Web Wonders

On this chilly Monday morning, I have a craving for some pretty things from around the web. Enjoy and good luck kicking the week off right!

{via Cupcakes and Cashmere}

 

{via The Cherry Blossom Girl} 

{via Sunshine On A Cloudy Day}

{Via The Short and the Sweet Of It}

Snowy Friday!

Due to the fact that I am a SoCal girl born and raised,  the concept of walking to work through the snow still delights me (first time of actually doing it was today - and 'twas fabulous!). I simply had to post these comparison pictures between my "normal" view from the windows on my floor to just how snowy it is outside right now.

{standard view}

{current view}

And this is just from very light snow. Can you imagine how incredible it must have looked during the blizzard?!

Fact

In the ups and downs of dating, it can be really easy to get either A.) jaded or B.) timid. But you have to do what you can to keep a clear head, be honest with yourself and others throughout the dating process, and risk giving or receiving some hurt, which undoubtedly is the hardest part. But C.S. Lewis said it best, as writers so often do.

“To love at all is to be vulnerable.

Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken.

If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket- safe, dark, motionless, airless--it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable.”

c.s. lewis

And please, no alarm regarding this post - I am not in the throes of healing from a failed crush - I just thought the quote was a very good thing to remember. Happy Friday!

"Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson"

All right, the promised third in my series, and yet another show that has already closed. But I really loved it, so I have to give my feedback anyway. Maybe one day it will tour.

Without a doubt, this show deserves all the accolades it received. This cast, led by Benjamin Walker in the lead role, worked wonderfully as an ensemble to tell the story of Andrew Jackson's life from his upbringing to his role as President of the United States of America, and all the bloodshed and genocidal tendencies that he held throughout his life. Cleverly stating an opinion without throwing it in the face of the audience, Alex Timbers' writing and direction - along with Walker's portrayal - created a man struggling through life and with what he held to be right.Michael Friedman's music and lyrics were catchy and toe-tapping, bringing palpable righteousness to life with a full-blooded rock sound. I will surely be purchasing this show's soundtrack.

The simple entrance into the theater was enough to take your breath away, Donyale Werle's set design extending all the way through the theater. Strings of red lights, antlers and animal carcasses hanging from the rafters provided the frontier ambiance familiar to our lead character, while Justin Townsend's lighting - from before the show began and continuing throughout - colored the bloodthirsty view of one Andrew Jackson. Emily Rebholz's costume design furthered the ferocity with which this show brought sexuality to the world of politics, using a sort of frontier-chic in leather, short skirts and tight bodices to draw out not only physicality but also the determined youth of this angst.

Yes, I'm wholly sorry that this show has already closed, because I assure you it was a tremendous night of theater. The musicians/actors who made up this cast truly took my breath away and I left humming tunes I presumably never would have heard otherwise. May musical theater continue to be created in so refreshing a way for a long time to come.

Ah, Love

No, I'm not in love. Except with my new life in New York City! (Like how I did that?) Really, I would just like to take a quick minute today to say that it is my cousin who is so in love, and he is so much in love, in fact, that he has become engaged to his long-time girlfriend! And this is exciting not only because he is the first of these cousins to take the plunge, but because we really like her. So the whole family pretty much feels like this for the two of them. (Except for the play part. In spite of how I turned out, a performance family mine is not.)

"Next To Normal"

Don't look surprised to see two of these in a row, I warned you yesterday. Added to the fact that I essentially wandered into this show horribly ignorant of how long it's been playing and the accolades it's achieved, and you can only imagine how blown away I was by this incredible musical.

Telling the story of a family's struggle to contend with a mother's bipolar disorder, coupled with paranoia, and any myriad of her additional personal demons, "Next To Normal" won a handful of Tony Awards in 2009, including one for Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theater. In addition, this musical won  the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. I know, what'd I tell ya?

The cast is this show is nothing short of breathtaking. yes, I'm seeing it at the end of its run and yet most theater goers in New York and in Los Angeles - where the show plays simultaneously - already know everything that I am saying. But, truly, I was thrilled with these actors. Marin Mazzie's portrayal of "Diana", the mother/wife trying to hold together her family and her life, is absolutely stunning, as was Jason Danieley's portrayal of father/husband "Dan". The children of this family, portrayed by Meghann Fahy and Kyle Dean Massey were equally exquisite. All possessed voices for days, and brought their characters to life with seeming ease and understanding.

Granted, these singing chops could have easily fallen flat had it not been for music and scoring by Tom Kitt. This is a moving and electric soundtrack - contemporary without a doubt, and requiring of actors whose singign abilities are as strong as their acting chops. Brian Yorkey's story and lyrics weave together an emotionally-wrought and heartbreaking story that is set to beautifully to such music.With a clever three-tiered design created by Mark Wendland, an occasional rock sentiment created by Kevin Adams' lights, it took a director as talented and experienced by Michael Grief to bring this show to life, but surely he could not have done so without such an incredible team.

For once I am posting a review while there's still a little time to see the actual show, so get down to the Booth Theater at 222 W 45th Street, and check it out for yourself! I got an SRO ticket for only $26.50, and the show was so mesmerizing that standing was a non-issue, I assure you.

Promises, Promises

Apologies for abandoning you all on Friday. I had just seen the thoroughly enjoyable "Promises, Promises" the night before so I certainly had something to post on, but alas, I simply refused to do any work. Instead, I laid around in my room, enjoying the sunshine and a new Weepies CD, until I left to start my New Years Eve festivities. A tremendously relaxing way to prepare for the New Year. And now, onto the show at hand!

"Promises, Promises" may not be known to some of you, but it is where Burt Bacharach favorites like "I Say A Little Prayer" and "I'll Never Fall In Love Again" originated, and the songs stood up to the test of time in this musical revival. I won't lie to you and say that I would have seen this show even without the superstar cast, but let it be known that they did not disappoint.

While Kristen Chenoweth's turn as "Fran Kubelik" is, unfortunately, one I was unable to see, Sean Hayes' "Chuck Baxter" was tremendously entertaining. Hayes' singing voice stronger than anticipated and his physical comedy skills - called to action most prominently in his role of "Jack" in TV's long-running "Will & Grace" - were excellently captured in this role. I was also lucky enough to catch Molly Shannon's turn as "Marge MacDougall" which did not disappoint. Dick Latessa's "Dr. Dreyfuss" was truly delight to behold in all his scenes, and Tony Goldwyn brought "J.D. Sheldrake" to life with a lovely voice and smarmy charm. There truly was no weakness in this cast, and all should be proud to have been a part of such a show.

Creating the stage on which these actors shined, Scott Pasks' set design was excellent. A delightful combination of "The Flintstones" with every 60's game show imaginable, the backdrops and furniture were simple but perfectly created the necessary locales. Couple these physical sets with Bruce Pasks' costumes and this show easily took the audience back to 1960's New York.

I am sorry that the show has now closed - these little reviews of mine seem to come at the very worst times! And they will continue to do so, as I rang 2011 in by treating myself to 2 shows this weekend. Sorry, I can't see a show and not share my glee with someone. Now that my theater buddies have been left across the country, you guys are it.