14 October 2019 Gauguin Portraits The National Gallery (7 October 2019 – 26 January 2020) Reviewed by William Morton Paul Gauguin (1848-1903) got around a bit and was up himself in a big way. However, the same is true of a lot of great artists. Surprisingly, given his raffish behaviour towards the end of his… Continue reading Issue 223: 2019 11 14: Gauguin Portraits
Article Category: Review
Issue 223: 2019 11 14: Taming of the Shrew
14 November 2019 The Taming of the Shrew RSC reviewed by Adam McCormack Star rating **** Shakespeare with girl power! Doublet and hose, finely tweaked wigs, Elizabethan music and dance – surely standard fare. But hang on – since when was Katherine a man? And for that matter, when did Bianca become Bianco? Director Justin… Continue reading Issue 223: 2019 11 14: Taming of the Shrew
Issue 222: 2019 11 07: As You Like It
7 October 2019 As You Like It RSC at the Barbican reviewed by Adam McCormack Star rating: **** Orlando is bored and frustrated. His slick-suited brother Oliver has inherited the family estate, leaving Orlando with no role or education. Nevertheless, Orlando is still seen as a threat, and when he challenges Duke Frederick’s wrestler Charles,… Continue reading Issue 222: 2019 11 07: As You Like It
Issue 220: 2019 10 24: Hansard
24 October 2019 Hansard: a play by Simon Woods The National Theatre. Reviewed by Adam McCormack Star Rating **** Robin and Diana are a couple under great strain. It is 1988 and Robin is a minister in Mrs Thatcher’s government, spending his time travelling the country having to defend the Local Government Finance Act and,… Continue reading Issue 220: 2019 10 24: Hansard
Issue 219: 2019 10 17: Antony Gormley
17 October 2019 Antony Gormley At the RA. Reviewed by Lynda Goetz Certain friends highly recommended the Antony Gormley* exhibition, so when last in London I made use of my RA membership to drop in and have a look. I came away musing on ‘The Emperor’s New Clothes’. As I came in from the ‘wrong’ side… Continue reading Issue 219: 2019 10 17: Antony Gormley
Issue 213: 2019 09 05: Tarantino in Hollywood
05 September 2019 Once Upon A Time In Hollywood Film by Quentin Tarantino reviewed by Adam McCormack Star rating **** Films often generate maximum impact by telling several stories and bringing them all together in a dramatic climax. With Quentin Tarantino’s latest homage to the golden days of 1960’s Hollywood this impact is generated in… Continue reading Issue 213: 2019 09 05: Tarantino in Hollywood
Issue 209: 2019 07 04: The Hunt
04 July 2019 The Hunt The Almeida Theatre reviewed by Adam McCormack Star rating **** Lucas is the archetypal adored small town primary school teacher. He is witty, lively and considerate, loved by pupils, parents and fellow teachers alike. That he has turned to teaching following a split from his wife makes him still more… Continue reading Issue 209: 2019 07 04: The Hunt
Issue 207: 2019 06 20: Midsummer Night’s Dream
20 June 2019 A Midsummer Night’s Dream Bridge Theatre. Reviewed by Neil Tidmarsh We laugh, rightly, at the eighteenth century’s convention of reworking Shakespeare to give his tragedies a happy ending. I wonder if future generations will similarly laugh at our age’s reworking of Shakespeare to make his drama conform to the conventions of current… Continue reading Issue 207: 2019 06 20: Midsummer Night’s Dream
Issue 207: 2019 06 20: Natalia Goncharova
20 June 2019 Natalia Goncharova Tate Modern (6 June – 8 September 2019). Reviewed by William Morton Natalia Goncharova (1881-1962) was born into an aristocratic Russian family which owned a textile business. She was brought up first at their country estate, which she continued to visit after the family moved to Moscow when she was… Continue reading Issue 207: 2019 06 20: Natalia Goncharova
Issue 203: 2019 05 23: Long Shot
23 May 2019 Long Shot A film by Jonathan Levine reviewed by Frank O’Nomics Star rating: **** Is there really any more mileage in the rom-com? Boy meets girl, they fall in love, issues or misunderstandings come between them, only for it all to be resolved in the final frame. Updating the settings, reversing the… Continue reading Issue 203: 2019 05 23: Long Shot
Issue 202: 2019 05 16: Van Gogh and Britain
16 May 2019 Van Gogh and Britain Tate Britain (27 March – 11 August 2019). By William Morton This Exhibition focuses on the time between 1873 and 1876 Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890) spent in Britain and the influence it had on him and his own influence on British artists. In doing so, it brings out… Continue reading Issue 202: 2019 05 16: Van Gogh and Britain
Issue 197: 2019 04 11: Sorolla
11 April 2019 Sorolla: Spanish Master of Light The National Gallery 18 March – 7 July 2019 Reviewed by William Morton Before going, I was somewhat dubious about this Exhibition. Knowing little about the Spaniard, Joaquin Sorolla (1863-1923), except that he painted beach scenes, it seemed possible that his work might be like that of… Continue reading Issue 197: 2019 04 11: Sorolla
Issue 196: 2019 04 04: Top Girls
04 April 2019 Top Girls A play by Caryl Churchill, at the National Theatre Reviewed by Adam McCormack Star Rating: *** If you could sit next to any great figures from history at a dinner party who would they be? This was a standard question on a graduate application form for many years and the… Continue reading Issue 196: 2019 04 04: Top Girls
