27 Nov 2024 5:33 am
Hi everyone! I hope you’re all well. Today is Wednesday, and it’s time for another post in the Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge hosted by Long and Short Reviews. If you’d like to participate in the challenge, you can find the list of topics for 2024 here. If you’re interested in reading other people’s responses to this week’s topic, you can do so here.
Ahh, musicals. There’s something so entrancing about musicals, isn’t there? A good musical has a way of whisking you out of the world for a little while, allowing you to experience a great adventure and sing (butcher) some songs before plopping you back into reality, feeling revitalised. At least, that’s how I always feel.
The first musical I ever saw was Mary Poppins one Christmas Eve when I was small, and it became a firm favourite. What’s not to love? The historical setting of early twentieth-century London, a magical nanny, music… animation (those penguins!)!
I also really love Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. I had always thought musicals were all happy and bright until I watched the Johnny Depp movie version (the only version I’ve seen), where a barber arrives in London and discovers the evil Judge Turpin (who had him falsely convicted and exiled to Australia) has taken his daughter as his ward and plans to marry her. Joining forces with the owner of the worst meat pie shop in town, he plans to get revenge. What a great and somewhat gruesome film.
I am a big fan of the ‘Wicked‘ novel series by Gregory Maguire, which tells the story of The Wicked Witch of the West (aka Elphaba) and other inhabitants of Oz before and after the events of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, so I was thrilled to be able to watch the stage version. What a show! I’m looking forward to seeing what they do with the movie adaptation. I hope it’s just as good.
I love Moulin Rouge. It’s an annual watch in our house, and even though I’ve seen it a gazillion times, it never gets boring. The story follows Christian, a depressed writer and Satine, the star performer and courtesan at the cabaret The Moulin Rouge, as they try to convince the Duke of Monroth to invest in turning the Moulin Rouge into a theatre where they will showcase their latest show Spectacular! Spectacular! while struggling with their feelings for one another.
It’s the same with Little Shop of Horrors, too. It’s such a good film. I’d love to see it live one day. In this one, Seymore and Audrey, his coworker at Mushnik’s Flower Shop, showcase a strange plant, which Seymore has named Audrey II, attempting to try and save the struggling store. However, the plant, having been reared on Seymour’s blood, grows increasingly large, requiring more blood than Seymour can give. One evening, Audrey II begins to speak to Seymor, trying to convince him to kill someone, promising that he will become famous and win the affection of the original Audrey.
Finally, no talk of musicals would feel complete if I didn’t mention Grease, where, in the late 1950s, Sandy Olsson, on vacation from her native Australia, meets Danny Zucko, a local greaser at the beach where they fall in love. After the summer break, Danny heads back to school to find Sandy’s parents have stayed in America and enrolled her at Rydell High School, where we follow their relationship and those of their friends as they break into catchy, earwormy songs. Although those are the most middle-aged-looking, unconvincing teenagers in history, it’s still entertaining.
I’d also like to mention my love of classic Disney films. I argued with one of my siblings years ago about whether or not Disney films could be considered musicals. I think they absolutely are musicals because singing is part of the show, but my sibling disagreed. I’m still not over it, and it was twenty years ago…
Well, another post down. This year is speeding by, isn’t it? Which musicals did you all like?
Anyhoo, as ever, thank you for dropping by and checking out my post. It means the world.
Until next time,
George
© 2024 GLT
Posted by georgelthomas
Categories: life, Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge
Tags: challenge, Disney, Little Shop of Horrors, Musicals, Sweeny Todd, Wednesday, Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge, Wicked
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Oh, you thought of some good ones!
The cannibalism in Sweeney Todd grossed me out, but the music and storyline were good.
Yeah, Disney movies should totally count as musical.
I loved Grease as a kid, but I didn’t think about how old the cast looked at the time. It’s kind of funny now that they didn’t pick people who were closer to their teen years!
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By lydiaschoch on 27 Nov 2024 at 12:09 pm
I know! I don’t think they’d get away with it these days.
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By georgelthomas on 27 Nov 2024 at 12:37 pm
Feed me, Seymour!!! Such a fun musical. That piece and “I’ll be your Deeeeeeennnnnntist!” crack me up.
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By smellincoffee on 27 Nov 2024 at 3:28 pm
Oh boy- I love a lot. Musicals really do allow you to escape
Just to name a few:
1. Wicked
2. Les Mis
3. Classic Disney
4. Greatest Showman
5. Moulin Range- talking about the stage show
6. Hadestown
7. Anastasia
8. Mamma Mia
9. White Christmas (tradition to watch over the Holidays)
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By mphtheatregirl on 27 Nov 2024 at 3:35 pm
Ahhh! White Christmas! It’s about time I gave that another watch.
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By georgelthomas on 27 Nov 2024 at 3:40 pm
The only one of yours I’ve seen is “Mary Poppins.” I liked the original four books too.
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By Priscilla King on 27 Nov 2024 at 7:53 pm
Yes, I’ve been reading the books. They’re great! I did read them as a kid, but they got pushed out of my brain by all the adulting. I’m enjoying them again, though.🙂
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By georgelthomas on 27 Nov 2024 at 8:25 pm
I love your enthusiasm! Your enjoyment is palpable in this post, and it made me smile. Musicals aren’t really my typical thing, but a good show is a good show, so I have enjoyed some good ones! I don’t know a lot of them because I don’t seek them out, but I have heard snippets of the music from Wicked and that’s one I think I would like to see one day! Thanks for sharing!
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By RAIN CITY READS on 27 Nov 2024 at 9:11 pm
Thank you! Musicals aren’t for everyone. I very much recommend Wicked. Even if you’re not too keen on musicals, it’s pretty funny and rather touching. I watched the film version yesterday, and it was incredible.
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By georgelthomas on 27 Nov 2024 at 9:20 pm