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Musicals That Cheer You Up!

 
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ODonna



Joined: 11 Dec 2006
Posts: 52
Location: USA

PostPosted: Fri Dec 15, 2006 4:01 pm    Post subject: Musicals That Cheer You Up! Reply with quote

So yesterday I had a bad day and was really crabby Mad So I was in my car and put in my "Hello Dolly" movie soundtrack and it really cheered me up. Even got me singing along! I got to thinking sometimes there's just nothing like a good musical to make you feel more cheery. What musicals cheer you up?

Here's a list of a few of mine--
Hello Dolly
Mame
Anything Goes
Mary Poppins--this one always helps!!

OD Very Happy
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Natasha
Little Miss Lovely Smile


Joined: 09 Dec 2006
Posts: 790

PostPosted: Fri Dec 15, 2006 4:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I quite like these:

Meet Me In St Louis
American In Paris
Rocky Horror
Sweet Charity
Bugsy Malone
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John W



Joined: 07 Dec 2006
Posts: 3367
Location: Warwickshire, UK

PostPosted: Fri Dec 15, 2006 4:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Anything with Ginger Rogers!

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Mindda



Joined: 10 Dec 2006
Posts: 37

PostPosted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 6:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Did anyone here see The Hunting of the Snark? I loved it and still have / play my tape, but it was panned by the critics and was an enormous flop, closing very quickly Crying or Very sad - which shows how much I know! Embarassed
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idcowden



Joined: 19 Dec 2006
Posts: 67

PostPosted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 3:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Actually, the mauling that the Snark received is widely viewed now as having been unfair. So in this case the audience may have been more right than the critics.

Remember that many good shows get panned initially. Les Miserables was given terrible reviews for example.

Iain
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scorpio



Joined: 30 Dec 2006
Posts: 148

PostPosted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 3:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I love GREASE Cool

I also have a soft spot for Sound of Music...saw it when I was a kid...ahhhh! Very Happy

I also love Phantom.. I saw it M Crawford and S Brightman when in London I couldn't get it out of my head for months....! Very Happy
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Mindda



Joined: 10 Dec 2006
Posts: 37

PostPosted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 4:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

So - bring the Snark on again! (although we would have to do without Kenny Everett, unfortunately!) It had some great, catchy tunes, some of which still have me dancing around the house.... Very Happy
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Heloise



Joined: 08 Dec 2006
Posts: 237

PostPosted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 8:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I saw the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang 10 times during it's first 16 months of it's run at the Palladium - nothing to do with the leading man, it was pure coincidence honestly it was - Wink

It's a fantastic feelgood show (i'm sure it still is although I haven't caught up with the tour) which never failed to cheer me up. Yes a bit sweet but great fun.Richard O'Brien was a fantastic Childcatcher. One little girl sitting in my row hid behind her coat everytime he appeared but by the end she was on her feet. Cheering at the top of her voice as he was hauled off, up through the Palladium roof. Laughing
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Chatelaine



Joined: 22 Jan 2007
Posts: 66
Location: Staffordshire

PostPosted: Mon Jan 29, 2007 6:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

When I'm down and troubled the musical that never fails to cheer me up is 'Grease'. I remember going to see it at the flicks when I was a teenager and enjoyed it so much, I went at least another 10 times.
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idcowden



Joined: 19 Dec 2006
Posts: 67

PostPosted: Tue Jan 30, 2007 10:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
I saw the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang 10 times during it's first 16 months of it's run at the Palladium - nothing to do with the leading man, it was pure coincidence honestly it was -


Well to be fair, it was probably his best role since Les Miserables, and absolutely right for him. [/quote]
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Heloise



Joined: 08 Dec 2006
Posts: 237

PostPosted: Fri Feb 02, 2007 8:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ok it might have had something to do with the leading man at the time Smile

Chitty was not vocally difficult role for him but the dancing was a real challenge as he'd never done that before. The whole cast seemed to have a great chemistry between them. I used to just come out of the theatre happy, which can't be bad. And it had a flying car what more do you need LOL!! Smile

Fosco in Women in White was also a great role for Michael because it was playing completely against type.The only drawback was that god awful fatsuit which basically cooked those who wore it from the inside out.
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idcowden



Joined: 19 Dec 2006
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PostPosted: Mon Feb 05, 2007 1:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Chitty was perfect as the character is genial, happy, eccentric and requires little emotional stretch. Fosco would also have been good for the same reasons (except perhaps that Fosco isn't SUPPOSED to be nice). The fat suit was totally unneccessary - Simon Callow I believe refused to wear it on the basis of being able to act the part.

I saw MB in Passion however and that was an excruciatingly dull performance. I imagine his Raoul to have been fantastic however!
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Heloise



Joined: 08 Dec 2006
Posts: 237

PostPosted: Tue Feb 06, 2007 10:49 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

idcowden wrote:

I saw MB in Passion however and that was an excruciatingly dull performance. I imagine his Raoul to have been fantastic however!


I prefered Passion to Phantom myself both musically and performance wise each to their own I guess Smile I can hardly believe they were both so long ago now (1995 and 1987).

Fosco was a complicated chap he wasn't nice (all the time) not by a long chalk. That was the beauty of him, he was charming, nice and amusing one minute and and a real manipulative villan the next. I agree the role could be played without the fatsuit . I didn't get to see all those who played Fosco I know Callow didn't wear the suit I'm not sure about the others. Some adapted it I think. In Michael Ball's case however I think it worked in his favour it made people see past their preconceived ideas of him and judge the performance on it's merits.

Sorry to take over the tread Gypsy is another Musical that cheers me up
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idcowden



Joined: 19 Dec 2006
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PostPosted: Tue Feb 06, 2007 3:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Admit it Heloise - you were just there to see him with his kit off! (I was not however).
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Heloise



Joined: 08 Dec 2006
Posts: 237

PostPosted: Fri Feb 09, 2007 8:21 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I assume you mean in "Passion"

Why because I said I liked the show better than Phantom. It is 100 times better imo and as I recall the kit stayed on it the uk version anyway Exclamation
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idcowden



Joined: 19 Dec 2006
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PostPosted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 1:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yep - I did mean Passion. When I saw it, the kit came off with the exception of a flesh coloured thong. Most of the ladies in the audience were very appreciative (and probably some of the men too).

I also realise that I wrote Raoul when of course I meant Marius. ALthough his Raoul was probably quite good too. Maybe I saw Passion on an off night...
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Heloise



Joined: 08 Dec 2006
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PostPosted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 9:55 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I just really loved 'Passion', so I could be ever so slightly biased. When I saw the show (approx five months in) the nightshirt stayed on. I think I may have remembered if it hadn't Smile
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idcowden



Joined: 19 Dec 2006
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PostPosted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 11:57 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I think I saw it whilst it was previewing, so that may also be a crucial difference. At 5 months in, it would have been far more settled.
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Heloise



Joined: 08 Dec 2006
Posts: 237

PostPosted: Thu Feb 22, 2007 3:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

idcowden wrote:
I think I saw it whilst it was previewing, so that may also be a crucial difference. At 5 months in, it would have been far more settled.


Ahh I thought that might be the case Smile
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iwarburton



Joined: 08 Dec 2006
Posts: 2133
Location: Northumberland

PostPosted: Fri Jun 08, 2007 7:49 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Was well cheered up yesterday on a dreary, misty, cold evening by going to see Tynemouth Gilbert and Sullivan Society's production of the Mikado at Whitley Bay Playhouse. Excellent singing and acting, choreography to die for and a spectacle of colour in the costume, stage and lighting departments. It's on till the end of the week so, if you're in the locality and fancy a dash of G and S, don't miss.

Ian.
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idcowden



Joined: 19 Dec 2006
Posts: 67

PostPosted: Mon Jun 11, 2007 8:38 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I just went to see Spamalot for my birthday - definitely a show to cheer up anyone! Hannah Waddingham is fantastic as the lady of the Lake. Was meant to be seeing Lord of the Rings but they cancelled the show (and didn't bother telling us - I read it in the Metro on the morning of the day we were seeing the show!) due to an injured Ranger.
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FleetingEileenM



Joined: 30 Mar 2010
Posts: 5784
Location: Hampshire

PostPosted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 3:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

La Cage Aux Folles. Saw it three times in London in the last two or three years with wonderful Douglas Hodge (heart!)*.

Me And My Girl. Have seen it with various leading men but would love to have seen Robert Lindsay who is on the London cast recording. YouTube has a quite bizarre collection of some of the songs by an all-female Japanese theatre company which has a peculiar charm!

* JohnW - any chance of a love heart emoticon?
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dottie-may



Joined: 11 Dec 2006
Posts: 56

PostPosted: Sun Apr 03, 2011 6:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well, when I'm feeling really low I can guarantee that listening to 'The Fix' will always lift me. Two lines from it have become my personal mantras after helping me through a bad time in my life: "I'm a firm believer in not having to play the hand you're dealt" (see below!) and "Damn the past, embrace tomorrow."

Other favourites are Sunset Boulevard, Sweeney Todd, Mack & Mabel and Jersey Boys.

Forgot Lord of the Rings!! Fabulous music!
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FleetingEileenM



Joined: 30 Mar 2010
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Location: Hampshire

PostPosted: Sun Apr 03, 2011 10:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Oops, forgot Mack and Mabel, thanks dottie-may.

I have two CDs of it - the Robert Preston/Bernardette Peters one and a delightful live concert version performed as a charity occasion in the 1980s which was introduced by David Jacobs and included an appearance by Jerry Herman. Love both CDs.
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aviddiva



Joined: 11 Oct 2008
Posts: 1135
Location: Wakefield, West Yorkshire

PostPosted: Wed Apr 06, 2011 9:11 am    Post subject: Musicals that cheer you up! Reply with quote

Re:Hunting Of The Snark - Dramatico have just reissued the album with a bonus DVD of the London performance.

Mike Batt was interviewed about it for Classic Rock Presents Prog, and they mentioned 'Snookering You' as the theme song for Big Break!

Re:The Woman In White - Phill Jupitus was considered for the role of Count Fosco during his time presenting for 6 Music (mentioned in 'Good Morning Nantwich'), but didn't do it due to conflicting interests. Shame, because it'd have been less expensive to make the fat suit.

My niece is going to be appearing in her school's production of 'Joseph & The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat' - as Joseph! I loved that show when my school saw it at Leeds Grand Theatre; especially the Elvis-type Pharoah!
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Heloise



Joined: 08 Dec 2006
Posts: 237

PostPosted: Mon Apr 11, 2011 7:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

'Hairspray' is about to start the final three weeks of it's National tour in Bristol. A real feel good musical if ever there was one. Shame that there is no OLC or touring cast recording of the show to listen too.
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dottie-may



Joined: 11 Dec 2006
Posts: 56

PostPosted: Mon Apr 11, 2011 6:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'm off to see Hairspray on Thursday - and I'm very pleased that we have Michael Ball as Edna! Saw it twice in London and loved it - such a good fun show.

I think it's a great shame that there's no London Cast Recording; as with so many shows that originate on Broadway, we have to put up with the Broadway Cast but often, if a show transfers from here to there, they get their own recording! Kudos to MB though, who funded the recording of the title song which I think he added to one of his CDs last year.

If I've enjoyed a show so much that I want to buy the CD, I want to hear the cast I've just seen or at least, the original British cast.

But that's just me.....
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Heloise



Joined: 08 Dec 2006
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PostPosted: Tue Apr 12, 2011 7:18 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
I think it's a great shame that there's no London Cast Recording; as with so many shows that originate on Broadway, we have to put up with the Broadway Cast but often, if a show transfers from here to there, they get their own recording! Kudos to MB though, who funded the recording of the title song which I think he added to one of his CDs last year.


Yes it is on the 'Past and present' cd (from 2009 I think). Sounds great too.

Quote:
If I've enjoyed a show so much that I want to buy the CD, I want to hear the cast I've just seen or at least, the original British cast.
But that's just me.....



No it isn't Wink I completely agree Smile Enjoy the show I wont make it to Bristol myself, but I've seen it several times during the run.
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FleetingEileenM



Joined: 30 Mar 2010
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Location: Hampshire

PostPosted: Tue Apr 12, 2011 9:23 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

dottie-may said:
“as with so many shows that originate on Broadway, we have to put up with the Broadway Cast but often, if a show transfers from here to there, they get their own recording!”

This happened with La Cage Aux Folles. The current production on Broadway originated at the Menier Chocolate Factory in Southwark and transferred to the West End for a successful run. There was no cast recording of that but when it went to Broadway a CD was made. I ordered it immediately from the USA as lovely Douglas Hodge (heart) was reprising his role as Albin. He won a Tony.

JohnW, a “heart” emoticon would be nice!
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