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Belters and bohemians: Opera Locos @Sadlers_wells

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At the start of the Opera Locos performance, the announcement says that they really are singing. You could be forgiven for wondering that, given the amplification turns up the backing track and the voices so loud that you can't always tell what's real. But this is a mostly harmless and slightly eccentric blend of opera classics fused with the occasional pop classic. However, recognising the pop tunes would help if you were over a certain age. The most recent of them dates back twenty years. It's currently playing at the Peacock Theatre .  Five performers play out a variety of archetype opera characters. There's the worn-out tenor (Jesús Álvarez), the macho baritone (Enrique Sánchez-Ramos), the eccentric counter-tenor (Michaël Kone), the dreamy soprano (María Rey-Joly) and the wild mezzo-soprano (Mayca Teba). Since my singing days, I haven't recognised these types of performers. However, once, I recall a conductor saying he wanted no mezzo-sopranos singing with the s

Scenes from SW4: Abbeville Road Fete Saturday 13:10

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The annual summer fete was a time for people to enjoy the sun and meet the neighbours. The streets were closed around Abbeville Road and there were the usual stalls and family events. And speaking of neighbours, a conversation I overheard went something like this: Lady with children (to two scruffy-looking men with beers) : Excuse me do you live in the flat upstairs from us? Scruffy Man #1 : Uh yeah... Lady with children: Um you were a bit noisy last night, is it possible to keep the noise down? Scruffy Man #2 : Uh sorry yeah there were all these people that just came over for like a party and it sorta got outta hand... And there is an insight into part of the demographic make up of the little part of Clapham that I live in: Bugaboo parents and scruffy types... Incidentally I only knew what a Bugaboo was after my sister got one . Only then did I realise that all these parents in my street with these prams bearing the same distinctive logo on them were not part of a cult... Or maybe the

Theatre: Evita

There is something about the audience at Evita , the new version of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical hit from 30 years ago which reminded me of the audience at a dreadful Elaine Paige concert I happened to see in 2004. There was a certain age and a certain style about the people. They didn't look like they were regular theatre goers but they would go to this. I wondered where the hell they bussed this audience in from. I am not exactly a fan of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musicals (nor Elaine Paige) so it did dawn on me what the hell I was doing at this show. Well it probably was the promise that it was to be a new look at a (tired, dated, sanctimonious) old show. As for what was new in this show… Well there were new orchestrations, but for the most part they sounded more like the ring tones on my mobile phone. Unusually for a Lloyd Webber show, the set didn't fly in or out in spectacular fashion or be projected oddly (although there was one exception for Don't Cry For Me A

Scenes from the Strand Thursday 21:49

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Scenes from the Strand Thursday 21:49 Originally uploaded by Pauly_ . I survived Evita. Did you?

Scenes from Covent Garden Monday 21:44

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Scenes from Covent Garden Monday 21:44 Originally uploaded by Pauly_ . Scaffolding amongst the window shopping...

Crap design in London

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Crap design in London Originally uploaded by Pauly_ . The votes are in for the most hated buildings and public spaces in London , but surely the Charing Cross station subways would also have to rank high in the lousy public space stakes? Orange and brown tiles and the smell of piss pervade throughout...

Scenes from Soho Sunday 19:05

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Scenes from Soho Sunday 19:05 Originally uploaded by Pauly_ . Some people were rather excited about the outcome of today's World Cup match ...

Scenes from Angel Sunday 13:32

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Scenes from Angel Sunday 13:32 Originally uploaded by Pauly_ . Smoke 'em...