Barnum, Chichester Festival Theatre, Theatre in the Park, July 2013

First I will admit that I had no idea what Barnum was about before I went, I assumed it was about a circus but apart from that I was clueless.

I love musicals and I didn't think I would hate it, there are very few I do, but I didn't know if it would be my thing.
I was pleasantly surprised to find a real old school musical much like 42nd Street or Mary Poppins. From start to finish it was excellent and the fact it was in a big tent made it feel all the more special.

Barnum is part of Chichester Festival Theatre's summer programme and was staged in the Theatre in the Park as work is carried out on the building.
It follows the story of Phineas T Barnum, America's Greatest Showman, through his life and his marriage to his wife Chairy. I also didn't know before that he was a real person and that Barnum and Bailey's Circus - the Greatest Show on Earth was a real thing.

By far my favourite songs were 'Come join the band' and 'Black and white', the set up on stage and the musical performance was just spot on.

The show is full of glitz and tricks, with acrobatics, flame throwers, work on ropes and so much more. The dancers must be really strong the amount of throwing, catching and holding each other the way they do, it is phenomenal.
There is an elephant at one point which the way they have done it is just great. It got a lot of cheers and laughs.
Also at one point in the show Barnum carries out a tight rope walk, and he did it in one go. My friend had been the previous week and said it had taken three attempts and in the end he just went along the bottom. But I am so glad that he did it for us.
The show is a Cameron Mackintosh production so you know that he has a hit on his hands, co-produced with the Chichester Festival Theatre.

Christopher Fitzgerald plays P T Barnum a rising star on Broadway, he has so much charisma and charm that you fall under his spell. Tamsin Carroll plays Chairy is excellent and makes her more than just 'his wife' and doesn't hide in the shadow of the big performer Barnum.

This is just a really good, toe-tapping, old school musical and I really couldn't recommend it enough, and really don't want to give away too much as you really need to see it to believe it.
With previous Festival Theatre productions going on to be West End hits (Singin' in the Rain and Sweeney Todd) I don't doubt for a second that this one will follow it their footsteps.
For more information here is the website - http://www.cft.org.uk/barnum It is due to close at the end of August.
‘Barnum’s the name, P T Barnum, and I want to tell you that tonight, on this stage, you are going to see - bar none - every sight, wonder and miracle that name stands for!’

Secrets Wild Orchid Montego Bay, Montego Bay, Jamaica - July 2013

This time last week I was in Jamaica preparing for my and my boyfriend's friend's wedding.

I was bridesmaid and he was one of the groomsmen. It was the perfect day, the weather was behaving and was just glorious and the day ended with the 16 strong wedding party singing, dancing and drinking on the beach long after the sun went down - amazing!

Coming back home the heat hasn't been much of an issue as in Jamaica it was probably a bit hotter but incredibly humid.

So the holiday, in one word fantastic! This is the first time I have done an all inclusive holiday and traveled to a sunny island out of the EU. Jamaica, what I saw of it, was brilliant, so green. I will admit we didn't leave the resort but the people were just so friendly, always singing and dancing. I really fell in love with the place.

As for the hotel - Secrets Wild Orchid, Montego Bay, it was huge and nothing disappointed. The food was delicious and as we were only there for seven nights we were unable to experience all the nine restaurants. We did try the Caribbean,  Italian and Japanese plus a lobster buffet - in the Japanese they cook on a hot plate and serve up the food direct to your plate, although I'm sure in Japan the cooks don't sing Shaggy and Sean Paul.

The world cafe is a buffet at breakfast and certain days in the week, if you go try out the lobster night, it was great.

In the day coconut water, Jamaican fruit and Jerk chicken stalls do the rounds. I have only tried coconut water once out of a carton but it is so much better direct from the source and the fruit was refreshing after indulging in far too much food. Also I have tried jerk chicken before and it is far spicier in Jamaica.

All inclusive obviously means drinks as well, and the cocktail list were extensive and delicious. A 'We Be Jammin' didn't taste very alcoholic so be warned. Also if you have anything with rum in be careful as the measurements were obviously a bit skewed as they were always really strong. My only regret I didn't have a Bob Marley.

The piano bar is a great place to chill with a cocktail and sing a song or two with the piano man. And Desires nightclub also has a karaoke night a couple of times a week.

The room was so nice and I have never been anywhere where the air con  worked so much we actually moaned a little that the room was too cold.

I loved this place, and can see why so many people were getting married there. It is the perfect place for a holiday, honeymoon or wedding.

I'm now saving up the pennies for my next trip to paradise.

Whoa I'm off to Jamaica

So by the time you read this I will be on a plane flying to Jamaica to the holiday of a lifetime. 

The wedding is on Friday, I will be bridesmaid and my boyfriend is one of the groom's men. I will share all when I get back!

Hard Rock Calling, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London, June 2013

This may have been a long time in the making but at the end of June I was over the moon to have had the chance to go to the Olympic Park or as the part I went to is now called the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. 

The reason I went there, Hard Rock Calling, which left Hyde Park and has now pitched up in the park. 

The first band we managed to catch were Irish band Kodaline, who were so good and even surprised my boyfriend who was convinced they were going to be like The Script. I loved High Hopes and the beautiful All I Want.

The headliners for the event were Kasabian who played a 2 hour set and were worth the £55 tickets price alone. Alongside crowd favourites LSF, Shoot the Runner and Fire, they also played Fatboy Slim's Praise You and The Korgis' Everybody's Gotta Learn Sometimes which was hauntingly beautiful. 

I have seen Kasabian twice before and they know how to work the audience in smaller venues but were masters of the crowd of around 45,000. It could have easily been their own concert. 

 The main stage was situated near the velodrome, which looked as if a spaceship had crash landed as the sun set behind it. 

Overall there were three stages - The Pepsi Max and Hard Rock Rising which had new acts and people like Gaz Coombes from Supergrass and Steve Cradock from Ocean Colour Scene who I heard briefly on my way to the toilet. 

The Pepsi Max stage was great and featured The Twang, The View and The Tribes. The Tribes were quite good and the boyfriend suggested that we check them out, we stayed for about twenty minutes of their set before catching the end of Miles Kane on the main stage. 

In between bands we also managed to catch a few songs by The Cribs, which was great and a brilliant warm up as I am planning to see them at the Victorious Festival in Portsmouth in August. Miles Kane rocked it in all white and we heard him perform Come Closer, Inhaler and the amazing Give Up which sounded phenomenal. 

 After him was the Modfather Paul Weller, who even though he only played for about an hour filled it with hit after hit - The Changing Man and That's Entertainment. 

 I have seen Weller twice before and always had to leave before the end so have never seen him perform Town Called Malice. This time we were there and when the opening chords started the whole field erupted and everyone was dancing their heart out, including me and my boyfriend. Paul Weller did not disappoint. 

 For food we had a pulled pork sandwich from Barbeco Jamie Oliver stand, it was delicious and was only about £6. Quite good value for money as there was a lot and I couldn't eat it all. 

 However, the drinks were quite expensive, soft drinks were £2.50 and considering how hot it was there was the chance people could have gone through quite a bit. Also my boyfriend didn't manage to have a cold, refreshing pint as the queues for the bar was ridiculous.

Overall though I loved being at the park and watching these amazing bands, if they are this good next year at the same price I will be there. 

 And while I remember we got to walk right past the Olympic Stadium and the strange red looking thing. The stadium is huge and it is hard to believe that this time last year the Olympics were about to kick off and the park was buzzing with people everyday.

Jersey Boys, Prince Edward Theatre, London, June 2013

I went to see Jersey Boys as part of a hen-do, probably not the usually musical hens go to but it is one I have never seen before so I was actually looking forward to it.

I had also heard a lot of good things about the musical, apparently it is David Beckham's favourite, if it good enough for him I was sure it would be good enough for me.

For anyone who has never seen it, or even heard of it, Jersey tells the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons during the 60s, a New Jersey band made up of boys from the wrong side of the tracks who invented their own unique sound and were inducted into the Rock and Roll hall of Fame. They have also sold 100 million records worldwide

As far as sets go it is pretty sparse and uses a lot of Roy Lichtentstein pictures, which I loved. 

Now I went into this not really thinking I knew any Four Seasons songs, how wrong was I.

The production includes - Beggin' which was used as a sample by Madcon in 2007; Can't Take My Eyes Off You, Oh What A Night, Walk Like a Man, Bye Bye Baby (Baby Goodbye) and Big Girls Don't Cry to name a few. I was singing and dancing to songs thinking - I know this!

It also made me want to go and back the Four Seasons back catalogue. 

Ryan Molloy plays Frankie Valli and has done so for a number of years, he was excellent going from the young, naive 16-year-old to showman.

All the cast was so good and it really made me want to find out a bit more about the band.

I can see why people love it and there definitely were some fans in the audience. I for one would love to see it again.

I saw it at the Prince Edward Theatre, where it has been for five years, and sat up in the upper circle, which was a little scary at first but when the show started it was the last thing on my mind I was so enthralled by the musical I completely forgot where I was sitting.

From March it will be in the Piccadilly Theatre as Viva Forever has now closed.

 

If you want a nostalgic, feel good musical, although there is a little gritty drama thrown in, set in the 60s and full of loads of songs you will know go to Jersey Boys you won't regret it.

Priscilla Queen of the Desert, UK tour, The Mayflower, Southampton, June 2013

Anyone who has read this blog before will know that firstly I love musicals, secondly I really love Priscilla Queen of the Desert and felt there should be national day of mourning when it closed in the West End of London. 

Imagine my delight then when it was announced that Priscilla was on the move and coming to Southampton Mayflower.

Now I saw it at the beginning of June and have been a bit snowed under with exams, holiday prep and just work in general so I  have been unable to write about the tour, but thought with a free evening I would put pen to paper, so to speak.

The basic story from the West End and Australian show is the same, three drag queens travelling across the desert from Sydney to Alice Springs to perform at a Casino.

There is still the fascination with Kylie Minogue, the American one it has been changed to Madonna. Most of the songs are the same except the opening song of 'Downtown' has been changed to 'It's Raining Men' which works really, really well. They have also added 'True colours' which is in the US version.

Obviously stage-wise there are restrictions, especially when it comes to the bus. Priscilla is reduced to a bottom bit with screens near the top, however, it still works, you can imagine the bus is there and also it means that it is less likely to break down, as it sometimes did in London.

Noel Sullivan, of Hear'Say fame, was Tick on the week I went and was really good. He has amazing vocal ability and really camped up the character as I think sometimes people try to play Tick a bit safe as Adam is the overly camp one. It does seem though I am never going to see Jason Donovan in the role, as I have seen Ben Richards and Richard Grieve but never Jason.

Graham Weaver played Adam and although I love the original Adam - Olivier Thornton, Graham did a really good job.

Bernadette this time was played by Richard Grieve who I had previously seen as Tick and to be honest I think his Bernadette was amazing. I think he really suited the role better than the role of Tick. He was brilliant and really was a good looking woman...

There is so much colour and glamour when you see Priscilla that you just want to dance all the way home. I hope they keep touring as I never get tired of this musical, well I have seen it four times. If you want to see it, go to the tour!

New job!

I now have a new job. I have moved from the murky world of local newspapers to a magazine job.

I will admit I really enjoyed working for a newspaper, although I never thought I would ever say that.  But you get such a great grounding in everything, from death knocks to court, council meetings to charity stories. It is also a great way to build up your confidence.

So on to my new job I am now a features writer for etc Magazine - http://www.etcmag.net/ and even more exciting it is launching a Hampshire edition in August so I get to write about the county I am proud to call my home.

In my first edition I interviewed Aldo Zilli and Peter Andre. It is great be able to spend time interviewing people and it is so varied. I also met Antonio Carluccio - a cooking legend.

On another note just to plug something, anyone wanting to be a journalist should check out Highbury College who are launching a year course with The News. I did the fast-track 20 week course there and as you know it was hard but so worth it I wouldn't have my dream job if I hadn't attended the course.

Also out of 13 people on the course only a couple didn't get jobs as a journalist, but one does now work for the MET office. People from my course now work at The News, Daily Echo, M&Y News Agency, Rex Features and the BBC, how cool is that.

Check out their website - http://www.highbury.ac.uk/journalism 

Saying that tomorrow I have my NCE exam to be a senior reporter, very nerve wrecking but fingers crossed in a month I will be posting good news! Good luck to anyone else doing it.

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