Peter Viney's Blog

Neither of Either

14/06/2024 by Peter Viney

First posted on Facbook. A political rant 14 June 2024 linked. I added it to RANTS. I just realised that this post comes directly after a Romeo & Juliet review, so let’s quote Mercutio:

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Romeo & Juliet- Ballet Cymru review

12/06/2024 by Peter Viney

Review of ROMEO & JULIET by Ballet Cymru, (linked) with the music of Prokofiev. A modern take on one of the great ballets with marvellous video projection. It’s touring now. Don’t miss it if it’s near you.

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Mercury (to 1963)

10/06/2024 by Peter Viney

Mercury (to 1963) (FOLLOW THE LINK to AROUND & AROUND) Mercury was a major American record label which became a core Philips / Phonogram label in 1961. At that point its EMI distribution deal still had two years to run. This article covers Mercury 1945 to 1963, when it was UK distributed by Decca, then Oriole, then Pye then EMI.

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Vertigo

03/06/2024 by Peter Viney

Vertigo (follow link) added to the Philips section at Around and Around. It was introduced as Philips / Fontana’s prog label, though it did better with metal over the years. It one of the most collected labels of all, and the article has notes and comments on key bands, as well as charts and for the early “Vertigo swirl label” it has values. The fewer it sold, the more it’s worth.

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Coram Boy- review

02/06/2024 by Peter Viney

Chichester Festival Theatre has revived Helen Edmundson’s 2005 play CORAM BOY (follow link to my review). It’s set in 18th century England, and has a wide range of themes from Handel’s Messiah, to murdering babies, to romance to slavery. There is a lot of plot, and it can get confused. On the plus side, there is a lot of music and excellent young actors.

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The Deep Blue Sea – Bath 2024 review

01/06/2024 by Peter Viney

Review of THE DEEP BLUE SEA (follow link) at Bath Ustinov studio with Tamsin Grieg and Oliver Chris. This is quite simply the best version of Terence Rattigan’s greatest play we have ever seen. Read the review.

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Dexys

30/05/2024 by Peter Viney

Dexys at Poole Lighthouse, Wednesday 29th May (linked). They are a legend. Kevin Rowland is a tremendous performer and songwriter. The sound wasn’t good. The review contains criticisms. Live with it.

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The Outfit

29/05/2024 by Peter Viney

Film review (or rather brief comments with no plot spoiler) on THE OUTFIT, on Netflix. (Follow LINK) It looks like a stage play. It isn’t a stage play. It’s a film. It looks like Hitchcock. It isn’t Hitchcock. It’s set in Chicago 1956 and features three of the greatest British actors: Mark Rylance, Simon Russell-Beale and Johnny Flynn.

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Much Ado About Nothing – Globe 2024, review

24/05/2024 by Peter Viney

This is my second version in two weeks. MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING directed by Sean Holmes (link to review). For a welcome change The Globe plays it in (superb) period costume with no significant gender switching. They also have as good a Beatrice and Benedick as I’ve ever seen in Ekow Quartey and Amalia Vitale. A perfect Globe experience – running all summer too.