In the recent thread on Company, I chanced to think of the kind of life Bobby's wife would have if he actually got married. Talk about a poor baby! Bobby, do her a favor and stay single!
Many times, after enduring some grueling opus, I find myself leaving the theatre feeling sorry for one--- or several -- of the characters most sorely served by their creators. Like the poor mother in Fun Home. Talk about having the cards stacked against you; she has the whole deck plus two jokers! No wonder she never gets to crack a smile. And poor Judy Kuhn having to play this part! She, the mother, the audience, the world---- we all deserve better.
Here are some other characters in musicals I most feel sorry for. I'd love to read other people's lists as well.
The ex-girlfriend in Once. She was lucky to have dumped that wailing whiner in the first place. Now she's duped by the con concocted by him and that pill that he missed her all along. Isn't a relationship supposed to be built upon honesty and trust? Apparently not according to "guy" and "girl."
Margie. Giving up the best years of her life for a two-timing loser.
I feel bad for all the characters in Gypsy including Mama Rose. All the characters has hopes and dreams that do not come true. It is a sad story but a lot of their problems are caused by their own faults. But Mama is a person who does care about her daughters but does not know how to show it.
The MC in Cabaret. Sally in Cabaret Fräulein Schneider in Cabaret Lucy the Slut in AQ Michael in Billy Elliot. Elder McKinley in Book of Mormon. Bonnie in Bonnie and Clyde All the Dancers who didn't get the part in A chorus Line All the Villagers in Fiddler on the Roof Mama Rose in Gypsy Everyone in Next to Normal The Witch in Into the woods. Fantine in Les Mis Eponine in Les Mis Javert in Les Mis Audrey in LSH. Norma Desmond in Sunset Everyone in WSS. Elphaba and Glinda in Wicked.