If Hamilton brings life to Jefferson and AP US History, then the SAS musical Blondel hands down rocks out King Richard and the Third Crusade with action, wit and humor. Blondel is a musical by Tim Rice, set in central Europe where lowly court jester and protagonist Blondel dreams big to become a breakout musician. SAS is the first stage production of Blondel internationally.
There are no “bursting into song” moments in this musical. Cheerful notes play during humorous scenes, while sinister music correlates with the action scenes. There is a wide range of music from rock songs to ballads. All main characters in the musical have their own solos, in which you can tell (and hear) their motives and character through their songs. Blondel has sarcastic, witty humor and ROFL jokes. The musical gives stereotype a whole new perspective, with plot twists and suspense that will keep you on your toes.
As Blondel, junior Nicholas Hwang feels he is similar to his character in that: “We both think principles are the most important things in the world, we are both a bit self-absorbed, and we are simpletons when it comes to love.” Nick’s hardest challenges is to play the lute, and trying to stay in character at the jokes. Nick also commented that cast members enjoyed their banter against John Park, one of the antagonists in the play.
The sword fight scenes were choreographed by a professional instructor from England. Senior Lauren Cheung (the Assassin) states: “I love my assassin's character for how goofy he/she is … but the swords are no joke. Mr. Williams stabbed one of the swords into the floor of the Blackbox Theatre and it stayed upright until he pulled it away. Those swords are very real, and can most definitely turn us into human shish-kebabs.”
Junior Darwin Li who plays King Richard said the best part is “definitely the music.” Darwin added that: “Mr. Williams dabbed, which shaved off several years of my life. Also, Ryan and I have broken 2 swords thus far. The theatre people in general are a really meme-y and disturbing bunch of lads. I suppose this is what happens when you get gather enough insane, sleep deprived, and emotionally dead people in the BBT for too long. Ryan will be rocking the mic so hard your socks will enter the 4th dimension. Also John Park is in it and... well you'll see.”
Junior Ryan Yin (Prince John) said: “This musical is quite different from other productions we had at SAS, and it will be a new experience for all. One thing that’s difficult in playing my character is that I have to act completely differently from my own personality. An unusual incident during rehearsal was when someone had an idea to wear a squirrel hat and it stuck. People should come to see the musical for the squirrel hat.”
Freshman Jacquelynn Lin said: “My character Fiona is a feminist activist. To play her, I needed to understand a mindset of this woman from centuries ago, which actually allowed me to learn more about this world and the history of it. I needed to empathize with the issues she cares about and her thought process when she makes a decision.”
Cheung concludes, “If Sir Tim Rice's name isn't incentive enough, I don't know what is. He wrote Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Evita alongside Andrew Lloyd Webber and collaborations with Disney and DreamWorks (Aladdin, The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, The Road to El Dorado). It gives me the chills. The magnitude of the entire situation is rather dizzying.”
Blondel premieres Wednesday, March 28th at the PAC.
Emily Chang
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| (courtesy of Abby Pan) |
There are no “bursting into song” moments in this musical. Cheerful notes play during humorous scenes, while sinister music correlates with the action scenes. There is a wide range of music from rock songs to ballads. All main characters in the musical have their own solos, in which you can tell (and hear) their motives and character through their songs. Blondel has sarcastic, witty humor and ROFL jokes. The musical gives stereotype a whole new perspective, with plot twists and suspense that will keep you on your toes.
As Blondel, junior Nicholas Hwang feels he is similar to his character in that: “We both think principles are the most important things in the world, we are both a bit self-absorbed, and we are simpletons when it comes to love.” Nick’s hardest challenges is to play the lute, and trying to stay in character at the jokes. Nick also commented that cast members enjoyed their banter against John Park, one of the antagonists in the play.
 |
| (taken by Maggie Crookston) |
The sword fight scenes were choreographed by a professional instructor from England. Senior Lauren Cheung (the Assassin) states: “I love my assassin's character for how goofy he/she is … but the swords are no joke. Mr. Williams stabbed one of the swords into the floor of the Blackbox Theatre and it stayed upright until he pulled it away. Those swords are very real, and can most definitely turn us into human shish-kebabs.”
Junior Darwin Li who plays King Richard said the best part is “definitely the music.” Darwin added that: “Mr. Williams dabbed, which shaved off several years of my life. Also, Ryan and I have broken 2 swords thus far. The theatre people in general are a really meme-y and disturbing bunch of lads. I suppose this is what happens when you get gather enough insane, sleep deprived, and emotionally dead people in the BBT for too long. Ryan will be rocking the mic so hard your socks will enter the 4th dimension. Also John Park is in it and... well you'll see.”
 |
| (taken by Maggie Crookston) |
Junior Ryan Yin (Prince John) said: “This musical is quite different from other productions we had at SAS, and it will be a new experience for all. One thing that’s difficult in playing my character is that I have to act completely differently from my own personality. An unusual incident during rehearsal was when someone had an idea to wear a squirrel hat and it stuck. People should come to see the musical for the squirrel hat.”
Freshman Jacquelynn Lin said: “My character Fiona is a feminist activist. To play her, I needed to understand a mindset of this woman from centuries ago, which actually allowed me to learn more about this world and the history of it. I needed to empathize with the issues she cares about and her thought process when she makes a decision.”
 |
| (taken by Maggie Crookton) |
Cheung concludes, “If Sir Tim Rice's name isn't incentive enough, I don't know what is. He wrote Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Evita alongside Andrew Lloyd Webber and collaborations with Disney and DreamWorks (Aladdin, The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, The Road to El Dorado). It gives me the chills. The magnitude of the entire situation is rather dizzying.”
Blondel premieres Wednesday, March 28th at the PAC.
Emily Chang
