Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Denise Black, Gerald Kyd, Hadley Fraser, Helena Wilson, Laurence Ubong Williams, Matthew Cottle, Nancy Carroll, Paul Foster, Ralph Davis. on 30/06/2019| Leave a Comment »
Review added of Terence Rattigan’s THE DEEP BLUE SEA (LINKED) at The Minerva Theatre at Chichester. This is a key play in the Rattigan revival of the last 25 years, and this is the finest version of it we’ve seen. it avoids the slightly camp approach so often taken with Rattigan and reveals the play as a powerful piece of theatre.
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Anthony Calf, Gemma Dobson, Kate Hewitt, Michah Balfour, Nik Sampson, Rachael Strirling, Rory Keenan, Rupert Young, Yolanda Kettle on 28/06/2019| Leave a Comment »
Review if David Hare’s play PLENTY (follow link to review) at the Chichester Festival Theatre. Seen at the end of its run, but so many Chichester productions move on to the West End. Considered one of David Hare’s best plays in 1978, it zig-zags back and forth between 1962 and 1943, with an agent from the SoE in France and the traumatic post-war effects.
Posted in Uncategorized on 25/06/2019| Leave a Comment »
Here is the link to the full article on Nancy Sinatra. It is much longer than The Toppermost with many more quotes and pictures, plus details on the less well-known material. A quote from a 2004 NY Times article:
JODY ROSEN: In part, Ms. Sinatra was a victim of the cultural politics of her time. Rock ‘n’ roll divided the nation along generational lines, but Ms. Sinatra remained agnostic, a stubbornly independent hip square who kept a foot in both camps. Her high hemlines, big boots and tough-girl vocal style were nothing if not modern. But she also recorded standards, and she remained closely associated with her father, the towering symbol of the previous musical era. (The pair sang several duets, including the fizzy No. 1 hit “Somethin’ Stupid.”) From today’s perspective, her refusal to choose musical sides looks refreshingly cosmopolitan; but in the eyes of the first wave of rock critics, it placed her on the wrong side of the generational gulf.
New York Times, 26 September 2004
Posted in Uncategorized on 25/06/2019| Leave a Comment »
Go to Toppermost for my latest article for the site (then explore the site for a toppermost on your favourite, or offer to do one if they’re not there. The latest one is on Nancy Sinatra. (LINKED) A must too for all Lee Hazlewood fans. This is a short version of a much longer article on my blog.
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged David Moorst, Gwendoline Christie, Hammed Animashaun, Iris Hainworth, Kit Young, Nicholas Hytner, Oliver Chris, Paul Adeyfa, Tessa Bonhom-Jones on 24/06/2019| Leave a Comment »
My favourite play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream(REVIEW LINKED), in London’s newest and best theatre, The Bridge. Nicholas Hytner’s spectacular production is innovative in staging and action. I’ve seen so many versions, and this must be just about the best. Even if you don’t read the reviews, follow the link and look at the pictures, It features Oliver Chris and Gwendoline Christie, Brieene of Tarth in A Game of Thrones as Oberon and Titania, and controversially switches their lines.
Posted in Uncategorized on 23/06/2019| Leave a Comment »
Review of The Merry Wives of Windsor (LINKED) in its 2019 version at Shakespeare’s Globe. A lively performance for a sunny afternoon, and an interesting take on Falstaff.
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged David Mamet, Doon Makichan, John Malcovich on 21/06/2019| Leave a Comment »
FOLLOW LINK to review added of Bitter Wheat, world premiere of the David Mamet play featuring John Malkovich in a rare stage role. The play is about a predatory Hollywood producer named Barney Fein, clearly inspired by the Harvey Weinstein case. It got a rough ride from critics. We were more positive.
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Alexandra Gilbraith, Caroline Quentin, John Hodgkinson, Jonathan Slinger, Natalie Dew, Philip Breen, Rufus Hound, Sarah Twomey, Steve Nicholson on 16/06/2019| Leave a Comment »
The second review from this week’s Stratford-upon-Avon visit. The Royal Shakespeare Company presents Vanbrugh’s “The Provoked Wife” this time a raucous, bawdy Restoration comedy. This was way the better of the two plays this week.
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Jodie McNee, John Hodgkinson, Les Dennis, Michael Grady-Hall, Natalie Dew, Prasanna Puwanarajah, Stephen Fewell, Steve Nicholson on 16/06/2019| Leave a Comment »
Review of the Royal Shakespeare Company production of “Venice Preserved” by Thomas Otway. (FOLLOW LINK) This is a rarity – a Restoration Tragedy, rated by Michael Billington as one of the 101 Greatest Plays. I assess it somewhat differently …
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Clare Burt, Daniel Evans, James Nesbitt, Kirsty MacLaren, Rachel Lumberg, Scott Folan, Sheila Hancock, Tim Firth on 11/06/2019| Leave a Comment »
Review added of This is My Family, a musical play by Tim Firth at Chichester’s Minerva Theatre. Judging by recent Chichester productions, this one will go on to the West End, and every member of the cast was a joy to watch. James Nesbitt and Sheila Hancock are the best-known. I’m not so sure about the music though.
Peter Viney's Blog 