General Chat

I,being an oldie,was brought up on musical comedy.
My mother was a great fan,and I,as an only child,was taken regularly to the theatres in Manchester from about the age of 4!!
I have seen Ivor Novello in "Perchance to Dream"
John Hanson in "Oklahoma" and lots of the old stars,Mary Martin,washing her hair in" South Pacific"
In more recent days,when I lived in London, saw "Me and my girl" on a New Years Eve and took mum.
We all loved it.MY O.H loved "Starlight Express"
Saw Les Mis on Bastille Day,but it isn't my favourite.
Enjoyed Joseph at the Llandudno theatre."CAts" was OK,but enjoyed "Lion King" more.
Those are only a few of the musicals I have seen,and I think that young people today are missing out in not going to the theatre to see these sorts of shows,preferring very expensive groups that are on at these big arenas,the only big arena show I have seen was "Aida" at Earls Court,where a huge stage was necessary,and that was fantastic.Incidentally,it was when Charles and Diana were married,and they were there the same night and held up the performan ce by an hour,as Charles had been playing polo.

Brenda x x

Oliver is my favourite, I also love all the oldies such as South Pacific, Pyjama Game, Oklahoma, 7 Brides, etc. More recently I enjoyed Jesus Christ Superstar, Joseph and the Dreamcoat, Starlight Express, Phantom, etc.
But sorry - Les Miserables I didn't like, too dark and not enough "foot-tappable" tunes.

Brenda...I have John Hanson on LP...singing songs from 'The desert Song' ...such a good voice!

Bernard ...Les Mis', is darker certainly...but I just love it!

'Oliver' is a great...

Brings it home to me how much I miss going to the theatre!

Rosexx

love Brigadoon, and all musicals

Funny how tastes differ. I was bored stiff in Les Mis.
And I hated Fiddler on the Roof. My friend loved them both and did not like Jesus C. Superstar and I loved that show. Takes all sorts......................

lol it does Bernard...JCS was brilliant...I saw the original and then again maybe 13 years later (?) ... wish it was still running!

We saw a production of Jesus christ Superstar about 2/3 years ago which we didn't like, it was extremely blood thirsty, unnecessarily so. i presume because it had been 'modernised'. We had seen it many years ago and really liked it.

Les Mis is dark, well it is meant to be, but we found we enjoyed it more the second and third times and we often play the music, have the CD and the DVD (from the Albert hall).

don't dislike Fiddler but it is not my favourite.

(I will whisper this I actually like White Christmas too!!)

Ann
Glos

lol Ann no need to whisper...doesn't everyone like "white Christmas"???!!!

rosexx

Is it called White Christmas? I thought that was just the title of the famous song. Am I right if so I can't for the life of me remember the name of the production itself.

Colin the song 'White Christmas' was originally from 'Holiday Inn'....was so popular they made a film of the same name 'White Christmas'


xx

Thanks Rose...my knowledge of movies is non existant, give me live theatre any day

White Christmas is a 1954 jukebox musical movie starring Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye that featured the songs of Irving Berlin, including the titular White Christmas. Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen co-starred. It was directed by Michael Curtiz.

Filming took place between September and November 1953. The movie was the first to be filmed in the new VistaVision process and its lush Technicolor cinematography has ensured that it has had a long shelf life on TV, video and DVD. Released in 1954, it became the top grossing film of that year.

The movie was supposed to reunite Crosby and Fred Astaire for their third Irving Berlin extravaganza of song and dance—the first two being Holiday Inn (1942) and Blue Skies (1946). However, Astaire bowed out after reading the script. Donald O'Connor was selected to replace Astaire, but he, too, had to pass because of an illness. O'Connor was replaced by Danny Kaye. The choreography was done by Bob Fosse, although he was uncredited.

And it was not on this christmas!!!!

No Ann! I noticed that! ...I know my brother loves to watch it every year...but think he has the dvd now.

Rosexx

I love them Rose, we had one every year at school and I sang in them all,


Caz xxx

Rose,
I saw John Hanson as the red shadow in "The Desert Song",but my mum swore that he wasn't as good as Rudolph Valentino was,as he was her hero.
I might be old,but I CERTAINLY don't remember him!!!
Another show I liked years ago was "Annie get your Gun",and I saw "West side Story on Ice".
Brenda x x

lol Brenda, my mum was 6 when Valentino died, she was taken to see his films and she remembered the papers reporting the crowds at his funeral.

rosexx

Rose,my mum was born 1912,so I think she was in her teens when Valentino died,just the age for having idols.
I think he died in the twenties(haven't looked it up!)
Brenda x x