Review | Family Affairs and other matters

SING-ALONG-A-GREASE – RICHMOND THEATRE

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

LUCKILY for me – I have two very good friends who enjoy singing at all times – they’re in the Rock Choir which fulfils most of their desire to sing – the rest of the time you have to be very careful not to get them together at the pub or suddenly inadvertently quote a [...]

THE SENSE OF AN ENDING BY JULIAN BARNES REVIEW

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

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I’ve just finished reading this book. It’s very good. One of those books you feel you could have written yourself – he makes it seem so easy – but of course that is the sign of a very good author. It’s all about a man trying to come to terms with the past. About how [...]

STAR QUALITY REVIEW – RICHMOND THEATRE

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

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I enjoyed reviewing last night’s performance of “Star Quality” at the Richmond Theatre but it wasn’t my favourite play so it was always going to be a difficult task to persuade me otherwise. It must be hard to perform to a half empty theatre, even taking into consideration that it was a Monday evening. Whilst [...]

LONG DAY’S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT REVIEW – RICHMOND THEATRE

Thursday, March 1, 2012

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I am now happy to report that I did get invited to watch last night's performance of "Long Day's Journey Into Night" at the Richmond Theatre and what a brilliant play it was. Brilliant performances by David Suchet as the father figure, Laurie Metcalf as the morphine addicted mother, Trevor White as the older, drunken bum of a son and Kyle Soller as Edmund the ill peace keeper of the family. It was hard to watch but fascinating to see this immensely personal play by Eugene O'Neill, completed in 1941 still feel so relevant today. An intimate insight into the damage human beings can do to each other. Each character was harbouring such deep resentments that the actors had to move from touching sensitivity and compassion to ferocious attacks almost within the same sentence often triggered by the line "what are you staring at?". The mother in particular couldn't release the past from the present, or indeed even the future. She recognised her addiction but it was tragic to see how her decline affected those around her and herself "I no longer call my soul my own". It was excellent. Exhausting roles to play. Very physical in many ways. The mother featured mostly in the first half whereas it was David Suchet drinking with his son mostly in the second half. My only complaint was that Richmond Theatre are selling the wrong sort of crisps. They need quieter ones. Not the really, really crunchy folded up ones that couldn't be chewed owing to the soundless, on the edge of their seats audience. Ice cream at half time a much better option. Thank you to Richmond Theatre for sorting out my tickets.

LONG DAY’S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT REVIEW – RICHMOND THEATRE

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

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I am now happy to report that I did get invited to watch last night's performance of "Long Day's Journey Into Night" at the Richmond Theatre and what a brilliant play it was. Brilliant performances by David Suchet as the father figure, Laurie Metcalf as the morphine addicted mother, Trevor White as the older, drunken bum of a son and Kyle Soller as Edmund the ill peace keeper of the family. It was hard to watch but fascinating to see this immensely personal play by Eugene O'Neill, completed in 1941 still feel so relevant today. An intimate insight into the damage human beings can do to each other. Each character was harbouring such deep resentments that the actors had to move from touching sensitivity and compassion to ferocious attacks almost within the same sentence often triggered by the line "what are you staring at?". The mother in particular couldn't release the past from the present, or indeed even the future. She recognised her addiction but it was tragic to see how her decline affected those around her and herself "I no longer call my soul my own". It was excellent. Exhausting roles to play. Very physical in many ways. The mother featured mostly in the first half whereas it was David Suchet drinking with his son mostly in the second half. My only complaint was that Richmond Theatre are selling the wrong sort of crisps. They need quieter ones. Not the really, really crunchy folded up ones that couldn't be chewed owing to the soundless, on the edge of their seats audience. Ice cream at half time a much better option. Thank you to Richmond Theatre for sorting out my tickets.

NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH REVIEW BY ALAN AYCKBOURN – RICHMOND THEATRE

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

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First night of Alan Ayckbourn’s 75th professionally produced full length play. 75th!!! How prolific can you be…where does he get all his ideas? I love his plays – used to go with my father years ago. Now it seems the audience has remained relatively old – we need to find a way to get young [...]

THE VICTORIA REVIEW

Saturday, February 4, 2012

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If you are looking for somewhere splendid to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon after a brisk walk in the park (Richmond Park), somewhere you will find a spectacular menu - (I had their Sunday roast beef) then you should try The Victoria Gastropub in East Sheen. Very relaxed. Excellent food. Log fires. Everyone welcome including dogs. Make sure you book though. Honestly, I've never had a more delicious roast beef - look at the size of that yorkshire pudding! Walking distance from the park so you can work up a good appetite first! and a lovely garden in the summer for BBQ's and chilling:-