Features of a Great Musical
Unfortunately, a “great musical” for one person or audience can be a “poor overrated performance” for another audience or person, thanks to subjectivity. But some pieces are rated as outstanding by almost all the audiences.
What are the things that make a great musical, or what do all the beautiful musicals have in common? Read on to learn about the features of the great shows.
Connection
All the musicals that most of the fans of these kinds of stage performances call great have a common thing: the connection with the audience. These shows connect with the audience and make them concerned about what is happening on the stage. The audience gets to care about the characters and the events surrounding them. Some of the things that bring the connection with those watching are the use of monologues, for example, the characters talking with God, making the audience know what is going on in their minds. Also, using appropriate and catchy songs helps provide a real emotional connection that is a vital element in any great musical.
The Story or the Book
The backbone of any great musical is the narrative structure or the book. It makes the performance not to be just another combination of songs with some interruptions in between. When an incredible story is paired with great music, a great musical is born. But it would even be better to have a moving account and mediocre music than vice-versa. Some of the critical elements of a good book are a clear story line, easy-to-relate with characters, and situations that allow the characters seamless movement into and out of the song, generating an emotional connection with the audience.
The Music
A common feature of all successful musicals is that they have fantastic music that fits the show’s story line well. Usually, they will have music that so enjoyable and exciting that the audience will long to listen to it even outside the theater, maybe on their CD players or other devices. If the music is memorable or enjoyable, the show will be a great success.