Stage Right: Musical of the Month: The Perfect Rom Com

Hi everyone, well as it's nearly the end of September I thought I better do my 'Musical of the Month' post. As I said in my last 'Musical of the Month' (http://stageright11.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/musical-of-month-large-dose-of-glitter.html) if I was being truthful I would probably have to say Priscilla every time. However, although there are some people I know who wouldn't mind me rambling on about the amazing-ness that is Priscilla, I suspect that the majority of you would get a little tired of it.

So "What is the 'Musical of the Month'?" I hear you cry. Well, after rediscovering the CD in my car I have decided to go for a little known musical called 'I Love You Because...'. To clear things up, I have never actually seen the show as it was last on in the West End in the September to October of 2009 (I think...please don't kill me if I'm wrong) at The Landor Theatre, and it wasn't until 6 months later that I fell in love with this show.

I first heard the music on a gem of a radio show called Westenders. This broadcasts every Sunday between 6 and 8 in the Lincolnshire and Humberside area and if Elaine Paige is Phantom these guys are Priscilla (whoops...mentioned it again). Don't worry if you don't live in Lincolnshire or Humberside though as you can always access it though the internet on 'Listen Live' or 'Listen Again' (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p001d7zf)

Anyway, as I was saying before I stared promoting, I first heard of 'I Love You Because...' when someone requested the title track on Westenders and from that moment on I was hooked; it was one of the most beautiful and touching songs I'd ever heard. So after hearing this the next time I was in London I hot footed it to a certain musical shop to buy the CD and wow...just wow! The whole soundtrack is one of the most magical things in the world, with so many moving and/or uplifting melodies. However, the magic does not stop there as this soundtrack is one of the most hilarious things I have ever heard; how a song can touch your heart and make you roll around the floor laughing at the same time is beyond me but 'I Love You Because...' somehow manages it.

It, also, doesn't matter too much that I've never seen the show, in terms of understanding the music, as you can pretty much pick up what's going on just by listening. Basically, there's a guy (Austin) who is in love with a girl (Catherine) except he finds out she's sleeping with another man so his friend (Jeff) suggests the best way to get her back to hook up with another woman. At the same time a girl (Marcy) has just broken up with her boyfriend and her friend (Diana) suggests that to find the ever elusive 'perfect guy' see needs to date someone 'perfectly wrong' while she's on the rebound; hence Austin (who leads one of the most structured lives known to man) and Marcy (quite normal but, also, a bit flighty) meet. So, to cut a long story short, whilst they date with the idea that by doing so they will get their perfect partner, however, along the way they fall in love with each other...awwwww. Additionally, Jeff and Diana, who set up a 'friends with benefits' relationship, also, end up falling for each other...yet again...awwww. As you can see, the storyline is basically about life and love with a bit of comedy thrown in for fun (if you want more information check out http://www.iloveyoubecausethemusical.co.uk/) and as the title of this blog suggests, it is the perfect rom com.

So, you know what you've got to do know, go and listen to this amazing soundtrack and be wowed...oh and look out for the show resurfacing...I'll let you know if I hear anything :).

To finish, I will leave you with some paintings I did that took inspiration from the songs of 'I Love You Because...'...some are better than others but oh well I'll let you see them all...

01. Another Saturday Night in New York