My Favourite Musical Theatre Characters

I love musicals. That's the only way I can put it. Theatre is full of incredible soundtracks and amazing actors but for me, the best thing about musicals are the complex characters created. In every show I have seen, there has always been one or two characters who have stood out, not necessarily due to the actor playing them (though having an incredible actor playing the role definitely helps!) but due to the backstories behind them and why they behave in the way they do. In this blog post I will be discussing my favourite characters and describing why to me, they are so important in theatre. Let me know in the comments whether you agree with any of these and who your favourite characters are!

1) Velma Kelly - Chicago

Velma Kelly is my favourite musical character of all time and 100% my dream role. For me, Velma epitomises sass and power. She knows exactly what she wants and won't stop at anything to get it, not worrying about who she tramples on the way up. To some, Velma is simply a murder who's in denial to what she's done wrong. To me, Velma is a woman who has been betrayed by the two people closest to her, her husband and sister. Despite her faults, Velma is one of the most interesting characters in Musical Theatre. She is written in a way that engages the audience from the minute the curtain raises and the overture to 'All That Jazz' begins. It is clear from the very start that Velma is in charge of the show and will not allow a nobody like Roxie Hart to take that position.

2) Mrs Johnstone- Blood Brothers

Mrs Johnstone is an iconic role in Musical Theatre. She is the lovable, working-class mother of Mickey and Eddie, who is taken advantage of by Mrs Lyons. Although it could be suggested that Mrs Johnstone is an evil woman who simply gave up her child, it is clear that she is anything but this. The song 'Easy Terms' displays Mrs Johnstone's heartbreaking decision to give up one of her sons in order to give both of them a better life. The end of Blood Brothers consists of the famous number 'Tell Me It's Not True' sang by Mrs Johnstone and it really sums up the hardship that Mrs Johnstone has endured throughout her life and it leaves the audience in tears every time it is played.

3) Violet Newstead- 9to5

Violet is the Office Manager yet is constantly overlooked by her sexist boss purely due to the fact that she is a woman. This all changes when she takes control of the situation by kidnapping her boss and taking over as the CEO of the company. Violet is the character I relate to the most, especially her line 'I'm not a hugger!' She stands up for what she believes in, no matter the risk, and doesn't refuse a challenge in the face of adversity. The second act opens with Violet's solo number 'One of the Boys', a jazz number exclaiming Violet's thrill at now being viewed as the boss she deserves to be, as opposed to being ignored due to her gender. Violet's hard exterior is broken down during her duet with Joe- 'Let Love Grow', where Violet accepts that she is willing to love again after the tragedy with her husband. The two contrasting songs display a balance that everyone can relate to in some way.

4) Rachel Marron- The Bodyguard

Rachel Marron is a diva. And I love it! From the minute that she steps onto the stage, it is so easy to be captivated by her energy and confidence. Rachel is a character that can be perceived as selfish and demanding, based on her early interactions with Frank Farmer who she doesn't approve of. But what is clear and shines through throughout the whole show is her desire to protect her son, Fletcher and create a strong family unit, despite the disruption that comes with her musical career. The stand out musical number for Rachel Marron is the penultimate song 'I will always love you' which highlights both her power as a performer but also her rarely shown emotional side.

5) Judy Bernly- 9to5

Judy Bernly is a character who undergoes serious growth throughout the musical 9to5. At the start, Judy appears to be an anxious young woman who is having to enter her first job due to being cheated on by her husband Dick. She had been brought up believing that her life should consist of being an obedient housewife, so it is easy to say that going to work in a sexist office was a culture shock. Throughout 9to5, Judy begins to establish herself as a single woman, thanks to the help of her new found friends Violet and Doralee. Judy performs the penultimate number of the show, 'Get out and Stay out' which emphasises the message that a woman does not need a man to be successful and that sometimes a man will only hinder a woman's dreams. 

I hope you enjoyed my first official blog post and I am looking forward to writing more as time goes on! Keep an eye out for my next post which is a travel one about the best places to visit in New York!

Thanks for reading!

Magen x