Taking a break from blogging

I have written this blog now for 5 years.  It's been a fun ride.  There are just too many interesting things to keep track of, so I'm going to take a break.  

The arts and music are things that make life worth living.   I am truly fortunate to be able to see amount of different shows.    Thanks for your readership!

Hamilton

Saw Hamilton last weekend.  Loved it.   Seeing the show definitely made the soundtrack more interesting.    It absolutely lives up to the hype.   It has references to both pop culture rap and musicals within the show.  I especially enjoy the leitmotifs employed for each character.   Even the part doubling has a good set of meanings to it.   If you have the opportunity, please go see it.

Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin

I saw Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin at the Cleveland Playhouse.  Amazing show about the history of the man behind the musicals and Christmas songs.  It details his life and his tragedies.   I highly recommend it.  An amazing one man show.

Bent

I saw Bent at the Beck Center this past Sunday.  It so affected me, I was not able to bring myself to write about it until now.   The play is from the 70s, and is about a gay man during World War 2.  He is captured by the Nazis and sent on a train to a concentration camp.   I cried at intermission.  I cried afterwards.  I felt really horrible for several days after viewing the show.   Death and horror.   It also coincided with Pride.  It's sad that the subject matter is relevant again.   It's a good play, but very difficult. 

I am including a link to the Wikipedia article with the whole plot.  I don't usually spoil shows in my write ups, but you need to steel yourself before seeing this one.  Bring tissues.  And have something cheerful planned for afterwards to soothe your aching heart.

Alice

Yesterday, I got to see the Cleveland Ballet's commissioned show, Alice.  This was truly a delight!   Clever staging, excellent combination of live and recorded music, and the plot was easy to follow.   I loved everything about it, but particularly liked the Tweedles, the Cheshire Cat, and the Caterpillar.  Also, the climax using the cards and Offenbach's Can Can from Orpheus in the Underworld. 

This was the end of their third season.   I wish I had known about them sooner.   Can't wait to see what's next.

The Royale

I went to see the Royale last Saturday performed by Cleveland Playhouse.   It is a historical fiction about boxing during the Jim Crow era.   Our protagonist is the black heavyweight champ and he wants to fight the white champ.  This is agreed to, but at a great financial cost which causes bodily fear and incidents in the black community.

The fighting was accomplished via dance moves, specifically krumping.   Timed claps, stomps, and inner monologue are able to produce an amazing fight.  Go see this.

Disney's Aladdin the Musical

Las Saturday, I got to see Disney's Aladdin musical on tour at Playhouse Square.   That was truly fun and I loved it more than the movie.    Abu is gone, and is replaced by Aladdin's 3 friends.  Iago is still there, but he's now a human.  The show was expanded by Alan Menkin originally for non-professional companies (high schools).   But it was so excellent that it was made part of the Disney stage family.

The magic carpet is an amazing illusion.  Also, the Genie steals the show.  4th wall breaking, pop culture referencing, and massively fun.   He's worth the price of the ticket.   Go see this show if you have the chance.