Category: Review

Issue 41: 2016 02 18: Macbeth (John Watson)

18 February 2016 Macbeth The Bason Botanical Gardens, Wanganui Reviewed by John Watson Many years ago I was chatting over lunch to a very low church Christian and describing the Easter service at Saint Bartholomew the Great in London.  Saint Bartholomew’s is not low church at all and he listened quietly to what I said… Continue reading Issue 41: 2016 02 18: Macbeth (John Watson)

Issue 40:2016 02 11: Dad’s Army (Adam McCormack)

11 February 2016 Dad’s Army A film by Oliver Parker by Adam McCormack Who do you think you are kidding Mr Critic?  Director Oliver Parker has taken two big risks in bringing a new version of Dad’s Army to the big screen.  The first is the standard one of trying to turn what is a… Continue reading Issue 40:2016 02 11: Dad’s Army (Adam McCormack)

Issue 40:2016 02 11:Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Adam McCormack)

11 February 2016 Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom The National Theatre reviewed by Adam McCormack This is a serious play about music and race, rather than just an excuse to perform great music which can make up for any dramatic shortfall.  August Wilson’s story, the third in his series of 10 plays that describe the Black… Continue reading Issue 40:2016 02 11:Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Adam McCormack)

Issue 39: 2016 02 04:4000 days (Adam McCormack)

04 February 2016 4000 days  The Park Theatre reviewed by Adam McCormack The Park Theatre does “bed theatre” very well.  Over the last two years they have had a bed ridden James Bolam in Bomber Moon, a rapidly debilitating Greg Wise in Kill Me Now, and, more recently, entertaining bedroom gymnastics in Tom Attenborough’s production… Continue reading Issue 39: 2016 02 04:4000 days (Adam McCormack)

Issue 39: 2016 02 04:Spotlight (Adam McCormack)

04 February 2016 Spotlight A film by Tom McCarthy Reviewed  by Adam McCormack “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing”. Edmund Burke’s views in the eighteenth century are just as apposite now, and ring especially true when looking at the Boston Globe’s investigation into the sexual assault… Continue reading Issue 39: 2016 02 04:Spotlight (Adam McCormack)

Issue 38: 2016 01 28: Les Liaisons Dangereuses (Adam McCormack)

28 January 2016 Les Liaisons Dangereuses The Donmar Warehouse reviewed by Adam McCormack For the best in theatre go to the cinema.  This is not a facetious comment, or in any way an attempt to discourage anyone lucky enough to get tickets to see Josie Rourke’s excellent new production of Les Liaisons Dangereuses at the… Continue reading Issue 38: 2016 01 28: Les Liaisons Dangereuses (Adam McCormack)

Issue 36: 2016 01 14: Husbands and Sons

14 January 2016 Husbands and Sons The National Theatre Reviewed by Adam McCormack Three hours of D H Lawrence (its tough up north Midlands) might not seem the uplifting start to the New Year that most of us need, but once again the Dorfman Theatre at the National has produced a brave and innovative play… Continue reading Issue 36: 2016 01 14: Husbands and Sons

Issue 36: 2016 01 14: Joy

14 January 2014 Joy A film by David O’Russell reviewed by Adam McCormack I am tempted to describe David O Russell’s latest film as an “It’s a Wonderful Life” for the modern era. That stretches the parallels a little and I am not suggesting that Joy is as good as Frank Kapra’s 1946 classic, but… Continue reading Issue 36: 2016 01 14: Joy

Issue 33: 2015 12 17: Alive and Kicking

17 December 2015 Alive and Kicking J R Thomas reviews “Alive, Alive Oh!” by Diana Athill We are getting used to great age in our society.  People are living to astonishing ages, in numbers that must require the recruitment of ever-increasing numbers to the office in Buckingham Palace that deals with sending out centenary congratulations. … Continue reading Issue 33: 2015 12 17: Alive and Kicking

Issue 29:2015 11 19: Macbeth

19 November 2015 Macbeth (Director: Justin Kurzel. Certificate: 15) reviewed by Neil Tidmarsh Don’t be dismayed by the credits “Screenplay by Todd Louiso, Jacob Koskoff, Michael Lesslie” and “Based on ‘Macbeth’ by William Shakespeare” – this film is authentic Shakespeare through and through. All the words are Shakespeare’s, even if not all Shakespeare’s words are there. Cuts… Continue reading Issue 29:2015 11 19: Macbeth

Issue 28:2015 11 12: London

12 November 2015 London Watching “London” in the Age of Terror reviewed by Archie Wilson In 1994 filmmaker, Patrick Keiller, released the first part of his ‘Robinson’ trilogy, London. Filmed over the course of 1992, the film blurred the definitions of documentary and fiction as the unseen Narrator, voiced by Paul Scofield, and his unseen… Continue reading Issue 28:2015 11 12: London

Issue 28: 2015 11 12: Dinner with Friends

12 November 2015 Dinner with Friends The Park Theatre, Finsbury Park reviewed by Adam McCormack If you and your partner were to split up – who would get to keep your mutual friends? This is the question at the heart of Tom Attenborough’s new production of “Dinner with Friends” at the Park Theatre. Tom and… Continue reading Issue 28: 2015 11 12: Dinner with Friends

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