Muriel's Wedding: A Tale Of Friendship And Self-Discovery

Muriel's Wedding is an Australian stage musical based on the 1994 film of the same name. The musical premiered in Sydney in 2017 and has been praised for its contemporary edge, energetic choreography, and coherent design. One of the most notable songs in the musical is Can't Hang, a showstopping number led by Christie Whelan-Browne as Tania Delgado, one of Muriel's mean-girl friends. The song highlights the selfishness and shallowness of Muriel's peers and their superficial obsession with social media, hashtags, and selfies. Can't Hang is a pivotal moment in the musical, showcasing the challenges Muriel faces in her relationships and her dreams of proving her worth.

'Can't Hang' lyrics

"Can't Hang" is a song from the Australian stage musical Muriel's Wedding, which is based on the 1994 film of the same name. The musical features music and lyrics by Kate Miller-Heidke and Keir Nuttall, with additional songs originally written for ABBA by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus, and Stig Anderson.

The song "Can't Hang" is performed by the characters Tania, Cheryl, Nicole, and Janine. It is a fun and upbeat number that showcases the contrast between the "cool" and "popular" girls and Muriel, who is portrayed as less fashionable and more immature. The lyrics highlight the superficial nature of high school cliques and the pressure to conform to specific standards of popularity and attractiveness.

[Verse 1]

We're random R.O.F.L.

We love to party as well,

But that's our image, we're mad!

We're super hot, Hashtag glamour.

You dress like somebody's Nana;

You just make us look bad.

Sorry, don't take it personal, Muriel.

It's just that we have found you only bring us down,

And you can't hang around us anymore.

[Chorus]

You can't (you can't)

Hang around us anymore.

No–o–o–o–o No–o–o–o–o No!

[Verse 2]

You only listen to ABBA,

Not any music that matters.

Like Tay–Tay or Kanye West.

We're not in school anymore,

But you're still so immature.

You've never even had sex.

Sorry, don't take it personal, Muriel.

It's just that we have found you only bring us down,

And you can't hang around us anymore.

[Chorus]

You can't (you can't)

Hey girls, it's time for the dopest bitch in Porpoise Spit to drop a serious flow!

We're like sisters, we've got class,

Tight as the g–string in my arse.

[Bridge]

O.M.G. I mean, seriously,

You think it's easy being hot like we are?

Hashtag backslag, Hashtag trash bag,

Hashtag, don't scrag, too bad, too bad

Never be hot, you will never be hot,

You think it's easy being hot like we are? Boom!

[Pre-Chorus]

See we're like ah–ah–ah–ah–ah–ah–ah–ah,

And you're like ugh–ugh–ugh–ugh–ugh–ugh–ugh.

And we're like ah–ah–ah–ah–ah–ah–ah–ah–ah,

And you're like ugh–ugh–ugh–ugh–UGH–UGH–UGH.

And we're like ooh–ah–ah–ooh–ooh–ah,

And you're like ughhh, ughhh.

[Chorus]

Don't take it personal, Muriel.

It's just that we have found you only bring us down,

And you can't hang around us anymore.

I can change! You'll still be you.

Please don't kick me out of the group! *Cries*

It's a text from us. It says…

Sorry, don't take it personal, Muriel...

It's just that we have found you only bring us down,

And you can't hang around us anymore.

[Outro]

You can't (you can't, you can't)

You can't hang around us anymore.

Come on!)

No offence) No–o–o–o–o No–o–o–o–o No! No–o–o–o–o No–o–o–o–o No!

Australian stage musical

Muriel's Wedding: The Musical is an Australian stage musical based on the 1994 film of the same name. The musical premiered in Sydney in 2017 and was written by the film's original writer and director, P.J. Hogan, with music and lyrics by Kate Miller-Heidke and Keir Nuttall.

The story follows Muriel Heslop, who is stuck in a dead-end life in Porpoise Spit, dreaming of the perfect wedding. However, there's one thing missing: a groom. Muriel escapes her unfulfilling life by disappearing into her bedroom and listening to ABBA songs. The ABBA songs featured in the musical include "Dancing Queen", "Waterloo", "Money, Money, Money", "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do", and "SOS".

The musical also includes new songs written specifically for the show by Miller-Heidke and Nuttall, such as "Sunshine State of Mind", "The Bouquet", "Can't Hang", "Amazing", and "Sydney". The creative team behind the musical included director Simon Phillips, set and costume designer Gabriela Tylesova, choreographer Andrew Hallsworth, and lighting designer Trent Suidgeest.

The original cast included Max (or Maggie) McKenna as Muriel, Justine Clarke as Muriel's mother, Betty, Gary Sweet as Muriel's father, Bill Heslop, Madeleine Jones as Rhonda, and Christie Whelan Browne as Tania Degano. The musical received positive reviews and won several awards, including seven 2017 Sydney Theatre Awards and five 2018 Helpmann Awards.

Original 1994 film

Muriel's Wedding is an Australian stage musical based on the 1994 film of the same name. The musical features a book by P.J. Hogan, the original film's writer and director, with music and lyrics by Kate Miller-Heidke and Keir Nuttall. The original 1994 film was written and directed by P.J. Hogan and starred Toni Collette. It tells the story of Muriel, a socially awkward young woman from a small town in Australia, who dreams of having a perfect wedding. Muriel feels like an outsider and struggles to fit in with the popular crowd, including her friends Tania, Cheryl, Nicole, and Janine. The film explores themes of self-discovery, friendship, and the importance of staying true to oneself.

In the film, Muriel's obsession with weddings and her desire to fit in lead her to make some questionable decisions. She lies about her social status and pretends to be someone she is not to impress her friends and potential love interests. However, her plans often backfire, and she finds herself in comedic and embarrassing situations. Despite the light-hearted moments, the film also tackles more serious issues, such as mental health and family dysfunction. Muriel's relationship with her family, particularly her overbearing mother, Betty, and her distant father, Bill, is strained and contributes to her sense of isolation.

One of the most memorable aspects of the 1994 film is its use of music. The soundtrack features classic pop hits from the Swedish group ABBA, including "Dancing Queen," "Waterloo," and "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do." The musical choices reflect Muriel's personality and taste in music, adding a layer of humour and nostalgia to the film. The ABBA songs became so closely associated with the film that they were later included in the stage musical adaptation, along with new original songs by Miller-Heidke and Nuttall.

The original film received critical acclaim and developed a cult following, particularly in Australia. It was praised for its heartfelt story, quirky humour, and memorable characters. The success of the film led to the development of the stage musical, which premiered in Sydney in 2017. The musical stayed true to the spirit of the film while updating the story for a modern audience, incorporating elements of social media and pop culture references.

Overall, the 1994 film Muriel's Wedding is a beloved classic that has left a lasting impact on popular culture. Its unique blend of humour, heart, and memorable music has entertained audiences for years and continues to inspire new adaptations and interpretations.

ABBA songs

Muriel's Wedding is an Australian musical based on the 1994 film of the same name. The musical features several songs originally written for ABBA by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus, and Stig Anderson, including "Dancing Queen", "Waterloo", "Money, Money, Money", "Super Trouper", "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do", and "SOS".

The song "Can't Hang" from Muriel's Wedding: The Musical is about a group of friends who are distancing themselves from someone named Muriel. They criticise her fashion sense, music taste (specifically her preference for ABBA), and perceived immaturity. The lyrics also suggest that Muriel brings them down, and they no longer want her around. The song is performed by Tania, Cheryl, Nicole, and Janine.

ABBA's songs featured in Muriel's Wedding: The Musical include:

• "Dancing Queen"
• "Waterloo"
• "Money, Money, Money"
• "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do"
• "SOS"

These songs were seamlessly integrated into the musical, which received positive critical responses and several awards and nominations for its score, direction, choreography, and performances.

Critical response

Muriel's Wedding, the 1994 Australian comedy-drama film written and directed by P.J. Hogan, received positive reviews from critics and has a score of 81% on Rotten Tomatoes. The film premiered at the 1994 Toronto International Film Festival and was released in Australia on 29 September 1994. It earned multiple award nominations, including a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy for Toni Collette, who played the title character.

The film was praised for its quirky, offbeat humour, its poignant and unexpected dramatic moments, and its memorable characters. Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times called it "merciless in its portrait of provincial society, and yet [with] a huge affection for its misfit survivors". He also noted that the film "has a lot of big and little laughs in it, but also a melancholy undercurrent, which reveals itself toward the end of the film in a series of surprises and unexpected developments". Peter Stack of the San Francisco Chronicle wrote that the film was "much meatier than its larky comic sheen leads you to think at first... There's poignant drama in this brash, sometimes overstated film, and Muriel's transformation is truly touching".

Muriel's Wedding also received positive reviews from critics in Australia, where it was hailed as a "crowd-pleaser" by Peter Travers of Rolling Stone. Travers went on to say that the film "spices a tired formula with genuine feeling". The film was also praised for its use of ABBA songs, which formed the backbone of the soundtrack.

A musical adaptation, Muriel's Wedding: The Musical, premiered in Australia in 2017 and received positive critical responses. The Sydney Morning Herald commented that:

> Muriel's Wedding feels like the complete package: a beloved film seamlessly updated; a central character who retains all the ambiguities that made you root for her in the first place; a conspicuously inventive score peppered with classic pop hits, and a mainstage debut that will be talked about for years. Adapting his own screenplay to the stage and into the social media present, PJ Hogan's book amplifies the Cinderella aspects of Muriel's story without sacrificing the satirical and melancholic elements that gave the film its depth and heart.

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