Musical Review - Into the Woods at the Menier Chocolate Factory

About the show:

Into the Woods is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James

Lapine. The musical intertwines the plots of several Brothers Grimm and Charles Perrault fairy tales, exploring the consequences of the characters' wishes and quests. The main characters are taken from "Little Red Riding Hood", "Jack and the Beanstalk", "Rapunzel", and "Cinderella", as well as several others. The musical is tied together by a story involving a childless baker and his wife and their quest to begin a family (the original beginning of The Grimm Brothers' Rapunzel), their interaction with a witch who has placed a curse on them, and their interaction with other storybook characters during their journey.

The musical debuted in San Diego at the Old Globe Theatre in 1986 and premiered on Broadway on November 5, 1987, where it won several Tony Awards, including Best Score, Best Book, and Best Actress in a Musical (Joanna Gleason), in a year dominated by The Phantom of the Opera (1988). The musical has since been produced many times, with a 1988 US national tour, a 1990 West End production, a 1997 tenth anniversary concert, a 2002 Broadway revival, a 2010 London revival and in 2012 as part of New York City's outdoor Shakespeare in the Park series.

More info on the show: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Into_the_Woods

Meiner Chocolate Factory: Into the Woods - Menier Chocolate Factory

My opinion:

This time I went to see a very special production of Into the Woods at the Menier Chocolate Factory. It was fab to be back at the Menier Chocolate Factory, where I saw “Assassins” in December 2014. The theatre is very old and small, it’s like being in a cellar. In 2014 the stage was in the middle and the seats were on the left and on the right, this time it was a bit higher on wood and on the other side there were the seats.

The stage was very special, in the middle of it was an old piano. At the back there were lots of ropes, representing the forest. There was also a ladder, a table and several other things. On the sides were also some instruments. There was a total of 10 actors on stage. Most of them actually did more than one role and it was fascinating to see them switch the role, only with a little accessory. All of them also played some instruments in between and they all were on stage the whole time.

Little Red Riding Hood was Rapunzel as well, both princes had several roles. One of them was

the wolf and one of the step sisters, the other one was Jack’s cow and the other step sister. The both were hilarious!!! The had funny hats one and curtains as dresses and they were totally in the role. Now, an actual person as the cow sounds weird right?! Let me tell you: it totally worked!!! He did a fabulous job. Also some of the others had several roles and it was impressive to see them switch between them, it must be really tricky and imagine having to learn this and then also playing instruments in between. The princes weren’t typical princes, which actually gave the whole show a refreshing vibe. I wouldn’t have cast most roles the way they were, but they were actually all on point! The cast was a fab bunch and it was wonderful to say how they worked together and how they became one one stage.

The acting of all of them was brilliant! As for the singing, I really liked one of the Princes, Jack (Patrick Mulryan), the baker (Ben Steinfeld), the witch (Vanessa Reseland) and Cinderella (Andy Grotelueschen).

They also took turn in narrating the story, which totally worked. There is a narrator normally, but with this kind of production they found a great solution. The piano player was on stage the whole time, the piano just got moved around and he did a fabulous job as well.

The effects were awesome in this show. When the wolf ate the girl, they did a great show with shadows. There were several excellent moments like this.

This is a show where you can get lost (in the woods) for a positive reason of course. There are so many little details in this show, which put it on a whole new level. Just BRILLIANT!!!

Listening to Audio Books

Both, my best friend Mary and I are obsessed with Harry Potter. So at one point last year, she asked me, if I have ever listened to the Harry Potter audio books. My answer was yes. I listened tot hem as a child, but obviously back then I listen to them in German.

We both started listening to Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and get obsessed with it. I think Mary mostly listens to it in the bus, whereas I do at home during my pampering routine. I have a car and a short journey to work, so it’s not worth it form e and I also feel like I cannot 100% focus on it.

So instead I listen to either either when I’m colouring in in one of my adult colouring books or during my pampering routine. My pampering routine is long, so I have enough time to listen to the story. I just chill in the bathtub and listen, it’s the best way to experience the story. I can really focus on everything that happens.

Listening to the Harry Potter books is a great way for me to relax and forget everything around me. It also cheers me up when I’m not feeling well. Listening to the stories is so different from reading them. I have read all seven books several times in four languages, so I know them inside out. Well, to be honest I thought I knew everything, but it turns out I didn’t. When Listening I heard a lot of things I wasn’t really aware of. It really is another way to experience the whole story. Listening gives me the possibility to focus on details, characters, storyline etc. in a new way. After listening to the books I also really wanted to watch the movies again. I know that the movies are different from the books, but that doesn’t matter. I had the plan of re-reading them for so long, but I just don’t get the chance to, between all the other book I want to read. So listening to them is the perfect solution.

Listening to the HP stories take me right into that world, I see Hogwarts and the characters in front of me and I can be in my happy place.

I’m still a huge bookworm, so that didn’t change at all. I think as a child I would have love audio books, before discovering Harry Potter I hated reading!

I’m now thinking about doing it with other books as well. If you have any suggestions for me, let me know. 

Here is what my bestie Mary (M's Bookshelf) has to say about the Harry Potter audio books:

"I had heard of audio books before but I never really saw the benefit compared to an actual paper copy... or even e-copy. Until I had an hours bus commute. I get motion sickness so there was no way I could read to pass the time. And you can only listen to that same playlist so many times. I stumbled upon the Harry Potter audio books, read by Stephen Fry. Not only did that seem like the perfect time to actually try an audio book, it was the perfect solution to my commute-frustrations.

I have read the Harry Potter books countless times but listening to them was a whole new experience, one I absolutely love it. I feel like the audio books are the perfect way to either discover the Harry Potter magic, or relive that first Harry Potter experience in a way by listening to them as a fan or as someone who is familiar with the story. The books are expensive, but the first few books in the series are the cheapest and at least you'll have those to start with ;-) So sit back, and enjoy the magic!"

Three Sparkling Years – Welcome to Simona's Corner of Dreams

Hello my lovelies!

Another year has passed and today it’s Sky’s Book Corner’s third birthday, I can’t believe it. So many things have happened this year and I’m grateful for all of them. So the biggest news first and you probably have seen it already: I have decided to change the name of my blog to “Simona’s Corner of Dreams”. My blog has changed a lot in the past three years, I’m not only a book blogger, but also blog about lifestyle and traveling. That’s why I decided to give my blog a little make over and change the name. The design is still pretty much the same, but I’ve changed some small things (header, share button, intro pic and text, icons and buttons). Let me know what you think.

So the new url for my blog is: simonascornerofdreams.blogspot.com.

Shortly after last year’s blogoversary I went to London for Holly Martin’s book launch, that was so fabulous and I met so many great authors and bloggers. In April of this year I visited my second momma Wendy in Dallas, that’s Aven Ellis in case you didn’t know ;). I had the most amazing time with her. In Zurich I shortly met up with Isabell from Dreaming With Open Eyes Reviews and then I went to London again in July. In August I also met up with Alba in Munich, it was so fab to finally meet her in real life.

My bestie Maryline is also a book blogger and I met her through this whole blogging community. She asked me to be her bridesmaid and that is just wonderful, love you Mary!!!

Well, let’s get back to the blog. I started YouTube at the beginning of the year, which is pretty exciting. I don’t have that many subscribers, but I don’t care, it’s a hobby I enjoy. I haven’t read that many books this year, that’s probably connected on being busy with rehearsals for CHESS (performances in September) and I joined the committee of my choir. I still love reading though, it’s just not as many books ;). I also decided to post at least two lifestyle posts a week as well, to give my blog a great mixture of bookish things and daily life/hobbies.

Of course I have a giveaway planned for you guys, with great prizes, but before you do that, I’d love for you to fill out this little survey. It’s a survey for me to find out a bit more about you guys and how you actually found my blog. I would really appreciate it, if you would take the time to fill this out.

SURVEY: https://surveyplanet.com/57a5b52c3cf9070c2a9526b7

And now, here are the fab prizes you can win this year. GOOD LUCK!!!

Prize 1 - Beauty Set 1 - EU

In this first beauty set you can win a small Pinita Colada Body Butter from The Body Shop, a 24h anti-perspirant spray, an Avène Eu Thermale and a Kneipp body lotion. 

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Prize 2 - Beauty Set 2 - EU

In this set you can win a bracelet, a tangle teezer and a moisturizer from bebe Young care. 

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Prize 3 - Beauty Set 3 - EU

This beauty set contains a moisturizer from bebe Young care, some flowery hair clips and a hair brush from Pylones. 

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Prize 4 - Berlin Set - EU

You can find two different bookmarks in this one, a key chain, a glasses cleaning cloth and a small pencil case. 

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Prize 5 - offered by Aven Ellis - INT

My lovely author friend Aven Ellis offered a paperback copy of her book "The Definition of Icing". I absolutely adored this book!

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Prize 6 - offered by Kayla from Polished and Bubbly - INT

My sweetie Kayla has offered an amazon gift card with the value of $15 for you guys. 

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Prize 7 - Paige Toon - EU

Win a paperback copy of "The One We Fell in Love With" by Paige Toon and two bookmarks. 

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Prize 8 - Isabelle Broom - EU

The next prize is a paperback copy of "My Map of You" by Isabelle Broom, together with two bookmarks. 

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Prize 9 - Julie Cohen - EU

You can also win a paperback of Julie Cohen's newest book "Falling. I have also added two bookmarks to the prize. 

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Prize 10 - Jojo Moyes - EU

I have a bookish tote bag for you guys, together with "After You" by Jojo Moyes and a bookmark. 

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Prize 11 - Harry Potter - EU

As a big Harry Potter fan, I had to add an appropriate prize, so here we go: There are some HP colouring postcards, a Gryffindor bookmark and a little Hogwarts box. 

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Prize 12 - Colouring - EU

Last but not least, I have a little colouring book for you with some colored pencils. 

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