Yesterday my little theatre nerd heart was fulfilled. My mum had requested that we went to see The Buddy Holly Story at Richmond Theatre; there was no way I could refuse. I grew up listening to Buddy Holly songs, so I knew that this jukebox musical would take me on a road down memory lane. It was a delightful experience; the audience were happily clapping along by the end of the show.

The Buddy Holly Story is a musical that showcases the songs by Buddy Holly and The Crickets, a rock and roll sensation, while also giving an insight into the journey that was his career! In this production Buddy was played by Alex Fobbester, Joe Butcher appeared as Joe B. Mauldin, Josh Haberfield as Jerry Allison, Thomas Mitchells played The Big Bopper, and Jordan Cunningham played Ritchie Valens. Other actors included Kerry Low as Maria Elena Holly, Matthew Quinn as Hipockets Duncon, and Alex Tosh as Norman Petty. There were many more performers in the show. The show had a relatively small cast, with actors playing various different characters.

All of the actors played their own instruments; this is something that I love to see when I see a performance. Fobbester and many of the other actors did a very good job pronouncing the southern American accent, although during one particular angry moment his diction lacked a little. However, this is just a minor thing compared to the entertainment that he brought to the audience. By the end of the show he was sweating from dancing around the stage so much!

Sometimes the narrative overtook the songs. A famous song would be mentioned and played briefly and that would be it, you wouldn’t hear any more of it, even though it would’ve been something that got the audience riled up. I mean, I would’ve loved to have heard more of Peggy Sue! Such an amazing song, but we only got a little snippet. My favourite moments were definitely when they just let the music tell the story. Buddy Holly serenading his wife with an acoustic version of Heartbeat is all I need to be mesmerised. That was definitely one of the greatest moments.

A re-enactment of the Winter Dance Concert got everyone up off their seats. Featuring La Bamba by Ritchie and Johnny B Goode, everyone clearly loved it. The tragedy of the plane crash that ended the lives of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J P Richardson (The Big Bopper) and the pilot was communicated with the utmost respect and dignity. A spotlight on the guitar that was used by the performer of Buddy Holly and a speech spoken off stage was all that was needed to portray the sad events.

The Buddy Holly Story proves to everyone that Buddy Holly’s music still lives on. The show did a fantastic job in portraying the ups and downs of Buddy’s career. As is mentioned in the programme, Don Mclean named that fateful day as “the day the music died” in American Pie but Buddy’s music is still played decades later. If you get the chance to this show then do, it’s not one to be missed.

Look at the cover, just look at it! That stunning cover hints to the intricate beauty that lies inside. Being new to magical realism and having heard mixed reviews, I was hesitant to start this book. Especially as my first encounter with magical realism was very disappointing. Bad first impressions can make you hesitant to explore a genre more. It’s very lucky that I finally read this book though, as I loved it!    

Rarely do I ever finish a book and tell myself, “Mark my words, I will read this again.” I am not a re-reader, yet here I am restraining myself from picking The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender up and overanalysing every last detail. I need to know these characters more! What does it mean? How do certain events connect to others? Have I missed a hidden meaning in the text? I must know! Most of my 5 star books are ones that last a long time after I’ve read them, this does just that.

The book starts with a prologue describing the birth of lovely Ava, a girl somehow born with brown speckled bird wings. It then goes on to describe the events that occurred to her family. We learn about many different strange characters, and end up knowing all about the family and the tragedies that follow them. At first this switch to informing about the older family threw me off, but it didn’t take me too long to get accustomed to it. I found myself emotionally invested in all of the characters, no matter how briefly described or how much I hadn’t expected them to be mentioned.

There are indeed many characters in this book. Every character has a strange, whimsical quirk, it was fascinating! There are many things I wish I could discuss yet cannot due to fear of causing spoilers. I don’t want to spoil it for you guys, especially as I’d love you to read it! I had a particular connection to Ava’s mother, Vivienne, finding myself moved by her part of the story. Every female in the Lavender family have a tragic history of romance, some phenomenon which is left open to interpretation.

Walton writes with a lot of descriptive words and metaphors, there are so many different bakery terms. I felt so hungry after reading. It’s rare nowadays to find a book that’s both descriptive and easily accessible! Books like that have the classic vibe with the advantage of being somehow effortless to read. There’s definitely something much more appealing about reading a book set in a time different to our own. I never realised the 1950’s interested me as much as it did until I read this book. Walton portrayed the time setting fantastically, not to mention that it fit in perfectly with the story.

Romance has always been a passion of mine, yet recently I have found that passion dwindle. Books that previously would’ve melted my heart now leave me stone cold and skeptical. Send in The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender to save the day. Since growing older I have found that I prefer books that give a more realistic take on romance. This book does just that, as it shows the power of love in a variety of forms; from friendship, maternal to romantic love. There’s a bit of everything in this book, you can’t go wrong! Love is truly a powerful emotion.

The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender kept me guessing until the end. It’s full of symbolism and small nuances that hint to outcomes, or explanations of certain occurrences. A lot of questions are purposefully left unanswered, it screams at you to contemplate them, to work out the reasons why. For my second magical realism, I was very much impressed. It’s set a standard for the rest of the year, now I’ve somehow got to find another fantasy that I love just as much.

If you haven’t read this wonderful book then I implore you, read it! Even if you don’t enjoy it, I’d love to discuss it! This book will stay with me for a long time, I’m sure it’ll make a few appearances on this blog in the next few months. Now we’ll just wait and see how long it takes to read it again!

Can you believe that it's the end of May already? It feels like only yesterday I was sitting at my laptop writing April’s Wrap-Up. Yet here we are again!

Like The Fault in Our Stars and many other books similar to this, Me Before You left me speechless. I still feel tongue-tied now, not really knowing what to say. I read Jojo Moye’s book in a couple of days, whizzing through the last 150 pages in one night, although fairly groggily considering the tragic turn it takes. When I read the last page, closed the book and breathed I realised that I had no idea what to think. All I knew was that I felt sad.

If you haven’t read the book or seen the film, I will warn you that there are a few spoilers in this review. It may be a good idea to go grab the book from your local library, or rent it out before reading the rest of my review. However, if you already know what happens then read on!

Me Before You is a fairly quick read with a powerful argument. It blurs the lines between what is right and wrong. Do we have a choice to take our own lives? If we have less control over our own body, should other people decide everything for us? These questions are very controversial and upon reading reviews after, it is evident that many people found the ending appalling, finding that it gives the wrong message. I however, feel stuck in the middle, not really knowing what to think.

So what is the book about? It all starts off when Louisa, a 26 year old woman who has never left her parents’ house, finds herself in need of a new job. She is hired to be a carer for Will, a 35 year-old quadriplegic, who we find out later on in the book is seriously considering going through with an assisted suicide. It’s pretty clear just from the synopsis alone that Jojo Moyes is intending to pull at your heartstrings and open a discussion that could get very heated.

The writing flowed quite nicely, and I loved the little features in Lou and Will’s personality. Lou’s love of wacky fashion, yellow and black tights, and Will’s sarcastic humour, teasing with the undertone of affection. Most of the book is set in Lou’s point of view, chapters dotted here or there contain a few other character’s thoughts. I really would’ve liked to have seen this technique more, it would’ve been really interesting to see this story from Will’s perspective.

Of course, like any chick-lit, it’s no surprise that we are introduced to the wonders of relationships as Lou and Will gradually fall in love. All the while reality slowly leaks in until it suddenly hits you like a tonne of bricks. In this I am of course referring to Will’s final choice, that despite the happiness he has experienced and new improvements on his life, for him it is still not enough, and leaving his life behind is his answer.

Some say that Will’s choice is unnecessary, that Jojo Moyes shouldn’t have chose that, as it gives out the message that a disabled life isn’t worth living. However, a lot of people fail to notice that other options are shown. Lou converses with friends online who are in similar situations to Will, who have found positivity and a way of living happily. Does this make the decision to make Will’s final choice to be the negative justifiable? To be honest, I don’t know. After reading many other people’s views when I myself enjoyed the book, I now second guess myself. Me Before You causes people to ask the difficult questions however, and that holds its own significance. Perhaps the message isn’t that disabled lives aren’t worthwhile, or to help others find happiness. Maybe its that we all should have the right to decide for ourselves, but we should always strive to improve ourselves, question our own views and ways of living and move forward.

Overall I’ve given this book 4.5 stars. I thoroughly enjoyed it at the time that I read it, despite the contrast to Geekerella which I had read previously. Unfortunately, I didn’t cry like many other people say they did, I never seem to cry at books anymore anyway. This book has had a lot of people thinking. I wouldn’t say it’s inspiring, but it’s definitely thought-provoking. Next thing to do is watch the film! Have you read this book or seen the film? What were your thoughts on it? Let me know, whether you agree or disagree, in the comments below! 

If you read last week’s Show Sunday, you would’ve noticed that Funny Girl was touring at a theatre close to me this week. So guess what I did on Wednesday! That’s right, I took a spontaneous trip to the theatre; after stopping off at a cute café first I might add. A lot different to going to the cinema. And I must say, it was an evening well spent!

What is Funny Girl about, I hear you ask? Funny Girl is a biographical musical about Fanny Brice, a unique performer in her time and a member of the Ziegfeld Follies. She was well known for her comedic and witty performances, a complete contrast to the perfection of the rest of the showgirls in the Ziegfeld Follies. Like many women in the theatre industry in the 1920s and onward, Brice had a lot of unsuccessful marriages. Funny Girl focuses on her second, her marriage to Julius Arnstein, as well as providing an insight into her journey to success. It tells how she runs away from theatre to marry a man, and then consequently finds comfort in her career.

Wednesday night’s performance was a mixed bag. There were definitely moments that shined however there were also moments that were anticlimactic. None of it was bad, and it was a really enjoyable show but in particular moments rather than throughout.

Natasha J Barnes played Brice well, although I felt moments of weakness. Of course, we must not forget that it’s a big role to play. Her strongest song was definitely “I’m the Greatest Star”, where she persuades Eddie to help her, singing about how she’s different from the other girls but unbelievably talented. Barnes fit very well into the role as young Fanny Brice. However, I felt that she didn’t quite fit into the older version. Fanny Brice has a sense of maturity that Barnes seemed to be lacking. At times there was this feeling that something was missing, and you couldn’t quite put your finger on what it was. Perhaps this is in the book or music itself, we cannot know.

In terms of vocals, her belt was very strong, a light toned voice and lovely to hear. I got goose bumps! Although she wasn't quite powerful enough during the musicals most famous number, "Don't Rain On My Parade." Barnes shined the brightest during her comedic moments, but her voice weakened during quieter, more emotional scenes. Furthermore, although she had tears running down her cheeks, I wasn’t quite moved enough at times. Darius Campbell had similar issues; I could hear that he was struggling a little on the higher notes, not quite getting the right tone and power. However, his suave performance of Arnstein was impeccable. He had just the right amount of sleaze, smoothness and lovability about him. Not to mention that Barnes and Campbell’s chemistry on stage was perfect. They really bounced off of each other.

I had noticed that there were lots of wardrobe malfunctions, perhaps due to too many quick changes. Barnes was occasionally fiddling with a costume during her scene. The most noticeable mishap was during "Rat-Tat-Tat-Tat", when her moustache started falling off as soon as the scene started. A completely innocent problem, in fact it happened during a serious scene in Sweeney Todd at my university production. Unfortunately, Barnes didn’t handle the situation well at first, breaking character too soon by delivering lines of the song through giggles. However, after the shock wore off she did pull it together and subsequently ended up playing the falling moustache onto her eyebrows, creating a monobrow. This I found to be hilarious, and made me wonder whether the malfunction was intended all along. This and many other scenes reflect Barnes greatest ability in this show, her excellent comedic timing.

Other honourable mentions go to actors Rachel Izen and Joshua Lay, Brice’s mother and Eddie. They both performed gracefully, being a lovely break between tense moments in the second act. Plus, Eddie’s tap numbers were to die for! The costumes were gorgeous and the set was well thought out, especially with the iconic dressing table mirror. At times I really felt the similarities to the film, and the set supported this.

All in all I found this show light hearted and hilarious, however I wasn’t quite moved enough by it. I agree with Paul Vale when he says that the musical loses steam in the second act. It doesn’t quite live up to the hype it promises to have in the first half. Funny Girl was a fun performance and a lovable show, similar to Sondheim’s Gypsy, but unlike Gypsy, I didn’t find myself speechless or overwhelmed at the end. Just happy that I’d seen another pleasant performance.

Can you believe that it’s May already? It’s time to do another wrap up. I didn’t read a huge amount, but managed to get five books in, including one graphic novel! Every book this month was enjoyable, especially the few at the end of the month, which have now built me up into a reading frenzy. Let’s get to it shall we?

Tell the Wolves I’m Home by Carol Rifka Brunt – One of my best friends recommended this to me, telling me it was odd but really good. Going into it I had no idea what it was about but I ended up really enjoying it. Tell the Wolves I’m Home is indeed strange, but it’s very poetic and emotional. I loved that it was set in the 1980s, and that June loved medieval stuff, standing out from the crowd. There’s also a few references to musicals! Of course the most profound part is the exploration of aids and the prejudice against homosexuals in society. So many different relationships are investigated in this novel, you understand the actions of each individual. Overall, 4 stars from me!

Dark Places by Gillian Flynn – Dark Places is the third book of Gillian Flynn’s that I have read. Like her other novels, this story is grim and twisted. I found myself cringing at a few descriptions, but despite that I could not help myself from turning page after page. Each chapter alternates between the present day and various characters involved in the family massacre. Flynn kept me guessing right up till the end; filled with mystery this book is definitely not predictable. I didn’t even realise how much of a buzz the book had given me until I’d insisted on describing it to my friend. Another 4 star rating!

Patience by Daniel Clowes – The only graphic novel of this month, and my lowest rated. If I could just say, "It was alright", then I would, that pretty much sums up how I feel about this book. I picked up Patience on a whim when I saw it in the library. Upon reading it I get the impression that it tries to be unique, given the colourful artwork, however I found it to be no different from any other time travel books I’ve read. It’s a bit strange, perhaps too strange for me, and we get taken on a journey where you end up back where you were in the beginning. Despite all this, I have given it 3 stars as I like the raw quality it has, and I liked some aspects of the story line and character building, especially surrounding Patience. I’m glad I read it, but I wouldn’t take the time to read it again.

Geekerella by Ashley Poston – Another spontaneous read, I saw Geekerella in the bookshop, read the blurb and just knew I had to buy it! I’m a massive fan of fairytale retellings, especially Cinderella despite how many times it’s been done. This is definitely my favourite book of this month. It’s quick, cheesy and nerdy at its best! It tells about community, and striving for your own wellbeing. Setting Cinderella in this modern storyline where fandoms are the norm was a spectacular idea and worked so well! I found myself either laughing or feeling ridiculously angry at the things Elle goes through. I loved this book so much that I wrote a review about it! 5 stars across the board!

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes – After reading such a lighthearted and fun book, I decided to carry on with that streak and picked up Me Before You. I’ve been planning to read this since I found out about the movie, so it’s about time I picked it up! Me Before You is definitely fun and lighthearted at times, but it also gets very emotional. I loved Louisa and Will, watching their relationship bloom and grow. I won’t say much as I don’t want to spoil the story, plus I’ll be posting a 4.5 star review in the next few weeks!

Damn You Seventeen by Lady Antebellum - I’ve been listening to some country on my journey to work every day, and this song strikes a chord in me. Every time I listen to it I feel this sense of nostalgia like I knew it when I was in school, even though it wasn’t released until 2014.

Legally Blonde – Everyone says that Legally Blonde is their guilty pleasure, but I definitely do not feel guilty for loving Elle Woods and her story! Legally Blonde is so full of cheese it’s ridiculous, which is exactly why I love it. There’s such a fantastic message in this story, plus I find myself grinning and bouncing around whenever I listen to the soundtrack. Some of my favourite songs are: Serious, So Much Better and Legally Blonde. Oh, and did I mention that it's touring in the UK in autumn? Snaps all round!

April has definitely been a productive month for me. I’ve got this blog going and managed to read plenty of amazing books! Bring on May where hopefully this reading buzz will continue. Now as usual, let me know what you read this month. Did anything I read make it into your wrap-up? I’m all ears!

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!

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. 

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!