Theater Thursday - Monsoon Wedding

What: Monsoon Wedding

Where: St. Ann's Warehouse 

            45 Water Street 

            Brooklyn, NY

Who: Recommended for Ages 15 and Up

When: Through June 25, 2023

Monsoon Wedding is a new musical based on the 2001 movie of the same name about the preparations and beyond of a huge arranged wedding between an Indian girl and an American boy with Indian roots. The musical has been pared down a bit from the movie and some storylines have been cut, however not that many. As with any large gathering of family (or families), there is quite a lot going on in this story so if you are unfamiliar with the movie, you may find yourself a bit lost and confused at times. 

There is plenty of love and romance and happiness in the story but there are also darker themes including one dealing with child sexual abuse. Accordingly, we would not recommend the show to young children. The child in that particular storyline is played by someone who clearly isn't a child so it doesn't have the same impact as it did in the film.

The music is mostly lively and fun, but there are some nice ballads too. If you are particularly sensitive to loud noise, you might want to sit on the side away from the muscians. That would be the Groom's side. Right from the moment you enter the space, you are completely immersed in this wedding as if it were real, and therefore, there is no left side and right side but rather there is a Bride's side and a Groom's side. 

The songs are mostly in English but some are in Hindi. Some of the dialogue here and there is in Hindi as well, There are a few translations in the playbill but even if you can't memorize them quickly enough to remember them when you hear them in the show, it isn't the language that makes the show confusing at times.  It is that there are so many characters, and there is so much going on all the time. 

All in all, it's a boisterous affair and you are going to want to accept your invitation to this intense over-the-top celebration. Plus, you won't want to miss the opportunity to see a Monsoon on stage. Yes, there actually is one!

And that's our view. For more about Monsoon Wedding or to purchase tickets, visit stannswarehouse.org/show/monsoon-wedding-the-musical.

Tune in Sunday for this week's Sunday Scoop. 

Photo credits: 

All Monsoon Wedding photos by Matthew Murphy

Images used in this post have been sent to us from publicists, artists, and/or  PR firms.
If there is a problem with the rights to any image, please contact us here,  and we will look into the matter.

Where-To-Go Wednesday - Sheep Shearing Festival at the Queens County Farm Museum

We were given complimentary tickets to the Queens County Farm Museum Sheep Shearing Festival for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own. 

What: Sheep Shearing Festival 

Where: Queens County Farm Museum

             73 - 50 Little Neck Parkway

              Queens, NY

Who: All ages

When: This event took place on May 13, 2023

The Queens County Farm Museum recently held its annual Sheep Shearing Festival. Not only did visitors have numerous chances throughout the day to see the farm's flock of sheep get their annual haircuts, but there was a lot more to experience as well. There were guided farm tours. There were demonstrations of dying, spinning, and weaving. There were hands-on activities for kids. 

There were lots of great foods to sample as well although not as many different kinds as at the recent Apple Blossom Carnival. There was even a live band playing music throughout the day. All in all, it was a fun event for all

For more about the Queens County Farm Museum or to find out about upcoming events at the farm, visit  www.queensfarm.org. We will also talk more about the venue and upcoming events to be held there in future posts. 

Tune in tomorrow for Theater Thursday.

All pictures used in this post are our own. If there is a problem with any image, please contact us here, and we will look into the matter.

Tips for Tuesday - Books: The Second Ending & The Wishing Game

We may have been given complimentary copies and/or access for review purposes to any products, and/or visual or audio media mentioned below. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own. 

Books: The Second Ending & The Wishing Game

Today we are recommending The Second Ending by Michelle Hoffman. This book is about a pair of piano virtuosos competing a in reality show piano competition. Prudence Childs is a former child prodigy who gave up on her own talent long ago because it was never about her or her talent at all, but about her cruel grandmother pushing her and using her talent to exploit her. At first, the competition is about rediscovering her own talent, but then it becomes not only about proving that she really is as talented as she was once thought to be but about earning the prize money to thwart her blackmailing ex-husband. Prudence's rival, Alexi Petrov, is a young virtuoso who was pushed into music by his parents. They  made sure that his music was his whole life whether he wanted it that way or not.

This is quite a captivating story that will quickly draw you in and keep you hooked throughout. Ms. Hoffman has a humorous quality to her writing that makes it really enjoyable. Her characters are very quirky but extremely likable. Prudence is a force to be reckoned with especially when it comes to protecting her family and the life she's made for herself, and Alexei is a young man who just wants to experience life and be loved for himself and not for his talent. You can't help rooting for both of them, and when all is said and done the ending couldn't be more perfect. It will definitely leave you both satisfied and happy.

Today we are recommending The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer. Beloved author of the Clock Island book series, Jack Masterson, is having a contest to give away his unpublished latest book. The winner will be able to sell the book for enough money to make their greatest wish come true. Lucy Hart's greatest desire is to earn enough money to adopt Christopher, a young foster child whom she has become attached to. She knows firsthand what it is like to grow up without loving parents, and she wants to make sure Christopher doesn't suffer the same fate.

This is a beautiful heartwarming story full of good-hearted loveable characters. The character of Jack Masterson is reminiscent of Willy Wonka and the entire book is reminiscent of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. However, Masterson doesn't have the cruel streak that Wonka sometimes displays. On the contrary, his heart is always in the right place. The competitors are much more likable than the golden ticket winners in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory as well. They are not spoiled children too interested in their own immediate gratification to keep their eyes on the big picture, but rather adults who have experienced life and know what really matters.  The book is so full of good and pure characters with noble intentions that you will want to root for them all. If you want to recapture the wonder of childhood and the belief that wishes really can come true, you are definitely going to want to read this book.

And that's our view. Tune in tomorrow for Where-To-Go Wednesday.

All pictures used in this post are our own. If there is a problem with any image, please contact us here and we will look into the matter.