The Broadway Outside Reading series comes to a close with a book about the last show (and my favorite), which I saw for the third time, Mary Poppins. The book's called "Mary Poppins: Anything Can Happen if You Let It." In actuality, it's three books in one. The main book has the same title as the whole collection and explains how Mary came from the books to the film and to the stage. There's also a design portfolio of sketches of sets and costumes that are/were used in the West End and Broadway productions of the show. The last book has pictures of the original Broadway cast for most of the show's parts. As for the show itself, if you expected to see the movie on stage, you're in for a big surprise. It's based off of the P.L. Travers books as well, so it's not all familiar territory for Disney fans. Personally, I knew all about it before I saw it in person for the first time and it's my favorite version of Mary Poppins to this day.

Outside Reading - Spamalot (to close in 2009)

(Sources: http://www.playbill.com/news/article/122497.html and http://www.broadway.com/Broadway-s-Spamalot-to-Close-One-Week-Earlier/broadway_news/5016130)

The second of the Broadway O.R. collection is here, with an article on Monty Python's Spamalot. Spamalot is a show spoofing the medieval times, for those who haven't seen Monty Python and the Holy Grail. However, the jokes are more out there than in the movie (or at least in what I've seen of it). In addition, the humor keeps getting updated. For example, at the show I was at, they did a joke: "When's a plumber not a plumber? When his name is Joe" (It's a political joke). The bad news is that it's closing on January 11th, 2009. When it does close, it will have performed 1,582 performances along with 35 previews.

Outside Reading - Avenue Q Review

(this "review of a review" is based off a review from http://gonyc.about.com/cs/broadwayshows/gr/avenueq.htm)

As you may know, I was in New York in October. Starting with this blog, I'll post something related to each of the three shows I saw, starting with Avenue Q. Avenue Q, at first glance, seems like just Sesame Street for adults. However, it's much more than that. It's a story about a man named Princeton, who is moving to Avenue Q and wants to discover his purpose. He meets Kate Monster and the rest is history. At least, I won't reveal it for those who want to see the show. The characters are almost all puppets, a la Sesame Street, but there are some humans too. Keep in mind though, this show is aimed for adults and is not appropriate for children. The message of the show is that nothing's forever ("Your hair... is only for now, George Bush... is only for now" - "For Now" (song from show)) and you don't need a purpose to succeed in life.

Video Game Heroes (In a Box)

Video Game Heroes

(Mario and Sonic, with their friends in Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games (Wii/Nintendo DS))

Although they are fictional, video game heroes can be very good role models (most of them are, in my opinion). Looking back at artifacts to show it, my belief grew stronger.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dClX0p2A6zg

This song called "Sonic Heroes, from the game (also called) "Sonic Heroes" sums up a hero's will to never give up and save the world.

Sonic Heroes

What goes up must come down

Yet my feet don't touch the ground

See the world spin upside down

A mighty crash without a sound

I can feel your every rage

Step aside I'll turn the page

Breakin' thru your crazy maze

Like a laser beam my eye's on you

Watch me rule the night away

Watch me save the day

Feel my storm its getting close

Headed your way

Sonic Heroes (Sonic Heroes)

Bind you, confine you, defying your reign

Sonic Heroes (Sonic Heroes)

Setting the stage for a heroes parade

I won't even hesitate

A second left to alter fate

And you try to strike but a bit too late

I got you hooked by my own bait

Watch me rule the night away
Watch me save the day
Feel my storm its getting close
Headed your way

Sonic Heroes (Sonic Heroes)
Bind you, confine you, defying your reign
Sonic Heroes (Sonic Heroes)
Setting the stage for a heroes parade

You can bet there ain't no doubt

As the words spill from the mouth of a hero

I can chase another day

Fight you all the way

Like a hero

And together we stand strong no matter how

No one can bring us down...

Sonic Heroes (Sonic Heroes)

Bind you, confine you, defying your reign

Sonic Heroes (Sonic Heroes)

Setting the stage for a heroes parade

Sonic Heroes (Heroes) (Heroes)

Sonic Heroes (Heroes) (Heroes)

Give me a reason and we'll find our way

Mario, Link, Wario (not a hero, but still) and Kirby dueling it out in Super Smash Bros. Brawl (image from nytimes.com)

Though most video game characters fight against evil, there have been occasions when game heroes have fought against each other. A popular example of this is the "Super Smash Brothers" series.

Mario and Sonic posing together in Super Smash Bros. Brawl (image from wiicade.com)

Gaming characters (especially mascots) have been rivals to each other. The most famous mascot rivalry is the one between Sonic the Hedgehog and Mario. Though Sega dropped out of hardware and the two characters aren't true rivals anymore, they are still competitive and battle against each other in "Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games" and "Super Smash Bros. Brawl."

Video game heroes have made an impact on one's imagination and help make the impossible possible to just about anyone. In addition, they show the willing to never give up, make sacrifices to save people and protect the world for the greater good of people. So, game heroes are just as influencial as real life heroes, because of these values that they show in every game.

Good Night Bush

One thing you may not know about me is that I really like certain types of satire or parodies. Whether it's on a website, a book or magazine, it's usually pretty funny to me. Enough about yours truely though, onto this book. "Good Night Bush" is a parody of the famous book "Good Night Moon" involving a certain president, written and illustrated by Erich Origen and Gan Golan. If you know the story of Good Night Moon, which is known to be a childrens classic, Good Night Bush will be familiar. Ironicly, replacing the comforting items in the original book are the events, people and other things that have made the Bush administration a hard one to get through for the past eight years. The subtle changes in the bedroom scenes are fun to point out and discover, and just like in the original book, there's a painting over the fireplace. However, it's one of a oil plant. To wrap this up, let's say "Good Night Bush" and "Good night Dick Cheney wispering hush."

For more information about this book, check out http://www.goodnightbush.com/

What I've been Reading - Sonic Chronicles Guide by Prima

Lately, I've been reading the guide to Sonic Chronicles: the Dark Brotherhood made by Prima Games. If you remember my last review about the Nintendo Power article for this game, you know I was excited for it. It's a fun game and the guide really helps get through the story. So far, I'm in the Kron planet area in both and have been using the guide to find all the Chao eggs (there's 40 different Chao that can come out of them) and to find what I'm supposed to do in the first place in the area. I highly recommend the game and the guide together, since it could help most people to get through the game and sucessfully complete it one hundred percent.

One Main Trait Paragraph

(NOTE: The following paragraph has been rewritten due to losing the original in computer form)

A main trait I would use to describe me is kind. First off, I’m nice to everyone I know such as my friends and family, and respect others most of the time. I wouldn’t be me, if I wasn’t like that. In addition, I’ve helped many people on quite a few occasions, such as basic things like holding a door open or picking up something that fell. I try to help when ever I can (well, if it’s something I want to help on and usually it is). All of these reasons and more are why give myself the trait of being kind.