Never Forget- The Musical

I don't know that I'm qualified to comment on this musical because most of the people I went with were British and thought it was pretty entertaining but I couldn't help thinking that it is, bar none, the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen.

For those who aren't up on their 90's British music; Never Forget is a musical using the songs from the boy band Take That. I was hoping it be semi biographical and I would get some useful insight into British culture. But instead of creating a stand-alone story around the existing catalogue of music, they tell the story of some blokes from Manchester who decide to audition for a Take That tribute band in order to win the £10,000 prize to save someone's mother's pub.



So I spent the first half of the first act wondering which one was supposed to be Robbie Williams and not "which one is pretending to be a bloke from Manchester, pretending to be Robbie Williams. " If you're not already familiar with the boy band and their history, you just won't be able to keep up or appreciate some of the banter. Heck, if you're not familiar with at least 4 different types of Northern English accent you won't be able to understand half of them.

I will admit to laughing a LOT- but it wasn't always when they would have been expecting it... During the lead actress's one big solo number, the atmosphere in the theatre was that of a karaoke bar, with people talking and giggling while others sarcastically waved their lit lighters. But at least she inspired a big whoop and holler during the obligatory key change.

Check out those red pleather man undies!! with belt!

I think the biggest problem I had was that everything seemed pretty sub-par. The sets consist mostly of two big boxes which are shifted around the stage to create a bar, a salsa club, a strip club (no, seriously...) an alley, an office etc... The only exciting features of the entire show had to be the pyrotechnics during the ridiculous "Relight my Fire" scene (see above) and the rain to end Act I. It's probably a big spoiler to tell you that not only do the actors get rained on during a "heartfelt" ballad, but the engineers have somehow managed to make the rain spell out "Never Forget". I want to know who woke up in the middle of the night thinking that was a good idea.

In the end, although I managed to see this gem for free, I'd say the show is worth about £10.
As my colleagues explained to me later- this show is far too "camp" for words.

Sylvia at the Royal Opera House

Last year one of my college friends had the ingenious idea to have a Birthday Week. So she spent the entire week having a good time and proclaiming to anyone who would listen that it was her Birthday Week. We made fun of her pretty harshly during that time, but by the end of it I think we all realized that we too wanted a Birthday Week. So this year I kicked off my Birthday Week by going to the Ballet (and yeah, I know- it's not quite like getting free tequila shots at El Charros).

Look at that view! Boyfriend did good with the seats

I coulnd't tell you the last time I went to the ballet. For years I've been begging my mom to take me to see the Rocketts and that has yet to pan out- and it's not even ballet.. so that's as close as I've been since I wore pigtails. But seeing those dancers on the stage last night was completely hypnotic. The music was so soothing and delightful that Kris fell into a trance halfway through the first Act and just about fell alseep. And I don't blame him either because the experience was similar to watching the music visualizer on Itunes: random colorful squiggles that move to the music and all of a sudden make total sense. What didn't make sense was the story, but I really didn't care. I gathered that it probably had something to do with mythological gods... Lots of women warriors with bows and arrows.. and they worshiped a statue... Also there was a couple dressed like goats. I think the main plot revolves around a woman(diety? warrior?) named (and im gonna go ahead and guess here) Sylvia falling in love with this guy, who I could have sworn, she shot in Act I. In Act II she is taken to what I called "The little Aladdin Under the Sea" (which Kris did not find funny) and is held hostage by a vilain who is easily identifiable by his stereotypical villain-mustache. Meanwhile all the guys in this production were wearing the gay-est outfits maybe ever. I mean- look at him! Now don't take offense please- watching these guys jump, no float, about the stage put the biggest grin on my face. But maybe that's because everytime a guy leapt into the air with his arms so gracefully held over his head, my mind made him say "I'm gayer than you aaaaaare!"

But I think this flying Eros really won the imaginary competition in my head. So well done.

And now I give you pictures I took during the 12-20 minute applause where every mildly important dancer came out for an individual bow.