Britney Spears the musical?

A few weeks ago I reviewed Thriller Live, which was a showcase of the music of Michael Jackson. Whilst not strictly a musical due to a lack of story, it has got me thinking about other artists who have had musicals made on the success of their back catalogue.

The biggest show, where this is the case, is of course Mamma Mia. It tells the story of a young girl who wants to find out the identity of her father so she can invite him to her wedding. Intermingled with the story is the music of Abba, from The Winner Takes it All to Super Trouper. According to an online encyclopedia, there are 24 of the Swedish groups hits laced throughout the show, which opened in London in June 1999. Since then it has opened on Broadway, been turned into a hit film starring Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan, and toured the nations arenas, whilst still being one of the most popular shows in the West End. It is a ferocious beast of a show, still packing them in after more than a decade.

Another hit show, which has survived a number of extensions is We Will Rock You, which incorporates the music of Queen, and written by Ben Elton. This show is also bringing patrons into the Dominion in their droves, frequently selling out the 2000 seat theatre. There has recently been a UK tour, as well as the sit-down London show, and there is to be another which starts up later this year. There are also numerous productions running around the world.

Other shows which are based on the music of pop icons include Never Forget, the Take That musical, which had a short stint in The West End, prior to a UK tour. One feels that this show would have been much more succesful, were it not for the fact that Take That didn't endorse the show. Jersey Boys is another hit show, now enjoying its 3rd year in the West End and 6th year on Broadway, and The Buddy Holly story which seems to constantly be running somewhere around the country.

The new Spice Girls musical is currently being penned by Absolutely Fabulous writter Jennifer Saunders. If given the green light, this show is possibly going to generate an awful lot of interest, and could run and run.

My point is that these shows are popular - some more than others, but on the whole they put bums on seats. They provide the theatre going audience with something recognisable. Why would you go and shell out your £60 (+ in some cases), on a new musical you know nothing about when you can spend the same amount of money on a show that you can sing along to? These shows are "audience friendly", and herein lies the genius, and the danger. Musical theatre in this country is at a cross-roads. There are more duke-box musicals and musicals produced on the back of previously successful shows and films (The Lion King, Billy Elliott, Wicked et al), than brand new musicals, which means that there isn't really that much variety. This must be rectified in the future, if we are to enjoy the talents of our up and coming writers. If this does't happen, we will only see shows in the future that pander to the masses - shows which do not hve a heart and which don't have a brain.



In twenty five years time will you be the one who is queing up for Britney Spears the Musical, or We Will GAGA You? Because if the answer is no, then we all need to do something about the way that musicals are produced in this country. We all collectively need to support those excellent smaller shows to help them survive, rather than add to the thick pockets of the West Ends super producers. Shows like Spring Awakening and Love Story (which I recently went to see and enjoyed immensely) don't currently stand a chance, which is why they both closed so soon.

What do you think of the current state of musicals in this country and around the world? Would you be happy going to see Britney the musical in 20 yrs time?!