman in Windy City in 1983 - I remember being a) bored to death, and b) really really hungry. I don't remember a single thing about the plot or the songs. Dennis better off doing I Should Be So Good For You and the theme to New Tricks.
I also saw Joseph a couple of years ago, but I only went because a colleague's daughter was in the choir and we all went on a work outing. That was quite good. We did it at school. My brother was the baker.
A few years back we took my brother-in-law to see the revival of Oliver!, starring Barry Humphries and Patsy Rowlands. Interestingly, Mark Lester, the star of the film of Oliver used to live in our flat about two occupants before us. The BBC used to forward all fanmail there, and after any showing of the film, there was always a flurry of it. Of course we had nowhere to forward it on to, so I'd open it, sign the autograph they were after and send it on. I thought it was better that than never reply, thus tainting his nice-guy reputation.
Anyway, it was okay. The ripe strawberries ripe/fresh milk mistress bit was good.
Nowadays, the only thing I could be persuaded to see would be Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, or at a push Mary Poppins. Generally, I can't be doing with all that singing and dancing. On the whole it's just silly and tiresome.
This goes for musical films too. Not interested. Films like The Committments don't count, because people don't spontaneously burst into song. Songs are performed by a band. You know, like in Mrs Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter.
What with musical films being on every Christmas/Easter/Bank holiday, I've seen bits over the years, and there are songs I've grown up with, or were in the charts that I liked. I remember though my mum taking me and my brother to see The Sound Of Music as children and me telling her afterwards I never wanted to see it again. Great opening shot, a classic film moment, but I can't say I've seen it in its entirity since 1969. That said, I think Something Good is quite beautiful.
So here's my point. I don't like the shows, but I do like (some of) the songs.
Vince Hill doing Eidleweiss popped up on my ipod this morning which got me thinking about this. I have a soft spot for I Know Him So Well, Another Suitcase In Another Hall (Barbara Dixon), Take That Look Off Your Face (Marti Webb), One Night In Bangkok (Murray Head), I Don't Know How To Love Him (Helen Reddy), That's All I Ask Of You (Sarah Brightman and Cliff Richard), plus the odd one from Fiddler On The Roof, Oliver!, Godspell, The Sound of Music, My Fair Lady, etc.. They're kind of jolly and everyone knows them.
Just don't ask me to sit through the film. And never suggest we go to the show.
3 comments:
Get the woman who sits diagonally opposite you to do her Sweet Charity medley. 'I'm a brass band, I'm a clarinet' etc. It's better than going to the theatre, I tell you!
I have a trip to The Lion King pencilled in. Bah! My mother can't understand why I don't like musicals. I think it has something to do with what I have between my legs.
I was queueing up outside Rock City in Nottingham to see a gig last summer. There were hordes of people passing dressed up as nuns. We were joking that it must have been a pretty big hen party. It only dawned on us that the Sound of Music was on at the Theatre Royal when a whole family passed dressed as a nun, a straight-looking guy in a Tyrolian hat and two lederhosen-clad young boys. Those poor children.....
Rich
These boys will probably need therapy later in life.
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