The love for theatre

Reality TV may command a lion share of our entertainment nowadays, but I believe it is theatre and stories written by poets and novelists in the last century that leaves you a different kind of person. I am fortunate to have been exposed to theatre and musicals and they all leave a profound effect on me. Musicals are more engaging as it combines music, dance and dialogue. If you need a good cry, this is where you need to go.

Some of my favourites:

1. Phantom of the Opera written by Gaston Leroux, transformed into a musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber

2. Les Miserables written by Victor Hugo, transformed into a musical by Sir Cameron Anthony Mackintosh

3. Oliver! based on novel "Oliver Twist" written by Charles Dickens, transformed into a musical by Lionel Bart

4. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat based on Genesis (The Bible's first chapter), transformed into a musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice

5. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang written by Jeremy Sams, a children's movie about a car that can fly made into a musical

6. Anna Karenina written by Leo Tolstoy

7. Pericles, Prince of Tyre, story written in part by William Shakespeare

There isnt many others that I have watched that I didn't like, probably RENT is the only one. One of the cast was a well-known Hong Kong actress and the cast's performance had failed to grab, we actually left half-way because it became excruciatingly painful to watch. The other one was Sound of Music, so the cast is very important that will determine if it will be a memorable experience.

All of these stories have a dose of romance, drama, tragedy, redemption, struggle & triumph and comedy, just like life, makes them interesting. If you pay attention to the lyrics, your emotions will flow.

This is one example - sang by Fantine (pronounced as Fontine), a single mother in Les Miserables forced to sell her hair and her body to pay the fees of her daughter's care.

It was the same song that made Susan Boyle famous.

Here is another song from Les Miserables sang by the character Valjean. That character have been played by many great men including Chairman Kaga (Iron Chef Japan) in many different languages.

The success of The Phantom has bred a sequel called "Love Never Dies". Finally debuting in February this year at The Adelphi Theatre in London, then to New York City and Australia in 2011. I'll surely be waiting.