Saturday Scribbles Vol 16

It's Saturday! That means it is time for another edition of Saturday Scribbles. I'll let you in on a secret. This feature is one of my favorite things to write. About last week's lack of Scribbles post. Yeah that didn't happen. I'd meant to. I have something I want to share, and last Saturday would have been the perfect day to do so. But I came home Friday night, watched the Amazing Race and then fell asleep. And my Saturday was busy, so I didn't have a chance to get it written. So I'll share NEXT Saturday what I'd planned for the 16th. Why not today, you may ask? That's because of what I'm about to talk about.

NEWSIES!!!!!!

Ever since Disney introduced this movie back in 1992, I've loved it. Yes it's a musical. Which is something I love. But it's unlike any musical I'd ever seen. Most musicals have a bit of a romance in it. Or the entire story is a romance. Not so with this one. This one follows a group of newspaper sellers, you know the paper boys who are shouting Extra Extra, in the late 1890's in New York who purchase their newspapers to sell for 50 cents per 100 papers. When the newspaper owners decide to raise the cost to 60 cents per 100 papers, the boys go on strike and a leader emerges to lead the newsboys. One reason I love this musical is that I was a girl in junior high. The cast is predominately male. I had crushes on at least 3 or 4 of the actors. :) But another reason is that  Gene Kelly was a special consultant to the film, especially with the choreography. I've probably grown up seeing just about every, if not all, Gene Kelly movie. Knowing that he consulted on the film, I was easily able to pick out specific scenes he had helped with. The movie is actually based on true events.

Well the movie was turned into a Broadway play. It is currently touring the country. When I heard it was coming to Houston, I was thrilled. I figured, I could figure out a way to get a pair of tickets. My Mom got me some for Christmas. And my one of my long time friends (we've known each other since we were babies) is coming with me to see it. And the best thing is - we are seeing it TODAY!!!

Can you tell I'm just a little bit excited?

So here are a few clips from the movie of three of my favorite songs to let you, my reader friends, share in my excitement today. Happy watching. By the way Christian Bale is very young in this film.

This clip from the the movie is one where Gene Kelly's influence is the most obvious.






This is the song "Seize the Day." Even in this clip, Gene Kelly's influence is noticable to one who has watched as many of his movies as I have.




And finally, Jack Kelly played by a young Christian Bale, in the number "Santa Fe."






So what musicals make up your favorites that you have seen live?

Haven't been this excited in a long time

I am so excited! I've not been this excited about the release of a movie in a VERY long time. I think that the last time I was this excited was either Star Wars Episode 3 or one of the Harry Potter movies.

What movie am I talking about that has me over the moon? Well it is the musical phenomen of Les Miserables. If you've not seen the trailer, watch it! In my personal opinion, this movie has Oscars written all over it.

Here is one of the trailers.


I love musicals. I've grown up watching Oklahoma and Sound of Music and others of that era. I own quite a few of these classic musicals on dvd.

I've seen several Broadway musicals. I've seen Grease, Wicked, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, and Phantom of the Opera to name a few. I've also seen several movie adaptations of the Broadway shows, though in the case of Grease and Seven Brides I'd seen the movies long before seeing the plays. These movies include Chicago, Rent, Phantom, Mamma Mia, and Hairspray. While I've enjoyed each one, there's something to be said for seeing the show live and onstage.

My obsession with Les Mis came about in college. I'd taken a theatre appreciation class and we watched a video recording of one of the London productions. I fell in love with the music, the story, everything about it at that time. I'm pretty sure that that summer the Liam Neeson version of the film came out and I loved it - even without the music. I didn't get a chance to actually see the musical live for several years. While I kept waiting patiently for it to arrive in Houston, I read an English translation of the book and still loved it. I finally got to see the show live about 8 or 9 years ago and it was all I'd anticipated. I even bought the soundtrack and would find myself jamming to the music while at work (still do). One of the most moving, for me at least, songs/scenes from the show was the song "Empty Chairs." Maybe it was the choreography of how this scene was done onstage. But I remember sitting in the theatre with my friend and when Marius is singing of how his friends and he used to come there, the friends come out and stand behind the chairs. It's just so beautiful. Yet this musical isn't a happy musical like Oklahoma or Show Boat.

The story of Les Mis is really the story of Jean Valjean. Valjean has spent the past 20 years in jail and when he's finally set free he doesn't know any other life. Until a kind bishop sets him on a new path. Over the course of the next several years and decades, Valjean tries to show that he's been redeemed. The one officer, Javert, who has hunted him for years firmly believes that redemption isn't possible for a man like Valjean. Add some students who believe in fighting for the poor and unfortunate, a blossoming love between the girl Valjean's raised as his own daughter and one of the young students, and Valjean finds himself in the midst of a fight for freedom. There will be causalities, but the biggest question is whom.

 Let me recommend the link for the film. I've had fun watching the videos over and over.

Les Miserables film