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Archive for December, 2013

Twelve Songs For Christmas

Posted in Uncategorized on 24/12/2013| Leave a Comment »

Link to “Twelve Songs For Christmas 2013” a seasonal selection.

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Apollo disaster

Posted in Uncategorized on 20/12/2013| Leave a Comment »

We were saddened by yesterday’s disastrous collapse at the Apollo Theatre in the West End, where in the last 18 months, we watched Jerusalem, Twelfth Night and Richard III. I’m going to repeat what I said in the “Jerusalem” review:

Like so many West End of London venues, the Apollo is a nasty grubby gilt-trimmed 19th century theatre. You have to contribute £1 to the restoration fund with your ticket. I’d rather they demolished it altogether. We were in Row R, in the most uncomfortable seats I’ve ever sat in anywhere in a theatre. They are low, there’s a step up for that row, making them lower, and at 6 foot 1 inch tall, my knees were severely and painfully compressed throughout. To add injury to injury, there was a pair of binoculars screwed on the seat in front. At £55 a ticket, the seats in that row are appalling, worse than the worst charter flight. If it hadn’t been one of the best productions of one of the most compelling plays I’ve ever seen, I’d never have survived three hours. Add woefully inadequate toilets.

I have long thought that these old West End theaters were a disaster waiting to happen. Let’s hope they ignore ostrich-head-in-sand pleas to restore it, and demolish and build a proper modern theatre instead.

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London-centric theatre?

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , on 18/12/2013| Leave a Comment »

Short piece on London-centric theatre added under “Rants” section!

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Best of 2013

Posted in Uncategorized on 15/12/2013| Leave a Comment »

My selection of THE BEST OF 2013 just posted (under “rants”). This year it is divided into:

Best albums – only 9 in the Top 10 this year
Best archive releases
Best songs
Best TV sitcom / Best TV drama
Best “classic” theatre / Best modern theatre
Best films

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Gravity

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , on 14/12/2013| Leave a Comment »

Short review of Gravity added, rather late on, so it contains plot spoilers.

2013_gravity_movie-wide

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Henry V

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , on 01/12/2013| 1 Comment »

Review added of Jude Law as Henry V in the Michael Grandage Season (see LINK). This is a long review of an outstanding production and performance.

Jude+law

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