O, Louis: In Search of Louis Van Gaal
Book
"Am I so smart or are you so stupid?" (Louis van Gaal). I started out wanting to write a book about...
Sarah (7798 KP) rated We Will Rock You in Palace Theatre Manchester (Manchester, United Kingdom) in Shows
Jul 15, 2020
It really is a genius marketing idea to announce a tour of this show not long after the release of the hugely successful Bohemian Rhapsody film. And boy is it a good show. I knew nothing about this other than it was Queen music, and I'm not sure what I had been expecting from the actual story but this wasn't it! The plot centres around a futuristic world where rock music is banned, and whilst the actual story element isn't particularly strong, it more than makes up for this by being downright hilarious. You can tell this is a Ben Elton written musical. The script is so funny and clever, and I love how it's obviously been updated over the years to still be relevant with modern pop culture. The acting and singing too are very strong. The two leads have stunning voices and whilst Ian McIntosh isn't quite Freddie, he still has an amazing voice. Although for me the two standouts were Adam Strong as Khashoggi (who really needed even more stage time) and Michael McKell as Buddy. McKell especially was amazing, really embracing the camp Jack Sparrow-esque Buddy and bringing the house down with his delivery on the jokes.
Whilst the plot may not be the strongest, this more than makes up for it in sheer fun and entertainment.
Ginger Geezer: The Life of Vivian Stanshall
Chris Welch and Lucian Randall
Book
The extraordinary story of Vivian Stanshall, lead singer of the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, true British...
Nick Rhodes recommended The Rite Of Spring by Igor Stravinsky in Music (curated)
LoganCrews (2861 KP) rated The SpongeBob Musical: Live on Stage! (2019) in Movies
Sep 21, 2020
Wicked: A Musical Biography
Book
In 2004, the original Broadway production of Wicked earned 10 Tony nominations, including best...
Ross (3284 KP) rated Cats (2019) in Movies
Jun 9, 2020
5 minutes in we are bombarded with use of the word "jellicle" without any context, repeated over and over again by haunting cat-people. To amuse myself, I replaced "jellicle" with "genital" and it brightened my mood somewhat.
But by that point the damage was done, I was annoyed by the film and the whole concept. I realised I was in for nearly 2 hours of different cats being introduced through the medium of forgettable arrhythmic song.
Luckily my wife had seen the stage show once (her words - "I saw it to say I'd seen it, never want to see it again") so had a little idea of the storyline (something to do with an annual competition to win an undefined prize which turned out to be a hot air balloon ride).
The visuals are not perfect and in order to detract from how hideous the idea was, they had to be.
So many decent actors (ok just Dame Judy and Sir Ian) wasted.
I have realised what sums this film up succinctly and appropriately:
If this film was a person, it would be Louis Spence.
Elia Kazan: A Biography
Book
Few figures in film and theater history tower like Elia Kazan. Born in 1909 to Greek parents in...
Pompeii - A day in the past
Travel and Education
App
The most comprehensive and innovative interactive OFFLINE guide for the most important...
Ticketmaster
Entertainment and Music
App
The Ticketmaster app is the best way to discover, buy, transfer and sell tickets to thousands of...