#i've loved it more each time i've seen it and the music in the theatre...my entire heart...

[emsylcatac]

is ML awakening good/worth a watch? I never watched it because ppl kept putting down the show to prop it up as being better at the time so I didnt want any weird biases to cloud my judgment. On the other hand, I remember ppl criticized s5's finale for not having adrien being relevant but then praise the movie's finale despite it not having marinette be relevant (correct me if im wrong, but sounds like things wouldve solved faster if she gave up and didnt believe in herself )

Hey! 😊

I think it depends on your tastes: if you really love the show and the characters, you probably won't like the movie. But if you're salty about the show (especially if you've been salty about it for a long time) then from what I've seen, people tend to like the movie more. Though you might also end up liking both the movie and the show, recognize each their flaws and qualities and have a fun time without feeling like you have to compare them!

So my advice would be :

If you love the show and the characters (and especially Adrien's characterization in the show), I don't think watching the movie is really worth it. But if you have friends who love the show to watch the movie with, it can be a fun experience to watch it together and laugh at it.

If you like the show but aren't necessarily too invested in it or even if you're invested in the show but are a casual watcher who doesn't analyze everything, I'd say you can give the movie a try and you'll probably have a good time at best, or quickly forget about it at worst.

If you are salty about the show and were especially disappointed in the S5 finale (or more about Adrien's non-involvement in the finale fight) and are looking for more Chat Noir / Hawkmoth confrontation than what we got in the show's finale, and if you aren't too attached to Adrien's characterization in the show, I would say you'll probably love the movie and should watch it!

I'll share more of my personal opinions / experience undercut that also answer some of your questions about the finale regarding Marinette and Adrien's involvement without spoiling the plot too much, but beware because I'm not a fan of the movie so it's up to you to read my biased opinion 😆

So even though I was disappointed in a few things in S5 (namely Adrinette dating pre-reveal), I would take that over the movie any day 😅 The characters were ooc to me (especially Adrien, I really didn't like their take on him), the writing is pretty basic imo, the musics aren't "bad" per say but they're cheesy and not at all memorable (and they sing wayyy too much imo - take a Disney and make it worse in terms of musical interruptions). And you're right, the movie finale has more Adrien in it - in fact, it feels a lot like fanservice in terms of Hawkmoth & Chat Noir type of content, but to the expanse of their main character: Marinette. Which is kinda disappointing for a story with a female lead imo. So to me, the movie finale wasn't satisfying to watch - more frustrating than anything because of the conclusion of it (I don't wanna spoil it in case you decide to watch it). We also don't really get to see the characters develop their relationship a lot (which makes sense because you can't have the same development in 1h45 than in 5 seasons), so it also doesn't help in making the finale satisfying to me. And I will say those who were satisfied probably were because they have seen the characters interact in the show and are watching the movie as if Adrien & Marinette had the same development, which they don't have.

I've watched the movie 2 times, one with the ML French culture gang at the theatre and we honestly had a great time laughing at how bad we thought the movie was, but our opinions were the same. And another time with @yeet-noir & @amimons because they hadn't watched it and wanted to see what I meant when I said it was bad. Again, we had fun making fun of it but they also didn't like the movie and I think we were overall frustrated with the fact that we think that it's not depicting a good image of the show, especially for people who only watched the movie (and we were frustrated at people saying it's tooooons better than the show hahahaha). But that's our personal opinion, and someone who loved the movie would tell you a different story for sure!

I hope it helped, sorry I'm def not the best person to be neutral because of my opinion on the movie hahaha 😅 but no matter what you decide to do and how you personally end up feeling about the movie, the most important is that it brings you enjoyment 😄

[merinathropp]

okay here's my massive and hugely late Wicked movie review in case anyone is still interested alksdjalskdjaldk bless you all for your patience

Glinda - 11/10 no notes I am besotted. I was so wrong about Ariana Grande, she was pitch perfect and melted into the character. She played Glinda with all the nuance she desperately deserves, she was SO MUCH MORE than just a mean blonde girl, she had a sort of 'spoiled rich girl innocence' and genuine sweetness in everything she did. And the RANGE!!!! Her expressions during No One Mourns get the award for First Thing To Make Me Weep, there was SUCH pain and bitter resolve underneath her composure. Ariana the woman that you are.

Fiyero - I feel like Fiyero is a character who only works if you make him a bit camp and silly and absolutely commit to The Flynn Rider-ness of it all, and Jonathan ABSOLUTELY DID. He was outrageously charming. Love that he flirted with girls and boys and even members of staff, really drove home the whole 'scandalous reputation' thing. Equal opportunity Fiyero Flirting. What a time to be alive.

Elphaba - Okay this is where things get complicated. I really struggled with Cynthia's Elphaba. I totally respect that she wanted to take the character in a different direction, making her more vulnerable and soft-spoken and sad.

It just didn't work for me, because it stripped Elphaba of all the things I love about her in the show: her fierceness, her rage, her explosive nature, her terrible temper. I just adore how messy she is. And I missed that in the movie.

I've seen people talk a lot about how Cynthia's Elphaba is 'internal' - she doesn't let her emotions show, she keeps it all on the inside. Again, this was a choice that really bugged me. So many classic Elphaba Reaction Moments were reduced to Cynthia just...looking?? It drove me mad.

Her vocals were out of this world. She looked absolutely stunning. But I just can't connect with this new version of Elphaba as much as her stage counterpart.

Sets, Props & Costumes - GORGEOUS. A literal feast for the eyes, this is a sumptuous movie and I kept wanting to pause the frame just to take in all the little details. Everything felt so distinctly Ozian, all the bizarre textures and fabric choices and steampunk Victorian vibe...ughhhh obsessed.

Screenplay - I think my overall take for this section is: The additions they made were fun, but if I'd been in charge, I would have prioritised completely different things lol.

With the 3 hour runtime, I guess I just assumed they would put all that glorious extra time towards Gelphie and Fiyeraba? Especially because there are SO many juicy cut scenes from older versions of Wicked (e.g. workshops, San Francisco tryouts), and this was an amazing opportunity to bring some of that stuff back.

But instead, we got like...A Sentimental Man dance break, more dialogue with the Wizard, a big action sequence with Elphaba and Glinda escaping the guards, a new song about the ancient sorcerers of Oz, loads of Pfannee and Shenshen dialogue etc.

Again, I don't think any of this stuff was bad! But I wish the extra time had gone towards expanding the character relationships rather than like...The Wizard Will Dance For You Now lol.

(Not to mention they cut some of Fiyeraba's dialogue - a BIZARRE choice, I scream into the void etc, these two have such limited time together already, Why Would You Cut More Of It)

Misc Things I Loved - Galinda and Elphaba's new little 'signature wave' for each other, based on their Ozdust dance. Destroyed me emotionally every time they used it.

- Popular was a MASTERCLASS in adapting a musical theatre number to screen, I was so worried it would be Too Much but they pitched it just right. It was hysterically funny but still sincere, Galinda was very much 'kid who's had too much sugar at 3am' and she was so DRAMATIC and silly and sweet, I'm besotted fjhakjsdhaksjda.

- ALL THE CHOREOGRAPHY. Bursting with energy, highly musical. I found myself wishing the camera would slow down / zoom out a bit, so we could enjoy it more fully.

- Doctor Dillamond actually saying to Elphaba that she has a friend in him, and gently offering her one of his hooves to so they could 'shake hands'. My friend and I were both like 'we did not expect to get emotional about the goat professor, yet here we are'.

- Fiyero 'yeah I ate grass as a child' Tigelaar. he absolutely did. not a single doubt in my mind.

- The Wizard, trying to convince Elphaba to join him: uhhhh you can even bring your...friend...with you! (I was literally like HAHAHA HE GETS IT oh no. he gets it. oh no. I just loved that he seizes immediately on the one thing that might sweeten the deal for Elphaba, which is having Glinda with her.)

[marcusnotbrutus]

Comments on Falsettos recording describing people's experience with pre-revival casts & being gay in the 80's and 90's

for @holdwinetosky

“I lived in Manhattan in 1981, met my husband that year.  We lived through the AIDS drama of real life on the Upper West Side. This show speaks to me on So many different levels.

Saw this production  on Broadway shortly after it opened. Crazy, Intense, Wonderful .

Just like it was in 1990 as Falsettoland at the Lucille Lortel, and when it first moved to Broadway as Falsettos in 1992. Saw the original casts of each, and each production multiple times (1 time with Mandy Patinkin as Marvin), saw the road companies that came to Philadelphia........etc...lol

Freakin Love this Show."

@ rugby8-Philadelphia 

“Saw a traveling company which came through Phoenix, AZ. I left Manhattan in '81 as numerous friends were getting ill and shortly thereafter died.  This show made me laugh out loud AND cry out loud!”

David Helmstetter (@ davidhelmstetter6661)

“Thank you. You signed my program when I was a kid. I waited by the stage door. My Mom didn't want to see the show at the time. She turned into the most accepting woman and this musical changed my life. xo”

@ castChicagoactors

“An absolute perfect moment in theater... this opened in nyc in 1990!!!!! We all had just lost lovers and friends and it was still raging without any meds.  Vowing to "buy the farm arm in arm" was and still is the most moving loving words to hear so beautifully sung”

Jeff Schecter (@ jeffschecter4543)

“I saw Falsettoland at the Theatre De Lys in the Village shortly after my brother Marty died of AIDS, and I have never cried so hard in my life as during "What More Can I Say" and "Unlikely Lovers."  I cried so hard that in part of my brain I thought someone might escort me out of the theatre, but there was nothing I could do about it, Michael Rupert you gave voice to everything I felt and there was no stopping it.  Thank you thank you thank you.  Of course saw the short multiple times on Broadway and afterwards in various productions and I will just never forget this song and that moment until every brain cell I've got has given up and every memory is erased because this is the such an honest statement of what love is all about.  To all of you in the show and William Finn I am forever grateful.”

David Fleischer (@ davidfleischer455)

“Thanks for posting, Michael.  Today, after 29 years together, my husband and I are legally married in our state of Georgia.”

@ theBestArts

“I have seen many Broadway musicals in my day. Over one hundred original and first run shows since 1980. I can honestly say without heistation that Falsettos in 1992 is the best musical I have ever seen in NY. The ensemble cast, simple set, lyrics, and use of character to tell a story is a perfect example of theatre art. Every theater lover should have seen this one, it is a masterpiece. Chip Zien and Barbara Walsh shine in every performance they give.”

@ muscled57

“I saw March of the Falsettos in 1980 and marvelled at it's musical brilliance and ended up seeing it half a dozen times. Then I saw Falsettoland a decade later which devastated me with it's sensitivity and humanity. Years later I saw a regional production of Falsettos which is the combination of the two shows and was enchanted and remain grateful to Mr Finn for writing such a masterpiece of musical theatre that I could see again and again.”

@ donovan3535

“I was fortunate enough to be reach up and touch Mr. Patinkin at the Golden Theatre in February, 1993, during his run with this amazing show. Those who don't think he made a good Marvin: I have to disagree with you completely. The man is one of the best American talents alive today and gave an amazing performance, in my opinion.”

@ dyabolykyll

“I can't believe I've never seen this before. I've sobbed all the way through the second act. Such strong memories of my dear friend Sammy, who died in 1993. The last time I visited him with my kids, he asked if he could change my daughter's diaper, and afterwards he cried because I wasn't afraid.

 It hits so hard for those of us who were young adults when AIDS came on the scene. People were afraid to be in the same room with someone who had it, much less to touch them. It made hand holding and hugs mean so much more."

@ VeracityLH

[thatlovelywitch]

𝙰𝙾𝚃 𝙰𝙲𝚃𝙾𝚁 𝙰𝚄 𝙷𝙴𝙰𝙳𝙲𝙰𝙽𝙾𝙽𝚂 𝚃𝙾 𝙲𝙾𝙿𝙴 𝙿𝙰𝚁𝚃 2

✨Falco Grice's cheeks have never seen a day of rest since he joined the cast. They are everyone's personal squishie or stress ball and they're always red when he goes home

✨ Levi has another signature other than the iconic cut: kohl. No matter the fit, his eyes are kohled on the red carpet

✨ Levi and Hange did a hit psychological horror movie together as the main leads. Theatre was shook, Tiktok was shook, Theatre was shook and people watched it for.....the amazing plot (the plot was Hange in a lacy black bar and low rise jeans covered in blood and Levi in the shower)

✨ Sasha has taken singing/music lessons since she was a kid, so she has a beautiful voice and can play the electric guitar, acoustic guitar, piano and keyboard. She has a music career aside from acting, and her songs tend to go viral Tiktok for cute trends. Her music has Clairo or Mazzy Star vibes, but she also likes it a bit risque so expect some softer R&B Kehlani type beats too. She tends to forget a lot of her fans are kids though LOL apology statements have been released (left a lip stick mark on an adult male fan's shirt and humped the floor while there were kids in the audience chile)

✨ Armin is THE SWEETEST EVER to kid fans like kid fans are his favorite and it shows. He'll always doodle a heart or sumn when he signs an autograph and you bet he'll go all soft complimenting the kid's mini plushie of him or their little Survey Corps cape

"Aww look at your cape yknow little buddy I had one too but it's not as cool as yours"

✨ Historia and Ymir. NOBODY has deciphered to this day if they're besties or dating it's that confusing and they don't make it any easier to guess.

✨ Annie and Mikasa call each other "wifey" and people try and start like imaginary beef between them like 13 year olds with too much time lol and all the while they're gossiping at award shows and feeding each other pudding or having sleepovers

✨ Zeke is a swiftie and he was the most EMBARRASSING CELEB MEMBER IN THE CROWD 😭 my brotha was twerking during more sensual or hardcore songs and he was getting drunk back there

✨ Erwin is NEVER dodging Captain America allegations he's tried to deny the rumors of him replacing Chris Evans since 2013 to no avail

✨ Erwin is a girl dad who keeps his relationship with his wife very private but sometimes he shares pictures of his life as a married man. The fandom will never get over him in a pink wig

✨ Pieck is a pretty privilege Tiktok lipsync star and we love that for her

✨ Jean and Connie did the Buzzfeed thirst tweets video tgt

✨ "Dude listen I've been goin to the bathroom with him for a decade now and it's more of a pony than a horse"

"Istg if yo bald head don't-"

✨ Eren Yeager reposts bad mafia x y/n Tiktok POV's of him

✨ Eren calls his fans pookie

[yuespropagandablog]

Hello esteemed mutual. If you are reading this, then that means my propaganda is working. But you might still have questions, so I am here to answer them.

What is Next to Normal?

Next to Normal is a rock musical from Brian Yorkey and Tom Kitt. It that follows a typical "perfect loving family, so adoring" in the suburbs, namely the Goodman family. It's as nuclear family as you can get: father, mother, son, daughter. But the mother, Diana, struggles with bipolar disorder and makes some drastic choices in her treatment that impacts the family. The father, Dan, tries to act as if nothing is wrong, and the children's relationship with each other has always been complex because of the family drama. The daughter, Natalie, especially has a hard time coping with it and finds distraction when she meets Henry at school.

After a huge relapse, Diana is advised to seek treatment from Dr. Madden, but he too advises a severe procedure. Diana needs to think on whether she wants this or not, while keeping her family in mind.

What productions do you like?

Next to Normal premiered on Broadway in 2009, and that is the production I love and know the best. It stars Alice Ripley as the mother, J. Robert Spencer as the father, Aaron Tveit as the son, Jennifer Damiano as the daughter, Adam Chanler-Baret as Henry and Louis Hobson as Dr. Fine/Dr. Madden. I have also seen *cough* slime tutorials with Kyle Dean Massey as the son and Brian d'Arcy James as the father. It had an off-Broadway run prior to that, which I have also seen things of. Off-Broadway has actually one of my favourite songs, but alas, that got cut and it hasn't been brought back for any other production (or at least, not that I know of).

I was also looking very respectfully at the production at the Kennedy Center from 2020, which stars Rachel Bay Jones as the mother (wow!), Victor Dixon as the father (damn!), Khamary Rose as the son (I do not know him!), Maia Reficco as the daughter (holy shit!), Ben Levi Ross as Henry (great!) and Michael Park as Dr. Madden/Dr. Fine (yay!). What a cast! Unfortunately, as usual, theatre is incredibly unaccessible, so apart from promotional material I haven't seen anything of it.

Next to Normal got a resurgence in 2023 when it went to London. It was a huge hit off-West End, so of course it transferred to the West End in 2024. Fun fact, it was between runs when I visited London. I am still bitter about it. I've heard really, REALLY great things about this production and many call it a complete re-imagining of the work while also remaining faithful. That's a tough line to walk and they did it. People specifically like how they re-characterised the son, without changing a word, and how that also changes the complex dynamic between the children. It stars Caissie Levy as the mother (wow!), Jamie Parker as the father, Jack Wolfe as the son (who's frequently named the best in this role, sorry Aaron), Eleanor Worthington Cox as the daughter, Jack Ofrecio as Henry and Trevor Dion Nicholas as Dr. Fine/Dr. Madden. Gosh I am so bitter I didn't get to see this live! AAAAAAAH!

Is there a trailer?

Yes. Here's one from the Broadway run:

And of the Kennedy Center run:

And from the pre-West End run, but this trailer also got used to promote the West End run:

Here's also their Tony Awards performance (Broadway):

And the one from the Olivier Awards (West End):

Do the songs slap?

Yes, they DO! The OBC got a remaster or something last year to celebrate its 15th anniversary. As I mentioned, it's more of a rock sound, although there are some nice slower songs in it too. And also, I'm Alive is absolutely phenomenal. I'm sorry, but there's no West End cast recording.

Is there a proshot?

Of course not!

Unless...

The West End run has been professionally filmed, so a proshot is a possibility for the future. But there's no word on that yet, and who knows? Proshots, man. Everyone wants them, but they're hell to make and even more hell-ish to release, apparently.

But for now, it's tootin and bootin time. There's actually a really great video, made by a fan, that splices multiple bootlegs of the Broadway run into one video. So there are multiple camera angles and what not. It's really well-done.

Are there content warnings?

Buckle up, dudes (gender neutral)! This show is... A Lot. The central theme of this show is mental health, so you know it's gonna be a serious one. I highly advise anyone to go in without any spoilers, so don't look anything up or read YouTube comments or GOD forbid scroll through the Tumblr tag.

But just to be safe... Let's delve into this. Again, mental illness. Diana deals with a severe form of depression at one point, feeling nothing and feeling like she's not real. Grief also plays a big role during this entire show. This family is also extremely dysfunctional, so expect a lot of that dysfunction. There's also warnings for drug abuse, suicidal idealisation and a suicide attempt. The show also delves a bit into the ethics of psychiatry. Where does medical power overtake patients' rights?

Fun show, amirite?

Are there German characters in Next to Normal?

No, sorry, these Goodmans are very American.

[liketwoswansinbalance]

Ngl, I kinda want to know how Rhian and Rafal would react to the movie trends like Barbenheimer and the Wicked movie??? Like Barbenheimer is kinda obvious, the twins would probably argue over what to watch first but I can't for the life of me tell how Rafal would react to Wicked. I can see Rhian loving Wicked because I think he would be a theatre kid irl but I don't know how Rafal would react. Would Rafal be against it? Would he say he hates it but would grow to love it? Is he even theatre kid enough to enjoy it full-heartedly ?????? If he is, what kind of musicals would Rafal even watch??? What movies would he even watch??? I need this information....for possible mind fanfiction purposes (the pain of having no time to write so you just imagine it instead 😭)

Disclaimer: I have seen the musical, but haven't yet had a chance to see the movie, meaning my answers will be based on the musical's plot.

⸻

In response to the Barbenheimer trend:

Rafal: I don't get it.

Rhian: Don't you see! It's us.

Rafal: [flatly] It's a middle-aged man and a lady in pink.

Rhian: It's symbolic and the release day timings coincided. The movies are "twins" despite being near total opposites.

Rafal: [skeptically] They certainly look like total opposites.

Rhian: And yet they're both existential and deal with themes of mortality.

Rafal: [scoffs] Well. We'll never deal with mortality.

[Correct me if I'm wrong. I haven't actually seen Oppenheimer, but I know the general story of the Manhattan Project, Einstein's involvement, and the irradiated desert ecosystem leftover from the first atomic bomb testing site in an American desert.)

⸻

In response to Wicked:

[During "Dancing Through Life:"]

Rhian: Could Fiyero be any hotter?!

Rafal: [sighs] At least he's not a pirate...

Rhian: That was rhetorical. [He continues to stare intently at the actor though.]

[Later during "For Good":]

I've heard it said That people come into our lives For a reason

Rafal: [snorts derisively] And the reason is to be nuisances. Everyone who's come into Elphaba's life has caused problems—eugh, even her prince. Even the "Good" witch.

Rhian: [elbows him, hard.]

Rafal: A whole musical about Evers and the lesson is that they [mockingly] improve each other's souls. Couldn't get more trite than that.

Rhian: [under his breath] Deeply shallow. [He starts to tear up at the rest of the song.]

Rafal: [drains the last of his frozen drink unaffectedly.]

[ELPHABA] And just to clear the air I ask forgiveness for the things I've done you blame me for

[GLINDA] But then, I guess we know there's blame to share

Rafal: [starts to choke so badly Rhian has to pat him on the back.]

Rhian: Called it.

⸻

After leaving the theater:

Rhian: So—what did you think, brother o' mine?

Rafal: Excruciating.

Rhian: [pleased and quite smugly] Well! That's clearly more than apathy, isn't it? If it's truly caused you that much pain, I dare say: you were affected. And now, we're done with it.

Rafal: [with a thousand yard stare] Mm.

Rhian: You've done your Good deed of the decade by accompanying me and are off the hook from attending future events. I'll even ban you from the Snow Ball, so you're not obliged to attend, if it makes you happy.

Rafal: [deadpan to himself] No good deed goes unpunished. All helpful urges should be circumvented—for my sanity.

⸻

I don't think Rafal would like the concept of musicals, at least not at first, given how they're "inefficient" at conveying information. What can be said versus what can be sung is part of that distaste. Also, musicals have the challenging task of maintaining a certain mood in many cases, but the introduction of songs (and theatricality in general) can often automatically make the source material (if the story was adapted from another medium) seem light and overblown, if not handled well.

Though, I think musicals would appeal to his somewhat lesser known dramatic side since he's not always no-nonsense. Maybe he would like Phantom of the Opera or Heathers. I'm not familiar with a lot of musicals, so I can't say.

And, I think he would like the psychological horror genre and detective/crime fiction or films. He would try to solve the mysteries mentally, and learn from how the criminals fail to hide the evidence. Generally, I'm not sure if he would be much of a consumer of media. He would probably claim he has more "important" things to do, yet that also wouldn't mean he would be media-illiterate. He would probably like Shakespearean tragedies and Paradise Lost (and maybe John Milton's works in general). Plus, he would probably love it when "problematic" things got past censors, if he lived in the 1500s.

I must admit that, to me, he's a triple-threat vessel for ascetic/Spartan, Utilitarian, and Hobbesian values. I think he would quickly dismiss the entertainment industry as a whole, and so, it's hard for me to come up with anything he'd watch wholeheartedly and not for ironic purposes. He could like bloody, historical reenactment documentaries or documentaries about unethical (psychological) experiments or war theory.

If he were a theater kid (he's usually not flamboyant enough to be one by my interpretations?), he would be a closeted one, or his theatrical mannerisms would only emerge when he's being overtly terrifying and slamming victims to walls.

Again, I don't have specific movies I would associate with him, but maybe, he'd like dark humor, the anti-joke, or observational humor and whatever these are:

[blacclotusss]

Do You Know What It Means to be Loved by Death?

My meta and analysis of my favorite scenes from IWTV s02e02

Louis and Claudia at the Cafe

Been a favorite of mine since the scene dropped way back in February. I've always loved Louis and Claudia moments where the two of them are just acting like the siblings they are. Claudia's question of who Louis is, I believe, implants something within him. Louis does dodge the question, of course, but I think we'll see what happens once he's without her. Now, the question is whether he will be without the hallucination of Lestat (I don't think so).

Claudia and Madeleine Meeting

Claudia and Madeleine's first meeting! Eep! There was more tension than I was expecting, but I liked the interaction. Claudia bursting in and demanding her wants is music to my ears.

Louis Cruising

Baby...I'm so glad Mr. du Lac is in Paris living it up and doing so freely. I do wish we could have seen him cruising more...explicitly; especially with the way Armand and Louis described their love lives. But, it's nice to know he was free and without judgement to do as he wanted.

Louis and Armand's First Meeting

Can we talk about legit love and first sight?! They're both so cute in this moment, it's the sweetest thing. The awkwardness of Louis against the smoothness of Armand meshed together beautifully. And the way the two looked at each other as they recounted the story was so magical. "I will not harm you" "And I never have." Such a tender moment and I hope and pray Armand has not hurt that man in any way, even indirectly. I can see it in the both of their faces that they wish to go back to that time, if only for a little while.

Introduction to the Theatre/Coven

I am such a sucker for all things camp and theater and this was both of those on steroids. The theatrics, the acting, the usage of both the projector and the blurred lines between real and fake was amazing. It felt like a show all on it's own. Louis and his facial expressions were hilarious and you can clearly tell it's not his thing, but Claudia wants to fully immerse herself in that. It was so sweet looking at how in awe and happy she was to see the production. Cannot wait to see her on the stage. I'm glad the show have each member of the coven a bit of backstory instead of just sticking them in the scene. We can already see on stage Santiago's personality and I'm intrigued with how he'll develop. I also noticed Armand seemed to be a bit distant when watching them interact. I believe he's already began to pivot his focus to Louis, which is confirmed in the murder mansion scene.

Lestat Reading His Letter to Louis

The only time we see Lestat in the episode and of course it's a tense moment. The first time we hear from de Lioncourt himself (will we have more of these moments?) and you can feel the tension and despair in the air. It probably made things worse for Louis for a couple of reasons. One, even in "death" Lestat, his first vampire love, loves and trusts him. "Know only this, mon cher, you are the only being I trust, and whom I love, above and beyond myself. All my love belongs to you. You are its keeper." That probably made Louis' heart swell. But, as much as it swelled, it hurt him beyond measure. The mention of treachery and seeking revenge probably made him feel as if he was choking. He knows he's the one that's going to have to let treachery eat away at him and let Lestat's face press up against his longing. I'm not sure if his hallucinations of him are longing, but the idea of killing him is still eating away at him.

Louis and Armand Toying with Daniel's Thoughts

Whew boy. This was a doozy, wasn't it? I was not expecting the flashback moment in that scene but I have a few theories. One: Armand is Alice. Yes, it's controversial but after this episode I don't think it's as far fetched as it was in season one. Armand popped up at that moment for a reason. And it's quite funny how no one has checked on the man, not even his daughters. I get strained relationships, but was it that bad? Now, I still don't fully believe this theory, but it's a thought. Another theory is that Armand's relationship with Daniel parallels his and Alice's. We don't know the full extent of what happened, but the two got divorced and no longer speak so it wasn't good. Third, Armand could have simply planted that in Daniel's head, which I think is the strongest one here. We all know Armand possesses the capabilities to do this and that flashback could have been him planting that in his mind. I saw someone say something about the editor messing with Daniel as well since they were the ones who pointed out flaws in his book (read by Louis in season one), which would be crazy, to say the least, because why?  And say what you want, that old bastard deserved it.

Murder Mansion Scene

Another scene I've been obsessed with since we saw it last year. These two are just lost in each other as there's a whole murder party happening behind them. I did like how protective Louis was of Claudia when Armand mentioned her (Armand please don't piss me off), but I hope he takes lessons from Maitre about shutting off his thoughts because that could definitely be his downfall.

[emeraldskulblaka]

Emerald's Theatre Favourites - 2024

I got to see many wonderful stage productions this year (not least because I was a theatre festival jury member), but I've managed to narrow it down to five musicals and plays each, with a couple of honourable mentions.

Musicals

1. Standing at the Sky's Edge, West End

I went in knowing nothing about it and was blown away. The three stories were interwoven so beautifully and elegantly. The music is captivating, and don't get me started on Poppy and Nikki! My loves. This show took a while to really sink in, but I'm so very glad that I went to see it even though it meant skipping Les Mis and going without my friends.

2. Cabaret, Stadttheater Ingolstadt

To be honest, I never understood the appeal of Cabaret until I saw this production. Chilling, thrilling, haunting. Everything just fit. The Emcee was split in two, and I was sceptical at first, but it worked exceedingly well. Olivia Wendt as Sally deserves a special mention; her vocals were out of this world, and she very deservedly got an audience award for this role.

3. Les Misérables, Gärtnerplatztheater Munich

Les Mis, so close to home? A dream come true! But I hadn't expected the demand for tickets to be as high as it was, and if not for @fitzrove, I wouldn't have been able to see it at all! Thank you <3 a non-replica production with a phenomenal cast and a score that was played without rushing through it needlessly. Excellent use of setpieces.

4. Mamma Mia!, International Tour (Munich)

A very spontaneous decision, this one. Didn't even realise it would be in English at first, but I was absolutely thrilled when I found out (other audience members weren't. Obviously it wasn't communicated properly). The playback was a bit of a letdown, but it was so enjoyable otherwise that it still made the list. Shout-out to Jennifer Adab's lower register. This was my first time seeing principals for all three dads, which was great bc one wasn't noticeably younger than the others.

5. Hadestown, West End

It's no secret that I'm more of a casual Hafestown enjoyer, but I got to see the show with @caenith @maellor @curiouselleth @quixoticanarchy and Exlibris, which made it the most memorable experience of this trip <3 (despite me forgetting my phone and panicking about it, and Orpheus' actor being audibly sick, poor guy) impeccable vibes, a great show.

Plays

1. This Restless House, Stadttheater Ingolstadt

An adaptation of Aeschylus' Oresteia, with the first two parts being played traditionally and the third one modernised. Stand-out performances by the entire cast despite injuries (one even live on stage) and illness. The choir at the beginning was particularly impressive. A long evening, but one well spent.

2. Twelfth Night, Landestheater Coburg

To be honest, I don't have that much to say about this one. Veebs. Great fun. I'm glad I finally got to see this Tumblr favourite.

3. Bromance, Theater Schloss Maßbach

It's absolutely amazing what three actors, three white sheets, two overhead projectors and one sound engineer can do. I desperately wish the small theatre hadn't been half empty. They're gay, your honour.

4. Draußen vor der Tür, Theater Regensburg

This was depressing af, obviously. But the set design was very intelligent and the production quality overall on a level many regional theatres can only dream of. Well done, Regensburg, you made me sincerely enjoy Wolfgang Borchert.

5. Der Hobbit, Figurentheater Wilde & Vogel (Straubing)

This would have been higher up if I hadn't already seen it in December 2023, but I can't not mention it here. It's played with so much love for the story, so much heart. An adaptation both children and adults will enjoy. And not just because of the glittery Rivendell elves, I promise!

Favourite Theatrical Moments

Disney in Concert is always a treat! I got to see this year's tour "Believe in Magic" in Munich, and missed the encore because of #trainpanic. RIP.

Ilya Zhigarev as Orpheus in a concert version of the Orpheus rock opera. A revelation. A dreamcast come true.

The recording of Much Ado About Nothing, Globe Theatre, 2011. I laughed, I cried, I had the best time imaginable. 11/10 would recommend.

What were your favourites this year? ✨️

[jgroffdaily]

How does it feel to be nominated alongside Daniel and Lindsay after doing Merrily together for nearly two years?

I'd known Lindsay forever; I didn't know Dan. I knew his work, but I didn't really know him personally. And I remember feeling, the first day when we walked into rehearsal, that so much has come for free, like when you go on a good date and the conversation is flowing.

It's really emotional because now, we're actually friends in a deep way. We've seen each other go through so many different things. We were at Lindsay's wedding; Lindsay's pregnant; Dan had a baby with his girlfriend — all in the last two years.

So much life has happened. We've lived the experience of doing the show both personally and as characters. There's so much real feeling that now I don't know where one of us begins and the other one ends. It's such a symbiotic relationship at this point, and to be here celebrating a show like this is phenomenal.

Did you have a connection to Merrily before joining this production?

[Actor] Gideon Glick, who I did Spring Awakening with, texted us all on the Spring Awakening chain years ago and said, "Oh my god, you guys have to see this Merrily documentary. It's us. It's reminding me so much of us."

In 2021, in November, we did a 15-year anniversary reunion concert of Spring Awakening. I invited [production company] Radical Media to come and record the concert and do a documentary that was, in large part, inspired by that Merrily documentary because I wanted to capture us from 15 years before and us now.

A couple months later, I got asked to be a part of this production. I watched Maria's British production of Merrily on YouTube, which is still there. When the character of Frank [...] said, "I've only made one mistake in my life. I made it over and over and over again, and that was saying yes when I meant no," that was the moment where I was like, "I have to play this part." I feel that so deeply.

Is there anything you wish Sondheim could know about this production?

I feel him talking to us every night. A gift that he left our whole community is his work. Between Off-Broadway and Broadway, we've done Merrily over 300 times. As a performer, that's really kicking the tires of the material if you still feel, over 300 performances in, like there's still so much more to learn. In his work, in his music, in his lyrics, honestly, last night — I'm feeling new things that I've never felt before.

Great art, when you get the chance as an actor to perform it, changes you from the inside out. I feel like I'm learning every day. It's like free therapy to do his work because it's so poetic and so thoughtful and so emotional.

What was your first experience with Sondheim's work?

[My] Sondheim gateway was a VHS from Suncoast Video at the Park City Mall of Into the Woods when I was in seventh or eighth grade. I brought it home. I was like, "What is this? I love musicals. I love fairy tales."

I watched it in one sitting and then I rewound it and then watched it all a second time.

What did theatre mean to you when you were younger?

Getting the chance to do theatre in [middle] school was life-changing for me. Same thing in high school.

[I had] the opportunity of being on a stage and getting to express myself as a teenager, and then going to see theatre and [discovering] that's it's so easy to understand the medium because you can perform it at school and then also see it. It's the actor's medium — you see people out there doing it live, and there's a real communion with the audience.

Being closeted when I was in high school — as I look back now, I didn't realize it then, but theatre was where I went to express myself, express joy, express sadness, express love, express myself physically, just even the act of singing. When I look back now, I realized that theatre, as a teenager, completely saved my life.

Do you have a favorite memory associated with the Tony Awards? The annual broadcast is many people's introduction to Broadway.

Oh my God, so many. I would record the Tonys on a VHS, and then I would bring them into school and show them to my fellow students in math class.

I taught a unit on the Tony Awards at York Little Theatre summer camp in 2004 with a bunch of 10-year-olds. It was the year of Wicked and Avenue Q and The Boy From Oz and Caroline, or Change. They all held a vote on who they thought should win Best Actress.

Probably the Tony performance I've watched the most is Sutton Foster doing "Forget About the Boy" [from the musical Thoroughly Modern Millie in 2002]. I was in high school. I saw the show six times. The heat coming off her as [...] she's playing this character of moving to New York and wanting to make her dreams come true — I was just lit on fire by her and that performance.

[droughtofapathy]

"Welcome to the Theatre": Diary of a Broadway Baby

Gypsy

November 21, 2024 | Broadway | Majestic Theatre | Evening | Musical | Revival | 3H 20M

Breaking my silence on attending the Gypsy first preview at last. So, let's start with some caveats and disclaimers. This was a first preview. And because George C. Wolfe does not have invited dress rehearsals, our show was the first time it was fully presented in front of a live audience. Kinks and all. And from an objective standpoint, there are a lot of kinks still to be ironed out. The great news is that this director is known for actually utilizing the preview period for its intended purpose. Changes are coming, and I cannot wait to see what happens.

Let's get the big question out of the way first: can Audra do it? Yes, she can. I don't believe singing the score in a more mixed/head voice substantially damages the character in any way, but I do believe it takes a considerable amount of active acceptance to see (and hear) past the initial shock. It's jarring. Obviously, Audra McDonald is not going to come out with a big brassy Merman. But neither were Angela Lansbury or Bernadette Peters. Because the material is so strong, it allows for a considerable amount of vocal versatility. I don't think she was there yet, and it's a lot to ask of her first preview. Especially in the early scenes of act one, she was almost jittery and gave the character a manic energy. She'll settle. She's going to find Rose over the next few weeks. Performance-wise, she was right on the money in the duets and trios, especially "Together, Wherever We Go," which was one of the night's highlights. She and Danny Burstein play off each other so well. He's already got Herbie down, which is no surprise. He was born for that kind of role. The scene where he finally leaves? Damn.

Audra's initial entrance will be one of the most transcendent moments in theatre history for me. She swept down that aisle and up those stairs just a single row in front of me, and I got teary-eyed. I didn't feel that same euphoria again.

A few moments came close. At some point in act one, just as Mrs. Cratchit answers the telephone and tells the big boss man that the act is having scenery troubles, we had to stop because we had some actual scenery trouble. It lasted less than six minutes (though some online accounts exaggerated by saying it was at least ten or fifteen. They're wrong.) Mylinda Hull played it off with comedic genius ("I'll call you back.") The strippers are show-stealing. That "You Gotta Get a Gimmick" number is perfection from start to finish, and I am deeply in love with every single one of those ladies. Mylinda Hull, my beloved. Lesli Margherita back on Broadway? Lili Thomas Asian Mazeppa? They did this for me. They've got it.

I think the rest of the supporting cast will eventually get it too. The one who has it more than anyone is that little Baby June. Talk about stealing the whole damn show. Jordan Tyson is fine, and I'll be interested to see how she improves as an actress in a few weeks. Joy Woods is also fine. I've never been especially impressed with her in anything I've seen. She has a lovely voice, no denying that, but she's so young and inexperienced and it shows in her acting and control a lot. Here, she's very good as a young wallflower Louise, but her strip transformation from girl to woman is lacking. Yes, yes, first preview, so all those awkward transitions and costume changes are going to be ironed out. I really liked the allusions to Josephine Baker. But the final dressing room confrontation just wasn't landing. By this time, the show was running really long from a mix of lagging scene changes and tech, and Joy's delivery was still very girlish. It felt like a fifteen-year-old throwing a tantrum because her parents said she wasn't grown yet. I'd like to see a lot more work to make her move to sophisticated stardom more obvious. Deliver the lines without getting shrill, ground it more, match Audra's acting.

I'm also not sure about the decision to stage "Rose's Turn" on the passarelle. I was in the front orchestra, no obstruction, possibly the best seat I've ever had. But knowing how deep that mezzanine goes, I cannot imagine how the sightlines were back there. This is the tour-de-force moment. She needs to have the whole stage to work with to be seen by everyone.

As for the rest of it, there's a lot of backstage tightening that's going to happen. For the first night, I could hear and see a lot of commotion in the wings. There are several set pieces that come and go, and it's loud. But that'll be fixed. The actual design of the show isn't really...I just don't know. I don't think the choices are bad, necessarily. They serve the story. But it's not dazzling? The lighting is pretty lackluster. The costumes could be bolder, bigger, better. Oh, sure. I know. It's not that kind of show. But there are definitely points where it could be. Joy's burlesque costumes should be giving more. I think Tessie Tura's butterfly costume is excellent, and Electra's lights are cute (but could be bolder). Mazeppa's is the weakest of the three, and in what's usually the leading stripper role, Lili Thomas does get overshadowed by her comedic genius costars. Lesli and Melinda know comedy like the back of their hands. Lili's voice is strong, but her comedy isn't natural like theirs.

It's been almost a week, and I still just don't know. It's too early for me to have any concrete opinion on what I saw because of how much everything is going to change and improve in the coming weeks. It didn't transcend for me, but that was a huge ask. The show basically sold out and grossed $770k over the first three previews. That places a full-week projection in the $2M range. And that's really good. The big question now is can it sustain that through June? Can it keep filling that massive venue and can these early kinks smooth into place in time for the busiest time of year?

Verdict: Unrated

A Note on Ratings

[wri0thesley]

I am so sorry if this is invasive and weird, but may I ask what you work as? I'm at the stage where I have to build my future and I know you don't have an age specified but you seem to be doing really well (at least from the posts we've seen, again I really hope not to be invasive) for yourself and your partner and 25+ is still young! Again, I hope this isn't mean or weird, I'm just curious. (and severely nervous. First year of college is ruining me harder than any fictional man.)

ahh anon i'm afraid that the answer is probably not what you're looking for!

for the record, i am 27, i just find getting fandom older a little scary, especially having it listed right there!!!

i actually intended to be a performer and a singing teacher (my degree was going to be in music & musical theatre); unfortunately, due to a plethora of reasons (mostly my undiagnosed autism, unmedicated ocd/depression/anxiety combo, a nervous breakdown and my partner's physical health declining) i dropped out of my degree before the end of my first semester.

for about three years or so after that i was severely agoraphobic. talking 'can't answer the door' agoraphobic; 'never left the house alone, and even when with someone only went to the doctors and therapy' agoraphobic, 'rotted in my bedroom in an absolutely non romanticised way' agoraphobic. i was on the equivalent of disability because i literally could not function. meanwhile, my partner, who lived with me and my parents was getting physically worse whilst i was mentally struggling (since then haz has been diagnosed with ehlers danlos syndrome, fibromyalgia, lipoedema, thyroid issues and a lot of other things; they have a lot going on). i DID access several therapies, had . . . a couple of very bad relapses, went under crisis teams and all of that stuff (i had occupational therapy too which was HONESTLY i think one of the most useful things and helpful things for me in the long run; i cannot imagine what i would be like if i hadn't had the occupational therapist the crisis team found for me).

(coincidentally, if you are an og jojo follower you probably remember how bad it was; i've said it a hundred times, but running this silly little reader-insert blog probably helped save my life at a time when i had almost no contact with the outside world. i couldn't leave my bedroom, but i had my blog and i had my little internet friends and discord server).

i have gotten a lot better.

haz, unfortunately, has not gotten better physically and probably never will. they need help with a lot of things most people don't even realise disabled people might need help with. brushing their hair, fastening clothes . . . when haz first moved in, they were doing the same dance-intensive college course that i was. we danced maybe three or four hours a day. nowadays, haz needs me to hold their hand and keep them steady when they go from our bed to the bathroom (the room next door).

so i don't really 'work' as anything. well, my therapist would tell me off for saying that; the uk government classes me as an 'unpaid carer', which basically means i am on call for haz literally 24/7 and they pay me the pittance that is carer's allowance (carer's allowance assumes you care at least 35 hours a week, and pays you the privilege of about 45 pence per each of those hours. if, like me, you live with the person you care for and do more than those hours, it gets . . . yeah. oof. the government unfortuately know that most unpaid carers are loved ones and family members of the person who needs care and won't just stop doing it, and they'd be in the shit if we did because trained carers are expensive, so they can get away with that - FUCK the tories, honestly.

i am EXCEEDINGLY lucky that i live in a cheap area of the uk, that haz and i are internet savvy enough to be able to access carers/disability discounts, that we are in rent-controlled social housing (which my crisis team helped find for us because living with my parents was taking such a toll on us both, woo!!!!), and that we've been able to access services to help on the nhs. i got my autism assessment and diagnosis; haz is under several pain management teams.

all in all, i'm happy. i'm so much happier than i was seven years ago when i'd dropped out of university and felt like a huge failure, because all of my life i was a gifted overachiever and i thought my self-worth was tied to my academic achievements (and as an extension, what roles i got in what shows and when and who saw me and so on). i don't have a lot of money (i am a bargain shopped fgbnkjgjnfb) but i know what i like and because i'm Older Now (tm) i've amassed collections of it.

i am absolutely sure that you'll boss college, anon! that you will find that thing that works for you (one day i would LOVE to go back and get my degree! pre-covid i had an acceptance for a creative writing degree and i was getting ready to go back to uni as a mature student, but haz's health got bad again and then covid happens - and now ofc i have my autism diagnosis i can access so much more help!). but even if you don't, you can absolutely find happiness without 'traditional' success.

i don't have a lot in the grand scheme of things. but you're right in that i am doing pretty well, in terms of where i am, and where i've been. i have my own little home. i have my partner of ten years who is my soulmate in every conceivable way. i've had experiences that make me feel so happy i sometimes cry when i remember them. i have my own little cat now!!! things still stress me out. but i have come so so far and when i feel down i remember that.

good luck anon! i believe in you <3

[princesssarisa]

Character ask: The Robber Girl (The Snow Queen)

No one asked me, I just felt like sharing because I've been thinking about this story lately.

Favorite thing about them: How remarkably complex she is for a fairy tale character, especially a little girl. She's introduced as a savage little brat, in total contrast to the gentle, innocent Gerda. Yet from the start Andersen hints at her better nature, as she saves Gerda from being killed (albeit for selfish reasons, to force her to be her playmate), and her eyes are described as melancholy. We realize that she's a product of her upbringing, as we see her vicious drunkard mother and the un-familial way they treat each other. And of course, she eventually proves her inner goodness by becoming a genuine friend to Gerda and letting her go with the Reindeer. Yet she does this without losing any of her rough-and-tumble demeanor. There are very few characters in children's stories quite like her.

Least favorite thing about them: Her habit of casually threatening to kill Gerda in the earlier part of their acquaintance, and the way she teases the Reindeer with her knife and laughs at his terror. Did Andersen need to give her that much of a sadistic streak?

Three things I have in common with them:

*I'm broad-shouldered and have dark eyes.

*I can sometimes be selfish, but compassionate and caring too.

*I love animals.

Three things I don't have in common with them:

*I'm not a robber.

*I don't sleep with a knife in my hand.

*I don't torture animals for fun.

Favorite line:

This passage as she lets Gerda go, with its blend of rough yet sincere kindness, lingering selfishness, and irreverent humor:

"Here, take back your fur boots, for it's going to be bitter cold. I'll keep your muff, because it's such a pretty one. But your fingers mustn't get cold. Here are my mother's big mittens, which will come right up to your elbows. Pull them on. Now your hands look just like my ugly mother's big paws."

Her words to Kai when she meets him for the first time near the end:

"You're a fine one for gadding about. I'd just like to know whether you deserve to have someone running to the end of the earth for your sake."

From the Faerie Tale Theatre adaptation:

"Fraidy-cats like you give girls a bad name! The forest is no place for sugar and spice and everything nice! If you run with the wolves like me, you gotta be quick as a cricket and brave as a bear!"

"If word gets out I took pity on a city girl, I'll be booted out of the robbers' league for sure!"

brOTP: Gerda.

In crossover-land, I might also like to see her meet Éponine from Les Misérables, since they have a lot in common. Both are the abused daughters of ruthless criminals, both are wild, hardened, amoral girls as a result, both can stand up to a band of armed robbers and get their own way, and both sometimes skirt the edge between "good guy" and "bad guy." Yet both become deeply attached to one of the protagonists, which reveals their capacity for caring and unselfishness, and they both help to bring the story's innocent girl and boy together. Of course there are key differences too. The Robber Girl is a child, while Éponine is a teenager; the Robber Girl is robust, fierce, and aggressive, while Éponine is more frail, ghostly, and whimsical (in the novel, at least – I've seen productions of the musical that played her more like the Robber Girl); and of the aforementioned boy and girl they help to reunite, Éponine is devoted to the boy, while the Robber Girl is devoted to the girl. But I still wonder if Victor Hugo drew just a little inspiration from Hans Christian Andersen in this case.

OTP: Maybe Gerda, if you view Gerda's love for Kai as sibling-like.

nOTP: Her mother, or any of the adult robbers.

Random headcanon: This isn't a rare or original headcanon, but I'll cite it anyway: she's a baby lesbian with a crush on Gerda. Now, I won't pretend this is the only way to read her. She can also be seen as just a lonely, mistreated child desperate for a friend. But in a story written by a bisexual author, she wraps her arm around Gerda's waist as they ride together, insists that Gerda share her bed, sleeps with her arms around Gerda's neck, and playfully insults Kai (her male "rival" for Gerda's affections) when she eventually meets him. Does that seem entirely platonic?

Even Disney seems to have seen it, since when they very loosely adapted the story as Frozen, they made the Robber Girl's counterpart into a male – though Kristoff isn't a criminal, or as wild or initially nasty as the Robber Girl, he's still the gruff, unsociable reindeer-owner who becomes the heroine's unlikely friend and helper – and made him the love interest of Gerda's counterpart Anna.

Unpopular opinion: Her appeal for me isn't because she's "badass." Repeatedly I've seen critics fixate on her feistiness as the reason to like her. But while it is endearing – and I do like that she's not "tamed" in any way, but gets to end the story by leaving her mother and setting out with a stolen horse and pistols to explore the world – that's not what matters most about her. It's that she has all the potential to be a villain, and at first she seems as if she'll be one, yet she feels compassion for Gerda, and as a result, without losing her hard edge or changing too much to believe, she chooses to do good.

Song I associate with them: None in particular.

Favorite picture of them:

This illustration by Arthur Rackham.

This illustration by Margaret Tarrant, showing her protecting Gerda from the adult robbers.

This illustration of the same moment by Nika Golz.

This illustration by Milo Winter.

This illustration by Honor C. Appleton.

This illustration by T. Pym, with Gerda.

This illustration by Henry J. Ford, showing her letting Gerda and the reindeer go. I like that strange, exotic (and probably stolen) outfit she's wearing!

Another illustration of the same scene.

From the 1957 Russian animated film.

Linda Manz in the Faerie Tale Theatre adaptation. (Too old for the role, yes, but it works because Gerda and Kai are aged up too. I wish I could find a good full-body picture, though, because I like her androgynous, fur-covered costume.)

Lena Urzendowsky in the 2014 Märchenperlen adaptation.

@ariel-seagull-wings, @themousefromfantasyland, @thealmightyemprex

[littleredpandanaps]

get to know your moots

Thank you @oonajaeadira, I'm sorry for repeatedly liking the post whilst my little sausage fingers tried to remember how to copy and paste on mobile!

What's the origin of your blog title?

Favourite animal + favourite activity. Also, have you seen red pandas napping?! Adorable

OTP(s) + Shipname:

I thought this meant One Time Password and after much Googling I learn that in this context it means One True Pairing and having learnt that, I cannot think of a single couple ever throughout the history of time and space.

Favourite colour:

💜💜💜💜💜

Favourite game:

I like me some boardgames, Articulate and Telestrations being present faves

Song stuck in your head:

I've had a medley of sea shanties stuck in my head since Christmas, currently it's The Wellermen. I spent a good six weeks in the run up to Christmas singing the well known festive classics, Islands in the Stream by Dolly Parton.

Weirdest habit/trait?

I have many, that I don't think are weird but others do. When out in a public place like a restaurant, I like to be in a corner, I don't like not having edges/walls around me

Hobbies:

I'm struggling with hobbies at bit at the mo (injury+low mood) but Lindy hopping (it's a thing!) swimming (particularly open water and open air pools), vintage *stuff*, reading, going to museums, making jewelry, hiking, cooking and napping

If you work, what's your profession?

I do work but I like to keep work and Tumblr very separate. I love my job but it can be stressful and confusing and this is my current safe space from that.

If you could have any job you wish, what would it be?

Probably what I do now but in the charity/voluntary sector instead OR I'd go wild and I'd love to work with animals in some capacity OR if I had any talent, I'd be an artist

Something you're good at:

Remembering incredibly niche random shit. Untying knots in necklaces/chains.

Something you're bad at:

Basic maths and cleaning, life is too short to clean a bathroom!

Something you love:

Being in a woodland at any time of year

Something you could talk about for hours off the cuff:

Dogs. Lindy hop and associated dance forms. Star Wars. Musical films from the 1930-1950s aka the 'Hollywood Golden Age'. Pre-Raphaelite art. Gerbils (don't ask). How to pick apart a film and analyse it in a way that would bore most people to tears. Food throughout history and cultures. House plants.

If I like something, I go all in is what I'll say.

Something you hate:

The sound of people brushing their teeth

Something you collect:

Books. Interesting rocks. House plants. Dungarees. Ticket stubs from theatre/concerts/gigs that I've been to. Vintage hats. Badges.

Something you forget:

What day of the week it is fairly frequently, where I've put my glasses, damp washing in the machine...

What's your love language?

Recieving: quality time, could be a walk, cooking together, just spending some really good one on one time with someone special.

Giving: I guess acts of service? I come from a family that shows their love for each other through food. We feed our loved ones, we bake for those we care for and batch cook at a time of crisis.

Favourite movie/show:

Taskmaster / The Mandalorian

Favourite food:

*BREAD* though I've just found out I have a high yeast intolerance

Favourite animal:

Red panda, duh. Or dogs.

What were you like as a child?

I collected snails and said they were my friends. Not so good at making human friends, got bullied a lot. Very creative and imaginative though.

Favourite subject at school?

Art, music and history

Least favourite subject at school?

Sports, unless it was swimming and maths.

What's your best character trait?

I think I'm reasonably empathetic

What's your worst character trait?

I procrastinate so much

If you could change any detail of your day right now what would it be?

I would have procrastinated less and got more work done so my anxiety wasn't so bad now.

If you could travel in time who would you like to meet?

I'd like to have met and become friends with PP back in high school (I think that's what it's called in the US, it's secondary school where I'm from) I think we could have been two oddballs together. Failing that, my maternal grandfather, he passed away shortly before I was born but sounded like a lovely, kind man.

Recommend one of your favourite fanfics (spread the love!):

@oonajaeadira latest PATS journal entry has been living in my head rent free recently and @wrathkitty 's Short Debts Make Long Friends is my Mando fever dream

tagging:

@sawymredfox @galaxyedging @for-a-longlongtime

[jackiestarsister]

Thoughts while rewatching The Sound of Music

I grew up watching the movie and have seen a few stage productions, but my understanding and appreciation of it have evolved as I've gotten older. It's fun and sweet and delightful, but also profound in its themes of finding purpose in life.

These were my reactions while rewatching it for the first time in several years. (Spoilers ahead)

~ I had forgotten just how gorgeous Julie Andrews’ voice was; that vibrato is incredible!

~ I can now see many allusions to other works of film and theatre, such as the navy whistle-blowing in Mary Poppins, Scarlett fashioning curtains into a dress in Gone With the Wind, and the “Marseilles” scene in Casablanca.

~ I had either forgotten or not noticed how much comedy there is! A lot of it is down to timing.

~ I can’t tell what kind of order the abbey belongs to. Very little is said or shown about what they do, whether they are active or contemplative, and their habits are as generic as can be.

~ My headcanon is that Maria has ADHD. It would explain a lot of the things the nuns describe in "How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria," including her lateness and impulsivity.

~ I think St. Franics and the Franciscan spirituality would appeal to Maria’s personality; she loves nature and is full of joy and zest for life. Maybe she would have been happier in a Poor Clare community, or as a secular/third-order Franciscan?

~ There are several times when Maria stops to catch her breath during or after a song; I’m not sure I like or dislike that.

~ I do like the little moments when Maria privately lets out her emotions

~ A lot is conveyed about Max and his relationship with Georg simply in the way Georg rolls his eyes and then takes a drink when telling the children he’s coming!

~ I’m confused about the intentions of “Sixteen Going On Seventeen.” Are any of their words sincere, or is it all teasing, sarcasm and irony? Liesl certainly is not behaving like a little girl unfamiliar with men; she’s making all the moves while Rolf tries to put distance between them!

~ Maria’s bedtime prayer comes true, only not in the way she hopes or expects at the time!

~ The “Do Re Me” montage actually makes sense in terms of learning music! The children (conveniently the same number needed for each note in a scale) first learn notes, then how to use notes for a song, then how to harmonize.

~ “They get the fame, you get the money” actually sounds like the sad true story of the Von Trapps: for all the money generated by movies and the musical inspired by them, they didn’t get as much as they should have in royalties.

~ Georg doesn’t realize those “local urchins” in the trees were his children until they have already passed by!

~ Georg, Max, and Elsa’s banter is the best! Those two do bring out his more humorous side.

~ Did Georg not tell his household ahead of time when he would be back? Or did Maria miss the memo?

~ Can the kids even swim?! Even in water that shallow, I would be concerned for the youngest ones!

~ The argument between Maria and Georg is great, but too fast! She’s had time enough to formulate her thoughts about the family, but there isn’t enough time in the scene for her to get worked up to that level of passion, even anger. And no way the children would change clothes and assemble to sing in so little time! The one thing I appreciate is that their hair still looks damp when they gather to sing; good continuity there!

~ I had not realized that Max is present to hear the children sing for the Baroness! He has no lines, and is barely visible in the background, but that was probably when he started thinking of them as potential participants in the festival.

~ What a turnaround from no music in the house to throwing a party with all those musicians!

~ I hadn’t realized before that Herr Zeller, the official who leads the hunt later, was at the party!

~ When Kurt hits that high note in “So Long, Farewell,” George makes a gesture as if to say “Show off!”

~ Elsa does an impressive job of manipulating Maria, because there is so much truth mixed in.

~ Speaking from experience, it seems strange for a cloistered religious community to have an entrance like that, where everyone inside can see everyone outside. The ones I’ve visited had a porter/portress or someone at the front to let people in, and visiting areas where outsiders could talk with sisters.

~ The Reverend Mother would definitely have required some account from Maria of her time away and whether it had helped her in her discernment. Their whole conversation about why she left the Von Trapps should have taken place as soon as she returned. As the one who arranged for Maria to become the governess, it is also strange that she would not have followed through with them to see if Maria’s work was satisfactory.

~ Georg could have said and done more in his final scene with the Baroness. He tries, before she takes over and leaves on her own terms, but he does not even wish her well as she leaves.

~ The shots of Maria and Georg silhouetted in the gazebo are gorgeous!

~ Max is Georg’s best man in the wedding! I wonder how he felt about being in that gorgeous church; he does not strike me as a man of faith. And what thoughts does he have on Elsa’s departure and the fact that Georg is marrying Maria, who does not seem to have any family or money?

~ If I remember correctly, the butler Franz's loyalty to the Nazis is explicitly revealed in the stage version; but in the movie it is only vaguely hinted.

~ It's a bit ironic that Max, who everyone jokes about loving money, ends up being such a help to the Von Trapps. Maybe it's supposed to be a redemption arc?

~ I don’t like Rolfe’s final scene at all. I prefer how in the stage version he sees the Von Trapps but covers for them. Georg’s interaction with him does not make much sense; they barely know each other.

~ At the beginning, Sister Margaretta and Sister Berthe are completely at odds over Maria; but at the end, they unite to protect her by sabotaging the Nazis’ cars! I love it!

In conclusion: I can’t say it’s flawless—historical accuracy aside, there are some aspects of the acting and characterization that I think could have been done better—but it’s still pretty magnificent!

[wheelin-after-midnight]

29.

You ever carve Jack Lanterns?

No. My dexterity sucks too much for this. I'd probably end up stabbing myself in the hand or something by accident.

Have you ever visited someone in jail?

No.

How cold is it where you live in January?

Usually very cold.

Do you like the smell of Jasmine?

I don't love it, but I don't hate it.

Have you ever tried a jawbreaker?

Yeah. Not a fan.

Do you like Jazz music?

Yup.

What’s your most important piece of jewellery? Why does it mean so much to you?

The one ring I have left that my Nan gave me. The brooches of hers that are in the jewelry box she also gave me that previously belonged to her mother. They mean a lot to me because I have very few things of hers or from her. Things like that are irreplaceable and she's gone.

What job have you always wanted to do?

Mother, but I can't. Always wanted to do live theatre, too. I used to in my school days. I wish I had more opportunity to do it now.

Have you ever done journaling?

Not so much as an adult. I used to write a lot of poetry. I still have it all. I guess this is a the closest thing to journaling I do now.

Do you think you’re a judgmental person or more an accepting person?

I'm generally extremely accepting. I'm usually surrounded by people I make a conscious choice not to be like. I choose to try to do much different.

What’s the key to happiness?

There isn't one. Happiness is not something that's fixed. It's not a feeling that just stays. It ebbs and flows. It's in a lot of little things. Sometimes you really gotta look for it, might not be blatantly obvious. It's not the same for everybody. Often, I think it's something we create for ourselves. All these little bits of hope and joy and fun and memories that we salvage from all the mess in our lives. Things that keep us going when we don't think we can.

What was your favourite cartoon as a kid?

There were a lot. I loved Arthur. Clifford. Franklin. Bear in the Big Blue House.

What fictional killer scares you the most?

None. They're fictional, I don't need to be afraid of them.

What kind of sandwiches do you like?

Fried egg and cheese, turkey and cheese, ham and cheese, German salami, German salami and cheese, grilled cheese, Philly cheese steak, sometimes peanut butter.

Which of your friends is the kindest?

Both of my best friends are kind in different ways, but I do more things with Brittany and see her a bit more often than Kirsten, so I'll go with Brit. She's extremely supportive and loyal, will always get back to me when I need help. Never gets upset if it's the same stuff bothering me because she knows that it's beyond my control and not stuff that I can just change on my own. Always tells me to never feel bad for venting. Has been there to do things for me that my mum should have been present for and done but couldn't be bothered to make time for, even though she lives a good drive away and is also a mother to her own young child. We do things for each other. Neither of us keeps score or holds it over the other person's head. I never expect her to pay me back, but when she feels as though she should she always promptly does, and vice versa. She spends money on food for me a lot when we go out even if I could have paid and doesn't care because she wants me to be able to keep a little money for myself. I've been Auntie to her son since he was born. I've known her since I was eight. We went to school together until tenth grade and then she moved, but we've hardly gone two weeks without talking to each other in all that time. We almost always talk daily at least once. We've not had a single argument or falling out our entire friendship. She's been through so much in her own life but never once let it make her hard or bitter or mean or turn into someone who treats people poorly. She's one of the best mothers I've ever seen, and strong. I'm so proud of her all the time. She's giving her son what she never had and it's amazing to watch. She's everything you could think of or want in a best friend. I wish everyone had someone like that.

How old were you when you had your first kiss?

15.

Do you love kittens and puppies?

DUH! 😍😍 I miss Nippy being such a tiny floofer. How is she a year and a half next month?! Look how cute she was guys! I can't! 😭🥹

Have you ever flown a kite?

Yes. Not since I was really young though.

[harus-simp]

Love is in the air

-Haruto x reader-

Warning: pure fluff

Word count: 780 approx.

You and Haruto have been friends for a while but there's something in his eyes that just brightens your face every time you see him.

Waking up in the comfort of your bed is the best feeling you could have in the morning,your alarm clock ringing in the distance as you start to fall again into a deep slumber. Wait...Alarm? Fuck. You were running late to classes again. Damn this is the third time this week y/n.

As fast as you can you get dressed, eat a single toast and head to your school as fast as your legs allow you. Bumping with everyone who crosses your way and apologising for it immediately you make your way into the entrance realising that you are actually on time. You slow down and breathe for a moment taking a little break. But you are startled since you feel yourself being hugged from behind by certain someone.

"Ahhhhh" you scream

"Woah woah easy there, it's just me"

"Oh it's just you..."

"Hey! What do you mean? It's THE Haruto" he says sassily.

Yep that's your best friend, Haruto Maeda, aka your crush for the last two years. He's one of the sweetest, funniest and kindest people you know. There's just this aura around him that you find mesmerising and his eyes seem to sparkle every time he's speaking.

"Hahahahaha don't be silly Haru!"you say

He smiles at you kinda mocking you as you make your way through the corridors to your class.

There you both part ways as you don't share any subjects that day.

"Well see you later boo" he says "Later" you respond

Hours went by veeeeeery slowly, prolonging your boredom for longer and longer. Until the bell ranged and you could finally be free.

You straightly went to the entrance where you always meet with Haruto, and as you approach you see him waiting kind of nervously? Your Haru getting nervous? Well that's new... You finally get to him and all his possible nerves were nowhere to be seen.

"Hey" "Hey, is all good?"

"Yeah...so are you free this evening?"

You almost choked yourself to his question. Is not that you guys don't hang out, it's just you where genuinely surprised by the spontaneity of it.

"I am actually, don't have any plans with the theatre class.

"How about movie night at mine's?"

"Sounds great! I'll be there by 5?"

"Yeah sure"

You both start chatting and you eventually separate ways as your houses are in opposite directions.

.

.

.

When the time arrives you found yourself at Haruto's house which now that you think of it, you've never been to. Your butterflies making their obvious presence in your stomach as you wish this was an official date.

You both start doing your own thing, fighting for choosing the movie, playing background music, dancing, ordering food as cooking would come with a really bad result,etc.

You both finally sit down to watch the movie, but just keep on making silly comments and making a fool of yourselves.

And then...silence...abrupt silence surrounds you both. You turn around to find him already looking at you,curious of his behaviour you start questioning him." What, is there something on my fa-"

You are suddenly blocked by a soft pair of lips kissing you tenderly and with such sweetness you might get diabetes from it. Too stunned to do anything you remain in the same position making him regret his actions and start to pull away.Until you finally react and pursue his lips in search of more. You kiss him back with the same care and passion he put into the other one making it such a romantic and pretty moment between you two. He sneaks his arms around your waist as you put your arms around his neck enjoying every moment of it.

You both pull away due to the lack of air and stare at each other completely fascinated until Haruto breaks the silence and your heavy breathing. "Sorry y/n, I couldn't help myself when you look like that"

"Don't be, I enjoyed it very much and I've actually been meaning to confess for a long time but I guess you got ahead haha".

He looked at you with those sweet and sparkling eyes you love so much and you get lost in so easily.

"I love you"

" あいしてる "

The way his smile got bigger gave you a tingling sensation that no one else could ever give you.

"Would you go out with me?"

"Gladly"

And you both spent the rest of the night cuddling and spending quality time as a new born couple.

°◇°◇°◇°◇°◇°◇°◇°◇°◇°◇°◇°◇°◇°◇°◇°◇°

あいしてる (ai shiteru) = I love you