Stuff I Love: Top Ten Edition - Challenge 1 (standalones)

[smallhobbit]

 dreamersdare has issued a challenge for February, to take part in Stuff I Love, which can be as vague as anyone wishes.  Their particular challenge is a Top Ten version with a different theme each week.  Further details here 

The first week is for Standalones in whatever media appeals.

So, my list, in no particular order:

1. Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake  I've seen it twice and both times have been sucked in, both by the drama, the humour, and the tragedy.  And I've written fanfic with the Prince, who has such great possibilities for his story.

2. Matthew Bourne's Nutcracker  Which is such a brilliant take on the story.  I've seen it once on stage and also watched the televised version.

3. Matthew Bourne's The Midnight Bell  A much smaller production, with only ten characters.  Based on the books by Patrick Hamilton, each character has so much potential, and I'm currently using them for drabbles for small_fandoms drabblethon.  I've seen it twice, both times at Cheltenham, the first time was the premiere in 2021, and then again last summer, when the new production opened.  And when I got to speak to Sir Matthew Bourne - just to say how much I enjoyed it.

4. Matthew Bourne's Sleeping Beauty  Another new take on a classic story, but again really imaginatively retold.  I love the characters and use them in various fanfics, introducing them into other fandoms (just because I can)

5. Matthew Bourne's Romeo & Juliet  Moved to the Verona Institute, the staging and the music (Prokofiev) really add to the dance.  I've seen it twice - both times it's been a real gut punch.

6. Matthew Bourne's The Car Man  Reworking of Bizet's Carmen, based in Harmony, a small town in central USA, which doesn't live up to its name.  Still very hot and sultry.  Seen it twice, the second time in a limited run in the Royal Albert Hall in London.  It's touring this summer, but I'm not currently planning on seeing it again this time.  (On the other hand, Cinderella will be next winter/spring's production...)

And yes, these are all standalones, in the same way that a director can direct different films, or an author write different books.

7. Casablanca because it's the best film of all time.  Certain scenes always give me shivers.

8. Winnie-the-Pooh/The House at Pooh Corner  Okay, two books, but two doesn't make a series.  The original books by A A Milne, with the characters he created.  The different toys and their own characteristics and yet, somehow or other, they all live together in the Hundred Acre Woods.

9. 84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff  Such a great book, which I've only recently read and wondered why I hadn't read it sooner.  It's a short book, being correspondence between a young American woman and an older English bookseller, it's also a great picture of England and the States in the 1950s.

10. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day by Winifred Watson.  Another book I had had recommended and finally got around to reading, and only then because there was a copy available in the library.  Published in 1938 is a wonderful look at one day in the life of a down at heel governess who has the chance to life differently for a day, and not in the Cinderella sense.  If you've ever thought 'I must read this one day', then do so!

Comments

[dreamersdare]

My takeaway from this is that you are a fan of Matthew Bourne :) But also, yes, these are standalones - every performance is a different story, and they exist independently, I defend your position.

I don't think I've ever seen his versions, but I've just been poking around online about them (to check if my memory was right) and it does look appealing. I want to see his Nutcracker, I love the Nutcracker.

[smallhobbit]

What ever gave you that impression 🤣 I do have 8 framed performance posters on the bedroom wall. He is a superb storyteller and basically his productions are all fandom AUs in dance.

[shipperslist]

basically his productions are all fandom AUs in dance
This sounds fascinating. And awesome.

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

A good list.

[smallhobbit]

Thank you 😃

[kat_lair]

I guessed that Bourne was going to feature heavily on your list... :D

[smallhobbit]

I am nothing if not predictable 😂

[pushkin666]

What a great list and even though I have only seen Matthew Bourne's productions on the TV, and only Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty at that, I love what he has done with those stories, and I definitely need to try and see some of them live. Maybe I'll have a look and see if The Car Man is coming to Manchester.

I love Casablanca, it's one of my favourite films. Years ago I started writing a Supernatural version of it, which is still languishing in my WIP folder. My favourite series, and one of my favourite films but eh - some things are meant to never be finished.

My friend lives about 10 minutes drive from where A A Milne lived, and where Hundred Acre Woods is based, and last year w visited there and played Pooh Sticks.

84 Charing Cross Road is one of my all time favourite books, and I have read a number of other books by Helen Hanff. She was a really interesting character and led such an interesting life and 84 Charing Cross Road introduced me to a lot of books that I wasn't aware of. Have you seen the film with Anthony Hopkins and Anne Bancroft - if not, it's definitely worth a watch. It's a gentle watch, like the book and worth a try.

[smallhobbit]

Matthew Bourne's an amazing storyteller, that's what really draws me into his worlds. I think The Car Man is coming to the Lowry - I don't know how close that is to you.

How brilliant to visit the Hundred Acre Woods, of course you had to play Pooh Sticks, it would be wrong to visit and not do so.

I'm adding Helen Hanff to my list of books to read, although refraining from buying any at the moment. (The TBR pile will fall on my head soon.) There is one available from the library so that's gone of the (rather long) library TBR list.

[pushkin666]

The Lowry is the only theatre I actually go to in Manchester as it's completely accessible. It's about 20 minutes away by uber so it's not bad at all. I'll have a look at that.

There is a follow up to 84 Charing Cross Road, which is The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street. The other one of Helene Hanff's that I would recommend is Apple of My Eye, which is about New York and her love for it.

[smallhobbit]

The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street is available through the library, so I will certainly be borrowing it at some point. And I'll add Apple of My Eye to the list of 'books I need to buy when the shelf starts to empty'!