Saturday 14 June 2014

Maleficent is magnificent


Maleficent is magnificent

We are going to re-tell a story …let’s see how well you remember it.
What a beautiful opening to this film. A young fairy called Maleficent who smiles at everything and everyone in her kingdom loves her.
This is no fairy tale. This is a film NOT for children. This is a film with adult themes. The theme of love, betrayal and revenge.
Yes the sweet Maleficent falls in love with a human boy…and he is power crazy. This film made me feel so sorry for Maleficent. I felt her pain when she was betrayed. I felt her love when she was happy.
The young Maleficent is not on screen for long but she sets the scene and is so sweet you think how someone can turn so evil. But of course if I had been treated the same way..I would also react that way. A woman scorned and all that.
The three fairies are funny and add a light hearted sprinkle to the serious themes of the film.
Strong female characters are rare in films now..so this was refreshing and a joy to watch.  Forget Salt. Forget Tomb Raider, this is  Angelina Jolie’s finest hour.
Excellent film. Excellent cast. And the girl who day-dreamed really understood Maleficent. Forget girl power.  This is woman power.

 


Wednesday 11 June 2014

West Side Story hits Milton Keynes! (June 2014)


West side story

This is my all-time favourite musical. I grew up knowing all the songs and dreaming of finding love like this.  When something is so precious to you, it is a little nerve wracking to see how it translates to the stage.
I first saw West Side story on stage 16 years ago when I took my 10 year old son to a matinee performance.  I had been blown away with the choreography.  It was something that he and I shared for years.
So when I heard last year that it was on stage again. I knew I had to go.  I suggested it to my youngest son and my older son overheard and said he wanted to come and see it again.  So it was an extra special night that I went to see West Side Story accompanied by both my sons.
I was again worried it wouldn’t stand up to my high expectations. I had no need to worry.
The opening scene was very true to the film and was excellently executed.  It really set the scene of the show.  The dancing and chorography was outstanding.  I cannot say enough how amazing it really is.
I really liked the dance interpretation of how it would be if Tony and Maria ran away together.  Everyone was dressed in white and through the power of dance it showed no matter what, they could not escape what has happened.  It was a fantastic scene and one that would be deserving of time on Strictly.
The outstanding numbers for me were Gee Officer Krupkee, which is fun and well done.  It was true to the film and worked well.  I also loved how they call came together for tonight at the end of the first act.  Good use of lighting and set gave it atmosphere.
All the performers were excellent, but their were two who stood out to me.  Maria, played by Katie Hall, was a perfect Natalie Wood and had a good accent as well as being able to sing, dance and act.  Her performance was so powerful I was in tears for much of it.  Absolutely fabulous.  The other outstanding performance was that of Anita, played by Djalenga Scott. She was fabulous, giving energy, character and charm to the part.  The girls definitely stole the show.
Others that deserve a mention are Action, played by Matthew Hawksley and Anybodys, played by Jessica Fiala.  They both gave a true reflection of the roles and made the characters believable.
For the traditionalist there were some changes I was not that happy with.  America is one of my favourite songs.  But it relies on the dynamics of the men versus women.  Unfortunately someone decided that the change of clothes for the men was more important so they did it with one girl verses the rest of the girls.  This is just wrong.  It needs the men.  It needs the original words.  It needs not to be changed.  I was very disappointed with this rendition, not because of the effort of the cast, but because it really needs the men to be true to the story.
The other issue with the show is the order of the songs.  At the end of the first act they had already stabbed and killed each other but gee officer krupkee and I feel pretty were in the second act.  This meant you were sad when you should be happy. It wasn’t right to move the order around as it does change the atmosphere of the show.
This is no fault of the cast, but of the director and producer of the show.  It is a shame as otherwise this show was perfect.  And I rarely call anything perfect!
None of this detracts from the excellent performance of the actors/dancers/singers. They were all very professional and delivered an outstanding performance.
If you can get a ticket…go. West Side Story is amazing and I sure hope it isn’t another 16 years before I see it live again!

 

Monday 2 June 2014

OAD 5th anniversary featuring Midge Ure (acoustic set)


OAD 5th anniversary featuring Midge Ure (acoustic set)

It was Only After Dark’s fifth birthday. It was also my anniversary.  I had discovered this wonderful club a year ago.
Once again it was sold out and packed out.  You couldn’t move for it was full of people with style and class.  The darkling’s were out in force.
Midge was to come on early so unusually this meant the club opened up at 8pm.  We got there about half past seven to find out that it was happy hour. Boy did that make us happy!
We went in early to get a good spot but that didn’t stop me from dancing to ‘The Bunker’ (Bollock Brothers) while we were waiting for Midge to come on.
I had seen Midge with Ultravox last November when they supported Simple Minds.  I had written back then how impressed I had been with Midge’s vocals.  (See that blog here: http://jasminestorm09.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/where-is-my-glittering-prize.html)  How he owned the room.  (And that room was the O2!).  How different would a small crowd of 200 be?  What would an acoustic set be like when we are used to hearing his songs with electronic backing?  I was about to find out.
He came on and sang a range of tracks including Fade to Grey (he was in Visage), many Ultravox tracks including, Dancing with tears in my eyes, The Voice, Love’s great adventure and Vienna, and some of his own solo stuff such as If I was and No Regrets.  He even did a riff from an old Slick track.  This man has style and fits into OAD perfectly.
He gave an excellent vocal performance….
but much more than that. He played guitar.  Not Ziggy but Midge!  He played it amazingly well.  A very talented man.
…But not only that, he was funny and charming.  He had the crowd eating out of his hand.  This must be challenging for a man who is used to being in a band.  And playing to a small crowd who he could see the faces of.  (Mine being right at the front!)
And finally he gave a rendition of Lady Stardust.  He told the story of the night he was at the Blitz Club when David Bowie came in.  He said everyone had thought themselves cool until that moment.  David Bowie is my personal hero and I loved hearing this story.  He played an excellent version of Lady Stardust and I was truly impressed.
Impressed with his professionalism.  Impressed with his sense of humour.  Impressed with his talents.  What a performance.  What a gig.  What a night!
My only disappointment was that Midge did not meet his fans afterwards.  We have been very lucky and spoilt with many specials at OAD having the artists meet you for a photo and signing.  I know I was not the only person who would have loved a photo and a word with Midge.
Well Midge…I didn’t get to speak to you directly…so here are my words to you.  I loved your performance.  Come back and visit us again soon.
After Midge had gone, we all danced and danced all night.  I love OAD.  I love my friends there, (I wrote a blog about that: http://jasminestorm09.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/the-girl-who-daydreamed.html) and I am proud to be a part of it.
A huge thank you to David, Sara and Sam for all their hard work so I can travel back in time once a month.  Long may OAD reign!