Musicals are for the sorts of people who, even though their coach will be awaiting outside the theatre after the show, take their umbrellas

Musicals are for people who are too thick for opera and too square for pop music. They are for people from the sticks, who migrate en masse  to the major capitals of the world where they enjoy themselves by watching things they have seen before at twice the price they paid last time. Musicals are for the sorts of people who, even though their coach will be awaiting outside the theatre after the show, take their umbrellas.

E. Brockes, What would Babra do? (2008), 45

[Note: this is neither my view, nor that of the author. I love musicals, I just thought this was a brilliant a summary of the (unfair) contempt in which they are held]