Peter Viney's Blog

Theorem (Teorema) review

25/02/2020 by Peter Viney

Review in my ’60s films revisited’ series added, this time Pier Paolo Pasolini’s ‘Theorem’ (or Teorema). It starred Terence Stamp, fresh from ‘Far From the Madding Crowd.’ I’m amazed how well I remembered it. Striking images, I suppose.

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The Upstart Crow – review

23/02/2020 by Peter Viney

The hottest ticket in London. The Upstart Crow by Ben Elton (REVIEW LINKED HERE). Based on the sitcom about Shakespeare. We’d had two disappointing evenings with Endgame and A Number. This was just what we needed. One of the funniest plays since I started the blog. Great performances from David Mitchell, Gemma Whelan and the cast. I gave this a five star rating. Try and get to see it!

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A Number – review

23/02/2020 by Peter Viney

A review of Caryl Churchill’s play on cloning, A Number (LINKED HERE)at the Bridge Theatre in London. This play is highly rated by everyone … except us. We thought this two character play had zero theatricality, and we thought it a mediocre radio play at best. I’m unusually against the critical tide here.

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Endgame / Rough for Theatre II

21/02/2020 by Peter Viney

Samuel Beckett’s follow up to Godot,Endgame at the Old Vic Theatre. (LINKED) It’s paired with Rough For Theatre II to flesh out the evening. The cast is incredible- Alan Cumming, Daniel Radcliffe, Jane Horrocks, Karl Johnson. I was such a Beckett fan in my 20s. My goodness, how far have I gone off him. While it’s pretentious with a capital P,. there is great theatricality in the performances here.

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Blood Wedding – Salisbury, review

14/02/2020 by Peter Viney

Review added of Blood Wedding at Salisbury Playhouse. (FOLLOW LINK TO REVIEW) The play is by Barney Norris, and is based on the Lorca play … but is actually a different play altogether for me (and better for it). It’s a Wiltshire creative production, and it points the way to what regional producing theatres should be doing more often – original material with local writers and some local reference.

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Leopoldstadt – review

12/02/2020 by Peter Viney

Review of Tom Stoppard’s Leopoldstadt (LINK TO REVIEW) at London’s Wyndham Theatre. A new play by Tom Stoppard is a major theatrical event, and this is a powerful piece. This one takes place in a Jewish family in Vienna, with scenes in 1899, 1900, 1924, 1938 and 1955. All significant dates. The official opening is today, 12th February, though it’s been running since 25th January. I’ve held back till opening day evening.

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The Decline of Bournemouth- a rant

05/02/2020 by Peter Viney

No, not our revered AFC Bournemouth, but the town centre of Bournemouth.This is a long illustrated rant (LINKED). It built up over a couple of weeks, and putting it down as text might stop me ranting about it. Parochial? Yes, but it addresses the decline of High Street retail shopping in general.

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A Post-Brexit Vision revisited

31/01/2020 by Peter Viney

A new link to my 2018 article”A Post-Brexit Britain.”It was desiged to be satirical, so satirical that I even envisaged Boris Johnston as Prime Minister. No, I thought then, that’s TOO silly I used my collection of vintage school posters.

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