u/No_Release2180

Okay so my schedule has changed and opened up. I'm now able to see a show this Thursday evening, and Saturday matinee.

I'm not sure what to prioritise! I'd ideally like to see something I've not seen before, but I'd be open to it if there's particular performers worth seeing. I'm open to plays, I'm just fairly new to them.

Shows I've seen and loved:

• Cabaret
• Hamilton
• Hadestown
• Les Miserables
• Wicked
• Lion King
• The Book of Mormon

I've seen Hercules and Phantom of the Opera and didn't love either of them. I'm already going to see Operation Mincemeat and Oliver later in the year.

Shows I am considering:

• My Neighbour Totoro
• War Horse
• Avenue Q - Literally know zero about this, so not sure if I'd enjoy?
• Into The Woods - I really did not like the Disney movie of this, which is my only exposure. Is this better?
• Kinky Boots
• Six
• Cabaret - already seen, but specifically to see Matt Willis?
• Romeo & Juliet
• Oh, Mary!

I'm in London this Friday night for a work thing, but I probably won't be checked into my hotel and ready to head out until about 7:30. Are there any shows that have a start time of 8pm or beyond?

I'm looking for suggestions for a small book club I have with my friends.

We're currently looking for a read that is:

• Interesting, well-written and unique
• Doesn't have heavy themes or triggering topics
• Isn't pure romance (though some romance is fine

Firstly: I think they both looked absolutely amazing. Stunning stunning stunning. Just wanted to dot get that out of the way first!

There was a lot of talk in my thread before the event about what people hoped for and were expecting, and despite it being quite unlikely - many were hoping for something a bit more out-there from Connor.

I can understand this. If you'd have asked me at the start of their rise to global fame - which was only a few months ago - which of the two of them would be making bold swings with their fashion choices, I would have absolutely said Connor. His modelling, fashion, art and creative choices before Heated Rivalry have been so wonderfully eclectic. He has played with fashion and gender expression with confidence, and certainly is not shy to try something risky.

So I can see why people might have thought for the Met Gala Connor would lean on his uniqueness and confidence and go with something a bit more performative - especially since the theme really leans towards it.

But aside from the fact that I don't think that was ever happening within his YSL contract (my thoughts on that later lol), I also think that both Hudson and Connor have a team of people making more holistic choices for their overall brand/image/career. And I think they are aiming for very different things.

Connor has mentioned before that whilst he loves fashion, he doesn't want to be a model. He has actively turned down some fashion shows in order to focus on other things, and has described James Yardley's approach to his styling as a sort of old-school Hollywood leading man vibe. I think Connor is being dressed very intentionally to blend in. Not to be the same as everyone or to dull him down - not at all. I think his Met Gala outfit absolutely shines, and I love that it plays with femininity.

But I think Connor is being dressed to look as if he belongs on that red carpet and has always been there. Whereas Hudson's team I feel are going for the exact opposite. If James is wanting to present Connor as a confident leading man, Anastasia is presenting Hudson almost as a rock star. They're leaning into his fresh and exciting energy, the buzz around him, and the unexpected playfulness of his choices.

I wonder if this is a trend we'll see continue with them, or if I'm completely off with my assessment haha. Connor being locked into a YSL contract I think probably means more of the same for him for the foreseeable. Hudson is only a "Friend of the House" for Balenciaga, so he has much more flexibility to choose other designers.

I only hope that Connor is not being pushed into a certain style. If this is what he loves for him, and it aligns with how he wants to present, I love that for him. It's working and it looks great! But I hope we don't hear later down the line that he felt like his creativity was curbed in an attempt to make him more palatable to the masses. He still plays with the line between femininity and masculinity, and seems super confident in what he wears, so I don't think it's the case. But it's my only concern, as this is something we have seen a lot in the past with queer or queer-adjacent artists.

What do you guys think?

I think it's pretty locked in now that both boys will be there. What do you all think their vibe will be? The theme this year is "Fashion is Art".

I kind of hope we get something a little out there and unexpected from both of them. We rarely see them outside of darks and neutrals, so I would love to see them both in some colour.

I expect they will be locked into YSL and Balenciaga respectively? I know that outfits for the Met Gala are usually custom made in some way to fit the theme, but they're also often adapted from runway pieces.

Anyone have any predictions?

I'm going to be in London overnight later this month, and want to see a show in the evening.

Last time I was there I saw Reeve Carney in Cabaret. It was my first time seeing it and it blew me away. It's the first time I have ever wanted to immediately see a show again. I thought Reeve was incredible.

I'll be in London just in time to see Matt before he leaves, and I'm keen to see the show again. I was a big Busted fan as a teen, so I think it would be cool. But equally, I don't think I'll splurge for a third time anytime soon.

Does he have good reviews or is he a bit of a stunt cast? Anyone seen him on this run?

I'd love to hear everyone's random and fun headcanons for the boys. Here are some of mine!

Ilya

• Hates scary movies but tells everyone it's because he thinks they're boring.
• Is really into playing 8 Ball Pool on his phone and has actually paid real life money for the cue upgrades and the chat packs so he can chirp his opponents.
• Will get trending TikTok sounds stuck in his head and sing them over and over without realising.
• Goes to Disney World once and declares it his favourite place on earth. Is constantly trying to convince the Centaurs to go drinking around the world at Epcot.
• His phone is always about to run out of battery for some reason.
• Cannot stand self-checkouts - has declared them his mortal enemy.
• Never goes anywhere without bringing Shane something back. Even if he's just been to the store for toilet roll he'll come back with Shane's favourite candy or something.
• Really into documentaries, especially ones about bizarre things like the woman who married a bridge.
• He also really likes reality shows, like Married at First Sight and The Bachelor. Ends up talking to the WAGs about them.
• Collects Funko Pops, much to Shane's displeasure.
• His favourite sport is actually soccer and is a big Real Madrid fan. Drags Shane to a game during their honeymoon.
• His comfort movie is (inexplicably) Despicable Me, and the Centaurs chirp him about it all the time. He isn't embarrassed about it.

Shane

• Has a sunrise lamp that wakes him up in the morning with ocean sounds that Ilya hates with a passion.
• Takes his Duolingo streak very seriously and if he breaks it he's in a terrible mood.
• Has surprisingly terrible road rage, only made worse by Ilya laughing at him from the passenger seat.
• Was really into emo/pop-punk as a teenager and has a throwback playlist he plays in the car when Ilya isn't there to tease him about it.
• Talks in his sleep and occasionally sleepwalks. Ilya sometimes has to gently guide him back to bed.
• Loves lego and has some of the really cool big sets like the Titanic and the Millennium Falcon.
• Surprises Ilya with a very small tattoo of the number 81 on his inner hip (Ilya immediately gets a matching 24).
• Has a strict morning routine - journals every day after his morning run.
• Is super into biopic movies and reading autobiographies of interesting and successful people.
• Is a real coffee snob - has an expensive machine but also one of those fancy pour-over sets that he's always telling people about.
• When he finds something he really likes, he'll buy it again in multiple colours.
• Likes to watch tennis, even if Ilya moans about it being the second most boring sport after golf (which he also sometimes watches).