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The Book Thief

Follow the link to review of The Book Thief. The main newspaper reviews were negative. I thought it was excellent, and that narrowing in on a family in  small Bavarian town in World War II gave a fresh perspective.

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Review of John Spiers & Jon Boden live in Andover on their Farewell Tour. An evening of brilliant instrumentals and sublime singing. Well worth the drive to Andover, even though we got flashed by a speed camera at barely over the 40 mph limit on a totally deserted dual carriageway at ten past eleven at night.

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Rodriguez

Review of Rodriguez at the Bournemouth International Centre, Sunday 9th March 2014. Unfortunately I thought the setlist poorly ordered, the covers he did weak, and the backing band under-rehearsed. Pity, the man was lovely and he’s a legend. He’d be better solo with guitar. See the full review with setlist.

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Review added of the Box Clever production of Romeo and Juliet.  (SEE LINK) This athletic and inventive mix of Shakespeare lines and modern English, played by a cast of three plus a sound mixer on stage was inventive and energetic. It’s 60 minutes long. Highly recommended.

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Review of the National Theatre production of Shelagh Delaney’s 1958 play A Taste of Honey added.

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Review of King Lear with Simon Russell-Beale as Lear, National Theatre, directed by Sam Mendes linked here. We were surprised to find that this was not our favourite Lear this year!

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Somewhat late on in its theatrical run, a film review of The Railway Man (LINKED) with Colin Firth, Nicole Kidman and Jeremy Irvine. The film did poorly with the critics, and is better than the reviews suggested, but while thought-provoking and moral, is nevertheless not “entertaining” in the sense of action, romance, or even drama.

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Fortune’s Fool at The Old Vic is a must-see. This review was wrongly linked yesterday, but is correct now.

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Review of The Duchess of Malfi, (LINKED HERE) opening the recreated Jacobean theatre at The Globe, Sam Wanamaker’s Playhouse. Historically fascinating, theatrically lackluster.

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Music links

The music section has been updated with links to my articles on the Toppermost website. Click on the tab above.