Went to the gig because Gruff's good mate was playing. Loved her voice and unpretentiousness. Really fresh and honest singing. 'Be Thankful' is a really beautiful track and comparisons to PJ Harvey are just a result of lazy journalism.
Thursday, 8 March 2007
Tuesday, 6 March 2007
Apollo/Children of Adam/Themes & Variations - Royal Ballet @ ROH
5th March
Gruff's first ballet and I'm so glad that he enjoyed in. The dancing was sensual and we got to watch the great Darcey Bussell.
Gruff's first ballet and I'm so glad that he enjoyed in. The dancing was sensual and we got to watch the great Darcey Bussell.
The History Boys by Alan Bennett @ Wyndhams, London
An excellent play which lived up to the hype. AB weaves all the differing stands of arguement about the nature and value of education. In today's world of league tables and parental anxiety about schooling, AB's play gives much food for thought. What is the point of being able to simply pass exams when you can't really learn? Can knowledge be examined? Is there no merit in learning for learning's sake? It was laced with so much humour and wit in the repartee between pupil and teacher. I liked the 80's soundtrack and use of filmic material - can't see how it would work on film when it has some highly theatrical and poetic monologues. Definitely want to try to read the script at some point.
Wednesday, 28 February 2007
Ghostbusters
25th FebNostalgic trip down memory lane. I remember being mildly disapproving of Bill Murray's lasciviousness as a youngster watching the film many eons ago. Much preferred him in 'Groundhog Day' and Dan Ackroyd made much more on an impact in 'Trading Places'. This is still a fun movie though if only for the scenes of the Marshmallow man striding through the streets of New York.
p.s. think I also suffered from some sleepless nights when I was little just because my young fertile imagination couldn't cope with all the Zul stuff. I'm still crap at scary movies till this day and I don't understand some people's ghoulish fascination with the genre.
p.s. think I also suffered from some sleepless nights when I was little just because my young fertile imagination couldn't cope with all the Zul stuff. I'm still crap at scary movies till this day and I don't understand some people's ghoulish fascination with the genre.
Monday, 26 February 2007
Mrs Henderson Presents by Stephen Frears
Sun 25th Feb
Watched this for lovely DJD playing a dotty, crabby widow. I liked the production values and thought it captured the WW2 era pretty well. Perhaps it might have packed a greater punch if I'd watched this at the cinema - it'd be more of a 'show'. Will Young was really rubbish - he came across as a lisping, mincing luvvie that you just wanted to punch. Bob Hoskins was great though - nice, cuddly and not one bit as creepy as WY.
Watched this for lovely DJD playing a dotty, crabby widow. I liked the production values and thought it captured the WW2 era pretty well. Perhaps it might have packed a greater punch if I'd watched this at the cinema - it'd be more of a 'show'. Will Young was really rubbish - he came across as a lisping, mincing luvvie that you just wanted to punch. Bob Hoskins was great though - nice, cuddly and not one bit as creepy as WY.
Friday, 23 February 2007
Holiday by George Cukor
Sunday 18th Feb
Read somewhere on the net about Hepburn's knitting scenes in this film and thought I should check it out. I liked Cary Grant's character who was still lost at 30 and wanted to find himself, to see the world and be a child again. Not sure what the handstands and rolls were about though - perhaps it was a throwback to his early days in vaudeville. Think Hepburn steals the show hands down despite the debonair charms of CG - tough, witty, funny yet vulnerable and sweet, she's such a legend!
Read somewhere on the net about Hepburn's knitting scenes in this film and thought I should check it out. I liked Cary Grant's character who was still lost at 30 and wanted to find himself, to see the world and be a child again. Not sure what the handstands and rolls were about though - perhaps it was a throwback to his early days in vaudeville. Think Hepburn steals the show hands down despite the debonair charms of CG - tough, witty, funny yet vulnerable and sweet, she's such a legend!
Thursday, 22 February 2007
Tales from the City - Amistead Maupin
What a fantastic and funny book - it had me chuckling and even laughing out loud a couple of times. No mean feat considering I was pressed between a fellow commuter's smelly armpit and another's beer belly on the hell that is the Central Line during rush hour. This book was recommended to me years ago but it was just one of those that I've never got round to reading until now. I'm so glad I did, it's a real gem and already one of my favourite books this year (with Perfume a close 2nd).
Also managed to catch my first Book Crossing release this week which was extremely exciting. As soon as the alert popped up in my inbox, I rushed out for lunch to the spot which was a posh New Bond Street shop staffed by bemused sales assistants with trendy, sculptured, gravity-defying hair.
Also managed to catch my first Book Crossing release this week which was extremely exciting. As soon as the alert popped up in my inbox, I rushed out for lunch to the spot which was a posh New Bond Street shop staffed by bemused sales assistants with trendy, sculptured, gravity-defying hair.
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