As a Norwegian I am very proud to hear that Sissel (Kyrkjebø) is in 1st place on the Billboard Classical Albums list for the 9th or 10th week in a row (11 weeks in the chart altogether), together with the massive Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra with their Spirit of the Season. They have also been nominated for a Grammy.

As a Weezer aficionado, I am very happy to hear they're planning the release of their sixth album for April/May 2008. By that time I will have been a fan for 14 years. Wow, how time flies.

I was also surprised and happy to read that the late Denis Quilley was part of the Chess concept album from 1984. I discovered at the same time that James Graeme, my favourite from the first concert featuring songs from musicals that I ever went to (in 2002, after Philip Quast had turned my world upside-down with his fabulous voice some months earlier), features on one of the many Chess albums. Unfortunately the only one I don't have (I think). But hey, as long as I have the ones featuring Tommy Körberg, I'm happy. I also have the Which Witch? album with Tim Morgan on it, so I shouldn't really be complaining. And I'm not. It's Christmas, after all!

Speaking of the Holidays, my Christmas has been very lazy so far (which would make Aug happy, since he told me to have a lazy Christmas). I managed to wait until around 1pm on Christmas Day with opening my presents, and was very happy with every single one. I am proud to say I have FINALLY got Dirty Dancing in my collection. It's the weirdest thing; I watched it at least five times in the cinema back in 1987/88 and have seen it about a dozen times on telly afterwards, but I have never owned it (probably because it's on telly "all the time" anyway). This year, however, marks the 20th anniversary and that means they released a special edition double-DVD which, together with the new Hairspray film, was the only thing I specifically wished for this Christmas (as, PER USUAL, people didn't heed my pleas of giving their money to charity instead, apart from my dear friend in Holmestrand (kudos!) - and therefore certain people demanded to know what I wanted for Christmas).

I am currently updating my film collection database, and have hit the 1000th mark, which is slightly distressing and impressive at the same time.

I have also started watching old episodes of Whose Line is it Anyway? (since there aren't any new ones, let's face it) and have thus rekindled my old semi-admiration of Greg Proops and acquired an interest in the comedy of Colin Mochrie. To my great surprise (since I didn't know the history of the show, frankly) they both feature in the UK as well as the US versions. Unfortunately the current repeats date back to the early nineties and up to 2002, but beggars can't be choosers etc.

Since I believe I'm due back in the office tomorrow morning (I'd better be, since I've been off for the past 12 days and feel like I've been gone an eternity), I guess I should go to bed right about now. Just have to upload some new music to my mp3 player. And by "new" I actually mean music which isn't there already, like Norwegian favourites Surferosa, DumDum Boys, Xploding Plastix, Gatas Parlament, Jaga Jazzist, Dimmu Borgir and Briskeby (Apoptygma Berzerk having already been uploaded a long time ago).

A continued Happy Holidays to everyone! *hugs and smooches to those who feel they deserve them*

Labels: Christmas, comedy, film, music, musicals, Norway, philip quast, tim morgan

I must apologise for updating this thing so infrequently. I think about my dear blog every day, but seldom actually go to the extent as to writing anything in it.

So what am I doing these days? The usual. Working, watching telly, reading a bit, playing computer games, going to the occasional performance.

And this week was a very nice one when it comes to stage performances. The long awaited Follies in Concert charity gala took place at the London Palladium. I had nightmares about my inferior clothing the night before, but as people seemed to go in whatever outfit they had lying around five minutes before leaving home (I am generalising heavily here; actually most people looked quite nice), this proved to be an unfounded worry. The people on stage looked more glamourous than most of the audience. Of course, it could also be the fact that many of the lookers-on were there for the same reason I was (well, that is doubtful, but still...) and couldn't actually afford more than the ticket and thus no new clothes.

OR it could be that people just don't give a toss anymore. People wearing jeans to the theatre annoy me. I am indeed turning into an old bag.

The audience's clothing aside, we were all having a good time and we enjoyed showing our appreciation to the cast and crew, even though not all of us gave any extra money to the charities of the night, the Starlight Children's Foundation and the Kingston Hospital Cancer Unit Appeal.

I must admit (I have a lot to learn, but please bear in mind that I only fully discovered theatre in 2001) that I didn't quite realise how great a cast it would be, what kind of a treat I was going to get. I had been focused on a few select names I recognised, the rest did not mean anything to me. However, when the show started, I began to see the light. There were the immense voices of Kim Criswell and Dame Josephine Barstow, the well-known faces of Imelda Staunton, Meg Johnson and Angela Rippon, the perfect casting of Liz Robertson and Tim Flavin and of course the reason for why I was there (three guesses, everyone, no prize to be won), Philip Quast and Maria Friedman.

There were a few others there, too. Like Sir Trevor McDonald, the reason for why everyone named Trevor now automatically becomes Trevor Mc... in our home. Thus, the much talked about Trevor Eve of course becomes Trevor McEve. Go figure. And speaking of Mr. Eve, I am glad Waking the Dead is back, but I have a peculiar feeling that the next episode, in two weeks' time, will be the last.

Back to the Follies, it had a lot of typical Sondheim numbers, but for me the pinnacle was when Maria Friedman performed Losing My Mind. Not because of the song itself, but the fact that at the end of every chorus I had this thought of the Pet Shop Boys in my mind. And when I got back home I discovered why I thought the song should have had a quicker tempo; I am of course used to hearing the song in synth-pop form and performed by the previously mentioned PSB.

As London Underground did their usual weekend "engineering works", the non-stop route from the theatre to my own place was non-existent and I had to take the train back home. On the upside, the train took me all the way to my door (nearly), so that I wouldn't have to go through the local slums the slightly fishy neighbourhood in the late evening.

Then, yesterday, I went to see Evita for the last time. As I had officially forgotten how many times I have seen it (five or six), I told myself "enough is enough". Plus, Philip Q is leaving soon and I cannot stand Mark "Houlihan" Heenehan in that part (I even sneered at him involuntarily yesterday, the poor chap), so what is the point? And so, naturally, midway through the second act I had to admit to myself that I needed to see it once more.

I would like to apologise to anyone sitting next to or behind me at any musical I know, as I cannot sit still and just watch the thing--I have to drum the beat (and sometimes the chords) with my fingers. Preferably somewhere on my face. People on the tube are probably getting used to it, but it's different at the theatre (even though people wear jeans).

Ooh, by the way, there was a new Che yesterday. At first I thought he was rather good, but he didn't last the course and halfway through the first act I found myself missing Matt Rawle.

And yesterday's audience was the worst I have been part of for a long time. They were ok, but somehow I just felt very uninspired. I couldn't feel the love. Sort of. Luckily, the cast were very professional and either 1) didn't bother, 2) didn't pick up on it, or 3) weren't as paranoid as I was. As opposed to certain other casts I have been unfortunate enough to experience. I did spot one of them starting to laugh during one of the more sombre scenes, though, which was fun (I am so cruel I enjoy it when people fuck up on stage...or rather, I find it very funny and rather laugh with them than at them). Besides, I really doubt no one else noticed. When you have seen the show a few times, you may take the liberty to start watching the other actors, not just the ones currently singing.

Before signing off, I would like to recommend the brand new album by MIKA - Life in Cartoon Motion. It's a really poppety-pop album and very uplifting.

Labels: dreams, evita, music, musicals, personal, philip quast, theatre, tim morgan, trevor eve, TV

I am currently enjoying three weeks off from work. I mean thoroughly enjoying them. I'm spending the days writing (it's National Novel Writing Month after all) and so far, even though I'm three chapters into the book, I haven't killed off any characters yet. This is a miracle to anyone who's read all my previous work. Still, that could change with subsequent rewrites...yes, another miracle to those who've read my previous work. I am going to rewrite sections of my book? But isn't that sacrilegious? Well, one has to conform to some degree--and also realise that perhaps one isn't such a big genius one can just churn out one perfect first draft after another.

Who am I kidding--of course I am that genius, just pulling your leg. ;-)

So The Sound of Music has opened to raving reviews (and they're raving in a very positive way), which is very nice. I saw one excerpt on last Friday's Children in Need and it looked like they may get it together soon. There was also an excerpt from Evita; luckily my favourite sequence from the show, because absolutely none of my favourites were present (they were probably at home, sleeping, because they're all so bloody old), so watching the excruciatingly ridiculous show for six hours paid off to a certain degree. Luckily my flatmate decided to join me this year as well, otherwise I wouldn't have bothered. So we were sitting there, or rather lying there, commenting upon everything that happened on the screen. I don't know how they do it, honestly. I mean, they've been doing the charity show for 26 years (I think it is) and still haven't put together a good routine for the live transmission. And of course what they call "celebrities" are usually wannabe-celebs from so far down the wish list the hosts could as well have done all the stunts themselves. That would have been more entertaining. Or perhaps the programme is meant only for those who read the tabloids and watch the soaps? Still, some good music (the usual six bands who turn up for every UK charity event) and I finally got to see bits of both Avenue Q and Wicked, two of my favourite Broadway shows from recent years, based solely on their original recording albums.

Speaking of musicals...for a change...it has occured to me that I may have a thing for Javert (seriously, if you don't know who Javert is, there really is no point in your reading my blog). I discovered two of my favourites* when they performed as Javert, and then three of my other favourites** turn out to have played Javert at some point. So basically I should stay away from any performance or film of Les Misérables in the future, otherwise I'm sure the list will grow. :-)

We discovered a lovely Indian restaurant down the road from us last week. Very nice. Low prices. Good food. Fine atmosphere. And my flatmate was delighted to see it was possible to smoke at the table. We will most probably go back soon.

But right now I've had enough procrastination for one day, I think. I have a few characters to kill off before lunch, after all, so I'd better start writing. Need to be a good girl today, or I won't be allowed (by myself) to go to the cinema or play the newly released Neverwinter Nights 2 (woo-hoo, a whole new world for my beloved Timon Siger to play in).

*) (drum roll) Philip Quast and Michael McCarthy (shock)
**) Geoffrey Rush, Roger Allam, Tim Morgan

Labels: evita, food, gaming, geoffrey rush, holiday, Javert, Michael McCarthy, musicals, philip quast, roger allam, theatre, tim morgan, TV, writing

I honestly don't know. That's how much I care about him, I don't even remember his name. Jeez. It should of course be Mark Heenehan, who still has a terrific voice but whom I would rather see somewhere else than in the role of Perón at the Adelphi.

Now, about Tim Morgan...

Labels: evita, musicals, theatre, tim morgan

I had been hoping to see Mark Heenehan as Peron, but unfortunately this would mean that Philip Quast would not be performing. Must stop wishing for these things to happen, because as long as they're on the negative side of the scale they usually come true. Luckily my ticket was cheap (and for a great seat, actually). And I realised I actually love the show in itself, and not just because I am so highly biased towards Quast. Which is a very good thing. I was very disappointed with Heenehan, though. Shh, don't tell anyone, but I would definitely have preferred hearing/seeing Tim Morgan as Peron's understudy. I mean, wow, I have a feeling his voice talents are wasted in this production.

On the other hand, we have been very busy lately watching all the episodes of series 3 and 4 of Spooks. After all, the fifth series begins soon, my flatmate had not seen the third and fourth series and I had only seen them once, which is below par.

Remembering "9/11" today. Mostly by steering away from any documentaries and observing one minute's silence in a few moments.

Labels: current affairs, evita, musicals, nicola walker, peter firth, philip quast, Spooks, theatre, tim morgan, TV