![\"Photo](\"https:\/\/itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/thumbnail_org_img_1575404257_L-DSC_6524.jpg\")
<\/a>Photo by Kevin Parry, as is the one at the top of this page.<\/p><\/div>\n
Mr. X kept repeating, \u201cThis is the best show ever!\u201d He actually asserted that at intermission and continued saying it…all the way home! And then into the next day. (I was getting a little jealous; he never raved about my<\/em> former TV show like that, which he actually forced<\/em> me to do to begin with! But oh well.)<\/p>\n Love Actually Live<\/em> is not a \u201cmusical\u201d in the normal<\/em> sense\u2014it\u2019s so much more special than that. Mr. X said, \u201cYou really can\u2019t describe how good and well-constructed it is,\u201d but I\u2019m going to try. What happens is that scenes from the 2003 British Christmas film, Love Actually<\/em>, are shown on several giant screens on and above the stage, and live actors sing songs from the soundtrack, (so the numbers are all pretty familiar,) backed by fabulous musicians. The actors don\u2019t do any of the dialogue<\/em>; all of that<\/em> is right there in the uber-charming film, which is always a pleasure to see, (except for the few painful parts, which I just try to ignore at this point in my life. There\u2019s too much sadness in the real world.)<\/p>\n But the live performers do act<\/em>. They portray the characters in the film, with their actions and songs. You just have to see it for yourselves\u2014I\u2019m giving myself a mental hernia trying to explain it!<\/p>\n Photo by Kevin Parry.<\/p><\/div>\n Mr. X was on a roll with the compliments that night, so here are just a few more of them: \u201cIt\u2019s just beautiful and relentlessly delightful.\u201d \u201cIt goes seamlessly between live action and film.\u201d \u201cThe electricity of the live music constantly morphing into the film cuts pulls you into the story.\u201d \u201cIt never lets you down.\u201d \u201cThe technical aspects are excellent and creative.\u201d (I<\/em> agree, except for the occasional shocking lights flashing in the audience\u2019s eyes; those are not necessary. Nor appreciated<\/em>!) I\u2019m with him on all<\/em> of those declarations, especially, \u201cIt\u2019s the classic Christmas show.\u201d<\/p>\n Gee\u2014I guess I should have (L-R) James Byous, Carson Higgins, Rogelio Douglas, Jr., and Jon Robert Hall. Photo by Kevin Parry.<\/p><\/div>\n We were both very impressed with absolutely all<\/em> of the singing. Of course, Mr. X observed, \u201cThey all have great voices.\u201d But Rogelio Douglas, Jr.\u2019s rendition of White Christmas<\/em> was hands-down my fave. He could have dropped the mike after it, and I would have gone home a happy girl.<\/p>\n But I\u2019m glad he didn’t because we were treated to so much more, both in the categories of emotion and fun.<\/p>\n And it all ends with a very entertaining sing-along, featuring Rex Smith in a gold Speedo! How could anyone not want to see that<\/em>?!<\/p>\n The curtain call of Love Actually Live, with a mostly-naked Rex Smith in the center. Photo by Kevin Parry.<\/p><\/div>\n Here\u2019s one auxiliary note of interest for first-timers to Love Actually Live<\/em>: When you see the show, you may notice that Mariah Carey\u2019s holiday mega-hit, All I Want For Christmas Is You<\/em>, is missing. No one (except for the powers-that-be, I’m sure) seems to really know<\/em> why, (and trust me\u2014I researched the topic for hours,) but we all assume<\/em> that the producers could not get the rights to it. (Or maybe someone associated with the production is not a Mariah fan. Who knows.) That omission really bothered me last<\/em> year, when I had waited the entire two-and-a-half hours for it, but now that I knew<\/em> it wasn\u2019t going to happen, I was fine. So I\u2019m giving you the heads-up, too. (By the way\u2014that long-sounding time just flies<\/em>! I didn\u2019t look at my watch even once<\/em>, not even at intermission!)<\/p>\n Rex Smith. Photo by Kevin Parry.<\/p><\/div>\n And here\u2019s a sidebar: On the way to the theatre, we were listening to Christmas music on the radio when Joni Mitchell’s River<\/em> came on. I checked to see what station was on because, in my mind, that is definitely not<\/em> a Christmas song. Mr. X and I could not figure out why they were playing it. And then, watching the show, there it was, smack dab in the middle of the first act. (And again in Act II, when they needed to bring the room down a bit again.) So now Mr. X is convinced that River<\/em> is, indeed, a holiday tune, especially because the first line is, \u201cIt\u2019s coming on Christmas, they\u2019re cutting down trees.\u201d I still do not<\/em> agree, but please feel free to weigh in yourself in the Comments section below.<\/p>\n As for the venue itself, I cannot imagine a more perfect one for this production than The Wallis. Every seat is comfortable and provides a perfect sideline. The visuals on this show are just spectacular, and with actors coming and going to and from different areas of the orchestra, you just always feel a part of the action. I don\u2019t think it would be as perfect an experience anywhere else.<\/p>\n The beautiful view as you take your seat at The Wallis. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n So my suggestion is–go see Love Actually Live<\/em> for the holiday! (If you can even get tickets. It looked sold-out for the performance we<\/em> saw, on what my mother would refer to as \u201ca plain little Tuesday night.\u201d)<\/p>\n I\u2019m begging the Wallis to do it all again next<\/em> year\u2014I know it will once again be the only show Mr. X comes with me to willingly<\/em>! So Happy Holidays to me<\/em>!<\/p>\n Love Actually Live<\/em>\u00a0running through December 29, 2019<\/strong> LOVE ACTUALLY LIVE This musical at the Wallis in Beverly Hills is one of the few shows in my life that I was happy to pay a repeat visit to.\u00a0 As a matter of fact, this is the third time I’ve seen Love Actually Live! (Twice in 2018 and now once this year, though that<\/p>\n<\/a>begged<\/del> asked him to write the entire review for me! I can\u2019t do any better than those<\/em> observations! But I have some to add.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>
\n Wallis Annenberg Theater For The Performing Arts<\/strong>
\n 9390 N. Santa Monica Boulevard Beverly Hills 310-746-4000\u00a0www.thewallis.org<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"