Small World?

[clair_de_lalune]

Hamlet closed with its last performance last night. I thought I'd try to see whether I could get a return ticket because...why not? However, I later heard that people had lined up for return tickets beginning the night before, so it's not surprising that I didn't get one when I went to the theatre only 45 minutes before the show was due to start

Comments

[lunas_ceiling]

Such a great idea going to see Oliver while you had the opportunity. Thanks for putting "Reviewing the Situation," in my head for the forseeable future ;) I always think that is a good thing but Seinfeld made an episode out of George having "Master of the House" stuck in his head. Now you will have to find a performance of Les Mis to see while you're there.

I like the idea of Fagin trying on the jewels. That is why it is good to see different productions, no matter how many times you've seen the show. I have to agree with your conclusion here, there doesn't seem to be supporting evidence for the statement that the theatre community is very large.

[clair_de_lalune]

I remember that episode of Seinfeld! *lol*

Unfortunately, I'm on my way to the airport to head home this morning. I'd thought about seeing Les Miz while I was here, but didn't get around to it. Fortunately, I have the symphonic recording of it on my iPhone, so I can listen to it if I find you've gotten "Master of the House" stuck in my head. ;-)

I also thought about seeing Hairspray while I was here, since it stars Michael Ball who, I believe, sings the part of Marius on the version of Les Miz on my iPhone. I always loved his voice...but, there's not enough time for everything. :(

[lunas_ceiling]

Les Miz is my very favorite show. I too have the recording on my ipod, I almost always gets a good cry in when I listen. I am shameless about singing it all at the top of my lungs when no one is listening too. Michael Ball is just wonderful, I had to go put on "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables." I feel a cry coming on...

[clair_de_lalune]

I love Les Miz, too! I've seen it more than any other musical - enough times so that I no longer remember how many it's been (maybe >5 and <10). Nowadays, I don't end up seeing it because I think I should see new things. On the other hand, one day it will be gone...

I checked and it's definitely Michael Ball on my Les Miz CDs. "Empty Chairs and Empty Tables" is a great song for him. There's a particular moment, though, in "Red and Black" that I like: "(red) the color of desire/(black) the color of despair." I've always particularly liked how he hit the end of the word, "despair." At that moment, his tone is so clear and perfect. :)

[jaderabbit]

Hmm. I've talked to a few London stage actors who say it's a small community. They both seemed to personally know who does what TV voiceover, etc. Maybe it's a matter of personal perspective. I have always thought that the movement between stage, screen, and TV made English actors very strong.

Burn Gorman is now officially amazing.

[clair_de_lalune]

Yes, it would have to be a matter of personal perspective, I suppose. My sense is that there is less movement between stage, screen, and TV in the US, too, but perhaps that's not true. Since I'm not that familiar with the theater in New York or LA, it's possible that the same is true there...

I saw Twelfth Night yesterday, which also featured a few people I'd seen in other things. I'll have to post about that later. Now, I have to finish packing!

[rattlesnakeroot]

omg - Mr. Bean as Fagin!!! I love Mr. Bean, LOL.

Sounds like you packed alot in to this trip! My daughter would be so jealous. She has to save her money for Law School in the fall, but she's really dying to go to New York for Spring Break and see some Broadway shows.

[clair_de_lalune]

Pursuing a career that requires a lot of training does mean that one has to accept delayed gratification. I'm sure that in the long run she'll have more opportunities to visit New York in the future than she would if she wasn't pursuing such a career, though. :)

Actually...I think the only Mr. Bean that I've seen was a YouTube video you linked. It involved him using the figurines from a nativity set at a shopping mall to stage some kind of play battle?

[d_84]

That is freaking awesome.

I thought I remembered Fagin trying on his jewels at the high school production this year. But I suspect Rowan Atkinson's Fagin would have WAY more fun at it.

BTW, Rowan Atkinson (and about five other actors) played the Doctor in a late 90s spoof, The Curse of Fatal Death.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xkZhAtjT8U

You should give Blackadder another try. My favorite is Blackadder II, but I recommend you to Blackadder III, which has Hugh Laurie in a way better role than his current one, and Hagrid in a guest spot as Dr Samuel Johnson.

[clair_de_lalune]

*rotfl* That was very funny! Thanks for the link.

I don't recall the Fagin at FHS last spring trying on the jewels, but he could have done. Though, I definitely didn't leave the FHS production with the impression that Fagin was concerned Oliver might think he was a cross-dresser, like I did during Atkinson's performance.

Do you mean that Hugh Laurie is much better in Blackadder than he is in House? I haven't actually watched much House, either. (It seems very improbable and I the structure of the medical team makes no sense to me.) I mainly know Laurie from having seen Peter's Friends many years ago. I've only seen Blackadder once: just this past Christmas when BBC America showed the episode based on Dickens's A Christmas Carol. I did think that the premise of that was pretty funny - the idea of taking a decent, selfless man and inadvertently convincing him that he would really be much better off as a selfish bastard. The humor of that is partly in its truth, which is a sad commentary on society...

[d_84]

I have trouble imagining seeing Blackadder's Christmas Carol without having thoroughly absorbed the characters beforehand. The whole point is that you already know the character of Blackadder -- and he's not the selfless guy in the beginning of the show!

I've never seen House. No desire to, I don't like medical shows. In Blackadder, Laurie plays an imbecile. (Prince Regent George, son of George III, in Blackadder 3; and Lt. George in Blackadder IV) Much more fun than House.

[clair_de_lalune]

That knowledge must add another whole dimension of comedy to Blackadder's Christmas Carol, then. :)

[cynodd]

I suppose when you're the villain, having people boo you is a sign you're a good actor!

[clair_de_lalune]

I suppose so! :)