Meanwhile, in Rivendell . . .

It feels like it's been ages since I've really discussed musical theatre on here, and what better time to remedy that than during my friend Rachel's We Love Musicals week ? As the title of this post suggests, this will be a look at some of my current favorite musicals.  Specifically, I wanted to focus on those musicals that I'll more frequently choose to listen to as I'm going about my day, rather than just the movie musicals that I'll more frequently sit down to watch, as the two groups seldom overlap.   For example, as we all know, the 1964 film version of My Fair Lady is tied for my top favorite film of all time, but will I regularly listen to the soundtrack?  No, because while I do like the music, my adoration of the movie is due more to its non-musical elements.  (Of course, there are exceptions to this rule — you'll find both  Evita and  Newsies in this post, but I probably watch screen versions of both of those almost as often as I listen to the...

I don't even know about ranking anymore, y'all.  I know the top three and beyond that it's all malarkey.  ⎼ ⎼ ⎼ ⎼ ⎼ #10. Carousel My love for this musical has abated somewhat over the last little while, but I still think it's excellent.  It examines some weighty, complicated issues that most other stories don't have the guts to do (especially nowadays).  When does a person become "irredeemable"?  Does someone who does genuinely bad ⎼ perhaps even abusive ⎼ things still have value as a human being?  Can they "come back" and be welcomed into society and relationships again? There is no one-size-fits-all solution to these situations, but this story contains a dialogue on the concept that is refreshingly open-minded.  #9. Hello, Dolly! This is such a goofy, light-hearted, oversized musical.  It makes me happy, and I think it'd be fun to experience in lots of different adaptations, not just the Barbra Streisand movie tha...

Here are zee answers!:) #1: "I'll get that arrow, pretty boy, and I'll do it with my shirt on."   Answer:   Mulan (Yao) #2: "Oh, what I'd give for a hundred years, but the physical interferes--every day, more. O my Creator, what is the good of the strongest heart in a body that's falling apart?"   Answer:   Evita (Eva Peron) #3: "Forgive me. Where are my manners?" "You know, I've been wondering that since the day I met you."   Answer:   Letters to Juliet (Charlie Wyman and Sophie Hall) #4: "No matter how loud you shout, you will not drown out the voice of the people!"   Answer:   Amazing Grace (William Wilberforce) #5: "Sweet, loving angel of all things merciful!"   Answer:   Penelope (Jessica Wilhern) #6: "Yes! I love her! I love her with every breath I breathe!"   Answer:   Belle (John Davinier) #7: "Let's go steal the Department of Defense." "Is...

Hello, beauties!  I apologize for my slight absence recently--I was at the beach again.  It was fun (beach-combing is one of my new favorite things), but at the same time… Anyway!  While there, I suddenly got an idea for a post that I really liked ("People, I've had an epiphany!").  You guys probably know already that I have a bit of an obsession with musical theatre, particularly older musicals.  Y'see, the 1950s and '60s were the golden era of musical theatre, in my personal opinion.  (Also, I did a school project that involved researching musical theatre, and from what I read it seems that musical production was at its peak at that time, at least in America.  But I might have gotten that wrong, so feel free to correct me.)   I mean, think about all the famous musicals made in the '50s and '60s!   The Sound of Music, My Fair Lady, The King and I, Showboat, The Fiddler on the Roof, South Pacific, Oklahoma!, Singin' in the Rain, An...

'Eeeeello, 'ello, 'ello, all!  So two of my awesome blogging buddies,  Bekah  and  Morgan , have both tagged me!  Let's get right down to it. Bekah's tag:  The 5 Things I Like About How God Made Me Tag RULES 1. List 5 things you like about how God made you (God made everything about you; the family you were born/adopted into, the fact that you enjoy the stuff you enjoy, your looks, your personality; everything. So, it can't be too hard to think of 5 things you love about how God made you. Right?) 2. Tagging other people/excepting a tag is optional 3. If you are tagged (and if you except), link back to the person who tagged you 4. Have fun! (The accompanying tag picture!) Okay, here goes.  (I'm sorta grasping at straws here, so please don't think I'm saying any of this in a bragging way!  I'm really not trying to do so.) 1.   My eyes (let's get the shallow stuff out of the way first, shall we?).  I frankly have a...

Yup.  I always look this fabulous when I'm contemplative;-P I worry a lot. Sometimes it gets pretty bad, actually.  I'm sure most of you know the feeling--when you're having a miniature panic attack, and your scalp and ears start tingling with heat, and your stomach is roiling around, and you feel sure you're either going to vomit or fly apart at the seams in a matter of moments. Now, thankfully, it's rare that I have panic attacks.  Often I fret about things that aren't truly that momentously significant, so I'm usually able to repress anxiety when it comes, at least to the point that it doesn't hinder me physically.  Spiritually, however, it's a different matter. You see, I pick at myself, like most girls my age, and I pick at a lot of different aspects of myself--physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually, etc. I worry over whether I'm too self-absorbed (which I probably am). I worry over whether I don't have enough fait...

Sometimes life experiences, however ordinary, must needs be shared with our bloggy friends, right?  In the spirit of generosity, then, here are some pictures I've found recently that I really enjoyed, and interspersed among them will be sweet nothings vaguely relating to what I've been doing/enjoying lately. Now, obviously, this gown needs some work in the upper regions *ahem*, but still.  Is that picture not all ooh-and-ahh-beautiful?! I haven't seen it yet .  But I want to. I really like looking up random awesome pictures related to movies, etc.  This practice is particularly helpful for brainstorming future blog headers or future profile pictures, no? Watching  Gilmore Girls is therapeutic.  I'm just saying. I read this article recently that was expounding upon the benefits of annotating in your "core collection" books (as in, the ones that have really impacted you the most), and I've been rereading Ivanhoe doing just t...

I'm going to go ahead and post the answers to the game early, so as to avoid confusion during LoWCW, which promises to be absobloominlutely stupendous, but also a little hectic;) #1:  Audrey or Katharine?   Answer:  B (Katharine) Understand, now--I've loved Audrey's performances, as well, and I probably like her style more overall.  BUT I've seen more that I've liked (movie-wise) from Katharine Hepburn than from Audrey. #2:  Hub McCann or Print Ritter?   Answer:  B (Print Ritter) But just barely . #3:  Winter or Summer?   Answer:  A (Winter) I mean, look at that. I love picture-perfect blue skies and bare feet as much as the next girl, but there's something about winter…for one thing, it isn't nearly as long as summer, and being someone who tends to get bored fairly easily if I don't have specific assignments, the long break from school over the summer, though I need and enjoy it, can tend to get a lit...