Brel

Not that I am into musicals - I usually find them a bit camp - and I am not really into Jacques Brel neither - I never really enjoyed the way he was performing his songs - but I really enjoyed the Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris show I saw this afternoon. The cast was very professional and the translations into English worked very well (translated / adapted by Mort Schuman for the 1968 off-Broadway musical). For the first time I really got to appreciate the intensity and the depth of Brel lyrics without his annoying performance. Even though he was Belgium he has always been sacred in France and he is one of those Artists you cannot criticise. The 3-Bs as they are referred to: Brel, Brassens, Becaud. You can take my French passport away if you like and I am not sorry but I do not like Brel nor Becaud as performers (even though I can appreciate their writing as this show reminded me).

Shanghai Blues - The Musical

When I am in Europe I am usually not really attracted by the idea of attending a musical as they tend to be soapy bordering on daggy. Maybe it is the title that reminded me of Wong Kar Wai or is it the curiosity of attending a play in Chinese but I admit I was quite excited to be watching Shanghai Blues -The Musical. The stage set was quite clever and the singing exotic. I enjoyed the experience even though I was not overwhelmed by the script (it was subtitled in English in case you wonder...).