My Top 5 Most Anticipated Summer Shows

Show Sunday number three is here! I didn’t see any shows at the cinema this week so no reviews today. When thinking about that fact it dawned on me that I have not seen a live performance in a good few months. I’m shocked! Summer is the golden season for shows, and like every year there is plenty to go see. In light of that, I thought I’d use this Sunday to tell you guys what I’m looking forward to seeing the most.

The Addams Family – Surprisingly I know hardly anything about the famous television series of the same name, the musical adaptation will be an introduction to the whole franchise for me. The Addams Family are touring in the UK for the very first time so it’s not to be missed. Having just opened at their first destination, Edinburgh, they too have been greeted with positive reviews.  Youtuber/Author, Carrie Hope Fletcher, stars as Wednesday Addams in this classic, curiosity plays a big part in me wanting to see her perform. I’ve seen her show her talent online but I’ve wanted to see it in person since she starred in Les Miserables! I’m excited to learn more about the musical and why everyone loves this odd family so much. A must-see for me indeed!

Funny Girl – After all the hype and drama that happened surrounding Funny Girl last year it’s no surprise that I wouldn’t have this show on my list. Funny Girl is a classic and was highly acclaimed for its revival last summer. Unfortunately, I missed it in the West End due to exam season, but luckily they decided to tour it, hurrah! Fingers crossed I’ll get tickets to see Natasha J Barnes star as Fanny Brice at the Marlowe Theatre this week!

An American in Paris – This musical has made its home at the Dominion Theatre for a while now, and I still have yet to see it. Based on the 1951 film of the same name, An Americanin Paris has received 5 star reviews; I’m anticipating it to have a timeless atmosphere too. If I see at least one West End musical this year I will make sure it is this one. Expectations are high for this one, I’m pretty sure I’ll love it despite not knowing much about it yet.

Jane Eyre – Charlotte Brontë astounded me with this favourite classic of mine. A play by Polly Teale at Shared Experience introduced me to this inspiring novel in the first place; although I have read it I have not seen it. I have been craving to see a stage adaptation of Jane Eyre since I first encountered the story, so finding out that the National Theatre and Bristol Old Vic have joined forces to create a new play is fantastic news! To add to that, it gained 5 star reviews at the National Theatre. You will definitely see me at the Marlowe checking this one out. 

Working – One day I was checking my emails and I noticed that this had popped into my inbox. Written by Stephen Schwartz, creator of Wicked, in the 1970s, this musical has been refined with new songs added by Lin-Manuel Miranda, known for Hamilton and Moana. Working had never crossed my path before and I am very curious to see what it’s all about. For a short time this musical will be performed at the Southwark Playhouse, a theatre that I have yet to visit. Seeing this show will be a complete wildcard which I’m hoping will ignite a new passion from this discovery.

It’s a good line up isn’t it! I’m really hoping I can see all five shows. Perhaps nearer the time I’ll find more shows to see too. As of right now there is no opera on the list, after seeing Madama Butterfly last month, I have really wanted to see another opera, so that’ll be something to look out for. Well that’s all for today, I hope some of the shows on my list have sparked your interest! Feel free to comment below and let me know what ones take your fancy.

Book Review: Geekerella by Ashley Poston

It is books like this that remind me why I love reading. All it took was for me to walk into Waterstones, see the cover and know I had to buy it. I hoped and prayed that this would be worth the time and money. Geekerella has done more than that, it has reignited my inner book nerd, and I know I’ll be reading obsessively for the next month.

Cinderella retellings have been done so many times before, I know, but the story is always magical and heartwarming, no matter what setting or characters lie within it. I only finished this book last night and yet I had to talk about it now! This is all quite fitting seeming as I mentioned my love of retellings in my Top Ten Tuesday a couple weeks ago. Not only did it include one of my favourite fairytales, there was a very clear homage to the film, You’ve Got Mail, too!  I’m not fussed about cheesy lines, or cliché tropes when they are written with a quirky sense of humour. Love/hate relationships just never get old. I found myself either laughing or fuming at the twists and turns as well as the mix of cruel and kind characters.

A modern, geeky take on a classic tale is all you need to boost your reading spirits. Especially if you liked Rainbow Rowell’s Fangirl or are a part of a fandom yourself. Geekerella explores the wonder of the fandom community, and the power it creates. Not to mention the fact that it balances the information between Starfield and their real world perfectly.

And lastly, the messages in this book are delightful. Be proud of who you are and reach for the stars. Stand up for yourself, your friends and what you believe in! Take inspiration from your favourite character like Elle does with Prince Carmindor from Starfield. Who doesn’t love a bit of cosplay and community?!

Five stars from me! If I can’t put it down then how could the rating get any lower?

What a lovely way to end this month! Have you read Geekerella or any other fairytale retellings? I’d love to know your thoughts!

Top Ten Things That Will Make Me Instantly NOT Want To Read A Book

Be prepared for things to get a little controversial, as this week we are talking about what makes us dislike a book! The Broke and Bookish have done a complete turnaround from their positive topic of instantly wanting a book. Despite the difficult topic, I still manage to find ten things to add to this week’s list. Now let’s get into the nitty gritty.

• Idealizing Wrong Morals – If a character hurts another person or breaks the law and the writer portrays it as something acceptable then I almost instantly want to put the book down. It’s pretty hard to know this will occur before reading a book so usually I carry on anyway. But why do that? Flawed characters are needed, but only if they grow and learn from their mistakes.

• “Perfect” Main Characters – Linking to my previous point, I often find main characters, especially in Chick-lits, who are written as if they can do no wrong. They know everything and are nice to everyone, having no insecurities, even though clearly they are very flawed. It’s so hard to like a character when their obvious flaws aren’t written to be shown.

• Bad reviews – A bit of an obvious one. There have been times where I’ve loved the concept of a book until I’ve seen multiple people say it was disappointing. I’ll take the risk and avoid this one so I don’t waste my time.

• Surrealism – Mention this word and I will run. One day I will be able to read a surreal book and see the hidden meanings behind all the dream sequences and confusing moments. Unfortunately, that day is not today. Believe me, I will brave it and accept the unknown someday!

• Space – I have read many books with space involved and enjoyed them, but I often find myself lost and strangely bored in the concept of our universe being much bigger. There’s just too much to take in!

• Religion – Being someone who’s not particularly religious, it’s no surprise that this is on my list. It’s not that I don’t want to read anything religious, I just never think to pick anything like it up. I have read books with religious metaphors in the past and not taken any notice of them!

• Sports – I’m just not interested! Unless there’s ice skating or dance involved..

• Factual – I strive to improve the variety of books that I read. However, I still find myself avoiding books that require knowing a lot about a particular subject to understand what’s happening. How can I get into it if I constantly have to look stuff up? Mark my words though; I will conquer these types of books someday.

• Erotic – Is it getting hot in here? Honestly, it’s probably not. I often find fiction books about sex to be badly written and have characters who are weak or particularly nasty to other characters. Who needs it if you’ve got lovely characters and a great storyline?

• Gory Humour – Scenes where characters throw up or do obscene things are just not my cup of tea! I don’t laugh, I just grimace.

What a tough topic! It’s quite hard to admit what you don’t like, when its best to push past the boundaries that you create for yourself. Perhaps in a few years, some of these things will feature on my list of wants in a book. We’ll have to wait and see!

So let me know: What puts you off from reading a book? Is there anything on my list that you think shouldn’t be on there? Comment don’t below!

NT Live's Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead at The Old Vic

Here we have our second Show Sunday and with that my second review of a National Theatre Live production. By the picture it’s pretty clear what I’m reviewing today: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead by Tom Stoppard which premiered at The Old Vic on 24^th August 1966! This production has been arranged at its original theatre to celebrate the play’s 50^th anniversary, and directed by David Leveaux. Of course it wouldn’t be a proper celebration if a couple of highly well-known actors weren't hired to play the stars of the roles. These actors are none other than Daniel Radcliffe, Rosencrantz, and Joshua McGuire, Guildenstern. The characters stumble through many different mishaps in this tragicomedy, set in a different perspective of Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet.

Given the amount that this play is studied in schools and how popular these two actors are in mainstream culture, I’m sure that this production has attracted many people, old and young alike! The showing started off with a tour of The Old Vic, a lovely introduction to theatre before seeing the play itself. This I have found to be what I love most about seeing theatre productions at the cinema. That and the decrease in cost!

Language is key in Stoppard’s masterpiece. This is evident in the minimal set; the stage is often left almost bare, with just a ladder and a curtain onstage. The audience must concentrate and listen to what the actors are saying to really understand the different nuances. Stoppard and Leveaux definitely chose the verbal over the visual.

At times I found myself quite confused, with it being a play within a play within a play. No surprise from an absurdist play! If you like any form of art to make sense easily then Rosencrantz and Guildenstern will not be for you. This was what I found as I struggled to keep up with all the witty lines, and cuts from one scene to another, while my friend who watched it with me found delight in all the nonsensical scenes and confusion that occurred. It really shows that no matter how popular something may be personal preference and interests still sway your views.

Although this play wasn’t quite my cup of tea, there were still many moments where I laughed out loud, along with the rest of the audience. Daniel Radcliffe and Joshua McGuire bounced off of each other, and really made the moments of back-and-forth wordplay shine. One of the best parts for me was when they played a question game to practice talking to Hamlet, keeping score of who was winning. Radcliffe, McGuire and David Haig as The Player, all kept a fast pace, shooting out lines left right and centre! Despite their high energy, it was hard to see past the actor playing the character. I couldn’t quite believe that they were their characters, feeling their emotions. However, it was still worth a watch. Now it’s time to do some extra reading to prepare myself to see it again in the future! There is always more to learn.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead is an inventive and clever production, one that you should not miss out on. It may have not been completely for me, but it is understandable why it is loved by many. Its playing at The Old Vic till 5^th May 2017 so be sure to check it out yourself. 

Top Ten Things That Will Make Me Instantly Want To Read A Book

It has come to that part of the week again where I join in with the Broke and the Bookish’s series, Top Ten Tuesday. This week’s list is topics, themes or words that make me want to instantly read a book. Let’s get straight to it!

• Theatre/Music – I love anything that involves the arts. Whether it’s a story about an actress trying to achieve her dreams, or just a high school girl that likes singing in her spare time. There are extra points given to any books that quote songs or have references!

• Fairytales – My go to books when I was a child were fairytale books so it’s no wonder that this would be on the list as an adult! Fairytales have been told for centuries so any book that has a modern twist on a classic story is an instant favourite for me.

• Princesses/Makeovers – If a book mentions having descriptions of flowing dresses, or a character having a miracle transformation then I am in!

• Coming of Age/Self Fulfillment – Anything that mentions a character growing up, going on a journey and discovering themselves. As a person still learning who they are, it’s very easy to relate to a character who is doing the same.

• Epistolary – Books created in the form of letters and emails are so fun to read! You can really get to know the characters that way and it can be quite quick and easy too. A nice breeze in between two heavy books.

• Quirky – Characters that are created to be flawed, goofy and fun are the best! You can laugh at the silly things that they do, and really root for a happy ending for them.

• Fantasy in the Real World – A mixture of the real and the unreal always gets me hooked. Especially when a story is trying to convince you that a fantasy world connected to ours is real. It really makes you wonder what could be out there.

• Unique Time Periods – I recently read Attachments by Rainbow Rowell which is set in the 90’s and loved it! A lot of modern books are set in our time which we experience constantly anyway. It’s wonderful exploring somewhere in the past like the Victorian times or the 1950’s.

• Thriller/Can’t Put Down – Usually when there is a comment on the back saying that a reader couldn’t put the book down then I really want to challenge that and see if its right. Who doesn’t love a bit of suspense?

• Recommended - This last one is quite general but it’s very true. Seeing someone else talking passionately about a certain book nearly always want to read it. Even if it’s something I wouldn’t be interested in, I suddenly want to see what it’s all about.

Phew! That was a difficult one! There are so many different topics to choose from, I’m sure I missed out quite a few. Are there any particular topics in books you love that I’ve missed? Let me know in the comments.

Twelfth Night at the National Theatre Review

Welcome to Show Sunday, my new series in which I discuss performing arts in various ways. Whether that be a personal experience, a review or an insight into particular aspects of what I love.

Today I will be reviewing the National Theatre’s Live Cinema showing of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. Well, what can I say? Last week I was blown away by this production. I had studied Twelfth Night at university and found it boring at times, despite She’s the Man being one of my favourite romantic comedies. Although I was a fan of the story, it definitely wasn’t one of my favourite plays by William Shakespeare. But that has all changed now!

Simon Godwin created a modern take on the timeless play, changing a few aspects including the setting and the gender of Malvolio. The choices that he makes are incredibly well thought out, and really show the importance of accepting people no matter what gender they are. This play really is timeless, and the change of time period really did make the director’s choices work.

One aspect that I loved was the design of the set. It consisted of two white staircases that are connected at the top. These staircases open and close to represent different locations of various scenes. For example, in Act 1 Scene 1, the stairs are closed, and when looking at the front they resemble the front of a ship. To add to this, the stage underneath revolves so that different angles can be used. During Viola’s soliloquy the stage is turned so that the back of the stairs are shown at the side of the stage. The characters then walk around the space as if it was a street, making the image of being outside Olivia’s home clear in the audience’s head. Of course, in other scenes props were used too. A fountain was placed centre stage and surrounded by potted plants to place the scene in a garden. It was all very cleverly done. These props and the costumes brought an array of colours to the stage; with the men wearing suits that are blue or pink and Olivia transforming from wearing black to light blue. It really did bring all of the characters to life.

Each performer acted splendidly, no matter what role they played. I paid particular attention to Viola as I studied her soliloquy in a class in university. I was interested to see if the portrayal would reflect the analysis that we made. Tamara Lawrance performed it just the way I imagined, keeping a balance of humour and sincerity. She clearly showed her intentions throughout, with one of my favourite moments being in the final act when she is accused of actions she did not do. She looks out at the audience and up to the sky with a mixture of shock and exasperation on her face. Viola is so open with her confusion that the audience ends up in fits of laughter.

Viola wasn’t the only funny character. Of course, it wouldn’t be a very good comedy if she was! All of the actors were directed to play the characters in a way that shows that they are all well aware of how confusing the situation is, even to the point where Sebastian mimes “What the f***?” as he leaves a scene. Hearing a modern phrase in a 1600s script really did make the play much more relatable. This is not the only time that little mimes, vocal and physical nuances are added to the text to modernise the play. I couldn’t mention physicality without mentioning Sir Toby and Sir Andrew Aguecheek. Scenes that could potentially be boring are really brought to life. Their little scenes are like gems, with the characters modernised as party animals, twerking and skipping to loud music. It is a genius move, and the show would really be missing its spark without them.

As I mentioned before, there is one change that is more significant than all the others. Malvolio has become Malvolia, a woman who realises that she is in love with her mistress. Tamsin Greig shines in this as she plays with the audience, frequently breaking the forth wall. I really enjoyed how Greig plays Malvolia, showing her cynical flaws in a light-hearted and comedic way but also slowly revealing the harshness to her situation. Although the decision to change Malvolio’s gender worked, I did find a few things that confused me. Although Viola and Duke Orsino’s love for each other was clear throughout, Malvolia’s passion seemed to appear very out of the blue. It wasn’t portrayed enough in the beginning to warrant her sudden enthusiasm later on. She switched from being serious and very monotone to goofy. I found this off-putting but there could be an explanation. Perhaps these emotions had not been there and then when she opened up to them she became more ridiculous. The decision to end the play with Malvolia climbing the stairs shows that the director’s main focus is on the negative effect of Malvolia’s mistreatment and not the triumph of the twins’ love. I am unsure on this decision and would love to see the play again to understand it more.

Overall, this was phenomenal and I enjoyed it thoroughly! I was laughing all the way through, and did not want to be anywhere else. It has reignited my passion for Shakespeare. It was truly a heart-warming experience.

Now it’s your turn. Feel free to let me know if you had seen any Shakespeare in your time. What did you think of it? I’d also love to hear some feedback on what you’d like me to discuss on Show Sundays, so get commenting!

25 Random Facts About Me

Hi guys! I thought it was about time that you learnt a bit more about me. I saw this tag circulating blogs and Youtube a lot in the past and it looked fun. Plus its the perfect way for you to find out who I am!

1. Isabella is my middle name.

2. I have a first degree in Music and Musical Theatre.

3. I am currently learning to drive. Hooray for independence!

4. I'm only 5"1. I may be growing up in some aspects, but physically I haven't grown that much. 

5. My first live musical experience was Starlight Express by Andrew Lloyd Webber. I always used to wish I could be Pearl.

6. My first concert was Westlife. Mark was always my favourite member, and yes I cried buckets when they broke up!

7. I am obsessed with 90's boy bands. Backstreet Boys all the way!

9. Beauty and the Beast is my favourite Animated Disney film.

10. I had tap dance lessons at university and plan to pick it back up again soon.

11. I own so many books that my bedroom might as well be a library. Hoarder alert!

12. Ever since I can remember, romance has been my favourite genre. However, I often delve into other ones too!

13. I used to be terrified of dogs but now I adore them.

14. My favourite season is Spring. All the flowers bloom, making the surroundings so colourful! Not to mention it smells glorious!

15. My favourite flowers are daisies and bluebells.

16. Onions are the enemy!

17. Bacon is definitely my favourite food.

18. I'm not a natural ginger, I dye it!

19. When I was younger I fell down the stairs and hit my head on some dog biscuits that my dad was carrying. My brother told me it was poo, and I believed him for years. I still have a scar from that accident on my forehead.

20. I once had a nightmare that I got kidnapped by Batman. He chased me around my house, and then when he eventually caught me he put me in his Batvan and told me to put my seatbelt on.

21. I still have tonnes of cuddly toys on my bed.

22. I went to Finland last year and met St Nicholas!

23. I can't play an instrument but I'd really love to learn guitar and piano.

24. The genres I listen to the most are country and musical theatre.

25. I have sung ever since I was little, and no matter what I career I find myself in, it will always be one of my biggest passions!

Hopefully you found some of those facts about me interesting! It's your turn to tell me some facts about you now! Comment below with 3 interesting facts about you, I'd love to know! 

Top Ten Most Unique Books I've Read

Here we have our first series! I found this series created by the Broke and Bookish a long time ago and have loved it ever since. I’m so excited to be participating and giving my suggestions! The topic for this week is the most unique books I’ve read, so here’s what I’ve picked:

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern - Though the plot may be slightly slow, the imagery shown throughout The Night Circus is unforgettably magical. Even though it wasn't a favourite at the time, I can't forget how the circus was described.

Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You by Holly Black & Tony DiTerlizzi - I constantly found myself flicking through Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide as a child. I was astounded by how creatures that are fictional could be written to convince me that they're real. No fantastical non-fiction book has impressed me as much as it did.

Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend by Matthew Dicks - Dicks' choice on narrator is what makes this book so unique. Who would've thought that an imaginary friend could care so much for their human friend, especially when they know that one day they will fade into a distant memory.

 Illuminae by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff - It's quite clear  what makes Illuminae so unique! Illuminae is an epistolary that not only uses emails to form the narrative, but also swirly patterns made out of texts, diagrams and a countdown. There was no way that would've not included it on the list!

The Never-Ending Story by Michael Ende - One of the first books I read that mixed a fantasy world with our own human one. The Never-Ending Story switches between two different perspectives as you explore Fantasia and learn the consequences of not believing.

Postsecret by Frank Warren - Postsecret is the only non-fiction book on this list. It consists of pages and pages of postcards which contain various secrets sent from people around the world. Some made me cry and others made me laugh.There are many books like this, but this collection is artistic and timeless.

A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket - Loved by children and adults, this book series is matter-of-fact, cynical and formulaic. However, it is also intricately crafted to give the reader experiences of highs and lows. Within each book you get to explore different characters and worlds while experiencing the same patterns many times.

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte - Charlotte Bronte's most famous novel was one of the first classics I read. Jane Eyre was a rare gem in its time. When it was the norm for women to be oppressed a main character was written to be faithful to herself, making sure that she does what it right for her and the people around her. This book proves that you can be strong, even when in love.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak - I have not read that many historical fiction books yet, but this one is astounding. It has been highly acclaimed by countless people. What makes it so unique? The narrator is death. He tells the story of a young fostered girl, living in Germany during Hitlers reign. Yes, it had me in tears.

The Shining by Stephen King - The Shining is one of King's best works. He terrifies the reader by making inanimate objects come to life. He uses imaginary monsters to represent the demons within ourselves. It can be rare to be horrified by one character, and so hopeful for another. When I read horror novels I always compare them to this one.

So that was my most unique books! It was tough to decide, but I managed to wittle it down. Now that you know my top ten, what is yours? Is there a book that separates itself from everything else you've read? Let me know in the comment section below!

Theatre Review: Madama Butterfly at the Royal Opera House

On the 31^st of March I ventured out to Bluewater’s Showcase Cinema to see a live showing of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly at the Royal Opera House. I was drawn to this opera as I am an avid fan of Miss Saigon, a mega-musical based on Madama Butterfly itself. I had always found Miss Saigon heart-wrenchingly beautiful and was interested in seeing if Madama Butterfly would make me feel the same. Being new to opera, and having found mixed experiences when viewing it, I was uncertain on whether I would enjoy the performance. I feared that I would end up falling asleep after being bored silly. However, there was no need for me to feel uncertain as it was a phenomenal performance, and an opera that will remain as a favourite from now on.

*Just as a disclaimer, I do go into detail about the plot of Madama Butterfly, so if you are unaware of what happens and would rather not be spoilt then perhaps skip the rest of this post. Maybe go see the opera yourself first!*

Madama Butterfly first opened in 1904 and is a Japanese Tragedy that tells the story of Cio-Cio-San or “Butterfly”, a geisha who throws away her own culture and religion to marry an American soldier. When her husband Pinkerton leaves for home, she believes that he will come back, even after 3 years have gone by and everyone else tells her to move on and marry again. It is this resilience and faith that makes Butterfly such a wonderfully strong character. Unfortunately, when Pinkerton does eventually come back, it is only to reveal that he has married again and to take care of their son. Discovering this heart-breaking news, Cio-Cio-San commits suicide so that her son can live a prosperous life knowing that his mother didn’t abandon him.

When I first started watching Madama Butterfly, I found it a bit ridiculous, with non-japanese performers dressing up as geishas and over-exaggerated facial expressions. Without immersing yourself in it, opera can seem quite silly. However, this is how opera stays true to itself, showing the deep, intense emotions that people are often too afraid to reveal. I was surprised by how quick the opera was.

The set was very minimalistic, just like most houses in Japan. The costumes were simple and beautiful. My favourite being Butterfly’s wedding robes which she wears all through out the first act and at the end of the second. There are panels upstage, that slide both horizontally and vertically. While the room stays the same, the panels reveal a backdrop that changes to portray the different seasons, symbols and moods. This simplicity makes every symbol stand out like a sore thumb, conveying the message clearly. This is shown at the end when a cherry blossom tree is revealed, with the petals slowly falling to the floor, perhaps representing the end of Cio-Cio-San’s innocence.

Each act flew by and amazed me. My favourite part was Act 2, where I heard the aria, “Un bel di vedremo” (One Fine Day) for the first time. Ermonela Jaho gives a stunning portrayal of Butterfly. Each word floats like the smoke that is described in the song. “A thread of smoke arising on the sea in the far horizon.” Smoke of the ship that will contain her husband, eager to arrive and bring her back to America. It is evident that she has imagined this scenario many times and finds deep tranquillity within it. The only way to make her last through the years of waiting would be this image in her mind. This song that she hears, a lullaby as it will, to put her mind and heart at ease. When the robins have made their nests, he will come. He will come on a ship of stars and stripes, and she will run into his open arms. At this point the music is high in pitch, light in tone and soft as a cloud. It is as if we are floating with her, letting her mind drift to happy places. Perhaps the fact that the music is floating shows that it isn’t real, she is keeping her head in the clouds, and refusing to keep her feet on the ground. As soon as anyone mentions the possibility that he won’t come back, her voice darkens.

One thing that I noticed in this opera is that it is not only Butterfly that has admirable qualities.  All of the three women, Cio-Cio-San, Suzuki and Kate, are strong in their own right. Elizabeth Deshong gives a remarkable performance of her character, Suzuki, Butterfly’s maid. She knows the truth, the reality to Cio-Cio-San’s situation and is heart-broken by it everyday. Having the need to pray when Butterfly won’t. Like Butterfly, she is also resilient. Even though she knows in her heart that Pinkerton will not come back for Butterfly, she sticks by her. She looks after her son, tries to talk sense into Butterfly but also joins in her belief when she helps scatter petals around the room, making the room presentable for Pinkerton when he arrives on his ship that they’ve finally spotted coming into the harbour. The love that she has for Butterfly is boundless.

I did find a few flaws within the performance. There were a few moments where Jaho broke out of character to move her hair or to cough, but it only would’ve been noticeable because it’s being shown close up on camera. Furthermore, in the humming chorus, at the end the camera zoomed in when it should’ve stayed out. The image of Cio-Cio-San sitting in her wedding robes, silently crying in the dark next to her son and maid, patiently waiting in vain for Pinkerton to arrive is mesmerising. The rest of the room dark and empty, just Butterfly and her new family (her old family cut her off when she converted religions) not giving up until the very end.

During Act 3, Pinkerton’s new wife, Kate, shows kindness towards someone who would be considered a threat to her. She must have a good strength of mind to put her own needs and insecurities aside to help a young innocent girl. At this point I could really see the resemblance between her and Ellen from Miss Saigon. No wonder both are loved so much!

It wouldn’t be fair of me to not mention the men too. Marcelo Puente did an amazing job of portraying Pinkerton. He kept a good balance of showing his love and insensitivity. In Act 3 he wasn’t really sorry for his actions, he was singing in the beginning about how he was going to marry an American further on in the future. He just took Butterfly for a ride, not considering how it would affect her. He didn’t have the decency to face the pain that he had caused in the end, even saying himself that he was a coward and running away due to remorse. Perhaps in a way, he was too afraid to face himself and face Butterfly who part of him did love.  

There are other men in the opera who are more sure of themselves. Consul Sharpless (Scott Hendricks) always supports Butterfly and shows a fondness for her. He tries to dissuade Pinkerton from the beginning, always having Butterfly’s feelings in mind. Right until the very end he shows compassion and empathy, not being able to read out Pinkerton’s letter stating he is not coming back, due to shattering the faux happiness that Butterfly has created. He has his head on straight, and represents the logical side of Pinkerton; the side that Pinkerton chooses to ignore.

Although I don’t know much about opera, this story really does fascinate me. It is simple and timeless. All the phenomenal performers compliment the music greatly. All of the vocals were flawless, full of life and passion. I would gladly see this performance again if I could!

That’s all of my thoughts on Madama Butterfly! I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about my experiences with it! Have you seen any operas before? If you haven’t then maybe you could try this one, it’s great for someone new to the scene. Let me know your own thoughts in the comments down below. 

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Taking the First Step

Hello everybody! 

So I woke up one day and decided: ooh! I think I’ll make a blog, that sounds like fun! For quite a while now I have wanted to become a regular blogger, but the trouble is it’s always difficult to know where to start!

But here we are, taking the first step!

Now where should we start… I know! Let’s begin with a few simple questions.

Who am I?

I am Vena Isabella (hence the blog title), a music and musical theatre graduate with a love of books and all things creative! Being a budding flower at 22, there is a lot in life that I need to experience and learn, I’d love to take you on the journey! I’ve loved writing and telling people my thoughts on different types of entertainment. Like many people I am very thoughtful, and would love to turn that into something productive and share it with all of you! 

What can you expect from me?

My blog will mainly consist of book related posts, film and theatre. However, I’m going to mix these with a few life ponderings, and maybe even a bit of health and exercise too! That’s the best way to encourage yourself to go to the gym, write about it so that you have plenty of people to nag you when you don’t go.

At the beginning you will receive one blog post from me a week. However, with time that will increase, there’s so many different things to review and write about! How could I leave it to just one?!

Where else can you find me?

I am active on Twitter, Instagram and Goodreads. Pop on over and have a browse, see if they take your fancy!

That’s all introductions for now! I’d love to learn more about you. So tell me, what do you like reading in blogs? Have you started one yourself? Feel free to comment!