04 May 2017 Sex in the Sea Marah J Hardt Salty tails and serious purpose Reviewed by Neil Dunlop This glimpse under the surface will have you marvelling at the sheer variety of life and hoping that it survives. Written in a light-hearted style that is suitable for a bedtime read, Marah J Hardt takes… Continue reading Issue 103:2017 05 04: Sex in the Sea (Neil Dunlop)
Category: Review
Issue 102:2017 04 27: Chinglish (Adam McCormack)
27 April 2017 Chinglish The Park Theatre reviewed by Adam McCormack Star rating: **** The strap line of: “The first rule of doing business in China…always bring your own translator,” fits well with a play that derives great humour from the discomfort and consequences of mistranslation. But what makes this play especially compelling is not… Continue reading Issue 102:2017 04 27: Chinglish (Adam McCormack)
Issue 102: 2017 04 27: The Treatment (John Watson)
27 April 2017 The Treatment (by Martin Crimp) Almeida Theatre Reviewed by John Watson Stars **** As always at the Almeida, the direction (by Lyndsay Turner) and the acting were both excellent. In particular Indira Varma (Jennifer), Ben Onwukwe (the taxi driver), Mathew Needham (Simon) and Ian Gelder (Clifford) turned in performances which could fairly… Continue reading Issue 102: 2017 04 27: The Treatment (John Watson)
Issue 102: 2017 04 27: Queer British Art 1861-1967 (William Morton)
27 April 2017 Queer British Art, 1861-1967 Tate Britain (5 April – 1 October) Reviewed by William Morton The stated aim of this exhibition is to explore connections between art and a wide range of sexualities and gender identities from the time that the death penalty for sodomy was abolished until the partial decriminalisation of… Continue reading Issue 102: 2017 04 27: Queer British Art 1861-1967 (William Morton)
Issue 101: 2017 04 20: Love in Idleness Menier Theatre (review)
20 April 2017 Love in Idleness The Menier Theatre Stars **** by Adam McCormack Not all theatre has to be relevant. Sometimes a charming and engaging story, which may have something to say about a previous time, can provide perfect entertainment. With this in mind there is no need to justify Trevor Nunn’s new production… Continue reading Issue 101: 2017 04 20: Love in Idleness Menier Theatre (review)
Issue 100:2017 04 13:Revolution (Lynda Goetz)
13 April 2017 Revolution – Russian Art 1917-1932 Royal Academy reviewed by Lynda Goetz The time span covered by this exhibition in the RA main galleries ends roughly where the exhibition of American art, America after the Fall, currently showing in the Sackler Gallery begins. However, whereas you have until 4th June to visit the… Continue reading Issue 100:2017 04 13:Revolution (Lynda Goetz)
Issue 100:2017 04 13:America after the fall (Lynda Goetz)
13 April 2017 America After the Fall Royal Academy* reviewed by Lynda Goetz Painting in the 1930s This exhibition is not going to fill you with the joys of spring. Its mood is sombre and downbeat – possibly appropriate for the way many feel in the current climate. The styles are varied, but almost universally… Continue reading Issue 100:2017 04 13:America after the fall (Lynda Goetz)
Issue 98:2017 03 30: Hamlet(Adam McCormack)
30 March 2017 Hamlet The Almeida Theatre reviewed by Adam McCormack Stars: ***** There is an issue with changing the setting and context of great plays in an effort to make them more relevant and accessible – quite often the changes mean that much of the original brilliance is lost in the process. This is… Continue reading Issue 98:2017 03 30: Hamlet(Adam McCormack)
Issue 96:2017 03 16:Limehouse 9Adam McCormack)
16 March 2017 Limehouse The Donmar reviewed by Adam McCormack Stars **** The Labour party is in disarray, unable to make changes without the sanction of the unions and moving further to the left. The more moderate membership fears that the party is fast becoming unelectable. No, this is not a summary of the current… Continue reading Issue 96:2017 03 16:Limehouse 9Adam McCormack)
Issue 94:2017 03 02:Madame Butterfly (Adam McCormack)
02 March 2017 Madame Butterfly The King’s Head,Islington *** reviewed by Adam McCormack The King’s Head Theatre in Islington has a long history of success in producing pared down versions of high opera that are original, accessible and entertaining. Director Paul Higgins’ modern take on Madame Butterfly manages to sustain the trend, but more because… Continue reading Issue 94:2017 03 02:Madame Butterfly (Adam McCormack)
Issue 91: 2102 02 09: Lion (J.R.Thomas)
09 February 2017 “LION” a film by Garth Davies reviewed by J.R.Thomas Fashions in film come and go, but it must be approaching the time for a current one to pass – films with opening credits reading: “Based on a true story”; can we (please) soon hope for the rather more comforting (for novelists, anyway):… Continue reading Issue 91: 2102 02 09: Lion (J.R.Thomas)
Issue 90: 2017 02 02: An Inspector Calls (Lynda Goetz)
02 February 2017 An Inspector Calls by J B Priestley The Playhouse Theatre. Reviewed by Lynda Goetz This is a play familiar to many. Perhaps you appeared in a school production, or one of your children studied it as a set text for GCSE, or your local theatre produced a version; whatever the source, it is… Continue reading Issue 90: 2017 02 02: An Inspector Calls (Lynda Goetz)
Issue89: 2017 01 26:The Healing Stream (J.R.Thomas)
26 January 2017 The Healing Stream A book by Laurence Catlow reviewed by J.R.Thomas Occasionally we like to recommend a good book in the columns of the Shaw Sheet, one which we think our readers might not have come across, but which they may enjoy. This week we take a leap into deep water –… Continue reading Issue89: 2017 01 26:The Healing Stream (J.R.Thomas)
