18. Guys, Dolls and Juicy Demons
The Case of the Musical Medley
Hello, friend! Hope you’ve had a great week!
The weather has been gorgeous in my neck of the woods this week, so I’ve been dragging myself out into the sunshine every day to sniff some trees and point at a few dogs. I always feel better if I take the time to be amongst nature. Do you have a favourite walking spot or patch of sunshine to sit in, that helps to lift your mood?
I’ll distract everyone for half hour or so, if you just want to take some time for yourself and breathe in some good oxygen … *creates a magical diversion*.
Fishbird Catch of the Week
We post twice a week on Fishbird Central. This week’s catch included:
August Reads - Wrap Up August 2024
I finished 6 books in August, and while I didn’t manage to knock out all of the books on my TBR - I did find a new author to follow, and finally ticked off some books that had been on my radar for awhile. Everyone reads at a different pace, so if you only managed to read one book this month, that’s still awesome! Or perhaps you got the reading zoomies and read more books than you ever have before! Nice work! Did you find any new favourite reads in August?
Check out the post here - August Reads - Wrap Up August 2024
Beetlejuice Books - Haunting Reads
We went to see the new ‘Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice’ movie this week - and it was a hoot. In honour of The Juice, in this post we take a look at what might be in his TBR sack - hauntings, possessions and spooky reads to while away the midnight hours, oh my!
Check out the post here - Beetlejuice Books - Haunting Reads
Give ‘Em The Old Razzle Dazzle
We’re off to see a local production of ‘Guys & Dolls’ this afternoon, and it got me thinking on my top 5 musicals! You may notice from the below that I’m a huge fan of Stephen Sondheim!
‘Sunday in the Park With George’ - Stephen Sondheim / James Lapine
My all time fave has to be ‘Sunday in the Park With George’. Mandy Patinkin and Bernadette Peters are magical in this story inspired by the French artist Georges Seurat, and his painting ‘A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte’. Check out Mandy & Bernadette singing ‘Move On’.
‘Into the Woods’ - Stephen Sondheim / James Lapine
Another triumph for Bernadette Peters and an incredible cast, ‘Into the Woods’ intertwines the plots of several Brothers Grimm fairy tales, exploring the consequences of the characters' wishes and quests. Check out the baker and his wife singing ‘It Takes Two’.
‘Les Miserables’ - Claude-Michel Schönberg / Alain Boublil
The first musical I ever fell in love with - namely the cast of the 10th Anniversary Dream Cast Concert, produced by Cameron Mackintosh. Philip Quast will always be my quintessential Javert, in this story of an escaped convict in a time of revolution. Check out the cast singing ‘One Day More’.
‘Sweeney Todd’ - Stephen Sondheim / Hugh Wheeler
Patti LuPone is amazing as always in this story of a murderous barber and some suspiciously meaty pies. Check out Patti singing ‘A Little Priest’ with two amazing Sweeneys at the Sondheim Birthday Concert.
‘Company’ - Stephen Sondheim / George Furth
If you can get your hands on the perfomance with Patti LuPone, Neil Patrick Harris and Stephen Colbert, you’re in for a treat! This story follows a bachelor Bobby, interacting with his married friends, who throw a party for his 35th birthday. Check out Katie Finneran singing ‘Not Getting Married Today’.
Quick Fire Wrap Up
Currently Reading: ‘Ripper’ by Shelley Burr. This is Book 2 in the ‘PI Lane Holland’ series, about a small Australian town infamous for the Rainier Ripper's trail of death seventeen years ago. When a tour operator is killed by a Ripper copycat, the unease that has lurked quietly in the original killer's wake turns to foreboding.
Currently Watching: After this post, I’m caught in a loop of watching scenes from all my fave musicals. See you in 2025.
Currently Wondering: If I need a burrito bowl to power me through ‘Guys and Dolls’ this afternoon - or if it will just make me sleepy and my snores will drown out the songs.
Wishes for the Week
Wishing you a wonderful week ahead, friend!
Live your life like you’re staring in your favourite musical. Let your star shine, follow your path, and beware of pies and witches and overzealous policemen.
Stay cool, punks.
‘The greatest musical of all, is the one staring you and the acoustics in your own shower stall’. - Stephen Sondheim (probably)
Jen x