7 Period Dramas that have those Spring-vibes

Hello hello hello hello. It's a beautiful, sunny spring Sunday morning. Hello.

I love Spring. Everything bursts into fresh colour, new tints, happy life. Little flowers peep their heads into the sunlight, giving the garden patches of pink and white and yellow. The streets are crowned with pink candy-floss blossom and the mornings actually involve sunlight. It's too hot for winter coats, too cold for short sleeves, it's a time of nature being happy, and us humans being happy alongside it. As much as I love my winter with the cosy stormy days, spring makes me freaking happy. I love the boost it gives. The odd sense of excitement.

SO HELLO THERE SPRING, OL CHAP.

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7 Movies that have those Spring-vibes

(in no particular order)

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1. Emma 2009

Emma has its winter scenes (yes, I am thinking about the adorable one where Mr Knightley teases Emma about her pickety etiquette ideas at the Christmas party) but the whole movie reminds me of sunlight and summer bonnets and dresses with little flowery prints and painting in the garden so BAM SPRING.

2. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

I'll admit, just because of the 'Spring Spring Spring' song. Ha. So original, right, Naomi? Seven Brides for Seven Brothers has quite a lot of snow scenes (*swings axe to the ground*) but you know, it ends with everyone singing about spring and it has those bright dresses and an outside dance so watch this to celebrate spring, okay? Good.

3. Heidi 1993

This movie screams SPRING IS HERE. I have so so many memories of this film. It was one of the only movies I saw as a young girl and aside from being unhealthily petrified of the grandfather and that midnight scene in Frankfurt where Heidi's sleepwalking, I loved it to death. The mountains and the Swiss summer frocks; the goats and the flowers and the birds... Spring heaven.

4. Pride and Prejudice 1995

Let's be real, I'd add this to any list of Period Dramas haha, but no really, this brilliant mini-series is filled with wood walks, pastel regency frocks, chilly weather + sunlight, and Bennet sisters picking flowers while talking about young men they either hate or love. Still the best film ever. I stand firm.

5. Bright Star

Terrible movie in my opinion (no really, I didn't even finish this. The costumes are nauseating and the characters complete weirdos and the couple isn't even cute together despite their extreme sappiness) but I've got to mention it because it's filled with bluebells and butterflies and spring being in the air. So thus the mention. But don't watch it. :-P

6. Cinderella 2015

This is spring in a fairy-tale. Beauty and the Beast is going to be wintery, but Cinderella was spring. The light colours, the horse-back scenes, the yellow curls, the flowers in the garden, the exciting midnight clock in the warm night... it's a springtime fairy-tale and I'll always love it.

7. Anne of Green Gables.

Think about the White way of Delight, the garden party where Anne and Diana saw Josie fall in the pond from their little boat, Anne putting pink flowers on her hat before Church, Gilbert coming to rescue when Anne was 'fishing for lake trout'... both the book and the movie have such spring vibes. I love how Anne loves spring and how she's so in love with the blossom tree in front of her window. Marilla is like, 'blossom fiddlesticks.'

You know, it's been too long since I talked about Period Dramas on this blog. I'm still quite as in love with them as I was when I started blogging, don't you worry. Mama and I are currently watching Season 6 of Call the Midwife and yes Tom and Barbara are engaged yes yes yes they're cute yes yep. Okay, I'll stop saying yes. But yes about Tom and Barbara. They're the CUTEST YES.

Happy spring, everyone.

Not that I'll have time to watch any of these movies or any of your recommendations, but for conversations sake and the to-watch lists' sake:

what are your favourite spring movies?

Valentiney Stuff

I'm happily single, but happily appreciative of Valentiney, Romancey Stuff. I, therefore, like many other lovely single ladies, celebrate this month of Romance in my own way... on my own. (No, I didn't suppress a sob while declaring my current state of I-have-no-bae-ness. I have tons of lovely friends and I just read To Kill a Mockingbird and I'm listening to Carrie Underwood so yeah, why would I complain? Really. Keep it together.) (Also, chocolate. There's more when you're single because you don't have to share.) (I realise it's not V-day yet, but I'm an early bug when it comes to cute couples.)

Here are some Valentiney Stuff that give me LOADS AND LOADS OF FEELSIES. Enjoy.

Because Downton Abbey couples always deserve a mention in posts about Romance. Tom + Sybil's epic romance always makes my heart melt and ugh lets not even talk about the disgusting adorableness of Matthew and Mary. (I can't NOT talk about these without italics. They are the epitome of cute.)

This random wedding video made me cry buckets and I don't even know these people. How. I love them and I love how they really, really, really want their marriage to be all about Jesus. Also, they're crazy cute together so that helps.

A buncha random cute pictures I found online. Because it's adorable.

OKAY SO THIS VIDEO. I know, the dude's hair is terrible (okay, fine, it's not my style) but this couple is honestly so so adorable and I now want to have a surprise wedding too. Their passion to have Jesus-centred lives is just heart-warming and I love it when they just cry and laugh and look at each other and then cry and laugh some more. (Yes, I get attached to random people in youtube videos. Welcome to my life.)




Excuse me while I die. TOM AND BARBARA TOM AND BARBARA TOM AND BARBARA. They're seriously so cute that I am at loss for words. (*cue Marilla Cuthbert rolling her eyes at this loss-for-words-fiddlesticks.*) I'm afraid Marilla would roll her eyes a lot at me; especially when I start talking about Emma and Knightley. Just look at these two:

JUST YES. AND YES. I LOVE THEM.



However, of course, the award for the cutest couple ever ever EVER goes to Minnie and Alfie in Lark Rise to Candleford. These two are so freakin adorable together it's literally TIRING to watch. (No, really.)

This is my favourite couple-in-love-song I have ever listened to. (At least, at the moment. These things change.) Carrie Underwood's voice is fire and lightning and roses and candles all rolled into one, and this song is so passionate and calm and soothing and beautiful AHHH I LOVE IT. (Let's listen to it together.)

... if this post doesn't make you appreciate romance, I don't know what will. Happy Valentine's day, folks. If you're single, don't mourn your singleness but yeah, do squeal over cute couples because it makes life a great deal rosier and it's really fun. (Do talk about your favourite cute couples in the comments because I can always do with more sappiness.)

If Period Drama Characters had Internet Bios #2

(I might make these a little series, what do you think? Are there any Period Dramas you'd like me to cover?)

EMMA

@The_Emma_Woodhouse Connoisseur of other people's hearts+aspirations. Look on the bright side and win all the arguments! #Emma
@MrKnightley Enjoy good company, live in Donwell Abbey and that's about all I wish to say about myself online.
@ChurchillboyFrank Love blonde pretty girls, london haircuts and dancing and whatever my latest fave thing is! YOLO!
@JaneFairfax "It is a common saying, and in everyone's mouth, that life is but a sojourn." - Plato
@The?_Harriet_Smith educated young lady. blonde. i love valentine cards and ship courts i think. #Emma
@Mr_Elton The painting by @The_Emma_Woodhouse of @The?_Harriet_Smith is nothing but perfection.
@Augusta_Elton I am better than all the other girls and you know what lets have a music club i'll organise EVERYTHING!
@MrsWeston Formally Miss Taylor, but now have a wonderful husband. :-)
@MrWeston @MrsWeston's husband. I smile a lot and tell people stories about my son Frank.
@MissBates i really dont know how to write one of these but my mother said i should give it a go so here i am oh i did quite well dont you think?
@Mr_Woodhouse To be ill is the worst thing there is. To be far away from loved ones is even worse.
@Isabella_K There is so much noise in the house.
@John_Knightley Attorney by trade / People are annoying / except maybe my wife and brother and kids.
@RobertMartin Just a random farmer lad trying to get the best in life.

CRANFORD

@Miss_Matty It is the little things in life, I believe, that make one truly joyful. Oranges, beautiful profiles, and lace caps. And peas.
@Deborah_Jenkyns Tradition stands, laughing is vulgar, and I have a headache of phenomenal dimension.
@Marysmith Wearer of spectacles, reader of books, content with my life.
@ThegreatspinsterPole HAVE U HEARD ABOUT @Dr_Harrison lets chat 2gether oh my gosh.
@Mrs_Forrester PLEASE find betsy dear!!! please! i will give you my lace as a prise.
@The_Honourable_Mrs_Jamieson I love my dog / Own my private sedan chair / Survived the attack of a murderer
@Red_Caroline Feeling delicate and beautiful in my new red silk!!! (@Doc_Harrison, r u coming?)
@Augusta_sisterofC Life is interesting. My sister is my best friend.
@Mr_Holbrook "Every moment, lightly shaken, ran itself in golden sands." - Tennyson
@PeterJenkyns the coolest old person in Cranford << i'm back!
@Captain_Brown I enjoy the Pickwick Papers, the railway, and good neighbours.
@JessieBrown "By yon Bonnie Banks and by yon Bonnie Braes. I'll be in India before ye."
@Major_Gordon Redhead Scot in India. Been told I have a good baritone.
@Martha999 I looooove @Dude_Jem and I love working for @Miss_Matty but I'm sorta a control freak.
@Dude_Jem I have strong arms and I once was a bush. yolo. I luv @Martha999
@Doc_Harrison @SophieHutton. That is all. No one else. #ihopethisisclear
@SophieHutton Life is good with cherries, siblings, sunshine and @Doc_Harrison!
@Mrs_Rose Hair dye makes you look younger. (Does @Doc_Harrison agree?)
@The_Lady_Ludlow Waiting for my son Septimus / My estate is lonely
@MrCarter Be good. Be firm.
@Harry_Gregson Mr Carter said that I could have an account now I can write. Thanks, sir. #freemydada
@Miss_Gilando Cover your ears. Everyone deserves an education.
@ReverendHutton Kissing is for after marriage.
@Marshland_Jack Prank-player, sassy-eye lover, grab opportunities to have fun!
@Sir_Charles_Maulver that character that was played by Mr Whilloughby.

CALL THE MIDWIFE

@NurseJennyLee Let us not forget these days, when we were busy, young, in love, and free.
@TRIXIE79 babycham, cigarettes, marilyn monroe songs are the spice of lyfe! embrace your body + be confident! #blondeshavefun
@Cynthia_Miller An old soul trapped into a small stature.
@CallmeChummy I say, what-ho old bean! Jolly spiffing to have you here. I'm big as an elephant and rather enjoy sewing. Toodlepip.
@BernadetteShelagh Married to Dr Turner and loving every moment. My fashion taste has evolved except my glasses.
@Doctor_Turner Love my wife and my boy. #smokingisgood
@TimothyTurner #smokingisnotgood I like long trousers and i wish I was a doctor. I hate my mum's choir, sorry mum.
@Sister_Julienne To be sensible, to be godly, to be good - these are all excellent goals.
@SisterMonicaJoan Cakes in the larder, wonderful as they are, are small in their worth when one compares them with the galaxies of Mercury!
@Sister_Evangelina Shocked to find my fellow sisters online! There is work to be done!!! #Mercuryindeed
@Jimmy My life went downhill.
@Constable_Noakes I love @CallmeChummy and our little man, Freddie. Police helmets are more comfortable than they look.
@Fredthechap the best deals here, contact me for info about candy apples on sticks and my fair lady tickets. #scooterlessonsattwo

"What a glorious feeling, I'm happy again."

{No, this is not another post about being happy and focusing on the positive and neither is is a post with a list of my favourite things. This is a post about rain; the title is a quote of a musical song, and you should have known that without me telling you.}

Inspired by Amy's Ode to Tea and Emma's letter to Snow (which she wrote back in December, but still), I am here to talk about Another Thing Which Can't Think Or Talk But Which I'm Going To Pretend That Can. (I'm making sense, right?) 

I'm going to talk about rain. Rain, to say in the least, is disastrously underrated. In Belgium; February, March, and just every single month in general, are often rainy months. I go to French Class every Thursday evening, and I'm telling you, every single time they complain about 'the terrible weather in this country.' (In French.) On Sundays, I'll hear at least one person at Church bash my darling and dear Mr Rain. When there's a sunny day, they'll say, 'Oh this is so much better than all that rain.' Which, you know, I respect, and all that - but which constantly reminds me of the fact that rain is extremely and terribly underrated.

My dear and darling Mr Rain, I will be putting you in the limelight today. You may start smiling, for one of your pluviophiles is finally shedding you some glory. (You deserve it and you're welcome.)

“Rainy days should be spent at home with a cup of tea and a good book.” ― Bill Watterson

Dear Mr Rain, people say you are wet. Which, I cannot deny is a fact with extremely reliable sources as you are the very thing; wet. But by no means am I agreeing with the tone of voice in which people say that. They say this with disgusted faces; faces that look like my face when I watch Pride and Prejudice 2005. (Yes, I considered not writing down that about P&P05, but I decided to go for it because that movie just really irritates me and I ain't going to hide that.) People say 'ew, rain is so wet' as if it is a monstrous thing to be. Don't ever stop being wet, rain - I love that you are wet.

Why, if you weren't wet all the fun would be out of it. You wouldn't be an adventure, you wouldn't be cosy, you wouldn't want to make people go inside and warm their hands and put on new dry clothes.  You wouldn't make people's hair curly during rain-walks, and that would be a very sad thing indeed. That's the whole nice thing about you, rain - you are wet.

“The only noise now was the rain, pattering softly with the magnificent indifference of nature for the tangled passions of humans.” ― Sherwood Smith

Because you are wet, Liesl and Maria became friends rather than people with an 'oh-I-don't-need-a-governess'-relationship. No really, because if Liesl wouldn't have become wet, Maria wouldn't have given her her nightgown and Maria wouldn't have suggested to clean and dry her gorgeous pink dress for her. That started their good relationship. (No, don't say, 'Well, it would have happened sooner or later.' Be quiet, Sparkler.)

Because you are wet, Marianne Dashwood almost died but then didn't and then fell in love with Colonel Brandon. If you weren't wet, dear Mr Rain, Marianne Dashwood would never have fallen deathly ill, and she would have never really noticed Colonel Brandon at all. Colonel Brandon showed what a hero he was during her illness and without you being wet he would not have made such an impression on Miss Marianne. Also, because you are wet, Elinor looked really cute like that (see picture below) and Edward decided once and for all that he was really in love with her. Good job, Mr Rain.

Because you are wet, Emma Woodhouse was able to make her second match turn into reality. Miss Taylor and Mr Weston's love story only really started when He decided to share his umbrella with her. If you weren't wet, dear Mr Rain, they wouldn't even have had those umbrella's, and they would have never fallen in love! (Take that, rain-haters.) 

“Thunderstorms are as much our friends as the sunshine.” 

― Criss Jami

People complain also about you being cold. But just because you are cold and wet, you are just about the cosiest thing ever. I have several excellent memories of coming home from rainy walks and snuggling in dry pyjamas and drinking warm chocolate milk. You, my darling Mr Rain, make everyone appreciate the warmth and the dryth (I invented that word because it sounds very good) in our humble abodes. You make everyone nice and wet and nice and chilly so that we can feel that amazing feeling of coming home, drying ourselves, and treating ourselves with hot drinks and cosy evenings of dry blankets  and a good movie. That feeling is just about the best thing ever, and I really really really appreciate your coldness and your wetness.

And in the summer, your cold and wetness is even more appreciated. Ugh, it's just perfect when you decide to say hello when it's stifling hot outside - your wonderful fat and wet and cold raindrops are sheer glory on our burning skin during the summer.

Keep on being cold and wet, Mr Rain. Thank you. Let's shake hands.

“I love the smell of rain and growing things.” ― Serina Hernandez

People go on, complain that you are dreary. Who put that idea in their heads, pray? Okay, well, you can have the impression that you're grey and dark and grumbly - especially if you decide to thunder (which, don't get me wrong, I love) - but people don't see the good sides! I have said it already, but I shall repeat it again - you are cosy. There is nothing I love better than a long and dark rainy day. I love the pattern of your raindrops on my window, and I love spending time in my room when you are doing your thing outside.

You are romantic too, Mr Rain, for all of cinema's most epic love scenes are in the rain. (Except Mr Darcy's proposal in P&P05. That was just silly, Mr Rain.) 

Take Roger Hamely's adorable rain-filled proposal - Molly Gibson just loved it. And take Catherine and Henry's little rain-moment; not my personal favourite scene in Northanger Abbey, but millions adore it. And then there's that classic, classic scene in Singing in the rain, where the Gene Kelly guy dances and sings in the rain. (I know; it's not a romantic scene, because it's just him - but it's an epic and a famous cinema scene, sooo.)

“I love rainstorms...the thunder, lightning, wind, all of it. So much going on at once, so many emotions...just like me.” ― April Mae Monterrosa

Just like you, Mr Rain, Dr Seuss is a genius, because I'm pretty sure he loved you. First 'Sally and I' complain about not being able to do anything but 'sit sit and sit' (and they did not like it, not one little bit) just because it's raining. (Ha. They're so funny, aren't they?) But then The Cat comes in (which is really creepy if you think about it) and he says, 'I know it is wet and the sun is not sunny, but we can do lots of things that is funny!' And yes, I heartily agree with the good old Cat Hat.

WHO TOLD YOU, I ask, WHO TOLD YOU THAT YOU CAN'T DO THINGS WHEN IT'S RAINING?!!!

There a millions of things you can do when it's raining. You can read a book, write stories (writing always comes easier when it's raining outside), make pancakes, watch movies, tidy your room (tidying your room is nice when it's raining), make scrapbooks, read blog posts and I know not what! And if you want, you can go outside and sing and dance in the rain. That's always possible too. 

“Heavy rains and a good book. A perfect extravagance.” 

― Carew Papritz

You are also really emotional, rain - you provide for a lot of tear-gerkers. In fact, there's this famous quote by Charlie Chaplin in which he says that he likes walking in the rain so no-one can see him crying. (Apparently Rowan Atkinson said this too once, but he was probably just quoting Charlie Chaplin - who forgot to copyright his quote.) There are several scenes in cinema with you, Mr Rain, in it - which make me choke up a Whole Lot.

Molly Gibson and Roger Hamely's proposal is an example, but the classic example is Eponine's death scene in Les Miserables - and her gorgeous rain-filled solo, On My Own. 

"There's nothing in the world that compares to the feel and smell of brand-new rain." 

— Colleen Hoover

Furthermore, my dear Mr Rain, you smell amazingly. You make the earth smell amazing; you make the earth bring forth fruit - you make the flowers grow, the blossom colour, the trees green and the fruit ripen. In retrospect, you give us books - because without trees there wouldn't be books, and without you there wouldn't be trees. And you give us chocolate, because without cocoa beans and milk there wouldn't be chocolate, and without you there wouldn't be cocoa beans, and without cows there wouldn't be milk, and without you there wouldn't be cows alive on earth. 

You are amazing, Mr Rain, and you do, quite frankly, not deserve all the hate comments and bullying you receive daily. I promise I never sang 'Rain, rain, Go to Spain' when I was a little girl, and I promise I never shall. Seriously, there are so many people who yearn for some raindrops, so I know it's foolish to complain when you're so gracious to bestow my country with your showers of generosity.

Finally and most importantly, without you, my darling and dearest Mr Rain, there would be no rainbows, and that would make the world a very sad place indeed. (And without you, one wouldn't be in need of umbrellas - and umbrellas are pretty darn cute objects of shelter.)

Do you like rain?

(Say yes.)

Why Mr Knightley is my favourite hero

Some of you may or may not know it, but Mr Knightley in the 2009 Emma version is my favourite literary hero. Not my favourite Jane Austen hero, my favourite literary hero. That means he ranks higher than Matthew Crawley, Mr Darcy or any other one. Mr Knightley is my idea of an ideal hero!

Why?

Mr Knightley is kind. He has such a good heart - he's always saying wise, kind things. He has his faults (after all, no-one but God is perfect, right?), but he's such a good, nice, kind man. Who can't like him? He's so sweet!

Mr Knightley is active. Some people have kind hearts and say nice things, but don't really act them out. But Mr Knightley does. He went to Harriet when she had no dancing partner. He stood up for Mrs Bates... he does things. He doesn't just sit around and say wise things.

Mr Knightley is witty. Kind, wise people? Nah. Boring. That might have been your reaction. But no, Mr Knightley is witty. He says funny things - has funny facial expressions. He makes me laugh. It is perfectly possible to be good, wise and witty. Mr Knightley shows that.

Mr Knightley likes children. I love it when Mr Knightley runs about with the children, throwing snowballs and lifting them on his shoulders. You can see he really enjoys it. That's another reason I like him.

Mr Knightley is a gentleman. He just is. The way he clothes. The way he addresses people. A perfect gentleman.

Mr Knightley argues well. Haha. I just had to stick that in somewhere. Because I love the way Mr Knightley argues... I kinda love it when he's angry - he does it so well.

Mr Knightley is romantic. Yes, on top of being kind, witty, wise and the perfect gentleman, Mr Knightley has a romantic side to him - which he shows when Emma is around. He has a very gentle way of dealing with ladies, and his romantic one-liner is one that everyone knows: "If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more."

Mr Knightley is gentle. We see him cross. We see him argue. We see him irritated. But we never, ever see him strike someone. He's far to gentle and nice for that.

Right, as I said, he does have his faults - but in the whole, I think he's definitely the nicest hero there is. He's the sort of man I'd like to marry one day. I'm sure you all agree. :-) I made this post for the honour of Heidi's Emma week. Do pop over and join the fun. If you haven't played the game yet... click right here and give it a try!

10 Favourite JA dresses

{Images from cap-that.com}

The Jane Austen movie have the PRETTIEST gowns. They're generally not too fussy, as the Regency style/pattern was a more simple one. (I mean, you know, no endless hoops or furbelows like the ladies wore in other time periods. I love those too, by the way.) Here, dear people, are my ten favourite. And ohhhh, choosing where which one will go in the list is going to be HARD. But I'll try. :-)

(Most of these are going to be from Emma Woodhouse in the 2009 wardrobe, just warning. I'm very much in love with her entire wardrobe. :-/)

#10 - Elizabeth Bennet's gold sprigged dress

Elizabeth's whole wardrobe is entirely simplistically gorgeous and naturally elegant. I'm the most in love with her blue spencer (I mean, it's seriously the most beautiful spencer in the entire world - go click here) but as that's not a dress, it cannot appear on this list. One of my favourite of Elizabeth's dresses is this one. I love the goldish-brownish design, and the fresh white-ness. It's just scrumptioussss.

#9. Catherine Moorland's light blue/white dress

I actually am not crazy about Catherine's wardrobe in general, but this one is just adorable. And the neckline is not atrociously low, which is nice, you know. I love it - it captures Cathy's youthful-ness and innocence very well. :-) (There, wasn't that a clever thing to say?)

#8. Maria Lucas' yellow dress

I know Maria Lucas isn't one of the main characters in Pride and Prejudice, but I've always noticed and completely LOOOOVED her yellow dress. The bell-like sleeves, the buttons in the shape of flowers... it's just so adorable and angelic. She wears it at the Netherfield Ball (where she gets to hold Mr Darcy's hand during a dance - lucky girl) and several times at Rosings.

#7. Emma Woodhouse's Christmas dress

Okay, maybe it's just me being in a disastrous Christmas mood already, but this dress of Emma's is absoblumelutely adorable. We don't see her wearing it enough, but from what I've seen, I think it's made from a kind of velvet-y material - maybe not, but it looks kind of velvet. And I LOVE Velvet. I personally think the sash is a bit too large, but for the rest this dress is VERY Naomi-Approved.

#6. Kitty Bennet's blue patterned dress

I don't know why I love this dress of Kitty's so much - it's very simple. Maybe it's the little tiny puffs at the top of the sleeve, or the tiny blue dots. I just love it so much.

#5. Emma's pink afternoon dress

AHH. EMMA'S WARDROBE. It was agony choosing 'at least four', I tell you. But this pink inside-the-house dress definitely deserved a place on the list. I mean, look. It's gorgeous and yet it looks super comfortable too. I actually (shockingly) love Mrs Elton's outfit in this scene too. Yes, it's over-trimmed, but it's really surprisingly gorgeous (or it would be, if someone else wore it) - look at her bonnet. 

#4. Isabella's yellow dress

Okay, most of Isabella's gowns aren't my favourite ones. They generally tend to scream: "FLIRT" - you know what I mean. But this yellow one; I mean, it's SO pretty. And it suits her so well and OH I WANT IT THANKS. (Ahhhh, look how it flows... and the perfect puffy sleeves. Looook.)

#3. Marianne's peach cross-over dress

Marianne wears peach SO. DARN. WELL. (My favourite outfit of hers is the one with the peach pelisse and the peach hat with the ostrich feathers. As this isn't a 'dress', I cannot add it into my list, but I have to give you a LINK to it. Because it's gorgeous.) Anyway, this dress - I LOVE IT. I love the cross-over pattern and the gold-y peachy-ness. It's so elegant and simple and golden... Ahhh, I really like it a LOT. :-)

#2. Emma's orange flowered dress

This dresssssss. Wow, guys, it's AMAZING. It's really Autumn-y, with the rusty tones and the burnt-orange, and the peachy flowers.... GAHH. Someone sew this for meeee.

#1. Emma's pink ball gown

AND NOWWW. MY FAVOURITE DRESS. I have mentioned this dress many times before, I know I have - but that won't make me stop right now. (Sorry if you just got your hopes up, haha.) In the 'behind the scenes' of Emma 2009, the costume designer (forgot her name. Or maybe his name. I can't even remember if it was a man or a woman. Probably a woman, because that's more typical.) said that this dress has loads of thin layers to create a shimmery, elegant effect. Well, that's just why I love this dress - it's the shimmery party-ness - and ohhh, it's pink and sparklyyyyy.

I LOVE IT. :-)

What are some of your favourite Jane Austen Movie dresses?

Oh, and I WOULD have added this dress, but I didn't because it's not really in a JA movie, and us Janeites aren't completely happy with this movie (because Jane Austen never eloped and she does in the movie, and that makes us angry.) But anyway: I LOVE THIS DRESS TOO. Like, I love it like crazy and I'm completely in love with it.

Oh, and I mentioned the word 'love' seventeen times in this post. We are all surprised.

Jane Austen Musicals // A Guest Post by Emma Jane!

I'm very honoured indeed to grace my blog with a well-written post by my very best of friends, Emma. She's has a name to be jealous of. Emma. And Jane. I mean. It doesn't get more Jane Austen-like than THAT. :-) You can find Emma's blog here. (It's my favourite. Just saying.)

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 Hello, friends! *waves*  It’s me, your local musical theatre expert, a.k.a Naomi’s nutty best friend, a.k.a. Emma Jane. Big thank-you to Naomi for letting me guest post! You’re a darling. :-)

    

    Jane Austen’s legacy has lived on for over two hundred years, invading modern pop culture even now. Her books are still as popular as ever (among intelligent people, that is) and they still crank out movie adaptations of her works about every five years (which continue to spark controversy, sarcasm and snarky debate among her rabid fans, of which there are many). You can buy Jane Austen’s face on everything from tote bags and refrigerator magnets to Christmas tree ornaments, coffee mugs, pretty much anything you can think of. Point made -- Jane Austen is out there, everywhere. That’s why it’s hardly surprising that Jane Austen’s timeless stories have made their way into the glittering world of Musical Theatre.

    (You know what I always say -- if you look hard enough, you can find a musical version of anything. This theory was made law upon the discovery that there’s a musical of Secondhand Lions. JUST NO. Sometimes people are a little too creative for their own good.)

     

    When I decided to write about JA musicals for a guest post, the only one I really knew anything about was the Pride and Prejudice written by Lindsay Warren Baker and Amanda Jacobs, and that’s because Laura Osnes starred as Lizzy in the opening production. ;-) (I’m a very devoted Laura fan, by the way.) When I started looking into the show more, I found that there are actually about four or five P&P musicals! Whew. And believe it or not, there have been musicals written for every one of Jane Austen’s six major novels. None of them have made a very big splash on Broadway -- most of them never made it to Broadway -- but they’re out there, just the same!

        Pride and Prejudice remains the most widely-known of Jane Austen’s novels, and so it’s fitting that the musical is the most popular as well. A general Google search revealed that there are about five different musical versions, but who knows how many there really are. There aren’t many videos of any version to be found on Youtube, but it looks like the most famous is the concert version from 2008 with Laura Osnes, and since I’m not about to pay any attention to any version that doesn’t have Laura Osnes in it, that’s the one I’m going to focus on. ;-P

    Pride and Prejudice: A Musical Play opened October 21, 2008 in Rochester, NY. (Fun fact: Rochester is only about three hours from where I live. I COULD HAVE GONE TO SEE IT. Although I doubt my nine-year-old self would have particularly enjoyed it…) It was a concert, and not a fully-staged production, which I take to mean from the less than abundant photographic evidence existing that it was basically just a bunch of people in costume singing on the stage while an orchestra played in the background. (Picture the Les Miz anniversary concerts.) Laura Osnes played Elizabeth Bennet, and Colin Donnell played Mr. Darcy.

    From what I’ve gathered, the character of Jane Austen narrates a lot of the show, with the other characters voicing their thoughts to themselves (Tevye-from-Fiddler-on-the-Roof-style). On the recordings I’ve listened to, I reaaaaally do not like the Jane Austen lady -- she seems much too abbrasive and her voice is lower than I would imagine Jane Austen’s. Laura Osnes and Colin Donnell are both excellent singers and while they’re not ideal  as Lizzy and Darcy, they seem to play the parts well.

     Most of the music is so-so -- nothing extremely brilliant. I could make the remark that a lot of the songs follow the same general tune. ;-P  There are a few very beautiful melodies throughout, though, including my favorite -- “Had I Been In Love”, which Lizzy sings after realizing  how blind she’s been about Darcy all this time.

   As far as an adaptation of the book, I can’t really say how close the musical sticks because I have the disadvantage of not having seen the whole show. ;-/ For the most part the music seems to reflect fittingly the different aspects of the story, the characters’ perspectives and feelings, though I think they could have taken better advantage of Jane Austen’s classic wit. Parts of the music are a little too silly, if you ask me. There are some songs in the show I can’t even listen to because they’re so -- how shall I say it? -- gaggy, if you will. (Like the one Mrs. Bennet sings about her nerves, and Lydia’s swooning over redcoats. That’s just too much for me.) However, there’s a very romantic feel to the music, which I like. It makes you sigh and go, “Ahhh….isn’t that pretty?”

    As a musical, it’s not particularly epic, and it’s not musically stunning, but it’s a sweet little show with some pretty tunes that would be enjoyable to watch. You can find the whole soundtrack here. ‘The Portrait Song’, ‘He Thinks/She Thinks’, and ‘Had I Been In Love’ are my favorites. :-)

The other Jane Austen musicals are very little-known, and not many videos of them exist. But here are some pictures, to give you a little idea…

Sense and Sensibility

    The proposal…..awwwwwww. :-)

   
 Emma

    

I don’t know about you, but that looks pretty weird to me!

I think a musical of a Jane Austen book could be a good idea, but I’d rather just stick to the movies. 

What do you think? 

Did you know Jane Austen’s books have been made into musicals? 

Have you seen any?

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Thank you, Emma, for a lovely post!