Friday, June 10, 2011

hooray for hairspray



My sister and I recently caught the Artsclub Theatre production of Hairspray. I loved the movie (the original Ricky Lake version... haven't seen the newer one), so it was really fun to see it live. I have my own weird rule(s) about musicals though:

1. I can only seem to enjoy them if they are set in a different time period (specifically the past): the idea of a current day musical, actually makes me cringe. Weird? Yes. I tried to explain to my sister how I didn't like Glee (yes, I must be the only one on earth) or High School Musical (again, cringe)... even Rent is too current for me. I think it is an inner fear that I will be walking down the street and people will spontaneously break out in song and dance, and I won't know the number.

2. Why is there no talking?: Ok, another weird rule... I like when there is dialogue interspersed with song and dance... does everything have to be sung... really? everything?

3. No singing animals: You know who you are feline friends.

Ok, so I will admit there are some exceptions to the rule... I did see Mama Mia years back and it was very cute, but come on, hard to not enjoy cheesy Abba songs (which I will argue harken back to the 70s, so different time period).

*images: Arts Club Theatre

8 comments:

Alessandra @ Tribal Times said...

That is a pretty fantastic set of musical rules. I agree about having it set back in time time. Vintage musicals perhaps?

Sarah Knight said...

Is phantom of the opera a musical, or is that just a play? Because, honestly, that's the only one I've seen.

I don't understand the point of musicals, and never have - so it's not that if I was a completely different person I wouldn't like "Glee" — it's just that I'm me and I'm not watching that show...
So, no, you are not alone.
; )

Victoria said...

I'm glad you enjoyed the show! I haven't seen Hairspray, mostly because I have my own weird musical rule, and that's basically if it came after the mid-1990's, I won't watch it - so Rent was probably the last major musical I've seen. I love all the 80s-90s classics - Phantom, Miss Saigon, Les Mis, and even Cats - but I can't bring myself to watch Wicked, or Hairspray, or any of these new ones that are supposed to be so good! But, I do love Glee - so maybe if I can break my rule for that, I can make some other exceptions! :)

Christina said...

I don't watch Glee either. ;)
I did watch High School Musical though! haha.
I think I agree with most of your rules there. Commercials for the musical "Cats" always freaked me out.

2justByou said...

Great post! I definitely agree with you on Rule #2!!!
~Kim
http://2justByou.blogspot.com

babalisme said...

LOL I always "cringe" at musical too! Thought I'm the only one. My "rules" is even tighter. You must be animated and/or in black and white if you want to spontaneously break out in songs. Like Disney movies. Disney broadway? plain silly.

Almost Precious said...

I loved the movie Hairspray with Ricki Lake. And yeah, I think dialogue interspersed with the songs keeps things cohesive. When it's 100% singing it becomes too much like opera. As for Glee ... never watched it.

Saw Mama Mia (the movie) on TV a few months ago and I had those Abba tunes permanently embedded in my brain. Took me almost a week to stop humming Dancing Queen! :D

Anonymous said...

I don't like Glee either! I am obsessed with Phantom of the Opera. To me, that's perfection.

I'm your newest follower, I found you on the Blogging Buddies team on Etsy! Your blog is great :)

Lauralee