Closing!!! 'Flashdance The Musical' in London

The marquee at the Shaftesbury Theatre.

With musical producers continuing to sift through movie archives for the next theater hit, let's say goodbye to the latest one that made it to Broadway or the West End in London but failed to attract audiences. The casualty is 'Flashdance the Musical' based on the 1983 Paramount film starring Jennifer Beals. The production features songs from the movie soundtrack augmented by new numbers.

Two days before its first preview performance on September 25th, my taxi ride took me past the Shaftesbury Theatre where workers were finishing the marquee.

The show officially opened on October 14, 2010 and will close on January 15, 2011. The question is would I have seen this show if it was playing during my recent London visit. I probably would place it on my list but it would not be a priority.

This 'Closing!!!' post could be a regular feature if forthcoming shows fail. Set to open this season are musical versions of the films "Ghost" and "Love Story" in London and "Catch Me If You Can" on Broadway. Presently playing in New York is the musical adaptation of "Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown".  Let's see how these productions fare.

In the meantime here's the trailer for 'Flashdance the Musical'. Click on 'read more' below for production photos.

Fascinating Transit Lounge in The Terminal

Anytime I see the interior of this terminal I am still fascinated. The unusual thing is it was only built as a movie set. No detail was spared and it appears to be part of a fully working airport. I've asked people who have seen "The Terminal" (directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Tom Hanks and Catherine Zeta-Jones) and so far all thought the set to be an actual transit lounge in a real terminal in New York.

I previously wrote about the film and it came to mind again today after watching it once more on video. Production Designer Alex McDowell should have but did not receive an Academy Award nomination for the film (or for his wondrous designs for "Charlie & the Chocolate Factory").

Below are more pics of this piece of unreal estate. The Terminal is available on DVD. The collectors edition is no longer available.

Related link: The Terminal Playground: A Transit Lounge to Nowhere for my previous post with more info about the film and additional production photos.

Real escalators lead up to airport gates to nowhere.

A fake Starbucks.

A faux entrance to a United Airlines first class lounge.

Unreal Verizon and Duty Free Shops.

A make-believe transit lounge.

A reproduction of a flight board with fake flights.

A reproduction of a terminal in the winter.

Real granite was used for the flooring.

Can you name all the food shops featured in the film?

The film is directed from various angles to constantly show a different view of the movie set.

Tom Hanks and Catherine Zeta-Jones play flight attendant and traveler.

Unusual was the balcony in the lounge overlooking the runway.

The food court was lined with replicas of airport eateries.

Don't Let the Bed Bugs Bite

The publicity may have subsided but fears still exist about bed bugs when traveling. With the news reports from the problem in New York City, there is a rise of products to fight these nasty pests. Here are some I found online for traveling. I'll likely pick up one for my next visit to NYC to test it out. But strange thing about such products: You don't know if it works by what doesn't happen. If you see bed bugs and then none, it works. But if there were no bed bugs to begin with, does it still work?

Sold at magellans.com the Avenger Natural Bed Bug Killer and Luggage Spray combo pack costs $19.85 for the 3 oz bottles.

Amazon.com sells a variety of products for the traveler including JT Eaton Bedbug Spray For Luggage & Mattresses (8 oz, $9.75), Green Rest Easy Bed Bug Travel Spray Twin Pack (2 oz each bottle, $12.74) and BugZip Garment Bag Size Bed-Bug Resistant Suitcase and Clothing Encasement ($17.99)

'Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark' 60 Minutes Video

Tonight 'Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark' begins its first preview performance. News reports indicate that the $50 million budget has now ballooned to $65 million still making it the most expensive production in Broadway history. This combined with an opening delayed by nine-months, money woes, change in actors and even a change of the theater name (from Hilton to Foxwoods) has made this one of the most intriguing stories about a Broadway show before its opening night.

Here is a clip of the 60 Minutes report about the beleaguered musical.

Savoir Fare London Stylish Dining For Under $25

With London as one of the most expensive cities to visit, finding good and unique but affordable dining choices presents a quagmire for the average visitor. The problem is compounded with the numerous dining choices available. Most travel books will list recommended restaurants by cuisine and location. However the information can be spotty if recommendations are written by multiple reviewers and often it is doubtful if the authors actually dined at the book's listed restaurants.

No such doubt exists with Savoir Fare London Stylish Dining for Under $25 by Elaine Louie. This book is a valuable resource in finding dining choices in London. Louie is authentic in the descriptions of the types of food, atmosphere and value. Chapters list restaurants by locations and runs the gamut of different cuisines. Photos for many of the restaurant's interiors and food add further information.

Restaurants are among the most volatile of businesses with many coming and going with the ups and downs of the economy. Even though published in 2008, the restaurants I chose to visit from the book while in London were still serving the masses. It must be pointed out that the listed restaurants are primarily those that offer dining on premises even though many offer food to take away.

Click on these links for previous posts with reviews of the some of the book's recommended restaurants during my London visit: Bea's of Bloomsbury, Konditor & Cook, Maison Bertaux.

Louie's vivid and savory descriptions left me wanting to visit more restaurants than I had time for. I have to admit that some restaurants I visited, such as Laduree at Harrods, had to be bypassed due to the long wait. Pick up a copy of this book if you want to make your London dining experience tasty and reasonable. I will likely have this book in tow upon a return visit to sample some of the other recommended restaurants. Click here to purchase this book from amazon.com.

By Jeeves, What's In A Website's Name?

Sometimes an idea comes by accident, sometimes by inspiration. When I first started this blog three years ago, one of the questions was what to call it. It had to be about travel but connected or inspired with the theater. It was upon organizing some CDs that I came across the 'By Jeeves' original London cast recording by Andrew Lloyd Webber. One of the track titles is "Travel Hopefully" which has lyrics that go:

"My philosophy's to travel hopefully
And making each day that I survive
An opportunity to share the company
That welcomes me when I arrive.
Travel hopefully with me
And I will guarantee
There'll be no pause for doubt.
Hit the nearest country track
No time for looking back."
(lyrics by Alan Ayckbourn)

So the name 'The Hopeful Traveler' was born.

No sooner as I started writing posts, I have to come to learn that other blogs, books and artwork carry the same name. No matter. I like the name and I'll keep it.

All recordings of 'By Jeeves' including the London and American cast versions are no longer in print or found on iTunes. The 2001 video of the musical never had an American (NTSC) release and is rare in the UK where it was once available. The song "Travel Hopefully" does make an appearance on the Andrew Lloyd Webber: Now And Forever 5-disc box set which includes numbers from all his shows up to 'The Beautiful Game' and rare recordings.

If five discs of music may be a bit unwieldily, a more recent 3-disc set (which does not include "Travel Hopefully") released from 2008 called Andrew Lloyd Webber: 60 may be to your liking.

'Les Miserables' O2 Concert on YouTube.Com

If you could not have traveled to London, missed the cinema presentation or cannot wait for a home video release, there is youtube.com. Hundreds of videos taken from the 'Les Miserables' 25th Anniversary Concert have been posted. Here a couple of choice versions. Note that of this writing a DVD release is scheduled only for Region 2 territories including the United Kingdom and Germany. The DVD can be purchased on those countries amazon websites. No U.S. release for American audiences has been announced.

Jan 2011 Update: U.S. / American / NTSC release of Les Miserables 25th Anniversay Concert Available.

"Bring Him Home" performed by four Jean Valjeans.

video by youtube/trickh716

"One Day More" performed by original 1985 cast.

video by youtube/kuangchien

Links to related 'Les Miserables' posts

Reviews of the three versions of 'Les Miserables' in peformance in London:

'Les Miserables' at the Barbican Theatre (25th Anniversary TOURING cast)

'Les Miserables' at the Queen's Theatre (West End cast)

'Les Miserables' at the O2 Arena (25th Anniversary Concert)

Other Links:
CD Release of "Bring Him Home" by The Valjean Quartet from The O2 Concert

More from the O2 Concert

25th Anniversary Concert To Be Broadcast in USA Theaters

25th Anniversary Concert Trailer

25th Anniversary Touring (UK) Production Trailer

Dress Circle Shop event featuring the Cast of the 25th Anniversary Touring Production

The Queen's Theatre Venue

The Barbican Theatre Venue

Stage Door Meeting with Alfie Boe