So did you see Charles Ingalls at all in Hugh Jackman, or is it just me? ;)
Well, here's my story. I got into musical theater in high school because I got talked into auditioning for the school's musical in 9th grade. We were doing Mame and even though I knew absolutely nothing about it, I had the best time on that show. I was only a chorus girl, but that was the most fun I could imagine any musical being because there were so many costume changes over so many time periods (I enjoyed being a flapper the most). I always got to be in any special dances because I'm good at picking up choreography and I'm a good singer, if I do say so myself. Just not a great actress, hence always being a chorus girl.
But I digress. Everyone in our group of musical friends was really, really into Phantom. I suspect that had a lot to do with geography and how easy it was for us to go up to Toronto to see it on its nearly permanent run. Seriously, I couldn't believe when it actually did close. I saw it three times in Toronto, the last being right before it closed when they were doing some stunt casting and Paul Stanley from Kiss was playing the Phantom. That was interesting. I also made John go see a touring show in Buffalo, but was so disappointed in the effects compared to what they were able to do in Toronto for a show that wasn't moving. The chandelier falling does not have the same effect when it's inching it's way down slooooooowly.
Oh look, another digression. Anyhoo. From Phantom, it was an easy progression to Les Mis, since that was also so popular at that time. And Eponine was my dream role, ignoring my lack of acting talent, of course. I understood her. I often felt I WAS her in the way only a teenage girl can. I did not actually see the show until after John and I were married and I made him go with me to see a tour coming through Buffalo. He's not a fan of musicals, but he was willing to sit through that one. Our seats were pretty much as far away as humanly possible in that theater, but that didn't matter.
Although I suppose it did, because you're right about the movie clearing up little plot details, especially the politics. I really enjoyed the movie, despite the little things I made fun of. I will likely own it on DVD at some point. I cried when Eponine died, maybe partly because I wanted more time with her and they cut her song short, damn it! And I think I know what you mean about Marius' looks. I felt like he didn't look sorry enough when Eponine died. She took a bullet for him, for crying out loud. Look sadder!!!
One more sidebar about why it took me so long to see Les Mis in person. My best friend Kim and I were VERY into the soundtrack and really wanted to go see it, but we were young and had no money and parents unlikely to help us out with that one (the Toronto Phantom trips were usually field trips, except the last one when I was an adult). Meanwhile, we had this friend Kevin who managed to score some free tickets from a guy he worked with. Kevin and I were very close and hung out all the time, but he was in love with Kim, who made it crystal clear that she didn't reciprocate. He was not even remotely into musicals or theater. He was a sports guy. Well, a sports statistics guy. He didn't actually play any sports. The only way we managed to be such good friends was because we were in honors classes together and I love nerds of all types. When he announced he had the tickets, we tried to convince him to let us have them, but as soon as we expressed interest he decided he was going to go himself. So I figured that since I was the only good friend of his that would actually be interested in something like that, he'd take me. Nope. He ditched me and took Kim instead. But he knew he pissed me off so to make it up to me, he took me to a surprise show. The show? Sesame Street Live, because he knew I had complained that my parents had never taken me to see it as a kid. It was hilarious, actually, to be 17 and surrounded by 3-year-olds and their parents. I can only imagine what they all thought of us.
no subject
Well, here's my story. I got into musical theater in high school because I got talked into auditioning for the school's musical in 9th grade. We were doing Mame and even though I knew absolutely nothing about it, I had the best time on that show. I was only a chorus girl, but that was the most fun I could imagine any musical being because there were so many costume changes over so many time periods (I enjoyed being a flapper the most). I always got to be in any special dances because I'm good at picking up choreography and I'm a good singer, if I do say so myself. Just not a great actress, hence always being a chorus girl.
But I digress. Everyone in our group of musical friends was really, really into Phantom. I suspect that had a lot to do with geography and how easy it was for us to go up to Toronto to see it on its nearly permanent run. Seriously, I couldn't believe when it actually did close. I saw it three times in Toronto, the last being right before it closed when they were doing some stunt casting and Paul Stanley from Kiss was playing the Phantom. That was interesting. I also made John go see a touring show in Buffalo, but was so disappointed in the effects compared to what they were able to do in Toronto for a show that wasn't moving. The chandelier falling does not have the same effect when it's inching it's way down slooooooowly.
Oh look, another digression. Anyhoo. From Phantom, it was an easy progression to Les Mis, since that was also so popular at that time. And Eponine was my dream role, ignoring my lack of acting talent, of course. I understood her. I often felt I WAS her in the way only a teenage girl can. I did not actually see the show until after John and I were married and I made him go with me to see a tour coming through Buffalo. He's not a fan of musicals, but he was willing to sit through that one. Our seats were pretty much as far away as humanly possible in that theater, but that didn't matter.
Although I suppose it did, because you're right about the movie clearing up little plot details, especially the politics. I really enjoyed the movie, despite the little things I made fun of. I will likely own it on DVD at some point. I cried when Eponine died, maybe partly because I wanted more time with her and they cut her song short, damn it! And I think I know what you mean about Marius' looks. I felt like he didn't look sorry enough when Eponine died. She took a bullet for him, for crying out loud. Look sadder!!!
One more sidebar about why it took me so long to see Les Mis in person. My best friend Kim and I were VERY into the soundtrack and really wanted to go see it, but we were young and had no money and parents unlikely to help us out with that one (the Toronto Phantom trips were usually field trips, except the last one when I was an adult). Meanwhile, we had this friend Kevin who managed to score some free tickets from a guy he worked with. Kevin and I were very close and hung out all the time, but he was in love with Kim, who made it crystal clear that she didn't reciprocate. He was not even remotely into musicals or theater. He was a sports guy. Well, a sports statistics guy. He didn't actually play any sports. The only way we managed to be such good friends was because we were in honors classes together and I love nerds of all types. When he announced he had the tickets, we tried to convince him to let us have them, but as soon as we expressed interest he decided he was going to go himself. So I figured that since I was the only good friend of his that would actually be interested in something like that, he'd take me. Nope. He ditched me and took Kim instead. But he knew he pissed me off so to make it up to me, he took me to a surprise show. The show? Sesame Street Live, because he knew I had complained that my parents had never taken me to see it as a kid. It was hilarious, actually, to be 17 and surrounded by 3-year-olds and their parents. I can only imagine what they all thought of us.