Scholarship table
Hamilton
Not only no but F#ck no.
I've never seen anything in NYC, but I'd love to.
American theatre is, as your list demonstrates, given more to big musicals. If ever in London, a night or two in Covent Garden is mandatory. London's theatre scene is broader and is generally staged in more intimate venues. I saw Rent and Miss Saigon in both NYC and London and the Brit productions were the better. But if given a choice between Andrew Lloyd Webber or Noel Coward I would take Coward every time.
Your loss, Crash. It's fantastic.
I get that people like it but, compared with anything by David Mamet, G B Shaw, Samuel Beckett, O Wilde, Pinter, Camus, etc..., it simply misses the mark.I see it as pageantry versus thought provoking. Which is precisely why I don't care for ALW, as well.
As would I. And there are many, many others I'd add to that list. I was very involved in theater years ago and used to see a lot. But, as my children grew older, more and more of our "entertainment" time was spent watching their sporting events, concerts, shows, etc. During that time, my rare theater-going has been geared more toward the bigger touring shows which, as you noted, tend to be musicals. As they're getting older, I intend to return to more of stuff I used to watch.
Well, if you're going to give a "Not only no but F#ck no" to anything that doesn't live up to the greatest playwrights and authors history has to offer, you're going to severely limit yourself. Pageantry, done well, can be quite enjoyable even if it does not live up to your impeccable intellectual standards.
Book of Mormon was awful.
I've never seen a drama I liked.
DurangoWhen in NYC do check out one of the bigger venues but also look at the off-Broadway fare. Another superb option is college productions. Here in Seattle, we support the U Dub School of Drama. The Jones Playhouse is the right size and the fare is always well done. I recall while in Milwaukee we used to have tix to Theatre X which offered compelling, thought-provoking drama. Not sure if they are still around. Willem Defoe was one of the regular cast back in the day.
I see it as pageantry versus thought provoking. Which is precisely why I don't care for ALW, as well.
C'mon, I think you know why I detest Hamilton. I will not ever attend anything by a cast who pulled what these guys did to the VP-elect. It was churlish, at best.
Not a one???
I will. I was actually a theater major for my first three semesters at Marquette, and remained actively involved throughout my entire time. I worked in the scene shop at MU as my work study job for several years, and also worked on some shows at the Milwaukee Rep in various capacities. The Rep was a great theater with several spaces, and I saw pretty much everything they did there while in Milwaukee. They did some really great (and experimental) stuff. Working on (in a very limited capacity) and seeing the English language premier of a show called The Miracle at the Rep was honestly one of the highlights of my years in Milwaukee.As I said, I miss it and would like to get back to it. With the kids leaving, I'll have more opportunity. The Cleveland Play House is quite good, so I'll likely start there.
I agree. And if you'd copped to that in your first response, I would have left it alone. But you'd lose respect for me if I just sat idly after you said you'd seen both Rent and Miss Saigon twice, but wouldn't see Hamilton because it's mere pageantry.
Not a one, though admittedly after seeing three or so, I decided to not go to them any more. That sort of thing works better as a movie for me, I think. I always say the just because I don't like something, it doesn't mean it isn't worthwhile or good. Just means I didn't like it.
We made it through almost a full page of this thread and no one has made fun of me for missing the Villanova upset to see Hamilton? Guess I'll do it myself...SaveOD...you're an idiot! (but it was cool to see Wayne Brady as Burr).Another favorite theatre story is from my folks. My dad is a minister, and he and my mom went to see the Book of Mormon in Milwaukee a few years ago. At intermission, after the "F*** you God" song, they ran into very embarrassed church members in the lobby who couldn't believe that their pastor saw them at such a sacrilegious show. FWIW, my folks loved it (I did too).