Tag Archives: entertainment

Oct31

Good Movie Sunday

Posted on October 31, 2023 by lifewithlilred

Howdy! One thing that Johnny and I have always bonded over is our love for movies. Foreign films are my absolute favorite and Johnny is incredibly partial to a war movie. We also both really enjoy thrillers, horror, and comedy flicks. Although watching movies is a hobby to us both, we rarely watch them. During the work week, we usually are too worn out once we’re home for anything but our go to comedy shows. And, over the weekend, we want to be out and about. Sunday, however, is our “do nothing” day and it sparked an idea… Good Movie Sunday.

Good Movie Sunday is all about watching movies that are “good” to us and we will alternate weekly over who is picking the flick. Our day of rest will also include movies that we have always wanted to see, Oscar nominated films, and our all time favorites. We both fell in love with this idea because what else are we going to do on a lazy Sunday?! It has been fun to rack our brains and come up with our selections and I consider this new weekly event as our two person film appreciation club lol.

Our first Good Movie Sunday was Johnny’s choice and we watched Riders of Justice and Lincoln. Riders of Justice was a special nod to me because it is a Danish film while Lincoln was a nod to both of us! I adore Daniel Day-Lewis and, of course, Johnny loves him a historical movie. Both were excellent and it made us really excited to continue on with this new tradition. While we may have fallen off the horse to watch horror flicks for Halloween on Sundays, we are bringing it back this weekend. It is my choice and I know exactly what I’m going to pick: Benny and Joon because Johnny has never seen it and The Shape of Water because I have only seen it once and am a huge fan of all things Guillermo del Toro. I can’t wait!

Good Movie Sunday was an inspired idea, I must say, and I am stoked about it. I can’t tell you the amount of times Johnny and I have talked about a movie and told each other “we should watch that” and now we have a perfect opportunity!

What do you consider to be a good movie? What is your favorite genre of film? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct18

The Wiz At Playhouse Square Review

Posted on October 18, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! This past Saturday, Johnny and I spent a rousing evening at Playhouse Square to see The Wiz. Nothing pleases me more than a night out at one of my favorite places with my favorite guy! I admit that I have never seen The Wizard of Oz in its entirety or have seen The Wiz. However, I knew the story line and a few songs from The Wiz and with a plot and music that fun, it was sure to be a great show. And, it was. The Wiz was a celebration of Black excellence from start to finish and I am so thankful for the opportunity to have seen it! Take a look at some pics and let’s discuss:

^^^ Lol, Johnny had way more fun than these pictures lead you to believe! 😀

We all know the basic plot of The Wizard of Oz and The Wiz stayed true to this. Dorothy gets swept away to the land of Oz after a tornado hits her Kansas home. To return back to the life she knew and her beloved Aunt Em, she must travel to the Emerald City to meet The Wiz. Along the way, she meets new friends that could also use some help from The Wiz. A scarecrow who needs a brain, a tinman who needs a heart, and a lion who needs some courage. The quartet makes their way to the Emerald City together, but must be wary of the Wicked Witch who wants to foil their plans. During their journey, the foursome learns that what they wanted can be found within themselves – they just need to know where to look!

The cast of The Wiz was absolutely divine and there was no weak link to be found. Nichelle Lewis was stunning as Dorothy and her voice was pure magic. Dorothy was spunky and brave and it was impossible to look away from her. And when she sang those high notes? Wow! It was such a joy to see Dorothy’s interactions with her newfound friends and they all worked together so beautifully. Avery Wilson as the Scarecrow, Phillip Johnson Richardson as the Tinman, and Kyle Ramar Freeman as the Lion were perfectly cast and their physicality as the characters were sublime. When the foursome was all together, it was like watching a movie come to life onstage and it was so neat to see the real deal happening before my eyes.

Of course, a shout out needs to be given to Melody A. Betts who played Aunt Em and Evillene. She was so lovely as sweet Aunt Em who took Dorothy in after her parents passed and a force to be reckoned with as Evillene. Her song as Evillene “Don’t Nobody Bring Me No Bad News” was mine and Johnny’s favorite from the entire show. Deborah Cox as Glinda also gave a very strong performance and her glittering gowns were everything. She blew us away during her number “He’s The Wiz”.

The Wiz featured a very creative set with moving parts and huge projections set on a screen. Rather than a different set for each location, they used the images and lighting to bring the space to life. The woods had a projection of the woods, the poppy field was a projection of a field of poppies and… you get the point! I thought that this was such a good idea for the set of The Wiz because it’s a play about a journey. The location of the characters changed frequently and using images instead of full set changes helped keep the show moving along seamlessly.

Finally, let’s talk about some of my favorite songs! The soundtrack of The Wiz is rooted in soul, gospel, and R&B and it was jam packed with bangers. From upbeat to ballads, the hits just kept on coming with The Wiz. As I mentioned before, our favorite number was “Don’t Nobody Bring Me No Bad News” which was a gorgeous tip of the cap to Aretha Franklin. “You Can’t Win” sung by the Scarecrow gave us all of the James Brown vibes and we loved the Tinman’s smooth rendition of “Slide Some Oil To Me”. Every actor brought their own special flavor to each song and paid homage to the greats. Don’t even get me started on the dance numbers which tied the show together perfectly. “The Emerald City” dance which began Act II was fabulous!

If The Wiz is coming to your neck of the woods, then I cannot recommend seeing it enough. It was a celebration, it was a joy, and it is not one that should be missed. You will love it!!

What is your favorite song from The Wiz? What is the last musical you have seen? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct13

Disney Princess Party

Posted on October 13, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! This past Saturday, I spent an adorable time with my sister and sweet nieces attending a Disney Princess Party. The event was held at an arcade bar called The Workz in downtown Cuyahoga Falls and it was a hoot. Kristen and I enjoyed good food and drinks while Val and Raya were awestruck by seeing Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff from Frozen IRL. It was so cute seeing all of the little princesses in their costumes and, yes, I am that extra auntie that dressed up too lol. I ended up wearing my wedding dress because I felt like a princess on my wedding day and I wanted to feel like that again. I’m pleased to report that it was a hit!

You can peep two new OOTDs coming soon, including me wearing my wedding attire one more time for the one time. But, now, let’s peep the festivities from girls afternoon out:

The princess party began with a riveting song by Anna, followed by an introduction from Elsa and Kristoff. Once the whole Frozen crew was on stage, they began to teach all of the kiddos games like the Freeze Dance. But, you had to “freeze” in a Frozen character pose. Sadly, Val was in a bit of a mood so she wasn’t really feeling the activities, but rallied hard when Kristen and I began participating too. I think she was just nervous to be in the presence of royalty!

After doing the Freeze Dance, Elsa performed “Let It Go” and she was SO good. Although let’s all agree that her wig is hit lol. Funnily enough, the actress who plays her actually works with my sister in the summertime. Go figure! When her big performance was over, the next game was dancing like your favorite Disney princess – IE, cleaning as Cinderella, swimming as Ariel… You get the point. The cast then wrapped things up and began walking the space to meet the kiddos, take pictures, and sign autographs.

When it was time for our turn with the character actors, Val did not want to speak to them or take pictures. However, she did have questions for them which Kristen and I asked for her and they all had great replies and encouraged Val to take a pic later if she wanted to. After our visit, I was SO proud of Val because after a few minutes she decided she would like a picture and she WERKED it! It took her a minute to get warmed up and that’s okay! I think I would be freaking out if I were her age and meeting my favorite Disney princesses too. ❤

Once the event was done, the kids all received a free half hour card to play the different arcade games. Val and I simply crushed in Mario Kart, Kristen dominated at Ring Toss, I was a beast at Ski Ball, and Raya was excellent support. The Frozen crew also came around to play games with the kids and Val loved watching Kristoff play the Test Your Strength game. She also learned that Elsa and Belle have a book club together when she wanted to know which other princesses she was friends with. So cute!

Everyone who attended the Princess Party was given the royal treatment and it was a delightful time. I love being able to do treat days with my best girls and I’ll be keeping my eyes peeled for similar events in our neck of the woods!

Who is your favorite Disney character? What is your favorite Disney movie? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct1

What To Do When You Have COVID

Posted on October 1, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! Johnny and I are finally COVID free and thank the most high because it sucked majorly. I am so looking forward to getting back to work and returning to my normal schedule because the cabin fever is real! My COVID experience was exhausting and I cannot recall a time when I have ever been sicker. I am very much enjoying feeling back to normal and also breathing out of my nose! Your girl was sounding like Napoleon Dynamite for days and I was starting to annoy myself lol. If you find yourself bit by the COVID bug, here are a few things you can do to slightly improve your situation:

Stay Home:

I wish that this were a given, but for some people it isn’t and that is so not cool. If you have tested positive for COVID, please stay home!! If you have symptoms of COVID, please stay home!! Have yourself a merry little staycation and come back to the land of the living when you are testing negative and feeling better. You never know who you could be infecting and it’s not right to be spreading your sickness around to those in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate:

When you have COVID, hydration is your best friend. Johnny and I consumed more Gatorade and water than a football team and even then it didn’t feel like enough. I was constantly thirsty while I was sick and blue Gatorade was my saving grace. It tasted like liquid gold or rather, liquid blue lol. It is so important to give your body what it needs when you are ill so drink up. Cheers to that!

Try To Eat:

I had no appetite whatsoever during my COVID tenure and chances are you won’t, either. However, you just have to try to eat anyways. Your body needs that fuel to recover. No one is saying you need to have a five course meal, but a bowl of soup, some crackers, or in my case – a plate of spaghetti can go a long way. My bedside featured a box of tissues, a bottle of Gatorade, a bottle of water, and a box of crackers to munch on. For me, it was really hard to eat when I genuinely wasn’t hungry, but it was something that needed to be done so I just pushed myself to do it.

Entertainment:

When you are sick, there is literally nothing else to do but watch TV so put it on! Bingewatch away anything that your little heart desires. In my case, it was a Saw movie marathon! Having a movie or a comfort show like The Office on provided a welcome distraction to how miserable I was feeling. It gave me something else to focus my attention on and that was a welcome reprieve. Whether it’s video games, your favorite show, or a good book to get lost in, allow yourself to get distracted and try to get some enjoyment out of what you’re doing.

Get Up:

This is not to say get up and run a marathon, but try and get up and move after you have been laying down for a while. Not only will this help prevent blood clots, but it can also assist in loosening up your body if you have any stiffness. Every few hours, I would get up, go downstairs, and pet the bunnies or see what Johnny was watching in the living room. These little excursions were exhausting, but it made returning back to bed so much sweeter!

If you have COVID, get well soon!! I understand firsthand how badly it sucks, but you will feel better. In the meantime, give your body the tools it needs to start healing itself. ❤

What were your COVID symptoms? What did you bingewatch if you had COVID? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul22

Dinner & A Movie Date Night

Posted on July 22, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! Last Friday, Johnny and I had a fabulous date night of dinner and a movie. Applebee’s was running a promo for spend X amount of money and get a free ticket to Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny and we were so there for it! In fact, we got our Middle Class Fancy on so hard that we ended up with three free tickets lol. It was an absolute blast and was so typically us. Whether we’re all dressed up for Taco Bell or a date night at The Bee’s, we treat everything like a special occasion because it is! Check it out:

Okay, is it just me or did Applebee’s really up their game? Perhaps it was the Margaritas we were enjoying or the thrill of a night out, but our food was so good. We started our meal with Crispy Cheese Bites as an appetizer and they were bomb AF. They were like a mixture of a cheese curd and mozzarella stick and came with Ranch and Firecracker sauce to dip in. If we didn’t have actual dinner ordered too, we easily could have ate the whole plate! Our leftovers were also A1 when we air fried them later that weekend. 😀

For the main course, Johnny got his usual of a bacon cheeseburger and I got the Three-Cheese Chicken Penne minus the chicken. As you can see, Johnny loved his burger and my pasta was awesome. It wasn’t as good as something from Olive Garden, but it was close. My meal also inspired our next Middle Class Fancy outing because I want to hit up the OG. Maybe when I drag Johnny to the Barbie movie with me?!

After we were done eating, we headed to the theater to settle in for the movie. This was the first movie we have seen since we took our niece to see Sing 2 for her third birthday last year! Pre pandemic, Johnny and I used to see movies together pretty frequently and I’m hoping we bring that back. The Regal we went to was so fancy with big reclining chairs that were insanely comfortable. It was the perfect setup to get our Indiana Jones on and I only want to go to that theater from now on. Once you see a movie in a recliner, you can’t go back!

Johnny and I have had a date night two weeks in a row and nothing makes me happier. Even though we are always dead tired by the end of the week, stepping out with my main squeeze is like getting a caffeine IV. I can’t wait for our next date night at the Olive Garden because it’s going to be my turn to pick! ❤

What is your favorite Middle Class Fancy restaurant? What was the last movie you saw in theaters? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul20

Groovy Movies: Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny Edition

Posted on July 20, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Groovy Movies: Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny Edition

Hello everyone! This past weekend, Johnny and I enjoyed a fabulous date night of dinner and a movie. We went to Applebee’s because it was running a promo of spend X amount of money and get a free ticket to Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. We truly went all out in a Middle Class Fancy fashion because we ended up getting two free tickets lol. 😀 Tune in tomorrow for more about our night on the town!

After dinner, we hit the theater to see the new Indiana Jones and we were excited! Johnny LOVES the Indiana Jones movies and has never seen any of them in theaters. I like them well enough and only saw them when Johnny and I started dating! Without giving any spoilers away, let’s discuss this popcorn flick more because it was a HOOT:

We meet an elderly Indiana Jones in New York City and he is ready to retire from his job as a college professor/professional adventurer and live the good life. Of course, we all know he can’t hang up his hat without one final hurrah and that comes from his estranged goddaughter, Helena. Helena is an archaeologist with a great interest in the Dial of Destiny. This Dial is said to reveal time fissures that could allow for time travel. However, if it falls into the wrong hands, the Nazis could go back in time and avoid the mistakes that lead to their demise.

With Helena and her young comrade, Teddy, in tow, Jones and his crew begin the hunt for the two halves of the Dial. Acquiring both won’t be easy and the Nazis are hot on their tail. Their quest takes them all over the world to places and time periods unknown. Jones’ final mission is a lot more than he originally bargained for, but a little help from old friends can go a long way – hopefully. Will Indiana save the day and life as we know it? See The Dial of Destiny to find out!

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny was an absolute blast from start to finish. Although Johnny and I live for Harrison Ford in his youth, seeing his eighty-one year old self kick major ass was awesome! The Dial of Destiny featured an all star cast including Mads Mikkelsen as the villain, Phoebe Waller-Bridge as Helena, Antonio Banderas, and the wonderful John Rhys-Davies reprising his role as Sallah. Other than Waller-Bridge, whose work we aren’t familiar with, we love all of these esteemed actors and that made the viewing experience even better.

The Indiana Jones movies are totally far fetched, but that doesn’t mean that they aren’t a ton of fun! The action, the adventure, and the nods to previous movies and characters all added to the celebratory vibe that The Dial of Destiny invoked. It was a complete tip of the cap to Harrison Ford and we were so there for it. Sure, this movie would have been great to watch at home, but it just hit different seeing it on the big screen. Johnny and I had to do everything in our power to not whoop and cheer during every scene!

If you are a fan of the Indiana Jones series, RUN don’t walk to the theater. This is one that you are not going to want to miss and I am so happy to have experienced it with Johnny. We have been looking forward to this date night for weeks and it was everything we wanted it to be and so much more!

What is your favorite Indiana Jones movie? Have you seen The Dial of Destiny yet? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul8

Moulin Rouge At Playhouse Square Review

Posted on July 8, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! This past weekend, Johnny and I had a wonderful date night seeing Moulin Rouge at Playhouse Square. We had an absolute blast and you can read more about the rest of our outing and peep a brand new OOTD later this week! Playhouse Square is my happy place and even though Moulin Rouge wasn’t my favorite, it was still phenomenal as per ushe with the shows put on there. Let’s get to the review:

Johnny and I went to Moulin Rouge knowing nothing about it. We have never seen the movie and the only songs that I was familiar with going in was Lady Marmalade and Because We Can. Long story short… The Moulin Rouge is a nightclub that is falling on desperate times. If a financial windfall doesn’t happen, it is sure to close. Luckily for the crew at the Moulin Rouge, a wealthy man called The Duke takes an interest in Satine, the “sparkling diamond” of the club. Satine knows what she needs to do to get The Duke’s money and as she awaits him in her boudoir, a mix up happens. *gasp*

Instead of The Duke coming into Satine’s room, Christian who is an aspiring songwriter and hoping to audition for Satine arrives first. It is instant love and a love triangle is born between Satine, The Duke, and Christian. The Duke agrees to fund a new play and as rehearsals are underway, Satine and Christian are sneaking around like teenagers. That’s not the only secret Satine is harboring, as she is in poor health. As opening night at the Moulin Rouge draws nearer, The Duke becomes more controlling, Christian and Satine’s love amplifies, and her condition continues to decline. Will the Moulin Rouge have to shut its doors? Will true love win? Go see the musical to find out! 😉

Before we discuss the good of the show, let’s get a few bugaboos out of the way. My main qualm actually had nothing to do with the performance itself, but the theater it was in. Moulin Rouge was showing at the Keybank State Theatre and the sound quality isn’t the best there. Johnny and I had great seats in the middle of the first row of the balcony and while we could hear the songs perfectly, all of the spoken lines were near impossible to hear. This was frustrating, to say the least, but unsurprising. Every show that I have seen at the Keybank is like that! *face palm*

My next gripe was both a good and a bad thing. More good than bad, it’s just a matter of preference for me. The songs in Moulin Rouge were all popular hits and each number would end in a mashup. You could basically turn on the radio and there is a 95% chance you would hear one of the songs from the show. I much prefer a musical with songs written specifically for it. But, on the other hand, it was fun to hear songs that you know instantly throughout the show. It was hard not to sing along!

Despite my personal preference for songs from musicals, the set list was full of bangers. Banger after banger lol. We’re talking Britney, we’re talking Beyonce, we’re talking Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Adele, Elton, and so much more. My favorite number was to Sia’s Chandelier when Christian goes on an absinthe bender. I also loved the tango set to Roxanne and the adorable love song mashup with songs that included I Will Always Love You, Heroes, and Pride (In the Name of Love) just to name a few.

And, finally, let’s discuss the wonderful performers who graced the stage. Courtney Reed as Satine was phenomenal. That girl could SANG and I was so impressed with her range and ability to capture the essence of each song perfectly. John Cardoza as Christian was a formidable leading man and I liked his sensitivity in contrast to Satine’s strength. Both Reed and Cardoza worked so well together and carried the show beautifully.

Another character that Johnny and I loved was Harold Zidler, the owner of Moulin Rouge, played by Austin Durant. He was hysterical and a really fun addition to every scene. While all of the performers held their own well, I wasn’t overly impressed with Denzel Tsopnang as The Duke. His character is not a good person. The Duke is controlling, menacing, and aggressive and I just didn’t feel that in his portrayal. He definitely fell flat in comparison to the rest of the cast, which was disappointing as it is such a major part.

Moulin Rouge was, overall, an awesome show. It wasn’t the best thing that I have seen, but I’m really happy that I got to see it. In fact, Johnny and I enjoyed it so much that we are going to watch the movie! If Moulin Rouge comes to your neck of the woods, I highly recommend getting tickets!

What is your favorite song from Moulin Rouge? Have you seen a musical recently? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May25

Wall Art Collection Expansion

Posted on May 25, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! Mine and Johnny’s apartment is filled with all of our favorite things. We have a huge video game, board game, and knick knack collection as well as our own personal library. Another thing that we are connoisseurs of is our ever growing wall art collection. Our apartment features an art wall on the stairway, an ode to all things horror in the living room, and some rather unique pieces scattered throughout the space as well.

A vast majority of our art collection is from the Goodwill or handmade and, now, we have a few more things to add from The Exchange. I just couldn’t pass these up:

The Office is one of mine and Johnny’s top tier comfort shows and we are currently on our millionth time of watching it! With that in mind, I wasn’t going to not get the poster for Threat Level Midnight, an absolute classic. I also had a laugh attach over the Date Mike poster, which is something that I have never seen before! Date Mike is one of Johnny’s favorite Michael Scott bits and I didn’t think it was possible for him to like this find more than me, yet here we are. While taking a look at the poster selection at The Exchange, I almost flipped past this one thinking it was for the movie Date Night. However, something made me take a second glance and I am so glad I did! I’m Date Mike. Nice to meet me. 😉

Another find that I am so pleased with is the National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation poster. This is an homage to Miller family tradition because we watch it every single year for our Christmas celebration. It’s a blast to watch this movie with Johnny’s family because we all know it by heart at this point, but it’s still SO funny every single time. Our Christmas Vacation viewing is more like us just reciting the entire movie and laughing hysterically. It is the best and I couldn’t say no to a tip of the cap to past and future Christmases with my second family. ❤

Finally, as a treat for Johnny, I purchased a poster for The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, which is his all time favorite video game. It took me a while to find this poster in the store, but I knew they had to have it because I saw one for Majora’s Mask. I was so excited to bring this one home because Johnny has been working an insane amount of overtime as of late and I wanted something to cheer him up. He was like a kid delighting over a new birthday present when he pulled it out of the bag and ran to the game room to put it up by our Master Sword. I can’t think of a better place for it to go and now we just have to find a home for everything else! 😀

This little haul from The Exchange wasn’t a necessary one at all, but it was a fun purchase that made me and Johnny happy and that’s all that matters to me. We both enjoy expanding our many collections further and these posters will make a great addition to the apartment!

What is a beloved movie in your family? What is your favorite episode of The Office? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr15

Jesus Christ Superstar At EJ Thomas Hall Review

Posted on April 15, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Jesus Christ Superstar At EJ Thomas Hall Review

Hello! My hands down, all time favorite musical is easily Jesus Christ Superstar. Random, I know, but I just love it lol. Last year, I was lucky enough to see it for its 50th anniversary tour at Playhouse Square and it was amazing! So, needless to say, I had to get tickets when I learned that it was coming to EJ Thomas Hall at the University Of Akron this month. On Tuesday, Johnny’s mom and I enjoyed a wonderful night at the theater and it was an absolute blast. This is the second year in a row that I have seen the show and I can only hope for a threepeat next year! 😀

While EJ Thomas Hall is a sizeable theater, it truly has nothing on the Connor Palace at Playhouse Square. This was okay, though, because they still made it work and the set was the exact same as at Playhouse, just on a smaller scale. The main difference of the EJ Thomas Hall performance was the run time of the show. By cutting out the intermission, lengthy intros and outros, and longer choreography sequences, the show was barely over an hour and a half long. Basically, one song would end and the next one would begin immediately. Any other time, I would have been upset by this choice – without the buffer music, this production at times sounded cacophonous. However, since it was a week night and I had seen the show before, it was A-okay with me!

Prior to going to the EJ Thomas Hall performance, I had essentially made up my mind that the actors at Playhouse Square would blow this cast out of the water. And, in some instances, I was right. The chorus in this performance was not strong at all and they were very difficult to understand at times. I wasn’t particularly thrilled with Jack Hopewell’s portrayal of Jesus, either. Don’t get me wrong, he is an insanely gifted singer but I didn’t feel the power of his voice in his presence, which is such a key component for that character.

My main issue in the casting was actually not Jack Hopewell but for Pilate, who was played by Nicholas Hambruch. Surprisingly, Pilate is one of my favorite characters in the show because I love his songs and the traditional vocals that are usually used. Normally, Pilate has a medium range voice that can go into a higher register easily. Hambruch’s vocals remained guttural and growling throughout the entire performance with no range or change whatsoever. I understand what they were trying to do by making Pilate seem menacing. BUT, during the moments when he was trying to show compassion to Jesus, his vocals just came out as insincere and it didn’t match up to the lyrics he was singing.

Despite some duds in the cast, there were other members that simply blew me away. Elvie Ellis as Judas, for example, blew my mind. He was fantastic and his vocals reminded me so much of Carl Anderson’s in the 1973 movie. In fact, I thought he was better than the actor we saw at Playhouse Square. Another all star in this cast was Faith Jones who played Mary Magdalene, and was also light years better than any other portrayal of the character I have seen before. Mary Magdalene’s ballad songs are gorgeous, but can be quite boring when done wrong. I had never seen such a powerful, sure of herself portrayal and it was spectacular. Strong, crystal clear vocals and a confident presence went a long way in helping Jones steal the show.

One final cast shout out has to be given to Erich W. Schleck as King Herod, who was completely fabulous. I love the pure vaudeville vibe of Herod’s Song that the 50th anniversary tour used and Schleck tapped into this effortlessly. His lanky body high kicking across the stage was everything and it was so amazing to watch his over exaggeration without going overboard. Schleck was able to go from cutesy to sword brandishing scary at the drop of a hat and this was another show stealing performance. Quite impressive, considering that it was his only song!

Although there were some things about this viewing of Jesus Christ Superstar that I didn’t care for, I still enjoyed it so very much. The best part was being able to go with my mother in law for a night on the town. Nothing is better than an evening at the theater with amazing company! ❤

Have you been to the theater recently? What did you see? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr7

Chewy Boxes: A Bunny’s Favorite Toy

Posted on April 7, 2023 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! My bunnies, Melvin and Penelope, are my precious angels. Things have been very glum in Lil Red’s world for a long time and Mel and Pen have brought so much joy into my life. Johnny and I truly couldn’t have picked a better time to welcome these two little balls of fluff into our home and I miss them constantly when I’m out! We are very proud bunny parents and as a pet mom, it is my job to spoil them rotten and Mel and P definitely aren’t complaining about it. 😀

Two bunnies means lots of everything! We have to restock our supplies on Chewy fairly often for bedding, pellet food, hay, and their cage cleaner. And, with every order, I can’t resist buying them lots of toys. However, it’s the Chewy boxes that are always the biggest hit:

Melvin is my tiny wanderer and has a very playful disposition. Pen, on the other hand, is much more chill but has come out of her shell a lot since adopting them in November. They both enjoy playing with the toys in their hutch well enough, but their true play time comes when we give them free rein of their bunny proofed area. Johnny and I have them out several times a day for hours on end and it is such fun to see them zipping around and getting into adorable mischief. And, of course, having lots of box time!

When Johnny and I were preparing for the arrival of our pets, the Chewy boxes were arriving non-freaking-stop. We had grand dreams of building a cardboard castle for them, which I still hope will come into fruition in the future. However, the bunnies have been doing a pretty good job of making their own hideout all by themselves. For the past month or so, Mel and P have been working diligently at creating a tunnel in one of the Chewy boxes to dash in and out of. The work has been slow going because I limit their time playing with the cardboard so it doesn’t hurt their bellies. And, this past week, they finally achieved success!

I take the bunnies out every morning when I’m working and it was hysterical to watch their little faces poke out of the tunnel they were making. I would look down and there would be a sweet bunny face looking back at me from the cubby hole; It was the cutest! Mel and P worked so hard to create another access point into their box and I am honestly so proud of them lol. It is also the perfect spot to play bunny peek-a-boo at, which is one of their favorite games. Like I said, SO f’ing cute!

Toys from Chewy are great, but the boxes are second to none when it comes to Mel and P’s entertainment. Lucky for them, I just placed a big order on Chewy so another box will be at their disposal soon. I can’t wait to see what they do with it!

What is your pet’s favorite toy? Where do you get your pet supplies from? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

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	Simon on V-Day Bratz Doll OOTD
	lifewithlilred on V-Day Bratz Doll OOTD
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