do you hate musicals?

zoey parkin as 'carrie pipperidge' in 'carousel'

do you hate musicals? i don't, but i've been recently quite surprised at the number of friends and acquaintances who have announced their disdain for musical theatre. but then i thought about it whilst i was on the loo and realised the reason why i enjoy musical theatre is because i was raised with it. maybe it is a bit like the comfort many people find in religion, because they've grown up with it since they were children and can find comfort and strength therein... for me, helping mum and dad dry the dishes after a sunday dinner and singing along with the rest of the family to numbers from rodgers and hammerstein ii's colourful works provide me with wonderful memories: and the tunes are etched on my brain. similarly, the excitement of the impending shows: the sweaty stench of the costumes, seeing men wearing poorly applied stage makeup and rushing about backstage to get to their entrance; being in the shows and feeling that sense of 'we're all in this together' team spirit; remembering your lines or dance steps, and relaxing at the end of the number whilst you soak up the applause. am dram is egos and intrigue as well as friendships and hard work. and there is always that undescribable feeling of pleasure you feel when you sing a song you love with other people.

if you don't like musicals, perhaps you never gave them enough of a chance? - or perhaps you were not indoctrinated like i was as a child! musicals are like opera and theatre combined and 'dumbed down' to be more accessible. however i don't think i would ever attend a musical without familiarising myself with the music first - i know i wouldn't enjoy the show half as much! it's like when you buy a new album - you have to listen to it a few times before you get to like all the songs, and essentially i think this is why a lot of people don't like musicals: they didn't listen repeatedly to the songs! that's just my opinion though....

A scene from "Carousel" which I have just performed in with my drama group: the Gillingham Operatic and Dramatic Society