Valentines Day is always a strange one in the calendar - some embrace the madness of it and make a spectacle of celebrating their love for one another, others see it as just another day and don't sign up to to the commercialism. With people separated from their loved ones this year, it is going to be a strange and perhaps tough Valentines Day for so many.
I thought I'd use this as an opportunity to look at some of the greatest love stories in musical theatre and celebrate all of its many romances. That was the idea anyway.
Upon collating the list I realised just how many awful, flawed and toxic couples there are in musicals and thought it would be more fun to include them as well.
So sit back and let's take a look at the good, the bad and the ugly when it comes to love stories in musical theatre:
Jamie & Cathy - The Last Five Years
In this show we see the start and end of the relationship from both of their perspectives. While their story doesn't get a happy ending, it is a realistic portrayal of the imperfections people bring to the relationship. When they meet in the middle for their wedding, it is one of the most joyful and romantic moments in theatre. When they go their separate ways, it is one of the most heartbreaking.
Couple rating: ❤❤❤
Tony & Maria - West Side Story
One of the most iconic couples in musical theatre, Tony and Maria are the Romeo and Juliet of the Jets and the Sharks. Their relationship may not survive the curtain call but that doesn't make their story any less beautiful.
Couple rating: ❤❤❤❤
Francois & May - &Juliet
The story of what happened if Romeo & Juliet didn't die does end with the famous pair cautiously approaching the beginning of their relationship. However, another love story steals the limelight as we see Francois and May step around each other before revealing their true colours in a heartwarming and refreshingly largely unproblematic love story.
Couple rating: ❤❤❤❤❤
Marius & Cosette - Les Miserables
Another famous musical couple, Marius and Cosette fall in love after locking eyes. They don't even go on to see if they have any shared interests but there you go - they probably ended up divorcing when Marius revealed he was voting for Trump. While they go on to live happily ever after while everybody else around them dies, I've always found their story a bit flat - I would have much preferred Marius to end up with Eponine... or Enjolras.
Couple rating: ❤
The Thénardiers - Les Miserables
There's more than one couple to shout about in Les Miserables, and the only other surviving characters are a much more interesting couple. While they might not see eye to eye during the show, a couple that breaks the law together stays together - and there is something quite captivating about them. I'd love to go on a double date with them... even if they would run off and leave me with the bill.
Couple rating: ❤❤❤❤
Elle and Emmett - Legally Blonde
A rare unproblematic relationship in theatre. Elle starts the show at the end of a relationship that is the catalyst for the shows events. By the end, she is engaged to a much more suitable man. While the relationship never takes priority in the show, it adds joy to Elle's story.
Couple rating: ❤❤❤❤
Alexander & Eliza - Hamilton
A love story for the ages... or is it? In the show, Alexander is in love with Eliza's sister and cheats on his wife with someone else. But let's just gloss over that part, shall we? By the end of the show they are back together and stronger than ever. When they work, they are a beautiful couple and the end of the show proves Eliza's devotion to her husband.
Couple rating: ❤❤❤
Captain Von Trapp & Maria - The Sound Of Music
It's that classic love story. Boy meets girl. Boy marries girl. Girl dies. Boy hires another girl to look after his seven children (at least they made the most of it when she was alive, right). Girl falls in love with the family and eventually they get married. It's happened to us all. Seeing Captain Von Trapp fall in love with Maria is one of the joys of The Sound Of Music and this unlikely couple become one for the ages.
Couple rating: ❤❤❤❤❤
Maureen & Joanne- RENT
One of three couples at the forefront of RENT, Maureen and Joanne are seemingly complete opposites of eachother. They fight incessantly, break up, make up again and fight immediately. That only adds to their charm. Opposites attract and the realism of this couple and how much they love and hate each other make this incredibly relatable (at least to me).
Couple rating: ❤❤❤❤
Angel & Collins - RENT
Meeting a literal Angel in one of his lowest moments, Collins begins a whirlwind romance that touches the hearts of all of their friends and the audience watching. While it is tragically short-lived, it becomes the heart of the show and is the inspiration for show highlights 'I'll Cover You' and its heartbreaking reprise.
Couple rating: ❤❤❤❤❤
Brad & Janet - The Rocky Horror Show
A normal couple in love nd newly enagged at the beginning of the show, their entry into a nearby castle makes their relationship all the more interesting as they both get seduced by Frank-N-Furter. Still, they miraculously make it out mostly unscathed and stay together. I like to think they became more adventurous in bed at least.
Couple rating: ❤❤❤
Juan & Eva Peron - Evita
One of the only couples on this list based on real people, Eva meets Juan and is by his side when he becomes President of Argentina. Another relationship tragically cut short, thry are an unstoppable pair while it lasts.
Couple rating: ❤❤❤❤
Huey & Felicia - Memphis
Set in the 1950s, white DJ Huey falls in love with Black singer Felicia in a show about racism and music. If it wasn't for external factors, they would face no obstacles but they have to keep their relationship secret due to the inherent racism around at the time. Those who do know about it disapprove and a public display of affection heralds the tragic end of their affair.
Couple rating: ❤❤❤❤❤
Strat & Raven - Bat Out Of Hell
The leader of the Lost boys falls in love with the daughter of his enemy Falco. They then begin an on/off relationship which involved him breaking into her bedroom, her running away with him and changing her mind straight away. The story is meant to draw comparisons to Peter Pan but even Peter would have told Wendy to get a grip. While they do end up together, there are more interesting relationships going on in the show.
Couple rating: ❤❤
Falco & Sloane - Bat Out Of Hell
Here is where I get controversial - I adore Bat Out Of Hell but have always said the show would be a lot better if it was centred around Raven's parents Falco and Sloane. While they are clearly in a bad place in their relationship, I find them the most interesting couples in the show by far - and flashbacks to their youth are among the highlights of the show. Not perfect by a long shot, I can't help but love this couple.
Couple rating: ❤❤❤❤
Elphaba & Fiyero - Wicked
There's no way to sugarcoat this - stealing your best friends boyfriend is a wicked thing to do. However, the unlikely romance between Elphaba and Fiyero stands the test of time, even surviving apparent death. They love each other despite their flaws, and as heartwarming as it is, it still feels less genuine than Elphaba's friendship with Glinda.
Couple rating: ❤❤❤❤
Simba & Nala - The Lion King
Ok, they're lions. But lions can fall in love, right? The rest of the show is full of dead fathers and murderous uncles so it's nice to have some romance. A tale of friendship that blossoms into love, Nala finds Simba and brings him back home - at no point does she try to kill him which makes this the least problematic relationship in the show.
Couple rating: ❤❤❤❤❤
Guy & Girl - Once
A relationship full of near-misses. Guy and girl are never on the same page and don't get the happy ending they deserve. However, they do give us one of the best lovve songs in musical with 'Falling slowly'.
Couple rating: ❤❤
JD and Veronica - Heathers
When you think of true love, do you think of murdering your friends and classmates together? What starts as a perfectly innocent flirtation ups the ante fairly quicker when Veronica discovers she is dating a serial killer. We've all been there, right? JD does love her though and makes the ultimate sacrifice though Veronica's strength comes in saying no to him.
Couple rating: ❤❤
Carole & Gerry - Beautiful: The Carole King Musical
Based on their real relationship, Carole King and Gerry Goffin fall in love and get married very young, The songwriting couples relationship takes a turn for the worse when he cheats on her, but they remained friends for a satisfying climax to the show. With songs like 'Will you love me tomorrow' how could you not fall in love with them?
Couple rating: ❤❤❤❤
Link & Tracey - Hairspray
He is the star of a show she is madly in love with. She becomes the apple of his eye when he realises he is dating a psychopath. Together, they forge a beautiful relationship where they love each other for who they really are.
Couple rating: ❤❤❤❤
Edna & Wilbur - Hairspray
Tracey's parents have a beautiful relationship. Unproblematic with pure unadulterated love, they have the perfect relationship. Let's not mention the awful twist the movie adaptation uses with Wilbur's "affair". This couple give pure relationship goals and their big duet 'You're timeless to me' is as beautiful as it gets.
Couple rating: ❤❤❤❤❤
Evan & Zoe - Dear Evan Hansen
Now this is a tricky one. Evan is madly in love with Zoe but it takes a lie about her brother for her to fall for him. Doomed to fail from the start, the relationship ends when the truth comes out - but not before a truly beautiful love song from the pair in the shape of 'Only us'.
Couple rating: ❤❤❤
Charlie & Lauren - Kinky Boots
Lauren's infatuation with Charlie bubbles in the background of Kinky Boots. Charlie is engaged to another woman, and there are more important things to deal with than who he shares a bed with. The couple get a happy ending when they declare their feelings for eachother... while wearing kinky boots, of course.
Couple rating: ❤❤❤❤❤
Emma and Alyssa - The Prom
The story of Emma who wants to go to the prom with her girlfriend takes twists and turns partly due to peoples attitudes around sexuality and Alyssa not being ready to come out. After breaking up, the pair eventually rekindle their relationship when they realise nobody else's opinion matters.
Couple rating: ❤❤❤❤
Seymour & Audrey - Little Shop Of Horrors
Co-workers who share a friendship, Seymour wants more from their relationship but Audrey is dating an abusive sadist. Eventually she sees him in another light and gives us one of the greatest duets in musical theatre, 'Suddenly Seymour'. Their relationship faces challenges from a killer plant - but one way or another, they always end up together.
Couple rating: ❤❤❤❤❤
Frank & Rachel - The Bodyguard
"HE'S MY BODYGUARD!" - Words you can hear. Superstar Rachel Marron falls for her bodyguard Frank over time. In the musical version, they share a kiss after 'I have nothing' but after taking a bullet for her they part ways... though of course we know she will always love him.
Couple rating: ❤❤❤
Jenna and Dr Pomatter - Waitress
Not the most ethical of relationships, pregnant Jenna falls for her gynecologist - while their relationship is fun and loving, it's hard to root for them knowing they are not married. While Jenna's husband is an abusive low-life, we never hear anything bad about Pomatter's wife. They decide to call things a day before anyone gets hurt with the immortal line "Thanks for taking me to the moon"
Couple rating: ❤❤❤❤
Dawn and Ogie - Waitress
The other main relationship in Waitress features a scared to love Dawn become even more scared when her 5 minute date turns out to be with an obsessive stalker. Once you get past the creepiness of that, the pair fall in love - with their eccentricities the perfect match for each other, much to the confusion of their friends.
Couple rating: ❤❤❤❤❤
Norma & Joe - Sunset Boulevard
Another classic tale of true love here. Boy meets faded acting legend. She pays him to stay with her and falls in love with him. The relationship is very one-sided so to stop him leaving, she murders him. I think we could all hope to have a relationship as passionate as that.
Couple rating: ❤
Kim & Chris - Miss Saigon
Having met during the Vietnam war, Kim and Chris fall in love- but their happiness is short lived when he goes back to America. Eventually he does return to find they have a son together but too much time has passed and a happy ending is not on the cards for the pair.
Couple rating: ❤❤❤
Marvin & Whizzer - Falsettos
Perhaps a lesser known one here, Marvin leaves his wife to be with his gay lover Whizzer. They have a turbulent relationship full of break ups and make ups but ultimately love wins out... until tragedy strikes, as it so often does in theatre.
Couple rating: ❤❤❤❤
Belle & the Beast - Beauty And The Beast
Tale as old as time - seriously this time. Belle is held captive by the cursed Beast but grows to fall in love with him until eventually she breaks the curse. While the origins of their relationship might be a tad creepy, there's no denying how iconic they are as a couple.
Couple rating: ❤❤❤❤
Christine & Raoul - The Phantom Of The Opera
While the Phantom was in love with Christine, in the end she chooses Raoul - perhaps because he never held her captive? He might lack the excitement of the Phantom and be a bit bland but at least she knows she's always free to leave I guess?
Couple rating: ❤❤
Orpheus & Eurydice - Hadestown
A love story that survives the underworld... nearly. Based on the ancient Greek myth, Orpheus travels to Hadestown to get his beloved back, but guess what? Yep, it doesn't end well and the lovers are separated forever. Still - it makes you wonder how many of these couples would travel to the underworld for love?
Couple rating: ❤❤❤❤❤
Shrek & Fiona - Shrek
A classic tale of being rescued by Prince Charming takes a twist when Fiona's prince turns out to be an ogre. That's ok though - spoiler alert: she's an ogre too. The story has become iconic through its movie and musical adaptation and proves that love can survive even the toughest challenges... including Amanda Holden.
Couple rating: ❤❤❤❤❤
Sandy & Danny - Grease
It's been 50 years since the world first got a glimpse of these summer lovers. Their love faces obstacles when they meet again after their fling but it all ends well... when Sandy has a complete makeover. Not sure what the moral of the story is there somehow?
Couple rating: ❤❤❤
Aladdin & Jasmine - Aladdin
Another tale of changing your identity in an attempt to fall in love - this one comes with magic carpets. One of the most iconic Disney couples, 'A whole new world' is as romantic as it gets.
Couple rating: ❤❤❤❤❤
Sophie & Sky - Mamma Mia
Sky and Sophie are fairly unproblematic as a couple. He doesn't want a big wedding, she makes him have one, she doesn't tell hm she's using their wedding as an opportunity to discover her dad and then they don't get married anyway. Other than that though, they're fine if not one of the blandest and underwritten couples in musical theatre.
Couple rating: ❤❤❤
Nick & Diane - Come From Away
Let's end with the real-life couple who see their story played out in the beautiful Come From Away. Meeting by chance despite living in different countries, their love is too strong to be torn apart and they end up staying together. A truly gorgeous love story, made all the more meaningful for the fact it's completely true.
Couple rating: ❤❤❤❤❤
And those are 40 couples from the world of musical theatre. Some classic love stories, many tragic and some who were better off apart.
Are there any I've missed from here? Who is your favourite? Let me know in the comments or at twitter.com/ATDazzles