Beauty and the Beast

I was lucky enough to get some free tickets to the performance of Beauty and the Beast at the Blaisdell Concert Hall. It was an excellent show, even if there were some awfully cheesy parts.

All the main actors had really wonderful singing voices. Belle's voice was crystal clear. She wore some gorgeous costumes too. The beast was pretty well outfitted too, and the transformation from beast to prince was pretty cool. However, his constant roaring was a bit much for me. I kinda sat there like, "Really? That's what you're going to do?" The actor playing Gaston was so good.

What stole the show were the large set pieces that involved the entire cast. My favorite number was "Be Our Guest." The choreography was great; costumes just sparkled. Even the set for this number was amazing.

Speaking of sets, I sat there in awe of all the things they could do. I cannot even remember how many times the set decorations changed. It was cool how a slight change in lighting or a twist of a house could create an entirely new environment. So cool!

I definitely recommend this show, especially if you have kids. I didn't really notice an overwhelming number of them at my show. But, a lot of the slapstick humor and comedy routines were definitely targeted at them.

My friends and I found parking on the road (score!) so I didn't have to drop any dough on parking. While the auditorium was fairly full, I did see many empty seats. I went midweek though, so I'm sure the weekend showings are packed.

Disney Proposal - Real or Really Good Marketing?

I'm not sure whether this video of a marriage proposal is real or if it's just really good marketing. The romantic in me wants to believe this guy is a struggling actor whose day job is waiting tables in between call backs for gigs. That he planned this all with the help of some friends and rehearsed like crazy. That he asked the Disney magic people to help him capture this for posterity.

But the cynic in me believes this is truly a very clever marketing scheme by the Disney folks. What better way to advertise and promote the magic kingdom by having dozens of people witness a magical moment such as this? Who knows if this thing happens once an hour on the half hour?

In any case, this is a cute little vid that made me smile.

Oh Mamma Mia!

Just got back from watching Mamma Mia! at the Blaisdell Concert Hall and I had a fab time. Went with two of my friends and we all really enjoyed it. The singing and music were great (even though I can't honestly say I'm an ABBA fan).

I'd love to give credit to the actors, but prior to the show they mentioned some stand-ins. I'm not sure who was part of the the original cast and who was an understudy. In any case, it was a fun night out and everyone did a great job.

The dances were just as lively on stage as they were in the movie. It's amazing how many scenes can be constructed using two rotating building/wall structures. The costumes were outrageous . . . so they were wonderful. The lighting was over-the-top disco or mood enhancing. Loved it.

Like in the movie, Donna's two friends are wonderful. They steal the show every time. Donna had a wonderful voice. The only bad part was that it was difficult to hear when she got into the really low or high octaves. Sophie's voice was purely magic.

The guy who played Sam (aka Pierce Brosnan in the movie version) did a much better job than Brosnan did. In fact, his singing was almost angelic. If there was one negative about the film version, it was Brosnan's singing. With this stage version though there were no problems in that area.

I noticed that there were a ton of open seats and the parking lot was pretty empty. This is the last week that Mamma Mia!'s in Hawaii, so if you haven't seen the show yet definitely try to make it out. The last number is so fun and gets the crowd pumped up. This isn't your ordinary musical.

Here's a clip from the Broadway performance:

Wickedly Good

While in San Francisco I had the opportunity to catch Wicked, a musical about the untold story of the witches of Oz. It's sort of Oz, only pre-Dorothy and the tornado. It's being performed at the Orpheum Theatre with shows every day except for Mondays. Some days there are two-a-days. Right now, the show is scheduled to play through September 27, 2009.

I went on a Thursday night and got tickets at the box office. You can also purchase tickets online, except you'll have to pay an additional service fee to Ticketmaster. Either way you do it, just do it. I heard that every show gets sold out.

Judging by the night I went, the theater was a packed house with not many open seats. Make sure you plan ahead if you've got a large party and want to sit together. I noticed that there were many couples and families in attendance. There was even a group of what looked to be high schoolers - possibly a drama club. They were dressed to the nines, but you don't have to suit up if wearing a tux makes you feel like you're in a monkey suit. The dress attire is pretty casual.

The show itself lasted about two-and-a-half hours with a 15-minute intermission to stretch your legs. As with other theaters, there was a slight jump in price between the best seats in the house and the rest of the theater. However, I think you can get a good view no matter where you're sitting. I was in the orchestra/loge section and paid $80 for my ticket. It was a little far but I was still able to see and hear everything.

What will probably make or break your Wicked experience is the people around and especially in front of you. If someone tall happens to sit in front of you, you won't be able to see no matter how much you paid for your ticket.

At first I couldn't really get into the show. Galinda (soon-to-be Glinda) is completely irritating, but she eventually grows on you. She's played by Natalie Daradich. Elphaba (soon-to-be the Wicked Witch of the West), on the other hand, is so relatable and such an underdog in this show. Elphaba is played by Vicki Noon. She did an amazing job and what a voice on her! Also worth mentioning is that Patty Duke plays Madame Morrible, Galinda and Elphaba's teacher.

Overall, the songs were so moving and engaging. They really helped to move the plot along. They were my favorite part of the show (then again, it is a musical, right?). There were some great effects and the costumes were so beautiful. Even as far away as I was, I could still appreciate all the work that went into making them.

The show gives you another perspective on the timeless tale of The Wizard of Oz. It makes you realize that there are always underlying factors in every day situations. It's really been able to spin a classic on its head.

Although, you're not supposed to bring cameras into the theater, someone apparently did. Here's a clip of the show. Magnificent!