Mamma Mia – The Musical Blockbuster
Jatin Sikri asked:
Notable British playwright, Catherine Johnson’s, Mamma Mia is a heart touching musical magic based on the legendary pop group ABBA. According to the stats, approximately 30 million people have enjoyed the musical blockbuster Mamma Mia.
Interestingly, this hugely popular and acclaimed show has been played in 9 different languages. They are English, German, Japanese, Dutch, Korean, Spanish, Swedish, Flemish and Russian. In the year 1999, Mamma Mia has made its remarkable debut at the opulent Prince Edward Theatre, which was later transferred to the Prince of Wales Theatre.
The original London cast of Mama Mia Musical comprises of Siobhan McCarthy as Donna, Louise Playwright as Tanya and Jenny Galloway as Rosie. On June 2005, Mamma Mia performed 1000th time in Las Vegas. The longest running show has already enjoyed a successful run in Broadway. The beautiful story of Mamma Mia is based on the picturesque land of Greek.
The protagonist of the play Mama Mia, Sophie is getting married soon, but she wants to know the actual identity of her father. She has been brought up by single mother, Donna. After reading her mother’s diary, she came to know about three men from her past. Without disclosing this to her mother, she called them to her wedding.
The stupendously successful Mama Mia play has also been remade for a film version. Phyllida Lloyd’s brilliant direction of the movie version has also managed to grab the eye balls. So, if you haven’t checked the show then you must book your Mama Mia Theatre Tickets and get ready for an exciting roller coaster ride.
Create a video blog…instantly.
Notable British playwright, Catherine Johnson’s, Mamma Mia is a heart touching musical magic based on the legendary pop group ABBA. According to the stats, approximately 30 million people have enjoyed the musical blockbuster Mamma Mia.
Interestingly, this hugely popular and acclaimed show has been played in 9 different languages. They are English, German, Japanese, Dutch, Korean, Spanish, Swedish, Flemish and Russian. In the year 1999, Mamma Mia has made its remarkable debut at the opulent Prince Edward Theatre, which was later transferred to the Prince of Wales Theatre.
The original London cast of Mama Mia Musical comprises of Siobhan McCarthy as Donna, Louise Playwright as Tanya and Jenny Galloway as Rosie. On June 2005, Mamma Mia performed 1000th time in Las Vegas. The longest running show has already enjoyed a successful run in Broadway. The beautiful story of Mamma Mia is based on the picturesque land of Greek.
The protagonist of the play Mama Mia, Sophie is getting married soon, but she wants to know the actual identity of her father. She has been brought up by single mother, Donna. After reading her mother’s diary, she came to know about three men from her past. Without disclosing this to her mother, she called them to her wedding.
The stupendously successful Mama Mia play has also been remade for a film version. Phyllida Lloyd’s brilliant direction of the movie version has also managed to grab the eye balls. So, if you haven’t checked the show then you must book your Mama Mia Theatre Tickets and get ready for an exciting roller coaster ride.
Create a video blog…instantly.
Categories: Performing Arts Tags: Blockbuster, Brilliant Direction, British Playwright, Catherine Johnson, Different Languages, Eye Balls, Longest Running Show, Mama Mia Musical, Mamma Mia, Mother Donna, Musical Magic, Original London Cast, Picturesque Land, Pop Group, Prince Edward Theatre, Prince Of Wales, Prince Of Wales Theatre, Remarkable Debut, Roller Coaster, Siobhan Mccarthy
Pride and Prejudice at Rochester’s Geva Theatre (A Review)
Clarence Threepwood asked:
The author has no prejudices to speak of. Yet when I hear that someone has tried to adapt one of my favorite works of literature for stage or screen, I expect a failure, and I am usually right.
There are, of course, exceptions. I think of Booth Tarkington’s Alice Adams (1936 movie starring Katharine Hepburn), Robert Penn Warren’s All the King’s Men (1949 movie starring Broderick Crawford), Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables (1980 musical play), and (surprisingly) The Lord of the Rings (2001, 2002, and 2003 movies starring Ian McKellen).
But the list of failures is much longer. Notorious among these are Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby (1974 movie starring Robert Redford); Tom Wolfe’s The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990 movie starring Tom Hanks); and Stevenson’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1997 Broadway musical; we had the misfortune of attending a performance with the unspeakably awful Sebastian Bach in the title role).Geva Theatre
So when I saw that Geva Theatre (Rochester, New York) was planning to adapt Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice for the last show of its 2007-08 season, I had grave reservations. I know and love the novel, but I didn’t feel any need to see it enacted – or worse yet, mangled – on stage. Fortunately, the Geva show was a pleasant surprise.
Marge Betley (Geva’s resident dramaturg) and Mark Cuddy (Geva’s Artistic Director and director of this show) adapted the novel themselves, and they chose to stick as closely to Jane Austen’s story as they could. They added no new characters or new scenes, and they used as much of Austen’s language as possible. Prudently, they decided not to employ a narrator.
Despite Betley’s and Cuddy’s intelligent choices, the result was not compelling theater. For one thing, there were simply too many characters; familiar as I am with Pride and Prejudice, I still had trouble keeping track of some of them.
David Christopher Wells and Meghan Wolf in But all the Geva audience really wanted was to see their favorite Austen characters come to life. They were not disappointed, especially in Elizabeth Bennet, played by Meghan Wolf, a fetching brunette who gave us all the vivacity, wit, and intelligence that one could want in Austen’s heroine.
For the romantically inclined, Ms. Wolf and David Christopher Wells, who played Mr. Darcy, made a striking couple. And as director, Mr. Cuddy made sure that his audience woudl believe not only in Elizabeth’s improbable attraction to the ill-mannered Mr. Darcy, but also in her relationships with her sister Jane (Alyssa Rae), her best friend Charlotte Lucas (Vanessa LaFortune), and, most of all, her father. As played by Guy Paul, Mr. Bennet was a gratifyingly complex character.
Most of the actors did seem to appreciate that they were actors in a dramatic entertainment; they brought their characters to life. Randy Rollison played the pompous, self-absorbed Mr. Collins to full comic effect. Another audience favorite was Melanie Little as the bookish, sanctimonious Mary Bennet.
But some cast members seemed merely to be reciting passages from the novel – most egregiously, Vanessa LaFortune as Charlotte Lucas. Moreover, to my mind, Carole Monferdini as Lady Catherine de Bourgh failed to capture the essence of Austen’s dragon lady, and her costume suggested one of the witches from The Wizard of Oz. Unfortunately, we were not able to understand the first lines of the play, shrilly delivered by Mrs. Bennet (Peggy Cosgrove) in an accent that continued to challenge us throughout the play.
Women have no monopoly on Jane Austen. But if this had been a movie, it would be a chick flick; the women in the Geva audience loved Mr. Darcy’s bungling courtship of Elizabeth Bennet. The men, however, were no all so appreciative. In the men’s room at intermission (which followed immediately after Elizabeth’s rejection of Mr. Darcy’s proposal), one man commented to a friend, “She owes me big time for this.” His friend agreed: “I’m not saying I’m holding the gun to my mouth, but close.”
Incidentally, if one must adapt someone else’s novel, it seems to me that one is better off starting with a piece of literature that is merely second-rate, rather than a masterpiece like Pride and Prejudice. It worked with Margaret Mitchell’s Gone With the Wind (1939 movie starring Vivian Leigh and Clark Gable), Edna Ferber’s Showboat (1927 musical), Stephen King’s The Shining (1980 movie also starring Nicholson), and Cormac McCarthy’s No Country for Old Men (2007 movie starring Tommy Lee Jones).
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The author has no prejudices to speak of. Yet when I hear that someone has tried to adapt one of my favorite works of literature for stage or screen, I expect a failure, and I am usually right.
There are, of course, exceptions. I think of Booth Tarkington’s Alice Adams (1936 movie starring Katharine Hepburn), Robert Penn Warren’s All the King’s Men (1949 movie starring Broderick Crawford), Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables (1980 musical play), and (surprisingly) The Lord of the Rings (2001, 2002, and 2003 movies starring Ian McKellen).
But the list of failures is much longer. Notorious among these are Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby (1974 movie starring Robert Redford); Tom Wolfe’s The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990 movie starring Tom Hanks); and Stevenson’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1997 Broadway musical; we had the misfortune of attending a performance with the unspeakably awful Sebastian Bach in the title role).Geva Theatre
So when I saw that Geva Theatre (Rochester, New York) was planning to adapt Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice for the last show of its 2007-08 season, I had grave reservations. I know and love the novel, but I didn’t feel any need to see it enacted – or worse yet, mangled – on stage. Fortunately, the Geva show was a pleasant surprise.
Marge Betley (Geva’s resident dramaturg) and Mark Cuddy (Geva’s Artistic Director and director of this show) adapted the novel themselves, and they chose to stick as closely to Jane Austen’s story as they could. They added no new characters or new scenes, and they used as much of Austen’s language as possible. Prudently, they decided not to employ a narrator.
Despite Betley’s and Cuddy’s intelligent choices, the result was not compelling theater. For one thing, there were simply too many characters; familiar as I am with Pride and Prejudice, I still had trouble keeping track of some of them.
David Christopher Wells and Meghan Wolf in But all the Geva audience really wanted was to see their favorite Austen characters come to life. They were not disappointed, especially in Elizabeth Bennet, played by Meghan Wolf, a fetching brunette who gave us all the vivacity, wit, and intelligence that one could want in Austen’s heroine.
For the romantically inclined, Ms. Wolf and David Christopher Wells, who played Mr. Darcy, made a striking couple. And as director, Mr. Cuddy made sure that his audience woudl believe not only in Elizabeth’s improbable attraction to the ill-mannered Mr. Darcy, but also in her relationships with her sister Jane (Alyssa Rae), her best friend Charlotte Lucas (Vanessa LaFortune), and, most of all, her father. As played by Guy Paul, Mr. Bennet was a gratifyingly complex character.
Most of the actors did seem to appreciate that they were actors in a dramatic entertainment; they brought their characters to life. Randy Rollison played the pompous, self-absorbed Mr. Collins to full comic effect. Another audience favorite was Melanie Little as the bookish, sanctimonious Mary Bennet.
But some cast members seemed merely to be reciting passages from the novel – most egregiously, Vanessa LaFortune as Charlotte Lucas. Moreover, to my mind, Carole Monferdini as Lady Catherine de Bourgh failed to capture the essence of Austen’s dragon lady, and her costume suggested one of the witches from The Wizard of Oz. Unfortunately, we were not able to understand the first lines of the play, shrilly delivered by Mrs. Bennet (Peggy Cosgrove) in an accent that continued to challenge us throughout the play.
Women have no monopoly on Jane Austen. But if this had been a movie, it would be a chick flick; the women in the Geva audience loved Mr. Darcy’s bungling courtship of Elizabeth Bennet. The men, however, were no all so appreciative. In the men’s room at intermission (which followed immediately after Elizabeth’s rejection of Mr. Darcy’s proposal), one man commented to a friend, “She owes me big time for this.” His friend agreed: “I’m not saying I’m holding the gun to my mouth, but close.”
Incidentally, if one must adapt someone else’s novel, it seems to me that one is better off starting with a piece of literature that is merely second-rate, rather than a masterpiece like Pride and Prejudice. It worked with Margaret Mitchell’s Gone With the Wind (1939 movie starring Vivian Leigh and Clark Gable), Edna Ferber’s Showboat (1927 musical), Stephen King’s The Shining (1980 movie also starring Nicholson), and Cormac McCarthy’s No Country for Old Men (2007 movie starring Tommy Lee Jones).
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Categories: Performing Arts Tags: Alice Adams, Betley, Bonfire Of The Vanities, Booth Tarkington, Broadway Musical, Broderick Crawford, Christopher Wells, Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde, Favorite Works, Geva Theatre Rochester, Grave Reservations, Great Gatsby, Ian Mckellen, Intelligent Choices, Pride And Prejudice, Robert Penn Warren, Sebastian Bach, Threepwood, Tom Hanks, Victor Hugo
Matteo Guidicelli & Julia Abueva -The Prayer
angelofmusic95 asked:
Matt and Julia do an impromptu show for family and friends at a dinner party hosted by Tita Virgie Ramos. Both are home in Manila for their summer break. date: June 5, 2009 … Julia Abueva child singer Philippines Singapore Broadway West End musicals
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Categories: Music Tags: Broadway West, Dinner Party, Family And Friends, Julia Abueva, Julia Child, Matteo Guidicelli, Philippines, Prayer, Singapore, Summer Break, Virgie, West End Musicals
When in London
Elle Wood asked:
London! What a fabulous city! When you plan a trip to the United Kingdom, make sure you allot enough time in its capital, because there is so much to see and do.
The city is the cultural and economic, as well as the political, hub of Great Britain. Its port is one of the busiest in the world, as is its major airport, Heathrow. British Airways is the main carrier, and it offers nonstop flights from a number of US cities. There is an underground rail service, as well as bus lines, from the airport to the city center, along with the Heathrow airport parking options. And of course, using public transportation isn’t as difficult as in other parts of Europe, since all the signs are in English.
In addition to being the seat of Parliament and government, London is the base for the royal family, and thus home, of course, to Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, and the changing of the Guards. In addition to these sites, London boasts numerous museums, theater- and concert-going experiences, and fabulous shopping. The city is divided by the winding River Thames, with most of the tourist sights found along the northern bank.
Those who enjoy music might want to visit sometime from July to September, when the “Proms,” or promenade concerts, take place in the Royal Albert Hall. World-class musicals can be enjoyed in London’s famous West End theaters. Less famous, but also enjoyable, is the live music found in numerous music bars and concert halls.
The West End is also the place for shoppers to start. They can begin with the upscale elegance offered along New Bond Street, where retailers from Cartier to Chanel to Versace to Tiffany can be found. Nearby Savile Row is celebrated for its bespoke men’s suits. If the money begins to run out, shoppers can head to Oxford Street, where a broader range of shopping experiences await.
Museum goers can appreciate the renowned works in the British Museum and the National Gallery. Along “Museum Mile” in South Kensington, one can enjoy the extensive collections of the Science Museum, the Natural History Museum, and the Victoria & Albert Museum.
If, somehow, this isn’t enough to fulfill one’s wanderlust, travel from London to other areas is easy, with a number of options. Rail connections can be made to the European mainland from Victoria or Liverpool Street Stations. Fast trips can be made by taking a bus or taxi from the city center, or choose to park your vehicle at the Heathrow airport parking garages and head right to the terminals for quick hops to points around the continent.
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London! What a fabulous city! When you plan a trip to the United Kingdom, make sure you allot enough time in its capital, because there is so much to see and do.
The city is the cultural and economic, as well as the political, hub of Great Britain. Its port is one of the busiest in the world, as is its major airport, Heathrow. British Airways is the main carrier, and it offers nonstop flights from a number of US cities. There is an underground rail service, as well as bus lines, from the airport to the city center, along with the Heathrow airport parking options. And of course, using public transportation isn’t as difficult as in other parts of Europe, since all the signs are in English.
In addition to being the seat of Parliament and government, London is the base for the royal family, and thus home, of course, to Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, and the changing of the Guards. In addition to these sites, London boasts numerous museums, theater- and concert-going experiences, and fabulous shopping. The city is divided by the winding River Thames, with most of the tourist sights found along the northern bank.
Those who enjoy music might want to visit sometime from July to September, when the “Proms,” or promenade concerts, take place in the Royal Albert Hall. World-class musicals can be enjoyed in London’s famous West End theaters. Less famous, but also enjoyable, is the live music found in numerous music bars and concert halls.
The West End is also the place for shoppers to start. They can begin with the upscale elegance offered along New Bond Street, where retailers from Cartier to Chanel to Versace to Tiffany can be found. Nearby Savile Row is celebrated for its bespoke men’s suits. If the money begins to run out, shoppers can head to Oxford Street, where a broader range of shopping experiences await.
Museum goers can appreciate the renowned works in the British Museum and the National Gallery. Along “Museum Mile” in South Kensington, one can enjoy the extensive collections of the Science Museum, the Natural History Museum, and the Victoria & Albert Museum.
If, somehow, this isn’t enough to fulfill one’s wanderlust, travel from London to other areas is easy, with a number of options. Rail connections can be made to the European mainland from Victoria or Liverpool Street Stations. Fast trips can be made by taking a bus or taxi from the city center, or choose to park your vehicle at the Heathrow airport parking garages and head right to the terminals for quick hops to points around the continent.
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Categories: City Guides And Information Tags: Airport Heathrow, British Airways, Buckingham Palace, Fabulous City, Heathrow Airport, Heathrow Airport Parking, Museum Goers, Music Bars, New Bond Street, Oxford Street, Political Hub, Promenade Concerts, Renowned Works, River Thames, Royal Albert Hall, Seat Of Parliament, South Kensington, Upscale Elegance, Westminster Abbey, Winding River
Christmas Vacation In London
Gareth Owen asked:
Yes, it’s getting to that time of year again that you might be planning a London vacation during the Christmas period. London offers a wonderful experience for tourists to London during this time of year. From the moment the Christmas lights are turned on in Regent Street and Oxford Street to last person stumbles home on New Years Eve there is so much to see and do.
If you into shopping then no doubt there will be shops offering sales to fight for the big bucks in the Christmas run in. The glitz and glamour that the small and large stress put together is truly superb and only adds to a unique shopping experience. The markets of London are a hive of activity also and you can find some excellent bargains and plenty of novelty items and gifts. Markets such as Portobello Road, Bermondsey (get up early!), Brick Lane and many more offer the inquisitive insight into the London street market and always deliver.
The Christmas season also offers the usual theatre extravaganza. Apart from the mainstream shows that always fill up the festive favourites rear their head again. Productions of “A Christmas Carol”, “The Nutcracker” and the great British pantomime force their way into the public view and keep children and parents alike thoroughly entertained.
It is of course business as usual at all of London’s famous sights. But be on the look out for special tours at galleries and promotions on attractions like the London Eye and Madame Tussaud’s. Check out the “London Pass” to help you get value for money and take advantage of all that is on offer in London at this time of year.
Eating out in London at Christmas is always fun. No matter where you go you are sure to fall across an office party or the Londoner out with friends taking in the Christmas spirit. London is now arguably the culinary capital of the world and no matter what your taste buds are like there is something somewhere to suit all. Whether it’s a steak or a Mongolian speciality you will be well catered for.
Finally no trip is possible unless you can find somewhere to stay. Hotels in London offer special rates for early bookings and there are many websites and booking agencies that can offer discounts on good hotels. If you are planning to stay over New Year try and book as early as you can as there is always a late surge for rooms as the month of December moves along.
Kansieo.com
Yes, it’s getting to that time of year again that you might be planning a London vacation during the Christmas period. London offers a wonderful experience for tourists to London during this time of year. From the moment the Christmas lights are turned on in Regent Street and Oxford Street to last person stumbles home on New Years Eve there is so much to see and do.
If you into shopping then no doubt there will be shops offering sales to fight for the big bucks in the Christmas run in. The glitz and glamour that the small and large stress put together is truly superb and only adds to a unique shopping experience. The markets of London are a hive of activity also and you can find some excellent bargains and plenty of novelty items and gifts. Markets such as Portobello Road, Bermondsey (get up early!), Brick Lane and many more offer the inquisitive insight into the London street market and always deliver.
The Christmas season also offers the usual theatre extravaganza. Apart from the mainstream shows that always fill up the festive favourites rear their head again. Productions of “A Christmas Carol”, “The Nutcracker” and the great British pantomime force their way into the public view and keep children and parents alike thoroughly entertained.
It is of course business as usual at all of London’s famous sights. But be on the look out for special tours at galleries and promotions on attractions like the London Eye and Madame Tussaud’s. Check out the “London Pass” to help you get value for money and take advantage of all that is on offer in London at this time of year.
Eating out in London at Christmas is always fun. No matter where you go you are sure to fall across an office party or the Londoner out with friends taking in the Christmas spirit. London is now arguably the culinary capital of the world and no matter what your taste buds are like there is something somewhere to suit all. Whether it’s a steak or a Mongolian speciality you will be well catered for.
Finally no trip is possible unless you can find somewhere to stay. Hotels in London offer special rates for early bookings and there are many websites and booking agencies that can offer discounts on good hotels. If you are planning to stay over New Year try and book as early as you can as there is always a late surge for rooms as the month of December moves along.
Kansieo.com
Categories: Vacation Rentals Tags: Brick Lane, Christmas Lights, Christmas Period, Christmas Run, Christmas Season, Christmas Spirit, Christmas Vacation, Course Business, Culinary Capital, Eating Out In London, Gareth Owen, Glitz And Glamour, London Eye, London Pass, London Vacation, Madame Tussaud, Matter What Your Taste, New Years Eve, Oxford Street, Taste Buds