10 Favourite Musicals
What fun! Musicals are a bit of a family tradition. Often times we would watch all together – Aunts, Unlces, cousins, grandparents. So musicals hold a special place in my heart – for all their cheesy too-happy situations and co-ordinated song & dance breakouts.
1. Showboat
Kinda morbid for a little girl but this is my favourite, hands down, since I was a preschooler. Life upon the wicked stage + the water = magic. I wanted to be Katherine Grayson when I grew up. And marry a rakish gambler who would slowly realize I was worth more than his freewheeling life as a broke drunk surrounded by fallen women.
Aim high little girl. Aim high.
2. Music Man
Love, love, love this! There is something so bright and cheerful about this one. Yee gods, it must be the 76 trombones. Hmmm…I grew up adoring librarians, and am one (of a sort) now so…perhaps these musicals were more of an influence than I realized.
also – another charlatan is reformed by the love of a good woman, begrudgingly reformed…theme is emerging…
3. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
Ha! Howard Keel is back and he’s looking for a lady – not any will do: Heavenly eyes, but oh that size! He helps his brothers when they steal the women they love and keep them ’til the spring thaw’. Of course by then they love their kidnappers (pretty advanced psychology) and are pleased to all pretend they’ve had a baby out of wedlock so they can be married.
Life lessons are happening all over the place.
4. The Unsinkable Molly Brown
Of all the musicals I’ll list, and they were all watched over and over, this one does make me cringe when I see it today. The heavy handed acting — well, shouting really. But some of those songs are mighty catchy — fave: He’s My Friend…
Even as a kid the money in the stove hurt, physically hurt me — my stomach is tightening just thinking about that scene.
5. Gigi
Oh I thought Leslie Caron was so gorgeous — I didn’t see this til I was 10 or so and my goodness did she impress me. Maurice Chevalier – what a voice.
6. My Fair Lady
Oh! Everyone was so shocked when she said ‘bloomin’ arse. I’m not talking about the upper crust Brits – I’m talking about my family!!!
7. Singin’ In the Rain
So funny. I could watch this any, any time. One of my favourite childhood memories is of accompanying my beloved Grandfather to the bank on a rainy, Vancouver afternoon, and singing the title song together. Tomorrow it will be 22 years since he passed away and I still miss him everyday. What a gentleman.
8. Meet Me in St. Louis/Easter Parade
I really don’t recall either of these in their entirety but they, plus the preceding 7, evoke the warmth and security of my grandparents living room, in pj’s surrounded by family, watching and singing and laughing together. Just sharing.
9. The Sound of Music
Oh boy. I distinctly recall being able to stay up 2 hrs!! passed my bedtime to watch this on tv on a Sunday night – and I had school the next day! I have seen this too many times to count. Including live, with an old, old german couple seated behind us who were singing along but, said aloud in a tone of complete shock at Rolf’s moment of confrontation: Und he’z a Nazi!!!
If I only could watch one musical over and over – I think this would have to be it.
10. The King and I
Oh how I wanted to travel the world and fall in love with the gruff but kind gentleman/barbarian. These shows really weren’t the best example setters! But they sure were a great way to pass an evening.
11 & 12 – yes 2 extra. As a teen I became obsessed with the Phantom. In my college years I saw and loved Les Miserables.
Oh no – 13 (the irony of this ill intentioned number pairing with:) Jesus Christ Superstar!
‘who in the hell do you think you are’ – that’s what i thought the lyrics were! This has to be one of the sing-alongable-est musicals going. I didn’t see it til I was in my 30’s. My mother still disapproves.
Oh. 14. I was blown away by Donny Osmonds’ Joseph – great great talent.
k – i’ll really stop now…