Review of the film SEE HOW THEY RUN (link to review). This comedy thriller is based around a backstage murder at a production of Agatha Christie’s ‘The Mousetrap’ in 1953. It’s a lot more fun than the recent big budget cinematic Christies too. Great cast. Sam Rockwell and Saoirse Ronan are a great detective duo. It’s showing on Disney Plus now (and is still in a few cinemas). Disney Plus has proven excellent this month with The Banshees of Inisherin and this. Compare the £40 cost our two cinema tickets for Avatar.
The 2021 Shakespeare’s Globe production of TWELFTH NIGHT (link to review) was broadcast on BBC 4 on 8 January 2023 so should be on BBC iPlayer. At last a review (of the broadcast) that anyone can then go and watch! The film does capture the atmosphere of The Globe. See the review for more.
The International Classic Ballet Theatre’s production of SWAN LAKE (follow link) reaches Poole. An opportunity to see the full ballet with the full score played by a live orchestra. That is a LOT of people involved and there wasn’t an empty seat in the house. See review (though I am ignorant on clsssical ballet!)
REVIEW added of AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER (LINKED). Somewhat sarcastic but hopefully amusing. Comments welcome on the main page review. It is already the biggest film of 2022.
The Best of what I listened to, that’s all. A tiny proportion of what was released: Live Concerts Best Ten Albums Best Reissue & Archive Releases Best Live From The Vaults Best Tracks Best Music Book etc.
My annual round up got skipped last year. It’s back with BEST OF 2022: THEATRE (follow link) which means the best of what we saw. In our opinion. It’s nearly all pictures with links to the original reviews with categories for Shakespeare / Non-Shakespeare / Director / Actor / Actress / Supporting Actor / Supporting Actress / Design / Costume / Music plus Best Theatre and also Best Theatre Restaurant. See the winners. Think of it as a photo essay on (some of) the range of British Theatre this year.
Martin McDonagh wrote, produced and directed the unpublished third part of his Aran Islands trilogy, THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN (link to review). Starring Colin Farrell and Liam Neeson, this tale of 1920s Ireland looks set to hoover up awards this year. It’s now on Disney Plus, and gets a repeat cinema run from Boxing Day.
The new Netflix full feature film ofLady Chatterley’s Lover (LINK TO THE REVIEW) started on December 2nd. I think I avoided plot spoilers in as far as the basic triangle is well-known. The review also discusses the D.H. Lawrence novel briefly.
The 19 piece Nu Civilisation Orchestra, fronted by Eska on vocals performed music from Joni Mitchell’s two most complex albums at Poole Lighthouse in JONI MITCHELL’S HEJIRA and MINGUS (LINK TO THE FULL REVIEW). It was one of the very best concerts I’ve seen in recent years, with a sound mix at the very highest level. This is NOT a tribute band, but superb new arrangements of the material.
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