Curtain Call for Some of Broadway's Greatest Hits

Good evening everyone and welcome to The Magical Mystery Blog.

Today an Edgar Allen Poe musical entitled ‘Red-Eye to Havre de Grace’,  popped up in my newsfeed and sent my bookwormy self into a hysteria of happiness. The plot of this musical entails the final days of the great poet and how he died. To my dismay, it was an article published in the early fall of 2012; thus meaning that this brilliant musical was no more.

However, this old news made me think of all the great musicals that were taken off Broadway.  Over the years, tons of shows have been produced, and performed beautifully by many actors and actresses. Yet time rolled on and one by one these musicals were plucked off Broadway one by one. Below are my top three shows that should have not been kicked off Broadway:

3) ‘Beauty and the Beast ‘

It’s a tale as old as time that was a hit Broadway musical. Sticking to Disney’s version of the classic fairy tale, this show toured the nation and dazzled audiences with its lavish sets and costumes. The show even included songs that weren’t in the movie such as Maison de Lunes, Human Again, Home, If I Can’t Love Her, and many others.  ‘Beauty and the Beast’ started its Broadway run in 1994 and completed it in 2007 and was considered to be Broadway’s eighth longest running musical. Even more intriguing about this play, the woman who played Belle also voiced Meg in the Disney classic, Hercules.

2) ‘Monty Python’s Spamalot’

Some things in life are bad, like getting kicked off Broadway. This play “ripped off” Monty Python’s Holy Grail flick and created a parody of the King Arthur age that differed from the movie. While the musical heavily touched on King Arthur, Camelot, and his court, it also focused on other Arthurian myths such as the Lady in the Lake. Starting in 2005, it ended four short years later leaving audiences rolling with laughter. It featured many songs, including the ever popular The Song that Goes Like This. Literally, that’s the title, and it’s perfect for that tune.

1) ‘RENT’

How do you measure the years after Broadway? By a live action film featuring Anthony Rapp and enough fans (also known as ‘RENT’ heads) to take up the entire district of Alphabet City. Originally based off of Giacomo Puccini’s classic opera La boheme, this musical focuses on starving artists trying to survive and create in New York.  ‘RENT’ took to the theaters in 1996 and finished its run in 2008, causing its run to last for 12 years.

What Broadway musical would you like to see return to the stage? Feel free to comment and as always feedback and followers are welcomed. 

Jingle Bells, Kmart Sells

Greetings everyone and welcome to The Magical Mystery Blog.

By now Christmas ads have been aired on television. Some are old classics like the Chex Mix commercial set to Carol of the Bells and Hershey Kisses chiming We Wish You a Merry Christmas. Other businesses have created new ads to draw people into their stores. Kmart has released its Christmas commercial and it’s causing heads to turn and opinions to be launched from mouths everywhere.

To be frank with you fellow readers, I don’t understand why people are so upset with this ad. As a Communications major, I know that media uses sex appeal in various commercials, magazines, and other formats. Sex draws the eyes of many readers along with murder, scandal, and any other sort of shocking event. In this new Kmart commercial, they were doing what any other company does, and using sex appeal to sell their product of Joe Boxer boxers. We have Victoria’s Secret models that expose half, if not most of their bodies, on their commercials yet no one has said anything about that. 

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Honestly, the new Kmart Christmas commercial reminds me of Monty Python’s skit “Sit on my Face.” In that skit, the cast of Monty Python proceeded to sing about how life would be great with different methods of sex. But as opposed to wearing boxers, they were nothing but waiter’s uniforms without underwear and pants. The audience saw the cast’s bums and possibly, some other things. But no one was offended by this skit because it was done for the sake of comedy because that’s what Monty Python does. They live to relish British humor with a bit of dirtiness, slight nudity, and other crazy yet humorous antics. 

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Nobody expects The Ministry of Silly Walks!

Kmart on the other hand is just a store filled with clothes, home accessories, food, and other items.  They’re like any other establishment who wants to attract people so purchases can be made. While Monty Python’s skit was done for comedy, I can imagine Kmart’s commercial attempted to mix sex appeal and humor, to create men shaking their bums to Jingle Bells. Comedy often tends to reside with people on a positive note, especially sexual humor. Adults and teens love a funny, perverted joke. As for kids, it flies over their heads, and the only thing they receive from the ad is guys rocking their butts to a Christmas song. It would probably make them laugh as well because its butts and everything at that age that deals with behinds is funny. Even the word ‘butt’ to them is funny; why else do you think children’s movies are loaded up with butt jokes?  Take a look at the latest Despicable Me movie, the minions practically laugh at the word ‘bottom’ – clearly designed for kids.

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Minions. Making everything funny with their strange looks, language, and voices. 

Kmart’s commercial was crafted to be funny for families and to promote their product to get people in their stores. Honestly, I find the ad to be a success if that was their intentions. While I don’t normally shop at that business, I may acknowledge the commercial in the future as being something comedic in a time where people trample over each other just to buy a Tickle Me Elmo.

What are your thoughts about the Kmart Christmas commercial? Feel free to leave your comments below and as always, feedback and followers are welcomed.