Robert Clark's Flypaper Page Entertainments I Have Seen/Attended
This page lists the concerts, films, plays, etc. I have seen
since September 1997, most recent at the top of the list. I'll give
each event a star rating, from (poor) to
(excellent). I'll also give a brief review of
each event, and the month I saw it. Where I can, I'll link the
event to other relevant sites. For films, I'll link film titles to
their entries on the Internet Movie Database at
http://uk.imdb.com/ or at
http://us.imdb.com/.
Click on the appropriate flag after the title to take you to the corresponding site.
Bridget Jones's Diary
Overrated film by the crew behind Notting Hill. Next to no story line,
with Renée Zellweger playing hte lead, Colin Firth reprising his role in
"Pride and Prejudice" (Mr Darcy rides again), and Hugh Grant as the cad (as always?). (April 2001)
The Importaance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde
Performed in the Wimbledon Studio Theatre by a talented young cast, with
Alexander Howard as Algernon Moncrieff, Charles Peto as John Wothing, Victoria
Walker as Gwendloyn Fairfax and Holly Berry as Cacily Cardew. Susan
Travers was delightful as the old battleaxe Lady Bracknell, with a highly amusing
rendition of the "A handbag!" line. I've seen the film a number of times, but
this production seemes to hightlight how sharp and amusing a script Wilde had
writen. (November 2000)
Orfeo and Euridice by Cristoph von Gluck
Performed at the Barbican, by the Freiburg Baroque Orchestra, with mezzo
soprano as Bernarda Fink as Orfeo, Veronica Cangemi as Euridice and Maria
Christina Kiehr as Cupid. Fink was outstanding, with real emotion pouring out
leading up to the famous aria "Che Faro". (November 2000)
The Mikado
Another performance with Richard Suart as Ko-Ko leading a strong cast.
This production had the whole cast wearing white greasepaint to the eyebrows
and the occasional topknot, dressed as baristers and bankers - and odd
combination of East meets West. Ko-ko's "little list" was brought up-to-date
with references to .dot millionaries and micro-scoorterists, making it as fresh
and as enjoyable as ever. (October 2000)
The Coronation of Poppea
Performed by the English National Opera. The Coliseum had scaffolding all
around the auditorium, with the main action occurring on a raised circular
stage over the orchestra pit. The orchestra were positioned up-stage of the
action, and the pit area was used to drop off props, etc (Senec'a coffin).
Montiverdi wrote this in 1643; I hadn't realised that the audiences then were
into such salacious and raunchy materials - even today some of the production
felt to be quite near the bone!
Some very good performances by the cast; counter-tennor David Walker as Nero
(even though after a bit I found the high-pitched singing a bit jarring),
Alice Coote as Poppea and Sarah Connoly as Octavia, and Eric Owens as strong
and sympathetic Seneca. Worth catching if you can! (September 2000)
La Cava
A new musical set in 8th century Spain and Morocco. Oliver Tobias and
Julie-Alanah Brighten star as King Roderic and Florinda. Florinda is sent by
her father to the court of King Roderic, his long-time friend, thus
separating Florinda from her sweetheart Somal. As she is plotting her escape
to return to Morocco, Somal appears and is killed by the King as an intruder.
Florinda swears revenge, thus leading to the downfall of her father and the king.
Julie-Alanah and the supporting cast are excellent, but Oliver Tobias'
performance isn't particularly good. No memorable songs, so I doubt that this
will run long. (May 2000)
The London production of the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical.
We saw this when it was in preview, so there were one or two minor slips, but
still a very enjoyable evening. The staging and costumes are marvelously
sumptuous; lots of bright silks and gold with elephant motifs etc. - even the
boxes have been decorated and used in the production. A strong cast is lead by
Elaine Paige as Anna Leonowens (I think this was bad casting - I don't find
her a strong enough voice and don't think that she is charismatic enough for
this role), Jason Scott Lee as the King of Siam (very good, but occasionally
his American accent slips through). Aura Deva as Tuptim and Taewon Yi Kim as
Lady Thiang are excellent in their supporting roles, with magnificent voices
evidence of their professional singing training. The children raise suitable "aahs"
from the audience at their entrance.
Half the stalls gave a standing ovation on the evening we attended; I certainly
believe that this show will be another long-running hit. (April 2000)
Sixth Sense
Very enjoyable film - a psychological thriller, with a clever story, good
lighting and atmospheric soundtrack. My wife managed to work out the twist
early on in the film, but I didn't twig until near the end!
We even enjoyed watching Bruce Willis! Haley Joel Osment as Cole Sear deserved
an Oscar for his role. Overall, a much better film than American Beauty (March 2000).
American Beauty
Kevin Spacey plays marvelously Lester Burnham going through a mid-life
crisis; he looses his job, his wife is having an affair, he is fantasising
about his daughter's best friend, etc. Enjoyable, but doesn't deserve to win an Oscar (February 2000)
Forbidden Broadway
A talented cast of four, Sophie-Louise Dann, Mark O'Malley, Christine Pedi
and Alistair Robins with piano accompaniment, lambast and parody a wide range
of musical shows and stars. Their targets include Cats, Annie, Phantom of the
Opera, Miss Saigon, Les Miserables, Barbara Streisand, Carol Channing, Liza
Minelli and many, many more! Very funny when they get it right, but some of
their turns missed the mark as the audience hadn't seen the shows being 'hit'
(Rent, the Lion King). Worth seeing as it will put a different light on some of
the most successful shows around! (August 1999)
Performed by Opera Box in English at
Cannizaro Park Festival 1999, this
time with no scenery! Starring Dame Hilda Bracket as Katisha and Richard Suart
as Ko-Ko (in a performance that reminded us strongly of an early Jack Lemmon.
Highly enjoyable performance. (July 1999)
Wait Until Dark by Frederick Knott
A blind woman is alone in her basement flat, her husband away on business
having inadvertently smuggled into the country a consignment of drugs hidden in
a doll. She soon starts to rumble that the policeman and strange men may not be
what they claim to be as the doll appears to be the subject of their searching.
It is only when the lights go out that she has the advantage on her attackers.(July 1999)
Orpheus in the Underworld by Jacques Offenbach
Performed in English by Mecklenburgh Opera at Holland Park Open Air
Theatre. Brought up-to-date, with Eurydice as a TV soap-opera fanatic and Pluto
her on-screen hero. Olympus is now a space craft (like Star Trek) and the
Bacchantes replaced with the Spice Girls! Some heavy editing had taken place
alongside the updating - Stix is no longer Eurydice's confidante, but now her
dresser. Great fun, but indistinct in some places. (July 1999)
The Gentle Hook by Francis Durbridge
Stacey Harrison is a successful businesswoman. Shortly after returning from
Paris, she is attacked by a stranger in her house - she ends up killing him in
the struggle that ensues. The police don't believe that she didn't know her
attacker, and even her estranged husband doubts her when it is revealed that
she returned to Paris for the day. With another murder later on, her lies appear
to be building up against her. As all the action unfolds on the stage, there
isn't much suspense - a disappointing play that left me wanting something stronger. (July 1999)
Performed by Opera Box in English at Cannizaro Park Festival 1999.
Very simply staged (just a few boxes wheeled around for the set), but an
enjoyable production with Brendan Wheatley playing the roguish Don Giovanni and
Gerard Delrez as his servant Leporello, and Bridgett Gill as a slightly
coquetish Donna Elvira. (July 1999)
Black Coffee by Agatha Christie
Sir Claud Amory, one of England's top inventors, summons Hercule Poirot
(with Captain Hastings) to his country home where he fears that a member of
his family is planning to steal a top secret formula for a new, devastating
explosive. Poirot arrives too late; Amory is dead, the formula missing and
everybody in the house seems to have a motive. (July 1999)
The Matrix
Keanau Reeves walks through this gun-ho action-packed moovie, with Laurence
Fishburne really being the star. Thomas Anderson (or Neo, the name he uses when
hacking), is contacted by Fishburne (Morpheus) to warn him that his life is in
peril, but Morpheus will reveal the secret Neo has been looking for if he is
prepared to help. Morpheus believes that Neo is the saviour that will save them
all from The Matrix, a terrifying computer system. The reality is that we are
in the future and humans are being grown as a food source for some other
intelligence. They control us by letting us believe that we are living in 1999,
but this is all a dream. However, should we be killed in the dream world, we
die in the real world. So begins Neo's training, including fast learning through
having lessons 'programmed' into his brain.
This fight of good versus bad has some strong links to other films along the
same theme; Kung-Fu films, gunfight films, etc. Some scenes are so over the top
they make you laugh; there is one big gun fight (battle) where Neo kills a
platoon of armed officers and doesn't even have a hair out of place at the end!
The end is quite corny as well - as Carrie-Ann Moss (playing the role of
Trinity) declares her love to the dead body of Neo, he comes back to life and
in a final fight beats the enemies within the Matrix. The special effects are
quite stunning; even if you know that they were computer generated they are
still impressive! Well worth seeing on the big screen - I want to see it again! (July 1999)
The Hollow by Agatha Christie
Sir Henry and Lady Angkatell invite a few friends down for a relaxing
weekend in their county house. Dr John Christow arrives with his moussy wife,
Gerda, to find his mistress, Henrietta Angkatell already in residence. As they
are about to sit down to dinner Veronica Craye, a glamorous film start g
ate crashes the gathering. It becomes apparent that she was very close to the
Doctor before he was married. When the Doctor is found shot with his wife
holding a pistol most of the guests suspect her, but soon it transpires (in
typical Agatha Christie style) that some of the other guests had motives!
An enjoyable play, with memorable performances from Margaret Wedlake playing
the delightfully scatty Lady Angkatell (who has a perfect memory, but can't
remember dates, times, places or names!) and Ian Marr as a very straight and
proper butler, Gudgeon. (July 1999)
Blood Brothers by Willy Russell
This long-running play is set in Liverpool. Mrs. Johnstone's husband has
left her, so she is forced to raise the children by herself. However, she is
pregnant again, working as a cleaning lady for a woman who has been unable to
conceive. When Mrs Johnstone discovers she is to have twins, Mrs. Lyons comes
up with the idea of pretending to be pregnant and to take one of the babies at
birth. Both ladies try to keep the boys apart, but as they grow up they each
admire the lifestyle of the other. The actors who play the children manage to
age from seven year olds to their 30s just by changing the clothes they wear
and the way they move. Mrs. Johnstone was played by Lyn Paul (New Seekers,
I'd Like to Teach The World to Sing), with Warwick Evans as a narrator and
Mickey and Eddie played by Andy Anowden and Drew Ashton. A play you could
watch several times without being bored. (April 1999)
Orpheus and Eurydice by Gluck
Staged by the English National Opera.
A very strange and bleak production. The chorus occupied the boxes in the
auditorium besides the stage which was scattered with rocks and boulders.
Apart from the three main characters the set was used as a platform for four
couples to dance over. They first appeared in black coats, but stripped off
when the action moved to Elysium as the dead and tormented souls. The Polish
counter-tenor Artur Stefanowicz in the main role was very good, but I'm
marking it down for the dark and bleakness which I found soporific. (May 1999)
Samuel Pepys - The Secret Diaries
A dramatisation of part of the Pepys Diaries (see details of an abridged
version of the diaries at
amazon.co.uk or at
amazon.com).
The play covered some of the major issues of the period from 1659 to 1669;
the restoration of the monarchy, the Plague, and the Great Fire of London - all
from Samuels' perspective. It shows how business and politics was just as
corrupt - each working to further their own riches through alliances, successes
or misfortunes. Through all of the wheeling and dealing, Pepys continued to
philander despite denying his unfaithfulness to his wife. The play certainly
opened my eyes on a period of history I didn't really know. Well presented,
with some contemporary musical accompaniment (I recognised some Handle). (March 1999)
Slava's Snowshow
The theatre was littered with small white pieces of tissue paper - no doubt
to represent the snow in the title. This is a clown show, but not the type of
clowning associated with circuses - more surreal and less slapstick. The
performance (led by Slava Polunin - a Russian clown) lasts just over an hour,
with an interval! It is a series of mime and sketches, sometimes with LOUD
musical accompaniment. Though some of them are slightly amusing and can be
thought provoking, I felt that there was no real cohesion to the show. It was
surprising to find that this is internationally acclaimed; it won the London
Olivier award in 1998 for Best New Entertainment. See it if you want, but don't
break the piggy bank especially - save your money for Cirque de Soleil which
has some similar elements but is much better overall. (March 1999)
The play of the book by Terry Pratchet. See details of the book at
amazon.co.uk or at
amazon.com.
Great performance from Paul Darrow as Captain Vimes, with all of the other
characters; Carrot, CMOT Dibbler, the dragons, etc. An amusing evening out! (February 1999)
The Prince of Egypt
Very disappointed with the movie. Why it has had all the good reviews I
don't know. It may be the saving of DreamWorks, but this version of the story
of Moses could just as well have been a 1950's Disney animation file. (December 1998)
Kundun
Another film with a Philip Glass soundtrack. A beautiful film by Martin
Scorsese portraying the life of the 14th Dalai Lama. Shows how he was brought
up in Tibet under traditional Buddhist traditions, and his role in the struggle
for sovereignty of Tibet with China. The photography by Roger Deskins is superb.
Deservedly got Oscar nominations, but lost out to Titanic. (November 1998)
Powaqqatsi
A few years ago this was the first film with a Philip Glass soundtrack I
saw, and I still prefer this to Koyaanisqatsi. Again, stunning images, but this
time of Third World life and culture with a more ethnic soundtrack. (November 1998)
Koyaanisqatsi Live!
A live performance of the cult film, with Philip Glass and the Philip
Glass Ensemble. A series of stunning images from the US, backed by the
rhythmic music made for an absorbing 90 minutes. In some places I felt that
the music was out of step with the movie, but definitely worth seeing. (November 1998)
Elizabeth
My wife wanted to see this; I wasn't particularly looking forward to the
movie as I wanted to be entertained. Having said that, the film is fabulous.
The story covers the feud between the Catholics and Protestants, and how
Elizabeth tries to keep the situation under control whilst the courtiers and
ambassadors from France and Spain court her. The sets are marvelous, the costumes
superb, and some very fine acting; even Eric Cantona gives a good performance.
Kate Blanchette as Elizabeth changes from a young girl to a powerful strong
monarch. Geoffrey Rush as Sir Francis Walsingham, the only man that Elizabeth
can trust is excellent. Well worth seeing. (November 1998)
Amadeus
The stage version of the film, staged at the Old Vic. David Suchet played
the role of Salieri, with Michael Sheen as Mozart and Lucy Whybrow as his wife.
Sallieri acts as narrator to the story of Mozart's downfall. In this production
he is portrayed as being scheming and calculating, but not as bitter and as
warped as in the film. Just by changing his stance and his voice Suchet changes
from a middle-aged composer at court to an old man on the eve of his attempt to
commit suicide. Micheal Sheen is suitably manic in his role, changing from the
wild young upstart at court to a tormented sole living his last days in a slum
as he tries to finish a requiem mass for an unknown benefactor. A half-mirrored
backwall to the stage with projected images of ballrooms and streets help to
re-create the atmosphere of Vienna. A brilliant performance by Suchet that
deserves an award. (October 1998)
And Then There Were None
This Agatha Christie play (made into a film Ten Little Indians) was staged
at the Ashcroft Theatre in Croydon. I had seen part of the film before, but
this was the first time I had seen the complete story. Eight guests are
invited to a house on an island for the weekend, to find their hosts away.
One by one they are murdered in circumstances similar to the children's rhyme
"Ten Little Indians". Quite enjoyable. (October 1998)
Anthony and Cleopatra
This production at the Royal National Theatre starred Helen Mirren and
Alan Rickman. I found this production very heavy; some of the dialogues were
drowned out by the drumming and wind-chime music in the background. The
circular revolving stage was divided by a semi-circular terra cotta coloured
curtain with panels that could be lifted independently to create a range of
backgrounds and to let parts of the scenery through. My companion's though there
was a strong Japanese influence on the production. Helen Mirren was very good,
but I didn't find Alan Rickman's Anthony convincing. There was none of the
sexual spark between them that you would expect there to be. (October 1998)
The Lady Boys of Bangkok
This show is performed by an all male troupe from Thailand. Most of them
are transvestites and mime to various international songs in sumptuous
costumes. In Thailand these are normally cabaret performances, but have now
been strung together into one show, and as such don't really work. There is
no continuity between acts, so it comes across as just a series of
performances. Only two of the performers has any stage presence (Mr. Johnny,
didn't get the other performer's name), and the evening I saw there were lots
of slips; costumes falling off, dropping of fans, etc. Interesting to see,
but really too much of the same thing. (September 1998)
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
Performed at the Regent's
Park Open Air Theatre. Every year the New Shakespeare Company stages three
productions at this venue; two Shakespeare plays and one musical. This year's
musical was below their recent standards - the show has only two memorable
songs; Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.
The art-deco chrome set and good performances from Sara Crowe as Lorelei Lee
and Clive Rowe as Gus Edmond (Jr) save the production. (August 1998)
The Tales of Hoffmann by Offenbach
A simple production (only a cast of ten) by Opera Box, a small touring
company specialising in open-air productions. Performed at the Cannizaro Park
Open-Air Festival 1998. I haven't seen this opera before, and found it long.
It was Offenbach's last opera, and more serious than his other works. (August 1998)
Mrs. Brown (Her Majesty, Mrs. Brown in the US)
Judi Dench plays a severe Queen Victoria to Billy Connolly's John Brown.
Very well acted by both leading actors, with excellent photography and
settings, even if there wasn't much of a story. (July 1998)
Sliding Doors
Clever comedy staring Gwyneth Paltrow and John Hannah. Shows how a girl's
life simultaneously as it is and as it would have turned out if only she had
caught the tube train home. (July 1998)
As You Like It
A delightful production of the Shakespeare play by students from the
Webber Douglas Academy at the Cannizaro Park Open-Air Festival 1998. Garry
Fannin was particularly good as a drole, remorse Jacues. (July 1998)
L.A. Confidential
Police corruption and sleeze in 1950s Los Angeles. Three very different
cops eventually start working together towards a common aim. (July 1998)
The Full Monty
Out of work steel workers in Sheffield decide they can do a better job
than the Chippendales. Very funny film. (October 1997)
Men In Black
Sheer escapism and fun based around a science fiction idea. Lots of good
jokes. A must-see film! (October 1997)
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