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also about my AP Lit exam today

Goneril is the only Lear daughter who wasn’t in a good stable marriage and I know that everyone knows that but just. Her sisters were happily married and she was stuck with Albany.

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King Lear was nearly canceled 

Because of a severe storm

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Review of King Lear at MetroTech

-full disclosure I saw this production a week ago and I was just procrastinating on writing this for a full week

-normally I’d talk about all the things that changed in the production from the original text, but this was Happy Ending King Lear (ie That One Version where Edgar and Cordelia are cannonly A Thing), so that whole thing was changed anyway. Like. France doesn’t exist bc Cordelia and Edgar are A Thing from the start, and so the War becomes a civil war or something. Because France doesn’t exist.

-anyway. Moving on from there.

-both Kent’s disguise and Edgar’s 2nd or 3rd disguise (the one he fights Edmund in) are literally just A Hat. And I 100% approve of that costume choice.

-they gave The Wheel line to Albany after Edmund died instead of to Edmund. Which I 100% DO NOT APPROVE OF

-Cordelia I’m so sorry but I hated your performance so much

- Cordelia would. not. stop. smiling.

-even while Lear was banishing her

-she said all her lines with this obnoxious self-righteousness that made her the most unlikeable character

-kinda reminded me of that lady from Enchanted. The main character. Whatever her name was.

-except more annoying.

-only good thing about her was that she got to fight in the battle at the end. She had a sword.

-onto Regan

-I absolutely loved her actress. I think her actress was my favorite of the 3 Lear sisters

-EXCEPT they decided to have Regan and Edmund be A Thing while Cornwall was still alive. Which. No. I don’t like that-no one likes that- why would they do that

-i do ship Regan and Edmund but ONLY after Cornwall is dead

-anyway I liked Goneril in the MetroTech production better than Goneril in the New Spruce Theater production. Because NST Goneril was near-crying the whole time, while MT Goneril was ready to punch someone. If MT Goneril and Regan (both of which where ready to punch someone) and NST Cordelia (who actually did punch someone) would all be in the same production, I’d definitely be able to see the family resemblance.

-I wanna see a production of King Lear where all the Lear sisters all have 0 tolerance for stupidity and are ready and willing to beat someone up if they have to

-Oswald was played the way I’d expect Malvolio to be played. It was like Malvolio was hired to be Goneril’s servant instead of Olivia’s. I have no other way to describe the vibes I was getting from this Oswald

-Edgar was annoying, but idk if that was just because of his whole Thing with Cordelia or because he actually was annoying

-Lear and Gloucester were both forgettable. I don’t remember a thing they did that stood out to me

-unfortunately Albany and Cornwall were also just as forgettable

-UNFORTUNATELY Edmund was also just as forgettable

-I think Cornwall nearly stepped on my hand at some point, which is the only thing I remember him doing (the way this production worked is you sit on the ground and the “stage” is the ground in front of you. And the actors kinda walk over/around you as they enter/exit the “stage”)

-and. That’s it.

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dead sober in the club googling Orestes Fasting and Pylades Drunk

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Rip eponine you really needed some warm soup and a parental hug

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please give me Edmund king lear content

I love my boy I miss my boy

blorbo from 5 years ago I still love you

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i love reading books in public and feeling like a mysterious intellectual stanger in a romance novel when in reality im reading les mis and everybody knows im an utter geek and my bespectled nose is one inch from the paper

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legend 🙌

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i am become OR a sonnet for the macbeths

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I’m spamming sm today I’m sorry y’all BUT HOLY SHIT WELCOEM BSCKK TRUE BARITONES

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A collection of photos recently released of the châtelet production!

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I saw the Theatre Du Châtelet production of Les Miserables, and here's a rundown wyth my thoughts:

In the Prologue, the first set of prisoners are on a boat, then a second group is brought in to help move it. I loved this direction, as we see the physical feats they are forced to do. Valjean is brought on separately to these groups. Guards also beat the men, conveying the aggression of this environment which impacts Valjean’s character.

Part of the set is a ramp up stage left, which gets used a lot. During the Runaway Cart scene, we actually see the cart go down the hill and fall on Fauchelevent and the actor really milks it, it's brilliant. The set has these two huge curved pieces, which are used to create multiple settings, plus box sets which helps separate different locations.

Claire Perot is a perfect Fantine, we understand her immediately. She is watched by all the men in the factory, which she's aware of but hasn't grown hardened as a protection. She's so vulnerable and clearly uncomfortable with the attention. I really enjoyed the 'J'avais Reve' ('I Dreamed a Dream') lyrics, and Perot's delivery of the line about Cosette being close to dying was PERFECTLY delivered. She stopped to take the moment, and it was the best I've ever seen it done. My favourite Fantine, maybe even including the film adaptations I've seen.

The pimp comes on with Bamatabois and has the lines with the sex worker that in the English version says 'only joking, deary knows her place'. When Javert arrests Fantine, the other sex workers start towards her but stop, clearly on her side but unable to stand up to Javert. This asserts the dynamic between these men, who always have more power in the situation, and the powerless women.

Champmathieu and two guards walk in from of Valjean during 'Le Proces' ('Who Am I'), so he sees whose life his decision will impact. It's a shame the actors look nothing alike, I feel like they could've given the actor portraying Champmathieu a beard 😂

I preferred the 'Une Poupee Dans la Vitrine' lyrics to 'Castle on a Cloud' lyrics, they're so much more specific to her experience as she dreams of playing with the doll Catherine. love that she sings about Catherine. I wish that the Catherine that Valjean gives her was bigger, though, it more resembles the size of a doll you would buy today instead of the large doll of the novel. Her broom is literally twice her size though, it's a perfect staying to reflect the famous artwork of Cosette sweeping.

The Sergeant of Waterloo Inn is a box set which covers half the width of the stage so you can see the snow outside behind this set piece, which really makes it seem that the inn is bursting with people. This really highlights how far the Thenardiers fall. We see Cosette and Valjean meet in the space away from the set, which is cold and isolated.

These Thenardiers feel genuinely dangerous; they're funny but there's less playing up to the audience. They dress similarly to the rest of the cast, but there's always something out of place. For example, in Maitre Thenardier (Master of the House), Thenardier's outfit is identical to an ensemble member's, but then his hair is unusually styled compared to the rest of the casts'. During the wedding, everyone wears black and white (white dresses and black suits), whilst the Thenardiers arrive in black and white striped outfits. It's like they try to fit in, but they're always off. I also enjoyed that the Patron Minette are in Maitre Thenardier, backing up Thenardier as he over charges someone (his wife has a go at him in a nice touch of ensemble work). It's like they're mates who then went into crime together. The 'Colette' line also remains.

During the confrontation, which happens whilst the nuns are present, Javert whacks out a giant gun which he points at the nuns, after that the nuns throw a bucket at him. When I say I DIED.

This Grantaire isn't the Grantaire we know, he's way too optimistic and put together. When he first started singing, I thought he might be Prouvaire or Courfeyrac and they'd given one of those characters those lines! It made me think that having Courfeyrac make fun of Marius would be so much fun, they'd get to have a bit more of a relationship there, and Courfeyrac could keep his snarkiness from the novel. But I still enjoyed his performance. This Grantaire still makes fun of Marius in jest, but he is as passionate as Enjolras and can easily jump into action mode. Their dynamic slightly resembles Achilles and Patroclus' in Madeline Miller's novel, in that Enjolras and Achilles are focused and charismatic, whereas this Grantaire, like Patroclus, jumps in to help the wounded. His protection of Gavroche is there, and Gavroche sings his final lines to Grantaire, before falling into his arms dead (Gavroche throws the bag of ammunition over before stumbling back to their side of the barricade with his hand clutching his stomach, resembling Eponine's demise).

The costumes for everyone are stunning. Fantine's deshevelled look is gorgeous and Javert has an incredible black leather coat. Enjolras wears a gorgeous slightly orange toned red coat, then a red striped waistcoat at the barricade, whilst Grantaire is in a green suit, with a top hat in the early Musain scenes.

In 'Bonjour Paris' ('Look Down - Paris') we see a group of middle class men walking to the front of the stage, surrounded by the poor they appear disgusted by, whom we are encouraged to judge.

Minor characters portrayed by the ensemble are given chances to shine, and this production really feels like it is presenting a society, as the novel does. A father and daughter appear in Paris, and this father then joins the revolution. He kisses his wife goodbye as she leaves the barricade, and it's heartbreaking when we see his corpse when they are defeated. We also see a member of the ensemble listen in to Javert's confession to Valjean when he has suspicions that he's an ex-convict. This moment especially evokes the small town attitude of Montreuil-sur-Mer in the novel.

Stanley Kassa's Enjolras is one of the best I've ever seen. He's commanding, serious, and clearly empathetic; having told Courfeyrac to keep watch whilst Valjean sings 'Comme un Homme' ('Bring Him Home'), he also keeps watch, and a couple of times looks back to watch over his sleeping comrades. You can really see that he has a lot going on internally, and is reflecting on the previous day and what is to come. Before sending the fathers and women home, he does this sigh to himself, and lets us in on the inner torment and regret that the people didn't join them. Kassa also dies leaning back off the barricade with his arms out, and he keeps them there until the barricade is removed, which is impressive given the time he has to keep this position for.

In 'Dans ma Vie' ('In my Life'), there are bars to the garden stage left, then bars projected on a screen in front of the set, so Cosette actually feels boxed in and isolated from the outside world in her garden.

Cosette telling Valjean about the 'four men scheming' (replacing 'three men I saw beyond the wall' makes more sense. She and Marius actually see the end of the Eponine, Thenardier and Patron Minette scene, so she tells Valjean as she has reason to worry.

They make the decision to have the barricade rise outside the Musain rather than the Corinthe, probably to simplify things. This also creates an emotional link, as they dream of creating a new world and it's next to that space that they try to achieve that new world.

This production's Prouvaire has a beautiful openness as a performer, he carries a little book on the barricade which feels very apt.

After the defeat, two national guardsmen, plus Javert, survey the barricade, which is covered in the dead, making them face up to what they have done. We also have the national guard giving the orders at the back of stage, visible through the barricade.

'Le Suicide de Javert' ('Javert's Suicide') is heart stopping; he is on top of one of the large set pieces and towards of the song is raised higher. His death is achieved by falling back 90 degrees and the screen in front shows a projection of him falling in slow motion into the Seine. This production takes place 5 minutes from the Seine, which really hits you in this moment.

'Seul Devant ces Tables Vides' ('Empty Chairs at Empty Tables') is done with projections of shadows on the Musain set, which is a wooden piece stage right. Of course we see Grantaire drinking, recognisable as the shadow with the top hat.

'Tourne Tourne' ('Turning') is performed as the moment the families have to identify the dead, such a unique staging choice.

When things get awkward at the wedding, the master of ceremonies asks the 'Maestra' to play a specific song. When things get awkward again when the Thenardiers are eating all the food, Thenardier tries the same thing and asks the 'Maestro' for a song (there was a joke were he said something that wasn't a song, but I can't remember what). The Musical Director is then revealed upstage when she corrects him that's she's a 'Maestra', which got a big clap.

Eponine doesn't duet with Fantine in the Finale until later than usual, so we get a beautiful scene between Fantine and Valjean where she puts his hand on the book before he gives it to Cosette.

Once Valjean dies, he gets to greet everyone in death, included Myriel, who he hugs, and Javert, who he shakes hands with. And Enjolras, who feels very central to this production. He's used a lot in the trailer and Stanley Kassa has the most amazing charisma, you really root for him.

Overall, I loved this production. A lot of the lyrics are tell the novel's story more explicitly and are still poetic at times. I especially loved Fantine's lyrics, and it's so refreshing to see a different take on the material visually. I really hope this production gets a longer life, and I'm so glad we have an album with this cast. They all have golden voices, especially Oceane Demontis as Eponine. I also have to shout out Juliette Artigala for her portrayal of Cosette, I thought she was so endearing.

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production of king lear where everything is the same except edmund is replaced with edmund from the lion, the witch, and the wardrobe

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Malcolm Armwood Hadestown headcanons

Malcolm Armwood did a Cameo about his worker and his Hermes! His worker is named Richard and he's a construction worker, single, lives by himself and doesn't really have that many friends, so when he goes to Hermes' bar at the top of the show he meets all these new people and hits it off and makes friends.

Malcolm envisions since his Hermes is close in age to Orpheus that his Hermes does not age, and when Orpheus's mother was around before she left, she said 'if anything were to happen to my son, make sure you look after him, take good care of him, show him the way, you're a wise one' so he gives Orpheus enough information but wants him to make decisions on his own, like in real life how people give advice but we choose our own path!

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the closet isnt even glass, theres just no closet. he isnt thinking about a closet. hes busy.

📷 : @/bikinibottomdayz

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i wish shakespeare was alive so he could block me for poor little meow meow macbeth posting