New Year, New Mama

I thought that with it being the new year and all, I would try out something new to spice things up for my regular visitors (Hi Metro!  Hi Painted Maypole!  Thanks for reading!!). 

You see, I've got a bone to pick with John Q Public.  In my theatrical past, and while doing some random Google searches, I've come across a distressingly large number of people out there who think musical theatre is crap.  That it's not "real" theatre.  That you can't take it seriously because NOBODY breaks out into song in "real" life.  (Obviously, these people have never been to my house.  It happens all the time here.  Seriously.)  What's really annoying, though, is that this opinion is often held by actors as well.  The husband and I have both been in plays where we were looked down upon for having done musicals in the past.

And yet, these people who snub musical theatre watch TV, go to movies, and often even like to see live theatre.  I've got news for those people:  that ain't "real" either.  Have you ever seen an episode of Gilmore Girls or Veronica Mars?? People don't talk like that in "real" life.  And I don't know any mafia kingpin who visits a shrink regularly.  (Well, I don't know anyone in the mafia, to be perfectly honest..)  In fact, not much on TV truly represents "real" life.  It's fantasy.  It's escapism.  That's what it's for.  I see enough of "real" life in, well, real life.

Mostly, I think that musical theatre gets a bad rap because people aren't exposed to the really good musical theatre.  They see adds for Phantom of the Opera or Dirty Dancing: The Musical and think that's the only option out there.  They are so wrong.  There are so many shows that are edgy, avant-garde, downright funny, or, yes, really "real".  You just have to know where to look. 

So, without further ado, I will be introducing a (hopefully) regular feature: 

Musical Mondays

With the help of my friend, YouTube, and my newfound ability to embed videos (Thanks Motherbumper!), I will be posting some of my favourite scenes from musicals and musical movies, and what I love about them.  I'm hoping it will inspire someone to get out and see something they might otherwise have avoided.

I'll get the party started with the song that has convinced me that I need to start my singing lessons again.  It's called Anytime (I Am There) from William Finn's Elegies (the husband will have to do a guest post on Finn later, as he is the expert on the guy).  It was written originally for a guy, but I think it works much better for a woman.  She has died of cancer (uplifting, I know!), and is singing to her child from heaven - letting him know that she will always be there for him, eventhough she has passed away.  Take a look:

Comments

[Mamalooper]

Preaching to the converted...I'm the one with the vintage The Band Wagon poster on my wall. I was the 12 year old renting recordings of musicals from the public library. And I was the adult thrilled, thrilled, thrilled to see Master Class with Patti Lupone and Guys & Dolls with Nathan Lane and How To Succeed...Trying with Matthew Broderick and 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and The Producers with Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick and Caroline, or Change and Grey Gardens.

Can't wait til your next musical Monday!