22 ARTS&BOOKS
Friday 28 September 2012 Spark*
arts.spark@reading.ac.uk
We’re off to see the wizard…of Oz London Palladium Starring: Sophie Evans and Des O’Connor Charlotte Coster
On 24th August 2012 I made ‘Coster history’, and went to see my first ever West End show! And what a one I managed to pick. Sneaking into one of the last showings of the Wizard of Oz (as it is due to close on the 2 September), I was lucky even to get a ticket. The theatre was absolutely rammed, as the audience all wanted to say farewell to the classic musical and I don’t doubt that it’s going to stay just as packed throughout the remaining eight days. Resurrected by Andrew Lloyd Webber’s somewhat cheesy hand, I was impressed at how true the musical stayed to the original film. Obviously, it had all the main recognizable hits such as Ding Dong the Witch is Dead, Follow the Yellow Brick Road and, of course,
Somewhere Over the Rainbow. These were beautifully performed by Sophie Evans, who played a red haired version of Dorothy to absolute perfection. She was feisty yet totally sweet at the right moments, maintained a realistic Kansas twang and handled Toto with wellpracticed control. She was clearly a dog lover. Most importantly, she was also pitch perfect.
that they became firm favourites with everyone, above all with the children.
I was lucky even to get a ticket Finally, what added to the show in a way I have never seen to the same high standard, were the great use of sound and stage effects, used constantly throughout. These are unequal to anything that a regional theatre can offer and enhanced the whole fantastic experience in such a way that I am sure it is one I will never ever forget.
Evans played a red haired version of Dorothy to absolute perfection I watched her on the BBC talent programme a couple of years ago, that landed her the role (after she was declared runner up) and, although back then she displayed her ability, it still didn’t really prepare me for just how good she was. The two extra years of training meant that she gave a polished performance throughout the whole
Above: the classic cast of the musical Below right: the current production show that I wouldn’t be able to fault, even if I had wanted to. The rest of the cast were of a similarly high standard; particularly Des O’Connor (Wizard); Edward Baker-Duly (Tin Man);
Paul Keating (Scarecrow) and Marianne Benedict (Wicked Witch of the West); with no one putting a foot or a note wrong. Their gently humorous scripts and frequent interactions with the audience meant
Top five books to read as a fresher Liberty Jackson
Starting university is a very big step to make, and can be scary at times! Sometimes it’s nice to escape to a world you can’t control. So I thought I’d recommend a list of books I feel everyone should read during first year. Some of them are not directly related to university exactly, but if you read them, you’ll understand why I included them on the list!
5. Before I Die by Jenny Downham. (Now republished as Now is Good, due to the film coming out recently.) It is absolutely fantastic. I had never heard of a bucket list before reading this book.
It is absolutely fantastic More recently however, it has come to be a common turn of phrase, not least due to Alice Pyne and her blog - http://alicepyne. blogspot.co.uk/ Alice has coincidentally been invited to the premiere of the film adaptation! It is so real, so moving, so sad and had me in tears by the end! It’s a story about making the most of today. I’m not saying you should try everything she does (!) but the message from the book is clear;
to embrace every opportunity you are given because you don’t know how long you’ve got. And hey, you’re only a fresher once!
4. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes. I read this over the summer, as it’s new out. It is a beautiful book, inspired by a true story. I think everybody should read it. It helped me to understand so much more about living with something that you feel you only have one escape route for. Not your typical boy meets girl story, Lou Clark meets Will Traynor in the most unusual circumstance.
Not your typical boy meets girl story The book tracks their relationship as it grows and reaches its climax. In my first year at uni I met so many people who have inspired me to do so much more with my life than I do at the moment. They are all achieving amazing things, even with the card life has dealt them. Having read this after meeting these people I realised it’s not so easy for everybody. Life takes people on all kinds of journeys and you can never judge a situation until you are in that person’s shoes exactly. If you will, never to judge a book by its cover.
3. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. Most recently a film starring Emma Watson, with a plotline and narrative voice that rang true of classic The Catcher in the Rye, it gripped me from start to finish. A story of love and identity, it’s hard to fully grasp until you read it. It centres around a boy named Charlie who is just trying to get through the teenage years unscathed.
A story of love and identity Often falling by the wayside, his viewpoints are unique and the storyline fresh. The best thing about this book, or at least why I loved it so much is because it includes playlists of songs that perhaps should be played alongside reading it.
2. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D Salinger. As a fresher, you’re finding your feet in a new world; trying to figure out who you are and what you want out of life. The book follows the story of Holden Caulfield, a seventeen- year-old dropout who has just been kicked out of his fourth school. The novel’s main pull is its observations rather than its plot intrigues (as there
isn’t much of one!) The style is reflective of conversation, as though Holden is speaking to you personally and that you, too, have seen through the pretences of the American Dream, growing up unable to see the point of living in, or contributing to, the society around you.
you, too, have seen through the pretences of the American Dream A contradiction to what we are doing at university perhaps, but should reaffirm our decision as to what we are doing here and why.
1. One Day by David Nicholls. The ultimate university aim isn’t it? To meet your soulmate. Though all may not be rosy for Em and Dex, this book is impossible to put down.
this book is impossible to put down Set over twenty years, focusing on one day each year, it follows their lives after meeting. And that’s more-or-less all I can tell you without spoiling it!
Another top Freshers book Leaving home for the first time and setting off for university, although exciting, can also be a very daunting experience. Add to the mix the real struggle to balance academic work with necessary part-time jobs to fund their studies, and university life can be tough. Being able to find out what university is really like, from those that are there or have recently graduated is a great way for many students to prepare. Lauren Lucien recently completed a Creative Writing with English Literature degree. She started writing her book in the second year of university, frustrated there wasn’t a book that students could relate to. University Life: Making it Work for You, she says, ‘offers students a candid, accessible insight into what life at university is really like and how to get the most out of their time there’. ‘It’s the most up-to-date guide for students that offers authentic advice and strategies on how to cope with everything - from Freshers’ week, living in halls and private housing, cooking, how to keep yourself healthy, how to successfully tackle assignments and manage exams, right down to ways of striking the right balance between work and life’. Written in a genuine, student-friendly style this is an essential guidebook for today’s students.