Day Sixteen: Oklahoma!

Today's post is a musical from my least favorite composer(s). For me, I have serious issues with the classic duo Rogers and Hammerstein. I'm not a big fan of them for some reason. (There are a couple of musicals I can tolerate, however.) And the musical I chose to represent that is one of least favorite out of their works.

So I'll try to give a synopsis of the show. In Oklahoma during 1906, cowboy Curly McLain is in a good mood today and wanders into farm girl Laurey Williams' yard. He and Laurey tease each other, while Laurey's Aunt Eller looks away. There's a dance that night, and during it is an auction of lunch baskets made by the local girls to raise money for the schoolhouse. Whoever wins a lunch basket gets to eat the lunch with the girl who made it. Curly asks Laurey to go with him, but she tells him he waited too long. He persuades her by telling her he'll bring her in the finest carriage money can buy, but she thinks he's kidding, much to her dismay that he really did rent a carriage.

The lonely and disturbed farm hand Jud Fry has become obsessed with Laurey and asks her to the dance. She accepts to spite Curly, even though she is afraid of Jud. Meanwhile, cowboy Will Parker has just come back from his visit to modern Kansas City. He won $50 at a fair, which is how much his girlfriend's father, Andrew Carnes, is demanding if he wants to marry Ado Annie, his girlfriend. Unfortunately, he spent the money on buying gifts for her. Will also purchased a "Little Wonder" (a metal tube used for looking at pictures but with a hidden blade) for Ado Annie's father, unaware with its deadly secret.

Later, Ado Annie confesses to Laurey that she has been spending a lot of time with Ali Hakim, a Persian peddler. Laurey tells her she'll have to choose between the two, but Annie insists she loves them both. Laurey and her friends prepare for the dance, while Gertie Cummings flirts with Curly (she has an obnoxious laugh that Laurey instantly becomes annoyed by). Laurey tells her friends she doesn't really care about Curly.

Andrew Carnes, Annie's father, finds Annie with Ali Hakim. After questioning her about their relationship, Carnes forces Hakim to agree to marry Annie at gunpoint. Hakim thinks about the unfairness of the situation with the other guys. Curly discovers that Laurey is going to the dance with Jud and tries to convince her to with him instead. Scared to tell Jud she won't go with him, she tries to convince Curly (and herself) that she doesn't love him.

Hurt by her refusal, Curly goes to the smokehouse, where Jud lives, to go talk to him. Curly tries to convince Jud that since he isn't appreciated, he could hang himself, and the townsfolk would realize how much they really did care about him. Their chat ends up turning into a confrontation about Laurey. After Curly leaves, Jud vows to woo Laurey and to even make her his bride.

Confused between her fear of Jud and her feelings for Curly, she buys a "magic potion" (it's really a bottle of smelling salts) from Hakim, which he guarantees it will reveal her true love. She muses on leaving her dreams of love behind and joining the man she loves, then falls asleep under the influence of the laudanum (which was in the mixture). Laurey first dreams of what her marriage to Curly would be like, but then her dream takes a nightmarish turn when Jud appears and kills Curly. She cannot escape him, confused by her desires. The dream makes her realize that Curly is the right man for her, but it's too late for her to change her mind about going to the dance with Jud; he's already arrived and they leave for the dance.

At the dance, while the partygoers dance to an upbeat square dance, the rivalry between the local farmers and cowboys over fences and water rights has led to fighting, until Aunt Eller ends by firing a gun to quiet everyone. Laurey becomes upset seeing Curly arriving at the dance with Gertie. Attempting to get out of the Annie mess, Ali Hakim buys Will's souvenirs from Kansas City for $50. Jud buys the "Little Wonder," knowing of the secret blade inside.

The auction starts and Will bets $50, forgetting he will lose the money Annie's father demands if Will wants Annie's hand in marriage. Desperate, Hakim bets $51 so Will can keep the money and "buy" Annie's marriage. The auction becomes much more serious when Laurey's basket is offered. Several of the men in town bid in order to save Laurey from Jud, but he save every penny he owned and continued. Curly and Jud go into an auction war, which Curly wins by selling his saddle, his horse and even his gun. Jud stealthily tries to kill Curly with the "Little Wonder" but Aunt Eller (who knows what's happening) intervenes by asking Curly for a dance, foiling the plan. Later that night, Will and Annie work out their relationship, as long as she promises not to flirt with other guys.

Jud confronts Laurey and confesses his feelings for her. When she admits she doesn't feel the same way, Jud threatens her. She then fires him as her farm hand and tells him to get off of her property. He furiously threatens Laurey before departing; Laurey fears for her life and calls for Curly. Curly, after finding out what Laurey did, realizes that she came to him for protection and guidance, reassures her and proposes marriage, which she accepts. Curly then realizes he must be a farmer. Hakim decides to leave the territory and tells Annie that Will is the guy she wants to marry.

Three weeks later, Laurey and Curly marry and the entire town is in celebration. During the celebration, Hakim returns to town with his new wife, Gertie, whom he unwillingly married after her father threatened him with a shotgun. A drunk Jud reappears in town and attacks Curly with a knife. As Curly dodges a stabbing attempt, Jud falls on his own knife and dies. The town has a makeshift trial for Curly, who has to leave on his honeymoon. The judge, Andrew Carnes, declares him "Not Guilty!" and Curly and Laurey leave for their honeymoon.

Here's a song, from the movie version, "People Will Say We're In Love," sung by Shirley Jones (Laurey) and Gordon McRae (Curly)(this is when she tries to convince him and herself that she doesn't love him).

Day Fifteen: Sweeney Todd

Today's post is a musical written by your favorite composer. For those of you who know musicals, Sweeney Todd (the full name of the show is Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street, but for the blog, I'll refer it to the first two words.) 

So Sweeney Todd takes place in London, and the year is 1846. A young sailor named Anthony Hope, who's glad on coming home, arrives via boat with Sweeney Todd, whom Anthony recalls finding during a storm. Todd isn't in a great mood, and it becomes worse when a half-mad Beggar woman sexually solicits both men and thinks she recognizes Todd. Todd tells a cheery Anthony a dark tale about a barber, who had a very beautiful wife and she was pursued by this lustful judge who had the barber exiled just so he can "get her."

Todd enters a meat pie shop on Fleet Street, where the owner, Mrs Lovett, who complains about the economic times in London. Todd asks her about the unoccupied apartment upstairs, she recalls that the previous tenant was a barber named Benjamin Barker. Barker was sent away on false charges by Judge Turpin because he lusted after the barber's wife, Lucy. After Barker had been transported to a prison in Australia, the Judge and his cohort, Beadle Bamford, lured Lucy to the Judge's house and raped her. 

Todd's explosive reaction to the tale confirms Lovett's suspicions about Todd being Benjamin Barker. She tells Todd that his wife poisoned herself and her then-infant daughter, Johanna, became a ward of the judge. Todd swears revenge on both the Judge and Beadle, then Mrs. Lovett brings out Todd's old collection of sterling silver straight razors, and tells him he can live above her shop and be a barber again.

Meanwhile, Anthony, walking down the street, sees an exquisite blonde girl singing through the window. The Beggar Woman passes by and tells Anthony that the girl is Johanna, Judge Turpin's ward. Unaware that Johanna is Todd's daughter, he is immediately smitten with her and pledges to woo her. However, the Judge and Beadle threaten Anthony away by violently killing a bird he buys for Johanna. 

In the crowded marketplace, a renowned "Italian" barber, Adolfo Pirelli, and his little simple-minded assistant, Tobias Ragg, try to convince the crowd to buy their elixir that can cure hair loss. After Todd exposes the elixir as a fraud, challenges Pirelli to a shaving competition. Pirelli tries to be flashy while shaving his customer's face, but it is Todd who wins easily. Todd invited the impressed Beadle to his parlor some time for a complimentary shave.

Days go by as Todd awaits the Beadle's arrival, resulting in Todd becoming patient. Mrs. Lovett tells him to calm down, that the Beadle will be there soon. Anthony enters the shop and tells Todd of his sudden romance with Johanna and asks to use Todd's barbershop as a safe house for the girl. Right after Anthony leaves, Pirelli and Tobias (who likes to be called Toby) visit the shop. Mrs. Lovett distracts Toby downstairs , while Pirelli and Todd talk. It's discovered that Pirelli isn't Italian; he's Irish. He reveals he's Danny O'Higgins and recounts having worked as an assistant for Todd fifteen years ago. O'Higgins tries to blackmail his former employer, who responds by strangling O'Higgins and stuffing his body into the trunk. Toby pops his head in, looking for "Pirelli," then leaves when Todd tells him he left already. After Toby leaves, Todd finishes the job by slitting O'Higgins' throat.

Judge Turpin is tormented for his lust for his ward Johanna and announces his intention to marry her. Disgusted by this announcement, Anthony and Johanna plan to elope. At the same time, the Beadle recommends Todd's services to the Judge, in order to improve his appearance to attract Johanna. Mrs. Lovett still distracts Toby when the Judge enters. Todd, caught off guard but eager for blood, exacts his revenge by calming the Judge. Before Todd strikes, Anthony barges in and tells Todd about his and Johanna's plans, and informs the Judge, who vows never to return to the shop. 

Todd drives Anthony away before entering into furious madness. He begins to target all of humanity, by punishing the rich and corrupt, while relieving the poor of their misery, through death. While discussing what to do with O'Higgins' body, Mrs. Lovett suggests, through wordplay, that they use the flesh of Todd's victims in her meat pies, an idea that Todd enthusiastically agrees to.

Mrs. Lovett's pie shop becomes a big success and even Toby helps waiting on the shop's many customers. The only downside is the Beggar Woman, who keeps hanging around the pie shop, defaming Mrs. Lovett. Todd rigged his barber chair so that after Todd kills his victims, there's a chute from the shop (under the chair) that leads directly to the basement, where Mrs. Lovett would bake the flesh into pies. 

Todd gets used to the idea that he'll never see his daughter, Johanna, again, spending that time slashing throats. Anthony longs to be with her romantically. Mrs. Lovett dreams a life of retirement with Todd, who appears to be uninterested.

Meanwhile, Anthony finds out that the Judge has sent Johanna to Fogg's Lunatic Asylum and, with Todd's help, plans tor rescue her by posing as a wigmaker and wants to "purchase" the inmates' hair. Todd sends a secret letter to the Judge about Anthony's plot, hoping to lure the Judge to his shop, which is where Anthony plans on bringing Johanna to.

In the shop, Toby expresses his suspicions about Todd and his desire to protect Mrs. Lovett, whom he now sees as a mother figure. When he recognizes Pirelli's coin purse in Lovett's possessions, she refocus his attention to working on the meat grinder, secretly locking him in the basement where the machine is located. Beadle Bamford arrives at the shop due to complaints from the neighbors about a strange smell ad smoke coming from the pie shop's chimney.

Lovett stalls Deadle until Todd comes, offering him a free "shave." Mrs. Lovett loudly plays music to cover the screams of Beadle's death. Immediately after, Toby discovers a hair and fingernail in a pie he eats when suddenly, Beadle's fresh corpse tumbles from the chute into the basement. Mrs. Lovett informs Todd that Toby has found out about their plan and must dispose of him.

Anthony arrives at the asylum to rescue Johanna but Fogg, the deranged owner of the asylum, attempts to stop them. Anthony pulls out a pistol but is unable to shoot Fogg. Johanna grabs it and shoots the owner. The two flee to Todd's parlor (with Johanna disguised as a sailor.) The asylum's inmates escape with the couple, proclaiming the end of the world.

Todd and Mrs. Lovett search for Toby in vain, but when the Judge arrives, abandons their search. Anthony brings Johanna to the shop, telling her to wait for him as he finds a coach. He leaves and Johanna hides just as the Beggar Woman, who's in an extreme frenzy, enters the parlor. Todd enters the shop and sees the Beggar Woman. Anticipating the Judge's arrival, he frantically slits her throat and send her down the chute right before the Judge enters.

Todd assures the Judge that Johanna did not come to the shop, as Todd's note did say. The Judge asks for one quick shave before reuniting with her. Once Todd has the Judge in his chair, he suddenly begins to mock him, alerting the Judge to his true  identity. Both Todd and the Judge scream, "Benjamin Barker!" before Todd passionately slits his enemy's throat and sends him down the chute. Johanna, who heard everything, emerges from her hiding place and is almost slain by Todd; but at that moment, Mrs. Lovett shrieks from the bakehouse below, allowing Johanna to escape.

Down at the bakehouse, Mrs. Lovett panics when the wounded Judge is clawing her dress before finally dying. Storming into the room, he sees the Beggar Woman's face in the oven light and realizes that she was in fact Todd's wife, Lucy. Mrs. Lovett had used wordplay and said that she told him Lucy poisoned herself, but Todd interpreted this as his wife being dead. Todd accuses Mrs. Lovett from deceiving him, but Mrs. Lovett maintains her innocence, claiming she took poison, but didn't die, but instead became insane. She withheld the whole truth from him because she loves him. Todd pretends to act calm and forgiving, waltzing Mrs. Lovett to the huge oven, throws her into the fire, and slams the doors shut.

Todd then sinks to the floor and cradles his dead wife in his arms. Toby, now completely insane (proven in his now white hair), picks up Todd's fallen razor and slits Todd's throat. As Anthony, Johanna, and some officers break into the bakehouse, Todd falls dead as Toby drops the razor, and absentmindedly parodies the motions of the meat grinder.

In the epilogue, the ghosts of Todd and Mrs. Lovett arrise from the grave, both claim that revenge is capable of all of us, then leaves for one last time.

For some reason, I love the song "Johanna." Maybe because the movie Anthony (Jamie Campbell Bower) has such a great voice for this!

Day Fourteen: Miss Saigon

Today's post is a musical I haven't listened to or seen in a while, and my musical is Miss Saigon!

So Miss Saigon takes place during the Vietnam War in Vietnam. Kim, a seventeen year old Vietnamese orphan, is at her first day at her new job, the sleazy Vietnamese night club called Dreamland. She is greeted by the Engineer, a French-Vietnamese sleazeball who owns the club. The U.S. Marines, knowing they're departing Vietnam soon, decide to go to the club to party with the Vietnamese prostitutes. 

Chris Scott, a Marine who wan't into the club scene and partying at all, is dragged along with his friend John Thomas. The girls are competing for who wins the title "Miss Saigon" and the winner is raffled to a marine. Kim's innocence strikes Chris. The winner of Miss Saigon, Gigi Van Trahn, begs the marine that won the raffle to take her to America, but he refuses.

John pays The Engineer for a room for Chris and Kim. Kim is reluctant and shy but eventually dances with Chris. Chris tries to pay her to leave the nightclub. The Engineer interferes, thinking Chris doesn't like Kim, but he is eventually led to the room John rented for him and Kim.

Chris, while watching Kim sleep, asks God why he had met Kim just as he was about to leave Vietnam. When Kim wakes up, Chris tries to give her money, but she refuses, saying that it was her first time she slept with a man. Chris tells Kim she doesn't need to sell herself at the club, because he wants her to stay with him.  The two pledge their love for each other. Chris tells John he's taking leave to spend time with Kim, but John warns him that the Viet Cong (North Vietnamese army) will soon take over Saigon, but eventually covers for Chris. Chris meets with The Engineer to trade for Kim, but The Engineer is trying to include an American visa into the deal. Chris holds The Engineer at gunpoint to honor the original arrangement for Kim.

The club holds a "wedding ceremony" for Chris and Kim, and Gigi toasts Kim as the "real" Miss Saigon. Thuy, Kim's cousin that she was betrothed to at age thirteen, comes to the club to take her home. He's a North Vietnamese officer and is mad that she's with Chris. The two men draw guns at each other. Kim tells Thy the arranged marriage is off because her parents are dead and she has no feelings for him. Thuy leaves angrily. Chris promises to take Kim when he leaves Vietnam. The couple dance to the same song they did on their first night.

Three years pass, and in Saigon (now named Ho Chi Minh City), a street parade is beginning to celebrate the third anniversary of the reunification of Vietnam and the fall of the Americans. Thuy, a commissar in the new government, has ordered soldiers to find the still-sleazy Engineer. Thuy orders the Engineer to find Kim and bring her to him. Kim is still in love with Chris and has been hiding ever since, in hope that he will come back to Vietnam for her. Meanwhile, Chris is asleep in his bed with his new American wife, Ellen, when he awakes from a dream, shouting Kim's name. The two women still swear that they both love Chris.

The Engineer finds Kim and brings her to Thuy. Kim refuses Thuy's marriage proposal again, then introduces him to Tam, Kim's three-year old son fathered by Chris. Thuy calls Kim a traitor and moves to kill Tam with a knife when Kim kills Thuy with Chris' gun. Kim flees with Tam and seeks help from the Engineer to escape to America. He doesn't agree at first, but when she reveals Chris is the father, the Engineer shows compassion as he see this as a ticket to America. The three head to Bangkok and set out on a ship of refugees.

In Atlanta, GA, John now works for an organization who connects Bui-Doi (children conceived during the war) to their American fathers. John tells Chris that Kim is still alive, and that she had Tam and urges him to return to Vietnam. Chris finally comes clean to his wife about Kim and Tam. In Bangkok, the Engineer works a sleazy club where Kim is a dancer. Chris, Ellen, and John arrive, searching for Kim. John finds Kim at the club and tells her that Chris is also in Bangkok. Kim is thrilled that Tam's father has come to take them to America, or so she thinks. John doesn't have the heart to tell her he remarried.

The Engineer tells Kim to find Chris herself because he doubted that Chris would come looking for her. Kim is haunted by the ghost of Thuy, who says that Chris will betray her as he did three years ago. Kim suffers a horrible flashback to that night. 

In the flashback, Kim sees the Viet Cong approaching Saigon. The city becomes chaotic and hectic, and Chris is called to the embassy, so he leaves his gun with Kim and tells her to go pack. When Chris enters the embassy, the gates close, and orders from Washington advise the place to evacuate any of the remaining Americans. The Ambassador orders that no Vietnamese are allowed in. Kim reaches the gates of the Embassy only to find a crowd of terrified Vietnamese trying to get in. 

Chris tries to leave the Embassy to get her, but his friend John had to punch him to get him to stay inside.Chris is put into the last helicopter, leaving Saigon and Kim, who still pledges her love to him.

Back to the current age, Kim dresses in her wedding clothes and leaves the Engineer to watch Tam while she's gone. Kim goes to Chris' hotel room and finds Ellen. She thinks she's John's wife, but Ellen reveals she's Chris' wife. Kim refuses to believe Ellen and Ellen asks if Chris is the father of Tam, which she confirms. Kim says she doesn't want Tam to live on the streets like a rat, but Ellen assures Kim they will send whatever money to support him. Kim begs Ellen to take Tam to America, but Ellen refuses, saying Tam should be with his mother and that her and Chris will have children of their own.

Kim runs out of the room. Ellen feels bad for Kim, but is still determined to keep Chris. Chris and John return with no luck finding Kim. Ellen tells them that Kim came by the room and Ellen had to be the one to tell her everything. Chris and John blame themselves for being gone from Vietnam too long. Ellen also tells Chris Kim wants him to go to her place, and that she tried to give Tam to them. John realizes Kim wants Tam to be "an American boy." 

Ellen then gives Chris an ultimatum to Chris: stay with Ellen or go with Kim. Chris assures Ellen he loves her. 

Chris plans to leave Tam in Bangkok but will offer monetary support from America. John warns him that Kim won't like having Tam stay in Thailand. Back at the club, Kim lies to the Engineer that they are going to America.The Engineer imagines the fancy live he'll have there. Chris, John and Ellen find the Engineer, who takes them to Kim and Tam.

In her room, Kim tells Tam he should be happy because he has a father. She tells him she can't go with him but she'll watch over him. Chris, Ellen, John and the Engineer arrive outside of her room. The Engineer comes into the room to take Tam to see his American father. While this happens, Kim steps behind a curtain and shoots herself. 

She falls to the floor as everyone runs into the room after hearing the gunshot. Kim is found mortally wounded. Chris holds Kim in his arms as she's dying, and asks why she did this, and she explains that the gods have guided him to his son. Chris begs her not to die as she asks Chris to hold her one last time. After one final kiss, Kim speaks her last words to Chris ("How in one night have we come so far?") and dies in his arms.

The ending of the show always depresses me every time I read it, but it has a good story line, I must say! We're doing this show next year and I really want to be Ellen! (Just hoping)

This song, "Sun And Moon," is one of my favorites of the whole show. And I love Lea Salonga! She has a perfect voice!

Day Thirteen: Grease

So I said I would post two yesterday. I lied, and I can't post two tonight, I barely type this one! I was honestly planning on blowing tonight's post off but I like you guys too much so I won't do it!

Today's post is a musical I loved from hearing the first note, and that is the classic Grease.

Do I really need to give a synopsis for this show? I mean, don't people know it by now?

Quick description: Boy and girl dated, boy and girl depart, boy and girl meet again, but boy ignores girl. Boy and girl constantly tease the other's affections, boy and girl end up together again. The end.

I would normally do the song "Mooning" (yes it is about the act of Mooning and it's how two of the characters bond together), but I just have always liked the song "Those Magic Changes" and this guy sounds really good in my opinion, so I'll do this song! (The actual song doesn't start until 1 minute into the video)

Day Twelve: Hairspray

(Sorry I'm a day late! I fell asleep yesterday so there will be two today!)

Yesterday's post was a musical that I could spend all day listening to, which is Hairspray. I love it, I find it so catchy, and Nikki Blonsky is the perfect Tracy for me.

So the show also takes place in the '60s. Tracy Turnblad, who is overweight and is sometimes made fun for it, and her best friend, Penny, watch this dance TV show called the Corny Collins Show and Tracy really wants to be on it. Her mother, Edna (who is always played by a guy, for some weird reason) diminishes her dreams while her dad, Wilbur, says go for it.

Tracy tries out for the show after an opening is discovered but isn't given the role. One of the executives of the TV show, Velma, and her daughter Amber, make fat jokes at her during the auditions. Tracy develops a crush on the show heartthrob, Link Larkin. After Tracy is sent to detention (for the first time), she meets Seaweed, whose mother is the host of Negro Day, a segment that happens on the Corny Collins Show once every month. 

Tracy dances in a Corny Collins Show dance contest and does Seaweed's signature dance, which impressed Corny enough to pick her to fill in the spot on his show. From there, she becomes a huge success, much to Amber and Velma's racist dismays. 

Tracy receives lots of calls from fans, including one named Mr. Pinky, owner of Mr. Pinky's Hefty Hideaway (which is a clothing store made for overweight people) and asked if Tracy was their spokemodel, to which she agrees. Tracy's popularity results to Amber knocking Tracy out during dodgeball out of jealousy. Link rushes to her side, as well as Seaweed and Penny, who now like each other. 

After school, Seaweed invites the three of them to his mother's record shop for a party. At the shop, Tracy rallies up people to perform a march against the station the next day, as black people aren't allowed on the set besides Negro Day. When they arrived at the set, Velma calls the police and almost everyone gets arrested.

After the march, most of the women are in the women's penitentiary. Velma manages to get the governor to pardon both her and Amber. Wilbur bails everyone else out, except for Tracy, who is still in jail due to Velma's dirty tricks. Wilbur and Edna lament about how Tracy's in jail, then the two of them realize how much they love the other and how they could never part.

Link breaks into the jail and busts out Tracy. Penny is grounded by her mother for "going to jail without [her] permission," which Seaweed bails her out of her room. Both couples declare their love for one another. The couples seek refuge at the record shop. Despite Tracy's efforts, the Corny Collins Show is still segregated. They plan a way for the show to be integrated.

It's the day of Miss Teenage Hairspray Competition. Amber shows off her dance moves in an effort to win votes. Just as the results are about to be announced, Tracy (whose hair is straightened to represent her not following the man) takes over the stage with Penny, Seaweed, Edna, Wilbur, Inez (Seaweed's sister who wasn't allowed to be on the show) and Motormouth Maybelle (Seaweed and Inez's mother). Tracy is declared the winner of the competition, and Corny Collins announces that the show is officially integrated. 

Mr. Spritzer, the head executive of the station, announces the governor has pardoned Tracy and Link is offered a recording contract. Motormouth Maybelle is declared the vice president of Ultra Glow--- beauty products for women of color. Penny's mother accepts Penny for who is she is. The entire cast rejoice and Tracy and Link share a kiss. 

One of my personal favorites, "I Can Hear The Bells" (I'll use Nikki Blonksy for this!)

Day Eleven: Hair

I love writing about this show! Today's post is a show that has made the most impact on you, which, for me, is Hair.

I think what impacted me the most about the show is when I first saw a video of the Tonys' performance of the title song, I instantly fell in love with the whole freedom theme and '60s rebellion. Plus, some of the songs I've heard are absolutely hysterical (every time I hear "Air", I just find it so sarcastic!) 

So Hair takes place during the Vietnam War, in the '60s. The show likes to mix in with its audience members a lot and often breaks the fourth wall. The tribe, led by Claude, celebrate "the age of Aquarius." Berger (who we think is on drugs because he's a psychedelic teddy bear) is looking for his "Donna."

The tribe sing about drugs, both legal and illegal. Then other characters are introduced, such as Woof, Hud, Sheila, and Jeanie. They do random skits, such as pretending to be Claude's parents. The true dilemmas of the main characters are shown; Sheila is with Berger, who is always trying to entertain the crowd, and Jeanie is in love with Claude, who is trying to decide what he wants to do in life. He ends up deciding to join the military and "be invisible."

This song, "Walking In Space," is what Claude sees (and how the tribe reacts) after Berger gives him and the others a joint mixed with hallucinogens. It's pretty cool. 

Day Ten: Cats

(Fair warning, if you like the musical Cats, then do not read this, because today's post is my least favorite musical.)

I have never enjoyed the musical Cats. And I don't know why. I've just never enjoyed it. I tried watching the  London Opera House recording of it (a good 15 minutes I watched it) and I thought they were singing the same song and I wasn't paying attention to what they were singing at all!

Don't get me wrong; the actors are very good dancers (this is show is extremely heavy on dancing) as well as singing, and there is virtually no dialogue. I don't think I like the story line very well. I mean there are some cats mentioned (cough cough Mr. Mistofelees) who I thought deserved to go. What about Old Deuteronomy   ? He's rather wise, and old. Didn't he deserve to go also? He's bound to die!

Grizabella is just very confusing to me. She left the tribe, and then decides to come back? She should earn her place among the cats, not just fit in, and ironically she gets picked to go be reborn. Don't get me wrong, she's very powerful and moving, and she had a bad life,  but the fact that she's moping of how bad her life was, instead of trying to show she belongs in the tribe and making the most of what life and dignity she had left, bothers me.

I won't go into detail, I'll give a quick description; it's a group of cats from the Jellicle Tribe and the show introduces certain cats who have the chance to go to Heaviside Layer and have a chance to be reborn. In the end, the cat that mopes around a lot (Grizabella) gets to be reborn.

Here's a song that people should be familiar with when hearing this show, "Memory," which is sung by Grizabella right before she gets picked to be reborn.