What a night. English National Ballet celebrated its platinum anniversary with a feast of music, dance and reminiscence. Archive film footage showed key moments in the evolution of the London Festival Ballet (coined to cash in on the post war Festival of Britain at the Festival Hall) from humble beginnings in 1950 to the change of name to English National Ballet and … [Read more...]
About John OBrien
The Sleeping Beauty at Curzon Richmond Cinema | Review
This is a leaping, weeping, sleeping beauty that like Mary Poppins is practically perfect in every way. The sets are gorgeous, the costumes are tremendous, the music is spine-tingling, the dancing is unmatched, the choreography is superb, the conductor Barry Wordsworth is outstanding and Ross MacGibbon’s direction for the screen catches every nuance of every movement. … [Read more...]
English National Ballet’s Le Corsaire at London Coliseum | Review
A red carpet occasion to celebrate ENB’s 70th Anniversary and a host of stars on stage and in the audience. From my seat I was in touching distance of Darcey Bussell, Fiona Bruce, Sir Ian McKellen, Bruno Tonioli and Bill Nighy to name a few. On stage we were treated to a cornucopia of delights; stunning sets taking us into the luxurious and cruel world of the Ottoman … [Read more...]
Mel and Lenny’s Christmas Ding Dong at Crazy Coqs | Review
Another hilarious night at The Crazy Coqs with satirical Goddess Melinda Hughes and her special guest the outrageously funny Lenny Beige. Together they created a chemistry which produced energy and warmth in the room so that by the end an otherwise reticent audience was singing along to Sweet Caroline with uninhibited abandon. It was exhilarating stuff and really … [Read more...]
The Nutcracker, Curzon Cinema Screening
Last night I attended a Curzon Cinema screening of the Nutcracker. My verdict: a triumph. Clearly given the financial, geographical and social complexities of attending a performance at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, for many of us experiencing the event at our local cinema maybe our best option. From my experience last night I can say that watching a screening … [Read more...]
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at Richmond Theatre | Review
This top notch production of Snow White is Snow Good. It does exactly what a Christmas Panto should do. It delivers a good time for all the family and all ages from 8 to 80, with slapstick, double entendres, corny jokes, outrageous puns, plenty of "oh no you’re not", catchy songs and slick dance routines the pace never falters, the laughs just keep on coming and there … [Read more...]
English National Ballet: Nutcracker | Review
There can be no better way to banish the General Election / Brexit malaise than to escape into the magical world of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker of 1892 now marvellously recreated for us by the wonderfully refreshing concept and choreography of Toer van Schayk and Wayne Eagling. Designer Peter Farmer’s set costumes and props are both spellbinding and spectacular. Gerry … [Read more...]
Ravens: Spassky vs. Fischer at Hampstead Theatre | Review
Fittingly for a Cold War proxy event the 1972 World Chess Championship clash between the Russian Boris Spassky and the American Bobby Fischer took place in Iceland. Seen as a neutral it hosted the extraordinary global media circus which surrounded the unprecedented chess showdown between the two superpowers. Chess became war by other means. The two players in effect … [Read more...]
The Wind of Heaven at the Finborough Theatre | Review
The Finborough Theatre said by some to be the most influential fringe theatre in the world aims to present both new writing and revive neglected classics. Its latest offering The Wind of Heaven by Emlyn Williams (1905-1987) has not been seen on stage since 1945. This is the third of Williams’ plays to be revived at the Finborough following on from The Druid’s Rest in … [Read more...]