A question

[Zaxus]

Okay. So... If I were to watch the Pirates of Penzance for the first time ever, which version would you guys recommend?
You know... one that I might feasibly be able to get my hands on... here in the States...

I guess, in addition, what other musicals/operas are must sees (other than the most obvious reply), and which version(s) is/are your favorites.

...Trying to build common ground, here... 'cause the only things I've ever seen live were Brigadoon and Spamalot.

...Not a big repertoire, there.

Now, zombie movies, on the other hand......

EDIT:
A large part of me is sad I missed Evil Dead, the Musical...

[Marie-Cris]

I've only seen three versions ... well, two and a sort-of thing. Umm ...

Okay, so the most recent recording [here] by Opera Australia has Anthony Warlow (Pirate King), David Hobson (Frederic) and Taryn Fiebig (Mabel) ((and so forth)). This was filmed in 2007. Warlow's Pirate King has a Jack Sparrow touch to it, as PotC was still somewhat fresh at the time, and I think it was an attempt to draw younger crowds into seeing savoy opera. It's quite a good version, got some laughs, and Suzanne Johnston is fantastic as Ruth, as are Richard Alexander as the Chief of Police and John Bolton-Wood as the Major General ((though I confess that I have a soft spot for Dennis Olsen as the Major General in season that it came to Adelaide)). In this version they've included a patter song - "My eyes are fully open" - from Gilbert and Sullivan's Ruddigore, and the speed at which Warlow, Hobson and Johnston do it is just astonishing. You may need to watch with subtitles for this bit.

An earlier one by Essgee Entertainment [here] stars rocker Jon English, Simon Gallaher and Helen Donaldson ((among others)). All that springs to mind about this one ((possibly because it's been quite a while since I've seen it, and I haven't seen it that often)) are purple tights, chest flashes, rope swinging, sword bouncing ((I suppose)) and a Cat Like Tread that makes you feel sorry for Jon English when you see how exhausted he looks after so many encores. It's got laughs, naturally, and curtain calls are very different from a lot of other productions.

Finally, there's this. Fredus and I watched this one night expecting it to be utterly horrible and cringe-worthy ... well, I suppose we got that plus utterly hilarious. It has quite a few clever lines in it that I know I'll never forget.

I would recommend, though, that if you are going to watch this, watch one of the other two versions ((or whatever else you can find)) first. In The Pirate Movie some of the lyrics have been altered and it does take the mickey out of PoP a bit. The Opera Australia version is the one I've watched the most not only because I find it enjoyable but also because it's the first version I owned. The Essgee version is also worth taking a look at, but as for which one to watch first ... I'd probably flip a coin, or watch both.

And I haven't even gotten a hold of other versions.

EDIT: I only just discovered there was a Batman The Musical in the making that fell through. How about that? There's a song from in on YouTube, Where Does He Get All Those Wonderful Toys ((or something like that)).

[Zaxus]

I shall have to check those out soon, then. Wish I could do it now, but I have to go to college and then memorize a skit for Japanese for tomorrow...

[Fredus]

Doom! I just remembered... I happen to know you're learning Japanese and all...

Marie-Cris has convinced me to start karate (which, I might add, is quite fun), and I'm trying to learn the Japanese terms for all the basic moves. There are two blocks - one is called 'gedan barai' and the other is called 'gedan uke'. I know 'uke' is block, because all but one of the blocks finish as 'uke', and I googled 'gedan', and have established that it means... actually, it varies, but all the definitions I found say something along the lines of downwards, or lower regions, or ... something. Can't remember all the variations. But I can't find what 'barai' means. It can't be block, because that's uke... and gedan uke is generally translated as sweeeping block, while gedan barai is translated as downwards block, but those translations don't work with what I've worked out.... It's driving me nuts. Marie-Cris asked her Sensei (which is my Sensei's sensei... if that makes sense), and he doesn't know.... I'm going crazy over here! Little nagging thing permanently at the back of my mind.....

I realise this post is way off topic and all.... I just remembered and felt I should ask while I had the chance. Don't know when I'll manage to be on MSN at the same time as you are....

[Zaxus]

Sorry, Fred, but I don't know the answer to that. I'll ask my sensei or one of the guys who practice kendo and might practice karate and stuff tomorrow (If I remember).

Oh, and sorry I poofed... school got crazy all of a sudden. It's still crazy, especially since finals are the week after next. Figured I should give some explanation...

Coincidentally, I haven't been able to watch any of those suggestions yet, either, for the same reasons.