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Sunday, July 13th, 2003
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2:12a - A night at the theatah
My dad and I went to see Beauty and the Beast at Starlight this evening. (We have season tickets there.) He hadn't even seen the Disney movie, curiously enough. He didn't fully realize that it was a famous animated film until we were at the theatre. I'm sure that made an interesting viewing experience.
Differences between the two media:
Interpolated songs. Lyrics by Tim Rice, as Howard Ashman had died in the intervening time. Even if you hadn't seen the original, you would know which songs were added for the stage version because they were particularly cringe-worthy. (With the exception of "Maison de Lune," which was rather striking. Although, shouldn't it really be "Maison de la Lune"? Discuss.) Overall: negative.
Costumes It's one thing to draw a dancing candelabra; it's another entirely to be a dancing candelabra. The latter, I rather think, is more interesting to watch. Overall: positive.
Book. The musical version acquired some new dialogue that I suppose might be termed "more adult"; that is to say, it frequently managed to be wittier, certainly more flirtatious, etc. The feather-duster Babette, called into existence in order to flirt shamelessly with Lumière, embodies the essence of said additions. Overall: positive.
Acting. Belle was much older than she ought to be. Everyone else was sort of whatever, with the notable exception of Lefou, who was, sad to say, my very favorite character in the whole thing. I'm sure you have no idea who that even is. Lefou is Gaston's lackey. Pictures of the stage version have apparently been systematically eliminated from the internet, but you can look at this Google cached version for an idea of the difference. His outfit is cute. His acrobatics are impressive. His love for Gaston is great, tragically misguided, and more than a little kinky. Overall: positive, but mostly because of Lefou.
Also, although I was generally unimpressed by his lyrics, Tim Rice's standard bio as printed in the programme is pretty amusing: ( read it for yourself )
Yes, I am amused by the oddest things.
Edited to add: the programme was incorrect. It is the "Maison des Lunes." That works, I suppose.
current mood: giggly
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4:43a
Grr I found someone who has the John Williams Jane Eyre Main Theme mp3 and it will not download die evil person die die die!
This bout of underpunctuated incoherence was brought to you by great frustration and the letter G, which came off my keyboard as I tried to type the word "great." (I put it back. Maybe it will stay.)
current mood: incoherent
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9:54p - Extraordinary
I just picked up all sorts of cool things from the library, including The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Volume 1, hurrah! I might go to see the movie, but only if my father and brother decide they want to go and drag me along and (of course) pay for it. They might do. They tried to drag me to The Hulk, but I put my foot down there.
One thing that bothers me is how slowly and painfully I read comics/graphic novels/whatever. I suppose this stems from my non-misspent-youth wherein I read the Annotated Sherlock Holmes instead of whatever was being published in the comics world then. (On that note: Mycroft Holmes, squee! I always loved Mycroft.) I find myself focusing too much on the textual elements, not properly assimilating the visual cues, and still, as I say, reading very slowly. (You will note that I have been distracted already.) Although I adore and appreciate all the mock-Victorian layout and such.
 satyadasa, it would be cooler if you were here to translate the Arabic.
current mood: extraordinary
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