Tolkien Events 2007 - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

narfforc · 05-25-2007, 05:57 AM

I have just returned this week from a wondrous journey. The first part of this took me to London to see The Lord of the Rings Musical and I was left speechless, awesome and spectacular are the only words I can find, of course it is not without it's faults for the purists, however if one approaches this with an open mind and forgets all other medium ie:- The Book, The BBC Radio Play, The Four Films, then it is highly enjoyable, one must also remember the artwork of Nasmith, Howe and Lee who show differing interpretations of the same scenes, if The Lord of the Rings is a room then Tolkien entered through the door and Jackson through the window, this leaves the Musical Director Mathew Warchus (I think) to come down the chimney, all of this is still in essence The Lord of the Rings. The play starts before it starts, whilst people are still arriving and finding their seats the auditorium was filled with Hobbits chasing fireflies and at play, they all spoke to each other by name and seemed to be having a very good time whilst totally oblivious of the audience, seeing Bolgers and Bracegirdles running down the aisles brought the story to you and dragged you in. The scenery was fantastic and the so were the costumes. The scenes of note were that involving the Balrog and the one were we meet Galadriel for the first time, also Gollum climbing down the wall of the theatre, I won't spoil it for you, go and see it.

Some of the songs aren't bad either.

The next part of my journey was to Sarehole for The Tolkien Weekend, this involved:-

1. Sarehole Mill.
2. Moseley Bog Tour.
3. Bus Tour taking in.
a. Perott's Folly and the Victorian Tower of the Edgbaston Waterworks, The Two Towers.
b. Stirling Road where Tolkien lived opposite the widow of Dr Joseph Samson Gamgee.
c. The various Tolkien and family houses such as 264 Wake Green Road opposite Mosely Bog.
4. Watched the play, Farmer Giles of Ham.

All very enjoyable and if you get the chance you must do this.

The last thing I did was visit the little church where John and Mabel married, I left with the sense of wondering that on his special day he would not even have considered how special he was.

05-25-2007, 05:57 AM	#30
narfforc Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Muddy-earth Posts: 1,297	On the Tolkien Trail. I have just returned this week from a wondrous journey. The first part of this took me to London to see The Lord of the Rings Musical and I was left speechless, awesome and spectacular are the only words I can find, of course it is not without it's faults for the purists, however if one approaches this with an open mind and forgets all other medium ie:- The Book, The BBC Radio Play, The Four Films, then it is highly enjoyable, one must also remember the artwork of Nasmith, Howe and Lee who show differing interpretations of the same scenes, if The Lord of the Rings is a room then Tolkien entered through the door and Jackson through the window, this leaves the Musical Director Mathew Warchus (I think) to come down the chimney, all of this is still in essence The Lord of the Rings. The play starts before it starts, whilst people are still arriving and finding their seats the auditorium was filled with Hobbits chasing fireflies and at play, they all spoke to each other by name and seemed to be having a very good time whilst totally oblivious of the audience, seeing Bolgers and Bracegirdles running down the aisles brought the story to you and dragged you in. The scenery was fantastic and the so were the costumes. The scenes of note were that involving the Balrog and the one were we meet Galadriel for the first time, also Gollum climbing down the wall of the theatre, I won't spoil it for you, go and see it. Some of the songs aren't bad either. The next part of my journey was to Sarehole for The Tolkien Weekend, this involved:- 1. Sarehole Mill. 2. Moseley Bog Tour. 3. Bus Tour taking in. a. Perott's Folly and the Victorian Tower of the Edgbaston Waterworks, The Two Towers. b. Stirling Road where Tolkien lived opposite the widow of Dr Joseph Samson Gamgee. c. The various Tolkien and family houses such as 264 Wake Green Road opposite Mosely Bog. 4. Watched the play, Farmer Giles of Ham. All very enjoyable and if you get the chance you must do this. The last thing I did was visit the little church where John and Mabel married, I left with the sense of wondering that on his special day he would not even have considered how special he was. __________________ [B]THE LORD OF THE GRINS:THE ONE PARODY....A PARODY BETTER THAN THE RINGS OF POWER.