Wicked

Last weekend I went to see Wicked in London with my friend, Joy.  We’d managed to get a really good offer from LondonBreaks.com which meant we got tickets and a 4* hotel, including full English breakfast, for around £75.  We stayed the night at the Kensington Close Hotel, which is the hotel I stayed in with mum earlier this summer, as it is easy to find, quiet and well placed to get everywhere. 

After checking in at the hotel, a quick look around Kensington High Street, and a cup of tea in a café, we headed off to find somewhere to eat for dinner.  The theatre is just by Victoria station and there was a few restaurants nearby.  We chose the Bella Italia as it seemed popular but not too busy, and had reasonable prices – we paid just under £40 for 2 course meal including a large glass of wine.  We arrived about 5.30pm, which was good timing as by 6pm they were turning people away.

On arrival we went to head for our seats, and just as we headed to the stairs I saw we were standing right next to Gok Wan.  Joy didn’t notice and then later teased me saying he’d wouldn’t be sitting down with ‘the masses’ but it turned out he was in fact sitting just in front of us. I felt a bit sorry for him though as he just got hounded by people wanting autographs and photographs – but I guess that’s what you get for being famous!

The stage was really elaborate with a map of Oz and a huge dragon above the stage.  During the show the dragon’s eyes light up and he moves his head around.  It was very cleverly done.

The show was excellent.  It is based around the story of the Witches from the Wizard of Oz and tells the story of how they grew up together.  It is really clever how it is written to tie in with the Wizard of Oz, and kept me guessing as to how they would end it!  It’s certainly a show I’d recommend and like to see again.

Hairspray and Kensington Close Hotel

For my birthday my mum treated me to a London Break which included theatre tickets to see Hairspray and B&B at the Kensington Close Hotel.

We arrived in London on Thursday afternoon in time to settle in at the hotel before we went out.  It is a 4 star hotel well situated just around the corner from High Street Kensington tube station.  The hotel was nice and clean, although our room was quite small and could do with a little modernising – I think they may be in the process of updating these at the moment.  The hotel had a few bars and restaurants and a nice looking spa area – but I felt it a bit cheeky to charge guests an extra £7 to go for a swim so we didn’t bother!

The breakfast buffet at the hotel was nice – they kept bringing out fresh food so you didn’t feel like it had been sitting there the full 3 or 4 hours it was open.  They seemed to underestimate some of the food though as the fresh melon disappeared after about 3 guests each time…luckily I was one of the lucky ones!

After settling in at the hotel we headed over on the tube to Tottenham Court Road, which is near the theatre.  From there we wandered around checking out the local restaurants for their theatre specials and eventually settled on a little Italian just around the corner.  The food was pleasant and reasonably priced and the service quick – they were clearly used to dealing with theatre goers wanting to eat and leave in time for 7.30 performances.

Our seats in the theatre were row P of the stalls.  I normally prefer the circle as I don’t like looking up at the stage, but this was a smallish theatre and the stalls were quite staggered so we were fairly level with the stage.  We luckily had aisle seats which gave me somewhere to stretch my long legs – although Row M would have been more perfect as that was the row behind the centre aisle and had lots of leg room!

The show is a romantic comedy set in the 60’s and follows the life of a girl called Tracy living in Baltimore.  She follows her dream and becomes a celebrity on a teen tv show and then starts a campaign trying to get the tv show to include black teenagers.

The music is good and the show really funny in places.  Brian Conley has just taken over this week from Michael Ball in the role of Edna Turnblad and was clearly enjoying himself in the role – during one song with Nigel Planer, who plays Wilber Turnblad, the two of them had a case of stage giggles!

Overall I really enjoyed the show and would like to see it again, although it still doesn’t beat Mamma Mia off my top spot.

Evita

Yesterday evening I went with friends to see Evita at the Mayflower Theatre in Southampton.  It’s a musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, and follows the story of Eva Perón, an Argentine political leader. 

I knew well some of the songs from the musical, but I didn’t really have any preconceptions or idea what the musical would be like.  The story is relayed to us through a narrator, Ché, whilst the other characters play out scenes from different parts of Eva’s life, ending where the show also began, at her funeral.

The whole show is sung, unlike some musicals which are a mix of songs and spoken lines.  It worked well, and Seamus Cullen, who played Ché, was very good. 

Before the theatre we went out for dinner to Tosca’s Italian.  They are practically next door to the theatre and are obviously set up to cater for the restaurant trade.  Everyone pretty much came and left at exactly the same time!  We pre-ordered our food so that we didn’t have to hang around too long, and it fitted in well just before the theatre.  The prices were okay, the food reasonable and the staff very friendly.

Shout

Last night I went to see a new musical called Shout at the Mayflower Theatre in Southampton. The musical takes you through the 1960’s following three young girls, Betty, Georgina and Ruby (Claire Sweeney), who move to London, and Yvonne (Su Pollard) an aunt who runs a hair salon.

The musical is jammed full of 60’s hits that can’t fail but have you clapping and tapping your feet in the crowd.  There isn’t too much of a storyline, other than glimpses of the girls lives (and loves) during the decade but the musical is loads of fun.  Interspersed throughout the scenes Howard Jones plays a number of male roles – playing cheesy adverts from a women’s magazine, a radio DJ and the men in the girls lives.  There was some really funny scenes as he acted out short ad’s for ‘women… how to make the man in your life happy’.

All of the cast had really strong voices which went well with the songs.  All in all, a really fun night out.

The Wedding Singer

Last night I went to see The Wedding Singer at the Mayflower Theatre in Southampton.  I love the film that the musical is based on, so when I saw the musical was touring before it hits the West End later this year I thought it would be fun to go see.

The musical follows the storyline of the film quite closely, with just a few minor changes to some of the characters.  The story follows Robbie,  played by Jonathan Wilkes, a wedding singer who has been dumped at the altar by his fiancée.  After being dumped he feels very low and anti-marriage so it makes for an interesting time trying to be a wedding singer.  Gradually he falls for Julia, played by Natalie Casey, who is a waitress in the location where he sings.  She however, is already engaged to someone else.  The story goes on, until Julia realises that she has feelings for Robbie too, and realises her fiancée is no good.  And so it all ends with a happy ending, thousands of miles in the air on an aeroplane with lots of ‘fake’ stars!

I enjoyed the musical, although I think I prefer the film.  Only one or two of the songs seemed really catchy – but I guess it may just be because it is the first time I’ve heard them.  All in all I’d recommend it, and probably watch it again, but having seen Mamma Mia last year, which was fabulous, I am struggling to beat it!

Mamma Mia the movie

I absolutely loved Mamma Mia the musical when I went to see it last year, so when I heard they were making a film version I was excited.  I wasn’t quite sure what it would be like, and whether or not it would have been turned in a more traditional movie, but I’ve been looking forward to seeing it for a few months.  Finally, last night I went to the Odeon Cinema in Port Solent to see it and I wasn’t disappointed!

The film has been left as a musical and for a very brief moment when the first Abba song started I wasn’t quite if it would work and be as good.  I soon changed my mind!  It’s as cheesy as anything, but it is absolutely hilarious.  The actors seem to have real fun with it, and the words of the songs along with the expressions on their faces had me crying with laughter.  I loved every minute of this film and will no doubt watch it again and again!

Zorro

On Thursday night I went to see the new musical version of Zorro at the Mayflower Theatre.  It’s touring around England before opening in the West End. 

The musical follows the story of a man called Don Diego de la Vega who left home when he was younger, but has returned to help defend his people against various injustices that are happening.  He also falls back in love with the girl he grew up with but she believes him to be a bit of a clown.  He disguises himself as the mysterious hero Zorro and the musical plays through various swashbuckling scenes until he overthrows the current leader. 

I really enjoyed the musical.  Some of the scenes were really clever – and some quite elaborate as the scenary during one of the fight scenes crashes to the ground!  It was nice that some of the songs were familiar – from the Gipsy Kings – and made you want to tap your feet along to the rythmn as the actors and actresses Flamenco danced on the stage.

I wasn’t sure how this story would work as a musical, but it really works well – with lots to see and good music and rythmn throughout.

Aspects of Love

For their Christmas present I took my parents tickets to see Aspects of Love at the Mayflower Theatre in Southampton last Thursday.

Before the show we went to Buon Gusto for a meal.  The restaurant opens in the evening at 5.30 pm, and that seemed a good time to book so that we had plenty of time to relax and enjoy a meal before the show started at 7.30 pm.  The restaurant was quite small and had a nice atmosphere.  It was fairly clear that everyone else in there was doing the same as us – some had arrived around 5.30 pm, like us, and others around 6.00 pm.  I was glad we had booked to go earlier as it meant we were less rushed. 

I had pizza for my main course and my parents both had lasagne.  Then for dessert we had some of their homemade tiramisu and banoffee pie, both which were absolutely delicious.  The meal for 3 of us including drinks and coffee cost about £50 which I felt was quite reasonable.  I’d certainly recommend the restaurant and go again, and its perfectly placed for a pre-show meal as it is just over the road from the theatre.

Aspects of Love is a musical by Andrew Lloyd-Webber, but it is a different style than others I’d been to.  Rather than there being lots of separate songs throughout, it is more of a play that is sung.  There are a number of songs interspersed with the storyline, such as the well known, ‘Love Changes Everything’, which is sung with different lyrics in a number of places throughout the play.  The storyline is about an actress called Rose, and how she falls in love first with a young lad called Alex.  Alex takes her away to stay at his Uncle George’s villa, where she then also falls for George (played by David Essex).  The story follows their life and loves through 17 years, through to Rose and George’s daughter Jenny falling for her cousin.

I really enjoyed the musical.  It wasn’t what I expected in way of a traditional musical but I found that the effect of having the play sung was very powerful and you felt the emotion of the storyline throughout.

Mamma Mia…let me go again!

For Christmas I got a ticket to go and see Mamma Mia in London with my parents.  It’s one musical I have wanted to see for quite a while as I love Abba songs, and I’d also heard really good reviews about it. 

The story is about a young girl who is getting married.  She has been brought up by her mother, but wants her father to be at her wedding.  So after reading her mum’s diary she contacts the 3 possible men who could be her dad and invite them along.  The show is hilariously funny in places and touching in others, and the music is fantastic. 

I absolutely LOVED this musical and would go again tomorrow if I could! 

The musical is on at the Prince of Wales Theatre and I was really impressed with the theatre.  It has a nice retro feel to it, and the legroom wasn’t too bad either.  I also liked that there were areas outside the main seating area where you could stretch your legs in the interval.

Before the show we went out to eat at the Island Restaurant at Lancaster Gate.  Not knowing London very well I used the Visit London website, which has a really useful feature of allowing you to search for restaurants, attractions, hotels and more by postcode.  The Island Restaurant was near to where we were staying and seemed to have good reviews.

The restaurant is quite modern and has a pleasant atmosphere.  The food was quite pricey and the portions could have been a little larger, but it was quite a nice meal.  I had their fish and chips for my main course and sorbet for dessert.  Including wine, the meal came to about £30 each for two courses.

Over night we were staying in the Best Western Shaftesbury Paddington Court hotel.  It was newly refurbished and quite centrally located near Paddington station.  Price for a double room and breakfast was about £70 which seemed a good offer.  The rooms were very small and the double bed was more like a single!  However, everything was clean and the staff pleasant enough.  I’d stay again, but consider booking a twin room instead of a double just for more space.

We’re off to see the wizard…

…the wonderful Wizard of Oz. Okay, actually we’ve already been.  On Tuesday I went to see the Wizard of Oz at the Mayflower Theatre in Southampton.  It is a musical production based on the children’s novel, and starred Russ Abbot, Gregor Fisher, Matthew Kelly and Gary Wilmot.

After being caught in a tornado, Dorothy and her dog Toto end up in the land of the munchkins.  Their house kills off the evil Witch of the East and they meet up with the good Witch of the North who tells them to go Emerald City to see the Wizard of Oz.  And so they go on a journey along the yellow brick road to find the Wizard of Oz.  Dorothy believes the wizard can help her to return home to Kansas.  Along the way, she meets up with a scarecrow, who is need of a brain, a tin man, who needs a heart, and a cowardly lion, who needs courage.  They join her on her route to Oz.  When they arrive the wizard tells them that they must kill the wicked Witch of the West before he will help.  Dorothy and her companions manage to kill the witch and return to the Emerald City.  The wizard then manages to help Dorothy’s companions to realise what they had all along.  He offers to help take Dorothy home in a hot air balloon but ends up leaving without her.  Lucikly the good Witch of the North shows Dorothy a way to get home to Kansas, where she is reunited with her family.

The musical is really nicely done, and brought back some memories from my childhood – especially the famous ‘Follow the Yellow Brick Road’ and ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ songs.  It was obviously aimed at families, although I felt that a couple of parts were quite loud, dark and scary for the very young.