MARY LAMPHERE AUTHOR

Have you ever experienced something so bad it was good? A terrible show but thoroughly enjoyable? Happens to us enough that over the years we’ve started a list: The Best of the Worst.

Recently we saw a local version of one of the longest-running Off-Broadway shows, a musical that we have seen easily half a dozen times before. It’s one of our favorites…usually. This rendition was SO over-produced and SO underwhelming, that it was worse than so-so, it was downright list topping.

And we thoroughly enjoyed it. As a matter of fact, we can’t stop talking about it. Perhaps not the review they hoped for, but one that we will revisit for years to come.

We attended a New Year’s Eve concert one year that ended with the lead singer/drummer puking in a bucket while performing. Best Worst NYE show ever.

Then there was that night in a college bar in Nebraska with LIVE LOCAL MUSIC, one of the main reasons we go to bars when we travel. The bands were AWFUL. Just terrible. Bad musicians, weak vocalists, cliche lyrics. There were a handful of customers, all clearly friends/family of the bands. Truly the worst, but we loved it.

We tried a new to us but established restaurant at a mall a few years ago where we were the only people in the vast place, there were weird sounds coming from behind the wall and overloud Christmas music on, the sole employee seemed unfamiliar with everything, and Dave’s bench broke while he was sitting on it. Worst restaurant experience yet totally enjoyable. The most fun we’ve had thinking up bizarre reasons for the plethora of odd circumstances. The food was not bad, but we obviously never went back.

Do you recognize occasional bad experiences as ultimately a good time?
If so, please share.
What’s your best worst?