What a Scene, What a Joy, What a Lovely Sight

This entry's title is a bit of a cheat, it's not a song title, but rather a lyric from from the opening number from “Chess” – one of my favourite shows (well, rather soundtracks). I'd never seen it on stage that is until earlier this week when a 25th anniversary concert production was put on at Royal Albert Hall. Singing the lead parts? Josh Groban, Idina Menzel and Adam Pascal!!! Are you dying? I was! Indeed it was quite a joy and lovely sight (and sound). I know I’ve said this about a lot of things in London, but hands-down This was one of the most memorable nights I’ve had. Beautiful orchestra, huge, fun chorus and Josh and Adam in particular just sent shivers down my spine. They filmed the show and a DVD will be released just in time for X-mas. Paging Santa!

Alas, we were not able to meet most of the stars at the stage door. The show ran two nights and we went the first, but were so overwhelmed by the Grobanites who had basically surrounded the building, that we gave up. Do you know of these people? Here's are a few hilarious definitions! They are Josh Groban fans who are mainly women ‘of a certain age’ (i.e mid-40s to mid-60s) who follow their boy everywhere sporting Josh Groban ‘flair’ (pins, buttons, photos and..wait for it… corsages!) Could you die? I know I wanted to when their American voices rang throughout the Hall. Obsessed does not even begin to cover it. My friend Liz and I then decided to return to the stage door the next night as we could get there early and stake out a good spot, which we did. Well, when the floodgates (I mean Hall doors) opened, we were surrounded this time by the ‘theatre teens’ who are huge Wicked/Idina fans. It was the most unruly stage door scene I’ve ever encountered. After waiting an hour and a half and meeting co-star Kerry Ellis, who took over for Idina in Wicked here and who will soon move to B'way production, we gave up, as we also learned there was an ‘after show’ party going on. We did see a couple other celebs heading to the party though – Robin (Bee Gees) Gibb and British actor/tv personality Christopher Biggins, who last fall beat out Janice Dickinson for the “I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here” crown (a UK show like Survivor).

En route to Chess on Monday, was hoping to get a glimpse of some other celebs as it was the UK Sex and the City film premiere. You KNOW it was killin’ me to pass this one up. By the time we hit Leicester Square, the closest we could come was taking pictures of the posters..lol. Earlier in the day, I had another Joy in meeting up with my Oxford Experience friends Joy and Howard Bauman for a lovely lunch in Islington. Turns out their cousins live near me and they were in town before heading over to Ireland (just like I will be in a week, more later!). They live in NY and it turns out their accountant is Idina Menzel’s uncle! Small world! Snaps from all of the above are now online (for some reason captions are not showing up when you 'play sideshow' so just need to hit 'next' after each pic).

Tony, Tony, Tony!

Tony nominations announced yesterday and this year they might as well re-name them the Anthony (said with a British accent) Awards. A majority of the nominated shows/performers are from across the pond, including Sunday in the Park w/George, MacBeth, Boeing-Boeing, Eve Best in The Homecoming (for which Raul Esparza is also nominated – Not a Brit, but wanted to give him a shout-out!). Major kudos and best wishes to The 39 Steps, which got its start at my old employer the Tricycle Theatre! The Seafarer is also nominated and mom and I will be seeing a production of that in Dublin in just over a week! But of course you know that the Pierce/Pogany clan is most excited about this year’s lifetime achievement winner, Mr. Stephen Sondheim! I’ll never forget how I quoted his song lyrics and discussed him in my grad school application essay. And now, exactly a week from today (almost exactly to the hour) I will be in Southwark Cathedral for my Graduation! Mom, Kait and honorary Pierce sister Deb are coming over for the festivities and then we’re off to the Emerald Isle to explore our family roots along the southeast countryside!

Under Their Spell

Other lovely sights I’ve taken in over the last month in London include the absolutely gorgeous Audley End Home and Gardens out in Essex, near Cambridge. The home is one of England’s grandest Jacobean houses and was given to Thomas Audley by Henry VIII! Neil and I had a wonderful Saturday road trip out there in picture-perfect weather (see pics). The home reminded me a bit of Castle Howard in York and the gardens were incredible. They do summer concerts there so I don’t think it’s the last I’ve seen of Audley End. Speaking of concerts, can we talk about Buffy/Torchwood’s James Marsters’ amazing show! OMG, I was definitely under his spell. The concert was right down the street from me in Union Chapel, a church by day, but fantastic concert venue by night. It’s almost circular in shape, beautiful old stonework and lit by candles. The acoustics are fantastic and there was just something so wild about seeing this former bad-boy vampire from Buffy singing on a church altar (see pics). He sang a lot of his own original songs, as well as Tom Waits and Nirvana covers. Heaven! (no pun intended)

I've also been under the spell of two very different movies - Persepolis and Iron Man. The first is the Oscar-nominated animated film about a young woman growing up in Iran in 70s/80s. Creative, touching, moving - it is a must-see. Judging by the box office totals, I'm guessing many of you might have already seen the second, aka the Best summer/superhero movie perhaps ever. Is Robert Downey Jr. just perfect in the role or what? If you haven't seen it, get thee to a multiplex asap! I think I might be becoming a Downeyite..lol (though I will not wear a corsage). I can't stop watching this trailer!