Personal Development

My trips to shows:

I could make a post about every show I've seen but that would involve remembering every performance and finding all the pictures, and that doesn't tempt me... So I'll just do a quick summary before my miss saigon review:
15/03/12: a date I won't forget. It's the first time I've seen a show live: Oliver! in Birmingham and met my idol: Samantha Barks. She's the woman who made me want to do MT, and she's an absolute legend, talented and lovely.
December/January 2012/2013: 9 times trip to West Side Story in Paris (too much?... Really good cast!)
25/01/13: Wicked, starring Louise Dearman and Gina Beck.
26/01/13: Matinee at Phantom and evening at Les Mis cast change, last Craig Mather's and Liam Tamne's show.
27/01/13: supposed to be Rock of Ages but they closed the performance so I went to Bristol to catch Samantha Barks a second and last time in Oliver! Also had the chance to meet and interview Kara Lane who became my singing teacher a few months later!
22&23/02/13: Three final shows of Oliver!; with Cat Simmons as Nancy, highly disappointed Kara wasn't on for the last shows, it should have been her... I mean, she was Nancy's 1st cover, and the lead, Samantha left 6 shows before the end for the Oscars. What's the point of having covers if you don't let them play when the lead is off? Pathetic. Cat really let me down, huge disappointment, the rest of the cast was really good though. I could hear Claire Parrish who's now in Les Mis cry at the end of the last show, I was front row, but still, loud tears!
August 2013: Les Mis,the very amazing Kara Lane starring as Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes at the Kilworth House Theatre near Leicester, and Wicked
September 2013: West Side Story, Phantom and Les Mis
Completely forgotten: I probably forgot a few trips which have probably involved Les Mis & Billy Elliot, I've also seen Wicked & Once but can't figure out when.
January 2014: My Fair Lady 5 times in Paris
February 2014: two trips of 14 hours in a coach to catch Kara doing her first band show in Sheffield. "The Girls From Oz". Was very touched to hear her belt "hello béret" (let's say it's fair, I call her kangaroo as she's from Australia) at me during a song & sing a bit in french. Worther the two nights in the coach. Also seen Billy Elliot in London before to go back to Paris.
February Again: my very talented singing teacher in Claus! The Musical, at the Landor Theatre. Les Mis, Billy Elliot, Jersey Boys
March 2014: was supposed to see Kara in The Mistress Cycle but I got stolen and my purse magically disappeared with all my cash, bank account, travel card and ID Card, basically: my whole life disappeared. So there was no way I could leave France
April 2014: AUDITION AT LSC! But also Les Mis, Matilda & Billy!
June 2014: "Kids"... But I haven't actually seen it as I was on the stage! How exciting! (I'm lying, I've seen it, it's been filmed!). Brilliant experience, brilliant director, brilliant cast, brilliant amateur show! Miss it terribly!
I've probably forgotten trips to Les Mis/Wicked ... And other shows... That'll come back at some point! I've had a lot of trips to see different plays with my french teacher but I've forgotten most of them, I remember Oedipus (which was unfortunately terribly boring, the cast was a big let down!) & Much Ado About Nothing in which my director from Kids was playing but not the 13 others...

Miss Saigon @ Prince Edward's Theatre: 21/08/14

Today was my second time at the Prince Edward's Theatre, but first time at MISS SAIGON!!! Was very excited to see Alistair Brammer perform at last! I wanted to catch him in Taboo but my dates didn't match. 

The show was simply fantastic, it broke my heart in thousand pieces but that's probably what made it so good?

Eva Nobleza as Kim was really really good, she gave such an emotional performance, I couldn't tell she was 18. 

Alistair as Chris was brilliant, but I already knew that! 

Jon Jon Briones as the Engineer was a delight! He was very funny and portrayed him perfectly! I really love the kind of characters you "hate and love at the same time"

Rachell Ann Go as Gigi was like heaven to my ears, she was really good (and actually better when I saw it than in the live reccording for some reasons).

And finally Kwang-Ho Hong as Thuy was probably the best part of my evening. It's a shame he is so underrated, because the main characters kind of "steal" the attention. I think he really deserves more credit, his performance is so powerful, and heart breaking, he gives a really human side to Thuy who's a complete bastard, he really shows how much Thuy loves Kim and how desperate he is, and almost makes you love him. His voice is really impressive, the man is just perfect!

I really wanna go back to Miss Saigon, "Heart says GO, purse says NO" (quoting myself!) I'll probably go when Niall (Chris' understudy) is on. I have a huge obsession with seeing understudies, I love how they're usually better than the leads! 

I can't really believe Niall would be better than Alistair though; think he's as good as Alistair, they're both so talented!

  

Miss Saigon opened in 1989 at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. The music is by Claude Michel Schonberg, lyrics by Alain Boublil & Richard Maltby Jr and book by Schonberg & Boublil. 

Miss Saigon is about a young vietnam girl: Kim, who meets the Engineer, right after her village is burnt and her family dies. He proposes her to work for him as a prostitute, and she has no other choice but to accept. But on her first night she meets Chris, a young GI, and they fall in love at first sight. Unfortunately, Saigon in which half of the show takes place is falling appart and somehow, Christ has to leave without Kim. The rest of the show is all about how Kim tries to find Chris back and bring him to his son...

Les Miserables @ Queen's Theatre: 27/08/14

 I guess anyone who knows me a little wouldn't be surprised: Les Mis was the first show I've seen after moving to London. It was my 9th time seeing the show, the next one has to be special!
I was so glad to see Celinde back as Fantine (right I admit I had already seen her in July after her return but still), she has to be my absolute favourite Fantine. She is a legend!
I thought the cast really evolved since July, I felt like they were kind of uncomfortable in July, Peter as Valjean forgot his words several nights and missed a high note, David's (that I was so excited to see as Javert) performance was not so amazing and the whole cast sounded "ok".
So I was kind of disappointed by the show in July, which is why I wanted to go back. And I did well!
Peter isn't my favourite Valjean (it has to be my first: Geronimo Rauch! And Chris Holland who was 1st cover and left a short while ago) but he was really much better.
David was absolutely fantastic, he gave such a powerful version of "Stars", I thought I was never gonna stop applauding!
Celinde was as brilliant as usual, that girl never got it wrong and never will; she is scarily perfect!
I got Carolina Gregory (first cover Eponine) instead of Carrie which was really cool as I had seen Carrie about four times. I really love Carrie's performance but Carolina was magic! Her on my own was really special, one of the best I've heard so far, and her "a little fall of rain" made me cry so much!
Rob as Marius just keeps improving which is really surprising, how far will he go?! He was already amazing and now he's just... there's no word!
Emily has to be the best Cosette I've seen! At least a Cosette that gives more in a performance than just a pretty high voice! I thought I was never gonna experience a live emotional version of "in my life"! Thank you Emily.
Michael as Enjolras felt really more comfortable in the than in July. He gave a really powerful show, and his death was the best I've seen. Not heard though, David currently playing Javert has to be the best Enjolras I've heard with Ramin Karimloo.
And finally Wendy & Tom as the Thenardiers were absolutely brilliant, really fun and loathsome at the same time! I really enjoyed their team.
I'm gonna have a quite long break from les mis before my 10th time, for the sake of my purse... I'd really love to catch Dougie Carter as Marius for my 10th show, he's 2nd understudy, and really good from what I've heard. I absolutely want to make an understudy show! #TeamUnderstudy

Avenue Q @ Wimbledon Theatre: 29/08/14

Today I got the chance to catch the UK Tour of Avenue Q before they left London. I thought the cast and the show in itself were simply fantastic.

Avenue Q's music & lyrics were created by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx & the book was made by Jeff Whitty. It opened in 2003 in Broadway.
The show uses puppets & talks with humor about more or less taboo subjects such as racism, sex, porn, homosexuality, money, melancholy and love.
The UK Tour is directed by Cressida Carré and stars Stephan Arden, Richard Morse, Jessica Parker, Tom Steedon, Lucie-Mae Sumner, Jacqueline Tate, Ellena Vincent, and also features Greg Airey, Will Hawksworth, Emily-Jane Morris & Etisyai Philip in the ensemble.
What I remember the most about the show is how only eleven actors manage to play twelve characters, the actors didn't stop moving, they left the stage and one second later they were back with a different puppet! It was simply mind blowing.

Annie Get Your Gun @ Wimbledon Theatre: 13/09/14

Today I went to see my singing teacher Kara Lane in Annie Get Your Gun. It was the last day of the tour. I got the chance to get a free ticket for the matinee show so I came back in the evening. Double show double fun! I had the chance to have dinner with half of the cast between the two shows! Quote of the dinner: "so... last show, how are we feeling guys?" "unemployed".
Annie Get Your Gun (music & lyrics by Irving Berlin and book by Herbert and Dorothy Fields) opened in 1946 in Broadway. The musical is based on the life of Annie Oakley.
The UK Tour was starring Emma Williams as Annie & Jason Donovan as Frank Butler, I also got the chance to see Jonathan Wilkes as Frank Butler earlier in the summer. Kara was playing the role of Dolly Tate, and she absolutely smashed it, as usual. I loved seeing the orchestra on the stage, it changed from the usual musicals and thought it was great. The set was simple but lovely!

Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat @ Churchill Theatre: 27/09/14

Today I went to the Churchill Theatre to catch the last show of Joseph in London. I got the chance to see two amazing understudies: Shaun McCourt as Joseph, who blew me away and let me speechless and Rebekah Lowing as the narrator. I was curious to see Danielle Hope as the narrator but I'm glad I got Rebekah, I wasn't such a fan of Danielle in Les Mis.
I absolutely loved the cast, thought they were all wonderful, but I'm not such a fan of the show in itself. I kind of felt like if ALW & Tim Rice lacked of inspiration and put any idea in the show, no matter how relevant it was, just to make a show...
Appart from that, I am totally obsessed with "Close Every Door", especially Shaun's and Lee Mead's version, best part of the show!
Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat first appeared as a concept album in 1969 and opened in the west end in 1973. The music is by Andrew Lloyd Webber and the lyrics by Tim Rice. The show is based on the story of Joseph in Genesis. I really loved the concept of the children chorus!
I'm really glad I got to see it but now I know I'm not ready to spend more than £10 to see this show...

Directing Plays, by Don Taylor

I had the very amazing plan to go to Central London on Saturday to do a "free broadway musicals workshop" but that was far more productive being stuck in bed with fever & sneezing all the time. All jokes aside, it gave me time to finish the book I had started reading, its title "directing plays" doesn't give much work to imagination but I thought it was really interesting. I'm really interested in direction and I had absolutely no idea how the process was, now I know a bit more.

The book is divided in 7 chapters which are divided in several parts:

   1. What Is A Director?

• Directing without directors
• Players and masquers
• Sir William Davenant
• Sheridan and Pinero
• Modernism and the birth of the director
• Directors today
• Texts
• Transformations
• Plays without playwrights: auteur directors

   2. Selecting Your Play

• Concepts
• Living Playwrights

   3. Preparation

• Casting
• Producers

   4. Design And Designers 

• Theatre Space
• The Design
• Lighting and Costume Designers
• Sound And Music
• Crossing imaginary bridges

   5. The Rehearsal Process

• Blocking
• Break down and Synthesis
• Confidence
• Run throughs
• Being difficult
• Non-textual techniques
• Rehearsing Shakespeare

   6. Fit Up To Opening

• The fit-up
• The technical
• The dress rehearsal
• The Opening   

   7. Conclusion

Oliver! Audition @ Ware: 07/10/14

Today I had my audition for Oliver!, I was auditioning for Nancy. They made us do the audition in front of all the people auditioning, I'm still not sure if I loved it or hated it. They started with the Fagins, I have never been fed up with "reviewing the situation" but by the end of it, it was really getting *coughs* boring *coughs*. Most of them were really great though. Then they made the Nancys go. There was about 5 or 6 before me? Who were good but I didn't really understand the interpretation of "as long as he needs me" most of them had. One of them literally sang it as if Nancy was trying to get a client while singing this song, not sure if she realised it wasn't "oom pah pah" ? 

Most of the people at the audition were vocally strong and the acting of the Fagins/Bills was amazing. I'm almost sure I know who's gonna be Bill, he sounded like a professional, really scary!

This is the first time of my life I can - proudly - say that I am pleased with what I've done. I think I could hardly have done better; but I'm about 95% sure I won't be taken... Even if I had been the best at the audition which I probably wasn't, I've got braces, I'm short and I'm 17 so I don't think that'll do. But I'm glad I went anyway, it's always good to train!

Mountview Academy Visit @ LSC: 05/12/14

          

Today we had the chance to have three people from Moutview in the college. We did a workshop, first with all Performing Arts students reunited and then only with the musical theatre students. During the first part we did a physical warm up, and had about 20 minutes to ask questions. In the second part, some of the second years performed their songs and had feedbacks about how to improve the way they were doing it.
I especially remember one of the exercises that they did, I had heard of it before but never seen how effective it was. The point is to just act the lines of the song to really feel the story through it. There was a massive difference in the song before and after, I thought it was a really brilliant way to work.
I really liked the way they presented Mountview, I had heard of them before, I had been on their websites several times, but it's always better to have people who work there talking to you about it. I felt like they were really passionate about their work. I think what I enjoyed the most in their speech is how detailed it was, they told us what they were looking for in an audition, talked about the audition process, told us what we needed to do to get a recall. And then explained how the school worked, the relationship between the teachers and the students, etc.
I feel really privileged to have been part of such a great experience and I hope I get the chance to compare them to a few of the others top drama school later on.