There's this thing Alexis and I like to do where we argue about which musicals are the best. We agree on the top choice, but from there? HOOBOY CAN WE FIGHT ABOUT IT. Let's get the fact that Hamilton is The Best out of the way. There is no debate there. Don't @ me.
The second best, though. THAT IS HARD. I tend to keep Aida, Aladdin, ONCE, and Wicked in my top 5, but don't ask me to put them in order. They can't be put in order. They all deserve to be second best. It's a tie, okay?
Alexis vehemently disagrees with that list, for what it's worth. It must be hard to be as wrong as she is about this, though. I think I could get her to put Wicked up there, but she has terrible taste in musicals after that. If she were to prefer the classics, I could see her side of things, but mostly she prefers the really bad contemporary shows.
ONCE is a great example of her terrible opinions. I *love* ONCE. So much. It is exactly what would happen if Ed Sheeran were to wake up and *poof* into a musical. It's folksy but adorable and just SO good. Alexis disagrees. While she agrees that the music is phenomenal, it irritates her muchly that it doesn't end with a tidy happy ending.
The kid really super likes a good happily ever after.
I super like musicals that sound a little different than everything else. I happen to like the not-so-tidy ending. I REALLY like some of the innovative ways the set changes and the fact that the people in the show are the singers, dancers, and musicians. The dozen or so of them DO EVERYTHING. It's fantastic. They also never leave the stage which is just plain cool.
ANYWAY.
ONCE is currently showing at the Benedum. If you loved it when the Broadway tour came through a few years ago, you should go see this one. It's a completely different set, but the same well-told story and music that climbs into your soul and settles into a good place. There's some local talent starring in the show (good job, Lauren!) which makes it even more fun. If you didn't see it the last time it was in Pittsburgh, you DEFINITELY should go. It's a well-told story that will leave you caring about total strangers and wishing the music would just keep going.
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This is not a sponsored post, though Pittsburgh CLO did provide me with tickets to the show. Don't tell them, but I was going to buy tickets for this weekend. Shhh!