Posted in Uncategorized on 29/02/2024| Leave a Comment »
A new article at AROUND AND AROUND: EMI label (post 1973) – the 45s In 1973, EMI blended Parlophone, Columbia, HMV Classics and Stateside into one huge label, just called EMI. This was so big, that I’ve only covered the 45s, but that means Cliff Richard, Queen, Iron Maiden, Marillion, Kate Bush, Duran Duran and many others …
Posted in Uncategorized on 25/02/2024| Leave a Comment »
We returned to the Noël Coward Collection DVD box set to watch PRIVATE LIVES (follow link to review). This is the 1976 BBC TV play version, starring Penelope Keith, perfect casting as Amanda, with Alec McCowen as Elyot, DonaldPickering as Victor and Polly Adams as Sibyl. We have a lot of history with this play, and the review follows the other Coward and Rattigan DVD reviews in having a large number of screenshots.
Posted in Uncategorized on 23/02/2024| Leave a Comment »
Review of ONE LAST PUSH by Chris Chibnall, a world premiere at Salisbury Playhouse directed by Gareth Machin. This is a comedy about childbirth, and very funny it is. It’s running until 9th March. Have a day out in Salisbury and see it. Have lunch at Fisherton Mill – it’s great. The review has more on childbirth in general, and the London-centric nature of theatre criticism. Salisbury is a producing theatre, and the prices are a fraction of London West End prices and the physical space vastly more comfortable.
Posted in Uncategorized on 11/02/2024| 1 Comment »
Regal -Zonophone – was an ancient brand, which for five brief years served as EMI’s ‘other prog label’ with Essex Music artists … The Move, Procul Harum, Tyrannosaurus Rex, Joe Cocker. Then there was a flurry of ultra-rare and valuable pysch albums. Now added to AROUND AND AROUND. It includes the infamous Harold Wilson postcard story related to ‘Flowers in The Rain.’
Posted in Uncategorized on 11/02/2024| Leave a Comment »
It went through five London theatres, then a long 2023 run. Here it is with a fresh cast for the 2024 run, which will visit sixteen more places. Link to review of 2:22 A Ghost Story by Danny Robins. There are reasons why a play is this incredibly successful … read on.
Posted in Uncategorized on 08/02/2024| Leave a Comment »
Any production by Emma Rice’s Wise Children Theatre Company is an event. BLUE BEARD (link to review) is now on tour and we saw it in its first theatre on the run, Bath. Marvellous music, played by all the cast too. I think there are some teething problems, but all-in-al a must see.
Posted in Uncategorized on 07/02/2024| Leave a Comment »
Review of METAMORPHOSES at Bath Ustinov. Great contemporary dance theatre. Follow the link to the short review.
Posted in Uncategorized on 04/02/2024| Leave a Comment »
The recent addition to AROUND and AROUND is EMI’s Harvest label (follow link). EMI’s prog label’s glory years were brief, yet in a short time they accumulated a catalogue which is now disproportionately high in collectability. Pink Floyd was the obvious centre, but key early 70s albums were on Harvest.
Posted in Uncategorized on 04/02/2024| Leave a Comment »
W. Somerset Maugham’s THE CIRCLE is on tour (review linked). We saw it at Chichester. Casting is a great plus, with Jane Asher, Nicholas Le Prevost and Clive Francis exuding the quality and articulation of long stage experience. The younger element, Olivia Vinall, Peter Ashmore and Daniel Burke are right up there with them. It’s as good a version of the play as you will find, and very funny, though how good Maugham was as a playwright is a question.
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