my friends, my friends don't ask me

3 things to talk about and I'm kind of sad, even though I get to talk about slightly awesome things.

So I got an answer to my slightly rude email and their going to investigate whether the comic is mislabeled which is nice. But it also shows that no one has anything better to do that respond to my emails.

Also, I saw the 25th Anniversary concert of Les Miserables last night, which I've quiet been looking forward to. I Think the word "concert" should have tipped me off but I really thought it was going to be a full-on production. Because seriously, we had a 10th Anniversary show that was quite similar, we got more of the story sung at us but not as much explained. I did however, think it was amazing, the singing OH MY GOD! Being about 13 when I first found Les Mis I was so in love with Eponine and Marius and Gavroche and all that side of it and Javert, but what's not to love there? But, for the first time I found Valjean's songs to be unbelievably beautiful, Alfie Boe (i think that's him) is amazing. Like, I've always loved Valjeans and the guys that sing him but not as much as I loved the other characters.

Everyone in that production was unbe-freaking-believable (with one notable exception, though he did as well as I expected him to). Lea Salonga makes you pay attention to Fantine (she makes you go, people are impressed by Susan Boyle? What now? Huh?). Cosette sang with such purity and beauty that sometimes doesn't translate when you go for the full-on soprano (full-on soprano is just not my thing) but this was beautiful. Eponine, Javert and Theanrdier all made you just watch in awe with what they did. You just went from song to song in awe of these people. And Enjolras, what can I say, I'd join a revolution for that boy.

And now we get to it. It was ridiculously funny when they all took their bows that Nick Jonas didn't get a very big applause (because all the little fangirls weren't in attendance). Even my friend who knows very little (even less than me, which is saying something) about music, could pick up that Nick wasn't the caliber of everyone else. His phrasing was terrible, he didn't support anything, he just wasn't at all comfortable with it. (And Enjolras looks over at Michael Ball at the end with a look of 'thank goodness, someone who can sing the part). Now, in his defence, I'm a pretty critical person, but I was willing to give him a go, and I think in a staged version you can overlook the singing a little less because of all the other stuff going on, this was a very stand and deliver context, which shows all your flaws. But really, cringe worthy moment of the night goes to "dearest Cosette, my friend 'ponine, brought me to you..." it was pop style. pop? your singing Les Mis, you do realise. He sang empty chairs at empty tables nicely (but he just needs to work on the phrasing, a lot! "and tomorrow" *breath* "never" *breath "came" ) but really, I've said it before, he's just a 17 year old, who has talents in other musical areas, he hasn't been doing this forever. It was just the wrong medium for him and that's ok.

I've run out of steam on this one... and I wonder what my third thing to talk about was??? hmm... I guess we will never know.

Though the thing that's good about Nick Jonas compared to Michael Ball is that he doesn't sing with an air of 'look at me, I'm really good aren't I' which is always nice.(And, why yes I did just read 'The Catcher in the Rye' thanks for noticing)

Until next time,
Katherine.

blah blah blahblah blah blah blah

Hello,
I was wondering, why half of the 'Runaways' by Brian Vaughan is labeled as Young Adult and the others are labeled as Adult? I understand that some material may not be appropriate for all ages but shouldn't a decision have been made on the whole?

It may not be resoundingly obvious but I kind of disagree with the formal labelling (and I know it's a little late) but was there a formal reason for this, besides ease of placement in branches? I just think it insults people's intelligence to be blatantly told that V for Vendetta,Watchman,The Sandman, Tank Girl etc may contain adult content.

I understand that the 'Young adult' label has positive connotations and can encourage young readers but i think the labeling of Runaways sends a mixed message. the labeling problem could be easily solved by knowledgeable and enthusiastic librarians in conjunction with, once again, placement in libraries.

Thank you
Katherine

Proof that I am going to end up being a cranky old lady writing in to the paper on a weekly basis, using my ancient 2009 laptop with 'what? she must be crazy' windows 7.

It just makes me so mad that we're dumbing down our way of thinking. That we can't even be relied upon to make a "proper" choice when it comes to the type of materials we read. Who are you to dictate what I read? Who is it that makes these choices? I know it's mainly so kids don't read stuff we deem inappropriate but WHY have an 'adult' label, it's silly.Do we label fiction novels as 'adult'? (Actually I'm not sure of the answer to this??? I'd say no... well that makes my argument well, sucky.)

I just think if we all payed more attention and asked our librarians for help when in doubt, all these problems would be solved.

Though I'm not really talking about Banned Books talk about missing the point entirely

Chris will come to me like the Pheonix

***This post contains spoilers***

So I want to talk about Miss Saigon today. I saw this production last night and it was pretty brilliant. I mean some of the staging was a bit cluttered and random and there was a lot of vibrato in the singing and I like a little more colour in my sets. But then again, some of the singing blew my mind (the girls were great in their chorus high notes, and the boys choir was just fantastic, as good as any I've seen) and there was a lot of interesting things to watch in the chorus once things got going and the little boy was very cute.

But I couldn't let myself be carried away by the show. For one, there were about six people I knew in it, so instead of focusing on what's going on I was trying to watch them and find them in the scene.

And, and this is what must annoy a lot of people, I am quiet familiar with the musical. I think a combination of the two really shattered the illusion. I mean it was really great, it really was, I just didn't feel like crying my eyes out because it was hard for me to connect.

But anyway, I knew what was coming and so kept on picking up little strange things that they did. Like, Kim sang the end of 'I'd give my life for you' to her kid, which is not something you would reveal to a three year old. And the part were Tui haunts her he just stood in the middle of the stage and sang at the audience, I mean, it's not us you're trying to scare, it's her.

But I think the main thing is, I kept trying to figure out if it was more tragic to sit through the second act knowing that she's going to sacrifice herself for her son or if it's better to feel the shock of it right at the very end. I mean, she flirts with the idea for the entirity of the second half, but, does the audience think it's just an idea and try to figure out the alternatives or do they internally beg her not to do it even though they know it is inevitable?

I mean, when she does it, it's quick, she says goodbye to her son in about thrity seconds, Chris and Ellen enter the room, and it's all over. (Though this one annoyed me, they flashed Chris' gun at the audience before Kim pulled the curtain closed, how corny is that???). So you still get shock value. Which is good.

This time though, I also got the chance to think about Ellen and the Engineer. I mean the first to thirty times you listen to it/ see it, you're all about Chris and Kim and their being so in love. But Ellen loves Chris as well. And the Engineer, he's just tyring to live.

But I did realise that there are so many love songs in the first act. Like Kim and Chris have to go through the 'Oh my goodness, look how much in love we are' just to drive the point home when Kim is still in love with him three years later.

Overall. I think Miss Saigon is brilliant, the lyrics are fantastic and the music just kills me. And I know it's easy to critisise not so easy to do. But we pick apart only things we love most.

Until next time,
Katherine.

Don't Unplug Me...

So I am totally ready for the revolution!



I have a sash as well. So really, not a lot has changed since my last post except now I have cool stuff. The special 25th Anniversary performance of Les Mis was on the 3rd and I'm super excited because they're gonna screen it here on the 21st! How cool is that!!! It only took them 25 years to give us what we want. I mean, come on, full rotating stage (hopefully)! what is better than that!

Not much going on here. I think I have a bit of an internet addiction, but, hey, whatever. I'll just go outside more. There's not internet on the outside (man, I'm getting creepier everyday... haha... *face palm*). Also, singing in harmony is as fun as I remember it to be, which is nice. Except I'm used to singing on my own so I need to work on listening to other people but (once again), hey, whatever.

So really, I am the most boring person alive.
Until next time,
Katherine.

Fun Fact! My most played songs are:
1. Roundhouse (reprised theme song)
2. Roundhouse Theme Song
3. Jump in the Fire (from Roundhouse)
4. Anthem (From Chess) - Tommy Korberg OMG
5. The World Will Know (From Newsies)
6. The NaNoWriMo Song (ALL CAPS)
7. We're on Fire (Armoured Bear Cub)
8. Satalite (Lena - Germany in Eurovision 2010)
9. World of Warcraft Ruined my Life (ALL CAPS)
10. Defying Gravity (Chris Colfer version)
11. Song for the Painfully Indie (Tom Milsom)

There's not a normal people song until
26. Let's Dance to Joy Division (The Wombats)
37. Love Story (Taylor Swift)