Wannabe Theatre Critic
Omigod, it is the end of the year, you guys! I can do Top Ten Lists!
10. Eurobeat at the Novello Theatre, London (Musical)
A parody of Eurovision. For those who don't know what Eurovision is, it's basically an extravagant pan-European talent show -- think American Idol with more cheese and patriotism. Anyway, the British find much humour in Eurovision, so they did the parody musical. Some moments were really funny, some fell flat and a lot of the songs were not good, but I had fun. I got to be part of the Italian audience, so I got to represent them by cheering/wearing the pin/waving the flag. They probably had the worst "entry" of the lot, but it got some votes (which came from the audience as we got to vote by text during intermission, but I don't know if this truly counted as I believe the outcome is the same no matter what). A good laugh with some friends.
9. Sweeney Todd at the Ahmanson Theater, Los Angeles (Musical)
Okay, Sweeney Todd is one of my favourite musicals, so I was looking forward to seeing this re-working on stage... finally. I initially missed it in London four years ago, so when it came to LA and I was going to see it I was well pleased. Unfortunately, it did not live up to my own brain-hype. I don't know if it was because I expected more, but it just didn't work for me. The instruments were more distracting than adding anything. I have seen Mack and Mabel done in the same style (by the London company that does these re-workings) which was fantastic. Maybe since it was the first time seeing a production where the instruments are played by the actors on stage (along with them dancing and singing) or possibly since it gave a bit of oomph to an otherwise forgetable musical, I don't know. However, it just didn't work for me with Sweeney Todd. Still adore the musical though.
8. Criss Angel's Believe in the Luxor, Las Vegas (Magic? Dance? Dance, Magic, Dance?)
This show was visually stunning with fantastic dancing, amazing costumes and great music. However, Criss Angel himself broke up the flow of the show and was quite an awkward focus. The storyline didn't really fit either, not at all that engrossing. Still, fantastic visually -- and I got to see the bunny dance live! The mole dance was pretty awesome, if not really, really random. And the weirdo doll-thingies...
7. Emanuel Gat at Sadler's Wells, London (Dance)
When I was in London I only managed to fit in one show at Sadler's Wells, London's only major theatre purely devoted to showcasing dance. I chose this since I thought my friend's girlfriend would like it and it was part of a their showcase of up and coming choreographers, which was only 10 quid. I did enjoy it (there were three pieces), but the theatre was unbearably stuffy, making me drowsy and affecting my enjoyment. I really liked the piece called Winter Voyage, found [i]Silent Ballet[/i] interesting and liked moments in the last piece done to a Squarepusher song, but found a lot of the movement too smooth for the music. At least according to my liking.
6. So You Think You Can Dance at the Nokia, Los Angeles (Dance)
Maybe if it was purely dances I like, Mark-centric and without some of the filler I would have this higher, but as it is I did really enjoy it (I loved seeing so many of those dances live). Omigod, dudes -- I also met Mark in LA recently!
5. Wicked at The Pantages, Los Angeles (Musical)
I enjoy Wicked as a show. It's definitely not my favourite musical song-wise, but I love the costumes, set and just spectacle of it. This was my second viewing as well (I got my mother tickets for Christmas, but I had previously seen it on the West End), so I cannot necessarily place it higher. It's so drastically different in tone from the book that I feel that is what keeps me from completely warming up to the story. Still, I was glad I got to see it again and it never dragged, even if it was a second viewing. In comparison, Megan Hilty was much funnier than the previous Galinda I saw, the Elphaba in Los Angeles was good (but I saw it with Idina in London), and the Fiyero was not as entertaining as Adam Garcia, nor was the chemistry between Elphaba and Fiyero as intense. So yeah.
4. What They Have at the South Coast Repertory, Costa Mesa (Play)
A play written by Kate Robin (a [i]Six Feet Under[/i] writer) about two ambitious couples dissatisfied with their lives, always wanting what the other couple has. None of the people in this play were that likable, and it had that SFU feel, but I felt it did the wit and sarcasm without ever reaching pretentious (it got quite close though). It was jam-packed with pop cultural references (American Idol, The Secret by Rhonda Byrne, Big Brother, etc.) which is totally my thing, so that helped. Still, I remember leaving this play thinking that I am totally going to think it over whether or not I have children. It was definitely art that made me think.
3. Assassins at Chance Theater, Anaheim (Musical)
Oh, I absolutely adore this musical! It's one of my all-time faves, so I was beyond excited to see it live. And it was so good! :wub: This is a Sondheim musical about presidential assassinations, or attempts at them. This was a very small production with a balladeer arguing with Booth (the pioneer) about what it means and the reasons behind attempting assassinations. I really like the songs, the historical content and the strangeness of this play, so I dragged about 10 of my friends to go see it. They all liked it as well. I even had Gateau (Garfield's assassin) point a gun in my face, sat in between Czolgosz (McKinley's assassin) and Byck (had an assassination attempt on Nixon) who actually wreaked of beer. It's really interesting when you do the small, intimate theatre where the audience is part of it. I really cannot explain this properly, but one thing about [i]Assassins[/i] is that it doesn't justify any of them, it just explains the reasons behind the assassinations and the repercussions of what taking out the figurehead means ("The Ballad of Booth" talks about how Booth affected the Lincoln legacy and "Something Broke" is about the pain of the people when JFK died). I guess this is for those who enjoy history, musicals and weirdness. That's me.
2. Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson at the Kirk Douglas Theater, Los Angeles (Musical)
Did I say I like history and musicals? I did, didn't I? Well, there was another awesome, presidential musical I caught this year about Andrew Jackson's presidency -- and it was all set to emo-rock. It was absolutely hilarious, downright emo, and political. It started off with actors dancing about to saloon-style covers of modern rock songs (my husband and I played name that tune; it was quite a hard version of that game). I don't even know where to begin to describe this though -- it had a mixture of old West looks, rock concert style and lots and lots of whining. However, it did really explore the use of populism to win political races (which came about in the catchy theme: "Populism, Yeah Yeah"), upholding promises, trying to break through the political establishment and portrayed the horror that came with Jackson's policies while portraying him as a person with flaws who was quite troubled. I really hope this actually takes off properly since I would like to see how they tweak it (I saw it in a first-run test) and I want a soundtrack! On a random note, I like how they made the iconic Jackson hairdo you see on money look downright emo to fit the show. It was an amusing touch.
1. Six Characters in Search of an Author at the Gieguld Theatre, London (Play)
I cannot stress how awesome this play was -- I love it so much it. However, I cannot truly explain it either. This was an update of Pirandello's modernist play, set in current times with filmmakers, and given a post-modern twist. It starts off with some documentary-makers trying to re-create truth, but interrupted by six characters. It questions art, how art handles reality, how reality is twisted to create a new reality and how reality is art. Even without this though it was absolutely fantastic with its visuals, random moments of opera, using film to show characters ending up in the middle of the production next door, and taking on this sort of Charlie Kaufman vibe (while addressing it and, actually, ending up succeeding better than Kaufman did this year as I saw Synecdoche, New York not too long after seeing this and it paled in comparison to the play). Plus, it just had all these pop cultural references and mocking of culture which was so awesome. I cannot praise this play enough and am so glad I was able to catch it. It was such a trip. I love it.
So now I have done my Top Ten Theatre experiences. I did end up catching Anne of Green Gables -- the musical, but it was a decent play, horrible musical (songs were dreck, but I adore the source material), so it doesn't rank or mess up my order. Never got to Spring Awakening, sadly.
The year is almost over, guys! I have been dazzled and all sorts of things. Plus, I recently broke a tooth.
10. Eurobeat at the Novello Theatre, London (Musical)
A parody of Eurovision. For those who don't know what Eurovision is, it's basically an extravagant pan-European talent show -- think American Idol with more cheese and patriotism. Anyway, the British find much humour in Eurovision, so they did the parody musical. Some moments were really funny, some fell flat and a lot of the songs were not good, but I had fun. I got to be part of the Italian audience, so I got to represent them by cheering/wearing the pin/waving the flag. They probably had the worst "entry" of the lot, but it got some votes (which came from the audience as we got to vote by text during intermission, but I don't know if this truly counted as I believe the outcome is the same no matter what). A good laugh with some friends.
9. Sweeney Todd at the Ahmanson Theater, Los Angeles (Musical)
Okay, Sweeney Todd is one of my favourite musicals, so I was looking forward to seeing this re-working on stage... finally. I initially missed it in London four years ago, so when it came to LA and I was going to see it I was well pleased. Unfortunately, it did not live up to my own brain-hype. I don't know if it was because I expected more, but it just didn't work for me. The instruments were more distracting than adding anything. I have seen Mack and Mabel done in the same style (by the London company that does these re-workings) which was fantastic. Maybe since it was the first time seeing a production where the instruments are played by the actors on stage (along with them dancing and singing) or possibly since it gave a bit of oomph to an otherwise forgetable musical, I don't know. However, it just didn't work for me with Sweeney Todd. Still adore the musical though.
8. Criss Angel's Believe in the Luxor, Las Vegas (Magic? Dance? Dance, Magic, Dance?)
This show was visually stunning with fantastic dancing, amazing costumes and great music. However, Criss Angel himself broke up the flow of the show and was quite an awkward focus. The storyline didn't really fit either, not at all that engrossing. Still, fantastic visually -- and I got to see the bunny dance live! The mole dance was pretty awesome, if not really, really random. And the weirdo doll-thingies...
7. Emanuel Gat at Sadler's Wells, London (Dance)
When I was in London I only managed to fit in one show at Sadler's Wells, London's only major theatre purely devoted to showcasing dance. I chose this since I thought my friend's girlfriend would like it and it was part of a their showcase of up and coming choreographers, which was only 10 quid. I did enjoy it (there were three pieces), but the theatre was unbearably stuffy, making me drowsy and affecting my enjoyment. I really liked the piece called Winter Voyage, found [i]Silent Ballet[/i] interesting and liked moments in the last piece done to a Squarepusher song, but found a lot of the movement too smooth for the music. At least according to my liking.
6. So You Think You Can Dance at the Nokia, Los Angeles (Dance)
Maybe if it was purely dances I like, Mark-centric and without some of the filler I would have this higher, but as it is I did really enjoy it (I loved seeing so many of those dances live). Omigod, dudes -- I also met Mark in LA recently!
5. Wicked at The Pantages, Los Angeles (Musical)
I enjoy Wicked as a show. It's definitely not my favourite musical song-wise, but I love the costumes, set and just spectacle of it. This was my second viewing as well (I got my mother tickets for Christmas, but I had previously seen it on the West End), so I cannot necessarily place it higher. It's so drastically different in tone from the book that I feel that is what keeps me from completely warming up to the story. Still, I was glad I got to see it again and it never dragged, even if it was a second viewing. In comparison, Megan Hilty was much funnier than the previous Galinda I saw, the Elphaba in Los Angeles was good (but I saw it with Idina in London), and the Fiyero was not as entertaining as Adam Garcia, nor was the chemistry between Elphaba and Fiyero as intense. So yeah.
4. What They Have at the South Coast Repertory, Costa Mesa (Play)
A play written by Kate Robin (a [i]Six Feet Under[/i] writer) about two ambitious couples dissatisfied with their lives, always wanting what the other couple has. None of the people in this play were that likable, and it had that SFU feel, but I felt it did the wit and sarcasm without ever reaching pretentious (it got quite close though). It was jam-packed with pop cultural references (American Idol, The Secret by Rhonda Byrne, Big Brother, etc.) which is totally my thing, so that helped. Still, I remember leaving this play thinking that I am totally going to think it over whether or not I have children. It was definitely art that made me think.
3. Assassins at Chance Theater, Anaheim (Musical)
Oh, I absolutely adore this musical! It's one of my all-time faves, so I was beyond excited to see it live. And it was so good! :wub: This is a Sondheim musical about presidential assassinations, or attempts at them. This was a very small production with a balladeer arguing with Booth (the pioneer) about what it means and the reasons behind attempting assassinations. I really like the songs, the historical content and the strangeness of this play, so I dragged about 10 of my friends to go see it. They all liked it as well. I even had Gateau (Garfield's assassin) point a gun in my face, sat in between Czolgosz (McKinley's assassin) and Byck (had an assassination attempt on Nixon) who actually wreaked of beer. It's really interesting when you do the small, intimate theatre where the audience is part of it. I really cannot explain this properly, but one thing about [i]Assassins[/i] is that it doesn't justify any of them, it just explains the reasons behind the assassinations and the repercussions of what taking out the figurehead means ("The Ballad of Booth" talks about how Booth affected the Lincoln legacy and "Something Broke" is about the pain of the people when JFK died). I guess this is for those who enjoy history, musicals and weirdness. That's me.
2. Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson at the Kirk Douglas Theater, Los Angeles (Musical)
Did I say I like history and musicals? I did, didn't I? Well, there was another awesome, presidential musical I caught this year about Andrew Jackson's presidency -- and it was all set to emo-rock. It was absolutely hilarious, downright emo, and political. It started off with actors dancing about to saloon-style covers of modern rock songs (my husband and I played name that tune; it was quite a hard version of that game). I don't even know where to begin to describe this though -- it had a mixture of old West looks, rock concert style and lots and lots of whining. However, it did really explore the use of populism to win political races (which came about in the catchy theme: "Populism, Yeah Yeah"), upholding promises, trying to break through the political establishment and portrayed the horror that came with Jackson's policies while portraying him as a person with flaws who was quite troubled. I really hope this actually takes off properly since I would like to see how they tweak it (I saw it in a first-run test) and I want a soundtrack! On a random note, I like how they made the iconic Jackson hairdo you see on money look downright emo to fit the show. It was an amusing touch.
1. Six Characters in Search of an Author at the Gieguld Theatre, London (Play)
I cannot stress how awesome this play was -- I love it so much it. However, I cannot truly explain it either. This was an update of Pirandello's modernist play, set in current times with filmmakers, and given a post-modern twist. It starts off with some documentary-makers trying to re-create truth, but interrupted by six characters. It questions art, how art handles reality, how reality is twisted to create a new reality and how reality is art. Even without this though it was absolutely fantastic with its visuals, random moments of opera, using film to show characters ending up in the middle of the production next door, and taking on this sort of Charlie Kaufman vibe (while addressing it and, actually, ending up succeeding better than Kaufman did this year as I saw Synecdoche, New York not too long after seeing this and it paled in comparison to the play). Plus, it just had all these pop cultural references and mocking of culture which was so awesome. I cannot praise this play enough and am so glad I was able to catch it. It was such a trip. I love it.
So now I have done my Top Ten Theatre experiences. I did end up catching Anne of Green Gables -- the musical, but it was a decent play, horrible musical (songs were dreck, but I adore the source material), so it doesn't rank or mess up my order. Never got to Spring Awakening, sadly.
The year is almost over, guys! I have been dazzled and all sorts of things. Plus, I recently broke a tooth.