Susan Boyle Album Cover

The juxtaposition was remarkable. We’re used to our musicians and actors being these young, stunning, darlings with out-of-this-world beauty and panache. And yet, this is as far from the case as we could have imagined. Susan Boyle’s singing was remarkable, while the looks, well, were also remarkable, but not in such a good way. The spectacular incongruity of it all made us all watch her, rapt attention paid to the voice referred to by some as angelic, leaving us with perhaps even an ambivalence about her looks, wanting the two to “match”.
Millions followed her rapid ascention to worldwide fame, almost overnight, watching one who might have been a hermetic recluse adjust to the constant, frenetic pace of the media and those who circle above, waiting impatiently to swoop down with their cameras, unafraid to badger and bewilder their prey until the inevitable breakdown.

After a long while, the day has come when Ms. Boyle has released an album of her own, allowing her international brood to no longer be limited to internet videos and random snippets from here and there.

I was looking forward to finding out whether her celebrity was merely due to her less than pretty looks, or whether her well-known set of pipes could hold their own and allow her to be a singer instead of the media freak she’s been until now.

My advise – stick to the videos. The voice we all absorbed in shocked amazement as we heard Les Miserables brought to life in the least likely of actors is still pretty good, but when the surprise and curiosity of her fame is gone, much of the luster and elation disappears, leaving you wanting more of the rare voice, less the empty celebrity. Don’t get me wrong; her voice is very nice, and the songs are all generally well-known, but the expectations for someone who wowed the entire world leave one very disappointed.

Certainly we talk to ourselves; there is no thinking being who has not experienced that. One could even say that the world is never a more magnificent mystery than when, within a man, it travels from his thoughts to his conscience and returns… we exclaim within ourselves, without breaking the external silence.

-Victor Hugo, Les Miserables.

So how was Fantine making out while Valjean was busy trying to get to Arras?  Not very well.  Her appearance had changed drastically just in the last few months:

A few months earlier, when Fantine had lost the last of her modesty, her last shame, and her last happiness, she was a shadow of herself; now she was a ghost of herself.  Physical suffering had completed the work of moral suffering.  This creature of twenty-five had a wrinkled forehead, flabby cheeks, pinched nostrils, shriveled gums, a leaden complexion, a bony neck, protruding collarbones, emaciated limbs, dun-colored skin, and her fair hair was mixed with gray.  How illness mimics old age.

Not a pretty sight.  I think you get the idea.

Compare this with how Fantine looked back when we first met her:

…Her splendid teeth had evidently been endowed by God with one function–laughter.  She carried in hand, rather than on her head, her little hat of stitched straw, with long, white ties.  Her thick blond tresses, inclined to blow about, easily coming undone, obliging her continually to do them up again, seemed designed for the flight of Galatea under the willows.  Her rosy lips babbled with enchantment.  The corners of her mouth, turned up voluptuously like the antique masks of Erigone, seemed to encourage impudence, but her long, shadowy eyelashes were discreetly cast down on the lower part of her face as if to check its festive tendencies.

See the drastic change that has come over Fantine on account of her moral and physical degradation.

Fantine was eagerly expecting Madeleine (Valjean) to show up at 3 PM as per his usual custom.  When he didn’t show, her spirits fell considerably.  In a poignant scene, Sister Simplice was moved to tears as she heard Fantine sing a lullaby that she had sung to Cosette as a baby.  Finally, at around 6 PM, Sister Simplice got word from the servant that Madeleine had been seen leaving town early that morning; some had seen him on the road to Paris and some had seen him heading toward Arras.

Now Sister Simplice was caught in a dilemma.  She did not want to tell Fantine the truth that Madeleine had gone away and no one knew where; that would be a devastating blow to Fantine in her condition.  Nor did she want to say that Madeleine was tied up with city council business, as the servant proposed–this was a lie.  And we will remember that Sister Simplice was extremely averse to the idea of lying.  She worked her way out of this by simply saying that Madeleine had gone away, and letting Fantine draw her own conclusions.

Of course Fantine drew the conclusion that Madeleine had gone to fetch Cosette, and this threw her into rapturous ecstasy.  This ecstasy caused her to look a whole lot better, even to the point where the doctor thought there was a chance she might pull through after all.

As averse as Sister Simplice was to the very idea of telling a lie, no matter how small, this situation was something of a crisis for her.  Yet she managed to come through with her virtue intact.  In a few chapters we will see how she makes out when there is much more at stake.

Meanwhile, over in Arras…

It was 8 PM and Valjean (Madeleine) was just pulling into town.  It had taken him fifteen hours to go sixty miles–a trip which should have taken less than eight hours.  (Granted these travel times seem strange to those of us who live in the automobile age and are used to doing sixty miles in one hour or less, but there you go.)

The first thing he did was go to the post office and reserve a seat for himself on the mail coach back to Montreuil-sur-mer which would be leaving at 1 AM.  Then he went about trying to find the courthouse.  He did not know his way around Arras, so he had to stop and ask directions.

Now as it turned out, the courthouse was undergoing renovations, so the court was temporarily relocated to the city hall, which had been a bishop’s palace prior to the Revolution.  There is a significance in this, which we will unpack a little later.

But for now, suffice it to say that when Valjean arrived, the court was still in session.  By asking some of the bystanders, he found out that the case had finished.  But it wasn’t the Champmathieu case–they had worked two cases into the same day, and the Champmathieu case was now in progress and about to wrap up.

Valjean tried to get into the courtroom, but it was crowded and they were not admitting anyone else.  There was, however, one seat in the section reserved for dignitaries.  Reluctantly, Valjean asked to be admitted as Monsieur Madeleine, mayor of Montreuil-sur-mer.  The judge granted this request, and the bailiff showed him in through the back way to the counsel chamber.  Here Valjean struggled profusely with his conscience once again:

…The decisive moment had arrived.  He vainly tried to collect his thoughts.  Particularly at those moments when we have sorest need of grasping the sharp realities of life do the threads of thought snap off in the brain.  He was in the very place where the judges deliberate and decide.  With a glazed tranquility he gazed at the silent and formidable room where so many lives had been shattered, where his own name would soon be heard, and which his fate was crossing at this moment.  He looked at the walls, then he looked at himself, astonished that it could be this chamber, and that this could be he.

…He went up to a black frame hanging on the wall, which contained under glass an old autographed letter written by Jean Nicholas Pache, mayor of Paris and minister….He was reading without paying any attention and without knowing what he was doing.  He was thinking of Fantine and Cosette.

While still musing, he unconsciously turned, and his eyes took in the brass knob of the door that separated him from the hall of the superior court.  He had almost forgotten that door.  His expression, at first calm, now fell.  His eyes, fixed on that brass knob, became set and wild and little by little filled with dismay.  Drops of sweat started above the hairline and rolled down his temples.

At one moment, with a kind of authority united to rebellion, he made that indescribable gesture that says and says so well, And who says I have to?…

He left the counsel chamber and walked back into the hallway, intending to leave.  But when he slowed down, he could hear the silence and it was too much for him.

He had reflected all night, he had reflected all day; now he heard only one voice within him, saying, “Alas!”

A quarter of an hour went by this way.  Finally, he bowed his head, sighed with anguish, let his arms droop, and retraced his steps.  He walked slowly and as if overwhelmed.  It was as though he had been caught in flight and brought back.

He entered the counsel chamber again.  The first thing he saw was the door handle.  That handle, round and made lf polished brass, shone out for him like an ominous star.  He looked at it as a lamb might look at the eye of a tiger.

His eyes could not leave it.

From time to time, he took another step toward the door.

And then, before he knew what he was doing, he opened the door and was in the courtroom.

Ah i’ve missed blogging! I finally finished my essay and handed it in yesterday, and now maybe i’ll have some more time to blog more often haha. I forgot how addictive blogging could actually be.

This entry won’t go into anything too deep as i haven’t really had time for any deep, self-evaluating thoughts lately since the only thing that has been on my mind was the damn essay.  Well that’s not entirely true.

So i had such a random dream the other night, it was so weird and hard to explain? Haha, but long story short there were chinese celebrities in it… but the only one i remember is Moses Chan. And ever since i think my obsession with him has come back! I totally forgot how HOT he was!

As i said this entry is just gonna be a light-hearted one, so here’s a list of stuff that i’m currently in love with:

[x] Moses Chan <3
[x] Glee – just cheers me up so much
[x] Season 6 of Desperate Housewives – i swear it just keeps getting better
[x] Songs “Taking Chances” (Celine Dion) and “On My Own” (from musical Les Miserables)
[x] The rumor about Michelle Pfeiffer in a vampire movie! The idea alone excites me
[x] Blogging and reading people’s blogs xD

The list was longer in my head but i’ve kinda forgotten some of it, so yeah those are pretty much the obsessions in my head right now. Anyways, am currently packing my stuff to go home for the weekend, i think some TLC has been well earned and my grandma and cousin are coming over from malaysia on monday so will be going to collect them.  Anyways i think my parents will be here soon, so i’m signing off.

♥ Veronica ~x

I just saw another one of those World Wide Net videos that features a crap load of people spontaneously dancing with choreography in public. It’s like a real life version of Wicked or West Side Story taking place in your favorite local watering hole, being caught on camera, and posted to the Internets for everyone to gawk at. This new phenomenon is called “flash mobbing” and I’m not sure if I dig it. When something is called a flash mob, wouldn’t you at least expect to see one boob? It has “flash” right in the title! Anyway, flash mobbing is supposed to stun everyone lucky enough to be a witness and cause them to immediately start video taping the flamboyant dancing on their crappy cell phone camera. The only problem is that there are no authentic witnesses. Ninety-nine percent of the people that we think are innocent bystanders ends up popping n’ locking in perfect rhythm by the end of the production, leaving only 3 mid-westerners with fanny packs as legitimate witnesses. If you think about it, these elaborate dances are no different than a community theater production of Rent at a 4th of July parade in Wichita (I’ve officially exhausted all of my musical theater references…that I’ll publicly admit to knowing about……Les Miserbles…Joseph…Damn it!)

As of today, we have decided to officially leave the world of comedy. That’s right, The Casual Mafia has made a collective decision to stop making funny music videos and sketches and enter the lucrative world of flash mobbing. It’s really the logical next step if you think about. If you’d like to be involved in our first production, call Josh on the new official Casual Mafia Flash Mob Hotline at (800) JOSH-MAC any time between 5 a.m and 7 a.m. We are going to be at the next L.A. Rams home game and we will be doing a musical montage medley featuring songs by Motley Crue, Journey, The Beastie Boys, and The Indigo Girls. Ric will be choreographing so it will be sure to feature lots of Latin spice and sexual ambiguity. We hope you’re as excited as we are and we can’t wait to make history. No dancing experience is required to don’t be shy, call now!

Image via Wikipedia

It’s easier than  you think …

At the Educational Technology Training Centre site, all you do is choose a form of poem, your subject, fill in  a few boxes and publish!

My favourite is the I CAN’T WRITE A POEM, ah, poem and this is the result:

Forget it
You must be kidding
I’m too tired
My head hurts
It’s Friday
The cat is asleep
I don’t know how to
It’s nearly lunchtime
Real men don’t write poems
It’s too much effort
Time’s up? Uh oh!
All I have is a dumb list of excuses.
You like it? Really? No kidding.
Thanks a lot. Would you like to see another one?

—-

P.S. If you’d like to share your masterpieces with us, we’d love to read them

—–

Strange Random Language Fact:

Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables contains one of the longest sentences in the French language; 823 words without a full stop.

By Cara Sulieman

SUSAN Boyle was all smiles during a flying visit back home to Blackburn today (Thurs) as bookies announced they were refusing to take any bets on her album reaching number one next week.

Bookmakers William Hill said they were “one hundred per cent certain” that the 48-year-old’s debut would top the charts after canvassing retailers the length and breadth of the UK.

And they have also tipped her as a favourite for the Christmas number one in the album charts – expecting her to beat Leona Lewis and even the Pope to the top spot.

Asked if she was excited about the prospect of bagging her first number one album, SuBo grinned broadly and gave the thumbs up, before waving goodbye.

“100 per cent certain she will be”

With odds of 6/4 on the Britain’s Got Talent star having a very merry festive season, she is streets ahead of another reality TV favourite Leona Lewis – who lags behind at 13/8.

But Rupert Adams, Susan Boyle expert at the bookies, said that there was outside chance she could be piped to the post by her spiritual leader who has been given odds of 16/1.

Mr Adams said: “We are refusing to give any odds or take bets on SuBo being number one in next week’s album chart because we are 100 per cent certain that she will be.

“I spoke to HMV yesterday and they are expecting the album to fly off the shelves.”

Shops are bracing themselves for a rush of customers as the debut album hits the shops next week.

Biggest selling

The nearest stockist to her hometown has already had locals asking when the record will be in stock.

And HMV stores in the capital are expecting boxes of CDs to arrive at the weekend to fill their stockrooms in time for Monday’s release date.

Entitled ‘I Dreamed a Dream’, the album topped the Amazon bestseller chart in September – three months before its release.

And it was announced just yesterday (Weds) that it is the biggest selling pre-order record in Amazon’s history.

The 48-year-old spinster captured hearts around the world when she belted out ‘I Dreamed a Dream’ from Les Miserables on Britain’s Got Talent in April.

She became an overnight sensation, racking up millions of views on YouTube and staring on TV shows around the world, including Oprah.

Her world-wide fame was cemented when news of her debut album came out and fans rushed to pre-order their copy.

And the hysteria has led the manager of WH Smith’s in Bathgate – the nearest shop to Boyle’s house that will be selling the album – to expect a “rush” on Monday.

She said that customers had already been asking when the CD would be out and if they would be stocking it.

She added: “I’m definitely expecting a few people in on Monday. I’ve already had people asking about when they can get it.”

And the Assistant Manager at HMV in Ocean Terminal in Edinburgh said that the CDs were expected in over the weekend.

Martin said: “We’ll be getting them in a couple of days before hand to make sure we’ve got enough for Monday. I’m not sure if there will be a rush, but we’ve already had people enquiring about the album.

“We’ll have to wait and see what Monday brings.”

“Touch people”

Amazon announced Susan’s pre-order achievement earlier this week, saying that it was “testament” to her talents.

Julian Monaghan, head of music buying at Amazon.co.uk, said: “Just eight months ago, no one was aware of the talents of Susan Boyle. Now, she has generated more Amazon pre-order CD sales globally than any other artist.

“That is an incredible achievement and is testament to the fact that she has captured the hearts of people all over Britain, America and the rest of the world.”

And her record label, Columbia Records, said that Susan had an ability to “touch” people.

Steve Barnett, chairman of Columbia Records, said: “One of the things that is so unique about Susan Boyle is her ability to touch people around the world.

“We’re excited that ‘I Dreamed a Dream’ holds the new record for global pre-orders and that Amazon’s customers have supported her album in this way.”

See more of our pictures at our Flickr site and videos at our dedicated channel,  Deadline TV.

1. El Fantasma de la Opera

Productor(es): Andrew Lloyd Webber

Primer estreno: 1986 en Londres.

Precios ganados: 3 “Olivier Awards” (Mejor actuación en un Musical, Musical del año, Mejor Musical) en 1986,7 “Tony Awards” (Mejor Musical, Actor Principal en un Musical, Actriz Protagónica en un Musical, Director, Escenografía, Vestuario, Iluminación) en 1988, 7 “Drama Desk Awards”, 3 “Outer Critic Circle Awards” (Mejor Musical, Mejor Diseño, Mejor Actor) y 4 “Drama Critics Awards” (Mejor Actor, Mejor Escenografía, Mejor Vestuario, Mejor Iluminación).

Producciones: La obra ha sido traducida en varias lenguas y presentada en más de 20 países del mundo, entre ellos México, Brasil, Argentina.

Sinopsis: El fantasma de la Opera es un joven genio de la música, que vive en los subterráneos de la Opera de París. Durante algún tiempo se ha dedicado a horrorizar a los artistas y empresarios del teatro, pero con el cambio de propietarios del lugar todos esperan que la situación cambie. Misteriosamente un telar cae sobre Carlotta , la diva de la compañía y ésta renuncia. Su lugar es ocupado por una bailarina desconocida de nombre Christine, que ha tomado clases de canto con un desconocido a quien llama el Angel de la música e impresiona a todos con su voz. Ahora empieza una compleja trampa de amor entre Christine, el Fantasma, que ella descubre ser su Angel de la música, y Raoul, un viejo enamorado.En la rapresentación final, en la que Christine es la protagonista, el fantasma rapta la joven y se enfrenta sucesivamente con Raoul, que al final logrará escapar con su querida.

Canciones más famosas: Piensa en mi, El espejo, Musica en la oscuridad.

¡Mira aquí un trozo de este Musical!

2. Cats

Productor(es): Andrew Lloyd Webber

Primer estreno: 1981 en West End Theatre (London).

Precios ganados: 2 “Olivier Awards” (Best New Musical y Outstanding Achievement of the Year in Musicals) en 1981; 7 “Tony Awards” (Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Original Score, Best Costume Design, Best Lighting Design, Best Featured Actress(Betty Buckley) y Best Direction) en 1983.

Producciones: Después de su enlace en Englaterra, el musical gana notoriedad en todo el mundo (EE. UU., Hungría, Japón, Australia, Francia, Mexico, Argentina, China, Taiwan, Tailandia, Noruega, Oslo, Suecia, Italia, Brasil).

Sinopsis: La historia contada en CATS se desarrolla en un depósito de chatarra y siempre de noche. Se tiene que decir que este mucical es casi sin trama: solo encontramos a unos gatos que presentan al público los otros gatos. Todos los gatos se llaman “Jellicles” y una vez al año hay el “Jellicle Ball“, que es una noche muy especial por que todos los gatos “Jellicle” se reunen en el depósito y bailan por toda la noche abajo la luna llena. Hay un antagonista en esta historia y es Mcavity, un felino criminal, que ententa derrotar la fiesta de los Jellicle.

Canciones más famosas: Memory.

¡Mira aquí un trozo de este Musical!

3. Les Misérables

Productor(es): Claude-Michel Schoenberg, Alain Boublil

Primer estreno: 1980 en Paris.

Precios ganados: 8 “Tony Awards” (Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Original Score, Best Performance by a Featured Actor/Actress in a Musical, Best Scenic Design, Best Lightning Design, Best Direction) en 1987.

Producciones: La producción original francesa ha sido traducida y representada en Inglaterra, EE. UU. y en Canada. Tuvo un gran éxito en Inglaterra, así que se puede considerar el musical que por más tiempo se haya representado en el teatro de West End.

Sinopsis: Jean Valjean, es un joven francés que tiene que proveer a la hermana y los hijos de ésta. No teniendo mucho dinero y desesperado por su situación, Jean se ve obligado a robar un trozo de pan. Por este crimen se le condena  a 5 años de trabajo forzado en la cárcel de Tolone, pena que será extendida a 14 años por varias tentativas de escapar. En 1815, a la edad de 46 años y después de 19 años de reclusión Jean está liberado de la cárcel. Una vez salido Jean vagabundea por el sur-este de la Francia y con el pasar del tiempo cae en las viejas costrumbres así que comete  otros robos.

Es aquí que Jean se da cuenta que había errado muchas vezes y que ahora era el tiempo para cambiar vida. Por esto Jean muda en un otro pueblo, esconde su pasado y se presenta como  Monsieur Madeleine. En este pueblo Jean encuentra una mujer que está en punto de muerte y le pide de encontrar su hija Cosette, que había sido alejada de ella. Jean mantiene su promesa: encuentra a la joven y cuando descubre las condiciones en las que ella tiene que vivir, decide raptarla para ir a vivir en Paris. En seguida Cosette se enamora de un joven liberal, Marius, con el cual empieza una platónica pero intensa relación amorosa.

Hemos llegado al año 1832 cuando en París se desarrolla una revolución estudiantil. Marius decide de participar a la revolución, convencido que no podrá estar junto a Cosette. Cuando Jean descubre las intenciones de Marius, corre en su ayuda y le salva de la muerte. Marius y Cosette se casan y asistirán algunos años más tarde a la muerte del viejo Jean.

Canciones más famosas: I dreamed a dream.

¡Mira aquí un trozo de este Musical!

4. A Chorus Line

Productor(es): Joseph Papp (1974-1990) y John Breglio (desde 2006 en adelante)

Primer estreno: 1974 en Broadway (EE. UU.)

Precios ganados: 9 “Tony Awards” y el “Pulitzer Prize for Drama” en 1976, London Evening Standard “Best Musical Award” y 5 “L.A. Drama Critics Awards” en 1977, 2 “Tony Awards” en 2006 por mejor “Musical Revival”.

Producciones: en todos los EEUU y en Australia (Sydney), el estreno se interrumpe entre 1990 y 2006.

Sinopsis: El reparto para una nueva producción teatral de Broadway está casi al completo. Sólo quedan 17 bailarines para escoger. Por ellos esta es la única posibilidad de lograr lo por lo que han trabajado por todas sus vidas y por hacer lo que siempre habían soñado.
Pero antes de decidir quien tomar, el productor les pregunta hablar de ellos mismos. Él quiere saber algo más que sólo el nombre, la edad, la ciudad de donde son. Quiere saber algo personal, algo que ha caracterizado sus vidas.
Así uno a uno los bailarines se presentan y hablan sobre ellos mismos, compartiendo con nosotros sus experiencias de vida.

Canciones más famosas: One, I hope I get it.

¡Mira aquí un trozo de este Musical!

5. La Bella y la Bestia

Productor(es): Linda Woolverton

Primer estreno: 1994 en Broadway.

Precios ganados: 1 “Tony Award” (Best Costume Design).

Producciones: El musical ha sido producido en muchas lenguas y se han hecho diferentes Tours por toda Europa.

Sinopsis: Bella es una joven soñadora que vive en un pueblo con su padre Maurice, un inventor al que muchos consideran un viejo loco . Un día Maurice marcha a una feria de inventores, pero se pierde en el camino y acaba prisionero en un extraño castillo. Bella, preocupada al ver que el caballo de su padre regresa sin él, sale en su busca y al llegar al castillo descubre que su señor es una horrible bestia, pero aún así decide intercambiarse con su padre para salvarlo. Allí conoce a unos objetos que poseen vida entre ellos un reloj, un candelabro, una tetera y una graciosa tacita. Ellos quieren hacer sentir a bella en su propio hogar aunque la bestia la trate con maldad, porque quieren romper el hechizo de la rosa, dentro de toda esa aventura se descubre el amor que se tienen la bella y la bestia. Y luego de una jugada del destino Bella es encerrada con su padre en su cabaña por Gastón, un Malvado que no acepta que una mujer lo rechace. De allí parte al castillo de la bestia con el pueblo enfurecido decidido a matarla. Pero Bella y a su padre pueden liberarse y se van inmediatamente a ayudar a la Bestia. Más adelante se libra una batalla entre Gastón y La Bestia, batalla que gana la Bestia, este victorioso se reúne con Bella,se besan y rompen el hechizo en el que vivían los seres del castillo.

Canciones más famosas: Belle, Be our guest, Beauty and the Beast.

¡Mira aquí un trozo de este Musical!

6. El rey León

Productor(es): Walt Disney Theatrical.

Primer estreno: 1997 en Minnesota (EE. UU.).

Precios ganados: 6 “Tony Awards” (Best Musical, Best Scenic Design for a Musical, Best Costume Design for a Musical, Best Lighting Design of a Musical, Best Choreography, Best Direction of a Musical) en 1997, 8 “Drama Desk Award” (Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical, Outstanding Choreography, Outstanding Direction of a Musical, Outstanding Set Design of a Musical, Outstanding Costume Design, Outstanding Lighting Design, Outstanding Sound Design, Outstanding Puppet Design) y el “Theatre World Award” en 1998.

Producciones: Después del estreno en Broadway, el musical viene producido en Englaterra, Japón, Canada, Alemania, Australia, Corea del Sur, Francia, Sur Africa, Singapore y es conocido en todo el mundo por su escenificación espectacular.

Sinopsis: Simba, un pequeño león, es el próximo rey de la selva, pero un accidente adelanta todo esto, ya que su padre muere al salvarlo de una estampida de animales. Simba, se siente culpable por la muerte de su padre y se aleja de la manada, dejando el trono al malvado león hermano del rey muerto.

Canciones más famosas: Hakuna Matata, El ciclo de la vida, Can You Feel the Love Tonight.

¡Mira aquí un trozo de este Musical!

7. Grease

Productor(es): Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey

Primer estreno: 1972 en Broadway (EE. UU.)

Precios ganados: “Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Choreography” y el “Drama Desk Award for Most Promising Costume Design” en 1972; “Theatre World Award” en 1994.

Producciones: Hay producciones de este Musical en todo el mundo: en 2008 llegó incluso a China.

Sinopsis: Estamos en el año 1959 en la “Rydell High School”, en la que encontramos a un grupo de jovenes, que están viviendo en pleno su adolescencia. Enmedio de todos estos jovenes, está Sandy Dumbrowski, que está nueva en la “Rydell High School”. Después de poco se descubre que Sandy y el líderazgo de la gang de los “Burger Palace Boys”, Danny Zuko, han tenido una breve romanza en el verano antes.
Mientras Sandy cuenta a sus nuevas amigas más los fuertes sentimientos que tiene por Danny, este enfatiza más la fuerte atracción fisíca de su relación. En continuación los jovenes tienen que enfrentar los tipicos problemas adolescenciales: amor, amistades, violencia entre las gangs y también el embarazo de una de las amigas.
Al final, Sandy y Danny superan todas las diferencias y los problemas entre ellos y se enamoran.

Canciones más famosas: Summer Nights, Greased Lightning, We go together, You better shape up.

¡Mira aquí un trozo de este Musical!

8. Mamma mia!

Productor(es): Catherine Johnson

Primer estreno: 1999 en West End Theater (London)

Precios ganados: 1 “Olivier Award” (Best Supporting Performance In A Musical) en 2000, 2 “Drama Desk Awards” (Outstanding Actress in a Musical, Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical) y el “Theatre World Award” en 2002.

Producciones: Este Musical ha obtenido un gran éxito y se han organizado Tours en casi todos los paises del mundo: Canada, EE. UU., Australia, España, México, Países Bajos…

Sinopsis: Estamos en el año 1999, en la preciosa isla griega de Kalokair, donde encontramos al hotel Villa Donna, que regentan Donna, su hija Sophie y su prometido Sky.

A punto de casarse, Sophie, una chica inglesa de 20 años, descubre el viejo diario de su madre y encuentra descripciones de varias citas íntimas con tres hombres: Sam, Bill y Harry. Sophie cree que uno de esos hombres es su padre, y les envía una invitación a cada uno a su boda sin decírselo a su madre.

El día antes de la boda, la madre de Sophie, Donna, comienza a recibir a los invitados en su hotel. Las primeras en llegar son sus dos mejores amigas: Tanya, una mujer rica y tres veces divorciada, y Rosie, una mujer soltera a la que le gusta divertirse.Al ver sus tres exnovios en su hotel, Donna se sorprende mucho y confiesa a sus amigas que los tres posibles padres de Sophie están en el hotel, pero que realmente no sabe cual de ellos es su verdadero padre.

Sophie esperaba que reconocería a su padre en el momento en que lo viera, pero ahora esta más confundida que nunca. Así durante la despedida de soltera Sophie decide que debe hablar con cada uno de los tres hombres por separado. De estas conversaciones sale que los tres creen de ser su padre.

El día de la boda, Donna, después de haber descubierto que todavía está enamorada de Sam, confiesa a Sophie que su padre está en la isla, pero no sabe cuál es de los tres. Sophie, atónita, reconoce que ella les invitó. Los tres dicen que están encantados de ser los padres de la chica. Sophie tiene otra sorpresa reservada para Sky y le dice que será mejor que retrasen la boda y recorran el mundo como siempre habían querido hacer. Al parecer, de nada servirán los preparativos de la boda, hasta que Sam se acerca con la última sorpresa: le pide a Donna que se case con él y ella acepta. Al final, Sam y Donna están casados, y Sophie y Sky realizan un viaje alrededor del mundo.

Canciones más famosas: este musical está basado en las canciones de ABBA como “Honey, Honey“, “Dancing Queen“, “Mamma mia“, “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!“

¡Mira aquí un trozo de este Musical!

Well K auditioned for Les Miserables and got a callback for the role of Madame Thenadier and guess what……..she got it. She was the youngest one trying out and I was concerned this would be a problem but I have never been happier to be wrong. It won’t open until sometime next year but I will keep you updated. Oh! she is also thrilled that she gets to curse in the song but can’t quiet figure out how to play a drunk. “Have you ever been drunk Grandma?” she asked me. Oh the stories I could tell, but that will have to wait until she is a little older because some of Grandma’s secrets should stay secret.

Dear Readers. I have created this soon to be fabulous blog in order to share my feelings about the msot wonderful world in our universe: Theater and Performing Arts. Wow! Just the name makes you want to get up onto a nice big stage in an oversized auditorium and sing “La Vie Boheme”! If you’re out there, and you are a true thespian, you’ll know how it feels to be pushed aside as having a wothless meaningless passion. People now a days seem to think that theater is just something to be taken lightly, and would rather just sit alone at home and watch a movie. Do they not realize that if Theater never existed, their pressious movies and tv shows would not exist? Theater is the basis of so much of what our culture is today, and if you agree with anything i am writing while in spanish class, I URGE you to follow this blog as you would your favorite bestseller on broadway!

The other day I was watching the charity concert of Kamala Sukosol, the owner of several hotels in Thailand and a popular performer as well. Her daughter Marisa sang a nice rendition of I Dreamed a Dream from Les Miserables and I remembered that this song actually made Susan Boyle become a reality show phenomenon.

Now, I am sharing various versions of I Dreamed a Dream all sang by good performers including one of the Philippines’ greatest pride, Lea Salonga which I was so fortunate to be able to watch a live performance in Bangkok recently.

Of course, these singers have different styles so take your pick which one is the best and enjoy the videos!

Woke up this morning feeling like I’d spent the past several days drinking absinthe with Aleister Crowley and followed it up with enough Acid to trip-out a troop of hardy circus clowns.

Am having issues with the world. Would boycott but seems unlikely to actually affect anything, yes? I like my batcave, though.
(Note to self: Invest in hella sexy batgirl costume.)

As I was saying…

The world was too bright and too cold simultaneously, too brash and bold, too dense, humid and sticky with the sense that memory is seeping out of my very pores and contaminating the air I breathe.

It’s the sensuality of spirit. How dare they strip that from my faith? How dare they even try! The necessity of fire, of new passions and the faulty logic that assails me. Long lost, unwilling, insensible things that blossom in the waters of the mind.

The recurring visions cease to be merely recollections and instead invent themselves again in living colour. They drink me — all broth and no substance. Stirred and stirring in the pools of the unconscious.

Do your dreams have a soundtrack?
It always amuses me to wake up and realise that I’ve had the likes of Master of the House running through my head all night long…

“Everything has got a little price,” hey… though lord knows I’m with his wife. Meanwhile, I can think of a great many other things I’d rather be doing all night long.

I stumbled blindly to the bathroom, knees weak and hands shaking. They always shake. Nothing new. Nothing to get worked up about. Just your average day in a possibly not so very average life.
Or maybe we all wake up just exactly where we don’t want to be and trudge back to higher ground? Maybe it’s all just circles within circles. You, me, the Eucalyptus tree… all age old elements of part-time wisdom.

*Assembly required.

+Batteries not included

Off on a tea-break then aren’t we? Waiting to *live* but what is living except feverish deceptions and yearning touch? I force my hand into the morning light and feel every forgotten phrase, each electric, light bulb moment lost. There. Waiting.

Maybe just a little time off for good behaviour? Time served, your Honour.
Call off the night watchman.

I’m not going anywhere.

p.s. the title is also a nod to the fact i’m off to see Tori Amos live on Monday night!!!!!

 Basil Poledouris           21st August 1945 – 8th November 2006

After recently discovering what exactly the “genius” function was on my iPod nano I noticed something odd. Not only did it group my music by genre, album and artist but also by composer. Settling back on the train listing to a few classic movie themes I was surprised to discover my choices jumping from Conan the Barbarian, to Les Miserables and then back to Robocop.

After further investigation, or “Google” I think it’s more commonly known as, I discovered the wonderful composer of classic (and varied) movie themes, Basil Poledouris, an American music composer who wrote many memorable scores for movies and television shows.

Possibly not up there in the fame category with the likes of John Williams and Danny Elfman but never the less the man is a legend. It certainly inspired me to look a little further and to expand my knowledge of where our classic movie themes come from.  Some of his most recognisable contributions to movie scores are Conan the Barbarian (1982), Conan the Destroyer (1984), Robocop (1987), with some of his final work (sadly Basil passed away in 2006) includes The Touch (2002) and The Legend of Butch and Sundance (2004).

With a career spanning 4 decades Basil worked in many different styles, mediums and genres. Other popular movies Basil Poledouris composed include Starship Troopers, Lassie and Hot Shots Part Deux!  It is a revealing and certainly an eclectic mix but, as with John Williams, I can now recognise that “shiver down the spine” familiarity of the score, the key signature of any great composer.  

Some of his greatest scores have been compiled in this awesome YouTube video, for a taster visit Basil Poledouris – Greatest Hits.

Here is the rehearsal schedule and full cast list for the upcoming production of Les Misérables:

- Le beau est aussi utile que l’utile. – Il ajouta après un silence: Plus peut-être.

- Remplacer la pensée par la rêverie, c’est confondre un poison avec une nourriture.

- La pensée est le labeur de l’intelligence, la rêverie en est la volupté.

. Victor Hugo in Les Miserables

Darlings,

J’ai eu mon LLM! Les résultats sont tombés ce soir, je suis contente, contente! J’avais déjà eu les résultats des partiels, mais je suis vraiment soulagée d’apprendre que j’ai validé le mémoire également. Ouf!

Merci pour vos encouragements et vos petits mots durant toute cette année scolaire, ça me faisait le plus grand bien de venir me changer les idées sur mon blog et sur les vôtres…! Merci d’être là!

Pas de sortie ce soir par contre, car je suis horriblement fatiguée, et demain je descends à Londres. Depuis une semaine je ne dors quasiment pas, entre l’attente des résultats, la préparation des entretiens et le travail au Château, je me retrouve assez angoissée et stressée, surtout au moment de dormir.

Du coup, je me suis contentée de faire une tisane à la camomille, un masque hydratant sur le visage, et j’ai pris un long bain en écoutant ‘Les Misérables’. D’ailleurs je ne sais pas pourquoi j’ai eu envie de réécouter ce ‘musical’ tout d’un coup, car ce n’est pas un de mes préférés. D’habitude je préfère écouter La Traviata ou quelque chose comme ça lorsque je suis toute seule chez moi. Peut être parce que ce musical me fait penser à Londres justement:  je suis allée voir ‘Les Misérables’ il y a peut être trois ans avec mon père et ma grand-mère… Le temps passe horriblement vite, je m’en souviens comme si c’était hier! Voilà quelques vidéos si vous voulez écouter ‘Les Misérables’ avec moi!

Je vais dormir, bonne nuit tout le monde!

Cette chanson me fait toujours rire:

Fredagen promenerade vi omkring i London

Tower Bridge.

Minnes-kors utanför St Paul’s Cathedral.

Efter St Paul’s så gick vi till London Eye och åkte den.

På kvällen gick vi på musikal, Les misérables. Loved it!

Termine Musical Starlights in Alsdorf und Düren

Das Musical Starlights gibt drei Gastspiele in der Stadthalle Alsdorf und der Arena Kreis Düren im Landkreis Aachen. “Musical Starlights” ist eine Show, die sich aus Highlights bekannter Musicals zusammensetzt. Wer kennt sie nicht? Die Musical Hits “Mamma Mia”, “Cabaret” oder “We will rock you”.

Deborah Sasson vereinte die original Solisten aus “Phantom der Oper”, “Les Miserables” und “Jesus Christ Superstar”, einem hervorragenden Chor und bekannten Tänzern aus der Musical Szene.

Die Termine für diese Musicals in Alsdorf und Düren sind:

22.Januar.2010, Arena Kreis Düren, 20 Uhr und

27/28.Februar.2010, Stadthalle Alsdorf, jeweils 20 Uhr

Mittels Videoprojektionen tauchen sie in die Welt der Musicals aus “König der Löwen”, “Mary Poppins” oder “Tanz der Vampire”. Zudem erleben sie Musical Hits aus den Highlights von “Moulin Rouge”, “Hairspray” und “We will rock you”. Erleben sie eine Zeitreise durch die schönsten Musicals und lassen sie sich in einer traumhaften Show verzaubern.

Quelle: http://www.baffy-scorpion.de/index.php/musical-starlights-aachen-dueren/

According to Musicalverse these are the Top10 Musicals for this week.

• Wicked – Book Tickets
• The Lion King – Book Tickets
• Priscilla Queen Of The Desert – Book Tickets
• Avenue Q – Book Tickets
• Dirty Dancing – Book Tickets
• Sister Act – Book Tickets
• Oliver! – Book Tickets
• Grease – Book Tickets
• Les Miserables – Book Tickets
• Blood Brothers – Book Tickets

See full post here

Wihoo, hemma från London! Mina fötter är typ döda, vi har gått sjukt mkt och ändå hade vi 3-dagars kort på tunnelbanan ^^ Vi har hunnit med att kolla på fyrverkerier från Alexandra Palace, besöka St Paul’s Cathedral, åka London Eye, se Les Misérables och shoppa på Oxford Street, Camden Market & Westfield Shopping Centre.