Best of the 2010s - Stage Musicals and Plays

So we have tackled films, TV, video games, comics, music, technology and viral videos. So for this next one I was originally planning to do pop culture news. But because most of that news is nothing more than just announcements of upcoming things and just the general sort of news everyone is bound to expect, I decided to not cover that and instead do stage musicals and plays. So I guess when it comes to telling a story, most would enjoy seeing people acting on stage instead of seeing a moving picture. I personally enjoy both mediums and I think musicals and plays are great. So we are looking at those musicals and plays that made their debut over the last decade in either or both Broadway and the west end. I'm not looking at long established stage musicals or plays that got revived in the last decade. Only new ones including those based on other works as well as those that had been in Broadway for a while but never reached the west end until sometime during the last decade (especially as I'm a UK resident so its west end for me). So let's go and see some people act and/or sing on stage:

2010 - American Idiot

Let's kick the list off by looking at my favourite kind of musical; a musical that uses music from a particular artist, band or record label to tie into the plot in some way. Kind of like how Rocketman played out. Another thing to also note is that while most of these shows will have made their debuts in a particular year, I won't have necessarily been able to see them in their debut years. But that's OK as I would have got to see them eventually. So with a story that uses songs from the album of the same name by rock band Green Day, American Idiot is all about three men who are disaffected and go through a period that sees at least one of them go through a downward spiral that involves drug use and other stuff that people their age would do to have a good time. When I saw this at the Arts Theatre in London (known to be one of their smallest), cast members Amelia Lily and Aaron Sidwell were already well known with the former having been on The X Factor not too long ago as one of the live show contestants while the latter had been on EastEnders. I think both of them act really well and all the songs are well sang which would make the band really proud I'm sure. Its not the longest of the shows here, but worth a watch if you like Green Day's music and want to see it used for story purposes. Plus I also hear that HBO are working on a film adaptation which I would really want to see so yeah.

2011 - The Book of Mormon

When people hear the names Trey Parker and Matt Stone when attached to something, most people tend to turn away from seeing any of their work. But to be honest as controversial as their work is (especially South Park), you can't deny that they know how to do crude humour and poke fun at everything with no limitations whatsoever. They are also good storytellers too. So having already done a hit cartoon, two critically acclaimed but controversial films and would soon start doing video games (not counting any South Park game that came before the 2010s because the creators were never involved aside from giving the license out), they set their sights on doing a musical. But the question was what could they make. Well having already done an episode of South Park around the subject of Mormons (which is in fact a real religion of sorts), that would become the focus of their musical and thus we got The Book of Mormon. A show that sees two Latter-Day Saint missionaries go on a mission to preach the faith of the Church of Jesus Christ for Latter-Day Saints to a remote Ugandan village. But its not easy task as the villagers at first have no interest and instead focus on more pressing matters (and anyone who has seen any of those many relief videos for Comic Relief will no doubt guess correctly what those things could be). It is very funny and a worthwhile musical to watch especially if you are a nerd like me and enjoy crude humour (there was even one moment that saw a roar of laughter). Its a great show worth watching as is the one below.

Runner Up:

• Aladdin

2012 - The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

So I have always been interested in how someone could act out as if they had some kind of autism and while in this play they don't directly call it that, I feel that the main character has it in some form. But despite this, I did very much enjoy The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. It was well acted with very minimal props and had some great visuals to go with it. It was and still is one of the best plays I have ever seen and one that is needed now more than ever with so many people in the UK battling the benefits system. Autism is something that is a hidden disability and should not be ignored or overlooked and this play shows just one example of how the life of someone who may have autism or something similar go about their lives. So yeah a great show to come from 2012 and check out the other one below too.

Runner Up:

• The Play That Goes Wrong

2013 - Motown

Well of course a musical that based on the story of a record label will go down a treat and with Motown, it certainly does just that. Most believe that Motown is a genre, but the reality is that it is a record label. A record label that's widely known for kickstarting the careers of some of the most beloved musicians out there including Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson and legends like Stevie Wonder and the Jackson 5. A great musical that makes us feel good and give people a renewed interest in these many artists. So yeah a very good musical as is the one below.

Runner Up:

• Kinky Boots

2014 - Made in Dagenham

Often you get films turned into stage musicals and Made in Dagenham is just some of those particular shows that are on this list. Based on the 2010 film of the same name, this is a true story about the Ford sewing machinists strike of 1968 which in turn was a pre-cursor for equal pay among both men and women (and later on those of different races, disability, sexual orientation and so on). Its one that has good music and some comedy. But the real thing that made this musical great was the climatic moment where the main female character makes a big speech. So yeah probably one of the more important musicals ever made, but for good reason. Great musical as are the couple below.

Runner Up:

• Beautiful: The Carole King Musical
• I Can't Sing!

2015 - School of Rock

When you hear names like Andrew Lloyd Webber attached to various productions, you know you are in for what may as well be a good time. The film was never truly a musical but did feature pieces of music by all sorts of rock bands out there. So of course a musical would be made and well it does very well following the film while allowing itself some new bits of material and a lot of great musical numbers. All about a supply teacher who isn't who he claims to be and later learns that his students are great at using instruments so he makes a band out of them. Some parts are a bit different from the film, but that's OK. Overall a great musical adaptation from one of Jack Black's best films. So yeah worth a watch as is the runner up below.

Runner Up:

•  Bend It Like Beckham

2016 - Half a Sixpence

So this technically is me cheating because Half a Sixpence was already a musical back in the 60s. So in a way, this does count as a revival. But I'm actually putting it in because while it remains faithful to the original one, there is lots of stuff in it that's different not to mention it is based on a whole new book with familiar elements. I went to see this without knowledge of there being a musical before it and I was the youngest in the audience. But despite that, I thought it was fun and very enjoyable. Worth a watch if you have the time for it.

2017 - Bat Out of Hell

So while American Idiot was based on the Green Day album of the same, Bat out of Hell is based on not just one album, but a trilogy of albums by Meatloaf. Its a loose retelling of Peter Pan if it were set in a post-apocalyptic world with a forever young gang known as The Lost who try to go about life while avoiding the tyrannical ruler at all costs. The leader falls in love with his daughter and you can probably guess the rest of it. It is what I have always thought a Bat out of Hell musical could be and I personally really enjoyed watching it. Its great.

2018 - Disney on Ice: Worlds of Enchantment

So Disney on Ice has been going for a number of years and well its basically an attempt at retelling the stories of their films if it were obviously set on ice. Hosted by Mickey and friends, this particular show followed the stories of Toy Story 3, The Little Mermaid and Frozen while featuring an original story around the hosts and another one with characters from the Cars franchise. I really enjoyed the show and felt it was worth my time. Its the sort of show that unlike the others on the list, is always on tour and never has a set building. Probably too late now to see this show, but Disney on Ice is always having new shows that feature many of their beloved franchises within. So yeah very magical indeed.

2019 - Waitress

With 2019 being a difficult year for me, I only managed to watch one show which was Waitress. Based on the 2007 comedy and drama film of the same name, this talks about a titular waitress who is widely known for her pies of which she names for each day at a restaurant she works at. But is trying to escape an abusive relationship in the wake of discovering that she is pregnant. Pretty good show that is quite literally very tasty and full of flavour. Probably seen more as a rom com over anything, but still good fun and worth watching.

And that's it for musicals and plays. Comment below your favourites and I'll be back on Monday with the next and probably last of the best of the 2010s posts.