Two is Better Than One
- Talia Perrea
- Jan 30, 2019
- 6 min read
Little Shop of Horrors was the first theatrical piece I ever saw. A year later I was auditioning for my schools next show, The Trial of the Wicked Witch. I was cast as an extra, a fangirl of Prince Charming, but I took the role seriously. I didn't care that I was one of the smallest parts, I saw myself as a piece in a machine and without my part it wouldn't run correctly. The next year we did a variety show and I did Debbie Addam's monologue from The Addam's Family Values. It was in that show that I found a piece of myself, and my love for theatre started.
You're probably wondering why I'm telling you my theatre life story, but it'll make sense in time, just bare with me.
Kinky Boots was the first ever Broadway show I saw. My friends and I went to NYC after graduation and decided to see a show, and if it was even possible I fell even more in love with the world of theatre.
I haven't always been the happiest person on earth. I try to see the bright side of things, but life has a tendency to get me down sometimes, and for a while theatre was the only thing that could get me out of that funk. It got me thinking, if theatre could make me so happy, even in my darkest days, then it could make others happy as well.
Ever since I can remember i've been saying "I want to make people happy". I didn't care how I did it, I just wanted to make a difference in the world. Since theatre makes me so incredibly happy, I figured I could use it to make other people happy as well. Which led to me becoming a theatre minor, and if all goes to plan I will be getting my MA in theatre after I graduate with my BA next spring. The first step is figuring out where I want to go to grad school, so I should probably get going on that. I want to use theatre to make a difference, to make people happy, which if I work at it hard enough should be possible.
Getting back on track, theatre changed me. I love it with all my heart, and it makes me happy. So if you thought I would spend the next four months in London without seeing a show, or two you couldn't be more wrong. I mean I haven't even been here a month yet and I've seen two show's so far!
Phantom of the Opera:
Phantom was the first show I saw while in England. It was part of my programs orientation, so I got to go for free. Granted I did have to miss my first Screen Acting Class, but after an email exchange with the professor, I was good to go.
My friend Lindsey and I braved the tube together and soon enough we found our way to Picidilly Circus and eventually the theatre where we met up with the rest of our group.
The theatre the show is in is breathtaking. The inside looks like a formal theatre would, think opera house style. It actually reminded me of a bigger version of The Strand, a theatre in my hometown.
One of my favorite things to do in theatre's like that is to stare at the ceiling, which was pretty easy since we were on the first level of balcony seating. Basically free tickets are cheap tickets, but getting back to my point, it gave me a good view of the ceiling. Which I proceeded to take a picture of.
Before you ask, no I don't know what the two glowing spots in the picture are. Maybe Her Majesty's Theatre has it's own phantom, or maybe my lens was just dirty. I'll let you choose what you want to believe.
I feel like this picture is a good way to sum up the theatre, very regal. Which was fitting for the musical.
I must confess I have seen The Phantom of the Opera before. Both the movie version and the staged play version. So going in I knew what was going to happen. That being said, I was blown away.
The way the show was staged was amazing, and after a while I found myself trying to find the Phantom. At some points you could only hear his voice and I was so immersed in the show, I was looking around the stage to find him with the rest of the actors.
The vocals in the show were also amazing. Christine's and the Phantom's voices sounded perfect together, and I can't imagine listening to another pair sing their parts together.
With all of this being said I highly recommend seeing the show whether it be in New York, London, or a theatre near you. It will certainly be an experience that you will never forget.
Pictures of the set. The angels moves up and down!
School of Rock:
Now I must admit, I never planned to go see School of Rock. Granted it was on my list of shows to see before they went off Broadway, but it's such an American show that it just made sense to me to see it in New York.
So you're probably wondering "then why did you see it" and I'm here with an answer.
My friend Emma and I were out walking last Friday. Our class was canceled so we just planned to explore London. Well shortly after we got off the tube, I had the bright idea to suggest we try to see a show that afternoon, so we got back on the tube to go to Picidilly Circus where they sell theatre tickets.
After we found a discount booth and we had a short conversation with attendant where we found out two important details. Number one, they don't have afternoon shows on Friday and number two he was very sleep deprived from his baby being up all night, so he apologized for being a little out of it (it also explains why my last name is spelt wrong on the ticket).
Emma and I decided that we still wanted to see a show, so we decided to do Saturday night, since I had plans later that evening. There wasn't a ton of options left, but as soon as he said School of Rock we knew that was the show for us. And for 23 pounds, you can't beat it. So we got the tickets.
I don't know what I was expecting. I grew up watching the movie, it's honestly a master piece. I could never imagine it on on stage though, so walking in I was basically blind.
The only way I can describe this show is by calling it a rock show. They somehow managed to turn a theatre into a rock concert for a night, and it was magical. This show is also very interactive, and by the end you forget you're watching a musical. They have you clapping and screaming and basically doing everything you're not supposed to do in a theatre, but they made it work. Theatre etiquette was thrown out the window for this show and it was magical. Also, let's take to moment to acknowledge the fact that the cast is mostly kids. The majority of the people on stage are twelve years old or younger. That just screams talent, it was a talented cast and I am so happy I made that impulse decision!
From the opening scene until the closing they tried their hardest to convince you that you were in a concert hall and not a theatre, and I just want to congratulate everyone on a job well done. If you have the money and the time, I would highly recommend this show, even if you're not a huge fan of theatre. This show is about music, and it really stands out.
Here's some picture of the stage, and don't worry we were allowed to take pictures during the last scene, so I didn't break theatre etiquette.
Theatre has changed my life, and I hope that by reading this you can understand why. It's hard to put into words how I feel, and i'm still pretty new to this whole blogging thing, but if you let it theatre can be magical. It can be life changing, and it can be rewarding. You just have to go in with an open mind, and let your imagination be carried away.
That's all for now! I'm off to Camden market tomorrow (and they have edible cookie dough there so I'm super stoked for that!) and Oxford on Saturday, so stayed tuned for more!
As Always,
Talia
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