Secluded Vacation

The Phantom of the Opera is a marvelous and poetic performance that will push you through every feeling possible, from terror, to glee, to the pits of depression and back. As you attend this musical masterpiece, remember your opera glasses, to make sure you catch every last detail

Our Story begins in the nineteenth century, and the curtains open to reveal that two business men have purchased an old theater house which is haunted by a spirit. This spirit is that of a genius construction worker who helped build the opera house by the name of Erik. The reality of the matter is that Erik is not in fact a phantom but was one who was disfigured from birth. To cover the disfigurement of his face the Phantom of the Opera wears the mask that we all know so well today.

As time passes, Erik tells the one of the performers, Christine, that her dead father who is has sent him to train her with voice lessons. The voice lessons take place in Christine’s dressing room. This may sound fairly normal, but Erik is on the other side of the wall training her as he told Christine he is a spirit. As Erik trains Christine she becomes a phenomenal singer. Christine takes the leading role in a performance.  Read more...

The musical Hairspray is set in June in the year 1962 in Baltimore, Maryland. The main character, Tracy, is an overweight young girl. The young girl dreams of becoming famous. If you do not have front row seats, you will want to bring your opera glasses so as not to miss a heartbeat of this fast-paced musical.

One day, our hero, is watching T.V. And finds out that That the Corny Collins Show is having a huge dance contest, excitedly Tracy tells her mother that she would like to enter the contest. Her mother, who is overweight like Tracy discourages the idea that Tracy has had. In reality, Tracy’s mother, would like nothing more to protect her daughter, as she knows that people will make fun of her for being overweight. Additionally, her mother feels that the show is racist.

Tracy does make it to the audition with permission from her father, Wilbur. While she is auditioning she meets the popular hunk Link Larkin. Get ready to put on your opera glasses as you will want to catch Tracy’s eyes light up just as yours may have back in high school. Tracy daydreams that she and Link Larkin will end up together one day. She sings absolutely beautiful songs about her love sick dream. Tracy is awakened from her sweet dream as she does not make the cut to be on the show due to her weight, just as her mother suspected would happen.  Read more...

Chances are, you have heard of Shear Madness, perhaps from a friend, or relative, and are considering attending a performance. My recommendation is that you should not attend, unless you would like to feel physical pain, and suffering from extreme laughter. However if you feel like you cheek and stomach muscles are in healthy enough shape, you may be able to endure this marathon of laughter. Opera glasses are very necessary for a performance of this type.

As we begin the performance we find ourselves in unisex hair salon. We see that the stereotypical gossip is happening in this salon, just as it happens in real life. As the clients sit to get their hair cut, their deepest secrets seem to fall with the hair trimmings. We listen to the stories of the performers, and we get our first tastes of comedy, much of this play is improvised by the actors. As you watch Shear Madness, you begin to see the all too stereotypical characters, you have the ditsy blond, a gay hairdresser (played wonderfully by John McGivern in the performance I saw in Milwaukee.) a police officer, high class women, and of course, the all American hunk which makes McGivern’s character giggle.  Read more...