What Makes A Theatre Show Good But Not Rewatchable

Rachel Wagner, Theatre Critic and Host of “The OnStage Blog Theatre Podcast”

Like many of you readers, I transitioned after the pandemic from casually attending theatre to seeing productions as my main source of entertainment and hobby. For the most part, this has been a total joy and privilege but there has been one aspect I have found fascinating. 

In seeing shows (mostly community theatre) each week I have come to realize that some shows are more rewatchable than others. Certain musicals and plays I can watch over and over again and I never get tired of them (I have a personality that doesn’t mind repetition so this helps.) 

However, other shows I enjoy on the first watch but then the more I see them the more holes I find. The talent of the cast and production impact heavily on our overall enjoyment of a musical and play but I do think there is something intangible that makes something especially rewatchable. It’s hard to pin down but it's there. 

Here are some attributes that heavily factor in the lack of rewatchability:

Being a Comedy

First, it is way harder for outright comedies to be rewatchable. This is especially true if it’s a show with jokes that don’t allow for a lot of movement and interpretation by individual productions. For example, I noticed myself getting tired of A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder more than The 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee because the latter has a little bit more improv and flexibility in the script for companies to make their mark- particularly with the judges and their jokes and the audience member involvement. 

Being Reliant on Shock Or Surprises

Next, if a show gets a lot of mileage off a shocking element or surprise it’s not as rewatchable. The Phantom of the Opera, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and The Play That Goes Wrong are all musicals and plays that get a lot based on an element of surprise that’s less each time you see it (it’s still fun just not super rewatchable.) 

Being Reliant on Spectacle

Kind of along those same lines is how much a piece of theater relies on spectacle and a few key songs. For example, I enjoyed Back to the Future: The Musical but I don’t think I’d need to see it again. So much of the enjoyment was based on the amazing lighting, visual effects, and overall homage to the movie, which is one of my favorite films. 

Another one that dazzled me on the first watch and underwhelmed me on rewatch is Beetlejuice. I was honestly puzzled as to why I had such a different experience the two times I saw it. Once was on Broadway and the other was the National Tour and the spectacle of production didn’t wow the second time exposing some of the problems with the book and songs. 

Being Reliant on 1-2 Songs Or Actors

Another aspect that can play a role is how well-rounded is the musical or play. Do we walk out of seeing a production only talking about 1 or 2 songs, maybe a particular performance that impressed us or do we love many things about the show? I’ve had this happen lots of times.

The first time I had a great experience but then when it’s a different performer or staged differently it’s less appealing. Sister Act, Elf: The Musical, Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Addam’s Family, and Rent can all be this way for me. I enjoy the shows but it depends a lot on the production. They aren’t inherently rewatchable no matter who puts them on. 

Lack of Personal Nostalgia For The Show

On the flip side, some attributes can help make a show rewatchable. One of the factors that is perhaps unfair is nostalgia. If it’s a play or musical I was in or a family member was in. If I have a strong memory attached to seeing it it’s more likely it will be rewatchable. The Music Man and Beauty and the Beast are both in my nostalgia category as is Bye Bye Birdie, which is one of the few musicals I’ve performed in and have memories attached to. 

Lack of Drama In The Show 

I also think it is easier for dramas to get those emotions time and time again. I’m sure it is part of the reason I can see Bright Star on repeat because it is such a moving story. It’s the same thing for Les Miserables or West Side Story (both of which, to be fair, I have huge nostalgia attached to as well.) 

Of course, as a critic, we must do all we can to lay aside these biases when we enter the theatre. While companies should do their best to have unique programs it’s not their fault if a critic has seen a show a bunch of times. I’m rooting for any production I cover so I try and be as forgiving as possible. 

What do you think about the rewatchability of shows? Are there other factors I haven’t mentioned which make something more or less rewatchable? And what musicals and plays do you think are the most rewatchable and why? Let me know your thoughts at rachelsreviews65@gmail.com and I’ll share the best ones on an upcoming podcast. It’s an interesting conversation to be had amongst any theatre fans. 

Rachel Wagner is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic and a theatre critic for rachelreviewstheatre.com.