There wasn't a lot that was really a 'must see' for me this time around - except for tomorrow when we are going through Westminster Abbey and the girls and I are going on the London Eye (BJ wont be in it - he's going to see a Dali exhibit instead) - for me, this has been a theatre trip and we have not been disappointed for a single minute.
Last night was Mamma Mia. I included this at the last minute since we ended up with a spare night here and while I still think the original Australian cast is unbeatable, this production is a pretty damn close second - only 2nd though because of a few minor (and personal) preferences.
Don't take that last sentance as being a typical 'home town' patriotic assessment - I would be just as quick to slam an Aussie cast if it didn't do a show the justice it deserved - it's about the show not where it's being performed that matters to me.
For me, Mamma Mia is about the chemistry between the 3 lead females and in the original Australian cast, Anne Wood, Rhonda Burchmore and Lara Mulcahy we just magic. I saw the return season a couple of years later and while the show was still great, to me it was lacking something and that something was an undeniable chemistry between the (new) actresses in the lead roles. They were all very good but still it wasn't quite there.
In the show last night the 3 leads ( Linzi Hateley, Jane Gurnett and Joanna Munro) were just amazing and the show over all is every bit as much fun as I remember it to be.
BJ has seen it before and I worked on the show during the original Brisbane season so we were both well acquainted with Mamma Mia. this time was about the girls and they both loved it.
I will admit that it made me very 'homesick' for the theatre though !!!!!
With the movie coming out next year I strongly urge you to see it if you are unfamiliar with the show - the producers have chosen their cast with great care and Meryl Streep, Julie Walters and the sublime Christine Baranski will be superb.
Tonight of course was the whole reason for the side trip to London - Wicked !
Out of all the shows we are seeing while we are away, Wicked is the only one I have not already seen. It's a tough call to spend that much money on tickets to a show you really know very little about and have seen and heard virtually nothing from but tonight's show was ...................
(a) Everything I expected
(b) Nothing like I expected
and
(c) Much more than I expected
...................... all rolled into one show !
Kerry Ellis and Dianne Pilkington as Elphaba and Glinda (respectively) were both amazing.
Pilkington's 'Legally Blonde' meets 'Clueless' portrayal of Glinda was hysterical and must have been an incredibly hard character to keep up for 2 hours. Ellis's 'Ephalba' was a character you immediately both empathised and sympathised with as someone who was different through no fault of their own and constantly ridiculed as a result. The sincerity of her performance and the sheer power in her voice were both incredible.
'Defying Gravity' which closes Act 1 was 'goosebumps' material !
The basis for the plot was the age old Good V.s Evil scenario ...... but which is which (or Witch is Witch) is the question posed here.
There were a few other interesting twists throughout the show and what really surprised me is that the show is not actually a prequal to The Wizard of Oz as I had initially thought. From about half way though Act 2 it actually runs concurrently with W of O and the end takes place after W of O had concluded !
Looking back over the information I had it doesn't actually say anywhere that it is a prequal - rather that it is the 'untold story of the Witches of Oz' - and a pretty damn spectacular story it is.
It opens in our very own Oz in 2008 and I can highly recommend you see it ! I will add a bit more about the show in the next day or so.
Back to Paris via the Chunnel tomorrow night - we are about half way through the adventure now.
More later :-)
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