Ticked... And Triple T. (Does that make it quadruple T if I'm ticked too?)

I am ticked that I have missed yet another Tuesday. I created Triple T, making a top ten list for every Tuesday like 6 weeks ago and I think that I have posted only 1 list. I'm ticked because seriously EVERY TUESDAY for the past too many weeks Tuesdays have magically become my busy run-around-with-your-head-cut-off kind of day and I fail to post the list that I made originally for like some Tuesday back in May. DUH! Today I had a few minutes to post (or so I thought) and I just got super busy doing other things. So, I have failed yet again at posting this Top Ten List. But instead of waiting till next Tuesday and making you all think that I forgot about my own invention, I have decided to just break the rules and post it on Wednesday. (Well, it could still be considered Tuesday because its 12:36 am and I am still up blogging. But probably all of you will not see it until Wednesday unless you are like me, reading blogs at one in the morning.

So, here you go, this is one of my favorite lists…

My Top Ten Favorite Musicals.

Some of these are only movies, some of them are only theater productions, some are both… But I decided they can fall into the same list because they are all musicals.

I tried to put these in order of my liking, but I just couldn’t do it. So, in no particular order:

1.       Tarzan

Now, it is critical to note that I am NOT talking about the Disney movie (although it is a pretty good movie.) I am talking about the original Broadway show.

I saw this on Broadway in 2006 and was S.M.I.T.T.E.N.

This is us, totally SMITTEN
It has the most brilliant music, and it had brilliant staging and costumes and I still think about those scenes that I only saw one time 5 long years ago.

Check it.

2.       Newsies 

Of course this is only a movie, but am I not the only one who thinks it is one of the greatest oversights in our UNIVERSE that no one has made it into a Broadway show yet? Hello??? It's destined for greatness. And how yummy is Jack Kelly “you think I'm lyin’?”

It was one of the first musicals I ever saw as a child. I still remember the first time I watched it. I was in 5^th grade, visiting my aunt in Texas, my cousins friend brought it over. Little did I know what I was about to feast my eyes on.

3.       Little Shop of Horrors

Now, I have only seen one stage production of this. Actually it was my first exposure to the show. I'd never even heard of it prior to my junior year of high school. (Don't judge, my parents are not big musical lovers and therefore why would they have introduced me to the magic that is Little Shop?)

My good friend Jessi did a brilliant job at playing Audrey and I still remember how brilliantly she mastered that unforgettable voice.

Besides that play the movie is the only showing I have seen of this play. And holy Rick Moranis is a gem.

And Steve Martin steals my heart, except that he is a sadist wacko. No biggie.

4.       Memphis

I've blogged about this show before. I saw it on Broadway once and a taping of that show two other times. I cried the second and the third time watching it. I can't really say much else about this show other than go to New York right now to see it. It's that good. It's Tony-award-winning-for-best-musical-in-2010-good.

I'm head over heals. 

5.       Wicked

Everyone knows about this show and everyone knows why it is amazing. I saw it on Broadway only once. It's on the bucket list to see at least another time in the big apple before I die.

6.       Thoroughly Modern Millie

This is another one that is both a movie and a stage production. I have seen both and don't really care for the movie, which is surprising because Julie Andrews is one of my favorite actresses.

Sutton Foster one the Tony for her role as Millie the week before I saw her perform the role on Broadway.

She completely and totally lived up to her award. I adore this show.

7.       Sound of Music.

I have also blogged about my love for this musical before. I have never seen a stage production of this (even thought I actually was in one back in 2003) but it’s not my favorite on stage. There is only one song that is different than the movie that I care for. I love Julie Andrews in the film version though, as well as Christopher Plumber and every other cast member.

It's such a gem. It is the first musical I ever remember watching and one of the few that my father loves. He definitely gifted to me that love of this musical.

8.       Singing in the Rain

This is one movie that I could watch over and over and over again and never tire of. Debbie Reynolds is majestic and Gene Kelly is one of my idols. They are so charismatic together. I LOVE THIS FILM.

9.       Aida

I have only seen this show on stage twice. At a little local theatre that did a magnificent production job. You know I love something when I make plans to see it again, this is one such show. I’d actually never even heard of it before I went to the showing. Not knowing what to expect I immediately fell in love with it. The plot, the music. Its magical. So, in my immediate  love affair I went home and bought tickets to go see it again the next night. I have done this several times with shows I love. I have yet to do it in New York but I always wish I had after I am done. I am taking this into consideration for the next trip I take.

And finally # 10.

Footloose. 

I really like the movie version of this show. I mean how yummy is Kevin Bacon?

But my true love for the show is in its theatre production. I've only seen one high schools pathetic version of the show being done as an audience member. I was in the show in high school, but my real love came simply from the original Broadway cast recording soundtrack. It's magical, for lack of a better word. (all of these shows are magical to me in some way)

And there you have my top ten favorite musicals. What are yours?

 
Before signing off though, I have a sort of embarrassing confession to make… It is super duper juvenile but my runner up that barely got cut from the list is Annie. I have only seen the movie and not that new one they came out with just a few years ago. The original from the 80’s. The reason I love it is the freeking talent that it showcases, and actually not Annie herself… she is ok in my opinion but NOT the reason I watch it. Burnadette Peters and Tim Curry blow me away.

And who doesn’t adore Carol Burnette in all her villan-ness.

And Ann Reinking is to die for.

Totally juvenile and embarrassing but I truly love this movie.

As I said when I created Triple T, I did it because it is a way I get to know people in real life. I am always asking people to give me their top ten of something. You can really learn a lot about somebody from their top ten lists. That is what I love about it. I think you all will get to know me better from this lovely and I want you all to participate too. Make your own Top Ten lists and let me know about them. I will get a linky party going someday! 

A Dream Remembered.

"There was a land of Cavaliers and Cotton Fields called the Old South. Here in this pretty world, Gallantry took its last bow. Here was the last ever to be seen of Knights and their Ladies Fair, of Master and of Slave. Look for it only in books, for it is no more than a dream remembered, a Civilization gone with the wind....”

Gone with the wind is the Doc’s favorite movie, she talks about it a lot. Until about a month ago I had never seen it, so I figured I’d had better watch it so I would know better what she was talking about. I am very glad that I did, because not only was it a great movie but she has since made reference to it dozens of times and I finally know what she is taking about. Immediately I was drawn in. I was impressed with the culture and the language and the costumes and the dating rituals. For those of you who have not seen it, I will give you a brief synopsis (and yes, the following paragraph is brief, considering this is a four hour film). This synopsis is my personal interpretation of the film… whether or not I am accurate in that interpretation of the film is debatable. But the following is how I interpreted the events. (And since I have heard more on the Doc’s interpretation I realize I may not have seen things the same way that she did.)

.

Scarlet O’Hara is a rich, spoiled, single woman who is in love with a young man named Ashley. Ashley is engaged to be married to someone else. Scarlet makes a fool of herself trying to steal Ashley from his beloved fiancé with no luck. He marries and she then marries someone she does not love to make Ashley jealous. He never blinks an eye in her direction. She becomes a widow due to the war and again swoops in to try to steal away Ashley from his adoring wife. She continues to act like a fool, spoiled and selfish through another marriage (a man whom she stole away from another woman in the neighborhood, a man whom she had no regard towards but only married him for the money and business opportunity he provided her). All this is going on while, Rhett Taylor, a rogue scalawag is madly in love with Scarlett. She is not interested, or so it seems. She fights him off until she realizes that he could be taken advantage of. Meanwhile, the Civil War has swept through Scarlet’s beloved hometown and destroyed her home. She is poverty stricken and finally learns how to work. You would think she would learn some humility and kindness, but in regards to most, she continues to be mean and selfish. The only person she is consistently kind to is Melanie- the wife of her beloved Ashley. Sometimes it seems sincere, other times it seems that it is only in an attempt to steal Ashley away when given a chance. Her second husband dies and Rhett proposes. She accepts but during their whole marriage she still claims to be in love with Ashley. Rhett stays by her side, trying and trying and trying to win her love and affection. He is obviously jealous of Ashley but he never lets that take an effect on how he treats her. Finally, at the end of the film he has had it with her. He refuses to stay by while Scarlet continues to choose Ashley over him. She has committed the ultimate betrayal. He decides to leave her. It is at this point that Scarlett finally realizes what love is, and realizes that she doesn’t nor ever did really love Ashley, but she does and always has loved Rhett.

***Spoiler alert:

I have heard this last line many times before, but I never realized it was from Gone With The Wind. She begs him to stay, and I thought for sure he would. But he doesn’t. As she is petitioning him to stay she asks him what she will do without him. He replies: “Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn” and walks off into the sunset. She is in despair. She finally is completely alone, left to live the life she has created for herself and the movie ends.

At first I couldn’t for the life of me figure out why this is the Doc’s favorite movie. I was surprised over and over again at the behavior of Scarlet, knowing that the Doc must disapprove of her childish and selfish behavior. It does not have a happy ending and it does not show a lot of ethical or moral behavior on the part of Scarlett, and the Doc is all about the morals and ethics in life. Then it hit me. The Doc loves Rhett Taylor.  

What I can understand is the practical application of Scarlett’s behaviors in a lot of what the Doc preaches. First, a point which she makes often, men will only take abuse for so long before they finally have had enough. Some men can take more than others. Scarlett spent years neglecting Rhett and never spent any time showing him love or respect. He had a boiling point that I never thought he would reach. He finally did. Scarlett taught us a powerful lesson on how to treat our men.

Also, men used to be honorable and strong. They took care of their women. They respected, honored and cherished their women. Men were real men. Since the feminist movement and the problem of casual sex, the necessity men had to be real men disappeared as they were allowed to be jerks and still get off.

Women knew what womanly wiles were and they knew how to use them. They understood that to control a man, all you needed to do was use your womanly wiles. Men love womanly wiles and are happy to do what their women ask of them when asked through those wiles, creating a win-win situation. These days the concept of womanly wiles seems to be foreign to women. Instead they have taken to nagging and bitching to control their men. Men get resentful and depressed, women feel like the bitches they are. A lose-lose situation.

There are also many smaller lessons we can learn thorough the film. I was impressed with the concept of manners and hospitality shown by the people in the era. I was impressed with the modesty and the old fashioned dating rituals. I feel that those times were far superior to many aspects of our time. Overall I would say that I enjoyed the film. It can be a challenging 4 hour film but I would recommend it. I appreciate the lessons that time period taught me about dating, manners, clothing, and language. I appreciate the timeless lessons that can be applied to relationships between men and women. Womanly wiles are valuable beyond measure for a healthy relationship, and men do have a higher tolerance for mistreatment, but it is there and there will come a point that a woman will lose her man if she fails to treat him well.

I wrote this about 2 weeks ago, right after I had seen the film. Since writing it I have heard many more statements and references to the movie by the Doc. I will say that I have come to understand better what makes it her favorite film, how amazing Rhett is and how foolish Scarlett is. Today I would write my interpretation of the film a little differently, but that isn’t super important to the point. Just yesterday I heard her say the following statement about the movie. She was talking to a woman who was in love with a weak man. The Doc was trying to warn her against that and she used the film to illustrate the point.

Scarlett O’Hara loves Ashley Wilkes, the weak man and she misses the relationship of a lifetime.

I get it. I love the lessons this classic film teaches. I am holding out for a real man.  

 And I wont be as dumb as Scarlett.