Giving the Nation a new syncopation, the people called it Ragtime...

[neverwhere]

I just got back from the new London production of one of the best musicals ever made, Ragtime. I love this show. I saw the original Toronto cast in 1997 before the writers altered the script and changed a few of the songs for Broadway, and fell utterly, madly in love. The songs are just glorious, full of passion and meaning, and the story is completely engaging, ensnaring the audience and making you really care about every single person on stage. And there is no finer show for chorus numbers -- I love Les Mis as much as anyone, but it's nothing compared to Ragtime -- when all the people gather on stage it's not because the song would sound better with more voices, it's because they really feel the same anguish and joy and love as the others, the stage positively radiates with their shared emotions. It's an absolutely amazing sight. For the London production the entire show had to be re-staged, because there weren't any theatres large enough to accommodate the lavish sets of the original version. But I thought it was even better without them -- having a bare stage and the orchestra on a balcony above brought an intimacy that was lacking in the original, and made you focus more on the story, which is of course what it's all about. After the show there was a Q & A session with the actors who played Mother, Father and Tateh (who looked exactly like Adrian Brody *winks at brandybuck and mrs_puppethead ;-), and I got to gush at them about how wonderful the show is, and how they shouldn't worry about being compared to the Broadway version (as some careless person had asked about earlier), as both productions were brilliant in their own way, and I couldn't have enjoyed myself more, which made them all grin hugely and give me a round of applause. Wheee!
So that was fun. :)


I have a new toy that is completely taking over my life. Yes, that's right -- I am now the proud owner of a Playstation 2. Fear me. *giggles*
I was going to write a long ramble about my current addiction to Kingdom Hearts, but I just can't be bothered. Suffice to say -- it owns me. ;-)


Happy birthday ladydarkrose, and welcome new friend inblackink! *happy smooches*


WillnotthinkaboutBushBlairandinsanephoneywar. Nononono. *chants with fingers in ears*


Oh, and Kiss Me. I'm Irish. *beams proudly* :)

Comments

[storme]

Kingdom Hearts rocks.

Iain's addicted, so I just watch over his shoulder.

[angelislington.livejournal.com]

Soooo addictive. *faints from lack of sleep* :D

I'm just waiting for the moment when I'm on the train/working/etc when someone annoys me and I shout 'THUNDER!' and wave my housekey at them. *giggles*

[storme]

but then you'll be reinforcing the stereotype of violence in videogames affecting people!

...oh, no, wait, you'd actually have to start beating them with the key for that to be true.

I'm just amused at the idea of kids who've never seen Donald/Goofy/Mickey cartoons (and c'mon, they rarely get shown anymore) seeing KH, then going to a disney theme park and expecting Donald to have an epileptic fit.