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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

Theatre: All Bob's Women

It isn't every time when you go to the theatre that there is a deathly silence at the end of the show... Only to be broken by somebody in the audience sighing and exclaiming, "Well... THAT was interesting..." But such was the case Sunday afternoon at the wake last performance of the musical All Bob's Women. The show opened Tuesday and posted closing notices the next day. Translated from an Italian show that apparently ran in Milan for months, it is billed as a sexy musical comedy. The problem with the show was that it was not sexy, not musical and it wasn't funny. But no point flogging a dead horse. The Evening Standard , The Stage and (most memorably) The Telegraph cover why it is a disaster. I was surprised by little things like: The actors had been rehearsing this show for many weeks Concert-like body mics and deafening sound to match it Half a taxi-cab appearing on stage Some weird woman in the audience who cackled every few minutes (I was half-expecting o

Scenes from Clapham Street Party Saturday

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280620086357 , originally uploaded by Paul-in-London . Hmm that's deliciously naughty too...

Theatre: Marguerite

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I wasn't planning on heading out to see some musical theatre on Friday night, but the prospect of a bargain basement ticket to see Marguerite was too good to pass up. Fortunately the power of web advertising which was playing a excerpts the show on the internet while randomly browsing theatre websites on Friday (as you do) prompted the hunt for cheap tickets... It didn't take long to find them... The fact that the show is selling tickets for as little as £12.50 suggests that the economy is hurting the West End, the punters don't want to see a show updating the story of La Traviata or Camille to occupied France, or both... I suspect it is both. This is a pity as there is a fabulous cast headed by Ruthie Henshaw and Julian Ovenden (pictured left) as the two lovers Marguerite and Armand. I was last distracted seeing Ovenden in Grand Hotel and here he gets to play a bit of jazz, run around in boxer shorts and get into a bad temper... I challenge anyone not to go "

Overheard at the gym Wednesday...

Man #1: How about we give it to you at the Clapham Street Party ? Man #2: Do you think I'm the type of dizzy scene queen that would be seen at a street party? Man #1: Well yes... Man #2: Yeah you're right...

Tight scenes in Soho Saturday...

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210620086276 , originally uploaded by Paul-in-London . Hmm... That's deliciously naughty...

Scenes from West End Live Saturday 15:30

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London Gay Men's Chorus at West End Live , originally uploaded by Paul-in-London . Saturday the London Gay Men's Chorus took part in West End Live in Leicester Square. Not only was it a preview of the upcoming show Songs of Innocence and Experience at Cadogan Hall (July 4 and 5), but it was a chance to show off the new chorus uniform of coloured shirt... And chinos... Tickets on sale now for our concert and West End Live continues Sunday... West End Live is a great showcase for what's currently on stage and well worth checking out... The rather fit cast from High School Musical on stage preceded our Saturday afternoon slot certainly got our attention...

Theatre: Lord of the Rings (finally)

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Lord of the Rings , originally uploaded by Anika :) . As I suspected... There is a photo on flickr posted by someone who sat in a similar seat as I did when they saw Lord of the Rings - the overproduced, spectacular (bit like Wicked ) but woefully acted (unlike Wicked) musical on stage spectacular that is playing at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane until mid July. Arriving at the theatre Wednesday night, It was quite a sight to be greeted with hobbits playing around. But more intriguing was the scene that was unfolding right behind me. An usher, after telling an old Italian woman that she could not take photos, wanted to confiscate the camera and return it to her after the show after he caught her taking another photo. She was having none of that and so someone more senior was called and harsh words including "breach of copyright" and "£20,000 fine". The woman didn't speak much English and as the show started and the harsh words continued, I started asking

Scenes from Piccadilly Circus Saturday

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London Naked Bike Ride , originally uploaded by Paul-in-London . Just what London needs more of... Full frontal nudity... This time it was the World Naked Bike Ride in London to protest against oil dependency (timely as strikes close some petrol stations ) and getting back to nature... It certainly stopped traffic... And there were all sorts of body shapes and slogans like "more ass, less gas" on display... It was all done in the best possible taste...

Theatre: 2000 Feet Away

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Publicity still for 2000 Feet Away: Phyllis Logan , Joseph Fiennes and Ian Hart Source:offwestend.com I was talking to an actor recently who was horrified to learn that out there in the blogosphere, there are bloggers that go to previews and review the work before the official press night... He was initially horrified and then angry. After slowly stepping away from the actor and getting back to the real world, I thought it must be strange for some people to comprehend how people pay for a show and then talk about it afterwards... It is as if the phrase "word of mouth"didn't exist before blogging... It seems to be the latest thing for actors to moan about bloggers even if it is what they have to appear in that is at fault... So with all that in mind, I am blogging about going to a preview of 2000 Feet away by Anthony Weigh on Friday night at the Bush Theatre . I don't know what made me want to go see this play about sex offenders and a l

Hot news this week in London...

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Car Wash Boss Rapist Jailed, Stoke Newington , originally uploaded by Fin Fahey . It all happens in Stoke Newington... Except basic sub editing skills...

Overheard on Clapham High Street Wednesday

Woman on phone: Yeah and he like followed me all the way to where I was getting my eyebrows done... Can you believe that? Can you? Can you?

Scenes from the South Bank Sunday

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010620085909 , originally uploaded by Paul-in-London . How low can a lowrider go?

Scenes from the Underground Saturday Evening (burp)

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Party on the tube , originally uploaded by kujunu . It was a classy night on the tube as people took advantage of the last night it was legal to drink alcohol on public transport ... I guess that marks the end of that trick where you stand on a Circle Line train holding nothing but a can of beer and you keep going around and around until you keel over or pass out or vomit... Footage set to the music of "Dancing Queen" also on Youtube ...

Movies: Sex and the City

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Sex and the City the movie , originally uploaded by annalyn . I nearly didn't catch Sex and The City on Thursday night with Fliss as the first three cinemas I tried, it had already sold out... It is obviously the movie of the week. Fortunately the O2 centre had some seats and so that is where we caught it. With around 700 die hard fans of the series. Who were mostly women. With a smattering of self-conscious boyfriends... And a few gays... Fliss had to explain to her men-folk that she was going to this movie with her gay friend because she knew they wouldn't want to see it. One of them is jealous of our relationship but that's just because he doesn't have a filthy mind or a sense of humour... Actually I was disappointed with the gay turnout for a movie about (to borrow from a Simpsons episode) four gay men living in New York city... Played by women... But then again this is North Greenwich ... As the film started people started cheering. I don't understand

Hot news this week in London...

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260520085836 , originally uploaded by Paul-in-London . Some people don't like the brown word ...

Movies: Indiana Jones and something or other about a crystal skull

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230520085774 , originally uploaded by Paul-in-London . Friday evening I went to the Odeon Leicester Square to see the latest Indiana Jones and the very long title movie... I am glad they have shortened it to just "Indy" on the posters as that saves a lot of time. Despite the price of the ticket, the Odeon Leicester Square is a great place to go to see a movie with die-hard groupies (and is less likely than most other London Odeon cinemas to smell like a toilet and have bad sound). People cheered and carried on as if it were a football match... While my friend Adam is a fan of the series, he wasn't as hard core as half the crowd at the sold out Friday evening screening who came wearing brown leather jackets and hats. It was like a window into another world. All throughout London, seemingly normal and straight men had tucked away in their closets an Indiana Jones costume (complete with khaki trousers and shirt). They may have had whips too but I wasn't checking

Overheard at Clapham Sainsburys Saturday...

Chav man: Shuddup you stupid cow... Don't make a scene... Woman: Y-y-y-y-y-your a baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaastard....

Overheard at the gym Monday...

Man #1: I really enjoyed it on Saturday... Man #2: Yeah what's it like? Man #1: Well there's loads of guys. There are the muscle daddies... But they just play with themselves...

Theatre: Pygmalion

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Watching Pygmalion at the Old Vic this week it finally dawned on me why it has always felt a little creepy to think that Henry Higgins would end up with Eliza Doolittle. Well it isn't just because (in this production anyway) she is much younger. It is because he is just too camp. Henry Higgins already has a relationship with Colonel Pickering and so Eliza is simply left to pick up the slippers. She never had a chance with those two old poofs... There they were out all night drinking together, gambling together or hanging around in Covent Garden overhearing conversations... Not to mention all those contraptions in the study looking at the mouth... It all makes sense... It's a man's world in the Higgin's household... This version of Shaw's play goes back to his original version published in 1916. At times it felt like the production was using the original sets with its quaint production values and a taxi car that crawls across the stage (although the looked lovely an

Scenes from Leicester Square Monday

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80793732MT029_Premiere_Sex_ , originally uploaded by travelingapostrophe3 . World premiere of Sex and the City movie in London... I was in rehearsals but darn it would have been fun to be there to yell out to Sarah, "Sarah! The hat! WTF??"

Scenes from Waterloo Sunday

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12-05-2008 , originally uploaded by Paul-in-London . I didn't check if there was a body in the case... In London you never can tell...

Comedy: Dina Martina

Dina at Wigstock a few years back... We were treated to the fiddle as well... Thursday evening I was one of the "peeps" who caught Dina Martina at the Soho Theatre . Dina is part typical drag act and part something else. With a wig that looked like it was inspired by one of Liza's fights with Gest , makeup inspired by a clown, and a belly that was all his/hers, it was pretty out there (or as Dina would say, "Off the charts!")... But as the 80 minute performance went on it was clear that there was a real character in the making and it will be interesting to see her again in a few years. Best parts were the songs with forgotten lyrics, advice on how to deal with global warming (kill or the animals in the sea as that will make the water levels drop), and the mispronounciations of words. I particularly liked the soft "g" in her segment of the show called "gifts to give" which became "jiffs to jiv"... Thanks to Dina, I will try and work

Movies: Iron Man

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Iron Man , originally uploaded by Luffyd . Caught the movie Iron Man on Wednesday evening as on a warm sunny evening it seemed like a good idea at the time. Besides there are not enough super hero stories set against war-torn Afghanistan (with the occasional nice shot of Miami). While there was a lot to enjoy about it, after seeing it I had a few questions: Why were there so many product tie-ins for crap products ? Why did Robert Downey Jr's character go for models who had too much sun and dimply skin? Why do the agents from S.H.I.E.L.D look like they are from the gay mafia? Did Jeff Bridges shave his head and grow a beard just to look more evil?? Was that final battle sequence made up of out-takes from the Transformers movie? And just how the hell do you take a leak in that suit?

Bank Holiday Banter...

Man #1: Don't I know you from somewhere? Paul: Hmm I don't know you look familiar... Man #1: You from Australia? Paul: I'm from Brisbane are you? Man #1: I lived in Sydney for a while... Paul: Oh I see that doesn't help... Man #1: Ah man I'm sure I'll work it out but I'm buzzing right now...

Hot news this week in London...

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The Headlines from The Evening Standard , originally uploaded by robbyredbird . Don't panic...

Opera: The Minotaur

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I caught the last night of the Harrison Birtwistles's new opera The Minotaur on Saturday at The Royal Opera . It is a thrilling and slightly disturbing opera (not to mention bloody too). Mind you, before the interval an elderly couple walked out. Maybe all that blood and rape and horror and gore was a bit too much for them. But that's new opera for you... At times I was wondering whether I was watching a high culture horror show (although I could have done with more blood and more realistic killings if that was the case). The first appearance of the Minotaur (played by John Tomlinson ) was a pretty dramatic moment and for nearly three hours the show didn't let up. Still, there is a lot to like about this opera starting with the music . The production design and the costumes - particularly the bulls head - were particularly creepy. The final battle sequence (depicted above) literally had everyone in my section on the edge of their seats (although that was party due to the

Theatre: Spamalot

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Well, at least there was Nina Söderquist It isn't often that I am put off seeing a show just because I have heard the cast album. But when I heard Spamalot a few years back I thought it was such crap that I waited until the ticket prices dropped through the floor before going to see it. Perhaps the show is on its last legs. The show has been a huge hit on Broadway but seems to be struggling here. Monty Python wrote some hilarious music in their day , but you wouldn't know it with this lamely written show that serves up lines like: We're going off to war We'll have girlfriends by the score We'll be shot by Michael Moore Because we're not yet dead Sitting in the front row you can just smell the stench of stale satire. It was a very tame night and hardly the bloody and silly enjoyment of the film that this musical "lovingly rips off". Anything slightly risqué seems to have been cut or toned down (so no oral sex jokes) to the point that instead there are

Not in London: Paris Orangina

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240420085075 , originally uploaded by Paul-in-London . The bears are hotter in Paris...

Not in London: Street Theatre Paris

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23-04-2008 , originally uploaded by Paul-in-London . Still on holidays this week and soaking up the sights of Paris for a few days... The great thing about French street theatre is that it is so bad you don't mind not giving them any money for it. This one I caught yesterday afternoon basically involved a woman wearing a fox fur (I had to correct my sister who thought it was a beaver) shouting profanities. Every once in a while the man in the white shirt would slap her about a bit. Bearing this in mind I thought I was watching it again tonight when a man started attacking another man with an iron (the kind you use on shirts). It was only when the police started to appear on rollerblades that I started to think that maybe this wasn't so avant garde afterall...

Overheard at the Tate Sunday...

Woman #1: What about Mr Whippy? Woman #2: Mr Whippy!! Woman #3: I hate Mr Whippy!

Scenes from a deli in South Kensington Saturday...

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19-04-2008 , originally uploaded by Paul-in-London . Hmm... Nice camel toe...

Hot news this week in London...

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180420084784 , originally uploaded by Paul-in-London . Apparently the French were to blame ... Easterly winds bringing their smelly cheese and their smelly dogs over the south east...

Overheard at Waterloo Station

Man on mobile: I wanna know who's been saying these things about me so I can sue their f----- pants off!

Hot news this week in London...

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WELCOME TO SUNNY SOUTH LONDON , originally uploaded by the_moog . It isn't true that all of South London is in the clutches of this... Just Crystal Meth Palace ...

Overheard on the London Eye Tuesday...

Man #1: You see I told him... You come to this company... You do some time here and those that really make their mark are the ones who get the networks running... Get the contacts... Man #2: Yeah... And... Woman #1 (interrupting): You're not all talking business here are you?

Scenes from West End Whingers Party

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West End Whingers Party , originally uploaded by Paul-in-London . I went to the West End Whingers Party and all I got was smarm... That's about right...

Overheard at the gym Saturday...

Man #1: What would you say if I called you skinny boy? Would ya like that? Would ya? Man #2: Uh... No...

Theatre: Gone With the Wind

One of the fun things about going to the theatre and blogging about it is that you can pick up the buzz and excitement about new productions as they hit town. Sadly this was not the case with Gone With the Wind . When asking around about it over the last month, the only responses I got back about it were forced smiles and phrases like... "Well... It's innnnteresting". Well now after seeing a preview of it on Tuesday night I can confirm what they are saying. It is innnteresting... And for those that don't know theatre-speak... That means it is rubbish. First of all starting with the leads. It was a curious choice to put Darius Danesh and Jill Paice in the lead roles of Rhett and Scarlett. Despite the efforts of Darius to make his voice boom and disguise with sideburns the fact he is in his twenties, he still looks like he is playing dress-up and wearing his dad's clothes. Paice doesn't fare much better either and together to pair give the show the kind of ear

Housekeeping: I'm ready...

Tomorrow night I am going to the theatre and the production is so long who knows when I will get home... Such is the odyssey that one particular production is currently enduring in the West End. Bearing that in mind I plan to use twitter as my means of communication to the outside world... Oh and I will stay awake if I can find a new energy drink called Pussy ... Now that's a drink with a name that's going to take off...

Hot news this week in London...

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Stoolball and Secrets , originally uploaded by dayglowill . Stoolball and secret children... It all happens in London...

News: Torch relay torture

Despite the snow, Londoners give the Beijing Olympics Torch relay the welcome it deserves...

Overheard on the High Street Tuesday

Lady #1 (to woman on a mobile phone blocking a doorway): Excuse me... Oh that's a lahvely ring Lady #2: Oh thank you dahling... Thank you... Lady #1: No it's lahvely Lady #2: Thank you dahling...

Theatre: Jersey Boys

From the Tony Awards 2006 I caught Jersey Boys at the Prince Edward Theatre Monday night. I saw it with Grant and we must have looked like a right pair of luvvies as a lady in front of us from Cincinnati asked us if we get to the theatre all the time living in London. I wasn't quite sure if that was a question asking us whether we liked musical theatre. Whatever the line of questioning was, I wasn't going to admit that I had just bought on DVD Show Business . Besides it had been over a week since I had last been to a theatre. And that was fringe theatre... Jersey Boys - a show about some workin' class boys from New Jersey makin' good - was was all class. Rather than the usual trick of being a juke box of hits strung together for an unbelievable story, or weaving a string of b-side songs into a nights entertainment because that is all the rights that were available, this show tells the story of the boys rise to fame using their music. Their story moves at breakneck spe

Hot news this week in London...

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'I've been trying to die in Southwark for the past two weeks but I just can't afford it' , originally uploaded by rensenbrink78 . Well London is so expensive no matter what you want to do...

Overheard in the bathroom department of Habitat Monday

Man: Oh take a look at that. Now you won't like that will you? Woman: Oh no... No! NO!

Movies: The Orphanage

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The Orphanage was a funny sort of film to be watching on Easter Sunday... A movie about dead orphans that don't seem to be dead. But since it was in Spanish it had an art house feel to what is essentially a mystery about a boy who disappears while his parents are moving in to the old orphanage his mother went to. To give away any more of the story would be to ruin the fun(?), thrills(?) of the film. Of course, if you have seen The Others or The Sixth Sense, you will know that dead people are not to be feared as they are your friends (or at the very least they just have a few issues like the Maitlands in Beetlejuice ). Bearing this in mind I didn't find it scary. But it still was a creepy way to spend a few hours in the dark... Particularly with that kid (pictured above) popping in every now and then...

Scenes from Albert Embankment Friday

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210320084275 , originally uploaded by Paul-in-London . Albert Embankment is the best place where one can admire the natural beauty of London and its iconic architecture...

Music: Maria Frieman Re-Arranged

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Meeting Maria Friedman , originally uploaded by Andrew Orange . I don't normally go for photos with performers but West End Whinger Andrew made me do it since he hassled Maria Friedman enough to get her to pose for photos. Why not blind her in the process? I don't quite recall what the distraction was... Nor why I am covering my mouth... Anyway, Maria Friedman has just started doing a concert series at the Menier Chocolate Factory through until May. Maria has been around for ages (particularly if you note her very long timeline on her website), and I had seen her in the concert version of Follies last year. But not being a Friedman devotee (or should that be groupie?), I wasn't particularly won over by the music, performance or banter of the first half of the show. I wasn't alone with this view either, since the guy next to me fell asleep. By the second half however, the show picked up the pace and turned out to be quite a treat. Particular highlights were he

Overheard at the gym Monday...

Man #1: You go to Trade yesterday Man #2: Nah. Couldn't get tickets. Went to Joiners Arms instead... Man #1: You went to... Vaginas??? Man #2: No we didn't go there. Joiners not vaginas! Joiners Arms... It's in Shoreditch...

Scenes from Royal Festival Hall Sunday...

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160320084215 , originally uploaded by Paul-in-London . Well... the best service comes from the automated ticket machines there anyway...