Arts REVIEW: Noel & Gertie@Devonshire Park Theatre Mtp’s new production of Noel & Gertie, based on the playwright’s 54 year friendship with Gertrude Lawrence is a perfectly charming night out. The love story, devised by Sheridan Morley from the couple’s letters and diaries, is told with all the Master’s flair and wit. Featuring song and scenes from By Eric Page • 3 min read
Arts REVIEW: Invincible@Theatre Royal It’s a tragic ending, hard, savage and all the more real for it and although it appears to be a play about social froth it’s a more incisive play looking at the modern struggle for a significant identity and the desperate need for people to have some meaning, some intelligent direction to their live By Eric Page • 3 min read
Arts BOOK REVIEW: An Odd Sock Story: Rose & Jan Hart, Elvira Grassia, This charming and fun children’s story uses its engaging narrative to respectfully addresses some of the most challenging social issues of today, while its imaginative, vibrant illustrations bring a never-before-seen Sockland to life. An Odd Sock Story as a fun and informative way to help children l By Eric Page • 2 min read
Arts REVIEW: Nell Gwyn: Theatre Royal This was a warm and funny evening’s entertainment and a superb production of this delightful play by the Globe crew. Certainty worth getting out and watching and being inspired and charmed by this reconstruction of restoration theatre and the ground breaking changes wrought by Nell Gwynn and her fel By Eric Page • 4 min read
Arts REVIEW: Rambert: Ghost Dances and others As usual with the Rambert their superb attention to details coupled with the passion and commitment of these young talented dancers combines to give a gripping evening performances, one which brought the full very excited house to it’s feet and deliver an ovation to this team at the peak of their ga By Eric Page • 3 min read
Arts REVIEW: Gaslight @ Theatre Royal Tightly written, well-acted and delightfully compact production with a few well timed thrills, Gaslight is a lovely night out and worth trotting along to if you fancy some rather delightful quality writing performed with relish by this safe engaging team . It is 2 hours 25 minutes (including interva By Eric Page • 3 min read
Arts OPERA REVIEW: Rigoletto @ ENO A tragic story of jealousy, vengeance and sacrifice, Rigoletto is one of Verdi’s most popular operas. Jonathan Miller’s much-loved ‘Mafia’ production makes a welcome return to the ENO stage, relocating the action to New York’s Little Italy in the 1950s with a tightly cut ‘ Mad men’ swagger to the co By Eric Page • 4 min read
Arts BOOK REVIEW: Upstream: Mary Oliver Upstream follows Oliver as she contemplates the pleasure of artistic labour, her boundless curiosity for the flora and fauna that surround her, and the responsibility she has inherited from the great thinkers and writers of the past, to live thoughtfully, intelligently, and to observe with passion. By Eric Page • 2 min read
Arts REVIEW: The Shakespeare Revue: Theatre Royal The Shakespeare Review is more sophisticated than it may appear to be at first glance, but as a charming evening of songs, routine and some music hall style parody it’s an engaging and enjoyable way to spend an evening in the warm velvety comfort of the Theatre Royal. By Eric Page • 2 min read
Arts REVIEW: Dr Dee’s Daughter and The Philosopher’s Stone: Palisander Palisander attired in courtly Elizabethan angelic gossamer and with hardly a pause to check the music, worked those wondrous recorders of all shapes and sizes in a deft performance, showing us the range of recorder music at its best, while the kids watched the antics of the puppety crows and shadows By Eric Page • 3 min read
Arts OPERA REVIEW: Lulu: ENO Considered to be one of the seminal operas of the twentieth century, Berg’s score creates a unique sound world that combines his lyrical gifts with powerful orchestral writing. A gritty exploration of sexual desire, it follows the downfall of the enigmatic Lulu, who shatters the lives of her many lo By Eric Page • 5 min read
Arts REVIEW: Early Music Festival: KIRCHER: Music, science and natural magic The programme of music explored chapters from nine books of Kircher’s masterpiece through chosen pieces of music by Kircher, Biber, Vivaldi, Rameau, and Handel with a tarantella and some superbly moving traditional Hebrew songs. Soperano Grace Davidson was in fine voice her rich coloured tones filli By Eric Page • 2 min read
