Ok, I know some of you will find this post hard to digest.
Mr B especially, who thinks Andrew Lloyd Webber is a “rich conservative git who is using the BBC to subsidise his vast income with Tax payers money…,” and he is entitled to his opinion, but he frankly he just doesn’t understand musical theeaytah dwarling.
Having watched the fantastic Lee Mead (see third picture along on link), last night as he won the roll of ’Joseph,’ I could not just ignore the moment.
I first saw Joseph when I was about 10 years old way back in 1985. I went with St Patrick’s Primary School.
I was mesmerized from start to finish.
I just loved it.
The music, the lights, the costume, the campness, just the whole spectacle of it all.
Since then, the only other Andrew Lloyd Webber show I’ve seen was ‘Aspects of Love’ which to be honest I thought was a pile of pap with just one tune.
But I have seen Les Miserables, Annie, a few Gilbert and Sullivan shows and Sooty.
Les Miserables especially, was pretty amazing. (Ok, Sooty was a bit special too.)
I think it’s that chance to escape reality for a while (unless you’re watching something by Brecht.)
I love the fantastic singing,
I love the live orchestra,
I love the sets, the stunts, the lighting and the imagination that can create this other world that you can just lose yourself in.
I feel the sadness and the joy.
The tension when you wonder, will he hit that big note?
And it’s all happening there in front of you.
There are no retakes, no second chances.
This is it.
I suppose alot of it comes from liking a good story.
I love to read. I’ve just finished all the ‘Harry Potter’ books again so I’m ready for July 21st.
I love to watch old movies with the big musical numbers such as ‘Singin’ in the rain.’ or, South Pacific.
And I love singing (even though I’m not particularly good.)
Miss E Beaufoix and I have had a fab time watching ‘Any Dream will do’ over the last few weeks.
It has been a great bit of mummy/daughter time.
After Keith the teeth and lovely Lee performed their final songs, we waited with baited breath.
Lee sang The Rolling Stones classic ‘Paint it Black’ brilliantly. (He is also much sexier than Mick Jagger, I’m sure Jerry Hall would agree.)
I held E’s hand and we prayed that Lee would be victorious.
When his name was announced we both cheered and grew big cheesy grins.
E: “Mummy, is Lee married?”
Me: “I don’t know, why? Do you want to marry him?”
E: “No mummy. I’m far too young. (derrrr) But can we see him? Pleeeeease?”
Me: “Well I suppose we could do it for your birthday present sweetie. Would that be ok?”
E: “Yesssssss.”
So it is decided. E and I will go off to London to see Joseph, while Mr B get’s to stay home and watch the cricket with M.
I’m quite excited, but I do feel a bit guilty, as I’m not sure I’d have even comtemplated it if she was asking to see someone like Enrique Iglazy-arse.
Does that make me a bad person?
Hmm, we might have to go and see McFly next, then maybe Disney on Ice, then……..
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June 10th, 2007 at 12:07 pm
Blimey Ms Beaufoix! Sounds as if the search for Joseph had quite an effect on you, you seem to drift off into a dream-like state during parts of that blog entry taking us into the world of live theatreland for a moment. I agree that Lee was the best performer. I would have voted for him but I am distrustful of live TV phone voting at the moment (and couldn’t write the number down in time!) It would have been nice though if Keith the Teeth had won though as he is not ALREADY A PROFESSIONAL WORKING ON THE WEST END STAGE! But then Lee is more fanciable and that’s never a bad thing. Did I ever tell you that for my birthday I went to watch PHILLIP SCHOFIELD in the West End production of Joseph. I too drifted off into a dreamlike state!!
June 10th, 2007 at 2:13 pm
Did you dream about Gordon?
I loved Gordon.
Follow this link to see where he is now…
http://www.jonathancobb.com/gordon.htm
steel yourself though. It’s not pretty.
June 10th, 2007 at 3:40 pm
Mr B’s correct. The Lloyd Weber / BBC con the public into forking out money for old rope band wagon is an insult.
They pretend to pick a winner by a public vote, and it just turns out to be someone who is already a professional theatre singer.
What a surprise.
Do people really think that someone like Lloyd Weber lets the public pick someone to front his shows? Of course he doesn’t.
Its nothing but a massive con. The worse thing about these shows is that they convince the public that the contestants are talented. Once that happens the public will buy the records of the winners. Its a win win for the producers of this rubbish.
And this all takes place whilst thousands of real singers, who could run rings round these hand picked, TV friendly puppets, devoting their lives to their craft, are overlooked.
Ok, so I’m ranting a little, but as real working professional musician these shows make me want to put my foot through the TV screen.
June 11th, 2007 at 12:58 am
See I was right, indigestable to musicians I know.
Ok, calm down, calm down, I get it.
Mr B agrees completely with you young man.
And I know it’s all a bit of a con, but the two in the final have genuine talent and will do a fantastic job.
I did find it amusing that like with the ‘Maria’ show, My LWebber kept on saving the unpopular one Lewis/Helena, as obviously this narrowed the final down a bit, but I do feel genuine talent was hi-lighted. (hope this isn’t the hair hi-light spelling, Haven’t got time to check. Sorry.)
And I still want to see it.
And I still think he’s gorgeous.
So there.
June 16th, 2007 at 8:30 am
Quick update.
We got tickets.
We’re going in October.
Pray for good health for the lovely Lee.
It’s costing us a blooming fortune.