Musical of the Month-A Large Dose of Glitter

Hi everyone, hope you've been having a theatre-y August. I'll be posting a lot this next week so keep your eyes peeled and your ears open.

Before I begin my new feature, Musical of the Month, I have an announcement...if anyone would like a ticket to the fantastic West End Bares (Sunday 2nd Sept) please contact @PriscillaCraze on Twitter. It is a VIP ticket and costs £65 which will be paid in cash on the day...it will be a fabulous night people!!!

Anyway back to blogging...it was almost too easy to choose which musical had been my favourite this month as it always will be. However, throughout August this show I have lived in a happy little bubble with this show.

The show in question is the amazing Priscilla Queen of the Desert. I have seen this amazing show full of love, colour and glitter three times (which is disappointingly too few compared to some people I know) and hope to go many more when it tours in 2013...yes it is almost certainly confirmed!!!

The show itself is pure brilliance; the costumes are amazing, the songs are the perfect thing to cheer up a gloomy day and the story line is just fantastic. Oh and that not mentioning the cast who were amazing all three times I saw it, especially the ridiculously talented Oliver Thornton who played Felica / Adam.

However, it's not just the show itself that means that this is 'Musical of the Month' as it's been closed since 31st December...boohoo :(. The truly amazing thing about Priscilla is the people I've met through it over Facebook and Twitter (I'll mention some of my favourite sites at the bottom of this post). They are the best of friends a person could ever have and are always there for me when I need someone. This is mainly why Priscilla is 'Musical of the Month' as throughout August I have been getting exceptionally excited as we are meeting up for West End Bares, which is in only TWO DAYS TIME!!! It is this that has led to my Priscilla induced bubble for nearly the whole of August.

Other reasons why Priscilla has to be musical of the month is that I created a homage to the show (picture below), I caved into temptation and brought the most perfect, Priscilla inspired shoes ever (they will not be worn but do feature in my homage), brought a programme from the Milan show from Dress Circle (well actually I brought this on 31st July but that's nearly August anyway!), I brought a Priscilla charm for my charm bracelet and was given the most amazing Priscilla inspired birthday present ever (mentioned in my blog about Matilda).

I hope you've enjoyed this new feature. What do you think of Priscilla? Have you seen it and if so how many times? I hope I have inspired you to beg, borrow or steal a ticket when it comes out on tour!!!

 My best friend Alys and me with Oliver Thornton

 

Me with my amazing Felica doll made by Alys

My Priscilla inspired charm

Oliver Thornton as Felica

My homage to Priscilla...please note the amazing shoe on the right!

The Palace Theatre how it should look

 

 Finally, here are some of my favourite Priscilla sites that you should follow...

@priscillauk1

@priscillabus

@PriscillaLives

https://www.facebook.com/#!/priscilla.london.7

And then my all time favourites

@PriscillaUKTour

and

https://www.facebook.com/#!/PriscillaUkTour

 

 

Sending Priscilla love and sparkles to you all

Kat

Xx

The Ending of an Era-Bye Bye Dress Circle

After being my first stop every time I've visited London since I started going seven years ago, Dress Circle is set to close. The reasons for closure are extremely valid and I don't think any of us can criticise the Dress Circle team for not trying hard to keep the shop running in these difficult economic times.

The reason for Dress Circle closing is, primarily, that they cannot afford the rent on the shop. During the past year they have undertaken many fantastic ideas to raise money, including the amazing CD 'Standing Ovation', however this has all been in vain. The management have, also, had discussions with the landlord to see if they can have the rent lowered; yet again this was in vain.

Dress Circle have said that the main reasons they are struggling with the rent are the economic downturn but, probably more prominently, the increase of downloadable music. Personally I love having an actual CD as it feels like I have actually brought a product, nevertheless, many people have turned to the downloadable versions of CDs leaving Dress Circle struggling as its main product is CDs.

Although the website is staying open, I am going to miss visiting the shop when I go to London as it has become a traditional part of my West End Experience. I have loved being able to browse around this amazing and quaint shop and love chatting to the staff; socialising with other theatre lovers is always fab! For me there will be a hole in the West End and my heart where Dress Circle should be. Dress Circle will be missed and I hope that one day it will return to the streets of London's West End.

Bye bye Dress Circle, you will always be the best shop in the world!!!

Hope you enjoyed reading this.

What are your best memories of Dress Circle?

See you soon

Love Kat

xx

Sometimes You Have To Be A Little Bit Naughty...

Hi, hope you all enjoyed my last blog, am now going to commence with part two...

After a brilliant morning wandering round Covent Garden buying stuff that we didn't really need but had to have (including a happy birthday banner for me to wear as we couldn't find a birthday badge) and having a spot of lunch we set off to the theatre...that is my mum, Alys and myself!

I have to confess that I have seen Matilda already on 3rd February so you can probably guess that I'm going to say that I love it. My only concern was that when I'd seen Matilda before I went to an evening performance to avoid there being too many children in the audience whereas this time we were going to a matinee. Don't get me wrong, I love children but had a bad experience when I saw Shrek when a 2 year old cried the whole way through and kicked me in the back of the head. That's enough moaning for now though and I have to say I was incredibly impressed for despite 50% of the audience being children, the whole theatre was silent thoughout the whole production...well except for when they were having hysterics!

The show was just as brilliant as I'd remembered...probably even more! What I find amazing is the stage presence of the children. It is almost impossible to look at the adults as the children captivate your whole attention. For our performance we had Isobelle Molloy as Matilda who was absolutely brilliant and simply couldn't be faulted. Sadly I do not know which children played the other parts but they were absolutely fabulous especially the boy playing Bruce! However, the talent did not finish with the children and the adult members of the cast were fantastic as well. For our performance we had quite a lot of understudies who were absolutely fabulous...there was Alastair Parker who was brilliant as Miss Trunchbull, Lucy Thatcher as Mrs Wormwood, Matther Malthouse as Rudolpho, Marc Antolin as the Escapologist and Tim Walton as Sergei, we, also had Steve Furst as Mr Wornwood, Peter Howe as Michael Wormwood, Haley Flaherty as Miss Honey and Emily Shaw as the Acrobat. Everyone was exceptionally brilliant, however, the biggest round of applause has to go to Alastair Parker, Steve Furst and Peter Howe who were absolutely hilarious thoughout the whole show. Overall, I don't think I've ever seen a more talented cast!

Moving on from the fantastic cast, I have to say that the costumes and set design are fantastic. The set is very minimal, yet expectionally clever. Also, some of the tricks they did were exceptionally well executed and I still cannot work out how they are done even after seeing it twice!!!

Futhermore, the seats we had were great as we were sitting in B5, 6 and 7 (I certainly recommend lastminute.com's 48 hour sales!). We had a great view and loads of leg room.

My only criticism of this amazing show is that you will not be able to stop singing the songs for the rest of your life. They are truly fantastic and the most catchy tunes you have ever heard!!!

After being wowed by the amazingness that is Matilda, we set off back home to have some of my brilliant Priscilla cake (made by Alys and her mum) and to be presented with the best birthday present ever courtesy of Alys!!!

Here are some pics of my day...

Me outside the Cambridge Theatre, Matilda

Alys outside the Cambridge Theatre, Matilda

My amazing Priscilla birthday cake

Me and the amazing Felicia doll...thank-you Alys!!!

Have any of you seen Matilda? If so what do you think?

Please comment...and I would say follow but I can't seem to find the follow button!!!

Thanks for reading

Love Kat xxx

Puttin' On My Top Hat...

Hi my lovely readers how are you? This is my first of two posts about my wonderful birthday in London. I was incredibly lucky and got to see both Top Hat and Matilda with my friend, Alys, and my mum.

So let's begin...today (or rather this evening's) post is about Top Hat and my preparation for it.

The evening began well as we had a stroll down Long Acre Street and round Covent Garden Market. We, also, visited Dress Circle which I am very sad to report is closing in two weeks (but more on that in another post)!!! Before heading to the theatre we stopped off for a bite to eat at the Pizza Express on Bow Street. The food was delicious but the highlight was our amazing waiter called Andy who presented me with a candle in my sorbet whilst he, my mum and Alys sang Happy Birthday to me. So if you ever are in the Covent Garden area pop along to the Pizza Express down Bow Street and ask for Andy, he is amazing!!!

After a fab meal we headed off for the Aldwych Theatre. To begin with, let's just say I was rather sceptical about this show as I had only really booked to see it as it had Tom Chambers (who I've loved ever since he was in Strictly) in and thought that there may be too much dancing and not enough story for my liking. However, I am pleased to report that this was not the case. The show was absolutely fabulous and Tom Chambers (Jerry Travers), Summer Strallen (Dale Tremont), Martin Ball (Horace Hardwick), Vivien Parry (Madge Hardwick) and Stephen Boswell (Bates) were amazing. We, also, had an understudy playing Alberto Beddini who was outstanding. We were, also, on the look out for Callum Train who is the nephew of one of the presenters of the most amazing musical radio show in the country, Westenders (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p001d7zf - if you listen because of this post please say you were recommended by Kat of Sal Kat and Meg the dollie cog!). We were really excited as Callum had been promoted to the role of Doorman and was fantastic! Overall the acting, singing and, needless to say, the dancing in this show are second to none.

The plot impressed me immensely with its classy comedy and wit. I don't think I have ever laughed at a show so much in my life. There are some brilliantly funny one liners and some hilarious situations that the plot presents. What amazed me the most is this comic element as I did not expect a show that began as a movie in 1935 to be so full of humour...Irving Berlin certainly knew how to make people laugh!!!

However, what must be remembered is that this is a show that focuses heavily on dancing, especially tap. This was perfect for me as I love tap (if there is a story to go with it), however, if this is not your cup of tea and you want a show that focuses on big show stopping vocal performances this probably isn't the show for you. Nevertheless, if you love a bit of fancy footwork you have to get a ticket by any means possible (oh...and you could take me along as well while you're about it!)

My only criticism comes about because of the theatre itself and is relatively minor. My problem was the seats had very little leg room (even in our seats midway back in the stalls) and I kept slipping off them! Other than this it was a great show and we had an amazing view.

To top of our evening we waited by the stage door (as you do for all good musicals). This was slightly disappointing as we were the only people waiting! Nevertheless, this was, also, quite good as we got more time to talk to the stars of the show, as well as, more time for photo opportunities. Alys had found out from the programme that Martin Ball had starred in Home Farm Twins (a children's TV show from our youth) so we were incredibly excited about meeting him, as well as, Tom. Both of them were really lovely and it was great chatting to them and telling them how much we'd enjoyed the show.

Overall, this was a fab evening and I would definitely recommend it!!!

Here are a few pictures from my evening...

Me with Tom Chambers

Alys with Tom Chambers

Mum, Alys and I with Martin Ball

All of us in Pizza Express with the Sorbet with a candle (you can just see it at the bottom in the middle!)

Have you see Top Hat?

Did you enjoy it as much as I did?

See you soon

Lv Kat xxx