Les Miserables @ Stratford Picture House. Absorbing and commendable film based on stage show songs and original Victor Hugo book. 7+/10
Late afternoon Sunday showing with only about 20 to 30 in the auditorium. Had not seen stage show or read the book so comment above based on others remarks. Went for Chinese buffet after the film. Very very poor. 2/10
Monday, 28 January 2013
Saturday, 26 January 2013
Silent Opera @ Trinity Quay
Silent Opera @ Trinity Quay. Boat from The Eye past O2 to warehouse on river. Watch full performance of L'Orfeo with headphones. Great. 9/10
Well. This is the highlight of my arts year so far. Looking for something unconventional, high quality and entertaining go to this.
Our ticket included a Thames clipper transfer from Festival Pier in the centre of London along the Thames past the illuminated city, canary wharf, greenwich and the O2. Our destination was a warehouse at Trinity Buoy Wharf.
So what is silent opera? Opera singers miked up sing with the assistance of a small live band but the benefit of a full orchestras recording as backing. All three are mixed and broadcast wirelessly to the audience who listen using headsets. That in itself was novel enough but the staging of this montevierdi classic made it more so. With the audience in the performance space the action takes place all around you. They even manage to move the audience through three imaginative sets and and allow them to decide the fete of L'Orfeo at the end.
Well. This is the highlight of my arts year so far. Looking for something unconventional, high quality and entertaining go to this.
Our ticket included a Thames clipper transfer from Festival Pier in the centre of London along the Thames past the illuminated city, canary wharf, greenwich and the O2. Our destination was a warehouse at Trinity Buoy Wharf.
So what is silent opera? Opera singers miked up sing with the assistance of a small live band but the benefit of a full orchestras recording as backing. All three are mixed and broadcast wirelessly to the audience who listen using headsets. That in itself was novel enough but the staging of this montevierdi classic made it more so. With the audience in the performance space the action takes place all around you. They even manage to move the audience through three imaginative sets and and allow them to decide the fete of L'Orfeo at the end.
Thursday, 24 January 2013
Quartermaine's Terms @ Wyndham theatre
Quartermaine's Terms@ The Wyndham. Set in a 60s EFL school staff room. Rowan Atkinson makes a humorous & gentle return to the West End 7+/10
Very good cast with strong performances all round. Rowan is clearly the main attraction for this new play. For those expecting Mr Bean they will be disappointed. The play has some Bean moments and it seems based on the performance tonight that much of the character is just Rowan being himself. Anyway not enough Mr Bean perhaps to stop a few members of the audience leaving at the interval. The play does not open until next week. One suspects for these preview performances that a lot of tickets have been given to those working in the industry and its easy for them to leave if they know they have a ready supply of free tickets to all the best shows. My wife and I paid almost £120 to see it. Not including programme and interval drinks.
4 act play with one interval. The Wyndhams is a great theatre although the royal circle bar is too small for the numbers wanting to use it
Very good cast with strong performances all round. Rowan is clearly the main attraction for this new play. For those expecting Mr Bean they will be disappointed. The play has some Bean moments and it seems based on the performance tonight that much of the character is just Rowan being himself. Anyway not enough Mr Bean perhaps to stop a few members of the audience leaving at the interval. The play does not open until next week. One suspects for these preview performances that a lot of tickets have been given to those working in the industry and its easy for them to leave if they know they have a ready supply of free tickets to all the best shows. My wife and I paid almost £120 to see it. Not including programme and interval drinks.
4 act play with one interval. The Wyndhams is a great theatre although the royal circle bar is too small for the numbers wanting to use it
Thursday, 17 January 2013
Old Times @ Pinter Theatre
Old Times @ Pinter Theatre. Very well acted 3 hander. Married couple & friend reflect on today and their past. Engaging & baffling. 6+/10
Pinter well known for his challenging story lines reinforces his reputation in this minimalist one act play set in the sitting room and bedroom of a 70s house by the sea. A married couple dart between reflecting on their marriage today and the friendship that the wife had with her friend not seen for 20 years.
Rufus Sewell's performance is particularly strong as was Kristin Scott Thomas. Lia Williams who played the wife in the show I saw had less opportunity to shine in her quiet broody role. Kristin and Lia will swap parts each night (a la Frankenstein at the NT) and promise to do it with the flip of a coin for some shows in the future a few minutes before the show. Innovative and scary. I would pay to see the roles reversed, but what show would you book! Might be a dramatic box office mistake.
This is the first Pinter play to be performed at the renamed Comedy theatre.
Pinter well known for his challenging story lines reinforces his reputation in this minimalist one act play set in the sitting room and bedroom of a 70s house by the sea. A married couple dart between reflecting on their marriage today and the friendship that the wife had with her friend not seen for 20 years.
Rufus Sewell's performance is particularly strong as was Kristin Scott Thomas. Lia Williams who played the wife in the show I saw had less opportunity to shine in her quiet broody role. Kristin and Lia will swap parts each night (a la Frankenstein at the NT) and promise to do it with the flip of a coin for some shows in the future a few minutes before the show. Innovative and scary. I would pay to see the roles reversed, but what show would you book! Might be a dramatic box office mistake.
This is the first Pinter play to be performed at the renamed Comedy theatre.
Sunday, 13 January 2013
The Magistrate @ The National Theatre
The Magistrate @ The National Theatre. Period farce based on a lie about a ladies age & the mayhem that ensues. Good cast and clever set. 8/10
The Pre-Raphaelites @ Tate Britain
The Pre-Raphaelites@Tate Britain. Last days of this exhibition so busy. Interesting departure from & reaction to art trends of the time 6/10
Acoustic Zone @ RAFA
Acoustic Zone @ RAFA. Great sets from 3 piece River Bird at this mthly event. Simple musicality to a high standard from this new group. 7/10
This small private RAF association club with Maldon real ale is little more than a converted family home with built in bar, glitter ball and small stage in the front room window bay. The Acoustic Zone which is part of the Redbridge Green Fair uses the club to host this monthly event. Two acts on the bill tonight. River Bird - charming female brazilian lead singer with great vocals, male spanish keyboard and vocals and male english electric guitar. River Bird alternated between their own material and old soul classics. Preferred their own material. Check out riverbird. net. Del Brown also on the bill. Highlight was when his daughter (7 or 8 years old) accompanied him on mouth organ.
This small private RAF association club with Maldon real ale is little more than a converted family home with built in bar, glitter ball and small stage in the front room window bay. The Acoustic Zone which is part of the Redbridge Green Fair uses the club to host this monthly event. Two acts on the bill tonight. River Bird - charming female brazilian lead singer with great vocals, male spanish keyboard and vocals and male english electric guitar. River Bird alternated between their own material and old soul classics. Preferred their own material. Check out riverbird. net. Del Brown also on the bill. Highlight was when his daughter (7 or 8 years old) accompanied him on mouth organ.
Monday, 7 January 2013
The singing loins @ the rose and crown walthamstow
Punk meets folk. Lively guest band at this quirky full to capacity folk open mike night. 7/10.
The loins using folk instruments - mandolin, squeeze box, banjo, double bass, acoustic guitar, tambourine and scissors (yes scissors) create a folky sound with traces of hank wangford, ian drury and the pogues. The song about the demise of paper silhouette cutters in the face of modern photography was my highlight.
The rose and crown appear (it
was my first visit) to be committed to developing live entertainment. Good for them.
The loins using folk instruments - mandolin, squeeze box, banjo, double bass, acoustic guitar, tambourine and scissors (yes scissors) create a folky sound with traces of hank wangford, ian drury and the pogues. The song about the demise of paper silhouette cutters in the face of modern photography was my highlight.
The rose and crown appear (it
was my first visit) to be committed to developing live entertainment. Good for them.
Saturday, 5 January 2013
Uncle Vanya - Vaudeville theatre
A disappointing production relying on Chekovs provenance to carry it. 5/10
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