November 28, 2009

Yab Yum the musical

Filed under: Shows by Branko Collin @ 2:37 pm

Gossip ‘journalist’ Henk van der Meyden and sex boss Theo Heuft have teamed up to produce a musical about the latter’s former brothel, Yab Yum.

Yab Yum, named after a Tantric position called ‘woman on top’ in the West, was the iconic brothel of the Netherlands until it was closed down last year by the city of Amsterdam using the dubious Bibob law, which allows local governments to refuse permits on the basis of rumours.

Speaking of which, it was rumoured that Yab Yum was the place where one brought business associates if deals needed to be closed.

According to Radio Netherlands, Heuft told the Telegraaf (Van der Meyden’s employer):

It’s an honour that there’s going to be a musical about my life’s work. That’s what Yab Yum was. I mounted prostitution in a golden frame.

[The musical will allow us] to enter a world of beautiful young women, of glamour and glitter.

(Photo by Chana de Wolf, some rights reserved.)

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January 18, 2008

Anne Frank The Musical in Spanish

Filed under: History,Music,Shows by Orangemaster @ 7:37 am
annefrankstatue1.jpg

It probably remains to be seen and heard, but yes, the Spanish are making a musical out of Anne Frank’s Diary:

A Spanish production company is taking the unusual step of turning The Diary of Anne Frank into a musical. The production at Madrid’s Calderón Theatre does not open until 28th February, but it is already generating a few raised eyebrows.

Not everyone is convinced that the world-famous story of a Jewish teenager who became a victim of the Holocaust should be staged in this way. Tragedy is common fare for opera, but musicals are more often associated with happier subjects.

British theatre critic Michael Billington questioned the need for a musical version of Anne’s diary, in an entry on his blog called Anne Frank – the Musical strikes a false note. It basically asks if we really need this musical. And I have been laughing in my coffee writing this, as one person commented, “won’t the nazis hear her as soon as the tapdancing and singing starts?” Picture the audience participation at a midnight screening of the Rocky Horror Picture Show wtih someone calling out to the Nazis storming in the house “she’s in the attic!”.

The project has the backing of the Anne Frank Foundation, who own the house in Amsterdam where Anne and her family hid during the early 1940s. However, according to reports in the Australian media, the family of Anne Frank object to productions of this kind which treat her story as ‘entertainment’.

While the production has attracted media interest, it is not the first time that The Diary of Anne Frank has been turned into a musical. An English language musical under the name ‘Yours, Anne’ was produced Off Broadway in 1985.

I can’t help but add that although the Dutch know that Anne Frank was Jewish, she was in fact German – not Dutch. I say this because she was put on a list of the 10 most important Dutch figures of all time by the general public. Influential people are conveniently Dutch when it suits the Dutch media.

(Link: radionetherlands.nl)

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July 5, 2007

Grease musical show stopper

Filed under: Automobiles,Shows by Orangemaster @ 11:04 am
Grease

For the second time in recent history, a performance of the musical Grease in Eindhoven was stopped due to an on-stage accident. Actor Nélo Schelle made a wrong move and fell from about 1.5 m. He’s fine, but that was the end of the show.

Last accident, the Grease car drove off the podium right into the orchestra pit.

(Link: rtl)

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February 26, 2007

Grease musical car drives into orchestra pit

Filed under: Shows by Orangemaster @ 10:11 pm
Grease

Two actors from the musical Grease were injured Sunday night during a performance in Almere. The car drove off the podium right into the orchestra pit. Idols star Jim Bakkum, who plays Danny Zuko and was in the car at the time, ended up with a concussion, while his co-star Bettina Holwerda broke her arm. Both were brought to the hospital. The cause of the accident is as yet unknown.

(Link and photo: fok.nl)

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