The eminence of the musical has been the most significant theatre phenomenon in the world over the last twenty years. It has not only given British theatres a greatly needed financial boost but has changed ‘popular’ theatre indefinitely. Before this, they never throbbed with subtlety because someone was always bursting into song about how every thing ‘was looking just swell’. The musical not only wanted to sing away your troubles, but your thoughts as well. The ‘old style’ musical theatre had no social conscience. Always presented in the traditional proscenium arch, the musical isolated the audience from new ideas and innovations. Due to television broadcasting daily updates on world affairs it is now impossible to believe in the benevolence of the Universe that the likes of Rodgers and Hammerstein wrote about. Today’s audiences can almost find it abhorrent, being socially aware and informed of current affairs. I would like to take you on a short journey charting the development of the musical. Kirsty, Rick & I will demonstrate thru songs the changes that have taken place. Hello DollyThe play first opens in 1890's New York City with Dolly Gallagher Levi, a well-known widowed matchmaker. The song you are about to hear is sung by a crew of elated waiters who escort Dolly into the restaurant ecstatic that their favourite patron has returned for the first time since her husband's death. The story is very dated, but a charming one! Dolly is determined to find herself a new husband after she has been widowed. The story revolves around her pursuits in catching her man! The song Kirsty is about to perform does not advance or enhance the story at all. Although it is a catchy tune it halts the progression.Fiddler on the RoofFiddler on the Roof stands as one of the strongest, most emotional musicals in history and the film version is a wonderful document of the work. The story takes place just after the...
