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@mediagyrl OK before you go on your musical journey, I have THOUGHTS on expectation setting, which is very important for musical enjoyment. (lil thread.)
1 - Musicals are inherently corny. They just are. They're have to appeal to broad audiences and make their money back.
1 - Musicals are inherently corny. They just are. They're have to appeal to broad audiences and make their money back.
You have to expect the same level of joy-corniness as you have yourself when you say play with a puppy or a small child. The way you talk to both is expressive and corny!
They're also overdramatic. Remember, you have to get the emotions to reach the nosebleeds, so belting big numbers is key. Just like a telenovela.
So when you're watching a musical, pretend you're watching a telenovela while playing with a puppy.
So when you're watching a musical, pretend you're watching a telenovela while playing with a puppy.
2- Suspension of disbelief: Musicals were made for the stage initially. It's crafted into their DNA. You have to have a little leap in your brain because you're pretending you're in a space and not in a theater pretending not to hear the subway pass beneath you.
But when you have movie musicals, they're able to actually inhabit the space they take place in. There's no suspension at play to be able to make the breaking out into song feel less weird.
When you're watching the "The Sound of Music" on stage, for example, you have to imagine Maria singing in the mountains (because you're looking at painted wood for on-stage scenery) and since you're already using your imagination, breaking out into song isn't much of a stretch.
However, the leap your brain has to make for the movie to make sense is a little bigger because you actually see her on the mountainside singing (completely alone?) to music (coming from where?). It's hard to make it work and not feel weird about it.
That is all to say: help your brain take that leap and don't get hung up on it. Dig into the emotions instead of what's literally happening in front of you.
I love how specific you can get with emotions in musicals. This song is about a Nuyorican girls whose coming back home from California and feels like she's the gifted one that was supposed to make it out and is letting the WHOLE BARRIO DOWN :(
Anyway! Enjoy your journey, but set your expectations accordingly!
Here are some Hamilton hip-hop primers to help connect it to the MCs the characters are emulating:
And here: http://graphics.wsj.com/hamilton/
Here are some Hamilton hip-hop primers to help connect it to the MCs the characters are emulating:
And here: http://graphics.wsj.com/hamilton/
