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The agony and the misogyny: Banging Denmark @finborough

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Banging Denmark, the comic play by Van Badham, answers the question, what lengths does a misogynistic pickup artist go to date with a frosty Danish librarian? It may be an uneasy farce given the subject matter, but it is made more palatable by the cast assembled to convince you of it. It's currently having its European premiere at the Finborough Theatre .  It opens with Guy DeWitt (Tom Kay) at one end of the stage. His real name is Jake, and he's a part-time podcaster whose expertise is misogyny and playing the role of the pickup artist. That is, someone who attempts to coax women into having sex with a mix of flattery or manipulation. His podcast attracts a variety of involuntarily celibate men (or incels), so call in asking for advice. And while he gives the impression of living the high life, he is in a grimy flat strewn with empty pizza boxes.  At the other end of the stage is feminist academic Ishtar (Rebecca Blackstone). She lives out of the photocopy room, losing all her

Streaming from a long way home: Side by Side


Ann Hampton Callaway and her sister Liz Callaway are reunited at Ann's home in Tucson to stream their concert Side By Side to our homes. Both are award-winning artists with a reputation for insightful interpretations of popular songs, broadway and jazz, along with their compositions. Last seen in London at the Hippodrome in 2015, the stream captures some of the magic of their live cabaret performances. 

Their last collaboration, Sibling Revelry, sent up the idea they were brutal competitors. The focus here is more on getting together and singing some songs. Microphones may not work (or get dropped), lyrics get messed up, but they carry on with the spirit of being together and making music.  

Songs include Melissa Manchester's Come In From the Rain, songs by Sondheim and Stephen Schwartz. There's also a medley of songs they used to sing growing up from the back of the car to taunt their parents on long drives. You could imagine their parents weighing up whether to be annoyed by their questionable music choices or impressed by their musicality. And they also sing their biggest hit, the theme song to the show "The Nanny". 

Their reunion inspires the show after being apart from the pandemic. Reunited at Ann's brightly lit sunny home during the day, it seems less of a hideaway cabaret venue and more the sort of place Oprah would host an interview. Some of us like our jazz and cabaret looking darker and smokey. But the song choices and their interpretations make up for this.

Part of a semi-regular stream from Ann Hampton Callaway called Callaway's Hideaway, there are additional streams in July and August. Ann Hampton Callaway is also releasing several singles this year, the latest being her Robert Frost collaboration "Revelation," which has come out this month. Side By Side is available until the end of May. Check out the website for more details.

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