("Till Him" keeps it above zero, but it's very lighthearted overall.)
Showtunes: 8
(This is *very* Broadway, including in subject matter. And everyone hams it up to the max, including Miss Fanservice. Also, the film of the musical changed as little as possible but doesn't quite work as well because it's not on a stage.)
Shit: 2
(I can't say that the music is particularly great *as music* but it's goddamn hilarious.)
I have pretty high tolerance for showtunes and remarkably high tolerance for shit ("Scamilton wasn't *that* bad!"), but my husband has little to no tolerance for either. I've largely given up on trying to persuade him to see musicals with me unless there is 3rd party verification of non-shittiness and the marketing material gives little impression of showtunes. He did enjoy Hadestown (medium sad, low shit, low showtunes) but everything else he just tolerates.
(Now I'm second guessing rating Hadestown as "medium sad" instead of "low sad" since everyone who is dead ends up unionized under a newly-benevolent monarchy in the underworld. And the supporting obligatory het pair reunites. How sad is that, really?)
Hmmm.
The Producers:
Sad: 1
("Till Him" keeps it above zero, but it's very lighthearted overall.)
Showtunes: 8
(This is *very* Broadway, including in subject matter. And everyone hams it up to the max, including Miss Fanservice. Also, the film of the musical changed as little as possible but doesn't quite work as well because it's not on a stage.)
Shit: 2
(I can't say that the music is particularly great *as music* but it's goddamn hilarious.)
Did I do that right?
Are non-musical plays Showtunes 0?
I'm proud to say I've actually seen Starlight Express on Broadway, in 1988. (And Chess!)
This is genius. Such a handy heuristic lens.
I have pretty high tolerance for showtunes and remarkably high tolerance for shit ("Scamilton wasn't *that* bad!"), but my husband has little to no tolerance for either. I've largely given up on trying to persuade him to see musicals with me unless there is 3rd party verification of non-shittiness and the marketing material gives little impression of showtunes. He did enjoy Hadestown (medium sad, low shit, low showtunes) but everything else he just tolerates.
(Now I'm second guessing rating Hadestown as "medium sad" instead of "low sad" since everyone who is dead ends up unionized under a newly-benevolent monarchy in the underworld. And the supporting obligatory het pair reunites. How sad is that, really?)