I Don't Like Musicals.... Think Again!
You're stuck indoors; can't go out except for exercise or essentials; everywhere is shut - so many many nights are spent watching films, Netflix and live streams with a giant bowl of popcorn and some leftover Easter egg.
This piece then is for the people who live with someone who may not necessarily like musicals; what films can you sneak in that they might enjoy.... If they come out with "I Don't Like Musicals..."
Think Again - though not everyone likes EVERY SINGLE film, TV show or whatever, there is always one to get people hooked.
Think of it as a cunning plan so that they eventually join what Katherine Steele calls "The Musical Theatre Internet Cult"... (wait what...?)
Anywho's let's get right into it - of course there are more than these 7 choices, but here are my personal picks:
This piece then is for the people who live with someone who may not necessarily like musicals; what films can you sneak in that they might enjoy.... If they come out with "I Don't Like Musicals..."
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| Source: https://bellecs.tumblr.com/post/13659734996 |
Think Again - though not everyone likes EVERY SINGLE film, TV show or whatever, there is always one to get people hooked.
Think of it as a cunning plan so that they eventually join what Katherine Steele calls "The Musical Theatre Internet Cult"... (wait what...?)
Anywho's let's get right into it - of course there are more than these 7 choices, but here are my personal picks:
- Any of the Disney films that also have a stage musical - Granted almost ANY Disney film with songs in will work BUT the following in particular have an official stage version that exists, even if its not playing at the moment. They are (in order of the original films coming out.... (oh and * means instead of the "live action version, watch the original please):
- Mary Poppins
- The Little Mermaid
- Beauty and the Beast*
- Newsies
- Aladdin*
- The Lion King*
- The Hunchback of Notre Dame
- Hercules (yes this does exist)
- Tarzan (yes this does exist as well)
- Frozen
- Grease - It's an oldie but a goodie, and still the best version of the show (in fact, I would be tempted to say it's better sticking with that than on stage.....) That's a subject for another time, but it's a classic and great to belt out some karaoke to. Just don't fight over who gets to sing Sandy's part...
- Rocketman - This one was suggested to me from a member of the theatre-related WhatsApp group I'm in; it may be recent but it's still a fantastic choice! Rocketman is less a musical and more like a great drama with music - some unforgettable music at that. True, dark and gritty, it's also worth a watch for Taron Egerton's performance.
- La La Land - If you're living with a film or jazz music buff, then this Oscar winner can be a brilliant way in. A tribute to the golden age musicals of the 40s and 50s with a modern twist, La La Land is written by the same guys who wrote Dear Evan Hansen and The Greatest Showman; its soundtrack has so many styles in it too, from jazz to classical, electronic and more. Oh and I realised this week it is a great soundtrack to work to - bonus!
- Little Shop of Horrors - We all have that one friend who loves their horror films (to varying degrees); and out of all the horror themed musicals out there, why would I pick this one? Well, it's not TOO dark like Sweeney Todd, and not TOO zany like The Rocky Horror Picture Show (as awesome as that film is). Little Shop sits perfectly in the middle, has a great cast lead by Rick Moranis, and of course, THAT PLANT voiced by Levi Stubbs! A way in for you is that its score is by Alan Menken (who did A LOT of Disney films from the 90s). It's one of my favourite shows of all time for a damn good reason!
- Oliver! - A classic story gets the musical treatment. Oliver Twist is a story everyone knows or has seen a version of at some point in their life, whether they've read the book or seen one of the many film/TV versions; and while you can argue West Side Story could also be a choice being based off Romeo and Juliet, I personally think Oliver! is the safer option.
- Singin' In The Rain - What better way in than what is known to be the greatest movie musical of all time?! The trick with Singin' In The Rain is that it's just joyous - what we need at this time to be sure. Gene Kelly is so charismatic and charming as the film star Don Lockwood you cannot help but love him and his incredible dance moves! This was the film that opened 21 year old me up to just how glorious the classics were; when back then, I was focusing on the belting from the 70s/80s onward... 😳
Of course there are more than these 7 options: which films would you recommend?
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