Legally Blonde: The Musical...

On Tuesday 10th March 2015, I took Mother dearest to our local Grand Theatre to see Legally Blonde: The Musical. It was an early surprise for Mother's Day, but I sneakily asked if she remembered the film a month or two before, to get an idea as to whether she'd fancy going to see it and if she knew a little about the film. She said that she did, so I booked tickets for us to sit in the stalls. I was so happy when the 10th came around as I was looking forward to it for ages!

I love going to the theatre, especially to see musicals and film/book to stage adaptations. I get such an adrenalin rush after seeing a theatre performance. I come out feeling fantastic, singing parts of songs that might have been in the show and talking about the show with whoever I go to the theatre with or whoever will listen, ha ha! I love to sit in the stalls when I can, just to have an optimal viewing position and be able to see facial expressions etc. With this performance, as it was amateur, the prices were pretty decent for stall seats.

This musical was based on the novel by Amanda Brown and the famous film starring Reese Witherspoon. If you aren't familiar with the story, it's about a blonde, happy-go-lucky woman called Elle Woods. Elle loves her family, friends, Chihuahua Bruiser, the colour pink and at the beginning her boyfriend Warner. Elle's life gets turned upside down when her boyfriend, Warner, dumps her so he can get serious with his life and attend Harvard Law. Determined to get him back, Elle uses her charm to get into Harvard Law. Once there, she struggles with peers, professors and Warner. With the help of her friends, Paulette and Emmett, she quickly realises her potential and sets out to prove herself to the world, strutting her stuff, telling people about themselves and finding someone who loves her for her along the way.

This amateur premiere production was performed by the Wolverhampton Musical Comedy Company. The first thing I thought after the show was that it was one hell of an amateur performance. It was as good as any West End performance that I've seen. The acting was superb, the singing was fabulous (I still have the songs in my head!) and the dancing was top notch. Katie Astbury who played the main role of Elle Woods was simply outstanding. She was pretty much in the whole show, acting, singing and dancing and I take my hat off to her (and the whole cast) for remembering everything! That's what terrifies me the most about theatre performances, when I think about myself in their shoes, remembering all the spoken words, the lyrics to songs, the dance routines and trying to be a different person on stage. Those that perform in theatre productions are a huge inspiration to me and I assume a lot of other people. At just 19, Katie finished her studies at a local school last year and although she has played a few roles in the past with various companies in the West Midlands, this was her first role with MUSCOM and what she describes as being the most challenging role she has ever played. I just want to put it out there and say that you did the role justice girl! #snaps.

Katie Astbury as Elle Woods & Fiona the Chihuahua as Bruiser.

The show was two and a half hours long, but I didn't want it to end if I'm honest. It was fast-paced, colourful, engaging and there were plenty of laugh out loud moments along the way. Being amongst the audience you could hear that people were eagerly awaiting the famous bend and snap scene, as well as the scene where Elle wins her court case at the end. That's the thing with film to stage show adaptations, people always look forward to the most famous scenes and this performance didn't fail to please from start to finish. Paulette Bonafonte was portrayed excellently by Harry Golightly, she was quirky and hilarious. The arrogant, full of himself Warner Huntington III portrayed by Tye Harris was spot on and the friendly, supportive nature of Emmett Forrest portrayed by Liam Sargeant, who stuck by Elle the whole way through Harvard Law, was genuine and admirable. The whole cast were wonderful and you could really see not only how much hard work had gone into the production but also how much everyone was thoroughly enjoying themselves! No one was lagging behind and I predict that they'll all go onto bigger and better things.

We do have West End performances come to our local theatre but we have just as much amateur performances and they aren't something that put me off. For those of you that aren't as keen as you prefer to see well-known faces perform, I'd say give it a go, you won't be disappointed! I've loved all amateur performances just as much as any West End production that I've seen and just because the individuals are amateur, doesn't mean they are any less talented or rehearsed. A lot of time and effort go into these performances to make sure they are flawless and that audiences will enjoy every minute of them.

Have a look at amateur theatre companies near to you and see what productions they are putting on. It really is a fab afternoon/evening out and you'll be supporting local talent!

Legally Blonde: The Musical is on from the 10th-14th March 2015 at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre. I know that other amateur companies from around the country are also performing this show throughout the coming year, so keep your eyes peeled!

You can find out more about MUSCOM on their website.

Are you a fan of the theatre? What's your favourite theatre production?

Thanks so much for reading!
Gem XxOo
Images courtesy of Grand Theatre and Native Monster.

BLOGMAS Day 3: Christmas Party Ideas...

Welcome to Blogmas Day 3 lovelies!

Christmas is a great time to organise a party or get-together, whether it be with family, friends or work colleagues. I've had experience of being invited to work Christmas get-togethers, aswell as organising friends and family Christmas get-togethers.

There's nothing wrong with meeting for a few drinks or a meal at a pub, but sometimes when you want to do something else, it can be hard to think of other options. I thought I'd use Blogmas Day 3 as a way to share some ideas with you and hopefully give you some inspiration for any Christmas parties or get-togethers you are thinking of having in the next few weeks.

I know sometimes it's an easy and perfectly lovely option to just book a meal in a pub and all have some drinks and a laugh (I'm actually doing this with family this year) and it's a cheap option too considering Christmas is just around the corner. However, I've tried to include options that are a little bit different rather than just stating this brand of pub does this meal and this brand of pub does that meal. I've considered a range of budgets and both family/friend get-togethers and company get-togethers (where the employer might be footing the bill). I'll include a few brands/locations for those that are specific events, but if something takes your fancy just do a quick search in Google and see if there is something similar near you (if you aren't prepared to travel) :).

Enjoy...

Theatre Show

From musicals to comedy shows, going to the theatre could be a great way to get people together. If it's a group of girl friends the choice may be easier to decide, where as if it's a work Christmas do then something more neutral may have to be chosen so males and females alike will enjoy it. Sometimes with theatre shows, local restaurants have pre-theatre dinner offers on, so if you want to go all out, this is something to think about. There are also Christmas pantomimes on at this time of year which could be a good choice for a group of friends or family members. My favourite theatre show is Jersey Boys, from the story to the songs, it's such a feel good musical. Me and Si have seen it five times we like it that much! Ha ha. Have a look at West End Theatre Bookings for inspiration.

Cocktail Masterclass

For a group of friends, family members or work colleagues, a cocktail masterclass is something different and fun that males and females can enjoy together. This is something I see advertised so much, whether it be for a Christmas party, birthday party or another special occasion. I've never taken part in one myself but have been in a Revolution bar when one was taking place and watched from afar. Usually you are all shown how to make certain cocktails, you might be given choices or they might just show you a few. Everyone gets to sample the cocktails and make some too! A few games are often thrown in to ensure everyone gets involved and is having a good time. You can make this experience into a proper party and have food platters and more drinks, of course. I think this is definitely an experience that will be talked about afterwards. I often see Revolution Bars advertising their cocktail masterclass and they have different packages from having the masterclass and some nibbles to enjoying the masterclass and then having a sit down meal! Revolution is one of my favourite bars, we had one in our town centre, then it closed down, so we have to travel to get to our nearest one now but their cocktails are amazing! Their food is pretty good too to be honest.

Bowling

Bowling can actually be quite a laugh and again can be enjoyed by both males and females together. If you have a mixed gender group of friends you could play girls vs boys or if it's a work group going, if there's enough of you, you could play department vs department or managers against everyone else. It's just something fun (minus the dodgy shoes!) and with this it doesn't cost a lot. I know with bowling parties you can also get food and drink to have at your lane(s). AMF Bowling regularly advertise their Christmas parties, where you can eat, drink and bowl, so it might be worth having a look to see if there is one near you!

London Eye Private Capsules

This could work out being quite pricey, but if there are a lot of you, when you split the cost, it might not end up being that much. I wanted to include this for those that have the option of spending a little bit more. With the London Eye Private Capsule party you can book packages where you can have champagne and canapés or even a cocktail experience. I can imagine this being a really nice chilled out atmosphere where you can enjoy priority boarding, a complimentary mini guide, a 30 minute rotation, entry to the London Eye 4D cinema experience, a private booth, the beautiful view of London (especially at night with all of the lights), food and drink!

The Medieval Banquet London

Want to go for a meal with a difference? I think this Medieval Banquet in London sounds fab and is ideal for a Christmas party/get-together. The best things always seem to be in or around London (most of the time) and to be honest I thought things like this were only available when you're on holiday abroad (anyone ever been to The Pirates Adventure show?). For the Christmas price, you are served a five course medieval banquet (they cater for vegetarians too) with ale, wine and juice (view the menu here) as an entertainment show is going on around you. The entertainment includes dancing wenches, jugglers, contortionists, magicians and much more! They have a bar where you can purchase other drinks and after the banquet they play club music till late. They even have costumes available for hire or purchase. Sounds good to me! You can read more about it here.

Drink, Shop & Do London

Drink, Shop & Do is a place that holds its own events from coffee tasting to dancing, aswell as serving food and Afternoon Tea! They also hold private parties and by the look of their 'what's on' section, they have a lot coming up! For Christmas they have many things that you can book as 'something extra' to enjoy during your get-together/party. They have Christmas meals available for you to eat depending on whether you want to sit down and eat or stand around having a nibble and a natter. For something special to 'do', you can book a Christmas party games package, a dance duo, musical bingo or just something simple like a Christmas fancy dress box. It's worth having a look on the website to see if anything takes your fancy or suits your budget as their ideas are pretty unique, fun and a bit different from the norm of just getting together for Christmas.

Comedy Club

A comedy club night doesn't tend to be too expensive and can be enjoyed by both males and females. After all, who doesn't like to have a laugh?! There are lots of different comedy clubs, I searched 'comedy club' in Google and so many came up so I'm sure you'll be able to find one near you. Jongleurs tends to be a popular place and they have regular comedy nights in various locations. If it's a work party, they'll even try to find out more about everyone before finalising the booking so that they can recommend the right comedians, this way it means everyone will be sure to enjoy the jokes. They are currently advertising their Christmas Comedy Party, which is held in different locations and there are different packages to choose from, depending on whether you want to enjoy the comedy show and the after party or go all out and have a meal too!

Horse Racing

A horse racing Christmas party is something I researched when organising our family Christmas get-together. For example, Ascot offer Christmas racing events where you can choose different packages based on your budget, which all tend to offer admission, car parking, a race card, a race paper and then different types of food and drink based on what you've paid. If you have a look here you can see what they have to offer. Otherwise if you just want a change of scenery you can book your party there, which includes entertainment, even if there isn't racing on that day. If you do take part in the horse racing you could make it more fun by betting in teams against each other so girls vs boys or department vs department, just some options to jazz the day up a bit!

Murder Mystery Evening

A murder mystery evening is sure to be remembered and talked about for a while afterwards. You 'play a character', solve a murder, eat and drink! Murder Mystery Nights offer evening events and stay over events in various locations. All characters are briefed and the activity happens between courses. Everyone is a suspect, one person in the group is the murderer and one person in the group could be the victim. I've always wondered, if you do this event over dinner, does the victim just disappear at some point? Also, how do the victim and the murderer manage to get away from the rest of the group without people catching on? Or does it not work like that? If any of you have been on a murder mystery evening, you'll have to let me know. It's very intriguing!

Are you having a Christmas party/get-together this year?

Don't forget to like, comment and follow to keep updated with the rest of my Blogmas posts :).

Thanks for reading lovelies!
Gem XxOo
Images are courtesy of UK Theatre Tickets, Wowcher, AMF Bowling, Visit London, London Town, Drink, Shop & Do, Do Something Different, Ascot and Murder Mystery Nights.

Birds Of A Feather...On Stage!

Picture courtesy of birdsontour.

I'm 25 and my sister is 22 and we both have a memory from when we were younger of us watching 'Birds Of A Feather'. We loved the show and it was on throughout the 90's, so we kind of grew up with it. It isn't on these days, not that I know of anyway, unless we just don't have the channel it's repeated on, but I do have series 1 on DVD and I'm yet to get the others.

So, when I heard that the programme was going to be touring, with the three main actresses playing their original three main parts, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't excited! As soon as I told my sister, she was also equally excited ha!

If you're not familiar with the show, it ran on BBC1 for nearly ten years throughout the 1990's. It's a classic comedy and a female-centred long running series. The three main characters are Sharon (Pauline Quirke) and Tracey (Linda Robson) who are Essex sisters and their man-eating neighbour Dorien (Lesley Joseph). For those that want more in-depth information on the programme, you can find more info on Wikipedia.

The tour came to my home town recently, so me and my sister really wanted to go (of course!). We managed to get a really good deal to be honest. The theatre is called 'The Grand Theatre' and the one near us has a special deal on for those that are 16-25 years old, where if you go 15 mins before the show starts, if they have 'stand-by' tickets, you can purchase them for £5. The seats are the best available, but all the dates for the show in my city were pretty much fully booked, so we ended up right at the top in the grand circle, about 3 rows from the back! It was better than nothing though and to be honest we had a pretty good view for £5, so we were really pleased. Our mum came with us, but as she is over 25, she had to pay normal price, which ended up being £19.50.

The show was fantastic! It started by showing the original titles from the show with the different pictures of Sharon and Tracey when they were kids to when they were growing up and the nostalgic theme tune of 'What'll I do'.

''What'll I do

When you are far away

And I am blue

What'll I do?''

Ah...memories!

In the stage show Sharon is unemployed, Tracey is a cold caller (or she is at the beginning of the show anyway) and Dorien is the owner of a residential home. I don't want to give too much away in case you are reading this and have booked tickets to see it. You won't be disappointed though and it will take you back for sure. Just look out for the karaoke scene with Sharon and Tracey in the residential home, definitely a laugh out loud moment for me :-).

It lasts for about a couple of hours, but it flies by. We got drawn in by the characters as they are now and then little things triggered the memory to how they were all those years ago. If you like the show and watched it when it was on, I would definitely recommend going to see the stage show. If you have never heard of 'Birds Of A Feather', then it might not have the same effect if you aren't familiar with the characters, so anything they do now won't really mean anything to you. It is still a comedy all the same and the story in the stage show is a new one, so you will still be able to follow it, but little things they mention you might not be sure why they are mentioning it, if you get my drift.

I'm so glad it came to the stage and over the moon that I got to see it :-).

They are touring until July 2012, so you can still purchase tickets.

If you have seen the stage show, what did you think?

If you are yet to see it, but have bought or are going to buy tickets, let me know what you think of it :-).

Much Love,

Gem XxOo