Musical of the Month - The Revisited Show

Hello everyone, well we're at the end of January already and I still haven't written my Dreamboats and Petticoats review...I will do it I promise. Anyway, it's time for the Musical of the Month so let's get going. 

This time I'm going to do it a little differently as I'm not going to do a specific show but a type of show: the revisited type. This is the type of show that draws you back in again and again. Before you get scared this isn't another Priscilla blog, although I have seen that a lot, no, the reason behind this blog is that last week I was down in London as decided to take the time to see three shows that I'd wanted to see again for ages but hadn't got round to it. 

The first show I saw was Matilda, which I'd seen twice before and had been lucky enough to have a back stage tour thanks to the lovely Mark McGowan. This show is truly magical and the kids are super talented; I don't know who else I had but Georgina Pemberton played Matilda and was fabulous. The adult cast is super, as well, but special mention must go to Joshua Wyatt (Michael Wormwood), Lisa Davina Phillip (Mis Phelps) and Alex Gaumond (Miss Trunchbull). The scenery is, also, quite something and Tim Minchin's score is quirky and brilliant. To see the show I was sat a few rows back in the dress circle and had a great view, which was made better by only paying 50p of my own money thanks to saving up my theatre tokens that I'd got from previous birthdays and Christmas'. Overall, this was a truly great show and I was glad I went back to watch it again. 

The next show I was lucky enough to revisit was Les Miserables, which was made all the better by meeting fellow blogger, Dawn Smallwood, and her friend, Alexandra Lewis, at the stage door after the show. For this performance, Simon Shorten played Valjean and was superb at it, as was Tam Mutu (Javert), Na-Young Jeon (Fantine), Cameron Blakely (Thénardier) and Wendy Ferguson (Madame Thénardier)...well actually the whole cast was fabulous but these were my favourites. The show itself was fantastic with some great scenery and the classic score (made better by my front row seat in the dress circle for only £45), which made a truly phenomenal night out at the theatre. I was really pleased to see this legend of a show again as I have wanted to see it another time ever since I saw it when I was about 15ish but I had always put other shows in front of it, going back made me realise what a great show it was and how I probably wouldn't be leaving it so long before going back.

The other show I revisited was Mamma Mia, which again I think I saw when I was 15/16 so was a good 4 - 5 years since I'd been. I'd, also, been meaning to go back for a long time as I had to leave before the finale the last time I saw it so I could catch my train so needed to go back and see this part. Once again I managed to get a brilliant day seat; front row of the Dress Circle for £20 with the most perfect view ever (the ticket said restricted but it really wasn't)! I was a bit doubtful of the cast to begin with, mainly because they weren't what I pictured in my head (naughty me for watching too much of the film), but after the first few songs they grew on me and gave a super performance, particularly Dickie Wood who played the mischievous Pepper. As many of you probably know the songs are taken from the music that the band ABBA wrote and as an ABBA fan this means they are just my cup of tea and produced a good party atmosphere. The set itself was good, however, I think more could have been done to decorate the stage area as it ended up looking like a blue box, and the dangling tree was a little questionable as well. Nevertheless, once I got into the show this was forgotten and with some truly comic as well as touching moments the show was definitely worth the revisit. 

But what makes a revisited show so special, well I think it allows you to really explore the show and to focus on some on the details that you may have missed the first time. Also, it's interesting to see how different cast portray the characters differently and how a show changes when put in a different theatre (aka Mamma Mia). Additionally, if you're like me you'll find that you forgot certain magical moments from the first time you saw a show and it'll touch your heart when they're played out and you remember them. Furthermore, shows do change and are adapted to fit with the times; there was quite a few moments in Matilda that had been updated since the last time I saw it and it was interesting to see what changes had been made. And, finally, I think if you really enjoy a show there's no harm in going to see it again and again; theatre is there to make people happy so I see nothing wrong in seeing the same show again and again if it makes you really happy. It's because of these reasons why "The Revisited Show" is my Musical of the Month for January :)

I hope you've been having a theatrical month; are there any shows you like going to see again and again, if so please comment below or tweet me at @GreenGirlsRox, I'd love to hear from you.

Love you all

Kat

xx

Musical of the Year - Flying Free

Hello everyone, I know I've missed several Musical's of the Month and I've still got a Dreamboats and Petticoats blog to write but I thought it would be a good way to finish of 2013 (well start 2014 but it's really finishing 2013, just a bit later than planned) by having a Musical of the Year. 

This musical has ticked all the boxes for me, not only is it a truly spectacular show but it's, also, been my lifesaver this year and reminded me what is really important. For those of you who are regular readers of my blog I think you may be a little surprised to hear that the show in question is not Priscilla! Priscilla, itself, is in a very close 2nd place but this particular show just pipped it to the post. The show in question is the last show I've been to see and was the perfect way to finish off my year of 2013. However, this wasn't the first time I've seen this particular show, in fact I've seen it 11 times now (I think), including twice on Broadway; yes, I'm talking about the sensational show Wicked. 

Before discussing the cast at my most recent viewing let me give a bit more detail as to why this show is my Musical of the Year. Well, firstly, Elphaba is me in musical theatre character form; the odd ball who stands up for what she believes is right no matter what the cost. Then there's some really beautiful lines such as, 'Do you think I want to be this way? Do you think I want to care this much? Don't you know how much easier my life would be if I didn't', 'Elphaba: You're the only friend I've ever had. Glinda: And I've had so many friends, but only one who mattered', 'Elphaba: You're still beautiful. Fiyero: You don't have to lie to me. Elphaba: It's not lying...it's looking at things another way' and then, perhaps the most beautiful lines of all, in my eyes, 'So if you care to find me look to the western sky! As someone told me lately: "Ev'ryone deserves the chance to fly!"

And if I'm flying solo at least I'm flying free to those who'd ground me take a message back from me. Tell them how I am defying gravity. I'm flying high defying gravity and soon I'll match them in renown. And nobody in all of Oz, no Wizard that there is or was, isever gonna bring me down!'.

Too me all those lines are capable of touching a special place in my heart but the last ones, the lyrics to the last verse of Defying Gravity, are more special to me than anything as they serve as a reminder to say that you shouldn't let anyone, no matter how important, stop you from achieving your dreams, whatever those dreams may be. 

If that wasn't reason enough as to why Wicked should be the Musical of the Year, the show, also, has amazing costumes, brilliant special effects, the right balance between humour and seriousness and, as hinted at, a killer set of songs, to the extent that the first lines of Dancing Through Life gave me the inspiration to my education dissertation; 'The trouble with schools is they always try to teach the wrong lessons. 

So that's why you should make this your number one priority to see in 2014, but why are the current West End cast so brilliant. Well, over time I've seen quite a lot of people in the cast, including the formidable Kerry Ellis and Oliver Tompsett. No one had ever really loved up to Oliver's performance of Fiyero until this last time. The chap (I'll do a full list of names below) was nothing like Oliver but there was just a little something special about his portrayal that really got me liking him. In fact, there was just something special about the whole cast who delivered a truly stunning performance of an already spectacular show; there was just a little something, and I can't quite put my finger on what, that made the show feel extra specially magical. I, also, must mention that the girl who played Elphaba was mesmerising and had the clearest diction and most amazing voice I've heard in a long time. The current cast are just the cherry on top of an already perfect show. 

So that's why Wicked has to be my Musical of the Year. All that's left to say now is I'll see you all in 2014; happy new year everyone. If you ever want a chat either comment below or tweet me at @GreenGirlsRox, I'd love to hear from you. 

Love you all

Kat

xx

Cast List:

Elphaba - Willemijn Verkalk

Glinda - Savannah Stevenson

Fiyero - Jeremy Taylor

Madame Morrible - Sue Kelvin

The Wizard - Sam Kelly

Nessarose - Katie Rowley Jones

Boq - Sam Lupton

Doctor Dillamond - Paul Clarkson

A New Year

Well, here we are and it's 2014! Its doesn't seem that long ago since I was writing my new years post for 2013 but so much has changed since then as well. I've seen so many shows, with the two main shows of the year having to be Priscilla, which I saw in Manchester, Oxford, Wimbledon, Southampton, Nottingham, Belfast and Hull, and Rocky Horror, which I saw in Grimsby, Cambridge, Manchester, Cardiff and Nottingham (to see my blogs please click the locations). I, also, got the chance to review Spamalot or Last Minute Theatre Tickets, which was an amazing experience. Another well deserved show mention is Wicked, which I have doubled my love for this year as it, particularly, have stood by me and built me back up after the times of trouble. Finally, the new gem of  a show I found this year was Newsies which I hope so much comes to the West End as it is one of the most amazing shows I have ever seen.

As for life in general, well 2013 has not been the best year for me, saying that it's through the times of trouble that we notice the light that is around us in our friend and family; suddenly you realise which are the people who are always there for you and I'm pleased to say there is a lot of people out there for me and I'm truly blessed to know so many. I won't, however, go naming names as I'm more than likely to forget someone and don't want to cause offence but I'm sure all these wonderful people will know who they are. 

And then what of the hope of 2014, well hopefully I'll have a better time and be a lot less accident prone. However, let's look at the most important thing, theatre, well I hope to see Priscilla at least once more in the new year (well I bet you could guess that anyway). I, also, really hope to see Miss Saigon as I've heard the music and very good things about previous productions of this show so cannot wait to see a new production. As well as this, I'm hoping to see The Duck House as it looks like a very funny show that is a little different than my usual musical theatre show (due to the lack of songs). 

So that's all for my sum up of the year, before I go I'll leave you with my best three theatre bloggers. Also, I feel it's necessary to pause for a second to pay a thought for all involved with the accident that happened at The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime and hope that everything gets sorted out as quickly as possible.

The Best Three Theatre Bloggers:
Dawn Smallwood: http://dawnsmallwood.blogspot.co.uk
Thoughts of a Blue Eyed Girl: http://thoughtsofablueeyedgirl.blogspot.co.uk
Ignited by a Dream: http://ignitedbyadream.wordpress.com

Hope you all have a good year and remember to defy gravity, be a little bit naughty and remember to seize the day! It would be lovely to hear from you, please contact me either by commenting below or tweeting me on @GreenGirlsRox.

Love you lots

Kat

xx