Mamma Mia!

I watched my very first musical today...finally!

I have always always wanted to watch musicals. Missed Cats, Fame, Sound of Music, Beauty & The Beast. Ok, I've missed everything because I gave myself too many excuses and I guess I'm just stingy.

This Christmas, I received a present to watch it. Thanks to Debbie's fiance, Hoi Hian. Apparently I'm sparing him the "torture". He couldn't stand the movie. Haha. I guess it appeals to the girls more. I enjoyed the movie so much I got my Mum to watch it with her friends as well.

I think it is not right to compare the musical and the movie. They are different in many ways. I like Meryl Streep (coz she's a brilliant actress - sings pretty well too) and Pierce Brosnan (not so much his singing but hey, how many men look that good at that age!). Plus there were magnificent sceneries in the movie.

I really like the musical. There is something about watching things live, and listening to music live. I like all the dances very much - don't really know how to describe but the way they join in to a dance, break into acting... I think it is really cool and I would think it takes lots of practice and very good choreograph. My only critique was the instruments seems to be louder than the vocals most of the time.

Since this is my 1st musical, I watched very carefully all the scene change, props movement and stage space used. Useful to see how the pros do it. I thought the backdrop was simple but very well used. Only 2 pieces that are both 2 sided on wheels. They also had 4 cyclorama screens that covers the entire stage from the audience. One was used for the opening and closing like how stage curtains are traditionally used on stage - but moves much faster! They fully utilised all cyclorama after the interval. Before the musical started, we also managed to take a quick peek at the orchestra pit. Percussion and drums were in the aquarium and everyone had their own 16 channel mixer...;-p. !

It was also very interesting how they had small tvs with a video shot of the conductor! I wondered if those on the stage could really see it. Oh, the conductor is a really really cool guy. He can conduct the orchestra, play the keyboard, cue and stand up and take photograph - ALL that during the musical! Haha.

Towards the end, people began to stand and dance. During the finale, if you don't stand, you will only be watching butts. I dunno, do people do this at musical? Is it polite? What if there is someone REALLY short behind. But I guess everyone was just too "high" to bother. It was also at the finale they lowered the lighting on stage to allow the lights to shine into the audience. Probably to give that disco effect. It was a unforgettable experience for me. :)