Theatrical Thursday ~ Anything Goes, Newsies & Smash!

And so my new tradition of theatrical Thursday continues. I love a good theatre soundtrack I do, and there are plenty to enjoy at the moment while I ponder how to finance my stage show version of the ace movie Connie and Carla (starring Elouise and Debbie Gibson in the titular roles please) and wonder how to convince someone to remake The Rink. Here is what is tickling my fancy this week...

Anything Goes ~ What Makes You Beautiful:

Ooo yay! God bless the cast of Anything Goes (and all who sail in them :D) for doing an amazing "lip sync for your life" style performance to the now ubiquitous What Makes You Beautiful by One Direction. Not only is a great way to drum up interest in their fab musical production, but it's performed with such style, wit, imaginative nuance and flair that it's hard not to fall in love with everybody in it. There's a lot to adore her with everyone camping it up to the max, but some of my favourite moments include the beefcake in a tux making love to the camera 70s porn style at around 20s; immediately after a bald fella brushing his hair Marcia Brady style while his cast mate brushes his teeth (minty fresh breath is appreciated by the people in the front row) before an awkward moment of love love love follows; hot geek chic chappy in the corridor ironing his smalls; the posters of naked fellas behind the sailors at 1m13s (I paused for quite a while there!); shower scene, voguing, sickening outfits, chorus line hands in the air joviality and a general feeling of a jolly good time. And that's what makes them beautiful. I'm smitten...

Newsies ~ The World Will Know:

Even though it's on Broadway and I am an ocean away, I have become ever so slightly obsessed with the new Disney musical, Newsies. Luckily the soundtrack is available on UK iTunes and a right bobby dazzler of an album it is too. The whole musical and it's stunning array of songs are entirely uplifting and drenched in the feelgood factor. To capitalise on the insanely good buzz surrounding the show, a video of the song The World Will Know has appeared online and mighty fine it is too... Teaming with the theme of inserting clips from the show as newspaper pictures, it's a clever and engaging product that entices people to go view the show or buy the soundtrack. The song itself is a driving rock-tinged anthem with a rousing call to arms refrain that will put a confident bounce in your step each time you hear it. Kudos to a fine vocal from young Jeremy Jordan who leads the song admirably and yet gives the newsboy harmonised vocals ample time to shine. Bloody brilliant.

Smash - top five songs of season one:

Oh my beloved Smash (see top tv shows of the year post here). Frankly most of the original music you have provided me with has been uniformly stunning. However, there are five songs that I keep coming back to and jolly magnificent they are too...

• 05 ~ History is Made At Night: Ah how sumptuous. A glorious romantic ballad duet celebrating how often the world turns, news gets reported, but it's those behind the doors loved up moments where the real important things in life happen. Heavenly.
• 04 ~ Another Opening, Another Show: This should be at the start of every musical ever made to be honest with you. Weaving in the melodic components of the show's staple musical number (Let Me Be Your Star), this track builds up the frisson of excitement, the nerves and the panic surrounding any new venture and culminates in a dramatic climax. Love it.
• 03 ~ Second Hand White Baby Grand: *SOB*! Definitely the most intimate, moving, emotive performance of the season by the always stunning Megan Hilty. The very model of vocal restraint in this song, she becomes a master storyteller, narrating how an object can become intrinsically linked to timeless memories and ongoing inspiration. An utter delight.
• 02 ~ Don't Forget Me: Bombshell needed a more upbeat ending other than Marilyn committing suicide and this inspiring song provides that in droves. While it's certainly a different song from Let Me Be Your Star, it draws influence from the structure of that to bring the story full circle (most notably during the middle 8 with the take care, take care version of choose me). A great performance from Katherine for a song that demands a standing ovation. Delish.
• 01 ~ Let Me Be Your Star: How could this opening number from Bombshell not be my fave song from the show. It's certainly one of my fave songs of the year to date. Everything about it is musical theatre perfection. Dreamy sigh.