Ghost The Musical, The Mayflower, November 2013

The Mayflower in Southampton has really upped its game in recent years getting big West End shows pretty much as soon as they finish. In the past they have had Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, Legally Blonde and next year will play host to Dirty Dancing and the phenomenal Wicked.

I prefer The Mayflower, only a 40 minute drive, compared to the long journey to London it is great to show these shows come locally.

As a massive fan of the film Ghost I was thrilled when I heard it was coming to the Mayflower as I was gutted to have missed it in London.

On the website Ghost is described as - a timeless fantasy about the power of love. Walking back to their apartment one night, Sam and Molly are mugged, leaving Sam murdered on a dark street. Sam is trapped as a ghost between this world and the next and unable to leave Molly who he learns is in grave danger. With the help of a phony storefront psychic, Oda Mae Brown, Sam tries to communicate with Molly in the hope of saving and protecting her.

The 1990 film starred Demi Moore as Molly, Patrick Swayze as Sam and Whoopi Goldberg as Oda Mae. It pulls at the heartstrings and every time I watch the film I cry so I was pretty sure the musical would do the same.

With films into musicals I am always a little dubious as to how they will come off Legally Blonde worked amazingly well, and when I found out that Dave Stewart from the Eurythmics I had high hopes.

The only song really I knew would be there was Unchained Melody, the stand out song of the film.

So the musical...beautifully set and just a fantastic production, the transitions from person to ghost with the body still on stage was seamless and I still don't understand how they did it. It was a very clever production and the stage was amazing with the beginning whizzing you through the streets of New York.

The musical captures the magic of the film perfectly and the songs fit perfectly in this new mould.

It is always going to be hard to match the actors who were in the film but each actor played their part well and made it their own, the fact that Molly has blonde curly hair rather than a short brown crop instantly distinguishes the two actresses and you almost forget that someone else every played the role.

The stand out character and actress for me though was Wendy Mae Brown who plays Oda Mae Brown. In quite a heavy story line she adds welcomed light relief and has an amazing voice to carry the songs home.

When we went to watch another actress was playing the role of Molly - Amy Webb, who was excellent, it makes you wonder why she wasn't given the part in the first place.

Finally Sam was played by Stewart Clarke and although no legendary Swayze he really made you connect with Sam and feel his pain at dying way before his time.

This musical is just brilliant and really adds another dimension to an already popular and fantastic film. I really think if you love the film you will be hard pushed to hate this musical.

And before you ask yes I did cry at the end...

To find out more visit - http://www.ghostthemusical.com/

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!

I Heart New York

Today is the tenth anniversary of the awful 9/11 attacks.




I remember it quite clearly, walking home from school hearing that a plane had hit the World Trade Centre, not quite knowing what building it was, I had heard of the twin towers but I suppose I never knew their 'official' name.


When I got home I turned on the TV to be greeted with the Twin Towers smoking and a ablaze. I also saw the second plane hit, it was just.... you can't describe it, seeing something like that unfold in front of you. Just chaos and debris. Loss of innocent life, people jumping out of the building thinking that is the best way, their way.


Anyway, I don't want to dwell on this but talk about my love for one of the best cities in the world.


I visited New York in 2004 with my mum. The flight was ok, and we got a mini bus thing to the hotel with a bunch of German people.


The hotel we were staying at was next to the Empire State Building, so every morning when I opened the curtains I could see the magnificent Empire State Building.


Walking through Central Park and Times Square was like walking through a film set, they are sights that you have seen in your favourite TV shows and films but are unbelievable when you see them in real life.


I will admit that most of it was little smaller that I was expecting but still amazing. On our first day after being awake for over 14 hours me and my mum went up the Empire State, barely talking to each other but we were told by the hotel receptionist that it was going to rain so it would be better to go up there that day. We got into a lift crammed full up to the observation deck made famous by King Kong, but although we were tired and grouchy when we got there and our first proper view of the city from above and I was not disappointed.


We did the usual touristy things, saw the Statue of Liberty, went on a carriage around Central Park, had dinner in Ellen's Stardust Diner (http://ellensstardustdiner.com/) where they sing while you eat, I got Mack the Knife...it was ok a little embarrassing as you try to eat your burger. One of the funniest things though is going in to the Art Deco beauty that is the Chrysler building, we didn't know you couldn't go up so literally walked around the lobby and back out.


We also caught a Broadway show, we saw 42nd Street, a proper New York musical from the 30s, and it was amazing.


There were also visits to the brilliant Macy's, Harvey Nichols and Bloomingdales. Didn't take advantage of the good dollar-pound ratio back then, wish we had. We bought socks in Bloomingdales just so we could get a little brown bag.


I would love to go back to New York at Christmas; films like Elf, set in New York make me feel warm and fuzzy during my favourite time of year. I have only been once but that was enough to truly captivate me and make me fall head over heels in love with it.


So on this day, we should all remember those lost and the fantastic city they loved as well.



Spectacular! Spectacular!

On Friday I was lucky enough to see Priscilla Queen of the Desert the musical again, the second time in the past six months. This musical is one of the best I have ever seen; you can't help but feel good when you walk out of the theatre at the end.




Based on the 1994 Australian film starring Hugo Weaving, Guy Pearce and Terence Stamp (http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi8978713/), it follows three drag queens as they travel from Sydney to Alice Springs. Priscilla is just one of the best musicals, not for everyone but amazing none the less, I love it. It was a bit touch and go at one point though when the bus broke down but it was only a minor hitch. Ben Richards is so good as Tick, he has an amazing voice. When we saw it this time they had Alf from Home and Away as Bob. All the actors are amazing and work really hard it is just a fantastic show.


The way I feel after I've seen Priscilla is the same as when I saw Hairspray you can't help but be dancing out of the aisles with a massive smile on your face.


I love musicals, I have seen many on stage including Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, Chicago, Wicked, Legally Blonde, Grease and Sister Act, to name but a few. On stage musicals are just fantastic, the films are great but you can beat watching someone on stage singing their hearts out to a packed out theatre.


My love of musicals started young, from Disney to my all time favourite The Wizard of Oz. You can beat the musicals from the Hollywood golden era, you can say a lot about MGM but they knew how to do an amazing musical. As much as I love the classics there have been some fantastic new ones Moulin Rouge, was a cinematic treat, so opulent and colourful after each song I had to stop myself clapping away in the cinema.


Over Christmas I saw Burlesque, which although it didn't receive very good reviews I thought it was fantastic. The songs were all written for the film and were great, I suppose the fact that Christina Aguilera was the music producer probably had something to do with that.
There have been musicals that have left me a little flat, I saw the film Rent and wasn't convinced. Although I did see a DVD of the last ever Broadway performance and thought that was a lot better. Fame I have seen twice on stage and the classic film but I thought it was just strange. It doesn't really have a story and although the songs are good, the story isn't.


The only problem I have now is what to see next. Dirty Dancing? Ghost? Mamma Mia? Or The Lion King? Decisions, decisions...... but then again there is always Priscilla.

exams, exams, exams

To say I am feeling a bit sorry for myself at the moment is putting it lightly. I don't like to wallow in self-pity, so I'm trying not to but be warned this will be a shorter than usual post. Unlike most things I'm keeping the reason close to my chest until a suitable times arises, if it does.


On to other things, exams are reaching fever pitch I have already completed my shorthand, well the first one, I should find out the results this week. Then Monday I have the dreaded law exam, so much to remember  I just hope I remeber something, anything! Or that a question comes up that we have already done, here's hoping. Then next Friday I have my sub-editing exam, which should be fine, at least I have Priscilla afterwards, something to look forward to.


Whereever you are in the world, keep your fingers crossed for me and lets hope I nail the exams!


A normal post about musicals is on its way...