Most overrated shows?

[next2normalfanatic]

Posted: 7/14/10 at 5:15pm

What, in your opinion, are the most over-rated B'way shows of all time?

Here's mine, in no particular order.

OKLAHOMA! - This classic musical's major fault is that it just moves WAAAY too slowly. It's running time is far too long for its plot.

BILLY ELLIOT - I've never seen this, but I did buy the cast recording, and I was NOT impressed. The only standout song is "Electricity", and even that isn't very good. Definitely not one of Elton John's best scores - "AIDA" was far better.

MOVIN' OUT - If you're going to do a jukebox musical, at least give us a plot. Don't do it to show off your choreography skills.

OLIVER! - The songs are phenomenal, for the most part. The fault lies in the book, which is a little below average, and doesn't do much to keep your attention.

THE MUSIC MAN - The plot is okay, but there's only two or three standout songs. The rest of the songs are too forgettable.

LEGALLY BLONDE - Toe-tapping score, but the book is in knots.

CAMELOT - Amazing score, sucky book. It has the same problem as OKLAHOMA - it moves waaay too slowly.

CATS - It has great songs, but no plot. Audience members are left confused every time.

I'll add more later.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 7/14/10 at 5:16pm

How can you call BILLY ELLIOT, or any show for that matter, overrated when you've never seen it?

[kidbroadway2]

Posted: 7/14/10 at 5:22pm

I had one of the Billy's who was just starting out, so he struggled a bit which ruined the show for me. So I would call BE overrated.

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 7/14/10 at 5:32pm

I do enjoy it but WICKED

Along with RENT, HAIRSPRAY, NEXT TO NORMAL, AND SPRING AWAKENING. They all lost something once children got a hold of it, and see the show like 25 times.

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 7/14/10 at 5:42pm

Wicked, Rent, Next to Normal, HAiR & Spring Awakening.

[beautywickedlover]

Posted: 7/14/10 at 5:47pm

Spring Awakening and Billy Elliot.

[rmusic11322]

Posted: 7/14/10 at 5:54pm

The crazier the fan girls, the more overrated the show is?

[Sauja]

Posted: 7/14/10 at 5:55pm

This is fast going to turn into a pile on of people who hate Wicked and/or Rent, right? Before we get to that stage, I'm going to dive in with an admittance: I hate Annie Get Your Gun.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 7/14/10 at 6:07pm

I have seen Billy Elliot and I think it is absolutely not overrated. That is just my opinion though.
And Movin' Out did have a plot. It wasn't the deepest plot, but there was a plot.
I think the most overrated shows are
Wicked
Rent
Cats
The Lion King
My Fair Lady
Annie

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 7/14/10 at 6:09pm

The crazier the fan girls, the more overrated the show is?

Essentially.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 7/14/10 at 6:12pm

Wicked

[ClapYo'Hands]

Posted: 7/14/10 at 6:31pm

Blood Brothers.

[AndAllThatJazz22]

Posted: 7/14/10 at 6:39pm

The popular of CATS has never failed to confuse me.

[Leia947]

Posted: 7/14/10 at 7:17pm

"Next to Normal". I hated every minute of it, and while every person who deals with bipolar disorder/schizophrenia is different (and I know two such people), it was very unrealistic to me.

[Scott Briefer]

Posted: 7/14/10 at 7:29pm

Mamma Mia! (what a crock...)

then...

Billy Elliot
Spring Awakening
The Producers
Nine

[secondarycharacter2]

Posted: 7/14/10 at 7:47pm

don't get me wrong, i love wicked. It's just when people who hated me for humming showtunes run up and down the halls singing popular because now they are "obsessed with broadway", it gets old!

[Phantom of London]

Posted: 7/14/10 at 7:58pm

You cannot judge Billy Elliot on the cast recording alone, it is so much more than that.

But back to the question, yes Wicked.

[quizking101]

Posted: 7/14/10 at 7:58pm

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA!

[onedaymore]

Posted: 7/14/10 at 9:34pm

Cats by far. Phantom by far. The Sound of Music, because of the movie. Les Mis is up there. As far as "current" shows, it would be Wicked and Legally Blonde.

[CyCoSpAz2]

Posted: 7/14/10 at 9:51pm

Spring Awakening and Next to Normal

[mpd4165]

Posted: 7/14/10 at 10:02pm

Phantom, Cats, and Mamma Mia definitely come to mind.

Music: You've hit the nail on the head why people will say SA, Hair, Next to Normal are overrated. While they have become extremely popular, they still have power in them that makes them worth some sort of praise. The three I've listed have nothing of value (I find) in them, yet people go gaga and think it's the best thing ever.

[defyingravity11]

Posted: 7/14/10 at 10:26pm

Spring Awakening - Completely incohesive direction and does nothing to improve upon the original play.

Billy Elliot - I had trouble understanding sections of the second act before seeing the film. Panders to the broadest possible demographic.

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 7/14/10 at 10:36pm

I don't think that this is going to turn into "I hate WICKED" etc. I think that its just talking about shows that are both good, and not so good, but many factors (IMO the most important is crazy fangirls and fanboys) that blow the quality, both good and not so good out of proportion.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 7/14/10 at 10:41pm

As already stated: Movin' Out did, indeed, have a plot. Told exquisitely in dance. I loved it, brought me to tears both times I saw it. Not for everyone, granted.

Is there much of a difference between personal opinion and over-rated? I don't really know.

But to the OP...I think your complaint about some of the classic American musicals says more about you than it does about them...and I mean no disrespect, you are entitled to like/dislike whatever you want.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 7/14/10 at 11:26pm

Annie.