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A great day

Late last night – or possibly very early this morning, I saw what looked like a photo of today’s Daily Telegraph*, showing Andrew Lloyd Webber, Danielle Hope and Michael Crawford together, with a headline about Michael “following the Yellow Brick Road”.

For the uninitiated, Lord Lloyd Webber has been using BBC talent shows to cast the leads in revivals of musicals he’s been doing over the last few years; Danielle Hope won the role of Dorothy for a new production of THE WIZARD OF OZ.

So I Googled and searched Twitter and so on but couldn’t find anything about Michael and Oz. This morning brought the news that he’s been cast as the Wizard in the new production, previewing from February next year. I wasn’t really interested in seeing it as don’t know the story, but come on, Michael Crawford! The West End legend – an oft-overused term, but appropriate here – is returning to the stage after seven years away. I now have my ticket for the first preview.

The second thing is this, a photo of writer Neil Gaiman on the TARDIS set. Who else is excited for his DOCTOR WHO episode next year?

The third thing is the return of THE OFFICE last night. I’d seen the cold open in full yesterday afternoon, but the full episode was amazing. I know friends who haven’t seen it yet, so #nospoilers as usual, but you should get on that quite soon. It’s going to be a wonderful send-off season for Steve Carell, whilst not being all about him, as it should be. I can’t wait to find out what’s going to happen and I’ve already watched last night’s episode three times.

* at the time, there was just the first post in the thread. I don’t know why people are being negative there. No matter what you think of Phantom or anything else Michael’s done, there can be no denying his fantastic voice, and casting proper musical theatre actors is surely better than random people like Amanda Holden and Nigel Harman in SHREK THE MUSICAL – no matter what their other talents may, or may not be.

Update: about thirty seconds after I published this entry, I saw this photo of Charlie McDonnell with Neil on-set. What?! The world is WEIRD!

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Last day in Florida

My final full day in America was last Friday. In the morning we had breakfast at a place called Sizzler. We’d had dinner at another branch a few days before and it was nice. This all you can eat style of eating is not something I am used to at home – you get it perhaps in Chinese restaurants, that sort of thing, but it’s not common. So I took advantage and had the equivalent of two breakfasts.

We went to a place called Ripley’s BELIEVE IT OR NOT. There are other ones worldwide, there’s one in the Trocadero in London. It’s just a museum of weird stuff, facts, unusual things. Like a full-size Rolls Royce made out of matchsticks, a shrunken head, world’s fattest man and so on. It wasn’t that great and a lot of the things I already knew about. The sort of museum that should probably be free.

Then we went to the Titanic Experience on International Drive. I was excited to go here. Outside, the track “Rose” from the 1997 film was playing on speakers, which was a bit odd I thought, an albeit wonderful instrumental piece about a fictional character when the exhibition is about the ship, not the film. But on the other hand, what other music is associated with the ship in people’s minds? James Horner ftw.

We were led around the exhibition, which consisted of reconstructions of rooms on-board and rooms with models and genuine artefacts, by a man who I presumed was an out-of-work actor. His story was that he was a worker at Harland and Wolff, the Belfast shipyard where Titanic was built. This worked, although it was hammy, up until the point where we were taken “on deck”. He then turned in to a historian aware that the ship had sunk and doing the “it gets me every time” act.

The exhibition (which I must stress, I did enjoy, as far as one can enjoy such a thing) then turned bizarre as we watched, on a TV screen, a shortened account of the sinking using clips from the 1997 film. This was set to not the Rose music, nor to any other music from the soundtracks, but to Orff’s O Fortuna, most recently popular as the judge’s music from THE X FACTOR. I am sure that part of the exhibition was developed long before Simon Cowell decided to use the piece to announce his entrance on stage, but it still felt tacky. In addition, O Fortuna is a poem about fate and luck. The sinking of the Titanic was due neither to luck nor fate. But I digress!

I liked it though, I really did. There was a large model of the wreck as it was in the early 1990s which was interesting to look at, deckchairs from both the film and the real ship and I’m glad I was able to finally look around. It was definitely better than the Ripley’s place, which to be honest felt more like a glorified thief’s hoard.

The thing about Orlando which is shown most clearly in places like International Drive is that it’s a convenience town. It’s for the people to come and see replicas of things, experience reconstructions of things. The whole place is built around satisfying the tourist – it really is a paper town. It might sound corny to say, but I see Margo’s point now, whereas before I couldn’t understand it apart from a vague awareness that Orlando is extremely tourist-y.

Below is a photo of the first plate I had for breakfast at Sizzler.

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Phantom from the beach

Today’s blog is not about Florida, because I’m sitting on a beach near St Petersburg and have done nothing interesting.

Instead I’m going to talk about a week or so ago when I saw THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA on stage in London. I’d wanted to see it again ever since I first saw it in August last year. As soon as I got home that night, I downloaded the original London cast recording and it’s become one of my most listened-to albums.

On Saturday, 4th September a few of the cast were leaving and I was determined to see them at least once. Gina Beck who had played Christine when I first saw Phantom was leaving, as was Rebecca Lock who started as Carlotta in September last year, after I saw the show.

I first met Rebecca when she was the second actress to play Kate Monster and Lucy the Slut in AVENUE Q’s London production, two years ago. I really wanted to see her in a completely different role, so I was extra excited.

The show was amazing, of course. It’s always interesting to note the differences between the original cast albums and the current show. Many of the lyrics to THINK OF ME, for example, are very different, and this is something you can usually only see in the live show. So I finally bought my ticket for their last performance, the evening show that night.

Afterwards I went to the stage door of Her Majesty’s Theatre to wait for the departing cast members. There were a few other people there, most of whom I vaguely recognised from their Twitter avatars.

After a while Gina came out and chatted to everyone individually whilst Will Barratt – the current Raoul – did the same. It was great to finally meet her and she said it was good to put a face to a (Twitter user)name at last. We talked a bit about the show and her future plans we both said, almost at the same time, that we hope we’ll see each other at another stage door soon. After hugs and goodbyes, she moved on.

During our time stood outside, Ramin Karimloo arrived from his own stage door at the Adelphi. If we’d been more alert and not cold, this would probably have prompted cries of “He’s here! The Phantom of the Opera is here!”, but alas, it did not.

About an hour later the Diva strolls out. Some people had brought along presents and gifts for both Gina and Rebecca, and these were much admired by all. My turn came and I started to say who I was and she said “yeah, I know”, which made me laugh because I hadn’t spoken to her face-to-face for over two years, but she meant because of Twitter. We spoke a little about her next project, the film SURE FIRE HIT which she is going to be in with Jennifer Ellison and Chris Noth, talked about the last time we met and so on. It was nice to catch up and I hope she doesn’t stay away from the West End for too long. After 24 years Phantom is as strong as ever, but Rebecca was definitely one of the finest Carlottas and Gina a fantastic Christine, and both will be missed at Her Majesty’s.

Here are some photos of my view right now (there’s wifi on the beach, inexplicably)

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The inevitable WWOHP entry

I wrote yesterday’s blog, added the photos and tapped publish. Between my iPhone and my website, something went wrong and both that post and a draft I was working on about me and my friend Rob wanting to go to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival were deleted. The essence of yesterday’s entry was that I went to the beach, was looking forward to going to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter today, and lamented the closure of Dreamland, a theme park in Margate, south east England.

So on to today. Not going to dwell on this but WWOHP was a massive disappointment for me. As I discussed in yesterday’s vanished post, I don’t enjoy rides at theme parks, so I don’t go on them. There are three at WWOHP. The one which I sort-of did want to go on had an hour’s queue time, so I didn’t bother. So I can’t judge the park on its rides, as I didn’t experience any of them.

The buildings are all topped with snow-covered rooves. This I have never understood. However far up in Scotland Hogsmeade is supposed to be, it wouldn’t be snow-covered all year round. Amusingly the castle – much higher up than the village – is snow-free. Riddle me that, Mr Park Designer.

I started off in Zonko’s Joke Shop. The inference by the production designers of both the films and park – same people – is that because wizards don’t use electricity, they are unable to light their shops properly, or clean anything. The passageway to the toilets was dark and the walls were covered in greenish muck, or something. Speaking of the toilets: America, seriously. Why do you have large gaps between the door and the cubicle? People can see inside the toilet!

I was now in Honeydukes. I left quickly and walked back in to bright sunshine. I saw The Three Broomsticks, which again looked very dark and like Madam Rosmerta had given up cleaning the place decades ago. Nothing like the jolly pub I was expecting.

I moved on, seeing a few fake shop fronts like Scrivenshaft’s then past the long queue for Ollivander’s up to Hogwarts Castle. The castle was impressive, I’ll give them that.

Briefly – I queued at a Butterbeer cart and asked for frozen. This is apparently the good stuff. A lazy American drawled that I couldn’t have any, but “maybe in 15 or 20 minutes”. Fine, whatever. I waited and went back. $4.25 and it wasn’t even that nice, just a bit like a fudge Slushie or something.

There were Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students doing some sort of photo opportunity and then some Hogwarts students did some singing, that song from one of the films where an absurdly young Flitwick conducts the never-before-mentioned school choir.

I left after having my photo taken (below) with the conductor of the Hogwarts Express, who was nice and said he knew Kent (where I live) very well – i think he was actually English, not just one of the Americans who bothered to try to effect the accent. I then went to the adjacent Jurassic Park land. This was lots of fun, because there were things to DO, as opposed to just things to buy at inflated prices and rides to ride. I learned about dinosaur fossils and merged my “DNA” with that of a dinosaur to make an amusing hybrid creature (photo below).

We then went to a live magic show. A man did card tricks, showed us a wallet which produced flames when opened, a thing which allowed you to levitate objects, and some sponges he did funny things with, appearing and disappearing and multiplying. It was more interesting than anything I saw in WWOHP, because it surprised me. There was nothing interesting or magical about WWOHP for me, sadly. Although, yes, I acknowledge I didn’t go on any of the rides.

A bit later I went on a boat that is meant to Popeye’s, or something. I have no idea what most of these lands and attractions are about because I’ve not seen/read what it’s based on, but that was fun anyway. I left Islands of Adventure shortly after this.

Going to end this entry on a nicer note and recount a dream I had last night. I rarely remember my dreams, sadly. John Green says other people’s dreams are only interesting to them (put far more nicely, of course) but I shall put it here because I don’t know where else to.

I was arranging a gig for Lucie Jones (currently Cosette in LES MISÉRABLES in London) and Tom Jones. I went in to bar and Cheryl Cole was there. I then went upstairs to a cinema and it was a screening of Deathly Hallows. June Ackland from THE BILL was there, as were the fighting girls from THE X FACTOR the other week, both naked, unfortunately.

It was at this point that I woke up. Phew.

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Roads? Where we're going we don't need roads

Today I went to Universal Studios after eating breakfast at Denny’s for the first time. I thought we were going to Islands of Adventure, (home to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter) but apparently not. I’m sure most visitors have a great time, but as I haven’t seen most of the films the rides, attractions and exhibits are based on, (Terminator, Jaws, Shrek, etc – I know, I know) the park made very little sense to me and was rather boring. I liked the Twister attraction because I’ve seen that film. But Bill Paxton’s video bits made me laugh. He seems to only do one voice – slightly concerned but authoritative adventurer – just like his role in TITANIC. I also found out who Helen Hunt is. So I learned something while having fun and getting wet (write your own jokes, kids).

Whilst my parents watched some sort of Blues Brothers tribute act performing on the streets of what was supposed to be New York City, I wandered off and discovered the BACK TO THE FUTURE DeLorean-based time travel machine. I haven’t seen the film in many years but I recently read two different drafts of the script – the first even worse than the second. That said, I think I like the film and will probably try to see it when it’s re-released in a few weeks for the 25th anniversary. Then I will know I’ve seen and touched the car on-screen. A notice next to the vehicle proclaimed it was the one used in the film, so I assume it is. There should be a photo or two of the car below.

Denny’s was nice. More of the Matilda-style pancakes, all I could eat for $4. I had five, and that was enough. Every time I’ve eaten here I’ve felt full afterwards.

This is Mr Fusion.

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Eatin' USA

During my last trip to America, I didn’t know that much about the country besides what my brain soaked up from Friends episodes, Super Size Me and the countless other films and TV programmes which consist of gratuitous shots of Times Square. The first identifiable thing I saw from the plane as we descended to JFK was a Pizza Hut- I think this says it all.

Four years later I am no expert, but I do know a lot more. Many of the people I communicate with the most are American. The only programme I re-watch as much as Doctor Who is the American version of The Office, about to start its seventh season here.

Words and phrases have entered my vocabulary and memory which were not there before. I know what IHOP (International House of Pancakes) is, and I suggested we have breakfast there this morning. It was amazing, and there should be a photo below of hash browns, (inspired to eat these by The Duke’s adoration of them in the John Green story of LET IT SNOW) sausages and eggs. The pancakes – which incidentally were like those pancakes the young Matilda makes in the film of the Roald Dahl book and not like English pancakes – were eaten by me too quickly to think of taking a photo.

We went to a mall earlier (I am Kelly Kapoor always) and I bought a cup of Pepsi from Taco Bell. Medium (which is probably UK large) was $2.03. I have no idea if this is reasonable or extravagant; somebody tell me please? I then went to a book shop and bought a paperback copy of LOOKING FOR ALASKA with the proper original cover, complete with golden Printz Award sticker. I’d like the hardback but I’m not sure it’s in print any more. It was great to see this cover, along with a smaller edition, sitting next to the hardback WILL GRAYSON, WILL GRAYSONs and a little in front of 13 LITTLE BLUE ENVELOPES. You just can’t find them like that in the UK, and it was exciting. If you are reading this and don’t live in America, it probably would excite you too.

Going to eat in our hotel now. There is a Pizza Hut built in! Mental.

Nearly finished my first IHOP:

Matilda makes some pancakes:

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On the subject of pop culture

Yesterday I arrived in Florida, USA. I have never been here before. My only prior experience of America is four days in New York City – which is markedly different to the rest of “typical” America.

However, a lot of my friends, people I admire, authors (which takes in the last two categories, actually!) and favourite TV show other than Doctor Who are/is American. So I’ve picked up stuff over the last few years, and on the (extended because we were lost) drive from the airport to the hotel, I made a list of places I recognised, and from where. Here it is!

Chili’s – The Office
Publix – Paper Towns by John Green
Chipotle – Hayley G Hoover, who else?
7/11 – we used to have them in England too
Arby’s – just the name
IHOP – not sure, but my friend Lauren likes it here
Home Depot – Daxflame video and Michael Buckley
Denny’s – Buck again
Target – Let It Snow by Maureen Johnson, John Green and Lauren Myracle. But, y’know, everyone knows Tarshay, right?
Forever21 – Jocy’s mentioned it I think
Olive Garden – my friend Lisa eats here sometimes. Also MJ’s mentioned it.
Waffle House – Let It Snow again
Wendy’s – generic
Taco Bell – I’m at the Pizza Hut… xD
SunTrust Building – a location in Paper Towns (#nospoilers). But didn’t see the Asparagus!

That’s it so far. But in an hour’s drive, that’s quite a lot I think. It’s interesting what sinks in to the subconscious, and the little bits of Americana you recognise from the media, like huge ads for realtors and personal injury lawyers. I’m not saying culture is just restaurants and a building, it’s just what I’ve seen so far. I’ll be wandering around later on today and learning more. Hope anyone reading enjoyed my little insight!

P.s. There should be a snatched photo of the SunTrust building below this line.