I Hate Heart Music Theatre

by nomotherearth

I don’t know quite when I fell in love with musical theatre, but I do know it was when I was very wee, and it probably had something to do with the Sound of Music’s puppet show “The Lonely Goatherd”, or the Oz Munchkins singing “Ding Dong the Witch is Dead”.  That last one is kind of morbid for a kid, but hey, that’s the kind of girl I am. 

Since then, it’s developed into a full-fledged love, and I would make my living in it if I thought I had the goods.  I am lucky that I married a man who not only loves musicals, but probably loves them more than I do, if that’s possible.  Yes, you read that correctly – a heterosexual man who loves musicals.  They do exist.  If there are any men out there reading this, you’re probably choking back the laughter. Don’t be so quick to judge.  I’ll let you in on a little known secret – a heterosexual man who goes into theatre cleans up when it comes to the chick scene.  What you’ve got is a disproportionately large number of women, who are generally very attractive, and who have no spare time to seek men outside of their theatre circle (rehearsals are long).  You do the math, guys.  But I digress and this is not what this post is about.

Over the years, I’ve encountered many people who really hate musicals.  I swear that if I had a dollar for all the people who’ve told me that in “real life” people don’t burst out into song or break out into choreographed dance numbers when discussing their love lives, well, I may not be a millionaire, but I’d certainly have a lot of money to burn.  I just think that these people are missing the point.  It’s not “real life”, it’s fiction.  If you really want to go down that road, I could argue that in “real life” mob bosses don’t consult psychotherapists.  In “real life” diagnostic specialists don’t consume large quantities of painkillers and try out random, sketchy cures on unsuspecting, and unwilling, patients.  In “real life”, I’ve never heard of a huge car chase through busy city streets where numerous cars and buildings get trashed in the process.

In real life, though, people do whistle or hum to themselves when they’re happy.  People do little jigs when they get good news.  People raise they’re voices and sing the praises of their god, even if they’ve never heard the hymn before.  The problem is, these events are not theatrical enough for the stage.  So musical theatre takes these events and heightens them.  They may not be absolutely realistic, but they are dramatic.  Music is all around us.  It’s an integral part of our lives.  It inspires.  It moves.  It’s an undeniable force that is so universally acknowledged and loved, that I am honestly shocked that people hate musicals.  I understand that you may not love them as much as I do – I don’t love heavy metal - but hate? 

I challenge those who think they hate musical theatre to open up your minds and your hearts, if not for yourselves then for your children.  Children love musicals.  It’s an important learning tool. It’s an outlet for kids who have a hard time expressing their feelings.  It allows them to step out of their everyday worlds and into a new and fantastic world where anything can happen.  And it’s just plain fun.  As Bono said last night on American Idol Gives Back, music “whispers in your ear that the impossible is much more possible than your parents or teachers are telling you”.

Comments

[metro mama]

I love musicals. Sean will tolerate them, but they're not his favourite.

I can't wait to take Cakes.

[Sandra]

Hey, Monkeydad is a heterosexual male who loves musical theatre too! One of the many reasons that we love going to NYC together. mmmmmm.....musical theatre.....

If time travel was possible, I'd zoom back to Broadway in the 40's and 50's. Or how about see West Side Story on opening night???? (btw, the dvd of WSS has been remastered and is amazing. The extras include home movies of rehearsals on the streets of NYC).

[ali]

i love musicals! love! love! love!
the husband likes some - like Tommy and Les Miserables and Chicago....but there are some, like Hairspray, that i had to DRAG him to!