History DracoInLeatherPants / Theatre

** Voldemort himself. A lonely {{Woobie}} who just wants companionship and actually does [[spoiler:get redeemed at the end]]. It helps that fans adore his HoYay filled ([[spoiler:and later canon]]) relationship with Quirrel, and his [[WalkingShirtlessScene many]] [[EvilIsSexy fanservice]] scenes.

* Like his film equivalent, Jason Dean in ''Theatre/{{Heathers}}'' has a lot of fans who ignore his abuse of Veronica and multiple murder cases because they find him [[EvilIsSexy attractive.]] The musical gets more of this due to more focus on J.D.'s FreudianExcuse, giving him [[WellIntentionedExtremist more sympathetic motivations]] of ridding the world of "assholes" (though that doesn't excuse wanting to murder ''an entire high school'') and being less obviously controlling of Veronica and more [[PleaseDontLeaveMe dependent on her.]]

* The SQUIP from ''Theatre/BeMoreChill'' is an AI in pill form that uploads itself into the brain of whoever took the pill, acting as a guide to its host and teaching them how to [[TitleDrop be more chill]] and become popular. Unfortunately for main character Jeremy Heere, the SQUIP is [[AIIsACrapshoot unstable]], and thus develops [[ManipulativeBastard manipulative]], [[GasLighting mentally]] and later ''[[ElectricTorture physically]]'' abusive tendencies and later aims to [[spoiler:TakeOverTheWorld by [[AssimilationPlot controlling every human being on Earth]] under the guise of [[HumansAreFlawed wanting to get rid of humanity's flaws]]]]. Despite being monstrous, the fandom loves to downplay his negative qualities, outright [[MisaimedFandom wishing the SQUIP pill was real]]. It doesn't help that the character tends to be played by [[EvilIsSexy handsome]] and [[EvilIsCool charismatic]] actors, and the fact that his book equivalent was [[AdaptationalVillainy genuinely sympathetic]].

* People also tend to Leather Pants ''Theatre/RichardIII'' in Shakepeare's play of the same name. True, he wasn't nearly as bad in real life and this play is one of the most famous cases of HistoricalVillainUpgrade, but he's still an evil bastard in the play. This is probably a case of DatedHistory, as it was long believed that UsefulNotes/RichardIII did commit many of the atrocities he did in the play. This tendency may go back to Shakespeare's own lifetime, given [[http://www.bikwil.com/Vintage19/Burbage-and-Shakespeare.html this story...]]. It helps that most of the characters in Richard III seem rather boring and stupid compared to the charismatic, witty Richard, who is continually talking to the audience and cracking jokes about how evil he is. Even the supposed hero, Henry VII, only comes in at the end so doesn't come across as an easy to root for character.

** Voldemort himself. A lonely {{Woobie}} who just wants companionship and actually does [[spoiler:get redeemed at the end]]. It helps that fans adore his HoYay filled ([[spoiler:and later canon]]) relationship with Quirrel, and his [[WalkingShirtlessScene many]] [[EvilIsSexy fanservice]] [[ShesGotLegs scenes]].

* The musical version of ''Literature/TheScarletSails'' has Menners Jr. who is infatuated with Assol and gets a beautiful and passionate VillainLoveSong. A lot of fans adore him for that and tend to overlook the fact that he is a selfish bully who blackmails Assol into marriage. An additional factor is that Assol's canon love interest Grey is DemotedToExtra, compared to the book, and visits a brothel (which never existed in the book), leading the fans to believe Assol is LovingAShadow and favouring a shallow fleeting romance over the love and devotion of someone who has known her since childhood.

** [[TheGrimReaper Death]] intentionally invokes this, especially starting with the German tour and Vienna revival, as he went from a PrettyBoy with MysticalWhiteHair to a {{Hunk}} in a HellBentForLeather costume. Depending on the interpretation, he is either a manifestation of suicidal ideation or a being with his own agenda actively scheming for Elisabeth's death, and then the destruction of her family life. His canonical relationship with Rudolf can be played with predatory/grooming subtext, given that he started talking to the prince as a little boy and continues to influence Rudolf with a specific goal in mind. Shipping Death with either Sisi or Rudolf is still very popular.

* [[TheGrimReaper Death]] in ''Theatre/{{Elisabeth}}'' intentionally invokes this. [[note]]Especially starting with the German tour and Vienna revival, as he went from a PrettyBoy with MysticalWhiteHair to a {{Hunk}} in a HellBentForLeather costume.[[/note]] Lucheni, Elisabeth's assassin, can also get this treatment if he's played by the right actor.

** ''Phantom'' also has an in-universe example in the form of [[ShowWithinAShow Erik's own opera]], ''Don Juan Triumphant''. From what little we see of it, it appears to be a rewrite of Mozart's ''Opera/DonGiovanni'', with the title character avoiding his KarmicDeath from the source and getting the girl in the end. This, of course, fits perfectly with Erik's character given that he sees himself as a misunderstood genius and lover, so of course he would identify with Giovanni rather than his victims.

* The musical version of ''Theatre/TheScarletSails'' has Menners Jr. who is infatuated with Assol and gets a beautiful and passionate VillainLoveSong. A lot of fans adore him for that and tend to overlook the fact that he is a selfish bully who blackmails Assol into marriage. An additional factor is that Assol's canon love interest Grey is DemotedToExtra, compared to the book, and visits a brothel (which never existed in the book), leading the fans to believe Assol is LovingAShadow and favouring a shallow fleeting romance over the love and devotion of someone who has known her since childhood.

** John Dickinson has a ''lot'' of fans despite campaigning vehemently against American independence seemingly on the grounds of protecting rich men's interests, although he proves at the end that he is just as principled as Adams and leaves Congress to protect the country as a soldier after failing to protect it politically. (And the characterization was a HistoricalVillainUpgrade in any case.)

* The SQUIP from ''Theatre/BeMoreChill'' is an AI in pill form that uploads itself into the brain of whoever took the pill, acting as a guide to its host and teaching them how to [[TitleDrop be more chill]] and become popular. Unfortunately for main character Jeremy Heere, the SQUIP is [[AIIsACrapshoot unstable]], and thus develops [[ManipulativeBastard manipulative]], [[GasLighting mentally]] and later ''[[ElectricTorture physically]]'' abusive tendencies and later aims to [[spoiler:TakeOverTheWorld by [[AssimilationPlot controlling every human being on Earth]] under the guise of [[HumansAreFlawed wanting to get rid of humanity's flaws]]]]. Despite being [[CompleteMonster completely monstrous]], the fandom loves to downplay his negative qualities, outright [[MisaimedFandom wishing the SQUIP pill was real]]. It doesn't help that the character tends to be played by [[EvilIsSexy handsome]] and [[EvilIsCool charismatic]] actors, and the fact that his book equivalent was [[AdaptationalVillainy genuinely sympathetic]].

* Erik, the titular character in ''Theatre/ThePhantomOfTheOpera'' is a disfigured, tortured soul, longing for compassion from another human being...who also happens to be obsessively stalking a girl and in serious need of therapy. He kills ''at least'' two people, sabotages a chandelier--which could have injured or killed even ''more'' people (the TV miniseries depicts exactly this in the aftermath), kidnaps Christine (and quite possibly takes advantage of her while she's entranced/unconscious), blackmails her by threatening to kill her fiancee unless she marries him, and essentially forces a world-renowned opera house to put on his self-insert fanfiction - which he then literally inserts himself into! A lot of fans tend to give him the {{Woobie}} treatment and ignore his terrible actions, as well as romanticize his relationship with Christine and portray [[RonTheDeathEater Raoul as a jerk]] [[DieForOurShip who doesn't respect her]].

* [[TheGrimReaper Death]] in ''Theatre/{{Elisabeth}}'' intentionally invokes this. Lucheni, Elisabeth's assassin, can also get this treatment if he's played by the right actor.

* Freddie Trumper of Chess is arguably sympathetic, and arguably a genius, but he is also a chauvnistic, manipulative, paranoid asshole who drives away the only person who can stand him by saying almost unbelievably cruel things about her presumed dead father when he sees her talking to his opponent. You would not know this from some of the fanfiction he gets. Granted, there is lots of room for interpretation of all the characters depending on which version you see, but an angel Freddie ain't.

* Theatre/TheMerchantOfVenice: Shylock is what happens when this attitude drifts down into academic circles, and then into the general public. Nearly all modern interpretations transform him from the [[ValuesDissonance (admittedly very unsettling)]] antagonist to a tragic character, while the intended heroes are racist assholes bent on ruining his life. Nevermind that Shylock's entire scheme was to ''murder Antonio'' [[DisproportionateRetribution over him insulting Shylock's profession.]] And then his daughter (who also gets this treatment, despite being little more than a greedy bitch according to the play) runs off with most of his money and his family heirloom. Shylock then refuses double the amount owed, simply so he can kill Antonio, who HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH HIS DAUGHTER.
** Traditionally, the Shylock was either a completely evil monster or he was played as an unsympathetic and repulsive buffoon. However, modern audiences usually treat both interpretations as being antisemitic despite those traits being character traits of Shylock and not a commentary on the Jewish people as a whole. It's easy to forget that, prior to about the 19th century, anti-Semitism was based not on racism but on religious bigotry (indeed, most Europeans believed that they, themselves, were descended from the Jewish people before the Indo-Aryan hypothesis was put forward by German linguists), and in the play Jessica is a "good Jew" because she wants to become a Christian. Apparently, since Shylock himself is forced to convert at the end of the play, the implication is that either he'll undergo a HeelFaceTurn or he'll just continue to be evil - this time, as an evil Christian.
* People also tend to Leather Pants ''Theatre/RichardIII'' in Shakepeare's play of the same name. True, he wasn't nearly as bad in real life and this play is one of the most famous cases of HistoricalVillainUpgrade, but he's still an evil bastard in the play. This is probably a case of DatedHistory, as it was long believed that UsefulNotes/RichardIII did commit many of the atrocities he did in the play.
** This tendency may go back to Shakespeare's own lifetime, given [[http://www.bikwil.com/Vintage19/Burbage-and-Shakespeare.html this story...]]
** It helps that most of the characters in Richard III seem rather boring and stupid compared to the charismatic, witty Richard, who is continually talking to the audience and cracking jokes about how evil he is. Even the supposed hero, Henry VII, only comes in at the end so doesn't come across as an easy to root for character.