A Round of Applause!

Last night, I had the pleasure of seeing Billy Elliot:The Musical live on stage. What an incredible experience! There really is nothing like professional theater.




Having always been a BIG fan of the original movie Billy Elliot, starring Jamie Bell, I admit that I was a little apprehensive about its transition to the musical stage. After all, Broadway musicals, while being fabulous, are known for their singing, dancing, and, mainly, their excessive cheesiness. How would a poignant, sometimes funny but sometimes very serious, moving story such as Billy Elliot be altered to work on Broadway?

As it turned out, exceedingly well! The music was dramatic, harmonic, and very, very LOUD (in a good way). The dancing blew my mind, both Billy's as well as the hilarious and talented ensemble. The  comedy was not overdone, but was perfect for a live audience (for example, the riotous "Expressing Yourself" in which Billy and his best friend Michael dress up in women's clothing and tap dance!); and the poignancy still resounded in the tear-jerking scenes between Billy and his memory of his deceased mother.

I was moved to tears, laughs, and getting on my feet to dance along throughout the course of the night. I would definitely recommend this musical for anyone who wants a fun night out at the theater; but please note that this is not really a kid's show, as the swearing and occasional "adult" themes made it a little awkward for parents of young ones in the audience. But if you're "born to boogie" and feel the desire to "express yourself", buy up tickets now and get ready to feel the "electricity"! :)

A Not-So-Guilty Pleasure

I'm a teenage girl, so I love watching TV shows that "get" me; you know, they're set in a high school, with cute boys, fun fashions, and lots and lots of drama. There are many shows out there that attempt to hit that perfect balance of over-dramatic television scenarios and realistic, every day life. One that I feel may have missed the mark on that mix but is still one of my all-time favorite shows is native to Canada: Degrassi.

Yes, I know what you're all thinking: That's a TERRIBLE show!!!!! And, yes. I agree that it is not really that good of a show. It's completely over the top in the drama department, the stories are tired and old, and sometimes the acting is sub-par. Well, a lot of the time, actually.

But I still cannot stop watching this show. I am obsessed and not afraid to say so. It's so addicting that when it's not available to me, I literally feel like I am missing an important and vital part of my life. It's so ridiculous but yet it's SO GOOD!!!! Every single episode (including the season finales) ends with at least one cliffhanger, so you are forced to make the impossibly difficult choice of  climbing back up to watch the next episode or season or choosing to give up on the show and therefore forever be questioning, "What did that kiss between Claire and Eli mean for their relationship?????" (Luckily, they're back together; sorry for the spoiler!)

So feel free to laugh at the hilarity of this never-ending teenage spectacle; I know I do. Then, after laughing over and rehashing every single second of that day's thirty-minute episode, with my fellow Degrassi obsessies, I hurry home to turn on TeenNick to find out what in the WORLD is coming next at Degrassi Community School. Pregnancies, STIs, bullying, or just regular teenage angst abound; but we the couch potatoes as well as the wonderful, captivating high schoolers on TV can all proudly join together in Degrassi's truly inspirational anthem: "Whatever it takes, I know I can make it through". With Degrassi to guide me, I know I'll "be the best that I can be"! :)