Astra's actionfigures in Action

bloodsong13t asked for a panto report. I decided not to do a full one this time, as the show was very similar to previous ones, albeit still fun and always different due to mishaps and improvisation. But I won't write up all the Krankies jokes again, if you want to get an idea about those, go for 2013 (Jack and the Beanstalk), 2014 (Dick McWhittington) and 2015 (Cinderella).

When there are links in the text then they are to videos John has filmed himself. Filming is actually forbidden but if the stars does it himself, what can you do? LOL Enjoy!

For those who don't know about British Pantomime. The show "Dick Whittington" is about Dick who loves Alice and works for her father in a sweets shop. There is also a fairy who speaks in rhymes and then King Rat, the bad guy. Whenever he arrives on stage, the audience boos him. One night he takes Alice's birthday gift, a necklace, from the safe and puts it into Dick's bundle so everyone thinks he stole it. They send him away. We all were awwing him. Sometimes John has to laugh while saying "This is so sad" in a giggeling voice.

On Wednesday the whole scene with the key and the safe and the necklace went horribly wrong with some important lines missing, which culminated in John saying "We're doing it again" and then topping it with "See, I still have the necklace safe in my bundle". I lost it at that but I guess viewers who saw it only this once might have been confused!

( There are lots of double meaning jokes so that... )

And of course, the annual stage door selfie:

Thank you leesa_perrie for providing me with the dog picture. It reminded me of one with John Barrowman that was posted some days ago - having fallen asleep after a hard shopping spree.

The only reason to go to this convention was John Barrowman. I did either not know or not care for the others that were there. And I did in general not care for all the comics and comic artists and professional cosplayers. But John alone and his panels were worth the weekend (and some other guy that I will show you yet).

First day I asked for a "nice prom photo" and then John took over. "Stand to the side, put your hand here, put your other hand there..."



Next day I was back in my jeans ;) I had seen this pose at a convention a few years back and it was still missing from my collection. Cheeky ;)



And then we realized that with all our hugs and bum-up-front pictures we actually have none that shows the awesome Dalek Pride shirt John wore. So we went back into line to buy one more picture. My friend was before me and explained what she wanted, and when it was my turn John just asked: "Same?" and I answered: "Same." That's all it took. We are getting very professional there ;)

It's already the next day in my part of the world but for John it is still March 11th, the day he turns 50. He's sharing his birthday celebrations with us via pictures and videos, so I thought this would be a good time to post my selfies from the Birmingham panto back in January. The background of the first was a bit overlit due to sunshine, so the next day we asked for the wall. Little did I know that the sunshine then was gone for the week and it was all grey and rain and cold!

PS: If you haven't seen his new hair color and style yet, go here and be shocked: https://twitter.com/JohnBarrowman/status/840699582451408896

For those who don't know, he has been grey for many many years and we all knew he colored his hair. So a few days ago he shaved it all off and now it is short and natural grey. I always said sooner or later he'll have to look his age. The transition comes as a shock so all of a sudden and we don't think he'll keep it, as he surely has to look young for TV, but I always liked a silver fox (looking at you, Richard Dean Anderson and Sean Pertwee) so I certainly wouldn't mind! I think if the hair was a bit longer it could look great. Maybe they could start to dye his temples grey at least or something...

In the past few days Vic Mignogna tweeted two things that both reminded me of John Barrowman. I can't help it, I feel as if they are doing this just for me ;)

First they had fun with a shark:





And just today a live action "Futurama" fanfilm came out. You can watch it here if you like: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-1RMKdWz8M

If you just want to see Vic's part, he comes at minute 15:55 and I love it. Hilarious. Beware of joysticks and pixelation ;)



I may soon need to do a masterlist for all the comparison pictures. In the meantime, follow the tag.

John Barrowman recently posted these two pictures, one from his "Torchwood" days, the other a recent one from the "Arrow" set. I couldn't help seeing the similarity! This is another one for my comparisons collection. I probably should start another masterlist! For now you'll have to click the tag to see the others: http://dieastra.livejournal.com/tag/comparisons

Some friends here know that I recently struggled a bit with my love for John Barrowman, you know how it is, little things start to grate, and you start to wonder about some of his decisions and general over the top behavior (I'm still not over that weird stripey suit with short pants he wore when presenting an award show). But then he goes and does something awesome and I am back.

Today he got the Human Rights Campaign award for being out and proud and helping the community in every way possible. I hadn't known that he actually helped shaping UK laws (I only knew that they changed the music charts counting system when he started to sell his CDs at QVC). That's pretty big. Here is the video of his acceptance speech and it is a really good one. This is why we love him:

https://www.facebook.com/GayStarNews/videos/1184590711617244/

Tonight was a gala with Disney songs in the Royal Albert Hall, moderated by John Barrowman. Apparently tickets sold out in June within minutes, and it was only a few weeks ago when John or anyone else actually was announced for this (Alan Menken also was there and a lot of others). Somehow, some fans found some spare tickets. I didn't even bother and I hear now that it was also recorded for TV and radio, so we will get to see it in time.

I'm happy to report that after a while of wondering whether I was still in the JB fandom (do yourself a favor and don't watch the Celibrity Juice show that aired on Thursday. It's really not good) he just has to go and sing some Disney songs and I am back!

Here are two three short clips. I'll also add the links in case the embedding isn't working.

"Out there" (Hunchback of Notre Dame)

in rehearsal:
https://twitter.com/streamlinepts/status/790216775866650624

Sounding amazing in rehearsal @Team_Barrowman #Disney #RoyalAlbertHall #Rehearsals #london #excited #fan pic.twitter.com/O1Qr7xOOdt

— Tom Cowen (@streamlinepts) October 23, 2016

And in the show (WHAT A VOICE!!!):
https://twitter.com/TheMattTam/status/790358520386420736

John Barrowman (@Team_Barrowman) performing "Out There" from The Hunchback of Notre Dame at #DisneysBroadwayHits pic.twitter.com/PoM5XakzbS

— Matt Tam (@TheMattTam) October 24, 2016

And "Chim Chim Cheree" (Mary Poppins)

https://www.instagram.com/p/BL66vTmh0aUtxzf-P__8W6Ra_jKnsBmX8d44iw0/



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Background: When I said I think a love triangle will happen once David arrives, I totally meant it in the straight way. Because of "You people and your quaint little categories" (quote Jack Harkness). But then I got this awesome comment in a forum: Better be careful, Venus might get jealous..... And now of course I HAD to put a different perspective on it! So I let me inspire by these pictures.

First Nathan Fillion stole Wil Wheaton’s wife Anne.



Then John Barrowman stole Wil Wheaton and Anne was miffed.



And then the Thinker stole David and the Venus was equally miffed ;)

Another one of my favorite comparison posts ;) The first video I have posted before, the second I just found right now. And I am having the greatest fun. Again I am amazed that I most definitely seem to have a type ;)

Guys singing love duets, without any care. And not just singing, but really giving into it. There is even a kiss at the end in both - one at the mouth, the other one at the cheek. And it does not matter one bit that only one of those four is openly gay.

1. John Barrowman and Stephen Amell - Music of the night from Phantom of the opera:

https://www.facebook.com/stephenamell/videos/987010431384224/



2. Vic Mignogna and Michael Rosenbaum - Endless Love:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLjz4Mh9fB0