Category Archives: theatre

Dear Evan Hansen: Musical vs Book

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Dear Evan Hansen is a story about an anxious high schooler, Evan Hansen, who spins himself a tale and convinces everyone of a fake personality and story he made for himself. Throughout the plot, he gets deeper and deeper into this false role he created, and he can’t find a way out without exposing himself as a fraud. This story had a musical, book, and movie adaptation. I’ll be comparing the musical and book without major spoilers for either.

The story started out as a musical by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. It opened on Broadway in 2016 and was nominated for 9 different awards. The most distinguishable feature of this play is the life-like acting that Ben Platt utilizes in his role as Evan. He brings with him both depth and comedy, as well as a natural sort of awkwardness that comes with every high schooler. One of the key features of the musical is, of course, the music. Dear Evan Hansen shows a grand display of emotions and development through their musical numbers. A great example of this is in the song “Words Fail,” where Ben Platt shows the true devastation that Evan feels through his raw tone and intentional voice cracks. 

The book came a few years after in 2018, written by Val Emmich. The main story is the same, following the descent of Evan’s self-sabotage. But while the musical uses songs to convey emotion, the book uses internal monologue and description. Emmich goes more into depth about Evan’s mental state and personal thoughts. We get a glimpse into Evan’s anxiety disorder and how it affects his desicions and actions. Another major difference is how Connor Murphy– a large character in the musical– is more thoroughly fleshed out in the book. We get flashbacks from his perspective, as well as friends he had, his social life, and the mental struggles he faced. Personally, I liked this element of the book and how it elaborated on Connor, whereas in the musical we don’t get much about him as a person. Another main difference between the book and musical is the resolution. While the fundamental concept of the resolution is the same, the book cleans up a few more loose ends. Without revealing too much, Evan basically takes a bit more time to reconciles with people he affected.

No matter whether you watch the musical or read the book, both tell Evan Hansen’s story beautifully. Especially for teens struggling with anxiety or depression, Dear Evan Hansen is a message of honesty, belonging, and individuality. 

Dear Evan Hansen by Val Emmich is available for checkout from the Mission Viejo Library. It can also be downloaded for free from Libby.

Rajiv Joseph is one of the greatest playwrights of our time.

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I know this is a loaded statement, but I truly believe it. I recently had to read and perform one of his plays, Gruesome Playground Injuries, for an acting class. This play was my introduction to Joseph’s works and it is astonishing to see how his brain works. His plays are normally short, only a few scenes, not typically exceeding one hundred pages. He is able to develop characters so emotionally complex within that short span it will leave readers so invested and attached that they linger in their brains. At least, that is what happened to me.

My most recent read was a play of his called Guards at the Taj and it was nothing short of mind-altering. The play has four scenes, consistent with Joseph’s concise style, however, it is nowhere near lacking in volume. The play is set in Agra, India, in 1648. Everything, excluding the language, is accurate to the time period.

The first scene opens with the only two characters in the play, Babur and Humayun, two imperial guards at the Taj Mahal. Humayan is very rigid and regimented in his ways. His father is the head of the imperial guards and I believe him to have a mindset of success in quantifiable measures. Babur severely opposes this; he is philosophical in his beliefs and mindsets and sets emotion and abstraction to be prominent ways of his ways of thinking. The two talk a lot about beauty: what it is, who appreciates it more, where it can be found, and what can and cannot be beautiful. Babur accuses his friend of not knowing beauty as he does, but when the two of them see the Taj Mahal for the very first time, the men begin to weep, they drop their swords and hold hands.

The second scene opens with the men standing in two feet of blood. Babur clutching a sword, and Humayan blinded. The gore depicted on the stage is usually what is only alluded to by playwrights. Joseph takes this standard, crumples it up, and throws it out of the window to be found by a lion who rips it to shreds. The stage Lining the stage are barrels of 40,000 hands (the hands of the 20,000 men who created the Taj Mahal), all of which had been severed by Babur and Humayun. I believe that the gore was necessary to the point Joseph is making: what is real will happen and be seen. The reality of the play was that nothing that Humayan claimed he had talked about that would get the men out of their current standing situation (as low-class imperial guards) or even the conversation he said he had with his father (claiming to beg at his feet not to kill Babur when Humayan sold him out). None of it was pictured. What was shown was Humayan severing and cauterizing the hands (and his relationship) with his best friend, Babur, and I think Joseph was determined to make all of the gore and messages in his scenes undeniable.

I believe that this is a piece that everyone needs to read. I really hope to see it performed one day. It stands relevant to so many different situations and in so many aspects of relationships, social hierarchy, and the search for beauty, and the feeling of reading it for the first time cannot be encapsulated in words. And all of it in 45 pages. Rajiv Joseph is a genius.

Hamilton

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Hamilton a musical written by Lin-Manuel Miranda explores Hamilton’s experiences and what rose him to power, his role in the American Revolution, and more. Alexander Hamilton was one of the Founding Fathers and contributed dearly to what America is today. This musical is known for its unique blend of hip-hop, R&B, and traditional musical theater styles.

The musical covers Hamilton’s life from his early days as an immigrant from the Caribbean, through his role in the American Revolution, to his work as the first Secretary of the Treasury. It also explores some of his personal relationships, such as his wife, Eliza Schuyler, and his friendships and rivalries with Aaron Burr, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson.

Although it’s a musical, it teaches in a really engaging way by blending historical facts with music and story-telling techniques. The use of hip-hop and R&B makes the information more appealing, especially to younger audiences.

The lyrics are packed with historical references and complex themes, which encourages listeners to pay attention and learn. The lyrics are also very amusing and the songs will be stuck in your head! One of my favorites is “Wait for It” sung by Aaron Burr, who is played by Leslie Odom Jr. in the original Broadway cast. It captures the struggle and resilience of Aaron Burr and the way he reflects on ambition, timing, and patience can be very relatable to listeners. Plus, the melody and delivery make it so emotional and tense.

Hamilton highlights the themes of legacy, ambition, and the complexities of the American dream. It’s both educational and entertaining, making the history of the musical vibrant and relevant. Lin-Manuel Miranda composed the most lyrical and amazing soundtrack for this musical and it’s incredible how he managed to write the musical and star as Alexander Hamilton himself. Even if musicals are not your cup of tea, I would highly recommend watching it as it is so amusing and the characters are so interesting to watch.

Hadestown: a Spoiler-Free Review

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Recently I saw Hadestown live – a retelling of the story of Orpheus and Eurydice, in musical form. It was so good! The songwriting, the aesthetic, the performances, they all came together to form an amazing experience that I’d highly recommend.

As I said before, this musical retells the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, starting from their first meeting all the way to Orpheus’ fated trip below. If you haven’t heard of the story yet, that’s completely fine! It makes your viewing experience perhaps even more dramatic, because you won’t know how it’ll end.

The show sets the Greek Underworld in a sort of industrial, Depression-era aesthetic, making for some really creative interpretations of the various features of Hell. It also does a great job of setting the contrast between the grungy, oppressive, sweltering Hadestown and the bright, airy, but freezing overworld.

The traveling cast that I saw was amazing (they performed in Segerstrom Center in late October) and the Broadway Official Recording is also spectacular. The emotion carries through even without the visuals!

Notably, the band is prominently displayed on stage along with the actors. Not only does this look insanely cool, but it gives the musical a different feel – something more personal. The songs of Hadestown are heavily inspired by different jazz genres, which is a breath of fresh air compared to other musicals.

Overall, I would highly recommend checking out Hadestown if you can!

Shrek the Musical Review

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On November 24, 2024, my family and I went to see the Broadway performance, Shrek the Musical, at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts. The hilarious musical is based on the first Shrek movie made in 2001 and starts off in the fictional fairy-tale medieval town of Duloc. 

Summary of the Musical:

Lord Farquaad bans fairy tale characters from Duloc and sends them to Shrek the ogre’s swamp.  Shrek is enraged by this, and with the help of a talking donkey, embarks on a trip to speak with Lord Farquaad. Farquaad needs to marry a princess in order to become the king of Duloc, and he makes a deal with Shrek. Shrek needs to save a princess named Fiona, who is in a castle guarded by a dragon, and bring her to Lord Farquaad for marriage in order for Shrek to have his swamp back. Shrek accepts and both him and Donkey travel together, where they slowly grow fond of each other.

They finally reach the castle and cross a bridge above lava. Shrek goes to find the princess, leaving the Donkey alone. Donkey is captured by the dragon, who falls in love with him. During this, Shrek finds Fiona and he fights off the dragon, saving her and Donkey. 

Before reaching Duloc, they take shelter and the audience finds out that Princess Fiona has a curse that turns her into an ogre by night and she can only take her true beautiful form with a true love’s kiss. The next day, Shrek and Fiona become romantically interested in one another and by night she again demands shelter. Donkey discovers she is an ogre and describes herself as ugly. Shrek tries to confess his feelings to her, but overhears her talking about him.

He calls Farquaad to marry her, but misunderstands the situation that Fiona was indeed talking about herself and not Shrek. Shrek stops the wedding, kisses Fiona, and she takes her true form as an ogre. The musical ends with them married with children, and Farquaad eaten by the dragon, who marries the donkey.

Favorite Song:

The composition I liked best was “I Know it’s Today” by Leah Greenhaus, Marissa O’Donnell, and Sutton Foster. The style of the song is pop and I feel it is this because of the use of female singers, who sing with strong voices in unison, the piano, drums, flutes, who give the song the pop aspect. I liked this composition the best because of the passing of solos between the singers, the blend of the background vocals, and the catchy music. The music made me feel happy and calm and the music evoked the images of the Shrek movie. The song reminded me of when I was little on the couch watching it with my family. It gave me nostalgic emotions but also joyful emotions.

Overall, I 100% would recommend the musical to others and I had an amazing experience!

– Sophia B.

Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare Movie Vs. Written Play Review  

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Watching Julius Caesar as a film versus reading it as a written play is a strikingly different experience. The visual of the movie brings Shakespeare’s words to life in vivid detail, allowing for a more immersive and dramatic interpretation of the story. The magnificent settings, costumes, and performances add layers of depth and emotion that may come across more strongly than the written form of the story on paper. Some of the texts are difficult to understand on paper if you aren’t reading them together with a teacher to explain them to you. 

However, there is a unique power to reading the original text of Julius Caesar in its written form. By engaging with the paper play, readers can analyze and interpret the language more closely, uncovering nuances in Shakespeare’s words that can be easily overlooked in a film adaptation. The ability to imagine the scenes and characters based solely on textual descriptions allows for a more personal and intimate connection to the story, fostering individual interpretations and insights that may differ from those presented on screen.

In comparing Julius Caesar as a movie and a written play, it becomes clear that each medium offers distinct advantages and charms. While the film captivates with its visual splendor and dramatic impact, the written play invites readers to delve deeper into Shakespeare’s poetic genius and explore their perceptions of this timeless tragedy. Both versions complement each other beautifully, providing audiences with rich opportunities to discover and appreciate one of Shakespeare’s most iconic works. I prefer the written play that we read in class. By reading it, I can imagine the whole story in my mind, making it a lot more fun. Whatever your choices, you’ll find that Shakespeare’s writing is brilliant, and we can appreciate the story no matter the medium. 

Happy Choices!

Bella H.

Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare is available for checkout from the Mission Viejo Library. Movie versions are available here. The play can also be downloaded for free from Libby. 

Six The Musical Review

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When I was about ten years old and going through a heavy musical phase I discovered Six The Musical and I loved it. Six is about the six wives of Henry VIII (Henry the eighth). He wasn’t a particularly amazing king but he was remembered mainly for his wives and his death. However, this musical is not about Henry. It’s about is wives, Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard, Catherine Parr. Something most people think is that Henry beheaded all of his wives, which is not true. He only beheaded two of them.

This is actually how the marriages ended between them:

Catherine of Aragon: Divorced because she couldn’t have a male heir and so Henry could marry Anne Boleyn

Anne Boleyn: Beheaded because she couldn’t have a male heir and Henry became interested in Jane Seymour

Jane Seymour: Died early in the marriage after giving birth to a child

Anne of Cleves: Divorced because she didn’t look like her portrait

Catherine Howard: Beheaded

Catherine Parr: Outlived Henry but couldn’t be with the man she really loved

In the musical the women talk about the hardships Henry put them through and they acknowledge how without the six of them no one would know who they are in the form of pop songs. The whole environment of the musical is like a concert and I love that part.

I would give Six the Musical an 1000/10 rating because the women in the musical are so talented and absolutely hilarious.

Carpenter’s Performing Arts Center: A Performer’s Experience

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In early March, La Paz Intermediate received an invitation to play at Carpenter’s Center in Long Beach, California. Our symphony orchestra would be playing alongside some of the best intermediate schools in California. Although it seemed like an ambitious goal, we were up for the challenge.

After months of practice, hand cramps, and heavily annotated sheet music, we were ready for our performance on May 19th. The performers’ entrance was clearly marked and easy to find, and each school was given a large space to warm up and tune. The hosting group was the South Coast Youth Symphony Orchestra, comprised of the most talented high school and middle school students in our area. They provided us with dinner and let us explore parts of the campus. Additionally, there was a room where we could watch the other schools perform on a TV. Obviously we were a bit judgmental of them, due to the competitive nature of teenage musicians. 

There were two schools performing before us: One of them was a band and the other was an orchestra. La Paz would be the last performing school with a combination of both band and orchestra. I was the principal viola player, so I would be seated near the very front of the stage. When our performing time approached, we were led backstage and given specific instructions of how to enter and exit. We waited in anxious silence for the orchestra before us to finish.

Finally, we went onstage. The auditorium was completely sold out— filled with supportive family members and other schools. Usually, we struggled to fit all our musicians in one space, but the Carpenter’s stage had more than enough room for everyone to spread out. After a few words of introduction from our conductor, Mr. Robbins, we began our pieces. We played four pieces, one of them being exclusively for strings and the rest played all together. The sound shells implemented above the stage drastically helped the quality of our music.

When the last note was played, we received a standing ovation from the audience. Mr. Robbins later said that it was probably the most applause he’s ever gotten for a group, which was impressive considering he’s been teaching for 31 years. Overall, it was an extremely unique experience that I am very thankful I was able to participate in. Even though it was difficult work, it was definitely worth it in the end.

MJ: The Musical Review

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On March 30, 2024, my family and I went to see the Broadway performance, MJ: The Musical, at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts. The musical is based on the life of the great King of Pop, Michael Jackson. Specifically, the musical was about Jackson’s preparations for his Dangerous World Tour. Between his Dangerous album tracks, such as “Black or White,” he’s getting ready to perform his biggest hits from the last thirty years of his career. As he practices, he makes things up as he goes along, modifying the set list and the choreography to suit his needs. To the occasional displeasure of his tour director and business manager, he is constantly striving to make the tour flawless. Additionally, the musical covered Michael Jackson’s rise to stardom in Jackson 5 with Motown Records and breaking away from his brothers to become a solo artist.

This musical was utterly AMAZING! I have been to multiple Broadway musicals, such as Wicked, the Lion King, Chicago, Moulin Rouge, and Hairspray. None of these were like the MJ Musical, as it was based on the real-life story of one of the most iconic performers of our time. 

I would like to explore some of the songs I exceptionally enjoyed.

The composition I liked best was “Thriller,” composed by Rod Temperton. There was sufficient energy to bring across the music, as there was a recreation of the “Thriller” music video with the zombie dance routine. The performers were singing extremely in tune and the audience was eating up every minute of the performance. The performers seemed very comfortable with the technical demands “Thriller” brought. Additionally, they sounded very well rehearsed and prepared, hitting all the high notes with ease. There was very good communication among the performers, as they danced in sync with each other.

Overall, I 100% would recommend the musical to others and I had an amazing experience!

-Sophia B.

Shakespeare by the Sea: Romeo and Juliet Review

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This is my first time seeing something by Shakespeare by the Sea, and my first time actually seeing a show of the famous Romeo and Juliet play. Despite how famous the story of Romeo and Juliet is, I have never actually seen a live performance of it, until Shakespeare by the Sea came around. Shakespeare by the Sea is a nonprofit organization that performs theatrical plays for free in communities around California. Last year, they were not able to tour and perform and they have just started again this summer. I was really lucky in catching this show, as it was part of the 25th anniversary and the last tour with the original founder of Shakespeare by the Sea.

I hadn’t been interested in Shakespeare and had just come along to watch the play because my mom asked if I wanted to. There was nothing I had to do that day, and I had never actually seen Romeo and Juliet yet, so I had no reason not to go see it. I was not disappointed. It was your usual Romeo and Juliet play, following the original story, but I had plenty of laughs and it was a lot of fun. There were a lot of moments, especially in the beginning of the play, that made me laugh out loud and smile. They spoke in the old, english dialect, but I understood it just fine. The actors did an amazing job, in portraying their character, the emotion, and making it fun for everyone. The actors help set up the stage, perform the entire thing, and take it down afterwards. The entire venue is outside and they work and perform for over an hour. The actors and people who work with Shakespeare by the Sea are honestly so amazing and put in so much time and effort in it. 

Shakespeare by the Sea has sparked my own interest in Shakespeare and his works and I am so happy to have been able to see them perform. If you ever get the chance to see one of their performances, I highly recommend going because they work super hard for their productions, and it is completely free to watch them. It is super fun to watch them perform and if you do ever end up going to a performance, make sure to give them a donation for their dedication to performing!

-Nicole R.