A Wonderful Week Of Shakepeare

This past week has been absolutely amazing. I've seen two contrasting Shakespeare plays in the space of seven days. On Friday the 27th September I went to see Othello, the rap version and on Saturday the 5th October I saw the one the only Midsummer's Night Dream- with David Walliams in it! I am going to be reviewing them both, one after the other.

Othello

Othello Rapping. Rapping Othello? These two words do not sound right together do they? Well, if you think that they are not meant for each other, then think again because they fit together perfectly! When I went to see the performance at the Unicorn Theatre, I was a little bit un-sure about the combination. But I was proved completely wrong. The production was a contemporary interpretation of the famous story of Othello. Instead of being about what Shakespeare wanted it to be, it was about the                                                      dangerous world of...The Music Business.

There were four men playing all of the characters in the story including the women and they changed their personas by using colourful wigs, aprons and various props. The set was very simple, but the way they performed was not. I don't know how they kept talking for such long periods of time without breaking character or complaining about losing their voices!

I have to say, if you are ten years old or younger, I wouldn't recommend this because it can be quite rude in parts with lots of suggestion and innuendo!

A Midsummer's Night Dream

David Walliams. As many of you know, David Walliams is one of my favourite authors, actors and comedians of all time. Also, he wrote my favourite book, Mr Stink. Now, the reason I am talking about him is that yesterday, I saw him perform. LIVE!!!!

The play is about four people who all fall in love with the wrong people and they run away to the forest. Also, a group of workers from the local market of Athens, go to the forest to practise their play. Along the way, one of the stall owners, Nick Bottom (portrayed by David Walliams), gets turned into a donkey. Titania, the Queen of the fairies, falls in love with Bottom because her husband, Oberon, poisoned her into thinking this. I know, very confusing. Then, the people all get married, Hermia and Lysander, Helena and Demetrius. And they all live happily ever after!

The entire play was absolutely amazing. The lighting, the characters, the set, the characters. Oh, did I mention the characters? Anyway, the play really was fantastic, the fairies led by Titania were in pink tutus and sunglasses- a truly strange representation of fairies!

I honestly couldn't find a single fault with the entire performance. I also saw my friend Andrew at the same time at the theatre!! Also, two of my other friends were going to the night performance the same day! It is one small world!


Malini

Read, Be Inspired and Write

Noughts And Crosses, Malorie Blackman

This book is one of the most intriguing books that I have ever read. I received this book as a prize from my school, in recognition that I and three others in my class, were the all round best pupils over the year. The book is about an alternate world, where the black Crosses, rule over the white Noughts. 

Callum is a Nought, a lowly white citizen in a society, disciplined aggressively by the black Crosses.

Sephy is a Cross, the daughter of an extremely powerful, brutal and cold-blooded man in the country.

Sephy and Callum live in a violent, hostile world where Noughts and Crosses are simply not made to mix. Although, nothing can keep these two apart. They know it's wrong and that they shouldn't be friends but when their childhood friendship turns in to a passionate love for one other, they are strong willed in finding a way for to be together.

This book is impossible to describe in one word. It is just too brilliant and deep to limit how many words I can say about it. I love the way it is written in alternate paragraphs, one with Sephy speaking and one with Callum. It was a brilliant read and it was a real page turner. I couldn't put it down on my holiday to France.

The book has many ups and downs and sends the reader on an emotional roller-coaster. As soon as there are blue skies, a grey cloud comes and rains heavily on it. I must advise you that this book is very violent and I would not recommend this for anyone below the age of 10 years of age.

I love the way Malorie Blackman made this book because, as most of you know, life isn't like that. I think that racism is a terrible thing and anyone who thinks that they are better than anyone else, because of their skin-colour is completely mad because we all have the same insides don't we?

Once again, this book is my favourite book that I have read this year and I hope that you guys could read this too.

Malini
Read, Be Inspired and Write

Eleana Kumana

Hi everyone!
I just wanted to say that my best friend has a new blog called Eleana's Advice and Opinions and I really want all of you guys to look at it because it is brilliant! It is basically Advice and Opinions, about things like sexism, racism, learning to live with dyslexia and I think you guys will love it. I know I do!!!
I would like to give my thanks to Eleana because I am glad to see that my slogan has really payed off, someone has read, been Inspired and Written Their own blog!

Malini
Read, Be Inspired and Write.

The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas-Film review

I'm sorry to have to review such a sad, true and realistic film.  As many of you know, World War Two was a tough, brutal and terrible time. The Nazis, (the Germans) were attacking Jews, gays and people with anything other than blue eyes and blond hair. They would pack them up into a truck and after a period of time, gas them. The useful ones that could be used to do things for rich people would go and work for wealthy families, who often treated them like the back of a muddy shoe. 

In the film Bruno, a young, innocent and harmless boy is moving to the countryside with his older sister, his mother and his Nazi General of a father. Bruno is used to the smell of the city so when the country air is inside of him, it is a change, but he doesn't like that. The air is really filled with smoke, coming from a nearby concentration camp. People are being burned to death. 

 He looks out of his window and sees lots of people behind a barbed wire, in striped pyjamas. He is a curious young boy, who is wondering who these mysterious people are, in a dull, dusty yard. He tries to explore but the first time, his mother catches him and tells him not to go anywhere outside their grounds. He tries again and this time, he succeeds. He runs through a leafy jungle to find the back of the barbed wire. A boy is sitting there, looking hopeless and alone, he has a bald head and is wearing the enigmatic striped pyjamas that Bruno is wondering about. 

To cut a long story short, the two boys become friends and near the end, the mother decides not to live with their father anymore because he lied to her about the fact that there was a camp nearby. Bruno is sad to leave his new friend but he won't be for long. His friends Papa is missing and he goes into the camp to look for his dad. His friend gives him some pyjamas to look like one of them. Bruno looks like him. He climbs under the fence...

What will happen to Bruno on the other side of the barbed wire?

This film was a huge contrast to Despicable Me 2, don't you think? I cried so much after watching it, I probably cried off a few pounds. It was the fact that what I was watching, was something that had happened in real life. 

You have to be prepared to be emotionally drained to watch this film.  

Malini

Read, Be Inspired and Write

Despicable Me 2 - Movie Review

Right, so, have you ever laughed so hard that your insides hurt and your eyes start watering dramatically?

Well, if that doesn't happen to you often then maybe you should ... Ya know, watch the most amazingly hilarious film in 2013!

I loved the first Despicable Me very much. Especially since after going to my dads house, my two little sisters have made me see it millions of times, therefore, I could probably tell you what happens in just about every scene in the first hour of watching it. It says a lot doesn't it...

Anyway, I am not here to tell you about my experiences with being tortured into watching movies tens of thousands of times. I am here to tell you about my trip to the cinema to see Despicable Me 2.

Ok, if there was one word to describe the film it would be ' hilariously-fantab-ulosous-ly-tremend-didly-endous. ' I learnt that one off of my friend Alice!

So, in the film, ex-villain 'Grew' is hired to catch another villain who stole a potion to make a harmless bunny into a man eating monster. Grew and his 'partner', Lucy go undercover (as cake makers, in a mall) to try and find out who has it. Grew has a hunch about one of the other shop owners and his hunch is correct. I shan't tell you who or what happens because I guess you'll have to watch it!

I went to the cinema with my Dad my Step-Mum and my two sisters, Olivia and Annabelle. They were so excited to go and see the movie, that they wanted to see number three, directly after the fifth or sixth showing of the brand new number 2. There is no doubt that I could, by the time number 3 comes out, know the entire film of one and two!

Please go and see it, I think that you will love it!

Malini

Read, Be inspired and Write

xoxo 

True Blogger Spirit

Hi Everyone, I thought you might love this as much as I did when I first saw it.
Hopefully you do!
I love this image so much, it's amazing!!
Also, I just wanted to remind everyone that in three months, it will be my first full year with M Likes It! 

Malini

Read, Be Inspired and Write.

Swan Lake- Is It Really Just Girls In Tutus?

Performed At The Royal ALbert Hall By The English National Ballet

My thoughts on Swan Lake were very mixed. I had never been to the ballet before and I was expecting a three-hour nap to be scheduled. I watched the ballet in the royal Albert Hall, with my mother. The exterior is a very old, red building with faded gold swirls on the edges, a truly wonderful sight. The inside of the grand Hall was really huge. We were sitting right next door to the orchestra, who were dressed in black head to toe. It was performed in the round and our seats were great. We could see everything that was taking place.

While we were waiting for the performance to start, we could see all sort

s of lights flickering, cameras flashing and a constant low level chatter. The stage was set with two chairs and by the looks of them they were supposed to be thrones. Also the stage was lit with a blue light, suggesting that it was meant to be a lake.

When the ballet started, I have to admit that I nearly fell asleep. I was not that excited about going to the ballet so I was just expecting there to be silly men in tights, lifting up women in swan costumes. One thing that was really funny was the fact that one of the jugglers dropped his baton!!!

In the first third, my expectations were correct. I was so bored I had to keep one eye open to give a signal to my mum that I wasn’t bored out of my wits. The orchestra, however were fantastic though. Even though I don’t appreciate classical music Tchaikovsky is the one thing that kept me awake. Thanks Dude for composing that stimulating music. No, seriously, thanks!

In the second of the three sections, the beginning was very much the same as before. Then the story really built up and it started to get more enjoyable. One of my favorite parts of the performance was when the evil dancers vanished while there was an eruption of smoke, which filled the stage. The dancers were really getting into it and so was I. I was starting to appreciate that even if I could see the outline of a parade of men’s bottoms, the ballet was something magnificent and I couldn’t wait for the last third.

The last third was the best of the three. The reason being that it was just so exhilarating and fiery. At the end

Odile, the Queen Swan, was ‘karate kicking’ the evil dancer. Maybe she got lessons from Jackie Chan?

My conclusion to my title is that no, the ballet is not just girls in tutus. The ballet is an extraordinary thing that all people should experience once in their life. So yes, I do recommend this.     

Stratford Upon Avon-My visit to Shakespeare world!

'Who here knows who William Shakespeare was?' The teacher asked.

'Meeee!!'I screamed.

'Good, now who knows where he was born?'

'I know! I know!'

Right, that's about enough of that. Shakespeare was born in Stratford upon Avon and guess what? I went there last weekend to see a play and visit the village !! I saw As You Like It, one of shakespeare's comedy's about lots of people loving each other and it all getting very confusing. 

I really enjoyed the play, because it was, 

1: It was a Shakespeare  play,

2: It was really funny to watch. 

The only thing that I thought let them down was the fact that they kept over acting at not very dramatic scenes and because they kept shouting unnecessarily. Other than that I found the play really playful and joyful, not to mention the fact that it was really heavily based on a fairy tale come true and falalalalala land. 

Overall I found the town a very happy, exciting place full off tourists! I had a lovely weekend looking at Shakespearian times in great detail. I even went into a Tudor world to take a look at who was around in the Tudor time, other than William Shakespeare. For instance, Henry VIIII? How about the plague? The plague was a terrible disease that ended up in some cases having to have your body being buried with all of the other non-survivors!!! It's not like I want to scare you or anything! 

Also, something very Shakespeare related, guess who is going to be performing Macbeth in June??? And guess who is playing Lady Macbeth??? That's right, me!! I keep forgetting to tell all you guys this so. Now that I've found the time to do it, I told you. I got the part ages ago but I haven't been blogging for a while so the Internet has missed my wonderful reviews.

Malini

Read, Be inspired and write.

When Art meets Fashion at Somerset house, 2013

On Sunday the 3rd of March I went to see a Picasso and Valentino  exhibition both within the historic and elegant Somerset House. The Picasso exhibition was amazing because of the sheer variety of painting styles whilst the Fashion was incredible baecause of the very glitzy and glamorous dresses. The dresses were displayed using a simple catwalk with mannequins dressed in the fineries of Italian Valentino couture. 
Picasso was  a successful Spanish artist who went to Paris in hope of making a name for himself in the art capital of Europe. 

Picasso and Valentino had many things in common,  but the one thing that stood out for me was that they both loved to make art that put smiles on peoples faces. Both their art and their dresses are very beautiful and unique, which make them more desirable and timeless.

Somerset house is a beautiful structure but I think that putting a great big Nike dome in the middle of the courtyard ruins the beauty of the building. I loved both exhibitions and I would go to see them both of them again, but there can only be one winner for me...

And the Winner is....VALENTINO!!!!!

Valentino, was Italian and he has been creating beautiful couture dresses since July, 2007. This was the beginning of a new era in the fashion industry.

I wish that when I am older I will be able to afford one of the spectacular dresses.

See you next time!

Malini

Read, Be Inspired and Write!

Sapphire Battersea; By Jacqueline Wilson

Sapphire Battersea by Jacqueline Wilson is another book that made me weep. It is the story of a girl, named Hetty Feather(but called Sapphire Battersea by her dear mama) who starts her life off in a foundling hospital and then works at the age of 14 leading a life of being a scullery maid. She faces traumatic experiences like being separated from her own mother by "Matron Pig-face Peters" at the foundling hospital. Hetty is sent from the hospital to work for writer, Mr. Buchanan. She wants to write to her mama so she copies up Mr. Buchanan's work then he gives her a share of stamps. She has to be known for her fiery red hair and temper which Mr. Buchanan cannot take. Although many people tease her, she has two special someone’s, Bertie-the butchers boy and Jem-her childhood sweetheart and they both remind her constantly that she is a lovely person. She is sent away from Mr. Buchanan because of her temper then left to take her first steps in life, alone. Hetty buys a train ticket to find her mother by the sea side and meets a family who lead the perfect life. The Greenwood family take her in to their lovely shack which they visit once a year. She sees her mama but all of that changes. Her mama means everything to her but she is violently ill and may not survive for long. If you want to know what happens to Hetty then go on and read it!!!

I rarely ever read Jacqueline Wilson books because I like a challenge. However this book is one of my favourite books that she has written. Although, there is one fault that I find ruined the entire book. The Ending. The ending of this book was the most disappointing thing that I have ever read. I'm not being mean to old Jacqueline but she seriously needs to work on the ending of Sapphire Battersea.

Malini

Read, Be Inspired and Write!

Anne of Green Gables by L.M Montgomery

Anne of Green Gables by L.M Montgomery is a book that made me smile, made me cry and most of all made me roll my eyes. This book is about a ten year old girl who has red hair, freckles and is small and weak. Mathew and Marilla Cuthbert are expecting a strong boy to help out on the farm, but Anne Shirley, a petite red haired girl comes instead. Marilla is not too keen on the idea of Anne staying with them but Anne charms her way into the family with her bubbly personality and her carrot red hair. Ah-ha!! Don't be fooled by this lovely description of her. Anne is quickly in a lot of trouble caused by her fiery red hair which erupts her temper.

As much as I liked this book I also found it very tedious towards the end. I thought that because Anne keeps getting into trouble and Anne constantly mentions Gilbert Blythe who is an important  character in the book. The end of the book made me cry because in every book there must be some kind of hurt, tragedy, or upset to make it seem realistic. I liked parts of the book because the language is so rich and real. In your average Jacqueline Wilson book you don't hear language like "a bridal flush "(to describe an orchard )do you now???????

How will she get on at Green Gables ????

I guess you'll just have to read it!!!

Malini

Read, Be Inspired and Write