You had plenty money 1922

Just... kept forgetting to post. there has been:

Theatre: Neverwhere @ Progress (Reading's amateur group, once again awesome. Neil, you put too many scene changes in there for theatre. Certain actors stealing show. AS USUAL.)
Shrek (moments of awesome, moments of group numbers. during which you wish to gas the theatre and everyone twitches as they're so... American.)
Singin in the Rain: Like the film. but with better dancing. And soaking the first three rows. Audience: SQUEE.
Comedy of Errors: ....WAGs work so well as the more naggy/stressed female role for Shakespeare.
Hay Fever: 'this family likes acting out. Everyone else is freaked' eee. cast!
Fascinating Aida: dying. of. laughter. Dillie making bitchy noises about should have put the Cheap Flights thing up on youtube years ago.
Bingo: your using the laws of x as a parable for the time you wrote it is showing rather painfully. MOAR BEN JONSON.
Recruiting Officer: I need more restoration comedy in my life. :fangirls Mark Gatiss as most magnificent fop *ever*

Film: The Artist 'omg EEE so cute', Shame 'it's brilliant but now I have a hollow place in my soul.', The Muppets 'MNAMNA.', Pirates in an Adventure with Scientists 'giggling at trigger words weeks later'

serious perving over 6 nations rugby. It's easier to refer to them as 'red team' 'white team' 'white team player leaps on floor with ball, pretty white kicker gets ball between posts.'

TV: Being Human. Aka 'new cast is.... OMG.' :pats Tom on head: 'Hal, more press-ups!' Tom/Hal! Annie. Gah. :pats Cutler on head: Mark Gatiss, please stop scaring us. D'awwww, Cutler. Whosa cute little psycho? Alex, you have just earned yourself so many awesome points.'

First ep of Once Upon a Time just aired in UK. So far it appears to be Fables but infinitely more interesting, 5000x less rapey and LACKING THE INFLUENCE OF BILL WILLINGHAM. HUZZAH.

And they finally gave me my notice, after telling us for ages 'end of march'. finishing on Apr 20th. After I'd had to make many many pointed comments about it due to screwing us around.

Soho Cinders.

aka Stiles and Drewe *finally* sodding finish a show they premiered the first batch of songs and story for it at their anniversary bash a few years ago*, and stage it in concert-ish form with unbelievable names for charity. Cue most of the West End Wendys and half the gay community turning up. (oh, including one Mr. Stephen Fry who was clearly running late, who turned up at the theatre running at full tilt at 7, dodging through the crowd outside the theatre and into the bar to meet up with his boyfriend and some mates.)

As you may have guessed, it's a modern take on Cinderella. Set in Soho. Cinders = Robbie (Jos Slovick), a student who does side work as an escort who's seeing the Mayoral Candidate, James Prince (Michael Xavier). Who is engaged and is running his campaign on, er, honesty and no sleaze. Add: The candidate's fiancée, Marilyn (Hannah Waddingham), William George (David Bedella), Prince's campaign manager who is a bastard of the first order, Sasha his put-upon assistant (Richard David-Caine), Velcro (Amy Lennox), Robbie's best mate who runs a laundrette, Lord Bellingham (Clive Carter), one of Robbie's regular customers and a funder of the campaign, Clodagh (Suzie Chard) and Dana (Beverly Rudd), Robbie's vile stepsisters who run a titty bar, and Chelle (Sharon Clarke), a rickshaw cyclist. And a chorus of clubgoers, Soho tradesmen, the press and beautiful people.

And to top it off, Sandi Toksvig as the Narrator. Who as is the right of Ms. Toksvig, was fabulous, sarcastic, had a very large book and did look over the top of her spectacles at us. And we were grateful for the opportunity to be condescended to.

Anyway. It's about political spin, sleaze, falling in love with the people you shouldn't, and dreams for something just that little bit better. The shoe is Robbie's phone that he leaves behind at a fundraising party. With some of the best music Stiles and Drewe have ever written, and a so sharp it'll cut you book and songs containing some of the best belly laughs ever. (seriously, the Stepsisters' song 'I'm so Over Men' had to re-recorded at the end due to the audience laughing too hard). I'm serious about the songs. there's a song about internet dating, Gypsies of the Ether which is one of the most gorgeous love songs ever. And Velcro and Marilyn's song about not settling for second best, Let Him Go, was heart breaking. The only problem is that it's *so* site-specific that you don't know if it could sustain a decent run - most of the jokes and dialogue are a) London and b) theatre and gay culture. All the acting was brilliant - Robbie just sweet enough, Velcro scatty, Marilyn absolutely composed, James torn and somehow still noble, George completely skin crawling. A couple of the songs need tweaking a bit, and the loose ends were tied up by people running on stage at the very end with 'guess what' in the spirit of panto, but otherwise we nearly deafened 'em when it came to cheering at the bows.

*In which Robbie was played by Gareth Gates, miked to the hilt, and James Prince by Oliver Tompsett. One day we will get Daniel Boys to play Robbie. he's said he wants to.

Musical adaptation of A Private Function, rationing era comedy by Alan Bennett starring Maggie Smith and Michael Palin, music by Stiles and Drewe. I never saw the film, but this? this is hysterical. The best way to sum it up was everyone's comments at the interval: 'gloriously, gloriously silly'. Everyone came out of it grinning, there was a standing ovation, muchos laughter and humming of the songs.

It's 1947, rationing in full swing, compounded by a meat inspector who's going round shutting down the butchers for any infractions. The local chiropodist and his social climbing wife discover the town council are raising an illegal pig for a banquet in celebration of the upcoming Royal Wedding of Princess Elizabeth, so they nick it. Cue nuttiness.

This? it's way too much fun. Brilliant performances from the cast (all of whom get to shine, with some hysterical choreography in places) Sarah Lancashire as Joyce decimating all before her, Anne Emery (previously Grandma in Billy Elliot) as Mother Dear stealing as many scenes with her comic timing as was humanly possible, and Neil Ditt (on as understudy for Reece Shearsmith) was a lovely study in careworn steadfastness as the chiropodist. Utterly in stitches, with some wonderfully touching moments as well as complete surrealness from Adrian Scarborough as the inspector. Great songs, really well-done sets, ten piece live band, and an animatronic pig voiced by Kylie (though you'll have to see the play to get this).

We even got a post-show Q&A with Stiles and Drewe and the American adaptors who were the producers/head writers of the US Queer as Folk. (considering the dialogue is a study in Yorkshire, cue audience gaping when this was revealed)

It is fabulous. And, I, er, now have a t-shirt that says 'Royal Wedding Souvenir'. oh, shush.

Last night's, one of those go to someone's website, see they're in something a week away. So, Transatlantic Sessions at the Royal Festival Hall to see Julie Fowlis. And, er, other people, which ranged from cajun banjo people to some sort of gospel to some bloke who was apparently a big deal but sounded like Van Morrison, and mad irish fiddlers. Very good, very fun (aside from the Van Morrison soundalike who was just...meh.). whole bunch of musicians, all playing/singing as a group - it varied on who was playing front, but everyone else would be chipping in on instruments or backing vocals. And lo, audience had a fun time.

Lance Horne concert, sunday @ the Garrick.

AKA 'squeeble'. Julie Atherton, Hannah Waddingham, Simon Burke, Ashleigh Gray, Alan Cumming, Oliver Tompsett, Paul Spicer, Alexandra Silber, Graham Norton (I know, but he was hysterical), Norm Lewis, Meow Meow, Cassidy Janson, Emma Williams, Lucy May Barker.

But um...everyone was fabulous? Some of the songs were heartbreaking? Some were hysterical? Lance Horne is adorable? The chit-chat between was funny, all the cast were bitching back and forth between songs, and every time the album was mentioned they all held it up with lots of 'arrgh, it's here somewhere!'.

Special mentions of chit-chat:

Alan Cumming and Lance bitching about their mutual ex (Alan was quick to assert that he dated him first), including when Alan was going through Lance's songs for material for I Bought a Blue Car Today, came across one song and went 'this. I must.' and Lance went 'er, perhaps not that one -' :re-reads lyrics: 'Is this about HIM?' :whistles:

Graham Norton going 'you've got the cream of the West End ...and me. I mean, WTF?' Very, very funny. Good to see him doing stuff that's not just presenting.

Norm Lewis making catty comments about brits coming over and winning Tonys - cue Alan standing up and bowing.

Lance Horne, when coming back from interval: 'What's with the ice cream? It's *January*. We only just got bottled water into theaters in NY.' Audience and UK singers: 'You take our ice cream from our cold, dead hands.'

Gossip and Wendys:
paused to ask bloke in queue if this was just for the box office (massive, *lot* of late ticket buying since it was full - and two of those were sitting next to me), chatted briefly, then Tom Parsons turned up in queue behind us. Clean shaven. Yes, this is a sight that is just slightly disturbing. He was a bit surprised to be recognised, we were more surprised that he wasn't backstage given that Julie and Paul were in it.

Got into foyer, pounced on by Etmuse - who hadn't mentioned she was coming, and another of the Torchwood/Barrowman/Wendy crowd whose name i can never remember, so if you read this, sorry. Gossipped, gossipped about the various West End Wendys - including the usual '...remind me. is that a Wendy or an actor?'

Stage door, got Emma and Oliver photos, Ashleigh Gray and Simon Burke signage (Barrowman obsessives hogging him). Emma's hair is apparently really blonde. Still not sure if we believe her. Suspect everyone else was having a tipple in the back since the rest hadn't come out by 10:45. Me and etmuse proclaimed the gospel according to Legally Blonde and Chris Ellis-Stanton whilst waiting. daniel and John panto discussed (me sulking that the trek to Stevenage involves four trains so logistical nightmare getting back).

Took parentals to New Wimbledon Theatre to see Spamalot for dad's birthday pressie. (added plug for quite a decent, reasonably priced Italian - Casa Nostra opposite the theatre)

SCORE. They laughed themselves stupid.
( It's all a matter of weight ratios )

...okay, result of someone with a big flist reccing your story. Posted fic a couple of days ago, got about 7 or so comments from mates and people on the comm I posted it to. (Narnia fandom is rather small.) Then it got recced by a mate, and one of her mates recced it in turn. So I wake up this morning to a flood of the things. I, er, I'm sure other people have written fic about parents' reaction to how the kids changed after Narnia. :muses: mebbe I just managed to hit at the right time. Reminds me, must poke bedlamsbard into posting some of her parents reactions (I love that a couple of commenters have referred to us as the writers of psycho Pevensies. Hers are far more psycho and complex with massive world-building than mine. They're not psycho, they're just medieval rulers.) Way too many of her awesome ideas only exist in the comments, so I forget she hasn't posted them as complete stories.

Finally finished watching Sarah Connor Chronicles. Final scene? Oh FSM, the sheer jawdrop and amazing set-up for S3 that never was... :has tantrum:

Saw Sweet Charity last night at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, Tamzin Outhwaite, Mark Umber, Josefina Gabrielle. AKA the musical that 'Hey Big Spender', 'Rhythm of Life' and 'If My Friends Could See Me Now' come from. And if, like me, you only know those numbers, the musical is *so* not what you'd expect.

( If my friends could see me now )

In other news, was poking a few reviews and pondering : Given the sometimes massive disconnect between 'official' reviewers and the public's opinion, whose opinion do you trust because they're most likely to dovetail with your likes/dislikes?

myself, if it's film, Empire every time. Theatre - normally the West End Whingers.

yesterday was fun. Spent it feeling like shit, threw up before lunch, gradually went downhill until I gave up at 3pm, emailed bosses and went to bed. Didn't wake up until 12:30, then slept through to alarm. Still a tad woozy. I thought it was due to me going to bed at 3am but Shely says a bunch of people (including her)'ve had it this week. Fingers crossed.

Legally Blonde offering a fiver off tickets. Not that impressive, considering stalls and circle are £60. hrrm. Lee Mead's been cast as Fiyero in Wicked from May 10th. Should be interesting how the fangirls react. Barrowman is the villain for the last six eps of Desperate Housewives this season. Please, let the director sit on him heavily. Not that I'll actually watch it.

Oh good god. If you're going to have a squabble with your housemate at work, will you please keep the rest of us out if it? And the official word on why we get low wages is all the training we get. You mean the training that every job gives you?

Things to do when walking to the station : laugh at the city types who couldn't be bothered to wear different shoes for the walk. Amazingly, expensive lace-ups aren't very good on packed snow. SKID, MONKEYBOY, SKID. In shoe news, yesterday I finally remembered about my bloody great work boots (which i mostly use for operation: christmas tree), which means I don't have to borrow mum's one-size-too-small wellies anymore. Figured out this morning that they're not incredibly scuffed, it's mostly mud.

Due to having Legally Blonde ST on repeat, am experiencing ridiculous perkiness. And bugging a bit on finding out that Chris Ellis-Stanton is playing Kyle the UPS guy (also Dewey the ex and the lead Frat boy). (cynicalcylon, we're talking Legs McBlondie from Anything Goes at Wimbledon, and miniosiris, he was Steve Lomas in The Stripper - any good?) Where the fuck did those muscles come from? Feeling a bit peeved that he wasn't dancing and singing as much as he could be (sadly not a big name yet, so i guess i should be content and just wait for him to get lead west end), but definitely feeling a bit vindicated that everyone else is now objectifying him as much as I do. :cough: Oh well, he's now officially added to Heather's list of dancers she's fixated on : Brick Shithouse, Matthew Cutler from SCD and Chris Ellis-Stanton.

HMM. Legally Blonde is on the GILT cheap tickets list. Volunteers?

Question for those've you who've been watching normally rather'n mainlining three seasons in two weeks. From about mid-way through S4, you can see definite seeds of Dean/Castiel, which ramp up to 'Will you two please get a room!' later in the season (yes, prophet episode of hysterical, I'm looking at you). I know that people were slashing Dean/Castiel during S4, but can anyone who was in the fandom then tell me when fandom started slashing them in a major way? Was it from the very beginning in the traditional 'they are pretty. we are slashers. They don't need to share the same air space for us to slash them.' way, or a bit later?

Being Human : slightly painful where they were trying to force the humour in one bit (it's fairly obvious), being a bit heavy-handed with one aspect of the villain motivation, one bit they aim to tear your heart and succeed, and the slash is happily present. We're voting that the OT3 becomes an OT4. Also, continuity of background extras for the win!

Dammit. once again, Spotify disillusions me by showing me that a composer/singer may have a couple of v. awesome songs but the rest of their output is incredibly MOR.

Watched Pathfinder last night (intensely violent but rather nicely shot and good to while away the time Karl urban = Viking kiddy raised by Native Americans who has to fight them off when the next batch comes a-calling). Pretty good. Wouldn't necessarily watch again, but good performances, doesn't talk down to anyone, has a not-quite expected ending and everyone is actually using their *brain*. (and of course the vikings are rapacious violent amoral bastards, what do you think this is? Fair? but they're *articulate* bastards) Plus lots of wee!karl Urban in a loincloth. No bad here. Vikings were talking in what I think was swedish since it sounded similar to the swedish used in True Blood. But I could be wrong and it's Norwegian. As ever, still a bit amazed at how much I was able to decipher (yay for common language roots! I do wonder how much French we'd be able to understand if it wasn't for enforced lessons at school.). Though would like to see the film it's based on for comparison, Ofelas which is Lapps rather'n native americans.

Mesh top for Pris arrived. Only thing is it's large rather than medium as I ordered, even though it still fits. Problem is, what kind of feedback should I leave? 'fast postage but er... the wrong size. But I'm keeping it.'

Listened to Legally Blonde soundtrack. So horribly, horribly catchy. Still confused why they didn't use 'So Much Better' on Children In Need as that's the one they're using to advertise it on the web.

:whines: why do fasteners, aka the most fiddly thing in this universe, all have to be sewn by hand? I'm sure there's a machine out there to do it, but it's probably industrial... 16 poppers for dress last night. two. sodding. hours.

Cold appears to be staying at 'blowing nose and occasional coughs'. GOOD.