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Went to the Oxford Playhouse last night with my beloved ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
cheshcat to see the Oxford Operatic Society's production of My Fair Lady. These are the same people who put on such an excellent production of Chess last year -- introducing me to that wonderful play! Indeed, many of the cast members were the same... including the same lead actress playing both Florence Vassey and Eliza Doolittle.
Last night's show follows a production of West Side Story that I saw the Oxford University Dramatic Society put on last Friday. It is a very good thing to be seeing a couple of big musicals; I have seen a lot of theatre of late... but, until the past week, not many musicals. Given that musicals are probably my favourite sub-genre of theatre, tis good to redress this imbalance!
One point that both of these productions drove home is the importance of proper accents. Of course, In My Fair Lady, accent is everything! Last week, in West Side Story a group of Brits managed flawless US and Mexican accents. Some were so good that I questioned whether they were really British... until I heard the actors talking outside after the show! Well done!
In contrast, I am increasingly incensed at the so-called "definitive" version of Chess recorded at the Royal Albert Hall last year. Josh Groban and Idina Menzel may have fantastic singing voices... but neither even tried to learn the correct accent for their roles. Josh sounded like a red-blooded American... not even remotely like the Russian Anatoly. As for Idina? Not a trace of Florence's English accent -- she was pure New Yawk! Feh. If a bunch of uni students can learn accents for the stage, I don't see why two highly paid professionals cannot.
At the interval last night, I remarked tocheshcat that it would be interesting to see Idina Menzel perform in My Fair Lady. Correctly understanding my meaning, she shot back: "Why? So we can have an Eliza who speaks with a New York accent that never changes during the show?" Pre-cise-ly!
cheshcat to see the Oxford Operatic Society's production of My Fair Lady. These are the same people who put on such an excellent production of Chess last year -- introducing me to that wonderful play! Indeed, many of the cast members were the same... including the same lead actress playing both Florence Vassey and Eliza Doolittle.Last night's show follows a production of West Side Story that I saw the Oxford University Dramatic Society put on last Friday. It is a very good thing to be seeing a couple of big musicals; I have seen a lot of theatre of late... but, until the past week, not many musicals. Given that musicals are probably my favourite sub-genre of theatre, tis good to redress this imbalance!
One point that both of these productions drove home is the importance of proper accents. Of course, In My Fair Lady, accent is everything! Last week, in West Side Story a group of Brits managed flawless US and Mexican accents. Some were so good that I questioned whether they were really British... until I heard the actors talking outside after the show! Well done!
In contrast, I am increasingly incensed at the so-called "definitive" version of Chess recorded at the Royal Albert Hall last year. Josh Groban and Idina Menzel may have fantastic singing voices... but neither even tried to learn the correct accent for their roles. Josh sounded like a red-blooded American... not even remotely like the Russian Anatoly. As for Idina? Not a trace of Florence's English accent -- she was pure New Yawk! Feh. If a bunch of uni students can learn accents for the stage, I don't see why two highly paid professionals cannot.
At the interval last night, I remarked to
cheshcat that it would be interesting to see Idina Menzel perform in My Fair Lady. Correctly understanding my meaning, she shot back: "Why? So we can have an Eliza who speaks with a New York accent that never changes during the show?" Pre-cise-ly!![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
From:
no subject
Maybe there will be a year when you are in the US and you can celebrate with us?
From:
no subject
That would be most excellent! Chesh and I would love to spend a Thanksgiving celebrating with you and J at some point!
Also, very glad that things are moving well and quickly for you in PA. *smile* My recreational online time is a bit limited at the moment... but I will make more comments on your entries when I can! (For now, know that I am still reading...)
From:
*MEEPS!*
Hello dearest friend! I"m so sorry for my silence since we last saw each other. A great deal has happened which has taken up a lot of my time! But I have gotten caught up in your journal, and am VERY glad to hear that both you and Chesh are well!! I miss you both terribly and can't wait till I next hear from you guys!
Love
Squeeky
From:
Re: *MEEPS!*
I also love that your return to LJ land was greeted by a post that very few people would appreciate. With you being one of them of course!
No problem about the radio silence, hon! I would love to catch up to you at some point, though! A phone call would be lovely... but the next three weeks until I come to the States will be a bit hectic. I assume, though, that we are getting together later this month for the traditional romp through Manhattan? That should give us plenty of time to chat!
*huge mammoth hugs*
P.S. I miss your mangoes. Wanna see them again! ;-D
From:
Re: *MEEPS!*
No worries! I assumed that the time would be insanely busy for you. The romp is still on, though I have to warn you we will have to be very careful and slow. One of the big things that is going on is my back injury decided it wanted to get exponentially worse. I can walk but not to much, have to take it easy and stairs are mildly painful. So I figure we'll just take our sweet precious time! If the wondrous
P.S. There ya go!! ;-D