The much-abused musical is the modern heir of opera

Many people who know me are aware of my deepest and most shameful passion. I persist in indulging in something that is still looked down on, even disapproved of by certain, more conservative sections of society. But I’ve decided the time is right to stand up and fight back. In the words of the fabulous Madame Zaza in La Cage aux Folles, “I am what I am, and what I am needs no excuses!” That’s right readers, I am one of Britain’s silent majority, a lover of musicals!
Having completed an English degree here in Durham, I consider myself as qualified as anyone to judge what ‘good’ art is and it is my unfashionable opinion that the musical represents a high point of western culture, rather than the degenerate drivel that they are often portrayed as being. It is a peculiarly British habit, that the ‘Establishment’ ridicules as a matter of course anything that is enjoyed by the masses. Dan Brown and Harry Potter are automatically trash, presumably because they are enjoyed by people who are considered by some to be trash too.
Instead of embracing the new advances that each century begins, a certain vocal segment of society seems dedicated to mythologizing a ‘Golden Age’ of entertainment, which as always is a few centuries ago. It seems a particularly odd situation that if you wish to appear cultured and successful, you have to pretend to no longer approve of all the fun things in life.  Gilbert and Sullivan make this point in such a good way that I feel the need to share it with anyone who doesn’t know it already; “Be eloquent in praise of the very dull old days that have long since passed away. And convince ‘em if you can that the reign of good Queen Anne was culture’s palmiest day. Of course you will pooh-pooh whatever’s fresh and new, and declare it crude and mean, for art stopped short in the cultivated court of the Empress Josephine”. Ah, the joys of satire.
However, what those who look down on ‘popular’ entertainment forget is that everything is better when you throw a bit of humour in. The Bard himself fully understood the value of comedy and I think anyone who’s seen Don Giovanni or The Barber of Seville will understand how truly funny they are. It is so much better to watch a properly acted performance than a line of middle aged fat people dressed like they are going to a funeral. What then is the difference between a properly camped up opera and Hairspray, apart from a few centuries? Indeed, musicals seem to me to be the direct successor of opera, as they are both basically a simple plot set to the most modern music available.
There is also a common perception that all musicals are silly, fluffy things meant only for overly hormonal women and gay men. This is clearly a stereotype, and as such, clearly almost 100% true, but I would still argue that there is a musical out there for everyone though I admit that ‘Rambo: The Musical’ might be some way off. The further off the better in fact.
To counter the reputation of musicals for being happy, throwaway rubbish, three of the longest running West End shows are Les Miserables, Blood Brothers and Phantom of the Opera, perhaps showing once more just how much the British delight in being miserable.
One show which definitely counters the stereotype of musicals being pointless rubbish is Avenue Q, which discusses in a truly hilarious, life affirming way modern issues of homosexuality, the fact that “Everyone’s a Little Bit Racist” and that most pressing of dangers, self-abuse, in “The Internet is for Porn”. And for those who think they’ve seen it all, the puppet sex is simply mindblowing. And for those of us with less refined tastes in life, who cannot be bothered with all this post-modern satire and emotional rubbish, Chicago is basically just porn with a jazzy soundtrack.
But, there is hope for us downtrodden musical lovers out there. These past few years have shown that market economics provide a chance for the voices of the oppressed masses to be heard. Despite ridicule from some quarters, Mamma Mia became the most popular film ever in Britain, thanks to its winning combination of sun, sand, sea, sex appeal, and of course a good old sing song to a bit of Swedish pop. Or perhaps thanks to the fact that many hardcore fans with nothing to do, like me, went to see it more times than was strictly healthy.
And, despite it driving many people insane, High School Musical 3 has to be the first film in ages if not ever, to make the jump to the big screen on the third film. Even The Times and  The ‘Torygraph’ theatre review sections now have people reviewing all of the new musicals, so perhaps the establishment is finally crumbling?
I think it’s time we finally got rid of the idea of the ‘value’ of art and just accepted that some things are designed to be enjoyed, purely and simply, rather than endured in the name of one-upmanship.  Nothing is ever just a musical, just as nothing should ever be discounted as just a bit of fun.