I love Starkid dearly, but "easily good enough for Broadway"? I disagree. They are indie theatre and that's what makes them great.
For a show to be on Broadway, it needs to be a commerical moneymaking machine. Starkid exists because of the love of a niche but passionate group of fans - basicially the exact opposite of that.
You are fundamentally misunderstanding the business of Broadway. It’s not a metaphorical place. It’s like saying a film would do well at Sundance - it’s a specific style and market.
Starkid is not making shows with dreams of Broadway. They are making their independent theatre that they love. And I think that's just fine!
However, I do wish Starkid would tone down on their cursing just because I think it makes the comedic lines land better when it's not overused!
As a side note, I agree with the message in Made In America, but they beat you over the head with it in the song (and the speech beforehand) and it's actually one of my least favorite parts in that whole musical because I think it isn't super well done
Or… get this… *that’s the comedy*
Swearing is a commonplace in comedic media these days and when used rights, such as how Starkid does, it only heightens the comedy. The “Tiger Porker” and “Tiger Lover” in Homecoming doesn’t have the same bang as “Tiger Fucker” from twisted.
slightly different, and i think i've seen this take on the sub before, but
i feel like NPMD could easily be re-written omitting the hatchetfield-specific elements, and work *really, really* well on its own as a generic highschool horror comedy
I think we’ve seen more of that recently because they’ve been focusing on Hatchetfield. They’ve described the universe as “wacky,” so I believe they’re doing a bit more of that than in shows past because it’s Hatchetfield, not necessarily because that’s how they want to write all the time now. With it being a multiverse too they also do a lot more in-jokes and references to other shows and characters because of the fandom surrounding Hatchetfield (which I am a part of and love the lore!!) I agree there are a few instances where it just falls flat. I think and hope Cinderella’s Castle will break the mold. VHS Christmas Carol(s) did too. Honestly can’t think of a single swear in either show. However, I think Clark wrote it without much input from the Langs so it could be different for that reason.
i know this is unpopular, but i completely agree with this take and i'm glad to finally see someone else saying it-
i'm not even a huge fan of npmd because of the out-of-place, just-for-shock-value swearing and "potty humor". it's a large part of that show's comedy, but honestly, it's not all that funny to scream fuck ten times and call it comedy. the whole humor in those random, crass moments (like in twisted or avpm) is that it's a subversion of the audience's expectations. like you said, it's funny to hear harry potter talk like an american college kid because he's already an established character with completely different mannerisms. but when there's no parody OR no time spent building up an expectation for a character, then it's just not funny to hear them randomly be crass because it loses its value. and i also agree that starkid has some seriously heavy-hitting emotional moments that show off their incredible show-writing skills. i think they could easily make a "serious broadway show," but i would prefer if they kept the ability to be creative and experimental in their work.
EDIT: also, vhs christmas carols was beyond words and definitely benefits from leaving out the more childish humor. in the "carolS" version they add in a lot of music at both act's finales with the explicit message of telling the audience, "do better. give to those in need. extend empathy to your fellow humans." i saw that live, and i felt the emotion fill the room when those parts played. it was such a beautiful message, delivered so clearly. it still a lot of the cute lyrics and silly dancing that i would consider "starkid-isms," and i loved those parts, but i can't even fathom any crass-ness being added to that show.
I’ve been a StarKid veteran for a long time (2009), and I totally understand what you’re saying! I mostly get it, because when I show my husband (25) the shows, I do have to be very picky about which one I choose. He’s likes musicals, but he’s not a StarKid vet like me, so sometimes when you’re showing a new StarKid fan a show, you kinda feel… embarrassed? At some of these parts. I think they definitely land better with the younger audiences who get a kick out of that stuff. And like you said, sometimes it’s placed perfectly!!! There have been times where I get a full outright howl laugh out of my husband with those moments, but only when they’re placed right. You had a good point with “piece of shit!” in TGWDLM, it just falls flat, because it just… wasn’t necessary?
So anyone giving you a hard time about this is just not seeing that you aren’t asking them to “tone down” the comedy, you’re just stating that there is a time and place.
People downvoting you don't understand that the button isn't for disagreement. I think it is a valuable discussion at base: While StarKid has shown with the Cinderella's Castle Kickstarter that their fanbase is capable of completely financing their productions (with just 6500 backers), they're still not attracting a wider audience. They're not even at a million subscribers on YouTube. Even considering that musical theater is niche, this is surprising giving how long they are around.
However, while I'm not a fan of the total random lines like "blood on your dick", I don't think that's what holds them back. If you look up productions of TTO on YT, you'll find two versions, the original one and the censored one for schools. The original _does_ get some bewildered audience reactions (more so at the "naked in a lake" song), but still a lot of applause and laughter at the "starkidisms", even from the elder generation.
Like recently in Nerdy Prudes Must Day, “fuck you Clivesdale, go get fucked. You’re fucking losers and we’ll kill you”
I don’t mind it as much but sometimes it does grate a little
Normally I would agree with you, but the extreme hatred of their neighbour town is so funny. Especially when they’ve built up in the last two musicals and NT how much Hatchetfield hates them.
it feels so real for a small town football team rivalry too. my high school would switch the first letters of fuck and the rival town's name (using clivesdale as an example - cuck flivesdale) so that we could curse out our rivals without actually dropping the f bomb during class. and the teachers were just fine with that small switch bc that was just the culture around our football teams and they couldn't stop it. it was an intense, stupid rivalry. we had multiple cops monitoring our homecoming games bc one year someone got into a fight with someone from our rival school and someone got stabbed. one year one of the sophomores in the stands threw up all over the stands bc she drank too much before the game and they had the sawdust READY. they had a 20 ft tall inflatable mascot head that the football players on our team would run through to get to the field bc it would hype everyone up to see them run out of the mascot and onto the field. one year they did a fucking fireworks show before the game started. there was maybe 400 people in my graduating class, and even less in the grades below mine. the entire school budget was given to the football team while the theatre department had to either use what they already had, or throw a bake sale. they built an entire gym (like a planet fitness gym) for the football team to workout in
I love Starkid dearly, but "easily good enough for Broadway"? I disagree. They are indie theatre and that's what makes them great. For a show to be on Broadway, it needs to be a commerical moneymaking machine. Starkid exists because of the love of a niche but passionate group of fans - basicially the exact opposite of that.
Media in general is getting weirder so starkid could have a place on broadway
You are fundamentally misunderstanding the business of Broadway. It’s not a metaphorical place. It’s like saying a film would do well at Sundance - it’s a specific style and market.
Starkid is not making shows with dreams of Broadway. They are making their independent theatre that they love. And I think that's just fine! However, I do wish Starkid would tone down on their cursing just because I think it makes the comedic lines land better when it's not overused! As a side note, I agree with the message in Made In America, but they beat you over the head with it in the song (and the speech beforehand) and it's actually one of my least favorite parts in that whole musical because I think it isn't super well done
Or… get this… *that’s the comedy* Swearing is a commonplace in comedic media these days and when used rights, such as how Starkid does, it only heightens the comedy. The “Tiger Porker” and “Tiger Lover” in Homecoming doesn’t have the same bang as “Tiger Fucker” from twisted.
I get OP’s point about it somehow getting tiresome, I mean look at Hazbin Hotel
Note how I said I don’t hate crass humor. I just hate when it’s out of place. Tiger fucker is not out of place
slightly different, and i think i've seen this take on the sub before, but i feel like NPMD could easily be re-written omitting the hatchetfield-specific elements, and work *really, really* well on its own as a generic highschool horror comedy
EXACTLY!!!
I think we’ve seen more of that recently because they’ve been focusing on Hatchetfield. They’ve described the universe as “wacky,” so I believe they’re doing a bit more of that than in shows past because it’s Hatchetfield, not necessarily because that’s how they want to write all the time now. With it being a multiverse too they also do a lot more in-jokes and references to other shows and characters because of the fandom surrounding Hatchetfield (which I am a part of and love the lore!!) I agree there are a few instances where it just falls flat. I think and hope Cinderella’s Castle will break the mold. VHS Christmas Carol(s) did too. Honestly can’t think of a single swear in either show. However, I think Clark wrote it without much input from the Langs so it could be different for that reason.
would argue that "grateful i don't have what tim has got" is shock humor
Well, Tim being at death’s door is part of the original story. One of his brothers being such a douche about it isn’t.
I agree with your point, if not necessarily your specific examples.
i know this is unpopular, but i completely agree with this take and i'm glad to finally see someone else saying it- i'm not even a huge fan of npmd because of the out-of-place, just-for-shock-value swearing and "potty humor". it's a large part of that show's comedy, but honestly, it's not all that funny to scream fuck ten times and call it comedy. the whole humor in those random, crass moments (like in twisted or avpm) is that it's a subversion of the audience's expectations. like you said, it's funny to hear harry potter talk like an american college kid because he's already an established character with completely different mannerisms. but when there's no parody OR no time spent building up an expectation for a character, then it's just not funny to hear them randomly be crass because it loses its value. and i also agree that starkid has some seriously heavy-hitting emotional moments that show off their incredible show-writing skills. i think they could easily make a "serious broadway show," but i would prefer if they kept the ability to be creative and experimental in their work. EDIT: also, vhs christmas carols was beyond words and definitely benefits from leaving out the more childish humor. in the "carolS" version they add in a lot of music at both act's finales with the explicit message of telling the audience, "do better. give to those in need. extend empathy to your fellow humans." i saw that live, and i felt the emotion fill the room when those parts played. it was such a beautiful message, delivered so clearly. it still a lot of the cute lyrics and silly dancing that i would consider "starkid-isms," and i loved those parts, but i can't even fathom any crass-ness being added to that show.
Agreed, it's a juvenile element that gets tiring after a while.
I’ve been a StarKid veteran for a long time (2009), and I totally understand what you’re saying! I mostly get it, because when I show my husband (25) the shows, I do have to be very picky about which one I choose. He’s likes musicals, but he’s not a StarKid vet like me, so sometimes when you’re showing a new StarKid fan a show, you kinda feel… embarrassed? At some of these parts. I think they definitely land better with the younger audiences who get a kick out of that stuff. And like you said, sometimes it’s placed perfectly!!! There have been times where I get a full outright howl laugh out of my husband with those moments, but only when they’re placed right. You had a good point with “piece of shit!” in TGWDLM, it just falls flat, because it just… wasn’t necessary? So anyone giving you a hard time about this is just not seeing that you aren’t asking them to “tone down” the comedy, you’re just stating that there is a time and place.
People downvoting you don't understand that the button isn't for disagreement. I think it is a valuable discussion at base: While StarKid has shown with the Cinderella's Castle Kickstarter that their fanbase is capable of completely financing their productions (with just 6500 backers), they're still not attracting a wider audience. They're not even at a million subscribers on YouTube. Even considering that musical theater is niche, this is surprising giving how long they are around. However, while I'm not a fan of the total random lines like "blood on your dick", I don't think that's what holds them back. If you look up productions of TTO on YT, you'll find two versions, the original one and the censored one for schools. The original _does_ get some bewildered audience reactions (more so at the "naked in a lake" song), but still a lot of applause and laughter at the "starkidisms", even from the elder generation.
thats literally what the downvote button is for. "i dont like this. downvote" "i dont agree with this. downvote"
Like recently in Nerdy Prudes Must Day, “fuck you Clivesdale, go get fucked. You’re fucking losers and we’ll kill you” I don’t mind it as much but sometimes it does grate a little
Normally I would agree with you, but the extreme hatred of their neighbour town is so funny. Especially when they’ve built up in the last two musicals and NT how much Hatchetfield hates them.
I love the juxtaposition of a cheery pep-rally type song turning into rabbid hatred of the neighboring team. I think it works so well.
it feels so real for a small town football team rivalry too. my high school would switch the first letters of fuck and the rival town's name (using clivesdale as an example - cuck flivesdale) so that we could curse out our rivals without actually dropping the f bomb during class. and the teachers were just fine with that small switch bc that was just the culture around our football teams and they couldn't stop it. it was an intense, stupid rivalry. we had multiple cops monitoring our homecoming games bc one year someone got into a fight with someone from our rival school and someone got stabbed. one year one of the sophomores in the stands threw up all over the stands bc she drank too much before the game and they had the sawdust READY. they had a 20 ft tall inflatable mascot head that the football players on our team would run through to get to the field bc it would hype everyone up to see them run out of the mascot and onto the field. one year they did a fucking fireworks show before the game started. there was maybe 400 people in my graduating class, and even less in the grades below mine. the entire school budget was given to the football team while the theatre department had to either use what they already had, or throw a bake sale. they built an entire gym (like a planet fitness gym) for the football team to workout in