My Weekend in Review

This weekend I was in Adelaide for the Cabaret Festival. Of course, this time last year I was in the same place at around the same time seeing Idina Menzel, which is very hard to top!

We saw two shows of the festival, although there were more we would have liked to have seen if time had allowed.

High School Disco:

On Friday night, we went and saw High School Disco, Tim Campbell's show to celebrate his debut album of the same name. I was so excited for this show, because not only is the album great, but because I'd been waiting since 2010 for the chance to meet Tim Campbell. Tim was my 2nd Fiyero I ever saw in Wicked, and my favourite (well, one of them. I have 2).

Me with Tim Campbell :)

High School Disco is all about celebrating the music of the 70s and 80s. Of course, I wasn't born in either of those decades (I was born in 1990. But I was conceived in the 80s if that counts?), but I knew the majority of the songs anyway, because it's great music. Plus, my mum is a huge 80s music fan, and an even bigger fan of 80s movies- which feature so many of the most famous songs from the era.

The show was awesome, and it captured the feel of a disco in high school... ok, yes my high school discos were in the 2000s, but from what I can tell the only thing that's really changed is the music.

Tim posing with the gift bag we got him.

And yes, I met Tim :D And he was just as funny and lovely as I'd always imagined from seeing him on TV and Twitter. And now I can cross that off my bucket list (not even joking. It was on there). We got him a little gift, just some chocolate and wine and he liked it, so I'm stoked.








Picture Perfect:

On Saturday night, we went and saw Picture Perfect, a song cycle written by Scott Evan Davis and starring (amongst others) David Harris, Amity Dry and Johanna Allen.
This was my first song cycle, I'd never even heard of it until we booked tickets! It was a beautiful show, with some lovely music. And the whole cast were amazing, everyone is so talented! I don't even think I could pinpoint a favourite part of the show.

Me with Amity Dry

I was also very excited to get to meet Amity Dry, I played her first album The Lighthouse on repeat for several months when it first came out. And she was so lovely, and I got both her albums signed.

With David Harris

And as always, it was lovely to have a chat with David Harris. I think I was most excited to give him his present (he's moving to the US soon...ish), Kelly and I were so proud of it! Haha. I love giving people gifts, especially gifts we've put a lot of effort into making (also, the bag was quite heavy and I'd been lugging it around all night, haha).

This is what we had made for David. Cool, huh?  Sydney Harbour, Bondi Beach and the Maitland Town Hall- because that's where he's from. 

So that was my weekend. Finished off with heart palpitations and an inability to breathe last night which meant I had to call myself an ambulance. Scariest moment of my life, and a real bummer on which to finish the weekend. (I'm ok now. Mostly). 

Weekend Recap: Legally Blonde Opening Night

This weekend was another one of my whirlwind musical trips, but this one was for my very first opening night of a musical, Legally Blonde, in case the title of this post and the above picture were too subtle for you ;) So this post is just to recap my whole weekend... or Saturday, mostly.

Now, confession: Kelly and I really only planned to go to opening night because we know that's when local celebrities attend and there was one or two people we were hoping to meet (ok, it was mostly one and that was Tim Campbell- because we adore him and I've been trying to meet him since I saw him in Wicked three years ago- and we found out a few weeks ago he wasn't even going to be there! Sigh).

But also because opening night, like closing, is something you should experience at least once.

So I flew into Melbourne from Tamworth after school on Friday, so I flew out at 5pm and landed at 9.30. And honestly, when I got to the airport and realised I'd left my iPod at school, I didn't think that was a great start to the weekend. But I amused myself between Tamworth and Sydney by reading the magazine on the plane, and then I bought a book (well, two) at Sydney but then Qantas give you iPads on their flights to watch TV and stuff, so I just ended up watching Family Guy, LOL (and it was hilarious).

Anyway, because no one cares about my inflight entertainment, I'll skip to the good stuff. 

On Saturday morning, Kelly, Holly and I went to the Hollywood Costume Exhibition, something I heard about only 3 weeks ago and inspired a major Audrey Hepburn kick on my part (story for another time). This  exhibition was smaller than I expected, but really cool. Most of the costumes there were replicas, but they had Audrey Hepburn's actual dress from Breakfast at Tiffany's and Marilyn Monroe's from The Seven Year Itch. You know, that one.

What the picture of Audrey Hepburn doesn't show is that her waist was freaking tiny. Seriously. I'm a size six and she was smaller than me. 

Other costumes included Dorothy's dress from The Wizard of Oz, Audrey Hepburn's My Fair Lady, Cate Blanchett from Elizabeth I, Kate and Leo's outfits from Titanic, and costumes from Gladiator, Cleopatra, Saving Private Ryan, The Bourne Identity, Camelot, 101 Dalmatians, A series of unfortunate events, Out of Africa, Harry Potter, Marie Antoinette, Antonement, Anna Karenina and heaps more.

They also had suits from Batman (The Dark Knight Rises), Spiderman (with Tobey Maguire) and Superman. It was pretty cool. 

My favourites were the little black dress from Breakfast at Tiffany's and this dress they had worn from Camelot. There were a lot of movies there I hadn't seen and then I felt bad that I hadn't seen them! 

This dress. It's amazing up close. And made with pumpkin seeds! But that train... ah.

So Kelly and I were at the theatre at about 5.30. The show started at 7.30 (we were a tad excited, haha). We hung around for a bit and just took photos and admired the theatre in all it's glory. Then we decided to go to the cafe next to the theatre to get a drink and pretty much almost literally ran into David Harris just inside the door!

We talked for a minute or two, and I had to thank him for writing on my birthday card (which Kelly had surprised me with 12 days early. It's been signed by David, Lucy, Erika, Helen and Mike!)

We also had a quick chat to Cameron, because it felt like half the cast was coming inside to grab food and/or drink between the matinee and the evening show. 

And then when we got inside the theatre, the first thing Kelly said to me when she sat down was "Jemma's here." Now, knowing Jemma lived in Melbourne, I had hoped she might be there, but I didn't dare get my hopes up. But to have it confirmed... um, I got a tad excited and overwhelmed. I may have squealed a bit louder than I intened (it was an involuntary squeal to begin with), and then- because Jemma seems to inspire that reaction in me just by being in the same room, I cried a little and simultaneously began to hyperventilate a little and felt incredibly nauseous. 

I think it was because I'd been dreaming, but not really daring to hope she might be there, and she's so amazing, and I haven't seen her in a year (since Wicked in Singapore), so... yeah. Kelly kept telling me to breathe, so there was a sense of deja vu! LOL. Then we had the big debate "can we go up to her and say hi? Is that weird? Will she have any idea who we are?" and then the show started.

I admit, I found it hard to concentrate on the show for most of the first act, because I was torn between a voice in my head just going "Jemma's here, Jemma's here, Jemma's here" and because I was trying to get a sense of how the audience was enjoying it, because I want them to love it as much as I do! 

When intermission started, we decided it wasn't weird to go say hi, so got out of the theatre as soon as we could and just pushed through the lobby looking for Jemma. And then Kelly saw Josh, so we figured Jemma would find him and then Stacey told us she was in the bathroom. So after she got out and met Josh, he disappeared and she was just standing there, so we figured it was okay to go say hi.

And she remembered us! She even remembered that I'm a teacher! She said she was enjoying the show, and Kelly told her this was her 9th show. I said it was only my 8th and she laughed and said "only the 8th. I love that" (!!!!). So, of course, we had to mention Wicked and I told her how happy I was that she was coming back (I cried when I heard, but I didn't mention that). And then Jemma said "I almost wasn't." And I almost died. But she said the break was doing her good, and even though she had been doing it for so long, she had found she missed it (thank Oz). 

Then I said how we were hoping to get to NZ but it depended on timing, with school holidays and all (and then she said "oh yeah, you're still teaching in the country, aren't you?" I'm a different part of the country now, but I didn't tell her that either, haha. I figured it wasn't important). So I asked her how long they would be in NZ and she said at the moment, she was pretty sure it was only 10 weeks. But she said maybe if it sold really well, it might be extended. (NOTE: 10 weeks from September makes it the end of November/first week of December. I just need it to be extended until mid-Jan at least!) 

Kelly and I had checked tickets when we were in Brisbane the other week, for a weekend in September and there was 1 seat left at the very back of the stalls. We told Jemma that and she was stunned, she had no idea how well it was selling. She also has no idea who the other cast will be!

Mostly we just talked about what she had been doing in her break. We mentioned Prick (the musical she had done during the Melbourne Comedy Festival), and said we had a friend who had gone and loved it. Then I said that we had heard that she rapped in the show, but when I pictured that in my head, she was still Elphaba, which made the image both awkward and hilarious. I mean, can you picture Elphaba rapping? LOL. Jemma laughed and said it was just as hilarious for her to be rapping as Jemma. I was pretty stoked about that reaction, because just because that mental image makes me laugh, is no guarantee its actually funny. She could have just smiled politely or something, but she actually genuinely laughed and found that idea funny! 

Anyway, then we left her and said goodbye. Before we went in, we saw Gretel (Scarlett), so we had to say hi and congratulate her in person in landing the role of Sandy in Grease, and she remembered us from Singapore too so we had a quick chat with her too. Jemma and Gretel were both so lovely! We didn't ask for photos, because we thought that would be weird, we didn't want to bug them that much. 

It was only just before Act 2 started that we realised Gretel was sitting 5 seats away from us! We hadn't realised! After the show, we hung around to try and see if we could grab any of the cast, mostly Rob because this was the last time we'd be able to see him as Warner before he leaves the show. We saw David again, and said a super quick hello to Erika (seriously, it was a "hi" and a wave), but then we got to get a photo with Rob. 

And this (other than seeing Jemma) was my highlight of the night: After I got my photo with Rob, I told him that this was the last chance to see him in LB, but we'd see him in Grease. And then he said "aw, that's great. Thank you," and squeezed my hand. Seriously, going over it in my head again, I have no idea how or when he even grabbed my hand! But it was a lovely squeeze. It wasn't my whole hand, just my fingers, but it was all my fingers, not just the tips. And it was a really genuine, gentle squeeze and I almost died. 

Right before the hand squeeze. Haha.

Always love seeing David Harris. He's just always so lovely.

So that was my Saturday. And then I spent what felt like all day on a plane today. Totally worth it though. 

Top 20 songs from Stage Musicals!

This list was really hard. Especially when I was only allowed 20 songs total and 5 from Wicked. 

1. This is the Moment (Jekyll and Hyde) I know- it's not Wicked, and you're all shocked. I'm surprised too. But I haven't even seen this show, but I know this song from when Anthony Warlow sang it in The Main Event, which was a concert with John Farnham and Olivia Newton John in like 1998. It was a big deal at the time. My mum and both grandmothers had the video and my grandmothers also had the CD, so I heard it a lot. I just get goosebumps every single time I hear this song. I have posted about this before.
2. Defying Gravity (Wicked) This was so close to being number 1. Because it is the greatest moment I've ever seen in live theatre. I've been known to forget to breathe in this moment (it happened once in Singapore, OK? Let's move on) so of course it's on the list. I love Idina singing it, but anyone who reads this blog enough knows all I need to say is "Jemma Rix" and you will understand. (In case you don't read this blog that much- I really, really love Jemma. She's my favourite Elphaba).
3. King of Pride Rock (The Lion King) I said I wasn't going to provide links in this post because it takes FOREVER to write otherwise, but this is an exception because people may not have any idea what I'm talking about. It's this moment (yes, the video is from the movie, but it's in the musical so it counts). Soaring instrumental music, and then Circle of Life reprise by a choir? What's not to love? I actually want this in my wedding... somehow. I don't know exactly how that would work yet. 
4. Tomorrow (Annie) This is such a positive, happy song! It just always makes me happy. And because Annie is so popular, it's usually one of the first musicals/songs that kids are exposed to. I'm pretty sure it was one of the first I heard anyway when I saw the movie on TV. I've seen both Annie movies, saw the musical in Melbourne and have heard Idina Menzel sing it on her Barefoot at the Symphony DVD, and I love it. I like to play this when I'm feeling sad.
5. The Wizard and I (Wicked) From the first second of the first time I saw Wicked, I loved it and knew it was going to be amazing. But it was in this song that I fell in love with it and Jemma Rix's voice. Plus, it's so happy as you hear Elphaba's dreams and this vision she has for her future. Of course, in subsequent showings, it just becomes bittersweet, but still. 
6. Circle of Life (The Lion King) One of the best starts to a musical. It just sets the mood instantly, and grabs your attention from the very first second. I'm dying to see this live when the musical comes back to Sydney this year.
7. As Long As You’re Mine (Wicked) This song is the Fiyeraba (Fiyero+Elphaba) anthem, and the big love song in the show, so of course, it's on this list. But I love that it's so dark and passionate. You can tell from just the music what they got up to in that forest ;) My favourite rendition I've seen is the third show I saw in Singapore with David Harris and Jemma Rix. It was perfect. 
8. Finale B (Rent) So yes, my favourite Rent song is the last song. That feels awkward to me, but it's true. I love the harmonies, the melody's, the combination of songs. This finale has set the bar for all musical finales for me.
9. No Good Deed (Wicked) Such a passionate, emotional, raw song. Again, I have been known to forget to breathe in this moment. It's so powerful, to see Elphaba's pain and desperation to save Fiyero. And (if you see the actual Broadway version, not the tour version) that moment when Elphaba rises through the floor with that "Fiyerooooo!" riff... ugh. I die. 
10. Another Day (Rent) I love how this song switches between rock and ballad. And then how the others join Mimi at the end. The first time I saw Rent, it was the movie. And I liked Seasons of Love, but after that for a lot of the time, I wasn't sure whether I was going to see this through to the end. Another Day got me hooked. 
11. Part of Your World (Reprise) (The Little Mermaid) Part of your world is a beautiful song all on its own. But to then have the reprise, which builds upon the inital song and have the big belting notes, that gets me every time- movie or musical (which I have only seen bits of on YouTube, but am hoping it comes to Australia one day. My friend Kelly and I think David Harris would be an awesome Prince Eric. We have our reasons!)
12. I'm Not That Girl (Wicked) This is such a heartbreaking song. And I don't think I know any girl who's seen it and hasn't related to this song. (I haven't asked any of the guys I know who have seen the show). Your heart just goes out to Elphaba in this song.
13. I Dreamed a Dream (Les Miserables) Another song full of raw emotion. I don't know what I can say about this song. I think though we can all relate to dreaming, and that pain that comes with those dreams not coming true. Plus, I mean the Lea Michele/Idina Menzel duet version on Glee? Pretty amazing. 
14. The Lonely Goatherd (The Sound of Music) This is just such a fun song! It always gets stuck in my head after I watch The Sound of Music. It makes me smile every time. Plus, I like puppets.
15. Beyond My Wildest Dreams (The Little Mermaid) I think I love this song because of the tune. If you listen to it, you'll know what I mean. But I also relate to how Ariel is feeling in this song. That feeling when you're in a place you've only dreamed about and you can't even fathom that this is reality. 
16. Somewhere Over the Rainbow (The Wizard of Oz) It's a classic. Need I say more? I never get tired of this song. At the moment, my favourite version is by Katharine McPhee as can be seen here (thank you very much, Smash pilot episode for making me realise this existed!)
17. Beauty and the Beast (Beauty and the Beast) Such a beautiful ballad. "Tale as old as time, song as old as rhyme, Beauty and the Beast." I never get tired of listening to it. 
18. Any Dream Will Do (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat) "I close my eyes, drew back the curtains, to see for certain what I thought I knew. Far far away, someone was weeping, but the world was sleeping any dream will do." I think I just love this tune! It's so catchy! But I was first introduced to this song through the movie, which has Donny Osmond who my mum loves, so that could be a factor.
19. I Have Dreamed (The King and I) I've only seen The King and I once when it was on TV, and to be honest I prefer Anna and the King (even though it's not a musical). But I heard this song when David Harris sang an arrangement of this and "Maria" from West Side Story, and I kind of fell in love with it. 
20. I Still Call Australia Home (The Boy from Oz) I'm a patriot. That's the whole reason this song is on this list. I love Australia, so I love this song. I used to be glued to the TV whenever the Quantas ad was on growing up (when they used this song for their ads, of course). "Someday we'll all be together once more, when all of the ships come back to the shore. Then I realise something that I've always known, I still call Australia home." 

Honorable Mentions (AKA "Songs that just missed out"):

1. Chip on my shoulder (Legally Blonde)- especially when sung by David Harris!
2. For Good (Wicked)- just because I was only allowed 5 Wicked songs
3. Without Love (Hairspray)
4. Phantom of the Opera (Phantom of the Opera)
5. On my own (Les Mis)

Legally Blonde

I'd already decided that I was going to do a post on Legally Blonde, which I saw on Saturday night (September 22nd, 2012), but it's taken me longer than expected to get around to actually writing it (the lack of sleep- it's a long story).

Anyway, so on Saturday night, six of us saw Legally Blonde the musical at the Sydney Lyric theatre. We'd been looking forward to this for months, and I was really excited to see the show. I love the movie, and I knew how awesome the cast was, because I'd watched Erika on It Takes Two and I knew Lucy, Rob and David from Wicked. 

 So I knew I was going to love the show, because I do love the movie and I am a fan of so many of the cast; but I wasn't expecting to love it as much as I did. Seriously, it's taken the #2 spot on my list of favourite musicals (#1 is still Wicked, LOL- just in case you were wondering).

It's such a fun show, it has such a great energy to it, and there's not a slow moment in the whole show. And it's hilarious. And the cast was just... incredible. The casting was just done perfectly.

Lucy is phenomenal as Elle, Rob is Warner (in the best possible way, haha) and David is the perfect Emmett! Helen is hilarious as Paulette, Cameron was so good as Professor Callahan and Erika... seriously, "Whipped into shape" says it all. I'd heard from David's blog how hard that routine was, but to actually see it... wow. You have to be seriously fit to do that. (Which I am not, as was proved to me when I woke up this morning after spending all weekend walking around Sydney. "Ouch" about sums it up).

I don't know if I could pick a singular favourite song from the show... so I'll pick 3, lol (in no particular order).
1. "Ohmigod you guys" is just so much fun, and gets stuck in your head so easily- we were singing it all the way as we walked back to our hotel after the show, haha. Yes, we got some strange looks from people on the street).
2. "So much better" was one of the few songs I'd heard before I saw the show, from the media launch and such; but it was really great to see in the context of the show. Lucy does such a great job of singing this, and as it closes the first act, you really end on a great note.
3. "Chip on my shoulder" I loved this song. I don't even know if I could tell you why, but it's just a great tune and the lyrics are really great. It's been in my head all day, so I thought that was a problem easily solved by listening to the song from the soundtrack. It kind of helped, but I spent half the song thinking, "David sings this so much better", haha.

We've got plans to see the show again in November, but I'm not sure I can wait that long, LOL!

We had some really cute moments in the show too- like when Bruiser wouldn't come on stage at the beginning, haha. But he's so cute no-one minded! The dogs are simply gorgeous!
And it's really funny, I loved how they had little pop culture references, like to Glee and Lord of the Rings and it doesn't matter if you've seen the movie or not.

After the show, we went to the Stage Door to meet the cast, which has become one of my favourite things about going to the theatre. The cast are all such lovely people, and it's really great just to be able to meet them.
Unfortunately, we missed meeting Erika (we did see her, but just didn't get a chance to say "hi"- so we'll have to grab her next time!)

So if anyone's in Sydney (or near enough) I really recommend Legally Blonde! It's such a great show, and cast, and you'll have a great night!

I wish I could go again sooner, but that's the downside of teaching out in the country- it's just a tad difficult to get to the city. Hurry up, November!

Fiyero

Today David Harris leaves Wicked after 473 shows. 

Going to miss him as Fiyero, he portrays the role so perfectly! And one of the nicest people I've ever met.

Lost in translation

So, Wicked started in Seoul, South Korea the other night with 2 preview shows.

And, because that's what I do (I need to know people in other countries appreciate our awesome cast as much as we do here in Australia), I went Googling for news and reviews today.

This time was different due to one small thing- they don't really speak English in Korea. So, I had to make do with letting Google translate the page for me.

Now, not everything translates into English smoothly. Sometimes it's confusing as you try and work out what they mean, and sometimes it's just funny.

Case in point:  One of the articles I found had this headline- "David Harris ' smile ' and petting"

David Harris is Fiyero, of course. The smile, I get. The "petting" on the other hand... it gets better. The first paragraph of the article reads:

actor David Harris 30, Seoul, Hannam blue square took place in Samsung Hall (WICKED) on the musical ', ' media call posing naked.

I'm just casually reading and then was like "wait, what?"

I need to make friends in Korea. Or at least people who speak Korean. This is the article, BTW, in case anyone wants to read it:

http://www.microsofttranslator.com/BV.aspx?ref=IE8Activity&a=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tvreport.co.kr%2Fcindex.php%3Fc%3Dnews%26m%3Dnewsview%26idx%3D231304

But I did read that the cast were given standing ovations. So, I'm assuming they like the show- and really, how can you not?