You might be surprised to know that the quality of the expat experience revolves around one thing and as it turns out this one thing is the glue, the ultimate party popper, and the generator of gargantuan good times. It’s the thing that keeps us sane. Continue reading “To All the Girls I’ve Loved Before”
I personally love kooky, creepy and ooky — and apparently Abu Dhabi does too because not only has it been all over the local press, but Monday night’s Addams Family performance was a packed house! (and pssst…alert the tabloids. Even people from Dubai were there. Shock I know!)
In its 39th season, the Abu Dhabi Choral Group is our hometown amateur choral group which masquerades as a theater group — yet they perform like they’re getting paid for it. The ADCG’s diverse membership which spreads the globe with 15+ nationalities gives you your moneys worth in a juggernaut of community talent who all pitched in from the ground up to create the dark comedy that has fascinated so many of us since childhood. ADCG director Cameron Toman chose a hysterical plot line that focuses on Wednesday Addams played by Katy McCants Floyd, who is all grown up and falls in love with the normal everyday guy Lucas Beineke played by Jordan Murray. As we can all agree, blending families isn’t easy, especially when you’re the Addams Family so the production focuses on their attempt to tolerate each other and in the process highlights just how normal kooky people can be and how kooky normal people can be. Parents take note, athough the performance focuses on the creepy and kooky the storyline is family friendly and the comedy will give everyone in the whole family a big laugh. Unless you are repulsed by the word sh%t which was spoken 2 times. Then maybe you should stay home and polish your work loafers or something.
“I took my sister, daughters, and their BFFs to the Addams Family musical. While the Folklore Theater looks unloved from the outside, the inside is cosy. The show was Amazing! The actors knew their lines, the live orchestra, the costumes, and the props and stage….everything was great!” — Louet Colaco
Everyone I know who hasn’t been to an ADCG performance asks the same question, “They’re a choral group…right?”
Yes, by name they are a choral group but in reality they are far, far, more. The ADCG 50+ members have come a long way since 1977 and this multi-talented group seems to have a special synergy (pardon my 80’s word) that sizzles on stage. For example, the incredibly talented Alana Barraj who played Morticia and Shea-Lea Saunders who played Gomez, perform as if they have been on stage together for years. Barraj never disappoints. As in previous performances her vocals make me jealous and her delivery is impeccable, regardless of whether she is playing Elle the bubble gum cheerleader in Legally Blonde or the dark and controlled Morticia Addams — Alana is spot on. My obsession though for the Addams Family production came in a surprise package, and that is the fiery performance delivered by Shera-Lea Saunders. I loved Gomez — loved everything about Gomez. Maybe it is because Saunders created a sexy little sweetie pie Gomez that appeared half Prince and half Ricky Ricardo. The Spanish accent cracked me up and the performance overall was absolutely charming and a delight to watch as Gomez struggled to control the women in his life.
“Watched it on Friday with my girls. Loved it!” — Ghawiya Umm-Julia
“Amazing staging and an innovative take on the Addams Family. Loved the costume design. Do something different this weekend and book your seats. It’s fabulous!” — Teige Osborne
I asked my friend which character was her favorite and she immediately replied, Uncle Fester. Unlike the original Uncle Fester who had a fetish for explosives, the ADCG’s Uncle Fester played by Rami Al Shihabi was a gouly teddy bear. The dark cupid who confessed his undying love for the moon. His smooth melodic voice warmed our hearts and his gentle spirit was definitely a crowd favorite as everyone cheered for his corny plan to follow the moon.
Although I do not have time in this post to give adequate praise for the entire cast and team, the outstanding performances given by each and everyone of the members and the many hours of work dedicated to the set and production did not go unnoticed. And although the Folklore Theater is just what a community theater should be, a weathered and worn old building held together with the dreams of those who may move on to bigger ambitions, and supported by those of us who understand the importance of community Arts, the ADCG deserves a bigger stage. Although, I believe, anything more would take away the grit of doing it for fun.
To wrap up this freaky and kooky review, I have one last thing to confess. When I love something I want you to love it too. And I can guarantee that you will not be disappointed with the Addams Family. Not only is the ADCG a compiled membership of our teachers, employees, and co-workers; and therefore we should support them. It is also such a refreshing change from all of the world class stuff typically offered in the UAE (never thought I would say that…).
When I go see an ADCG performance I feel like I took a Chicago subway to a community theater somewhere in the inner center of the city. And for a change, it feels really nice to witness something so organically creative.
Only two shows left! Get your tickets for the May 19th and 20th shows.
Principle cast members not mentioned but certainly appreciated:
Jenny Murray — Pugsley Addams
Angie Abraham — Grandma
Cat Downing — Lurch
Kathleen Moran — Alice Beineke
Gerard Fee — Mal Beineke
The Addams Family at Abu Dhabi Folklore Theatre, behind Al Wahda Mall, on May 19th and 20th. The Show starts at 7.30pm. Tickets prices are 100AED for adults (110 online); children under 12 pay 75AED (80 online).
Visit platinumlist.net or www.abudhabichoralgroup.com for tickets and more information.
People, hold on to your Red Fire Monkey because it is Chinese New Year at Teatro!
The “Year of the Monkey” begins on February 3 and continues through February 12th, and Chef Ted Espiritu of Teatro Restaurant at the Park Rotana will celebrate with special menu items for the New Year. I was invited to taste these delicious bites from the Far East and as always, it’s good. This unique A La Carte menu for the occasion consisting of Chinese dishes including Crispy Aromatic Duck with Green beans in Ginger Sauce, Hunan Steamed Fish with Tofu in Tou Ban Jan Sauce and Five Spiced Crispy Squid. Continue reading “It’s a Chinese New Year!”
It is official.
Brad Pitt has ended his filming here in the UAE. I wrote this little note hoping to clear up a few things he may have found confusing. We love it when Hollywood visits the UAE. Ciao Brad! Come back again sometime soon and don’t forget to call 🙂
Dear Brad Pitt,
You may not know it but I know someone who knows someone who had an undercover snuggle with you at Mizzou (University of Missouri). Not that I heard any details or anything but these things tend to stick out in my mind. Just like the time when Oprah Winfrey and I were dancing nose to nose and while I had my eyes closed she walked off leaving me dancing by myself on national television. It was kind of embarrassing. Maybe I deserved it because I closed my eyes. Who does that when they are dancing with Oprah? Continue reading “Dear Brad Pitt”
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Everywhere we go
Right here in the Middle East its such a sight to see
Santa Claus, dancing elves, and mistle toe Continue reading “Merry Christmas to our Muslim Friends”
As we expats say — only in the UAE! Because you know, it gets totally boring living here on top of the earth. And now that I think about it, all of the excitement, the grandeur, and the shock have worn off and we need something new. We need something outlandish just so we don’t forget why we came here in the first place.
TADA!Take a look at this 7DAYS UAE article on underwater living.
The world’s first underwater villas will be under the sea in the UAE next month, the developer behind the audacious Dubai project has revealed.
The Kleindienst Group launched the ‘Floating Seahorses’ – a cross between a villa and a boat, with one floor submerged – at the Dubai International Boat Show earlier this year.
Kleindienst’s group marketing and PR manager Charlotte Sky Ferrey told 7DAYS: “The first floating seahorse is under fabrication now and will be in the water next month. It’s the first one in the world, there’s nothing like it currently existing.”
The project is part of The Heart of Europe development that includes six islands.
The seahorses have been designed and developed in Dubai and will be located offshore from St Petersburg, a short boat ride from the coast of the emirate.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Dubai Property Show in Mumbai, India, this weekend, Ferrey said the developer is expected to officially launch phase three of the project later this month after the earlier two phases – a total of 51 villas – sold out. The project holds 132 seahorses overall.
But some seahorses are already on offer at the exhibition to Indian investors and serious buyers are being invited to view the model home next month.
However, the price of a seahorse is up by a whopping Dhs2.75 million since launch.
Ferrey revealed: “We launched at Dhs5 million. Then straight after the boat show they went up to Dhs5.5 million, then Dhs6 million in the summer… since selling out we’re now launching at Dhs7.75million.”
Majority of the investors – about 60 per cent – are from the GCC, while about 30 per cent are Indian, she said.
“Of all our products the sea horse is the best seller. Everybody is interested because it’s iconic, it’s different, it’s never existed in the world,” she added.
Ferrey insisted Kleindienst underwater villas have been unaffected by the slump in property prices in Dubai.
“Currently everyone is saying that the real estate market is flat but we’re not, we’re something exclusive, not everybody can afford it,” she explained.
The seahorses will be ready to move into in October 2016, while facilities on St Petersberg will also be up and running with cafes, restaurants and more.
Meanwhile, St Petersberg is also currently being reshaped.
“It will be shaped like a heart in line with the project The Heart of Europe,” Ferrey disclosed.
“This will be our first complete project on The World,” Ferrey confirmed.
megha@7days.ae
Source: Underwater living one step closer to a big splash in Dubai
Are you impressed? Stupefied? Overcome with feelings of disbelief or completely astounded? Welcome to the UAE. It’s never a dull moment so share this article below and sign up to follow my blog above and I will continue to amuse you xx
Last week was my (blank) birthday and I could go anywhere to celebrate in Abu Dhabi that I wanted, but I chose to go to Teatro at the Park Rotana.
There are swankier places, places with perfect cocktails, and fashion model hostesses who try to make you feel as though you are an inferior being. There are also more romantic places, more expensive places, and places with more idyllic settings but I chose Teatro because we were including our son in the celebration and Teatro’s new menu, just like their old menu, strives to keep everyone in the family happy. Continue reading “Teatro — For My (blank) Birthday”
“Can you work over there?” is a question many people ask me.
Well, I could work over here. It is not like there’s a law that states women can’t work. But instead, I spend my time drinking coffee and blowing spit bubbles. And more often than not, I talk about crap that doesn’t really matter so much. It kind of feels like one of those lake amoeba is slowly eating my brain.
Continue reading “Rosie the Riveting Coffee Drinker”
“Will they cut off your hand?” my friends ask me. “You know, if you commit a crime or do some other insulting thing.”
Come on please learn your geography.
Does the UAE look like some sort of hillbilly nation? Do you think we live in the dark ages with uncivilized rules — Where they are stoning women in the square and burning little girl’s schools? Continue reading “Watch Your (bleep) Mouth!”
This blog post is not intended to offend anyone. I believe all of our hearts go out to the victims and we stand unified in our belief that public shootings need to stop. Unfortunately, we cannot agree on what needs to be done. Humor sometimes shows the absurdity behind serious social issues which helps us to better understand our beliefs and hopefully, to question our positions and/or possibly adopt another or at least be willing to compromise for society as a whole.
My intent behind this post is to show the unnecessary hardship that has been placed on everyday people who are merely going about their daily activities. Going to the movies was once a very innocent activity that now requires us to think about an analytical safety plan and a tactical exit plan.
This post is a stream of my conscious thought while at the movies.
Continue reading “Now Playing: Bang, Bang”
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