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Musicals With Knobs On

I used to hate juke box musicals, as they had begun to get so repetitive and lazy, particularly following the success of Mamma Mia! You know the score (well, of course you do, as you have the album before the show comes out in your CD collection under A for Abba) - the shoe-horned lyrics, the slim plot and the megamix at the end. But, as I have gotten older, I have grown to accept them more because now I have another bugbear - musicals whereby the cast start playing instruments!

I loved the show The Hired Man but could not take it seriously all the time, as a supporting cast member would start playing an instrument and then hold it as she was delivering her dialogue. Is it me or does it comes across like showing off? I ask because every time I see it done in a show, I am irritated.

I am reminded of this tonight as Spend Spend Spend opens at the Lowry and all the cast are going to be all singing, all dancing , all playing. As much as I admire the multi-tasking, it does often take you out of the narrative. Or does it? Am I the only who feels like this?

A recent production of Sweeney Tood featured performers armed with trumpets and trombones, as did Blonde Bombshells - I accepted it there though as it was connected to the narrative. But I even saw it in a production of James and The Giant Peach. Looking for some theatre to see on a forthcoming holiday to the States - I saw an advert for a small production of Coraline but the publicity shots put me off as everyone is armed with an instrument. It looked like one of my old music classes where you are forced to play the recorder!

So, mock me but I have settled for Shrek The Musical instead as it is touring the U.S and there seems to be no chance of the dragon playing the trombone. But if I even so much as hear Donkey or Fiona start playing the flute halfway through a scene, why I ougta...! 

Spend Spend Spend opens at the Lowry tonight and runs until Sat 16th October.

- by Glenn Meads

Any opinions expressed above do not represent the view of Whatsonstage.com nor any of its staff or contributors beyond the bylined author.

Glenn has covered the Manchester theatre scene for Whatsonstage.com since 2001. Since then he has edited whatsonstage.com/manchester and he currently edits the North West site, as well as providing news, reviews, features and competitions.

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	Has the Jukebox musical found its niche with Soul Sister? - 3rd Mar 2013 blog
	Get a Taste of the West End in the North West - 2nd Mar 2013 blog
	Why I Cannot Wait for Book of Mormon - 26th Feb 2013 blog
	Does Smash Need to Change? - 31st Jan 2013 blog
	Bring on the Broadway Performers: Welcome Kristin Chenoweth - 27th Jan 2013 blog
	Why Sheffield's My Fair Lady Should transfer to the West End - 22nd Jan 2013 blog
	Les Miserables - Is the film any good? - 10th Jan 2013 blog
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	Nine gets a four from me - 4th Jan 2010 Blog
	Can't Stop the Glee - 12th Jan 2010 Blog
	A Raisin left me standing - 2nd Feb 2010 Blog
	Are you still full of Glee? - 6th Apr 2010 Blog
	Why I Love Corrie! - 30th Mar 2011 Blog
	WOS Northwest - One Year On - 4th Jul 2010 Blog