A few words on musicals

[mollyringwraith]

I have three things to say regarding musical theater tonight.

1) After closing in Toronto a while back, the 'Lord of the Rings' musical is now retooled and running in London. People say it looks pretty, but that in order to make sense of the plot you need to have read the books. Is that entirely a bad thing? Anyway, on the official site you can

Comments

They called it Xanadu

[gillen]

Hmmph! I liked the plot of the movie. Sentimentalist nonsense, sure, but 30 years on I still watch it from time to time.

Re: They called it Xanadu

[mollyringwraith]

I guess I should admit I haven't seen it in probably at least 15 years, but imprinted on it as a kid, so in many ways I can't help liking it. And actually the plot is a pretty cool idea. There are just some points of execution that turn cheesy--you know, like the animated fish. :D

[mikailborg]

(*Molly hides the CD of the movie soundtrack, which naturally she does not own, same as she doesn't own the soundtrack to The Pirate Movie*.)

As an Electric Light Orchestra fan, I have to say that there's no reason to hide that Xanadu CD. They put some absolutely great tracks on that disc... I remember driving way too fast along a mountain parkway with my Dad, top down on his Corvette for a blistery summer day, with "I'm Alive" blaring on the radio. Wonderful times.

And The Pirate Movie was my gateway drug to Gilbert and Sullivan - so it can't feel completely ashamed, either.

[mollyringwraith]

It's oddly great driving music, isn't it? And for melodramatic love songs, you can't beat "Don't Walk Away" and "The Fall."

"my gateway drug to Gilbert and Sullivan" - now that's an amusing phrase. :) That's also part of why The Pirate Movie was such an odd idea...it seems like it was a parody of something that was already a parody. But I guess it was more a retelling than a parody. Or something.

[jigglykat]

Ummmm, feel no shame about "Pirate Movie". I have both DVD and soundtrack as well.

And I'm overly excited for "Young Frankenstein". There are posters in Time Square for it that I walk by on my way back for work.

[mollyringwraith]

Ooh, I need to get my hands on the DVD someday here. See if it's as so-bad-it's-good as I remember. :)

Mel Brooks will probably sweep the Tonys again, if YF is anywhere as popular as "The Producers".

[mac_arthur_park]

*ahem* As someone who owns copies of both movies on dvd, there's no shame in owning the soundtracks.

[mollyringwraith]

I'm so glad some of you are with me on this. :) Dare I imagine that Pirates of the Caribbean helped bring back a teensy bit of popularity for The Pirate Movie?...

[mac_arthur_park]

I think that Pirates of the Caribbean helped get some of us out of the closet, so to speak, about The Pirate Movie. Let's face it...it's one of the ultimate guilty pleasures. And the movie's take on "Modern Major General?" Oh, absolute perfection.

Xanadu I can't explain quite as well, aside from a brilliant soundtrack and those costumes. I SO wanted one of the outfits that the sisters wore in the opening scene when I was a kid.

Yeah....I'm odd.

[mollyringwraith]

Probably right about the Pirate closet. And true on the pleasures--if you can withstand the cheesiness, oh the eye candy in store!

I totally wanted to look like Kira and Co. too. :) But it's not so crazy. I looked up the "I'm Alive" clip on YouTube the other day, and you know what? They still look gorgeous. Maybe those ruffles are back in style.

[dirae]

Have you ever heard the songs to the Silence of the Lambs musical? Ohhh...so bad they're smirk inducing (they are meant to be horrid and filthy).

Also, I heard the test songs from Young Frankenstein -- very good.

Number three: download Reefer Madness: The Musical. :)

[mollyringwraith]

LOL at the Silence of the Lambs song titles, especially "Put the Fucking Lotion in the Basket." Oh dear.

*looks up Reefer Madness*...Alan Cumming, sweet! I'm there!