Damon Albarn Musical Whisks ‘Alice’ Into the Virtual World

Lifestyle FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015 A file photo taken on May 18, 2015, shows exhibitors dressed as “The Hatter” (left) and “Alice in Wonderland” drinking tea whilst sheltering from the rain under an umbrella on the David Harbor stand at the 2015 Chelsea Flower Show in London. (Right) Actress Tonia Miller from the performing arts group Teatro Vivo performs during a “Mad Hattter’s Tea Party”. — AFP photos Damon Albarn musical whisks ‘Alice’ into the virtual world troubled teenage girl who seeks refuge in director Rufus Norris hopes to explore how new tious, almost tortured, soundtrack that com- a fantastical online world is the star of a technologies have reshaped social relations and bines rock, brass bands, traditional instruments, Anew musical co-written by Blur frontman how mobile devices have become extensions of electronic tones and video-game sound effects, Damon Albarn to mark the 150th anniversary of people’s aspirations. It is also a study of the all sprinkled with melancholy lyrics, which recall “Alice in Wonderland”. Loosely based on Lewis tribulations of adolescence and the difficulties his two operas, “Monkey: Journey to the West” Carroll’s book, “wonder.land” will be performed of forging an identity. The original “Alice in and “Dr Dee”. at London’s National Theatre from Friday, before Wonderland” was first published in 1865 and “We decided the music needed two identi- moving to the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris next has been translated into at least 174 languages, ties: Its articulation in the computer world and year. The rock opera-style musical opens in the winning millions of fans, both children and the real world,” added Albarn. “I’ve tried to add a bedroom of Aly (Lois Chimimba), a complex adults, around the world. The 150th anniversary bit of madness to the music to make it populist, teenager who is in conflict with her parents and of the book’s publication date falls this month, which is quite difficult.” It has so far received a picked on by classmates who post insulting although the precise day is disputed. mixed reception from critics. messages on social media. The story is believed to have been dreamt up “While it’s not in the same league as the all- To escape, the girl connects, via her smart- by Dodgson on a summer’s day in Oxford as he conquering Matilda, Wonder.land is the best - phone, to “wonder.land”, a brilliantly-coloured entertained a friend’s children, who included a and oddest - new British musical for families in a virtual world based on the “Wonderland” of young girl called Alice. Some readers ascribe long while,” wrote the Sunday Times newspaper. Reverend Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, whose connotations of drug taking to the surreal story, The Independent gave it three stars out of pen name was Lewis Carroll. The pixellated which involves Alice experimenting with potions five, adding: “Damon Albarn set high expecta- world invites Alice “to achieve your ideal,” and pieces of mushroom on the advice of a Actress Sarah Finigan from the performing tions for his new musical wonder.land. Perhaps whereupon she creates “Alice,” a beautiful, intel- hookah-smoking caterpillar, although scholars arts group Teatro Vivo plays the role of too high.” ligent and loved alter-ego who embodies the say there is no evidence Dodgson used drugs. Queen of hearts attends a mock trial. The Guardian also gave the show three stars, qualities she believes herself to be missing. The calling it “big, bold, ambitious”. “(It) has much to first scene sets the tone with Aly tapping on her Two worlds collide my own daughter’s relationship with social recommend it, but ends up like a giant bag of keypad while digital images of “wonder.land” Albarn-the show’s composer and singer with media and all the other things I probably don’t liquorice allsorts: full of color and variety but a are projected on stage, with the Cheshire Cat Blur, one of the biggest Britpop bands of the know about that she’s looked at on the bit rich to the taste and not something you’d becoming a giant virtual tom cat. 1990s-found inspiration from within his own Internet,” the British singer/songwriter said in want to devour too often,” the newspaper In bringing the story into the digital age, family. “The idea was very much a reaction to the official program. The end result is an ambi- added. — AFP US rockers want to be first Adele, Fallon, the roots perform ‘hello’ with band to reopen Bataclan classroom instruments alifornia rockers Eagles of Death Metal want to an interview. “I cannot wait to come back to Paris. I be the first band to play the Bataclan theater cannot wait to play. I want to come back. I want to be dele’s hit single “Hello” won’t be saying good- Cwhen the Paris venue reopens after the the first band to play in the Bataclan when it opens bye any time soon. The song shattered the November attacks targeted their gig. “I don’t want to back up,” he said. Arecord for most albums sold in a week (2.43 spend my life trying to appease assholes I want to “I was there when it went silent for a minute. Our million units), according to Nielsen Music, and recent- spend my life smiling with my friends and entertaining friends went there and died. I’m gonna go back there ly topped the Billboard Hot 100 for a fourth week. Now, Jimmy Fallon and The Roots helped Adele give them,” Jesse Hughes, the band’s vocalist, told Vice in and live.” Gunmen attacked nearly simultaneously tar- “Hello” an instrumental spin on “The Tonight Show.” gets across Paris on November 13, killing 130 people, Adele powered through the vocals, using a lime 89 of them at the Bataclan. The band sat down for a full green flip phone as a prop during one of the chorus- interview with Vice.com in Los Angeles after returning es. Fallon accompanied the singer with a wood block, to America following the carnage. They each detailed bass drum and Casio keyboard. Other instruments the the instant decisions they took to save their lives, and band used included an orange shaker, hand clappers, the horrors they saw as the gunmen emptied round xylophone, melodica, ukulele, kazoo, banana shaker, after round indiscriminately into the crowd. bongos and tambourine. Adele’s Tuesday night The band had been due to perform across Europe appearance on “The Tonight Show” comes after her until December 10, but has put on hold all further con- weekend performance on “Saturday Night Live.” With certs. A number of French fans have appealed on them Matthew McConaughey as host and Adele as the online to return to play. “We don’t really have a chance. musical guest, the show saw a spike in ratings. The We have to finish the tour,” said Josh Homme, Death Grammy winner also performed on the “Today” show Metal co-founder who was not in Paris. —AFP Wednesday morning, singing “Million Years Ago” Eagles of Death Metal Adele from her new album “25.” — Reuters.

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