Friday, December 14, 2007
Lord of the Rings
I am unbelievably tired!
We had a company conference for the past couple of days which started at 9am on Wednesday and at 8.15am yesterday so I had to be up earlier to make sure I was in on time. Obviously, were I able to rely on the train service I could have got my normal train for day one but I didn’t feel able to trust it to be there and run to time.
The conference ended yesterday lunchtime and we switched to our Christmas party. I didn’t get that drunk, although you wouldn’t think so from the pictures, but I was feeling rather rough this morning and still tired. I’ve done nothing but yawn all afternoon.
As part of this Christmas’s entertainment, we saw Lord of the Rings, the musical. I wasn’t too impressed. The set, the wire-work and the lighting were brilliant but the acting, singing, dancing and dodgily edited script let it down a lot. Some of that was perhaps in part down to us coming for the matinee when most of the cast had been replaced by understudies.
However, it was over-choreographed to my mind. The elves had a habit of waving their arms and heads around in a vaguely Madonna-Vogue style whenever they spoke. For instance: “welcome to Loth” – twist head sharply – “lorien”. Another instance was during the final battle between the men and the forces of Sauron which seemed to be one of those pop-video dance-off things with swords and had me laughing from the off.
There were too many bloody songs! I know it’s a musical but there seemed to be a one song every five minutes rule. There was an annoying elf woman who sang in every scene nearly. Atmospheric, yes, necessary, no.
I did like the frequent breaching of the fourth wall. Gandalf’s end of act one battle with the dragon sent all sorts of stuff into the audience causing the many many children to scream. They screamed as well when the Orcs wandered around in the second interval and when the Hobbits looked for glow-worms before the show started. Honestly, how can you be frightened of Hobbits?
I particularly enjoyed the Orcs when they targeted a group of three young girls who had chatted all through the first half and who we reported to their teacher (evil, eh?).
Large chunks of the script seemed to have been clumsily edited out. At the end of one scene, for instance, Gandalf was imprisoned by Saruman but was inexplicably free a few scenes later but offered a very glib explanation (“I was freed by some magical creatures”).
The stage itself was a marvel with bits rising and falling all over the place, suggesting walls, a forest, and all manner of different sets. The wire-work was similarly excellent: Gollum’s entrance climbing down a wall face-down was incredible as was a swimming scene and the elves floating around in the air. A lot of stilt work was used and was impressive: the Dark Riders and the Ents would not have been half as impressive otherwise.
Despite the clever stuff, I won’t be tempted to see it again. Unusual for me.
(0) comments
We had a company conference for the past couple of days which started at 9am on Wednesday and at 8.15am yesterday so I had to be up earlier to make sure I was in on time. Obviously, were I able to rely on the train service I could have got my normal train for day one but I didn’t feel able to trust it to be there and run to time.
The conference ended yesterday lunchtime and we switched to our Christmas party. I didn’t get that drunk, although you wouldn’t think so from the pictures, but I was feeling rather rough this morning and still tired. I’ve done nothing but yawn all afternoon.
As part of this Christmas’s entertainment, we saw Lord of the Rings, the musical. I wasn’t too impressed. The set, the wire-work and the lighting were brilliant but the acting, singing, dancing and dodgily edited script let it down a lot. Some of that was perhaps in part down to us coming for the matinee when most of the cast had been replaced by understudies.
However, it was over-choreographed to my mind. The elves had a habit of waving their arms and heads around in a vaguely Madonna-Vogue style whenever they spoke. For instance: “welcome to Loth” – twist head sharply – “lorien”. Another instance was during the final battle between the men and the forces of Sauron which seemed to be one of those pop-video dance-off things with swords and had me laughing from the off.
There were too many bloody songs! I know it’s a musical but there seemed to be a one song every five minutes rule. There was an annoying elf woman who sang in every scene nearly. Atmospheric, yes, necessary, no.
I did like the frequent breaching of the fourth wall. Gandalf’s end of act one battle with the dragon sent all sorts of stuff into the audience causing the many many children to scream. They screamed as well when the Orcs wandered around in the second interval and when the Hobbits looked for glow-worms before the show started. Honestly, how can you be frightened of Hobbits?
I particularly enjoyed the Orcs when they targeted a group of three young girls who had chatted all through the first half and who we reported to their teacher (evil, eh?).
Large chunks of the script seemed to have been clumsily edited out. At the end of one scene, for instance, Gandalf was imprisoned by Saruman but was inexplicably free a few scenes later but offered a very glib explanation (“I was freed by some magical creatures”).
The stage itself was a marvel with bits rising and falling all over the place, suggesting walls, a forest, and all manner of different sets. The wire-work was similarly excellent: Gollum’s entrance climbing down a wall face-down was incredible as was a swimming scene and the elves floating around in the air. A lot of stilt work was used and was impressive: the Dark Riders and the Ents would not have been half as impressive otherwise.
Despite the clever stuff, I won’t be tempted to see it again. Unusual for me.
Labels: Christmas, Lord of the Rings, Musical theatre
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
The Drowsy Chaperone
My favourite musical is closing! No, not We Will Rock You. That has been supplanted in my affections by The Drowsy Chaperone.
It closes on August 4th. David and I plan to see it again before it closes.
Have a look on their website (www.drowsychaperoneuk.com) and you'll be able to see me! There's a section of interviews on video (Show -> Videos -> Public Reaction) and two tiny slices of my post-show interview are shown.
(2) comments
It closes on August 4th. David and I plan to see it again before it closes.
Have a look on their website (www.drowsychaperoneuk.com) and you'll be able to see me! There's a section of interviews on video (Show -> Videos -> Public Reaction) and two tiny slices of my post-show interview are shown.
Labels: Drowsy Chaperone, Musical theatre, Video
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Musicals
It is a gay cliché but I love musical theatre. Regular readers (ha!) may have noticed this already.
Despite having a week in Wales, David and I have managed to see two West End musicals in the last two weeks.
The day before we left for Wales we saw The Drowsy Chaperone in the Novello Theatre. We went with four friends and sat in the front row. I cannot describe this show adequately. It starts with a man putting on a record of his favourite musical, The Drowsy Chaperone from 1928. The show, the story of a wedding, bursts into life in his apartment and he talks us through it. It is a masterpiece of comic timing, rapid costume changes, dancing and singing. At one point, when he changes the record ... no, I won't tell you that. It will spoil it for you.
We all laughed a lot. Our friend Martin, who laughs loudly, drew the attention of the man in the chair during the break between records because he was laughing so much, which, of course, made us all laugh all the more.
Last night, David and I saw The Sound of Music. Wow! I loved it. I wasn't sure when I went and even less sure when a huge woman with huger hair sat in front of me but when I found myself grinning like a fool during the nuns' chorus I knew I was going to enjoy it. I may bring scorn upon myself for saying this but it is infinitely better than the film. Connie Fisher was great, the kids were wonderful, the nuns awesome and the Reverend Mother staggering. I can see why she fell for Captain Von Trapp although if I were her I may have tried Franz the butler first.
As with the film there were weepy bits. I always get a bit tearful during Edelweiss and more so when the Captain finds his voice again and sings with the children. I was nearly blubbing last night. The Lonely Goatherd song, my favourite, didn't have the puppets or even any relevance to the plot but a lovely simplicity that warmed the heart and tapped my toes.
Which show did I like best? I cannot say. I loved them both in different ways and want to see both again. Would you expect anything else of me?
(0) comments
Despite having a week in Wales, David and I have managed to see two West End musicals in the last two weeks.
The day before we left for Wales we saw The Drowsy Chaperone in the Novello Theatre. We went with four friends and sat in the front row. I cannot describe this show adequately. It starts with a man putting on a record of his favourite musical, The Drowsy Chaperone from 1928. The show, the story of a wedding, bursts into life in his apartment and he talks us through it. It is a masterpiece of comic timing, rapid costume changes, dancing and singing. At one point, when he changes the record ... no, I won't tell you that. It will spoil it for you.
We all laughed a lot. Our friend Martin, who laughs loudly, drew the attention of the man in the chair during the break between records because he was laughing so much, which, of course, made us all laugh all the more.
Last night, David and I saw The Sound of Music. Wow! I loved it. I wasn't sure when I went and even less sure when a huge woman with huger hair sat in front of me but when I found myself grinning like a fool during the nuns' chorus I knew I was going to enjoy it. I may bring scorn upon myself for saying this but it is infinitely better than the film. Connie Fisher was great, the kids were wonderful, the nuns awesome and the Reverend Mother staggering. I can see why she fell for Captain Von Trapp although if I were her I may have tried Franz the butler first.
As with the film there were weepy bits. I always get a bit tearful during Edelweiss and more so when the Captain finds his voice again and sings with the children. I was nearly blubbing last night. The Lonely Goatherd song, my favourite, didn't have the puppets or even any relevance to the plot but a lovely simplicity that warmed the heart and tapped my toes.
Which show did I like best? I cannot say. I loved them both in different ways and want to see both again. Would you expect anything else of me?
Labels: Musical theatre
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Titanic
David and I have just seen Titanic, the musical. It was showing at the Churchill Theatre in Bromley and was performed by the West Wickham Operatic Society. It had nothing to do with the film, by the way.
I thought it was excellent. There were a few glitches, mainly on the sound when a few of the microphones weren't live at the appropriate times or the volume not high enough but, on the whole, I thought it a very professional performance.
I always find the Titanic story a bit of a weepy and this production made this happen again. I found I was filling up during some of the numbers. One was at the beginning when the passengers are full of hope for their voyage and the new lives they are going to have in America and another was when the ship is sinking (sorry - it was a very traditional interpretation) and the men have to say goodbye to their loved ones.
That an amateur production managed to engage me to that extent is fantastic. I was very impressed.
We're going to see another production of this show in March in Hull. This should be better. We know the director and we know he has extremely high standards. I'd better pack the tissues.
(0) comments
I thought it was excellent. There were a few glitches, mainly on the sound when a few of the microphones weren't live at the appropriate times or the volume not high enough but, on the whole, I thought it a very professional performance.
I always find the Titanic story a bit of a weepy and this production made this happen again. I found I was filling up during some of the numbers. One was at the beginning when the passengers are full of hope for their voyage and the new lives they are going to have in America and another was when the ship is sinking (sorry - it was a very traditional interpretation) and the men have to say goodbye to their loved ones.
That an amateur production managed to engage me to that extent is fantastic. I was very impressed.
We're going to see another production of this show in March in Hull. This should be better. We know the director and we know he has extremely high standards. I'd better pack the tissues.
Labels: Musical theatre, Titanic
