In two black cabs, we raced through the streets of London to theatre land, just in time to grab our tickets and find our way to our seats. It was a last minute decision - but last minute decisions are sometimes the best; forget about looming deadlines and commitments. Four ladies were about to let their hair down with the attendance of one young male escort.
I had always wanted to see Hairspray but when tickets were available, I was not. But two days ago when I got news that there were some tickets available for the popular musical at Shaftesbury Theatre, I wasted no time in contacting friends. We were game for a night out to enjoy ourselves.
Hairspray is the kind of musical that, apart from getting you tapping your feet and swaying in your seats, has this good feel factor. It guarantees fun and laughter throughout; an experience not unlike Grease and Mamma Mia, which I had seen numerous times.
So, there we were tapping our feet and clapping to the rhythm of the sounds of the sixties in Baltimore.
Sigh!
My penchant for stage productions goes back to those days when I had to accompany the young thespian in our midst - Fatimah Abu Bakar, when she was rehearsing for Tun Kudu. She has great talents, that one, and when I moved to London, it was wonderful to see her on stage here, in Jentayu! I was so proud of her!
Anyway, after reading several blogs about musicals in Malaysia, I yearn to be able to see one. I have heard so much about the P Ramlee musical and Puteri Gunung Ledang but my visits home never coincided with the dates on the shows.
Well, one day, perhaps.
Kak Teh's other Hairspray piece and for those who want another glimpse of Stephen Rahman Hughes:
Mamma Mia and Hairspray moments
When Hang Tuah came to dinner
Kak Teh's other Hairspray piece and for those who want another glimpse of Stephen Rahman Hughes:
Mamma Mia and Hairspray moments
When Hang Tuah came to dinner
32 comments:
Am trying to imagine Kak Teh with the Anneke Gronloh look...
Pi BAni, awalnya menjenguk blog! Anneke Gronloh look tu sebelum Charlie's Angels...hehe I think susah jugak nak bayangkan macam mana kan?
Unfortunately Kak Teh, I too missed P Ramlee The Musical and Puteri Gunung Ledang. Hopefully they'll stage them back. How's everyone doing sejuk2 ni?
Puteri, I dont mind the cold so much, it is the wind and the rain that is getting to me. Last weekend ribut, and the wind is still quite strong. We are not doing too badly, must rough out the weather, so to speak!
Kak Teh,
Next time you're in town, you all should do a girls night out dressed in retro fashion. Should be fun! purrr....meow!
Kak Teh,
Wish I could see Hairspray too. Did see Mamamia at West End though. Puteri Gunung Ledang was really good and I saw P Ramlee twice, once with Sean Ghazi other one with Musly Ramlee as P Ramlee.Musly look and sounded so much like P Ramlee it was quite eerie.
Anneke Gronloh? Ah, who can forget Asmara...
Salam Kak Teh,
I was never a theatre person when I studied there, and it was the same when I came home, hubby is.
My first stage show was Ang and Eng and American production and Adibah Noor made her debut then...and it was brilliant. After that I watched P Ramlee The Musical, also another brilliant show, and Puteri Gn Ledang, excellent but could have been better if we had a true Malay like M Nasir to play Hang Tuah. I must appluad Rahman Hughes for his voice though! And MammaMia...both hubby and I danced on the last scene, we let down our hair, he he!
Salam,
Kak Teh,
Hu!Hu! Takleh nak bayang fesyen rambut sarang lebah tu pasai terus tergelak ingat iklan tv dan kartun Dato Lat.
Ada orang kata KL nak turun salji ha!ha! sejuk bebenor sekarang ni dgn musim hujan.
Zaman sekolah dulu rajin juga berlakon dalam pementasan drama. Ha!ha! :)
I only managed to catch Chicago when I was in London... Would love to catch Hairspray (and Wicked) the next time I'm in town.
As for local productions, malu-lah... I missed them all too. :(
I've seen the film "Hairspray" but I didn't quite like it. But i suppose, the theatre would have been better. Your night out with the girls must have been fanta-bulous!!
cat in sydney, that would be fun but the problem is in searching for clothes our size! that will be a challenge!
NanaDJ, I went to see Anneke Gronloh at her 60th birthday concert in The Hague! One day, I will blog about it for you. Tak ramai anak-anak muda sekarang yang kenal anneke gronloh, kan? Ooooooh, beginilah rasanya, hatiku sekarang, teringat dia, hati ku bimbang, kerna tergoda oleh cintaaaa...!
KG, I met Rahman Hughes at dinner here in London and was quite smitten by him. He was with his mother. In fact if you google his name inmy blog, you'll see his picture. I missed him in Bombay Dreams. Yes, I think M Nasir fits the bill.
Aliff, kak teh pun dulu ada lah dua kali pementasan di sekolah. Tapi tak lah pandai. Kak Teh ni jenis yang ke kanan bila orang ke kiri ..:)
Kenny, I have not seen Chicago - may be when there are available (cheap) tickets I will try. Good reviews though.
Mrs N, I enjoyed the movie, that is why i decided to go to see the musical. There's this interactive element in stage performances whch I like.
Kak Teh,
Yes, M Nasir would have made a better Hang Tuah (or play the role of any hero for that matter...he is MY HERO!!!) but Rahman Hughes is sooo handsome, actually Hang Tuah (if ever he existed) could not have been that handsome. Did you see M Nasir on cover GLAM Lelaki?
Salam
NanaDJ, no tak tengok pun Glam. But I have mrt M Nasir and interviewed him. If not for his mood and tantrums I would have fallen lock, stock and barrel over him. He was so moody, malas interview celebrities macam tu.I bet Hang Tuah pun tak moody macam tu.
Oooh, I so love theatres and I think Hairspray would be entertaining. But I hope I wont be imagining you with the Anneke Gronloh look all the while then! LOL!
Kak Teh,
Yang moody and difficult tu yang challenging!!!
Kak Teh,
Lucky tou to be with the star and another future star. Kakak will definitely be a super star in 10 years. I have her autograph when she was in KB.
Kak Teh
The best theatre I attended was performed by the Malaysian students at Warwick. It was during our first year in UK, as a new parents. We heard so much about the Annual Malaysian Cultural Nite staged at the Warwick Art Centre and wouldn't want to miss it for the world. We persuaded our neighbour to look after our one year old boy just for a couple of hours. But the joy (or pain) was shortlived. In the middle of the concert, we got a call that the little boy was crying non stop. And we immediately dashed off in our finest baju melayu and kebaya moden.
Before we left for Saudi Arabia, we all went to see PGL. After the show, we somehow found our way into the changing room. Hang Tuah was there in his jean and t-shirt, and wasn't moody at all when asked to pose with the kids for several times.
Hi Zah, no I'm not a threatre / musical fan, rock concerts ok. Hey I think 'mature'ladies like u would like 'Menopause the musical'; ya u ladies will enjoy the most appropriate song selections too, e.g. 'Hot Flash', 'Beauty's only skin deep'...:))
Cheerio,
Tommy- 'Puff, my God, I'm dragging too :((
I haven't been to a musical for years ... last one was Phantom, I think ... joking lah, not that long ao! :) Still awaiting your email reply ...
Hi Kak Teh
Lama dah tak dengar or read about Hairspray. I love the movie and tak tahu bila boleh tengok the musical.
Handsome nya Rahman Hughes in the pic tu :)
Kak Teh,
"Hairspray" is one musical which I've yet to catch. Not sure why, actually. But after reading your post.. yes! will definitely make it a must-do thing on my next London trip. Thanks for the heads-up.
BTW, I googled Anneke Gronloh to get an idea of her hairstyle.. uhmm.. I think it's back in fashion coz I kinda remember Posh Beckham spotting this "softer and more feminine look" in The UK Sun some weeks back.
Anneke Gronloh...I was not even borned then Kak Teh but her songs were classic.
D, Kak teh towkay wayang - let me know when u are coming down to London and we will sort out some cgeap tickets esp Hairspray. I think the children will enjoy enjoy. Boleh kita bertemasya bersama-sama!
NanaDJ,,oooh didnt know you like the moody, broody type! :)
GUiKP, itulah kak teh kata dia ada mood - kadang2 angin baik, baik lah kut. May be he was tired when i saw him, he wasnt totally moody - cuma terlalu pendiam - not good for interviewers, kan?
PAk Zawi, oh yes, i was surrounded by stars that night. sampai binau mata! Tengok muka kak teh pun dah jadi blur.
Tunku, I enjoyed Phantom although the seats we had were not very good. nevertheless, it was one of the most enjoyable shows that i've been too. hmmm our emails not talking to each other then?
Tommy, naughty, naughty yew!!! I dont think i will enjoy Hot Flash.
Andrea , anneke gronloh was big in the sixtes and seventies, i think - so was her hairdo. I went to see her in Holland some years ago, she is indeed the Tina Turner of the east, although she is now residing n the west.
TM, memang hemsemmmmmm!
Dr Sam, you can say that again!
Fun fun! Hairpray is a great show, and You Can't Stop the Beat is one of the greatest running songs ever. Anyway, thanks for the always enjoyable posts! (check out my creative writing blog)
Sarah Allen, thanks for the visit and kind words. I went to your blog too, wow, so inspiring. Can I link you here?
Post a Comment