19/08/2016 by Peter Viney
The latest graded ELT Reader in the Garnet Oracle Classics series is now available. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, Retold by Peter Viney. Dickens is particularly irritating for adaptors, in that he loves convoluted indirect narrative. In the end the storyline is so absorbing that it’s worth the effort. Even in the graded ELT version, I STILL feel that ending very moving.
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12/08/2016 by Peter Viney
A Midsummer Night’s Dream reviewed at Bath Theatre Royal (FOLLOW THE LINK) I think that will be six performances I’ve seen of my favourite play this year. This one features Phill Jupitus as Bottom.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Darrell D'Silva, Eve Ponsonby, Katy Stephens, Lawrence Boswell, Maya Wasowicz, Phill Jupitus, Simon Gregor, Wilf Scolding, William Postlethwaite | Leave a Comment »
05/08/2016 by Peter Viney
The three plays at the National Theatre in the Young Chekhov Season are transfers from Chichester last year with the same cast. The original Chichester Reviews can be found at YOUNG CHEKHOV SEASON here. Individual play links are:
Platonov
Ivanov
The Seagull
Picture is from Platonov which we enjoyed most of the three.
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30/07/2016 by Peter Viney
Review of “Jason Bourne” the fourth in the series, set in Athens, Berlin, London and Las Vegas. Alicia Vikander, Tommy Lee Jones and Vincent Cassell add heavyweight acting ability to the series.
Tommy Lee Jones as CIA Director Dewey and Alicia Vikander.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Alicia Vikander, Julia Stiles, Matt Damon, Tommy Lee Jones, Vincent Cassell | Leave a Comment »
27/07/2016 by Peter Viney
Review added of Fracked! Or Please Don’t Use The F-Word. (FOLLOW LINK) by Alistair Beaton at Chichester’s Minerva Theatre. This is a new play (complete with Brexit jokes) that divided the critics. W thought it both funny, and an interesting look at “democracy” rather than simply “hydraulic fracking.” Oliver Chris is the PR Man for Deerland Energy, who want to start fracking in Elizabeth (Anne Reid) and Jack’s (James Bolam) village.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Alistair Beaton, Andrea Hart, Anne Reid, Freddie Meredith, James Bolam, Michael Simkins, Oliver Chris, Richard Wilson, Sam Otto, Steven Roberts, Tristram Wymark, Vanessa Emme | Leave a Comment »
24/07/2016 by Peter Viney
Review of Half A Sixpence, (FOLLOW LINK) at Chichester Festival Theatre 2016. This is a new version of the 1963 musical, 1967 film (based on H.G. Wells’ novel Kipps), with a new “book” by Julian Fellowes, and with new songs while retaining the classic originals. Starring Charlie Kemp, a 22 year old unknown as Arthur Kipps, and indeed, “a star is born.” This will be a massive success for years. Catch it early at Chichester! With their stage, it will never look better. NOW WITH PHOTOS ADDED
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Anthony Drewe, Cameron Mackintosh, Charlie Kemp, David Heneker, Devon-Elise Johnson, George Stiles, Gerard Carey, Ian Bartholomew, Julian Fellowes, Rachel Kavanaugh | Leave a Comment »
21/07/2016 by Peter Viney
Review of Terence Rattigan’s While The Sun Shines (LINKED) at Bath Theatre Royal, directed by Christopher Luscombe with Alexandra Dowling and Tamla Kari from “The Musketeers” TV series. A pin-sharp beautifully directed farce, (though I have some issues with Rattigan’s dialogue).
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Alexandra Dowling, Christopher Luscombe, Jonathan Dryden-Taylore, Nicholas Bishop, Rob Heaps, Rupert Young, Tamla Kari, TerenceRattigan | Leave a Comment »
18/07/2016 by Peter Viney
I’ve added a rare culinary rant, Chorizo is Vile. (LINKED) Comments welcome.
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We went to see the RSC “A Play For The Nation” version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream again. We saw it in February, and went to the last day of the run and tour (with a new set of rude mechanicals, The Belvoir Playersfrom Belfast). Amazingly it was even better second time, and it gets a full review rather than being tacked on to February’s review.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Ayesha Dharkar, Belfast. Belvoir Players, Chu Omambala, Erica Whyman, Jack Holden, Laura Riseborough, Lucy Ellison. Chris Nayak, Mercy Ojelade | Leave a Comment »
15/07/2016 by Peter Viney
Review of the Cameron Mackintosh & Disney musical, MARY POPPINS (Linked) at Norwich Theatre Royal as part of its tour. A huge production.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Cameron Mackintosh, Matt Lee, Milo Twomey, Rebecca Lock, Richard Eyre, Walt Disney, Zizi Strallen | Leave a Comment »
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