Admittedly rather strange and twisted dreams...but never mind!
My sister and I are both theatre fanatics...both as audience members and performers (many moons ago in my case!). Because of this, it has become a wonderful Christmas tradition in our house that most years we receive theatre tickets for the whole family to go and see a musical in the awful limbo period between Christmas and New Year (thanks Mum and Dad)! Each year the tickets are nestled expectantly in the tree in an envelope addressed in Mums familiar handwriting
Living so close to London means there isn't much we haven't seen and some shows we've loved so much we've gone back for a return visit (is seeing Wicked 7 times a little excessive?!) therefore its always exciting to see which show Mum has picked for us.
I must say I nearly keeled over with excitement when I heard...
The show that beat several others to adorn our Christmas tree this year was *drum roll please...*
The Book of Mormon is something I've wanted to see from almost day dot. My first run in with the show was when the Bath Student Musicals Society (BUSMS for short) performed 'I Believe' in their yearly variety show 'Encore!'. It bought the house down not only because of the wonderful performance but because of the show's unusual choice of subject matter and the ballsy hilarity with which the lyrics bring it to the stage.
Here is the very talented Andrew Rannells performing it at the 65th Tony Awards:
From that point on, I had to know more about the show then a smash hit on Broadway and soon to be previewing in the West End. After watching the amazing Broadway cast rock 'Hello' at the 66th Tony Awards in 2012, I knew I had to see it live.
We tried to no avail to get tickets for my 21st birthday during the preview run - a sell out, the performances were met with rave reviews.
I absolutely squealed when I found out we were finally going....needless to say I had MASSIVELY high expectations of the West End Cast.
Before the show (the Saturday matinee), we headed over to China town for Dim Sum, a Chinese equivalent of tapas for those not in the know. I've been to Joy King Lau before and their service is always so quick and efficient...we were on limited time (too much time spent sale shopping in H&M - sorry, my bad) but to our amazement even with a queue snaking out of the door and half way up the stairs we were in and out within half an hour.
The trouble with Dim Sum is that its a minefield of dumplings, dishes and noodles and rice - I don't often know where to start. As my Mum comes fairly regularly on work lunches here, we let here weave her magic whilst slipping in a few suggestions of our own.
A few quick snaps of the food - most of it was gone quicker than I could photograph it. I am a rubbish food photographer - my favourite dumplings (the scallop ones - to die for, literally!) were gone in less than one bite...my poor lens didn't even get a look in!
Then it was off at double speed to the theatre...
By the time the curtain fell on the first act, I wasn't quite sure what I had just seen - stunned is the word. But something told me the first blasphemous act was not as crazy as it was going to get. Written by the makers of South Park, the script certainly does not take in to account the blushes and humour fueled outrage it will cause the audience. Like Avenue Q (on which Robert Lopez also collaborated), it is beyond me how they manage to get away with putting their content on the West End. Whatever powers that be that allow such things to go on, I thank them because The Book of Mormon is truly a revelation! From Ugandans cursing Gods name and reenacting fictitious sexual acts with frogs to the campest group of Mormons I have ever seen turning off their gay feelings 'like a light switch', with every song the show gets more and more risque and more and more hilarious. I have never been so outraged and never given heartier applause. There is a reason The Book of Mormon won The Times Best Night Out award!
I did wonder, however, what Mormon's themselves thought of the whole thing - seeing as it kind of defaced their entire religion! Judging by the 3 pages of adverts they put in the colour program, I guess they see the statement 'Any publicity is good publicity' to be true!
The Book of Mormon - I couldn't recommend it more!
My sister and I are both theatre fanatics...both as audience members and performers (many moons ago in my case!). Because of this, it has become a wonderful Christmas tradition in our house that most years we receive theatre tickets for the whole family to go and see a musical in the awful limbo period between Christmas and New Year (thanks Mum and Dad)! Each year the tickets are nestled expectantly in the tree in an envelope addressed in Mums familiar handwriting
Living so close to London means there isn't much we haven't seen and some shows we've loved so much we've gone back for a return visit (is seeing Wicked 7 times a little excessive?!) therefore its always exciting to see which show Mum has picked for us.
I must say I nearly keeled over with excitement when I heard...
The show that beat several others to adorn our Christmas tree this year was *drum roll please...*
Here is the very talented Andrew Rannells performing it at the 65th Tony Awards:
From that point on, I had to know more about the show then a smash hit on Broadway and soon to be previewing in the West End. After watching the amazing Broadway cast rock 'Hello' at the 66th Tony Awards in 2012, I knew I had to see it live.
We tried to no avail to get tickets for my 21st birthday during the preview run - a sell out, the performances were met with rave reviews.
I absolutely squealed when I found out we were finally going....needless to say I had MASSIVELY high expectations of the West End Cast.
Before the show (the Saturday matinee), we headed over to China town for Dim Sum, a Chinese equivalent of tapas for those not in the know. I've been to Joy King Lau before and their service is always so quick and efficient...we were on limited time (too much time spent sale shopping in H&M - sorry, my bad) but to our amazement even with a queue snaking out of the door and half way up the stairs we were in and out within half an hour.
In such close proximity to Leicester Square and Picadilly Circus, this is the perfect place for a transition lunch between Covent Garden and Oxford Street.
As per Chinese tradition, the youngest of the table poured the Jasmine tea...she did better than I would have - It would have been everywhere if I'd gone near it!
The table was certainly in a bad state when we left it...ah well, at least they knew that we enjoyed our meal.
Then it was off at double speed to the theatre...
I vaguely remember going to the Prince of Wales Theatre before when Mamma Mia was performed there but never remember it being so opulent inside - it was literally like stepping back in to the heyday of art deco. Grand pianos, the dimly lit bar, the gorgeous gold wallpaper and vintage posters of revue shows of days gone by. It would be a beautiful corporate venue if anyone had cause to use it...maybe a 20s/Great Gatsby Theme (If anyone needs a party planner...you know where to find me!)
Taking our seats...
I did wonder, however, what Mormon's themselves thought of the whole thing - seeing as it kind of defaced their entire religion! Judging by the 3 pages of adverts they put in the colour program, I guess they see the statement 'Any publicity is good publicity' to be true!
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