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ICYMI: Helluva Boss Is the Grittier (but Still Hilarious) Companion to Hazbin Hotel
Even with the uptake in adult animation in recent years, Hazbin Hotel was an outrageous and wonderful shock to the system when it premiered. Vivienne Medrano is a self-made creative who launched the Hazbin Hotel pilot on her YouTube channel @Vivziepop in 2019. The story of Lucifer’s (Jeremy Jordan) daughter Charlie (Erika Henningsen) attempting to rehabilitate Hell’s sinners was picked up by A24 and went through a long production before premiering on Prime Video in January 2024. But in between, Medrano debuted another hellishly creative series, featuring some denizens of Hell who were originally envisioned as one-off side characters in Hazbin Hotel but spiraled into their own deranged story.
All 4 Casey McQuiston Books, Ranked
Cover image by Yeider Chacon. | With the release of The Pairing, bestselling author Casey McQuiston's career now comprises four novels, each as good as the last. However, one or two of these books demonstrate slightly better writing. McQuiston first rose to fame for their BookTok hit Red, White & Royal Blue, a life-changing political rom-com following the romance between the fictional son of the President of the United States and the Prince of Wales. Despite the subsequent Red, White & Royal Blue movie's biggest changes from the book, it was still successful enough to initiate development for Red, White & Royal Blue 2.
House of the Dragon Season 3 Spoilers
The Dance of the Dragons truly began in House of the Dragon Season 2, despite some of the main characters’ efforts to avoid sending the dragons to war and the subsequent slaughter. Yet more political turmoil and fiery destruction await in Season 3. In future episodes, Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen may find herself less inclined to reclaim the Iron Throne with as little carnage as possible when the war has cost her dearly.
The story will again bring her face-to-face with her former friend Queen Alicent Hightower, the mother of King Aegon II, Rhaenyra’s half-brother and her main competition for the throne. While George R. R. Martin’s book Fire & Blood is the most dependable source for House of the Dragon Season 3 spoilers, the changes the show has already made to the source material suggest certain events may play out differently on screen. Last chance to avoid major House of the Dragon Season 3 spoilers as we explain what could happen next season based on the books.
The story will again bring her face-to-face with her former friend Queen Alicent Hightower, the mother of King Aegon II, Rhaenyra’s half-brother and her main competition for the throne. While George R. R. Martin’s book Fire & Blood is the most dependable source for House of the Dragon Season 3 spoilers, the changes the show has already made to the source material suggest certain events may play out differently on screen. Last chance to avoid major House of the Dragon Season 3 spoilers as we explain what could happen next season based on the books.
Sisi & I Review
The fascinating if meandering drama Sisi & I (2023) (Sisi & Ich) showcases the strange and tragic life of Empress Elisabeth “Sisi” of Austria (Susanne Wolff), focusing on her relationship with her lady-in-waiting Countess Irma Stzáray (Sandra Hüller). Irma travels to a remote commune in Greece to be the empress’ companion, escaping her only other options of marriage or a convent. There, Irma is entranced by the carefree environment where Sisi dictates everything. However, the increasing demands of Sisi’s husband, Emperor Franz Joseph (Markus Schleinzer), soon pulls Sisi and Irma out of their haven and tests their bond.
Land of Women Review
The Apple TV+ miniseries Land of Women (Tierra de Mujeres) is an intergenerational drama-comedy that reels you in right away, despite a mildly distracting subplot. Wine connoisseuse Gala (Eva Longoria) has a settled life in New York, until criminals demanding $15 million back from her husband drive her out of the country. Her husband only tells her she needs to flee before disappearing himself, so Gala collects her daughter Kate (Victoria Bazua) and mother Julia (Carmen Maura) and travels to the remote wine town in northern Spain Julia fled decades earlier — with no idea what to do next.
Interview with Jules Arbeaux, Author of Lord of the Empty Isles
A longlistee for the 2022 Bath Novel Award and 2020 Pitch Wars mentee, Jules Arbeaux graduated summa cum laude from a no-name college with a major in English, minors in creative writing and studio art, and the full knowledge that those areas of study would likely lead to starvation. As a writer and reader, Jules enjoys visceral, wrenching poetry and prose, multi-faceted characters, and powerful relationships of every sort. When not writing, Jules sells water-colour paintings and strange handmade jewellery at a local open-air market. Lord of the Empty Isles, forthcoming from Hodderscape in 2024, is the author’s debut novel.
What You Wish For Review
Nicholas Tomnay’s What You Wish For is a thriller from which one cannot look away, even if the overall moral of the story falls just short of flawless. The story follows Ryan (Nick Stahl), a down-on-his-luck chef who travels to South America to meet up with his former roommate Jack (Brian Groh) and escape threats due to his gambling debts. Jack, whom Ryan hasn’t seen in a decade, has everything Ryan could want. However, things take a dark turn when Jack dies and Ryan assumes Jack’s identity, only to discover an ugly truth about Jack’s successful career.
All 48 Songs In Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour Movie (Taylor's Version), Ranked Worst To Best
Ranking every song in the Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour movie is no easy feat. The concert movie captures a musical performance the likes of which has never been seen before, showcasing the music of Swift’s 10 albums. Swift's concert was edited into a shorter movie for its theatrical release, but the version now available to stream on Disney+ is three and a half hours long.
The movie’s title is now Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour (Taylor’s Version) due to the differences between it and the theatrical version. Using Swift's dazzling lyrics as a starting point, the Eras Tour team created performances to elevate each era. This Swiftie experience is now more widely accessible, and fans can watch every song in the Eras Tour movie multiple times before deciding on their favorite performance.
The movie’s title is now Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour (Taylor’s Version) due to the differences between it and the theatrical version. Using Swift's dazzling lyrics as a starting point, the Eras Tour team created performances to elevate each era. This Swiftie experience is now more widely accessible, and fans can watch every song in the Eras Tour movie multiple times before deciding on their favorite performance.
A day in the eyes of a theatregoer in Ashland, Oregon
Tucked away in the forests of Oregon is one of the most underrated destinations in the world. The lovely town of Ashland, Oregon is rarely featured in major travel publications. Yet it is a gorgeous world of its own, comprising a distinct Shakespearean and LGBTQ+ friendly culture, lots of sustainably delicious food, and fairy tale-esque forests. Its claim to international fame is the Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF), but still few people have heard of it.
Having visited Ashland several times, I fall into a wistful routine every time I go back. The first thing I do is stop by all my favorite shops on Main Street and in the surrounding area. I lose myself in a cacophony of fairycore, vintage, and neoteric clothes, home goods, and trinkets from the likes of Thread Hysteria, Book Exchange, and Rare Earth. Among Ashland’s boutique shops, the department store Paddington Station is the crown jewel.
Having visited Ashland several times, I fall into a wistful routine every time I go back. The first thing I do is stop by all my favorite shops on Main Street and in the surrounding area. I lose myself in a cacophony of fairycore, vintage, and neoteric clothes, home goods, and trinkets from the likes of Thread Hysteria, Book Exchange, and Rare Earth. Among Ashland’s boutique shops, the department store Paddington Station is the crown jewel.
Silver Haze Review
Silver Haze is an appropriate title for writer-director Sacha Polak’s movie, which feels like drifting through a nonsensical but very real wave of emotion. Leading Silver Haze is Vicky Knight as Franky, a nurse who is still looking for answers about the fire that left her badly scarred 15 years ago. Her time is taken up with work, caring for her alcoholic mother, and an unsatisfying relationship with her boyfriend. However, Franky is set on a path of transformation and healing when she meets Florence (Esmé Creed-Miles), a new patient.
Screen Rant
I currently work as a staff writer for Screen Rant, publishing around 12 list-style articles every week. I cover both movies and television in a variety of genres.
In Conversation with Chloe Gong
Cover image by JON STUDIO. | Chloe Gong became a New York Times bestselling author while still a student at the University of Pennsylvania, where she double majored in English and International Relations. Fans of her Secret Shanghai series—comprised of two connected young adult duologies retelling Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and As You Like It, set against the backdrop of 1920s-1930s Shanghai—were clamouring for Immortal Longings, her adult fiction debut and the first book in her Antony and Cleopatra-inspired Flesh and False Gods trilogy. I was as excited as anyone to attend the discussion at The Glee Club in Birmingham, part of Gong’s UK Immortal Longings tour. She was interviewed by Kate Dylan, author of the dystopian sci-fi novel Mindwalker.
Birmingham Cocktail Weekend 2023
Cover image by Anne-Marie Hayed for BCW 2023. | Local business owners proudly tell me about how in the past few years, Birmingham has become a hub for award-winning bartenders, training opportunities, and extraordinary drinks. Jacob Clarke and Katie Rouse of Couch and Matt Arnold of Passing Fancies were all finalists of World Class Great Britain, with Arnold winning and advancing to the global finals. Both bars (and others in Birmingham) are among the Top 50 Cocktail Bars in the UK.
July 2023 marked the 9th year of Birmingham Cocktail Weekend (BCW), where attendees can purchase a £5 wristband for access to £5 signature cocktails and other deals across town. Some venues also host masterclasses and tastings—often centred around a particular spirit—for the occasion. I reached out to Alex Nicholson-Evans, founder and director of Living for the Weekend, the company behind BCW, to learn more about the event: in the last decade, BCW has grown from "a handful of venues" and about 1,000 attendees to over 40 venues and more than 3,000 attendees.
July 2023 marked the 9th year of Birmingham Cocktail Weekend (BCW), where attendees can purchase a £5 wristband for access to £5 signature cocktails and other deals across town. Some venues also host masterclasses and tastings—often centred around a particular spirit—for the occasion. I reached out to Alex Nicholson-Evans, founder and director of Living for the Weekend, the company behind BCW, to learn more about the event: in the last decade, BCW has grown from "a handful of venues" and about 1,000 attendees to over 40 venues and more than 3,000 attendees.
The Latest From Bristol
Since I moved to the UK, I have found that everywhere I go, people tell me that Bristol is the place to be. It certainly sounded like my dream city: a university town with amazing food and drink options and artsy vibes. Appraisals of Bristol border on cliché, which means the city must continuously evolve to live up to these expectations. When I finally travelled there, I was armed with several National Geographic Traveller (NG) recommendations and hopefully I came away with a few new ones for you.
The Legacy of Studio Ghibli
Even in the West, where pop culture is dominated by Disney, it seems as though Studio Ghibli films were still a formative part of many people’s childhoods. In my case, my siblings and I went through a phase where we watched Ponyo (2008) on a loop.
Studio Ghibli was founded in 1985 by Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata, and Toshio Suzuki (Miyazaki and Takahata are primarily directors and writers while Suzuki acts as a producer). The studio’s films have received unprecedented critical and commercial success and are regarded as some of the most noteworthy contributions to animation as an art form. The Ghibli films often feature themes of endurance during times of hardship, pacifism, environmentalism, and children being forced to grow up before their time while still maintaining their youthful wonder.
Studio Ghibli was founded in 1985 by Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata, and Toshio Suzuki (Miyazaki and Takahata are primarily directors and writers while Suzuki acts as a producer). The studio’s films have received unprecedented critical and commercial success and are regarded as some of the most noteworthy contributions to animation as an art form. The Ghibli films often feature themes of endurance during times of hardship, pacifism, environmentalism, and children being forced to grow up before their time while still maintaining their youthful wonder.
"History's about to get overthrown": SIX in San Fransisco
Cover image by No Swan So Fine, used under a CC BY SA 4.0 license. | Topping the charts and ruling the box office right now is Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss’s SIX, the pop-concert musical about the trials and tribulations of the six wives of Henry VIII. The show debuted in the West End in 2019 and on Broadway in 2020, and is still running at both locations. I was lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time for the North American tour and got to see these queens live in concert at the Orpheum Theatre in San Francisco!
SIX is a short musical, clocking in at around an hour and a half, during which the six wives of Henry VIII are decked out in full punk-rock regalia for a concert and a competition: each queen will tell her story and the one who has had the worst experience with Henry will become the lead singer of their band. Marlow and Moss wrote SIX while they were students at Cambridge University for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Now, they are the winners of the 2022 Tony Award for Best Original Score Written for Theatre. Costume designer Gabriella Slade also won the Tony for Best Costume Design of a Musical, and the show has received numerous other accolades.
SIX is a short musical, clocking in at around an hour and a half, during which the six wives of Henry VIII are decked out in full punk-rock regalia for a concert and a competition: each queen will tell her story and the one who has had the worst experience with Henry will become the lead singer of their band. Marlow and Moss wrote SIX while they were students at Cambridge University for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Now, they are the winners of the 2022 Tony Award for Best Original Score Written for Theatre. Costume designer Gabriella Slade also won the Tony for Best Costume Design of a Musical, and the show has received numerous other accolades.
London Bookshop Crawl: Walking, Reading, and Relaxing
Every so often, I return to London to get lost in the myriad of shows, museums, and stores, and I never go to the same restaurant twice, as I am always missing out on another. This time, I dedicated an entire weekend to one of my favourite pastimes: book shopping. I’d been planning this short trip for months, and it happened to fall at the end of a stressful week in the middle of a stressful term. I was ready for a holiday where it was totally acceptable to have a night-in with some fantastic London cuisine, and finally read Red, White & Royal Blue after a long day of walking through bookshops.
For the past eight years, the curious minds at Ninja Book Box have invited fellow bookworms to gather and explore London together. Bex, one of the directors of Ninja Book Box, says this event started with a simple post on Twitter asking people if they wanted to go book shopping. The event has expanded over the years- it now includes guided tours through specific neighbourhoods, a quiz night, and discounts at participating locations.
For the past eight years, the curious minds at Ninja Book Box have invited fellow bookworms to gather and explore London together. Bex, one of the directors of Ninja Book Box, says this event started with a simple post on Twitter asking people if they wanted to go book shopping. The event has expanded over the years- it now includes guided tours through specific neighbourhoods, a quiz night, and discounts at participating locations.
Easter Vac Diaries: With Love from California
I had not been home in eight months when I boarded the gruelling eleven-and-a-half-hour flight from Heathrow to LAX. Just like how everyone who grew up in the UK isn’t nearly as excited as I am about travelling around Europe, I’m pretty apathetic towards Los Angeles and San Francisco. Been there, done that. Many, many times. But California still has its perks, including plenty of good food and drink and some nice places to sit and work without distraction.
I met up with my family and practically demanded that we visit the Academy of Motion Pictures & Sciences Museum, since I have not been back to LA since it opened. This establishment has several floors of exhibitions narrating cinematic history and innovation, and hosts events such as the “May the 4th” celebration with many interactive Star Wars-inspired activities. When I visited, an extensive exhibition on the making of the Godfather films was on display, as well as dozens of costumes and iconic outfits from the red carpet, including the dress Halle Berry wore to the Oscars for her landmark Best Actress win in 2002, David Bowie’s Goblin King costume from The Labyrinth, and Okoye’s armour from Black Panther.
I met up with my family and practically demanded that we visit the Academy of Motion Pictures & Sciences Museum, since I have not been back to LA since it opened. This establishment has several floors of exhibitions narrating cinematic history and innovation, and hosts events such as the “May the 4th” celebration with many interactive Star Wars-inspired activities. When I visited, an extensive exhibition on the making of the Godfather films was on display, as well as dozens of costumes and iconic outfits from the red carpet, including the dress Halle Berry wore to the Oscars for her landmark Best Actress win in 2002, David Bowie’s Goblin King costume from The Labyrinth, and Okoye’s armour from Black Panther.
Calling All Witches: Justice for The Owl House
Disney has done it again. I forgive them for a lot of things, either out of nostalgic fondness or because I believe that their mistakes reflect broader problems with the entertainment industry. However, there is one thing which I look at and can only think, “Yeah, you messed up”, and that is The Owl House (TOH).
I would argue that TOH (along with Amphibia) represents the proud legacy of Gravity Falls (GF) — both shows are created by veteran GF story boarders and feature the same fantastical vibes and wacky sense of humour, while still being exceptional in their own way. TOH, created by Dana Terrace, is about fourteen-year-old Luz Noceda, a quirky fantasy fangirl who stumbles upon a door to a magical otherworld, where she moves in with a sassy, forty-something witch called Eda and a dog-like demon called King (voiced by Alex Hirsch, the creator of GF). The show follows Luz’s adventures as she learns magic, forms meaningful friendships, and experiences first love.
I would argue that TOH (along with Amphibia) represents the proud legacy of Gravity Falls (GF) — both shows are created by veteran GF story boarders and feature the same fantastical vibes and wacky sense of humour, while still being exceptional in their own way. TOH, created by Dana Terrace, is about fourteen-year-old Luz Noceda, a quirky fantasy fangirl who stumbles upon a door to a magical otherworld, where she moves in with a sassy, forty-something witch called Eda and a dog-like demon called King (voiced by Alex Hirsch, the creator of GF). The show follows Luz’s adventures as she learns magic, forms meaningful friendships, and experiences first love.
Oscars 2023: Predictions
Cover image by @Thank You (23+ Millions) views via flickr, used under a CC BY 2.0 license. | It's "the Daniels" race to lose this year—Everything Everywhere All at Once leads the 95th Academy Awards with 11 nominations, with The Banshees of Inisherin and All Quiet on the Western Front close behind with 9 nominations each. A similar selection of actors and filmmakers were recognized as nominees and winners at the Golden Globes in January, but nothing is set in stone—the Academy has a history of making very different decisions from the HFPA. Without further ado, let's get into my predictions!
The Best Literary Friendships and What We Can Learn from Them
Cover illustration by Anna Wu. | Your best friend is the person you enjoy being around more than anyone else in the world. You have spectacular adventures together and tell each other everything. You probably also know exactly how to get on each other’s nerves. All relationships are complicated, but these heart-warming literary friendships can teach us so much about what we value in our friends.
1. Rosalind and Celia, As You Like It
Rosalind and Celia are cousins whose love is ‘dearer than the natural bond of sisters’. As such, they decide to flee to the Forest of Arden together rather than be separated. They are two of Shakespeare’s cleverest heroines, who challenge each other intellectually and pass their time in verbal sparring matches, such as when they debate the cruel apathy of Lady Fortune. They are a perfectly matched pair who are delightful to watch. Their friendship reminds us how rare yet amazing it is to meet someone and instantly click with them.
1. Rosalind and Celia, As You Like It
Rosalind and Celia are cousins whose love is ‘dearer than the natural bond of sisters’. As such, they decide to flee to the Forest of Arden together rather than be separated. They are two of Shakespeare’s cleverest heroines, who challenge each other intellectually and pass their time in verbal sparring matches, such as when they debate the cruel apathy of Lady Fortune. They are a perfectly matched pair who are delightful to watch. Their friendship reminds us how rare yet amazing it is to meet someone and instantly click with them.
"Creativity is overrated, but we do it anyway": Creativity in Cosplay
Fandom communities are harshly judged for their supposed disregard of the fabled concept of “originality.” Some people argue that fanfiction authors are inferior writers because they use other people’s characters and stories rather than devising anything of their own. Cosplay, while not as inherently controversial as fanfiction, raises a similar question: is replicating another’s creation as good as coming up with a “new” idea? Setting aside the argument that all forms of media are ultimately derived and reconstructed from the media the creator has seen, what exactly is the artistic process behind cosplay?
Like fanfiction writers, cosplayers are unbound. There is something freeing in making art which has no commercial value; you don’t have to worry about what will please an editor, producer, corporation, or potential customer, and its only purpose is to bring you joy. Cosplay is also a way to hone your skills; artists often start out by copying other works to practise their technique before trying to break new ground. But don’t underestimate the creative process of recreation, especially in the case of cosplay. Even the ones that are exact replicas from a film, television show, video game, theatrical performance, or another medium, require creative thinking.
Like fanfiction writers, cosplayers are unbound. There is something freeing in making art which has no commercial value; you don’t have to worry about what will please an editor, producer, corporation, or potential customer, and its only purpose is to bring you joy. Cosplay is also a way to hone your skills; artists often start out by copying other works to practise their technique before trying to break new ground. But don’t underestimate the creative process of recreation, especially in the case of cosplay. Even the ones that are exact replicas from a film, television show, video game, theatrical performance, or another medium, require creative thinking.
House of the Dragon: Looking back on Season 1
Cue the Game of Thrones (Thrones) theme music, which once may have made your toes curl with excitement and sent chills down your spine, but nowadays might just make you groan. Yet the feuding nobles seem to have made a comeback with House of the Dragon (House), the prequel to Thrones. This new show is the recent winner of the Golden Globe for Best Television Series (Drama), with Emma D’Arcy scoring a nomination for Best Lead Actress in a Television Series (Drama). After a disappointing end to the most popular show in the world, how did HBO return with such success?
House returns to Westeros 172 years before the birth of Daenerys Targaryen, when the Targaryen dynasty is at the height of its power. After his queen dies in childbirth, King Viserys I Targaryen names his only living child—his daughter Rhaenyra—heir to the Iron Throne. However, Rhaenyra’s succession is jeopardised when her father marries Alicent Hightower, who gives birth to a son. This leads to a crisis of succession and a civil war which almost destroys House Targaryen, a conflict known in Westerosi history as the Dance of the Dragons.
House returns to Westeros 172 years before the birth of Daenerys Targaryen, when the Targaryen dynasty is at the height of its power. After his queen dies in childbirth, King Viserys I Targaryen names his only living child—his daughter Rhaenyra—heir to the Iron Throne. However, Rhaenyra’s succession is jeopardised when her father marries Alicent Hightower, who gives birth to a son. This leads to a crisis of succession and a civil war which almost destroys House Targaryen, a conflict known in Westerosi history as the Dance of the Dragons.
London Theatre: Something Old, Something New, and Something Cheap in 2023
Cover image by @Pedro Szekely, used under a CC BY-SA 2.0 license. | In today’s London theatre scene, the biggest stars regularly appear, and new talent has the chance to learn and take to the stage. The area comprised of Piccadilly, Soho, and Covent Garden is a sight to behold – especially during the Christmas season, when twinkling lights dangle from the rooftops, and you can find a Pikachu wearing a Santa suit socialising with a Darth Vader in Leicester Square. I’d choose the West End over Broadway any day. London is the home of musical phenomena and indie hits, a seat of theatrical history and innovation – where directors, writers, designers, and actors are remaking the status quo and addressing socio-political issues, often drawing on lived experience to do so.
Just after Christmas, I went back to London to see two of my favourite musicals for the second time (buying the cheapest possible seats for each): Moulin Rouge! and Matilda.
The latter has been the pride of the UK for ten years, and the production is still selling out nightly. This show is full of youthful wonder, brought to life by a rotating cast of almost thirty child actors. Matilda remains a heart-warming spectacle, and an unmoving pillar of the London theatre scene; the Cambridge Theatre has been its home since it debuted in 2011.
Just after Christmas, I went back to London to see two of my favourite musicals for the second time (buying the cheapest possible seats for each): Moulin Rouge! and Matilda.
The latter has been the pride of the UK for ten years, and the production is still selling out nightly. This show is full of youthful wonder, brought to life by a rotating cast of almost thirty child actors. Matilda remains a heart-warming spectacle, and an unmoving pillar of the London theatre scene; the Cambridge Theatre has been its home since it debuted in 2011.
Review of Chloe Gong's Foul Lady Fortune
Chloe Gong draws on her own Chinese heritage and her English degree in Foul Lady Fortune: a retelling of Shakespeare’s As You Like It, set in 1930s Shanghai. When her life is saved by an experimental drug, Rosalind Lang (who takes her name directly from Shakespeare’s protagonist) becomes immortal, possessing a supernatural healing ability. Four years later, Rosalind is putting her new abilities to use as an assassin. Her code name: Fortune. Her latest mission: to investigate a series of murders while posing as a married couple with her new mission partner, Orion Hong (the Orlando-equivelant character).
Gong interlaces her Shakespearean-fantasy plot with the events of China’s civil war and the start of the Japanese invasion, while also addressing the lasting damage of European colonialism in 20th century Asia. Amidst the conflict, Rosalind and Orion are working for the Nationalist government while their respective siblings, Celia and Oliver, are Communist spies.
Gong interlaces her Shakespearean-fantasy plot with the events of China’s civil war and the start of the Japanese invasion, while also addressing the lasting damage of European colonialism in 20th century Asia. Amidst the conflict, Rosalind and Orion are working for the Nationalist government while their respective siblings, Celia and Oliver, are Communist spies.
From the Screen to the Stage: Moulin Rouge!
Baz Luhrmann’s Moulin Rouge! (2001) is one of my all-time favourite films. It is therefore no small thing when I say that the theatrical adaptation is even better. The show premiered on Broadway in 2019, won ten Tony Awards (including Best Musical), and arrived in the West End earlier this year. Both Hollywood and Broadway tell the story of Christian, a starry-eyed writer who travels to Paris at the turn of the century and falls in love with a courtesan named Satine, the headliner of the notorious Moulin Rouge night club. Christian and Satine’s romance is jeopardised when Harold Zidler, the owner of the Moulin Rouge, forms a dangerous business deal with a malevolent duke who lusts after Satine. With the duke sponsoring a show at the club which Christian is writing and Satine is starring in, tensions are on the rise, leading up to a fateful premier night.
Remakes and Rip-offs: The battle to be the next Game of Thrones
Cover illustration by Tilly Binucci. | Despite its disappointing final season, Game of Thrones’ impact on the television industry is undeniable. In the final years of the show, major producers started to anticipate a future gap in pop culture and plans for several more fantasy series began to take shape. We have seen the results these last few years, including shows like The Wheel of Time, The Witcher, His Dark Materials, House of the Dragon, and Rings of Power, with several more to come. High fantasy appears to be the reigning monarch of contemporary television—is this only because of the success of GOT? What else in our time could be causing audiences to crave swords and sorcery?
From a business perspective, this phenomenon is not difficult to understand. HBO proved that it was not only feasible to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in a TV production but extremely profitable. With the coinciding rise of streaming services, companies like Netflix and Amazon have been eager to try their hand at epic fantasy. But how successful has the industry been in replacing GOT? Have any of these shows been worth watching?
From a business perspective, this phenomenon is not difficult to understand. HBO proved that it was not only feasible to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in a TV production but extremely profitable. With the coinciding rise of streaming services, companies like Netflix and Amazon have been eager to try their hand at epic fantasy. But how successful has the industry been in replacing GOT? Have any of these shows been worth watching?
Bimble Around the World
Part of a collaboration I arranged between The Oxford Blue and Bimble. | If you were to plan a trip to Paris, landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame would probably be first on your itinerary. But have you really experienced the culture of a place until you’ve visited some lesser-known spots? The world is full of many unique individuals and communities, creating products and experiences that cannot be found anywhere else. A Jack the Ripper walking tour in London. A café in Naples where you receive a history lesson in coffee before being served amazing pasta, family style. A shop in Athens specializing in jewelry engraved with poetry. If you are visiting a new city or region and want a taste of what makes this place different, how do you find hidden gems such as these?
Way Out Yonder: Understanding "Where the Crawdads Sing" before You See the Movie
“Way out yonder, where the crawdads sing, the marsh knows one thing above all else: every creature will do what it must to survive.”
The quote above from the first trailer for the movie adaptation of Delia Owens’s bestselling debut novel, Where the Crawdads Sing (2018), already shows that the filmmakers understand the foundation upon which the story is built. After years of saying I was going to read Crawdads, the release of the trailer finally spurred me into action, and I finished the book in two days. With the film’s premiere in July approaching fast, I would like to take this chance to share my thoughts on some of the book’s major themes and motifs.
Crawdads tells the story of Catherine “Kya” Clark, a young girl who raises herself in the marshes of North Carolina. Kya lives alone in the marsh after being abandoned by her family; her mother and older siblings fled to escape her abusive father, who himself later disappears without a trace. Kya gets by selling mussels, fishing, and gardening, and becomes a local legend in the nearby town, known as “the marsh girl” – the wild child who lives alone in the swamp, avoiding social workers, officers, and anyone else who would take her away from everything she has ever known.
The quote above from the first trailer for the movie adaptation of Delia Owens’s bestselling debut novel, Where the Crawdads Sing (2018), already shows that the filmmakers understand the foundation upon which the story is built. After years of saying I was going to read Crawdads, the release of the trailer finally spurred me into action, and I finished the book in two days. With the film’s premiere in July approaching fast, I would like to take this chance to share my thoughts on some of the book’s major themes and motifs.
Crawdads tells the story of Catherine “Kya” Clark, a young girl who raises herself in the marshes of North Carolina. Kya lives alone in the marsh after being abandoned by her family; her mother and older siblings fled to escape her abusive father, who himself later disappears without a trace. Kya gets by selling mussels, fishing, and gardening, and becomes a local legend in the nearby town, known as “the marsh girl” – the wild child who lives alone in the swamp, avoiding social workers, officers, and anyone else who would take her away from everything she has ever known.
Review: Tick, Tick...Boom!
It is unlikely that anyone would have ever heard of Tick, Tick…Boom! if it weren’t for the later success of another Broadway production. A forgotten triumph of theatre, Jonathan Larson’s semi-autobiographical musical was produced for off-Broadway after Larson posthumously achieved widespread recognition for Rent. Interest in the show was renewed last year following the release of a movie adaptation on Netflix. With a name like *whispers intensely* Lin-Manuel Miranda attached to the movie, any production nowadays would have to contend with immense audience expectations.
Amongst the Oxford theatre scene’s onslaught of springtime garden plays, Half Rhyme Productions dared to dramatize Larson’s original musical, helmed by director Felix Westcott and musical director Adam Najmudin Hall.
Amongst the Oxford theatre scene’s onslaught of springtime garden plays, Half Rhyme Productions dared to dramatize Larson’s original musical, helmed by director Felix Westcott and musical director Adam Najmudin Hall.
Total Annihilation and Teenage Angst: Carrie Review
Being seventeen is the worst, but at least your prom wasn’t smashed to pieces by a girl in a telekinetic rage. Founding Fellas Productions recently brought Carrie to the Oxford Playhouse, this being a musical adaptation of Stephen King’s novel of the same name. Directed by Ellie Cooper, Carrie was a sensational mix of upbeat musical numbers and moments of horror, all showing the turmoil of being young and figuring out where to go in life.
King’s classic horror novel tells the story of Carrie White, a socially awkward teenage girl raised by a fanatically religious mother. One fateful prom night, the school bullies play a traumatizing prank on Carrie, and she unleashes supernatural destruction. Harriet Nokes starred as Carrie, bringing to life a shy teenager who tries to keep her head down, but is all the while brimming with anger and frustration towards her classmates, her mother, and her life. Nokes excelled in portraying Carrie’s complex persona; the audience saw the other side of the character the moment her first solo began with the song “Carrie”. Nokes’s powerful belting voice was perfect to depict the potential that Carrie is holding back.
King’s classic horror novel tells the story of Carrie White, a socially awkward teenage girl raised by a fanatically religious mother. One fateful prom night, the school bullies play a traumatizing prank on Carrie, and she unleashes supernatural destruction. Harriet Nokes starred as Carrie, bringing to life a shy teenager who tries to keep her head down, but is all the while brimming with anger and frustration towards her classmates, her mother, and her life. Nokes excelled in portraying Carrie’s complex persona; the audience saw the other side of the character the moment her first solo began with the song “Carrie”. Nokes’s powerful belting voice was perfect to depict the potential that Carrie is holding back.
Review: Dracula by Serendipity Productions
Working on my dissertation nonstop certainly makes me feel undead, so it was a relief to take a night off in the middle of the week to see my first show at the Michael Pilch Studio: a modern version of Dracula, which follows a group of novice vampire hunters and their encounter with the infamous Transylvanian. The small studio theatre was the perfect space for this show: an intimate setting where the audience could consider the psychology of the characters. Writer and director Leah O’Grady presented a new, feminist take on Bram Stoker’s classic novel of mystery and murder, replacing the notorious count with a countess.
This production featured a talented cast, simple yet effective production design, and profound themes focusing on the struggles of women. However, it was sometimes difficult to keep up with the plot and it took a long time for the audience to understand what point the show is trying to make. Why retell Dracula? Why place it in a modern setting? Why have a countess instead of a count? O’Grady used the basic story of Dracula as a setting to discuss the oppression and invisibility of women.
This production featured a talented cast, simple yet effective production design, and profound themes focusing on the struggles of women. However, it was sometimes difficult to keep up with the plot and it took a long time for the audience to understand what point the show is trying to make. Why retell Dracula? Why place it in a modern setting? Why have a countess instead of a count? O’Grady used the basic story of Dracula as a setting to discuss the oppression and invisibility of women.
Travelling in the Time of Covid: My Tour of Italy this January
Imagine this: you are standing in the Stanze of Raphael in the Vatican City. The room is packed wall-to-wall with people. Tour guides are leading groups in every direction. You are trying to hear what your guide is saying above the noise, trying not to get lost in the crowd. This describes the chaotic – yet moving – experience that I had this January; despite the mayhem of Covid, no picture could ever do justice to the colours in the Sistine Chapel. Before the pandemic, anyone would jump at the opportunity to travel to Rome. Nowadays, just the thought of being in an enclosed space with a multitude of people makes everyone nervous. However, when I toured the Vatican, everyone present had to show proof of vaccination at the front door and wear a mask for the duration of their visit. It was actually a relatively safe experience, and there was something oddly liberating about being in a crowded room and yet knowing that my chances of getting Covid were still low.
All the World's a Stage, but Oregon is Your Next Theatre Destination
Unless, like me, you are from Northern California, you are unlikely to have heard of Ashland, Oregon — a trove of art, cuisine and nature tucked away in a setting that recalls Shakespeare’s Forest of Arden. Dining on the patio of Greenleaf café with a canopy of leaves above and the sound of the rushing creek below, all that’s missing is for a man I’ve only known for a few days to appear and declare his love for me. Ashland is a mix of a bohemian and Renaissance paradise, with its thriving artistic community and numerous one-of-a-kind businesses. It is a relief to escape the Californian heat to relax in the shade and greenery, visit a few art galleries and see one of the shows put on by the Tony-award-winning Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF).
OSF is one of the oldest professional non-profit theatre companies in the United States. Founded by Angus L. Bowmer, a young teacher at what is now Southern Oregon University, OSF opened with a production of Twelfth Night in 1935. Today people flock to Ashland to experience the renowned theatre and the artistic milieu.
OSF is one of the oldest professional non-profit theatre companies in the United States. Founded by Angus L. Bowmer, a young teacher at what is now Southern Oregon University, OSF opened with a production of Twelfth Night in 1935. Today people flock to Ashland to experience the renowned theatre and the artistic milieu.
Uncomfortable Oxford: Hidden Histories Tour
The statue of Dorothy Wadham at Wadham College is the only statue of a woman who is not a religious figure or royalty in Oxford. In the early 1600s, Wadham used her late husband’s fortune to build the college, patronage being one of the only ways women involved themselves with the university.
I know it will come as a huge shock to everyone that history has primarily celebrated the accomplishments of straight white men, especially Oxonian history. However, local students and academics are working to bring to light the legacy of discrimination, imperialism, and inequality in Oxford.
Uncomfortable Oxford is an organisation that employs Oxford University students to lead walking tours and educate people about the town’s uncomfortable history. The organisation also highlights those whose accomplishments have been overlooked.
I know it will come as a huge shock to everyone that history has primarily celebrated the accomplishments of straight white men, especially Oxonian history. However, local students and academics are working to bring to light the legacy of discrimination, imperialism, and inequality in Oxford.
Uncomfortable Oxford is an organisation that employs Oxford University students to lead walking tours and educate people about the town’s uncomfortable history. The organisation also highlights those whose accomplishments have been overlooked.
The Tale of Despereaux and the Power of Storytelling
“Stories are light. Light is precious in a world so dark. Begin at the beginning. Tell Gregory a story. Make some light.” – Gregory the Jailer
What makes a book “children’s literature?” Are there singing animals and fairy princesses? Is it completely censored of anything overprotective parents might find inappropriate? Or can it reawaken a sense of childlike wonder in its reader? Children’s literature is a highly disputed genre; there are many literary works that despite being written for a younger audience, feature profound themes that capture the minds of adults. Personally, I associate The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo with my childhood because it is one of the books my mother read to my siblings and me as children, and because it makes me feel a sense of wonder.
There is nothing quite like The Tale of Despereaux; it is a unique book that deals with themes of love, grief, forgiveness, and hope. It is ideal to read to children because of its straightforward plot but is also enjoyable for adults because of DiCamillo’s elegant writing.
What makes a book “children’s literature?” Are there singing animals and fairy princesses? Is it completely censored of anything overprotective parents might find inappropriate? Or can it reawaken a sense of childlike wonder in its reader? Children’s literature is a highly disputed genre; there are many literary works that despite being written for a younger audience, feature profound themes that capture the minds of adults. Personally, I associate The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo with my childhood because it is one of the books my mother read to my siblings and me as children, and because it makes me feel a sense of wonder.
There is nothing quite like The Tale of Despereaux; it is a unique book that deals with themes of love, grief, forgiveness, and hope. It is ideal to read to children because of its straightforward plot but is also enjoyable for adults because of DiCamillo’s elegant writing.
"They All Deserve to Die": Sweeney Todd Review
Cover image: promotional image by 00 Productions. | Does anyone escape the corruption that festers in every corner of the world? Stephen Sondheim’s musical Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, with book by Hugh Wheeler, features a depraved cast of characters and a chilling plot. The show is a psychological thriller which takes the audience on a spiralling journey to the darkest parts of Victorian London.
As an avid musical theatre and Sondheim fan, I was eager to see 00 Productions’ rendition of Sweeney Todd. Directed by Imogen Albert, the show was a faithful and striking production with phenomenal cast, sets, and costumes. Albert has taken Sweeney Todd for exactly what it is: an opportunity to portray wickedness and obsession to the point of absurdity with a delightfully grotesque mixture of horror and humour. I greatly enjoyed this production and noted only a few instances where minor changes could have improved the show.
As an avid musical theatre and Sondheim fan, I was eager to see 00 Productions’ rendition of Sweeney Todd. Directed by Imogen Albert, the show was a faithful and striking production with phenomenal cast, sets, and costumes. Albert has taken Sweeney Todd for exactly what it is: an opportunity to portray wickedness and obsession to the point of absurdity with a delightfully grotesque mixture of horror and humour. I greatly enjoyed this production and noted only a few instances where minor changes could have improved the show.
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