tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22098480316634823592024-03-23T03:13:56.595-07:00NOT COMPULSORY BLOG...is the writing outlet and business hub of artist and critic, Debra Hall. Of course it is 'Not Compulsory' for you to share Debra's opinions or like her artistry. What you will find (if you stay awhile) is content that is always Educational, Creative, and Social. WELCOME ALL!
Debra Hallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16372083794735194835noreply@blogger.comBlogger336125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209848031663482359.post-28363343238114891732024-03-21T08:15:00.000-07:002024-03-22T02:17:54.836-07:00STAGE REVIEW THE GLASS MENAGERIE<p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a><link href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxMfZ8zAoxh8YIwMPv1ag0huhtqVVpPe1TbRI9cGWHQGizuXI7iXffEh0xMNux-90nHQQfuWELgZ0A9TT0SSqMYF3vW2MmFOyISCBcm01E_aMzkBgV7pZMYmHk2-Kqjq9inYzGcR1hxAuZh1-G-ZyS1jFw5rXbeHsGJh4GzIsdkRxFw5iCIsy0rBmhHrw/s5275/Copy%20of%20Glass%20Menagerie%20PROD%20TOUR-2537-Enhanced-NR.jpg" rel="“canonical”" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"></link><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><img border="0" data-original-height="3517" data-original-width="5275" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxMfZ8zAoxh8YIwMPv1ag0huhtqVVpPe1TbRI9cGWHQGizuXI7iXffEh0xMNux-90nHQQfuWELgZ0A9TT0SSqMYF3vW2MmFOyISCBcm01E_aMzkBgV7pZMYmHk2-Kqjq9inYzGcR1hxAuZh1-G-ZyS1jFw5rXbeHsGJh4GzIsdkRxFw5iCIsy0rBmhHrw/w640-h426/Copy%20of%20Glass%20Menagerie%20PROD%20TOUR-2537-Enhanced-NR.jpg" width="640" /></b></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><i>THE GLASS MENAGERIE </i>UK TOUR 2024<br /> Natalie Kimmerling (Laura)<br /><br /><br /></b></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>Overview</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1f1f1f; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1f1f1f;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #1f1f1f; text-align: center;">Director, </span></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; text-align: center;">Atri Banerjee</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1f1f1f; font-family: verdana; font-size: large; text-align: center;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; text-align: center;">gives a bold interpretation of this </span>memory play, one which actor, Kasper Hilton-Hille as Tom Wingfield explains in his first scene narration. It is </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana;">Tom's unfolding memories that relays the story of family dysfunction; the p</span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="text-align: center;">sychology is</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana;">so intriguing. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1f1f1f;">Amanda provided a</span><span style="text-align: center;"> safe, conventional, but restrictive life for Tom and his sister, Laura; nothing was spontaneous and everything was predictable and this is what drove Tom to distraction. He needed to keep away from the house day and night, whereas Amanda and Laura were largely confined to it. The </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1f1f1f;">home was not a healthy environment for Tom. We can make definite theme comparisons of this and </span><span style="text-align: center;">Henrik Ibsen's</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1f1f1f;"> nineteenth century play </span><i style="color: #1f1f1f;">The Dolls House.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1f1f1f;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Amanda, being a narcissitic individual, was full of contempt for her husband who had deserted them; she frequently accused Tom of being selfish like his father. Laura struggled with a disability and lacked confidence. Therefore, duty and responsibilities weighed heavy on Tom, who was frustrated at home, hated his job and so plotted his escape.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1f1f1f; font-family: verdana;">Jim O'Connor is the remaining character from outside the family unit.</span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Later, in the order of chronological events, he found himself at the Wingfield's home for a meal which evoked old memories for Laura.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i style="color: #1f1f1f;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i style="color: #1f1f1f;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana; font-size: large; font-style: normal;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i style="color: #1f1f1f;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgURZqG14aGZvopLz1xiWIbJ9_2ehMzj47RZD7jVCKTKyOCFPFXyKq_GvDGnxqIn0Bh_hd2cU9fHzGphZSl_qEp8mz6fStrWGvvGKZEAcggUIdDDrZPhifY8ZpcwDbKVaC5ZAG6pwJbJKWt-YH0il3_Of6aiINCP_iRFn4SafN-o_C2cc5KCY7Hpj5mzOk/s5380/Copy%20of%20Glass%20Menagerie%20PRIOD%20TOUR-5786-Enhanced-NR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span><img border="0" data-original-height="3587" data-original-width="5380" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgURZqG14aGZvopLz1xiWIbJ9_2ehMzj47RZD7jVCKTKyOCFPFXyKq_GvDGnxqIn0Bh_hd2cU9fHzGphZSl_qEp8mz6fStrWGvvGKZEAcggUIdDDrZPhifY8ZpcwDbKVaC5ZAG6pwJbJKWt-YH0il3_Of6aiINCP_iRFn4SafN-o_C2cc5KCY7Hpj5mzOk/w640-h426/Copy%20of%20Glass%20Menagerie%20PRIOD%20TOUR-5786-Enhanced-NR.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="color: black;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #1f1f1f;"><span style="color: black;"><b><span style="font-style: normal;">Pictured the cast of </span>The Glass Menagerie<span style="font-style: normal;"> : </span></b></span></i></div></span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #1f1f1f;"><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana; font-size: large; font-style: normal;">Zacchaeus Kayode (Jim O'Connor), </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><i style="color: #1f1f1f;"><span style="color: black; font-style: normal;">Natalie Kimmerling (Laura Wingfield),</span></i><i style="color: #1f1f1f;"><span style="color: black; font-style: normal;"> </span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><i style="color: #1f1f1f;"><span style="color: black; font-style: normal;">Geraldine Somerville (</span></i><i style="color: #1f1f1f;"><span style="color: black; font-style: normal;">Amanda Wingfield) </span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #1f1f1f;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: black; font-style: normal;">Kasper Hilton-Hille (</span></i><span style="color: black; font-style: normal;">Tom Wingfield) </span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i style="color: #1f1f1f;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana; font-size: large; font-style: normal;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i style="color: #1f1f1f;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana; font-size: large; font-style: normal;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>Observations</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span><span><i>The Glass Menagerie </i>is the work of American playwright Tennesse Williams (1911-1983) and is semi-autobiographical. </span><span>Even so, reviewer noted some strong theme links with Ibsen as mentioned and with D H Lawrence's novella <i>The Virgin and the Gypsy </i>(p 1926).</span></span><span> </span><span style="text-align: center;"><span>To explore these plot themes helps with the critiquing aspects of the play, so it is interesting that a simile Lawrence uses for his character, </span></span><span style="text-align: center;">Cynthia ‘pure white snow-flower’ </span><span style="text-align: center;">is a close match to</span><span style="text-align: center;"> </span><span><span style="text-align: center;">O'Connor's </span></span><i style="text-align: center;">Blue Rose </i><span><span style="text-align: center;">nickname for Laura.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Lawrence, in his novella, agrees that Cynthia would have added energy and 'flow' to the otherwise miserable Rectory, while Williams marks </span></span><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: center;">O'Connor's presence in the Wingfield's home as a highlight in an otherwise dull household.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; text-align: center;">The most glaring similarity is that both works have a male character that has been romantised over and therefore has been given elevated status in the eyes of a young woman protaganist. In Lawrence's novella Yvette's reality is that her dark and mysterious hero is just plain, Joe, at the story's end. Similarly, for Laura, it turns out that O'Connor is not that remarkable, he's just ordinary, Jim, at the end of the day in a regular job with a fiance.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><b>Comment</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><i style="color: #1f1f1f; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal;">The careful placing of little blown glass figurines of animals and birds etc., around the circular stage are a metaphor for the fragility of the family, in particular the Laura character. </span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><i style="color: #1f1f1f; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal;"><br /></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #1f1f1f; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white;">Reviewer wonders if it was right to be fretting and mindful not just of the delicacy of the glass ornaments but of the naked candle flames and their close proximity (at times) to players wearing flammable clothing. The waterfilled vases too, being at the feet of the players, who move inbetween all of these props with much dexterity. Therefore, on one hand a beautiful and atmospheric staging at low level but with </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1f1f1f; font-family: verdana;">intention perhaps, to create an unsettling air and which double up as feeble entrapments to fit with the core messages of the piece.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1f1f1f; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1f1f1f;">Last but not at all least the </span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #1f1f1f;">dramaturgy one can attach to this has made a version of <i>The Glass Menagerie</i> that is the best of the best. Reviewer is a lover of a good stage drama and this play has it all; it is flawless and has moments of breathtaking beauty. </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #1f1f1f;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #1f1f1f;">The performances of all four cast members is wonderfully naturalistic. Hilton-Hille was visibly moved when he delivers Tom's</span></span><span style="text-align: center;"> emotional and sad soliloquy at the play's end, when, having made the break from his home long ago, suddenly arrives at a </span><span style="color: #1f1f1f; text-align: center;">harsh reality in regard to his dear sister.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #1f1f1f; text-align: center;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">**ENDS**</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #1f1f1f; text-align: center;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #1f1f1f; text-align: center;">Review by Theatre Critic, Debra Hall who attended The Belgrade Theatre, Coventry performance of <i>The Glass Menagerie</i> on Wednesday 20 March 2024 at 7.30 pm</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #1f1f1f; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #1f1f1f; text-align: center;"><b>REFERENCES</b></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #1f1f1f; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #1f1f1f; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-ligatures: no-contextual; text-align: start;">ANRPR <i>The Glass Menagerie Press Performance Information</i><i> </i>(19 March 2024)</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #1f1f1f; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-ligatures: no-contextual; text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #1f1f1f; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-ligatures: no-contextual; text-align: start;">ANRPR <i>The Glass Menagerie production images (</i>20 March 2024)</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #1f1f1f; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-ligatures: no-contextual; text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The Belgrade Theatre <i>What's On</i> <i>The Glass Menagerie</i> <a href="https://www.belgrade.co.uk/events/the-glass-menagerie/">https://www.belgrade.co.uk/events/the-glass-menagerie/</a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #1f1f1f; text-align: center;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p>Debra Hallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16372083794735194835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209848031663482359.post-56314877363643375962024-03-08T06:36:00.000-08:002024-03-08T06:49:33.763-08:00CREATIVE WELLBEING EVENT at the BELGRADE THEATRE, COVENTRY<p><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a><link href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-_pXEBg6YMCNtakq5EMqvZL4RzzyNc6F1is7CWn1K7IZD8_MHVKz25hkEdfZjFT_Ao0pMnTn61XQVOniRBmWvOAWySSCnxGsQF1Jzjm3cPR8nSST9025_16aWpr4abslABwwcGxDUkP2PV1RxjxT4FDkE_KEShpDPczJQB9M9rLRSeBt2j3EqCxZkFr8/s1150/Social%20Prescribing%20at%20The%20Belgrade.jpg" rel="canonical" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"></link><img border="0" data-original-height="764" data-original-width="1150" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-_pXEBg6YMCNtakq5EMqvZL4RzzyNc6F1is7CWn1K7IZD8_MHVKz25hkEdfZjFT_Ao0pMnTn61XQVOniRBmWvOAWySSCnxGsQF1Jzjm3cPR8nSST9025_16aWpr4abslABwwcGxDUkP2PV1RxjxT4FDkE_KEShpDPczJQB9M9rLRSeBt2j3EqCxZkFr8/w640-h426/Social%20Prescribing%20at%20The%20Belgrade.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large; text-align: justify;">A C<i>reative Wellbeing</i></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large; text-align: justify;"> event<br />at Belgrade Theatre, Coventry<br />Thursday 14 March 2024</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Here is news of a <i>National Association for Social Prescribing </i>day, a <i>Creative Wellbeing</i> event by co-leaders the <i>Belgrade Theatre</i>, Coventry and The <i>Coventry & Rugby GP Alliance</i>: funded by<i> Coventry Building Society (CBS)</i>. </span><p><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The date for the diary is Thursday 14 March 2024, the organisations already mentioned and other agents (see listing below under REFERENCES after *[]*) are working in collaboration to deliver this, the list includes Coventry City Council's <i>Central Library</i> and a specialist, financial crime team. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The theatre itself is the venue </span></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">11AM – 8.30PM</span></p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The sessions are designed to help and channel feelings of wellbeing for participants through creative activities that includes music, movement; games; arts & crafts; poetry and mindfulness. A dedicated quiet space will feature (in the form of a pop-up library), where sensory activities for all ages will take place and a therapy dog will be present. An opportunity also, to create a piece of public art that will be exhibited on the Belgrade’s Exhibition Wall.</span><p><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Various sessions are either drop-in or bookable via The Belgrade Theatre's website (link below) or at the box office. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">On-site mental health related sessions available: these will be conversation led or guided and are open to people of all ages across Coventry, with inclusive sessions in café setting(s) within the venue details on the website.</span><div><blockquote><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">'Social Prescribers offer a friendly space to provide social support, housing support, artistic activities, financial support, lifelong learning, volunteering, and physical well-being. Social prescribing can help individuals have more control over their own health and find ways to improve how they feel in a way that suits them': <b>The National Association for Social Prescribing 2024</b></span></blockquote><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">*ENDS* </span></p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>REFERENCES</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">ANRPR Press Release<i> </i></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><i>BELGRADE THEATRE ANNOUNCES CREATIVE WELLBEING EVENT AS PART OF SOCIAL PRESCRIBING DAY 2024 </i></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">08 March 2024</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Belgrade Theatre <a><link href="https://www.belgrade.co.uk/events/creative-wellbeing-day/" rel="canonical"></link>https://www.belgrade.co.uk/events/creative-wellbeing-day/</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Coventry & Rugby GP Alliance</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a><link href="https://www.coventryrugbygpalliance.nhs.uk/" rel="canonical"></link>https://www.coventryrugbygpalliance.nhs.uk/</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Coventry Building Society (CBS) <a><link href="https://www.coventrybuildingsociety.co.uk/" rel="canonical"></link>https://www.coventrybuildingsociety.co.uk/</a></span></div><div><br /></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Coventry City Council <i><a><link href="https://www.coventry.gov.uk/centrallibrary" rel="canonical"></link>https://www.coventry.gov.uk/centrallibrary</a></i></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Coventy City Football Club <a><link href="https://www.ccfc.co.uk/community/about-sky-blues-in-the-community/" rel="canonical"></link>https://www.ccfc.co.uk/community/about-sky-blues-in-the-community/</a><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Coventry Pride <a><link href="https://coventrypride.org.uk/" rel="canonical"></link>https://coventrypride.org.uk/</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Good Neighbours <a><link href="https://goodneighbours.org.uk/" rel="canonical"></link>https://goodneighbours.org.uk/</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Mind <a><link href="https://www.mind.org.uk/" rel="canonical"></link>https://www.mind.org.uk/</a><br /></span><p><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The National Association for Social Prescribing <a><link href="https://socialprescribingacademy.org.uk/events/" rel="canonical"></link>https://socialprescribingacademy.org.uk/events/</a></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Underground Lights Community Theatre<br /><a><link href="https://undergroundlights.org/about" rel="canonical"></link>https://undergroundlights.org/about</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust <a><link href="https://www.uhcw.nhs.uk/where-careers-grow/volunteers/" rel="canonical"></link>https://www.uhcw.nhs.uk/where-careers-grow/volunteers/</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> Alzheimer's Society <a><link href="https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/" rel="canonical"></link>https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/</a></span><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "General Sans"; font-size: 13.3333px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "General Sans"; font-size: 13.3333px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></p></div></div>Debra Hallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16372083794735194835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209848031663482359.post-65038166756387980122024-03-01T00:45:00.000-08:002024-03-01T01:25:52.528-08:00Stage Review ANIMAL FARM<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a><link arm.jpeg="" b="" blogger.googleusercontent.com="" https:="" img="" nimal="" rel="canonical'href=" s736="" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" vxsejd-ffmgo8hqs1fklp_qmfdd79-nknp7st26pdyew84ap-yrd024f_hzldludonkr7chma-lesxm28xcq7uktd3ux4vakgbq8jbj4u6lfa3cnfiomvju8xndzw4ctzadfxp-o_cqftolnpemcgygcdgmcxzpwxkevg3puc0k7a5ut-ykwyampod8r6ks6y="" vz2xl=""></link><img border="0" data-original-height="552" data-original-width="736" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD-FfMgO8hqS1fkLP_QmFdd79-nkNp7ST26pdYew84AP-YRD024f_hzldludONKR7CHma-leSxM28Xcq7uktD3UX4vaKgBq8Jbj4u6LfA3cNfIoMVjU8XNdzW4ctZaDfXp-o_cqftOLNpeMCGyGCDgMcXZPWxKevG3puc0K7a5uT-YkwyaMpod8r6kS6Y/w640-h480/Animal%20Farm.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cast of <i>Animal Farm</i> <br />Derby Theatre 2024<br />Photograph by Pamela Raith</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">⭐⭐⭐⭐</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Writer, George Orwell (1903-1950) presented his well documented theories of political manipulation in the unusual format of farm animals becoming self governing in his acclaimed novel <i>Animal Farm. </i>The dramatisation for stage is an adaptation by Ian Wooldridge. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>Overview</b></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The pigs possess higher intelligence than the other animals and so they set about putting forward seven commandments as a code to live by in order to achieve a life on the farm that would work for all. </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Therefore, in the beginning, all the animals share an ideology. They believe, in the absence of humans, that liberation and freedom will be achieved and that their farm society will be equal. After Old Major (Polly Lister) dies, a </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">hierarchical<a><rel canonical="" href="https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=2513685c83e6abca&sxsrf=ACQVn0-SmL5ITqML4aENViOUEIBLjuKaGQ:1709248750344&q=hierarchical&si=AKbGX_rYYX5RSQWW4ITS1L-igAzuFkhai5qc2bwtFzLhoyUeZNFejXZ0j9mRbfgyp1nKZOo9k9G_38GuxcmduKx6iRvtTY46PbPFGA8uqVlmFsKf06vmXek%3D&expnd=1"></rel></a> system is created headed by the scaringly formidable, Napolean (Ida Regan).</span> <p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a><img border="0" data-original-height="642" data-original-width="736" height="558" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijBGYDqxU5j5XLXK6wCYVa2mzi0EFNLUP4BiUZp5ISUZ4OpvpXduSY7cv55HYlECt_uX-Wr-reMpSMRBPpSVNMKxvcfaxBDXEbMi3RBVcDedpynmPQml-Hpl82MFUe5MvehuHaOWYcsG4D6ycdqf5INgq_aH_IwrpiKnNQDFlD3B1JL1BTLvzzrmjzm6U/w640-h558/Animal%20Farm%20(1).jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ida Regan as Napolean (centre) and Killan McCardle (Squealer)<br /><i>Animal Farm </i>at Derby Theatre 2024<br />Photograph by Pamela Raith</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Later, the pigs move into the farmhouse and gain human like privileges for themselves while others do the hard graft. Along the way it is clear that Mollie (Amy Drake) misses human interaction too much; Snowball (Samater Ahmed) is used as a scapegoat for every wrong doing; Boxer (Sam Black) is put upon; and so it goes...divide and rule tactics where those who waver or who do not comply to the rules are made examples of or become enemies of the 'state'. Squealer (Killian McCardle) helps to deliver the brainwashing messages to the subservients who do all the work and are hungry and suppressed. Gradually the commandments are 'rewritten' intepreted to suit an agenda. Animal Farm is a parable that represents the totalitarism rule and its crudity.</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>Comment</b><br /></span><div><br /></div><div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">As well as serving the bold entrances of the speech making pig bosses, and, likewise, the swift exits of those dispatched, a row of tall </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">revolving panels are multifunctional with each having a written commandment on its front in lettering that glows in the dark stage setting, a static set installation with moving parts that allows a certain flow and energy to the storytelling.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The pigs and the work horses are identified by sculptured head pieces worn by the actors and which also form part of the staging as they hang suspended on wires like creepy masks, other characters are identified mainly through props and through devised movement and action.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The music is interesting in composition and lively; the players give accomplished performances of the songs.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The Director, Iqbal Khan's, says in his notes, that his aim was to find (along with the company and creatives) imaginative and meaningful ways to retell the story and this has been achieved because despite its fatalistic context this play is amusing at times and completely enthralling.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Review by theatre critic, Debra Hall, who attended the press night performance of <i>Animal Farm</i> at Derby Theatre on 29 February, 2024 at 7pm</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>References</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Derby Theatre </span><span face=""Google Sans", Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1f1f1f; font-size: 1.375rem; font-variant-ligatures: no-contextual;"><i>INVITE REMINDER - ANIMAL FARM at Derby Theatre </i>(08 Feb 2024)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Derby Theatre <i>Animal Farm</i> production photography (21 Feb 2024)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Derby Theatre programme <i>Animal Farm </i>(2024)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Derby Theatre <a><link animal-farm="" derbytheatre.co.uk="" event="" https:="" rel="“canonical” href="></link>https://derbytheatre.co.uk/event/animal-farm/</a></span></div><div><br /></div></div></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-large;">FPA </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://fpatheatre.com/wp-content/uploads/AnimalFarm-8.5x14_e.pdf">https://fpatheatre.com/wp-content/uploads/AnimalFarm-8.5x14_e.pdf</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">google.com</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Nick Hern Books <a><link animal-farm-stage-version="" https:="" rel="“canonical” href=" www.nickhernbooks.co.uk=""></link>https://www.nickhernbooks.co.uk/animal-farm-stage-version</a></span><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><br />Debra Hallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16372083794735194835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209848031663482359.post-79559594809867750352024-02-23T04:17:00.000-08:002024-02-25T02:16:33.395-08:00Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream RSC (2024) - REVIEW<p></p><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a><link href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ4Pxy7KWCoh4XD80MNYrVeO1Xcw4BON3jvOdtpvcZrL4MHYVBGLMbF8tF-ZGaA9Wo_11j7fBp7L2eUJg3N8Xj0KtDy8OPXifHMbhyeaeU7a5eNsNvMBgy9PX2UP1yrS9qvGqNXkGhSTYrJp8m772-_ugL_BuJEsfAoipIB-NREMqG_6JOVTJJOphYd9Y/s899/367575_A%20Midsummer%20Night_s%20Dream%20production%20photos_%202024_%20shoot%202_2024_Web%20use%20(1).jpg" rel="canonical" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"></link><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="614" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ4Pxy7KWCoh4XD80MNYrVeO1Xcw4BON3jvOdtpvcZrL4MHYVBGLMbF8tF-ZGaA9Wo_11j7fBp7L2eUJg3N8Xj0KtDy8OPXifHMbhyeaeU7a5eNsNvMBgy9PX2UP1yrS9qvGqNXkGhSTYrJp8m772-_ugL_BuJEsfAoipIB-NREMqG_6JOVTJJOphYd9Y/w438-h640/367575_A%20Midsummer%20Night_s%20Dream%20production%20photos_%202024_%20shoot%202_2024_Web%20use%20(1).jpg" width="438" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><div style="text-align: center;">Rosie Sheehy as Puck <i>A Midsummer Night's Dream</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">Royal Shakespeare Theatre 2024</div><div style="text-align: center;">Photograph Pamela Raith (c) RSC</div><br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><i>A Midsummer Night's Dream </i></span><div><br /></div><div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">The Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford Upon Avon (until 30 March 2024)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Directed by Eleanor Rhode</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Using a popular French phrase to describe key elements of this production of The Bard's <i>A Midsummer Night's Dream</i> seems a little out of place, but the direction and input of illusion designer, John Bulleid, </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">definitely adds a </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">certain 'je ne sais quoi' to this play.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The company have created an unmissable version of <i>'Dream' </i>with</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> high quality stage management and live music that is so in tuned with the actors as they perform it is wonderful to behold. </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The human characters are placed in modern day. The dress and the hairstyles suggests New Romantics 1980s, the s</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">ynthesizer sound (popular in music at the time) is another clue to that end. Nevertheless it is a time that pre dates</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> mobile phones because, after all, this is a famous tale centred around miscommunication and escapsim at its core. </span></p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">As for the presentation of the fantasy world (the so called dream world) with those wonderful fairy characters - this is one of the loveliest visual experiences one could wish to see live. Rosie Sheehy completely captivates as Puck.</p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">It is the enchantments in <i>‘Dream’</i> which messes with the minds and love interests of the characters and with all of the misunderstanding and confusion which goes hand in hand with that; there is much scope for the comedy to really come into play. Ryan Hutton is particularly animated and playful with his portrayal of Lysander.</p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">The really funny lines and action is attached to the tradespeople playing amateur 'troupe' members who put on their play (within the play), led, of course, by star of stage, screen, film and radio Mathew Baynton who is an absolute hoot as Bottom, he, Helen Monks as Peter Quince, Mitesh Soni as Flute; Premi Tamang as Starveling, Laurie Jamieson as Snug and Emily Cundick as Snout are hugely entertaining.</p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space">No negatives, this is a production that is expertly directed and is artistically perfect! </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">Review by Theatre Critic, Debra Hall who attend the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford Upon Avon, on Thursday 22 February 7.15 pm</p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><b>References</b></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">Hall, D.</p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><a><link href="https://notcompulsory.blogspot.com/2023/07/shakespeares-midsummer-nights-dream.html" rel="canonical"></link>https://notcompulsory.blogspot.com/2023/07/shakespeares-midsummer-nights-dream.html</a></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) production photography image file (19 Feb)</p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) <i>A Midsummer Night's Dream</i> printed programme (2024)</p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) <i>What's On</i> <a href="https://www.rsc.org.uk/whats-on">https://www.rsc.org.uk/whats-on</a></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><a href="https://supernaturaldesharnia.weebly.com/the-actors.html">https://supernaturaldesharnia.weebly.com/the-actors.html</a></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCdXqXCh4KzgWLh1okLaLNZjtraIo6nVJzC_rhRihFQSn7VSvp15oA6Z6pDmnSjUxYgdx2V68GuctxcVFrkx1FlPInwPrGGXnl_4kNMrgEULNmGF1z5hn9XfnEwop1YhvXHc7ji1hkJqIcz3QE6tf3VKBPNDbgI6nN8R2NfQPhSG0wZLPw2Q-F9oMyt3Y/s1876/IMG_3354.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1876" data-original-width="1762" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCdXqXCh4KzgWLh1okLaLNZjtraIo6nVJzC_rhRihFQSn7VSvp15oA6Z6pDmnSjUxYgdx2V68GuctxcVFrkx1FlPInwPrGGXnl_4kNMrgEULNmGF1z5hn9XfnEwop1YhvXHc7ji1hkJqIcz3QE6tf3VKBPNDbgI6nN8R2NfQPhSG0wZLPw2Q-F9oMyt3Y/w602-h640/IMG_3354.jpg" width="602" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Royal Shakespeare Theatre<br />Stratford Upon Avon<br />Photograph (c)debrahall(2024)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b><br /></b></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><br /></p></span></div></div></div></div></div></div>Debra Hallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16372083794735194835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209848031663482359.post-61685445429956516612024-02-05T09:06:00.000-08:002024-02-05T09:27:40.592-08:00Apprenticeship Programme at The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC)<span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAVVPHEJBIf4WuEadlVbvnv08JV9qx09_MoE3uOIKrTrLJvhKB4pW7ZVeiW17G5TJ7GMNP80ocS_rvQa72FdnF0AH_1ATL_6YWtN_6N4jn1Wk-NBgicwVu1Fxj_iSYrW11D9Yu-uG-uCFSeQrCqMWSd3ChQdmd_wV6m5pJNl1CkhYfs6o5eLuLH1bSvcg/w640-h426/344128_Apprentices%20at%20the%20RSC_%20January%202023_2023.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pictured Alex Jackson, RSC Automation Technician Grade 2 and Kate Bradley, RSC Apprentice Automation<br />Photograph by Sara Beaumont (c) RSC</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br />This week is National Apprenticeship Week 2024 (5 to 11 February) and The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) reports a record number of apprentices.<br /><br />Working in partnership as part of its UK wide Apprenticeship Programme with regional training providers: namely, Solihull College & University Centre; Stratford-upon-Avon College and Chichester College, t</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">he RSC pledged to recruit 28 apprentices and trainees by the Spring of 2024.<br /><br />RSC apprenticeships and traineeships are for those who want to pursue a career in theatre, taking a work-based path and offering the opportunity to gain Level 2 (equivalent to GCSE grade A*-C/9-4) and/or Level 3 qualifications (equivalent to an A Level; and include: Customer Services; Venue Management; Scenic Carpentry; Scenic Engineering; Catering; Costume; Prop making; Finance; Data Improvements and Maintenance Engineering. Whilst training and earning a salary apprentices study for a professional qualification with all coursework time included in their contracted hours. On average, apprentices spend around 80% of their time at the RSC and 20% with their training provider.</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><blockquote>“Apprenticeships are an important lever in ensuring the arts and cultural sector is representative of the society we live in. In broadening industry representation, we know that lack of talent and potential is not the issue, but lack of opportunity and lack of awareness is. We need a consistent and confident message to flow through formal and higher education that careers in the arts and creative industries exist, and that there are inclusive pathways into them for young people. We need local and national policy makers to recognize that the skills we develop through arts subjects and disciplines are transferable to any other career pathway we might want to embark on; providing skills for both life and for work.</blockquote></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><p></p><blockquote>At the RSC, we are committed to our role as a Teaching Theatre – a learning organization that invests in, supports and trains current and future generations of theatre artists and professionals to build a stronger, fairer and more diverse arts sector.” <b>Jacqui O’Hanlon, Director of Creative Learning and Engagement, RSC.</b></blockquote><p></p></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /> <br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a ><link rel="canonical" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3KZ1tK7WeevYc9o4InXGMF7jWIvEq4LN51QrlI8HbD6GwVW19AzoIxpln6wMOMGFMvPs5CSOsVnj6af8v-uAgMNhSTT1IjF0kExMsvDfbkCrHenRZO28ElK9tyo2JboQ8Msedacm2DVaW9l3xqPGiBh2EQ6R6AznIzAAsAj8aA24FKvUYJqpJxCLUmWc/s3600/363057_Apprentices%20at%20the%20RSC_%20November%202023.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="3600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3KZ1tK7WeevYc9o4InXGMF7jWIvEq4LN51QrlI8HbD6GwVW19AzoIxpln6wMOMGFMvPs5CSOsVnj6af8v-uAgMNhSTT1IjF0kExMsvDfbkCrHenRZO28ElK9tyo2JboQ8Msedacm2DVaW9l3xqPGiBh2EQ6R6AznIzAAsAj8aA24FKvUYJqpJxCLUmWc/w640-h426/363057_Apprentices%20at%20the%20RSC_%20November%202023.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jessie Humby in the Costume Department of The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC)<br />Photograph by Sara Beaumont (c) RSC</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span><blockquote><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">"I really like coming in every day and finding out what I'm going to be doing because it's different all the time. Some things can be challenging but I get to learn new skills and put them into practice, and then see them on stage. There is so much that I can learn from this experience and develop my skills." <b>Jessie Humby, </b></span><span style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Apprentice Costume Maker, RSC.</span></b></span></blockquote><p><br /></p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Note: The expansion of the RSC’s Apprenticeship Programme has been made possible by the generous support of Garfield Weston Foundation, National Lottery Heritage Fund and Mackintosh Foundation.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br />For further information visit <a ><link rel="canonical" href="https://tracking.vuelio.co.uk/tracking/click?d=eOv8flpEI55Dr2yTtxUGjYO4RTapVqqyfG6Y7L8U6dS38MUTc42-iMU1C9WLNvbCzkE7ZeBGmcSczz6bUohlm7mEtT9jzImbf4xQ9eDdvg0bmAV9GVFvUv6YVi7V7Zai4hwzifW6PMZfTYfucrgOACvMDSm0Y2iJUbI9XuqnLsB7zHcascXLyxLQIqOAo_7ecw2" target="_blank">https://www.rsc.org.uk/jobs/where-do-i-fit-in/apprenticeships</a> <br /><b><br />References</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">RSC Press Release <i>RSC RECRUITS RECORD NUMBER OF APPRENTICES </i>(05 Feb 2024)</span><br /><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /> <br /><br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div>Debra Hallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16372083794735194835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209848031663482359.post-33580658606446006822024-02-01T16:41:00.000-08:002024-02-02T00:57:37.073-08:00Stage Review Shrek The Musical<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIAcR9rsMzz-ADqzXq7hE75pZUotaGi4h5UaLfrrxBZe0cm5a7fit9FrFutqxZU5egxwx_tZ4A-l8eGdqBfdj-FkagqAbXaxW8ZONFxSjWQS2zgwx06WNNcoHg0MSKfb6k3JoRCiCae6K18gdm-sZR0bQlMx4AkqiZ8YVIZovjfbC-7iv2xomy2br7Etk/s5412/Image%201.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3608" data-original-width="5412" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIAcR9rsMzz-ADqzXq7hE75pZUotaGi4h5UaLfrrxBZe0cm5a7fit9FrFutqxZU5egxwx_tZ4A-l8eGdqBfdj-FkagqAbXaxW8ZONFxSjWQS2zgwx06WNNcoHg0MSKfb6k3JoRCiCae6K18gdm-sZR0bQlMx4AkqiZ8YVIZovjfbC-7iv2xomy2br7Etk/w640-h426/Image%201.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="TextRun SCXW5651844 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-GB" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; font-family: Century, Century_EmbeddedFont, Century_MSFontService, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18.3458px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;" xml:lang="EN-GB"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW5651844 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Brandon Lee Sears (Donkey) and Antony Lawrence (Shrek) in Shrek the Musical UK and Ireland Tour 2023-4 Photography Marc Brenner </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW5651844 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; font-family: Century, Century_EmbeddedFont, Century_MSFontService, serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18.3458px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />The story order of the DreamWorks' film <i>Shrek </i>(2001) is structured pretty well here, but <i>Shrek The Musical</i> gives us real-life versions of much loved, fictional characters that were created using CGI animation techniques for film, and so it is quite a challenge for anyone to emotionally invest in a stage version concept like this. Secondly, with original music with loud, grating vocals and awful lyrics the songs are instantly forgettable there is not much to love on that score.<br /><br />Nevertheless, when I attend a family show like this one I try to park the critic and appeal to my inner child. Unfortunately, though I tried, this production had little that truly gladdened me or warmed my heart. <br /><br />I end this short review with mentions of the positives: everyone attached to this production is extremely hard working and they put in the effort 100%, there is much energy, movement and dance, the staging; the lighting; the video projection techniques and the puppetry are fabulous.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">**ENDS**</div><br /><br />Review by Theatre Critic, Debra Hall who attended The Belgrade Theatre in Coventry on Thursday 01 February 2024 at 7.00 pm<br /><br /><br /><b>REFERENCES</b><br /><br /><br />Shrek on Tour <a href="https://shrekuktour.com/">https://shrekuktour.com/</a><br /><br /><br />The Belgrade Theatre Press Release SHREK THE MUSICAL - PLAYING AT THE BELGRADE THEATRE 30 JANUARY - 4 FEBRUARY 2024 including production photography<br />Oct 31 2023<br /><br /><br />The Belgrade Theatre <a href="https://www.belgrade.co.uk/events/shrek-the-musical/">https://www.belgrade.co.uk/events/shrek-the-musical/</a></span><br /></span><span class="J-J5-Ji" face=""Google Sans", Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" jsname="SjW3R" style="align-items: center; background-color: white; color: #222222; display: inline-flex; flex-wrap: wrap; font-size: 22px; min-height: 28px; position: relative; vertical-align: bottom;"><div aria-checked="true" aria-label="Important according to Google magic." class="pG" data-is-important="true" data-tooltip-align="b,l" data-tooltip-contained="true" data-tooltip-delay="1500" jsaction="mouseenter:Oh6g9b; mouseleave:Oh6g9b;click:KjsqPd; keydown:mAamLc;" jscontroller="sggJRd" jsname="FaKNoe" role="switch" style="cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-size: 0px; height: 20px; margin: 0px 8px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 20px;" tabindex="0"></div></span><span style="font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><br /></div></span><br /><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></div>Debra Hallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16372083794735194835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209848031663482359.post-31812853761360959962024-01-16T03:56:00.000-08:002024-01-16T09:04:47.639-08:00Stage Review of the World Première MURDER IN THE DARK <iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5EJu7GmAfi4?si=Qbt743YP14AFhCSk" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Teaser Trailer <i>MURDER IN THE DARK</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">Original Theatre at YouTube</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;"> </div> <br />REVIEW<br /><i>⭐⭐⭐⭐</i></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><i><br /> </i></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><i>Murder in the Dark</i> is a new play by writer, Torben Betts and is an Original Theatre touring co-production; directed by Philip Franks. <br /><br />After bashing the car into a dry-stone wall, the somewhat hungover and unhinged, Danny Sierra, his young partner, Sarah and his long time estranged family members are forced to seek refuge in Mrs Bateman’s old farmhouse dwelling on a wintry night. Creepy and strange happenings occur and there is high tension between this group that have been thrown together. They cannot escape the bolt hole they find themselves in, because nothing is quite as it appears to be.<br /><br />Danny is an immodest individual and had managed to escape the confines of family and responsibility for many years, so here he is forced to face his brother, his ex and his son in close quarters. The setting is traditional, however this is a modern take on a popular play theme, the references are colloquial and the dialogue a little cheesy but this is intentional because this is dark comedy. <br /><br />On one hand if you happen to have a keen eye for solving plots then the unexpected may turn out to be as expected and somewhat unsurprising. However readers, know this much, there is more that is mysterious here than there is that is straightforward. After all, this is a ghost story rather than a murder mystery and one that is well procured for its audience and has many theatrical elements. <br /><br />A great theatre production that does not disappoint. The actor's performances are exacting with each cast member being refined in their roles.<br /><br /><b>Cast </b><br /><br />Tom Chambers (Danny Sierra) <br /><br />Susie Blake (Mrs Blakemore) <br /><br />Laura White (Sarah) <br /><br />Owen Oakeshott (William) <br /><br />Rebecca Charles (Rebecca) <br /><br />Jonny Green (Jake) <br /><br />ensemble and understudy members Sasha Brooks and Cameron Falconar <br /><br /><br />Review by theatre critic, Debra Hall who attended the world </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">première</span> </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">of <i>Murder in the Dark</i> </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">at Derby Theatre UK on 15 Jan 2024 – 7.30pm</span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>References</b><br /><br />Derby Theatre press information <i>TWELVE ANGRY MEN and MURDER IN THE DARK</i> (09 Jan 2024)<br /><br /><br />Original Theatre Company production programme (2024) <br /><br /><b><br />Online</b><br /><br /><br />Derby Theatre <br /><a href="https://derbytheatre.co.uk/event/murder-in-the-dark/">https://derbytheatre.co.uk/event/murder-in-the-dark/</a><br /><br /><br />Original Theatre Company<br /><a href="https://originaltheatre.com/productions/murder-in-the-dark">https://originaltheatre.com/productions/murder-in-the-dark</a><br /><br /><br />YouTube <i>Original Theatre Company</i> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EJu7GmAfi4&t=60s">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EJu7GmAfi4&t=60s</a></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>Debra Hallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16372083794735194835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209848031663482359.post-37308647087789446402024-01-10T03:36:00.000-08:002024-01-10T05:55:05.265-08:00Sweet Child of Mine - a poem <p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Yn5Iq3TDav0RN7Jqh-4Ml7kd2wgjKdcoy4WqgFuTnPS8JYxLOR8aAnGzyudvlxmaNMU7FBhVnqiPaYrTZLLVwibjnbdNPJ4tA1Lykd7AdIQy5PFAKOAJ1CB3atcCDGVLhYsTCgjnK3SPHVxZ27KywCG9ULpNtmZ1t2G8cfZd_0UEkXdoFKc5wl5PxiI/s738/flower-Girl-with-copyright%20(2023_09_30%2009_53_32%20UTC).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="738" data-original-width="600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Yn5Iq3TDav0RN7Jqh-4Ml7kd2wgjKdcoy4WqgFuTnPS8JYxLOR8aAnGzyudvlxmaNMU7FBhVnqiPaYrTZLLVwibjnbdNPJ4tA1Lykd7AdIQy5PFAKOAJ1CB3atcCDGVLhYsTCgjnK3SPHVxZ27KywCG9ULpNtmZ1t2G8cfZd_0UEkXdoFKc5wl5PxiI/w520-h640/flower-Girl-with-copyright%20(2023_09_30%2009_53_32%20UTC).jpg" width="520" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Flower Girl</i> An illustration by artist Debra Hall</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><i>Sweet
Child of Mine</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Wedding
bells will ring today <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">for the in-law’s
eldest granddaughter.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">With cross n’
chain in the box lay;<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">white Ribbon,
white socks; holy water.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Smile<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">sweet child
of mine.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Knees up in the
makeshift tub<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">waist high in
foam with an Avon scent.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Lather up
Miss Pears and rub.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Maid not forever,
just lent.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Smile<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">sweet child
of mine.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Four years, fresh
as a flower…<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">in pale blue
satin and ribbon bows.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">With gangster
parent power<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">it’s grand when
Little Miss Sunshine glows.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Smile<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">sweet child
of mine.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">In church,
flanked by the big girls<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">the little bridesmaid
acts as feels best,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">heads turn as
she leg curls<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">while I gesture
her to stand with the rest<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I Smile…<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">at that sweet
child of mine.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">©Debra Hall
2024</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">This poem was created on Day 10 of <i>The January Challenge</i> set by poet, author and broadcaster Michael Rosen for <i><a href="https://64millionartists.com/">64 Million Artists</a></i> - a social enterprise that allows everyone in the UK to explore their creative potential. </span><div><br /></div>Debra Hallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16372083794735194835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209848031663482359.post-17979710505634529722024-01-02T09:38:00.000-08:002024-01-17T09:57:17.353-08:00It's Raining Again a Poem by Debra Hall<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3t9GB_o3RpkHxPV-ehbhpITnhTGhkmE7sFyn1uTqfThbHnRY83QKZmpLFTqpNurlfVDexH-9De_iz_N1293tiJ6_3yz9PFBTjVdaThhzoNH9ihB-Za5dFrVTDAOFW_qsZa8X3-x1Vctkly9pNXPgqQ5wnexrKlZlqd0SFy5-kOZqh1aQUyP9PEiuOW5Q/s2411/IMG_3182.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2411" data-original-width="1818" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3t9GB_o3RpkHxPV-ehbhpITnhTGhkmE7sFyn1uTqfThbHnRY83QKZmpLFTqpNurlfVDexH-9De_iz_N1293tiJ6_3yz9PFBTjVdaThhzoNH9ihB-Za5dFrVTDAOFW_qsZa8X3-x1Vctkly9pNXPgqQ5wnexrKlZlqd0SFy5-kOZqh1aQUyP9PEiuOW5Q/w482-h640/IMG_3182.jpg" width="482" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>It's Raining Again</b> </i>image to accompany the poem of the same name<br />by ©Debra Hall 2024</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><i>It’s Raining
Again</i><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><i><br /></i></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">It’s raining
again<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">for forty
days or more it seems.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">Upon the invisibility
of the pane<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">active
droplets race down in teams,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">while still
clusters are shiny gems on a chain.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">Wet beauty
never buffers<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">the waterlogged
soft earth; it suffers.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">The Farmer’s
field afar is now a fen<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">Almost forty
nights of disrupted dreams. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">Low cloud obscures
the window view first, and then,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">rain is
running down the street like a stream.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">Expect
delays! You driving women and men,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">Traveling on
wet roads, through floods, for whatever reason.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">Sunlight may
be lacking, but weather is mild for the season.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">From where I
stand in my dry spot <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">There’s a
strange stillness and loud dripping<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">On the
inside world it is warm, sometimes hot<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">no pitter
patter underfoot, no muddy ungrasping.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">From my
window the outlook is spit spot<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">unchanged
after all these years, even when soggy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">Though I
long for a wintry scene, for light above and for ground less boggy.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">©Debra Hall 2024</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /><br />This poem was created on Day 2 of <i>The January Challenge</i> set by <i><a href="https://createcaerphilly.co.uk/">Create Caerphilly</a> </i>a community arts organisation, for <i><a href="https://64millionartists.com/">64 Million Artists</a> </i>- a social enterprise that allows everyone in the UK to explore their creative potential. <br /><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p></div><p><br /></p>Debra Hallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16372083794735194835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209848031663482359.post-61223162616792302762023-12-14T02:14:00.000-08:002024-01-16T04:59:30.913-08:00Cinderella A Derby Theatre Production 2023<p> </p><h3><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwkm746VJwIfBOT_pZuHal-HWxF_7VcKyVRgFoihYgrYa2XZJtxbkgkYHjlmBqZ2cR_AOMwwIBvQ4nVQDM0G-RkTYWnwwXqWBwfZZZLwzaUCnWvzaTdWWwELEQ7AiNYulFryqS3CophuYLZv_D2nFkbYpmDlrJFLTKu0Y76ce2vTFa6RdAmz8UuTmYBfE/s1692/Cinderella%20A%20Derby%20Theatre%20Production.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1692" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwkm746VJwIfBOT_pZuHal-HWxF_7VcKyVRgFoihYgrYa2XZJtxbkgkYHjlmBqZ2cR_AOMwwIBvQ4nVQDM0G-RkTYWnwwXqWBwfZZZLwzaUCnWvzaTdWWwELEQ7AiNYulFryqS3CophuYLZv_D2nFkbYpmDlrJFLTKu0Y76ce2vTFa6RdAmz8UuTmYBfE/w640-h426/Cinderella%20A%20Derby%20Theatre%20Production.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3>Áine O’Neill-Mason as Gab (Cinderella) and Jason Yeboa (Micah)</h3></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">at Derby Theatre 2023<br />Photography Graeme Braidwood<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table></h3><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐<br /><br />Annie Siddons' quality writing has provided a solid foundation for this excellent show. She has taken the bare bones of the original theme/characters and created a completely new version of <i>Cinderella</i>. The production team at Derby Theatre has made some excellent decisions and this is demonstrated in the direction, staging and set design, but mostly in the casting of Áine O’Neill-Mason as Gab (Cinderella) along with seven impressive and versatile professional actors/musicians and also a group of young performers that make up the ensemble.</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtJO_ZuLYrVOYNqUWjocTY6ZZhlAz5EPFcadjzfiPWtXEvtBVSbqz4Va7VMNwQ21j9jAh54KyWjqKW_Ya8Cs5R2h1khzAxKz_QfFk56Exj8ELynChctSjuAZv28Apag3hUKZeQdHmVoLvfv5Fla2jobEm-uiZLkv_7rXr8vUYfeBaW_JNH1Nrp36hzalY/s1692/cast%20Cinderella.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1692" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtJO_ZuLYrVOYNqUWjocTY6ZZhlAz5EPFcadjzfiPWtXEvtBVSbqz4Va7VMNwQ21j9jAh54KyWjqKW_Ya8Cs5R2h1khzAxKz_QfFk56Exj8ELynChctSjuAZv28Apag3hUKZeQdHmVoLvfv5Fla2jobEm-uiZLkv_7rXr8vUYfeBaW_JNH1Nrp36hzalY/w640-h426/cast%20Cinderella.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3>Pictured left to right Roxana Bartle, Áine O’Neill-Mason, Nicholas Shaw,<br /> Shelley Atkinson and Charlotte Rutherford<br /><i>Cinderella </i>A Derby Theatre Production<br />Photograph Graeme Braidwood</h3><h3><br /></h3></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Gab is at one roaming the pastoral valley and peaks of Derbyshire, her two step sisters are as different as chalk and cheese, Ottilie (Charlotte Rutherford) is a Goth girl, with a shaggy pink bob and heavy eye liner and a fit and flare dress of black lace with a tight boddice who has a fixation for weirdness, morbid pursuits and Ravens, whereas Lavinia (Roxana Bartle) has more of the entitled, self-centred, suitor searching character of the two and turns out to be the villain. Lavinia is more closely linked with her mother, Adelaide, played by Shelley Atkinson, who is an extremely funny performer; very Julie Walters-esque in many ways.</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKDH2Kj6TjRZJLSYG1vXNvOspqMEjyeubC1s9fCRC_vlmdYWtYfmS2pB2rVOln-v803_aG0g7V4CoFklmMPV9LP6MzAtIi-xSxulBO5ltAIMnXco4GrHKoK3nOHOwabgMfBaSydnH6fCE7118HdsnHmeI4byfQXUzX0jXx43fmtCQwAiUhyphenhyphenWWZvdmbJwM/s1692/Cinderella%20A%20Derby%20Theatre%20Production.jpg.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1692" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKDH2Kj6TjRZJLSYG1vXNvOspqMEjyeubC1s9fCRC_vlmdYWtYfmS2pB2rVOln-v803_aG0g7V4CoFklmMPV9LP6MzAtIi-xSxulBO5ltAIMnXco4GrHKoK3nOHOwabgMfBaSydnH6fCE7118HdsnHmeI4byfQXUzX0jXx43fmtCQwAiUhyphenhyphenWWZvdmbJwM/w640-h426/Cinderella%20A%20Derby%20Theatre%20Production.jpg.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3>Jason Yeboa , Purvi Parmar, Actor and Musician - Nicholas Shaw and<br />Áine O’Neill-Mason<br />cast members of <i>Cinderella</i> at Derby Theatre <br />Photography Graeme Braidwood</h3><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The inclusion of the North Derbyshire's regional dialogue and references really resonated and this <i>Cinderella </i>has elements of magic and enchantment that young children will welcome and look for in the storytelling, however there is no Disney signature in this play. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Eventually, the mystical elements aids the coming together of</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> the fiesty protanganist Gab and the young railway </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">industrialist, Micah, </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">but also adds to </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">misunderstanding and confusion along the way, all of which allows scope for comedy to befall. The play's content and conclusion will please an audience consisting of persons of school age to old age any day of the week.</span></div><div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_SvjX-Biqn6WBdNaGSFT5RGgLYUN6zbbuV_LT76vHAIYYaX67IUH-H-joCA_H0ppXKchxTumm23XeX7Hi0gg9KUszIrrRDrLkJTIVF1do7EBOt88Oidn3d_oXpK-enHyhEe8GnE5-JPgSfEVWEZrnMf_WL5w5G7H93_qMAfgh1A7Fx8xIUR3eeLmYjNQ/s1690/cast%20of%20Cinderella.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1690" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_SvjX-Biqn6WBdNaGSFT5RGgLYUN6zbbuV_LT76vHAIYYaX67IUH-H-joCA_H0ppXKchxTumm23XeX7Hi0gg9KUszIrrRDrLkJTIVF1do7EBOt88Oidn3d_oXpK-enHyhEe8GnE5-JPgSfEVWEZrnMf_WL5w5G7H93_qMAfgh1A7Fx8xIUR3eeLmYjNQ/w640-h426/cast%20of%20Cinderella.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Purvi Parmar (Dorcus) <br />Roxana Bartle playing cello and Charlotte Rutherford playing violin<br />from Cinderella at Derby Theatre 2023<br />Photography Graeme Braidwood</span></h3><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">This production includes folksy tradition represented in puppetry and song, accompanied by stringed instruments being played centre-stage and in the side lines by cast members along with percussion beats in wonderful harmony.</span></div><div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">What a surprise this new version of the <i>Cinderella</i> story is! This publication joins the full set of positive reviews of the Christmas play <i>Cinderella</i> at Derby Theatre until December 31st 2023.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Review by theatre critic, Debra Hall who attended the matinee performance of <i>Cinderella </i>at Derby Theatre <span style="background-color: white; white-space-collapse: preserve;">on 13 December 2023 - 2.30pm</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>References</b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">Braidwood, G. </span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.graemebraidwood.com/index">https://www.graemebraidwood.com/index</a></span></div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Derby Theatre <i>Cinderella at Derby Theatre - a striking new version by Annie Siddons</i> press release - 13 Nov 2023</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana; font-size: large; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Derby Theatre website</span></span></div><div><span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana; font-size: large; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a href="https://derbytheatre.co.uk/event/cinderella-2/">https://derbytheatre.co.uk/event/cinderella-2/</a></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Siddons, A <a href="https://www.anniesiddons.co.uk/about/">https://www.anniesiddons.co.uk/about/</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div>Debra Hallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16372083794735194835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209848031663482359.post-83868248601715690312023-12-01T17:22:00.000-08:002023-12-11T12:44:08.363-08:00Made at Curve Production of EVITA - Stage Review<p> </p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRg7SnVAPcCxo9K9mWYKp9mNGrISA_Erz9Fi4nxJGZeYS9X1hHN-1ynIsY8s8lFFoYaJLRZneHDxCXBBv4gGbjMgC79tAWgVQAmAZnnczbPlxYMmvcuCaS2zdd6s-tsrqEt3k8uGbA1s3IHGC6g1gNigEEs_y2tBCSBykH84ZsOZq3glJaeB0GulsmlHQ/s3668/Martha%20Kirby%20(Eva%20Per%C3%B3n)%20-%20Marc%20Brenner.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRg7SnVAPcCxo9K9mWYKp9mNGrISA_Erz9Fi4nxJGZeYS9X1hHN-1ynIsY8s8lFFoYaJLRZneHDxCXBBv4gGbjMgC79tAWgVQAmAZnnczbPlxYMmvcuCaS2zdd6s-tsrqEt3k8uGbA1s3IHGC6g1gNigEEs_y2tBCSBykH84ZsOZq3glJaeB0GulsmlHQ/w640-h426/Martha%20Kirby%20(Eva%20Per%C3%B3n)%20-%20Marc%20Brenner.jpg" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Martha Kirby (Eva <span face=""Gotham Book", Gotham-Book, Gotham, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14px;">Perón</span><span face=""Gotham Book", Gotham-Book, Gotham, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14px;"> </span>)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Evita</i> at The Curve Theatre, Leicester</div><div style="text-align: center;">Photograph by Marc Brenner</div><br />⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐<br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">This <i>Made at Curve</i> production of Tim Rice and Andrew </span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">Lloyd Webber’s </span><i style="font-size: x-large;">Evita</i><span style="font-size: large;"> is directed by the Curve’s Artistic Director, Nikolai Foster and is simply too good to miss; runs until 13 January 2024.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">Che (Tyrone Huntley) is the narrator. Huntley is an extremely talented performer who delivers the whole of the narration in song.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The opening scene features a raised coffin, with song and dance performers representing Argentina's people mourning the passing of their shining star the glorious, Eva Perón (Evita). Cast members perform a stunning requiem creating a wonderful wall of sound with music played by a live band. <br /><br />Back in time and the story tracks the young teenager, Evita, then Eva Duarte, played by Martha Kirby who possesses a strong vocal range and whose wardrobe is sleek and elegant, as is her hair, so much to admire about Kirby in the lead role.<br /><br />Eva shrugs off the stigma attached to her impoverished beginnings. The story centres on her motivation to fufill dreams of becoming an actress. She begins by running away from her village for a new life in Buenos Aires with her singer boyfriend, Magaldi (Dan Partridge).<br /><br />Eva secures acting roles, she and Magaldi are history and as the story goes she's somewhat promiscuous at this time. She embraces the growing attention that comes her way and when she achieves more renowed success as a radio actress her public profile is raised. Eva is photographed and followed everywhere, though she is not liked by everyone. Multimedia techniques are used to project large scale close ups of live camera filming that allows an intimate portrayal of Kirby in character. <br /><br />Life takes a twist however, when Eva meets Colonel Juan Perón (Gary Milner) and Milner is ideally cast for the role. Eva has her eye on her man and sends his mistress packing. Player, Chumisa Dornford-May, having trained in Musical Theatre, is pitch perfect when she sings <i>Another Suitcase in Another Hall</i> with such heart, as it is her character that has lost to Eva and who is left wondering what is next, in life, for her.<br /><br />The line in the repeated feature song<i> Don't Cry for me Argentina</i> suggests that Eva couldn't stay all her life down at heel and that was enough to drive her, despite, it seems, hurting people on her way up.<br /><br />Subsequently, the soldier (Perón) and the actress Eva (Evita) marry and she is supportive in her husband's election candidacy as promised. Perón takes up the presidency, while 'Evita' proves to be more popular with the people than he. Socially they benefitted under their governance, Eva constantly visible and hard working, tirelessly rallying for support, though dissidents who asked questions or delved too deep were silenced so there was a dark side to their union.<br /><br />Eva dies young and at her peak from a terminal illness which she chose to hide for as long as was possible. A powerful women in Latin America, Argentina was a country devasted by her loss. The somberity of the closing scene is spellbinding as the stage light softens to a golden glow.</span><div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaulwKTtANOTudQZWKn9KeAzEhXz97TzWpsRBU3kbl7gRtH54d1QkpwAsTL59uDTOZO40hlfBVG9m8s_LqEKdgKuagSzQxsQUfSg7d8K21VSOhLSEz2DUcr3S5kXagmfMtfUZMLLDZyIdL8bisogrAeQTe_Q8K0klcYfWuNnz1HaGE_AsyEU4EiCyMD3M/s3901/Martha%20Kirby%20(Eva%20Per%C3%B3n)%20and%20Gary%20Milner%20(Juan%20Per%C3%B3n)%20-%20Photography%20by%20Marc%20Brenner.jpg" style="font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaulwKTtANOTudQZWKn9KeAzEhXz97TzWpsRBU3kbl7gRtH54d1QkpwAsTL59uDTOZO40hlfBVG9m8s_LqEKdgKuagSzQxsQUfSg7d8K21VSOhLSEz2DUcr3S5kXagmfMtfUZMLLDZyIdL8bisogrAeQTe_Q8K0klcYfWuNnz1HaGE_AsyEU4EiCyMD3M/w640-h426/Martha%20Kirby%20(Eva%20Per%C3%B3n)%20and%20Gary%20Milner%20(Juan%20Per%C3%B3n)%20-%20Photography%20by%20Marc%20Brenner.jpg" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Gary Milner (Juan Perón) and Martha Kirby (Eva Perón )</div></span><div style="text-align: center;">Evita at The Curve Theatre, Leicester</div><div style="text-align: center;">Photograph by Marc Brenner</div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTZcw8H7euHZj64cj4zgG1TUiHVgk5OqFJ7A8SEyUMDWWWxiY-cjrTzRr2iC_5VeOeGOLm-vhAHFjkApiFl5P0Ncg0-gPfU5M8tm0_Z-sjeqYqbD0xpZJqDXSKVt-FvZMmNcxf9Q75SX9A_YKiGkJKaCs3NWzlZ9MoFKSa2c5suloB8KIg3Cl4LDIwaGE/s4175/Tyrone%20Huntley%20(Che)%20and%20the%20cast%20of%20Evita%20-%20Photography%20by%20Marc%20Brenner%20(1).jpg" style="font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTZcw8H7euHZj64cj4zgG1TUiHVgk5OqFJ7A8SEyUMDWWWxiY-cjrTzRr2iC_5VeOeGOLm-vhAHFjkApiFl5P0Ncg0-gPfU5M8tm0_Z-sjeqYqbD0xpZJqDXSKVt-FvZMmNcxf9Q75SX9A_YKiGkJKaCs3NWzlZ9MoFKSa2c5suloB8KIg3Cl4LDIwaGE/w640-h426/Tyrone%20Huntley%20(Che)%20and%20the%20cast%20of%20Evita%20-%20Photography%20by%20Marc%20Brenner%20(1).jpg" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Tyrone Huntley (Che) and the cast of Evita</div></span><div style="text-align: center;">at The Curve Theatre, Leicester</div><div style="text-align: center;">Photograph by Marc Brenner</div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>'[...] great production!' <b>Andrew Lloyd Webber (2023)</b></span><br /></span><div><div><div><div><div><br /><div><br /><br /><p></p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C0J1iJaiJqG/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); 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line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0px 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C0J1iJaiJqG/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Andrew Lloyd Webber (@andrewlloydwebber)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></div></div></div></div></div></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div>Production is dedicated to the memory of The Curve Theatre's casting director, Kay Magson 13 January, 1962 - 7 September 2023-</div><div><br /></div><div>Review by theatre critic Debra Hall who attended press night at The Curve Theatre, Leicester, on 01 December 2023 7.00 pm</div><div style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><b>References</b></span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Curve Theatre </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><i>FULL CAST ANNOUNCED FOR EVITA</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.curveonline.co.uk/news/full-cast-announced-for-evita/">https://www.curveonline.co.uk/news/full-cast-announced-for-evita/</a> 03 October 2023</span></div><div><br /></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Curve Theatre press release First look: Evita Production shots and Press Night 30 November 2023</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Curve Theatre printed programme</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Lloyd-Webber, A. Instagram (2023)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C0J1iJaiJqG/">https://www.instagram.com/p/C0J1iJaiJqG/</a><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></div></div>Debra Hallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16372083794735194835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209848031663482359.post-67334322526511121162023-10-25T07:07:00.011-07:002023-11-02T11:21:05.834-07:00Book Review of Georgette Heyer's Frederica The Folio Society Edition 2023<span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdcwiFx0oUO_WuPhUkOoaniOHl-f1P24r64TVzhI5PEc1RxcASAFHbE5EE8ZPrvunxS5uHTL5vnCPfB4uj9T5EejS3qwmqKMa_hbhHvTd_JSNjrcR8RShy-tvKYvNLpVupVBYHbmd7PuESA9Alo792hr5-wPJL-DZKtQAZD4tzWxYo7G8oXuBBpRoC_gk/s3110/IMG-2980.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdcwiFx0oUO_WuPhUkOoaniOHl-f1P24r64TVzhI5PEc1RxcASAFHbE5EE8ZPrvunxS5uHTL5vnCPfB4uj9T5EejS3qwmqKMa_hbhHvTd_JSNjrcR8RShy-tvKYvNLpVupVBYHbmd7PuESA9Alo792hr5-wPJL-DZKtQAZD4tzWxYo7G8oXuBBpRoC_gk/w432-h640/IMG-2980.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">the two-tone cloth blocked cover of <i>Frederica</i> - Author Georgette Heyer</div><div style="text-align: center;">The Folio Society, London illustrated edition 2023</div><div style="text-align: center;">Cover Design by Jessica Hische</div><br /><i><b>Frederica</b></i><br /><br /><b>Hardcover</b> 410 pages<br /><b><br />Author</b> Georgette Heyer<br /><b><br />Illustrations </b>Sally Dunne<br /><br /><b>Publisher</b> The Folio Society 2023<br /><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>Fictional Romance (historic)</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>Themes </b> - Regency London, inheritance, family relationships and responsibilites; schoolboy interests, pet dog; properties; servants/service; nineteenth- century gentry life; city; countrylife; suitors; romance <br /><br /><br /><b>OVERVIEW</b><br />The Marquis of Alverstoke has two sisters with older children who all think of him as a 'dandy'. Alverstoke agrees to host a ball to mark the come-out of the daughter of his widowed sister, Louisa; on condition that the invitation be open to the family of a deceased older cousin, Fred Merriville (a distant relative disowned by the family after marrying for love).<br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgopjkcIwJlW1ChWfN27S4n3NvAb4uaSWeXbY4YReJknlNup10Dqj3EZOpndki3x_Klw-Eo-INHkGXVWVjPzcwdHvkUL61j7xWL1-aDXOEE4vu5S5uELpvhrz6BmT0kXBRMuJEZlZGFc1H58UqVr3a5nfltNrPbqO8j6CTbzoMooRM_n87OwLSJU6M-xK0/s3353/IMG-2977.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgopjkcIwJlW1ChWfN27S4n3NvAb4uaSWeXbY4YReJknlNup10Dqj3EZOpndki3x_Klw-Eo-INHkGXVWVjPzcwdHvkUL61j7xWL1-aDXOEE4vu5S5uELpvhrz6BmT0kXBRMuJEZlZGFc1H58UqVr3a5nfltNrPbqO8j6CTbzoMooRM_n87OwLSJU6M-xK0/w578-h640/IMG-2977.jpg" /></a></div></span><div style="text-align: center;">All about her was a scene of carnage' (p.77)</div><div style="text-align: center;">Illustration by ©SallyDunne2023</div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br />When Alverstoke becomes better acquainted with the Merrivilles' his life gets more interesting. An incident with the dog, Luff, in the London park reveals Miss Frederica Merriville's mischievous side and a strength to her character that had impressed him; she thinks her as unusual and he becomes increasingly distracted by her.<br /><br />Alverstoke enjoys his batchelor life and also a degree of showing off London to Frederica and silblings, but it was at the point of meeting another brother, Harry, that he suddenly realises that responsibility for everyone lies in his hands. <br /><br />Frederica, on the other hand, is shrewd in the knowledge that there are benefits for her and her siblings attachment to Alverstoke and the wider family. However, once younger sister, Charis gained attention from suitors, Frederica feels it necessary to dispel some of the ideas that society had formed around their late father's inheritance.<br /><br />Alverstoke's heir, Endymion, son of his sister, Mrs Dauntry, falls in love with Charis. Mrs Dauntry hopes that the relationship between the two is just a flirtation; while Harry, on the other hand, is encouraging of it.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2WKeolXSzOaAYU9j5EayLhvSdygcFpendABjdE-j7FKT9Cihx4q7su_whBlYku9A6sapRDYDnlj1y6OULvoU0wtZygtz1JnRgVoZwX82xkaRkw_l94_kAncpyTYpC3BcBHB-AB3_it6uBTG02nnhpbji6-bZOVyr1N7LnCRtQFbs4aB9S1UXK600lPZc/s2789/IMG-2978.jpg"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2WKeolXSzOaAYU9j5EayLhvSdygcFpendABjdE-j7FKT9Cihx4q7su_whBlYku9A6sapRDYDnlj1y6OULvoU0wtZygtz1JnRgVoZwX82xkaRkw_l94_kAncpyTYpC3BcBHB-AB3_it6uBTG02nnhpbji6-bZOVyr1N7LnCRtQFbs4aB9S1UXK600lPZc/w373-h640/IMG-2978.jpg" width="373" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">'They're pulling him into the boat!' (P.281)</div><div style="text-align: center;">Illustration by ©SallyDunne2023</div><br />An unfortunate event involving young Felix being trapped in a runaway balloon sees his brother, Jessamy and Alverstoke chasing cross country to find the balloon tangled in the branches of a tree. They learn that Felix had been carried off to a nearby farmhouse. A doctor is in attendance when the two arrive. Felix is suffering from exposure to the cold and his head in bandage, he is able to fall asleep but he is feverish and weeps for Frederica who arrives from London the next day. <br /><br />Harry takes control of matters back home. Three days pass and Felix is out of danger for his life. Frederica, and Alverstoke (staying nearby), are not in any hurry to return him to the city as they feel that the the hot and stuffy summer months would labour Felix's full recovery. The drama of it all reveals Frederica's vulnerability and that her reliance on Alverstoke suggests that his feelings for her may finally be recipricated. <br /><br />The final chapters tell of events that move the story threads to swift and satisfying conclusion.<br /><b><br />COMMENT AND GUIDE</b><br /><br />First published in 1965 - London. The Bodley Head, this illustrated edition '...follows that by Arrow Books (2019), with minor emendations' :<b>The Folio Society (2023)</b><br />The third book of this exclusive Folio series has a cloth blocked cover with a design by Jessica Hische. The paper quality is exquisite and the font is Aria with is medium-sized; clear and easy on the eye. with illustrations by award-winning illustrator, Sally Dunne.<br /> <br />Georgette Heyer's novel <i>Frederica</i> was written and first published in 1965. The language style and content is a throwback to nineteenth-century classics of the romantic genre. Heyer's writing is informed and studied, her mentions of: Grand Tour, the East India Trading company, the Temple of Concorde, Somerset House and Mayfair London are all inkeeping with the English Regency period and the kind of high society places and opportunties that would have been open to wealthy, young men and the gentry folk alike. Heyer's description also, of interiors, objects and dress serves to feed the imagination about this time in our history even more.</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Heyer's narrative reveal the inequalities between the sexes and the placing of women as inferiors which existed in this earlier century. In the characterisation of Miss Frederica Merriville there are echoes of Elizabeth Bennet, Jane Eyre, and Jo March. Frederica is the type of storybook protagnist who is a fiesty and confident woman, whose personality (rather than looks) is the main draw for the rich man of status.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br />Heyer's works feel completely authentic to the period the stories are set, admittedly she had the gift of the many classics as primary/secondary sources on which to base her writing style, but to achieve the quality of tone in her storytelling is commendable.<br /><br />'The Folio Society take the best in English literature and reprint in the form of beautiful, illustrated books [...] ' <b>Debra Hall (2020)</b><br /><br /></span><div><div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Qc9QmkpBBq_N0Y3Sie9Y-ZbHhqk8Sc2oArb_XFwR4BE6-X4q0Y9pdMmIV8YQm6BAG1mP1wyyymGlPybun9Ciyao7wxL_yLmKrOpRKNAwfrY5ekiCqcyFMMnI28DoRAPoEh4DErRFWPcUk0zl0NOrEOnVN4cj_Aqzl_hF8fc3H0mGK6Binbv1SDPfTAs/s3440/IMG-2979.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2447" data-original-width="3440" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Qc9QmkpBBq_N0Y3Sie9Y-ZbHhqk8Sc2oArb_XFwR4BE6-X4q0Y9pdMmIV8YQm6BAG1mP1wyyymGlPybun9Ciyao7wxL_yLmKrOpRKNAwfrY5ekiCqcyFMMnI28DoRAPoEh4DErRFWPcUk0zl0NOrEOnVN4cj_Aqzl_hF8fc3H0mGK6Binbv1SDPfTAs/w640-h456/IMG-2979.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">frontis of <i>Frederica </i>by Georgette Heyer<br />A The Folio Society Edition 2023<br />' [He] moved towards a chair on one side of the fireplace.<br />She sat down opposite him' (p.34)<br />Illustration ©Sally Dunne 2023</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Book review by Reviewer and Critic, Debra Hall<br /><br /><b>References</b><br /><br />Dunne, S. <a href="https://www.sallyillustrates.com/">https://www.sallyillustrates.com/</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Goodreads <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/311196">https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/311196</a><br /><br />Hall, D. <a href="https://notcompulsory.blogspot.com/2020/04/book-review-tenant-of-wildfell-hall.html">https://notcompulsory.blogspot.com/2020/04/book-review-tenant-of-wildfell-hall.html</a><br /><br />Hische, J. <a href="https://jessicahische.is/">https://jessicahische.is/</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br />The Folio Society <a href="https://www.foliosociety.com/uk/frederica.html">https://www.foliosociety.com/uk/frederica.html</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.google.com/"><span style="font-family: verdana;">https://www.google.com/</span></a></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div></div></div></div></div>Debra Hallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16372083794735194835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209848031663482359.post-32416911534751651492023-10-20T07:44:00.008-07:002023-10-20T07:53:55.195-07:00ONLINE ART COURSE - tutor Tim Pond <div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsEGQHLISoL806cqVNdCDYPsoeOl6taAIINyzM-bSXcIjzxM2t9Z1mSCvj3jKnT-jM9MAxh5xMNZ8hmWPaHYQbHbVIW18L5iwqraPpKQvg6C_yqfTvtZHyqaN4UZJBw9aUh3upWcYAkXEVcc0sP8RiePvrRYn3ki8whekoKVSO4XV_g_LdZo903Ou_XrA/s480/Tim%20Pond%20Art%20Course.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="480" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsEGQHLISoL806cqVNdCDYPsoeOl6taAIINyzM-bSXcIjzxM2t9Z1mSCvj3jKnT-jM9MAxh5xMNZ8hmWPaHYQbHbVIW18L5iwqraPpKQvg6C_yqfTvtZHyqaN4UZJBw9aUh3upWcYAkXEVcc0sP8RiePvrRYn3ki8whekoKVSO4XV_g_LdZo903Ou_XrA/w640-h360/Tim%20Pond%20Art%20Course.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;">Natural Forms - LINE, SHAPE & FORM <br /></span>online drawing course</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b><br /></b></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>Course Name :</b><i> Natural Forms - LINE, SHAPE & FORM </i><br /><br /><b>Tutor :</b> Tim Pond</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /><br /><b>Details:</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">A guided course to draw natural forms and capture subjects that are all around us.</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b>Delivered in the form of on-demand videos by artist and course instructor, Tim Pond who provides a 'how to...' guide to drawing natural forms and is structured around the seven elements of art: </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Line, Shape, Tone, Form, Space, Colour, Pattern and Texture. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">With the use of mixed media the course enables the user to become proficient in all seven drawing techniques. Work at your own pace<span style="color: #2d2f31;"> online, with the ease of d</span>ownloadable worksheets and assignments.<br /><br />Geared for those who are just starting out with drawing. No prior experience is required.<br /><br />To view Tim Pond's course preview and obtain further information and to purchase for yourself or as a special gift follow the link: <br /><a href="https://www.udemy.com/course/naturalforms/">https://www.udemy.com/course/naturalforms/</a></span><div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Debra Hallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16372083794735194835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209848031663482359.post-11456401339070226282023-09-13T06:23:00.008-07:002023-09-13T06:33:56.440-07:00Stage Review TONY! (The Tony Blair Rock Opera) <span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWe3ZTnzc_KeHf0KjDyFNknvEUti5TR8e1Vs21BXux0RyYUAsYx1UKXUHx7JKoTJQchx4HXk_NHGFBXi7mTQ9J1jq8NMTiwDQHam5jcL7sJpv1XneteqBF0tQ_BF276P1UgrWKuouzO-DeAz6fiQJcgsnFMM7kIY0XA4ESD0EhaZIVC5otz0jG7N6iFtI/s882/Production%20Shot%20from%20Tony!.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWe3ZTnzc_KeHf0KjDyFNknvEUti5TR8e1Vs21BXux0RyYUAsYx1UKXUHx7JKoTJQchx4HXk_NHGFBXi7mTQ9J1jq8NMTiwDQHam5jcL7sJpv1XneteqBF0tQ_BF276P1UgrWKuouzO-DeAz6fiQJcgsnFMM7kIY0XA4ESD0EhaZIVC5otz0jG7N6iFtI/w640-h480/Production%20Shot%20from%20Tony!.jpg" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">from <i>TONY! (The Tony Blair Rock Opera)</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">Photograph by Mark Senior</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>⭐⭐⭐⭐<br />Beyond the wild characterisations, the daft comedy; the dressing up and the one-liners - in other words Harry Hill's signature comedy style that we know and most of us love; there is incredible intellect and self confidence in his writing and in Peter Rowe's theatrical direction.<br /><br />This is however, a musical comedy, with live music on stage performed by musical director: Oli Jackson (keyboard) and muscians David Guy (guitar/bass) and Harry Bent (drums). The tunes, composed by Steve Brown, provide an operatic timbre at times; high tempo and dynamic, and with Brown's clever lyrics that complements Hill's comedy flavour. This work, for comparison's sake, has a Joe DiPietro ring to it but without the Americanisms, the humour is truly British. <br /><br />Scenes are fast paced with some delightful all-round performances by the cast in terms of linguistic, musical and visual display. Ex-prime minister, Tony (Blair) is satirically portrayed, as are public and political figures we attach to Blair's backstory and his time in office. Under the cover of music and entertainment all of characters are extreme versions of themselves in real life as satire goes. <br /><br />Blair's persona is mimicked so convincingly by actor, Jack Whittle displaying a toothy smile and an unblinking stare. There is a growing foreboding in the characterisation however because we know how it goes. The young, Tony is a dreamer for doing something great, summed up in the song<i> 'I'm Gonna be Somebody'.</i> Hill and Brown are playful with this well documented period when the stars aligned for Blair, when Labour were elected two times in succession before 2003, largely due to the party's charismatic leader. <br /><br />More madcap and mayhem happens in Act 2 with some amusing, almost pantomime antics happening that relate to true world events of the early noughties. The songs <i>Sex it Up</i> and <i>He's a Liar </i>are clues as to how Hill and Brown, as dramatists, have imagined parliamentary matters, in particular regard to Blair's support for the US and the war on terror. <br /><br />Deliberate is its anachronistic feel, this show is able to pull no punches in its core message. Joking aside, globally, people continue to live under the influences of egocentric leaders. <br /><br />The thing is this play really makes you stop to really think about the man, Tony Blair, his actions and style of premiership and his legacy. This is a comedy but something really hits home; make no mistake about that. <br /><br />The party political/power crazy system in our country had Blair's position as Labour party leader and prime minister go unchallenged because Gordon Brown was in waiting, so that clouded the matter! MPs and the members were either in the Brown camp or the Blair camp. At the time of the 2005 election opposition parties were in disarray, therefore, despite everything that had happened under his watch in terms of deceit, Blair managed to secure a third term in office. <br /><br />This play serves as a word of caution about the importance of the mark one makes on a ballot paper in a general election, because whatever your political leanings are and whatever the reasoning is behind your vote remember:<br /><br /><blockquote>'... if it is true that we get the leaders we deserve, then I fear that the very last laugh may be on all of us.' <b>Peter Rowe (Director)</b></blockquote><b><br />CAST</b><br />Tony Blair<br />Jack Whittle<br /><br />Peter Mandelson<br />Howard Samuels<br /><br />Cherie Blair<br />Tori Burgess<br /><br />Gordon Brown<br />Phil Sealey<br /><br />Neil Kinnock<br />Martin Johnston<br /><br />John Prescott<br />Rosie Strobel<br /><br />Robin Cook<br />Sally Cheng<br /><br />Princess Diana<br />Emma Jay Thomas<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">**ENDS**</div><br /><br /><br /><br />Review by theatre critic, Debra Hall who attended the press night performance of <i>TONY! (The Tony Blair Rock Opera)</i> on Tuesday 12 September 7:30 pm at Derby Theatre, Derby</span><div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>References </b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Derby Theatre website <a href="https://derbytheatre.co.uk/">https://derbytheatre.co.uk/</a></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Derby Theatre Press notification (Sept 06)</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">Nicholson Green Productions/Park Theatre programme (2023)</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Photograph Mark Senior</span><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>Debra Hallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16372083794735194835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209848031663482359.post-85151961058762158272023-09-08T17:23:00.005-07:002023-09-09T03:24:04.416-07:00Stage Review 4 WALLS<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii9glVFg7OOodYr5A-SNmvVewa_q0rMwGzCBjSqGYXN31U4HPvILbZy1YklhJS-D7cneP48ejipzZ9B0VbgJ8fP8i2burMiG0Q3oqJU1IefUTPOyHr4Idbeo_al0uZbKqZJVvL6sjVY3HqSe-Etp5QtDvARitnS8Fwq_iV9hBUnShQPRbRObNNodS5kEA/s960/4%20walls.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii9glVFg7OOodYr5A-SNmvVewa_q0rMwGzCBjSqGYXN31U4HPvILbZy1YklhJS-D7cneP48ejipzZ9B0VbgJ8fP8i2burMiG0Q3oqJU1IefUTPOyHr4Idbeo_al0uZbKqZJVvL6sjVY3HqSe-Etp5QtDvARitnS8Fwq_iV9hBUnShQPRbRObNNodS5kEA/w640-h480/4%20walls.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Pictured: Joseph Black as Landlord, Ida Regan as Lotty, <br />and Saxophonist Marcus Joseph<br />Photograph by Grant Archer</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /><i>4 Walls</i> is a Derby Theatre Production as part of Derby CAN (Derby Creative Arts Network): </span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">'... where organisations create theatre and live events in partnership with people who live in Derby and surrounding areas' <b>Derby Theatre (2023)</b><br /><br />A show that is obviously popular with those attached to the Hip Hop community of Derby City. The turn out was high to see writer Rukus Watson's first play </span><i style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">4 Walls</i><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">; an exploration of the meaning of 'home'.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /><i>4 Walls</i> presents the narratives of individuals from families, friends and neighbours who share common ground in Derby. <br /><br />There are dramatic scenes, drama that depicts death and violence, but there are light moments too especially in the Act I and some storytelling is thought provoking.<br /><br />The winning content is the music and movement. This show has great energy. Joseph Black as Landlord has a voice that is distinct in pitch and his delivery really drives the mood and emotional heart of this play. Black's warmth and informality resonated with the audience, who responded to his invitations to sing along to known songs, and, despite the stifling heat in the auditorium, people were in good spirits and hugely supportive.<br /><br />The remaining six professional cast members including Timotei Cobeanu and Jerone March-Reid show great versatility in their performances. The vocal harmonies led by the seriously soulful, Donna Briscoe Greene are special.<br /><br />The beats play their part too and the community ensemble cast demonstrates an intuitiveness to the rhythm and to the Hip Hop format that complements the lead actors. <br /><br />The stage set, video and projection work, sound and lighting is masterful. <br /><br />A community arts project done good!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">**ENDS**</div>Review by Theatre Critic, Debra Hall who attended the press night performance of 4 Walls on Friday 08 Sept 7.00 pm<br /><br /><b>References </b><br /><br />baby people <a href="https://www.babypeople.co.uk/">https://www.babypeople.co.uk/</a><br /><br />Derby Can <a href="https://derbytheatre.co.uk/about-us/what-we-do/project-derby-can/">https://derbytheatre.co.uk/about-us/what-we-do/project-derby-can/</a><br /><br /><br />Derby Theatre Press Release 4 WALLS (August 2023)<br /><br /><br />Derby Theatre website <a href="https://derbytheatre.co.uk/event/4-walls-2023/">https://derbytheatre.co.uk/event/4-walls-2023/</a><br /><br /><br />Derby Theatre 4 Walls programme (2023)</span></div>Debra Hallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16372083794735194835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209848031663482359.post-15825274243749405502023-09-04T12:37:00.001-07:002023-09-05T00:30:33.024-07:00Vincent Van Gogh Vibe<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi9_3v37nvu-uXVOXoML4AM3Vlo88_6Ms0N7VqkJKUoZeVFZwBj5jbPnAWTjnjd3hyXZvsxf1yQDUxU2FzLlefAdULUp1HBoj_4jE_43Nyacmx3QDmyEhFmRqPvNuSliJyLkC557IqQq79A8ie_LqpUcXU7-OjAxDHjdViD2K1iwoP7F5a3DedDPZ42XI/s2246/Van%20Gogh%20vibes.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2246" data-original-width="1588" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi9_3v37nvu-uXVOXoML4AM3Vlo88_6Ms0N7VqkJKUoZeVFZwBj5jbPnAWTjnjd3hyXZvsxf1yQDUxU2FzLlefAdULUp1HBoj_4jE_43Nyacmx3QDmyEhFmRqPvNuSliJyLkC557IqQq79A8ie_LqpUcXU7-OjAxDHjdViD2K1iwoP7F5a3DedDPZ42XI/w452-h640/Van%20Gogh%20vibes.jpg" width="452" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vincent Van Gogh Vibe<br />Digital Art by artist debra hall</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p>Debra Hallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16372083794735194835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209848031663482359.post-63974087642519512312023-09-04T03:58:00.017-07:002023-09-04T06:29:14.787-07:00Preview of Little but LIVE! Festival - Birmingham UK 2023<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4giRKrI2H5uiMJpZGQToTMysqtFreZ4v0Nm4rAPsz02FcApfOtmr2AeDMUyfDJBdXBvWentFOYv7ngCh16SGFiZwzCdjKaYtZP2H9LXwv1SsPgPnGbSJWpbdahVLxLh0yetL-KTZ7FfheZXMkRQyeNnhb3EGL8AXt0lBViR8J22hEuL3vmGl1NVDnNVU/s780/Lucy%20Bird%20and%20George%20Attwell%20Gerhards%20%20-%20Paperback%20founders3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="780" data-original-width="606" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4giRKrI2H5uiMJpZGQToTMysqtFreZ4v0Nm4rAPsz02FcApfOtmr2AeDMUyfDJBdXBvWentFOYv7ngCh16SGFiZwzCdjKaYtZP2H9LXwv1SsPgPnGbSJWpbdahVLxLh0yetL-KTZ7FfheZXMkRQyeNnhb3EGL8AXt0lBViR8J22hEuL3vmGl1NVDnNVU/w498-h640/Lucy%20Bird%20and%20George%20Attwell%20Gerhards%20%20-%20Paperback%20founders3.jpg" width="498" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pictured: Paperback Theatre's founders Lucy Bird and George Attwell Gerhards<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Look out 👀 Birmingham UK! because the community arts festival <i>Little but LIVE! </i>returns to Moseley Park, Friday 22 - Sunday 24 September, 2023. </span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">With the family-friendly, festival this year comes a Birmingham-inspired version of <i>The Wizard of Oz the </i>title is: <i>The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. </i>A performance of this show will take place each of the three days. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Over the course of festival run there is a line-up of music and dance,</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> including<i> Red Zest</i>, an indie pop band from the University of Birmingham, also Latin band</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> <i>Mambo Panthers:</i></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><blockquote>'An eclectic mix of Cumbia, Cuban song, Swing, Jazz, Rock, African rhythms and South American sounds' <b>Mambo Panthers Instagram (2023)</b></blockquote></span><div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Comedy includes an open mic night (Friday) </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Live art and food with<i> </i></span><strong style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #404040; font-weight: normal; padding: 0cm;"><i>ITZATNA Arts</i> (Saturday)</span></strong></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Workshops include a Salsa Workshop (Saturday) and</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">a <i>Wizard of Oz</i> drama workshop for 8–18-year-olds.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Folk music by</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><i>The Bonfire Radicals </i>is the<i> </i>Sunday night headlining act, with<i> a</i>n</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> open Mic gig, hosted by folk duo Thorpe and Morrison, closing the festival.</span> </span></div><div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>ABOUT <i>Little but LIVE! </i></b><br />...created during the pandemic by Birmingham-based company Paperback Theatre <i>Little but LIVE! </i>was one of the few festivals to have taken place at that time. This year is the fourth festival in succession.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>Paperback Theatre</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span>The company's founders Lucy Bird and George </span><span style="text-align: center;"><span>Attwell Gerhard's</span></span><span> ideas for the festival have always been sparky and engaging with wide appeal. </span><i>The Wonderful Wizard of Oz</i><span> is a Birmingham themed version of the well known classic and </span><span>an example of the pair's unique and imaginative writing and direction. The show's creation has involved working in collaboration with a professional designer, composer Steve McCourt and with pupils from a Birmingham school.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://www.paperbacktheatre.com/" rel="nofollow">Paperback Theatre</a> are</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> supported by Arts Council England for their continued work in delivering the arts to Birmingham’s local communities.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #404040; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Prices for shows and gigs (no more than £5 per ticket) and some festival events and workshops are free. Check the <a href="https://www.paperbacktheatre.com/" target="_blank">website</a> or email: </span><a class="wixui-rich-text__text" data-auto-recognition="true" href="mailto:paperbacktheatre@gmail.com" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; cursor: pointer; font-family: avenir-lt-w01_85-heavy1475544, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">paperbacktheatre@gmail.com</a></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMYlsZnW-HM3p9YNS2iaT0k2bf5jS9hIZH6Yy9_B5zapRSKRYPesGGLNJaxL-wyDDc1GSjBfTH7FU61lnX7jHAWT6uHQbzaTjAiCJzpGTLHsIso46YW0Cd9f6lZSGAX30Fu0-cvdtzokblUbmTHdY2oq-xRX64M9hPGi8CISPKDLks6eTpqxfMdZjIGCs/s3648/wind%20in%20the%20willows%202%20little%20but%20live.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2521" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMYlsZnW-HM3p9YNS2iaT0k2bf5jS9hIZH6Yy9_B5zapRSKRYPesGGLNJaxL-wyDDc1GSjBfTH7FU61lnX7jHAWT6uHQbzaTjAiCJzpGTLHsIso46YW0Cd9f6lZSGAX30Fu0-cvdtzokblUbmTHdY2oq-xRX64M9hPGi8CISPKDLks6eTpqxfMdZjIGCs/w442-h640/wind%20in%20the%20willows%202%20little%20but%20live.JPG" width="442" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;">PICTURED IS A SCENE FROM PAPERBACK THEATRE'S <strong style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: left;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #404040; font-weight: normal; padding: 0cm;"><i>‘Wind in the Willows’</i> at </span></strong><strong style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: left;"><i><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #404040; padding: 0cm;">Little but Live!</span></i></strong><strong style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: left;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #404040; font-weight: normal; padding: 0cm;"> 2021</span></strong></div></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> A reimagined production of</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Kenneth Grahame's WIND IN THE WILLOWS</i> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">**ENDS**</span></div></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></div><div><p style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">REFERENCES</span></p><p style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Bonfire Radicals website <a href="https://bonfireradicals.com/">https://bonfireradicals.com/</a></span></p><p style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Itzatna Arts Website <a href="https://www.itzatna.org/">https://www.itzatna.org/</a></span></p><p style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p><p style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Mambo Panthers on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/mambopanthers/">https://www.instagram.com/mambopanthers/</a></span></p><p style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">McCourt, S. Website </span><a href="https://www.stevemccourt.com/" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">https://www.stevemccourt.com/</a></p><p style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p><p style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Paperback Theatre press release and photographs (August 2022)</span></p><p style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Paperback Theatre website (2023) <a href="https://www.paperbacktheatre.com/">https://www.paperbacktheatre.com/</a></span></p><p style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><span style="color: #404040; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">Red Zest on Instagram </span></span><br /><p style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/red.zest/" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">https://www.instagram.com/red.zest/</a></p><p style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #404040; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal; padding: 0cm;"> </span></strong></p><p style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p></div></div></div>Debra Hallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16372083794735194835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209848031663482359.post-35121717971442826162023-08-30T07:31:00.028-07:002023-08-31T01:27:38.067-07:00Stage Review Noises Off <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB_1EMnebZOjtHr5UQkDRtq3xEwcWNyJ6KK8nFUk5BSbxR7eRxLtpKkZyC1HR_jFIZ-kQFZi4ptoTy2I6Co3XkMObwOQ3aduLIHcg0QFny-F3T_23nwUI2U6AyquY-ZDoJBOiSgUH0t3k5qElOrrSmQhAOhXvU-PC8F-ElUCa07SluozWtkYpGmyZixrk/s1385/117_77A5884_Noises%20Off_Pamela%20Raith%20Photography.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1385" data-original-width="1062" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB_1EMnebZOjtHr5UQkDRtq3xEwcWNyJ6KK8nFUk5BSbxR7eRxLtpKkZyC1HR_jFIZ-kQFZi4ptoTy2I6Co3XkMObwOQ3aduLIHcg0QFny-F3T_23nwUI2U6AyquY-ZDoJBOiSgUH0t3k5qElOrrSmQhAOhXvU-PC8F-ElUCa07SluozWtkYpGmyZixrk/w490-h640/117_77A5884_Noises%20Off_Pamela%20Raith%20Photography.jpg" width="490" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Actor Simon Coates as Frederick Fellowes playing Philip Brent<br />in <i>Noises Off </i><br />At Birmingham Repertory Theatre</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">⭐⭐⭐<br /><br />'A professional production with an exceptional cast'<br /><br />This is a period piece belonging to late, last century, a couple of decades or so before smart phones and minimalist living were a thing and when people were more inclined to eat sardines rather than avocados. This play is a classic, theatrical farce where all the many doors are utilised to allow players to make their entrances and exits at timely and untimely moments for comedy's sake. </span><p><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 4.5pt; margin: 4.5pt 0cm 0cm; mso-outline-level: 3;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9-OKhCgiCf84g0AWS2JKqNe70HhKhAZkz4K1guiBNfI8sNDGT4vceVREZwUYPgjtzBmcc16RXgaY50XdTV1EA8a9IVgevC0yqisRopSrwGSCRvSNGFBhziqSDMzsH9XwTFqDbx29igAGJW95269SHQExdwPiIwa_vof6t1ow6Jf62P9DZeO-ZdeqlZX4/s1600/166_X4A4646_Noises%20Off_Pamela%20Raith%20Photography.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="861" data-original-width="1600" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9-OKhCgiCf84g0AWS2JKqNe70HhKhAZkz4K1guiBNfI8sNDGT4vceVREZwUYPgjtzBmcc16RXgaY50XdTV1EA8a9IVgevC0yqisRopSrwGSCRvSNGFBhziqSDMzsH9XwTFqDbx29igAGJW95269SHQExdwPiIwa_vof6t1ow6Jf62P9DZeO-ZdeqlZX4/w640-h344/166_X4A4646_Noises%20Off_Pamela%20Raith%20Photography.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The Cast of <i>Noises Off <br /></i>which includes actor and TV personality and presenter, Matthew Kelly as Selsdon Mowbray (and as the burglar) <br />Birmingham Repertory Theatre Aug/Sept 2023<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Act I: and the stage set is a household interior on two levels (a set-within-a-set), it serves as our stage setting for the <i>Noises Off</i> audience of course, but also as a stage setting for our characters who are, ironically, members of a theatre company performing a play (in character) adding a third layer. The first act places them in the technical rehearsal of their touring show. The cast and crew are going through a final rundown before opening night, directed, somewhat frustratingly, by Lloyd (Simon Shepherd).</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimOVjmAGigy4DZdo2i7TYFzOgZtogEJ-66gb2yPZ6QSMYaUSTOcVUja3TqoJfVaQWwc6kpy5AoMVmudWCINT00twBkBU4nhdsXnwxZQqhv7mM13PzoEgSBLGqHT8l6dAkkphNhGSobLf4OiqYayIhILeCOnZkpXvoVOhBASe0N1Q5SAfnDkaSWd0uXMBo/s1524/198_77A6215_Noises%20Off_Pamela%20Raith%20Photography.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1062" data-original-width="1524" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimOVjmAGigy4DZdo2i7TYFzOgZtogEJ-66gb2yPZ6QSMYaUSTOcVUja3TqoJfVaQWwc6kpy5AoMVmudWCINT00twBkBU4nhdsXnwxZQqhv7mM13PzoEgSBLGqHT8l6dAkkphNhGSobLf4OiqYayIhILeCOnZkpXvoVOhBASe0N1Q5SAfnDkaSWd0uXMBo/w640-h446/198_77A6215_Noises%20Off_Pamela%20Raith%20Photography.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Actors Daniel Rainford and Nikhita Lesler in<br /><i>Noises Off</i> (2023)</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 4.5pt; margin: 4.5pt 0cm 0cm; mso-outline-level: 3;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 4.5pt; margin: 4.5pt 0cm 0cm; mso-outline-level: 3;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzdO-nloi-_fUia8oPDBE4A7xIzNUPlL5T7CS73R2dDh2E3nFFKBpCHvB9KrtgDgto9SDPjovFKNcK90gqbvv5lk7O3pxdE2ANhyRRE-hQ68LwTbRSsUSa1UBYivMfnIX9gxx8x9lF1QSKZSsdw-c0hdf17hOBgcyCBN1H2wwfsX6y2bZRJoA_B20z_dY/s1600/211_X4A4774_Noises%20Off_Pamela%20Raith%20Photography.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1022" data-original-width="1600" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzdO-nloi-_fUia8oPDBE4A7xIzNUPlL5T7CS73R2dDh2E3nFFKBpCHvB9KrtgDgto9SDPjovFKNcK90gqbvv5lk7O3pxdE2ANhyRRE-hQ68LwTbRSsUSa1UBYivMfnIX9gxx8x9lF1QSKZSsdw-c0hdf17hOBgcyCBN1H2wwfsX6y2bZRJoA_B20z_dY/w640-h408/211_X4A4774_Noises%20Off_Pamela%20Raith%20Photography.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A scene from Act II of <i>Noises Off</i><br />Photograph by Pamela Raith</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 4.5pt; margin: 4.5pt 0cm 0cm; mso-outline-level: 3;"><br /></p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /><br />Act II: and the real <i>Noises Off</i> cast continue to perform as members of the fictional theatre company including stage-hands of whom we have been introduced. It is during the tour, at a matinee performance (which we do not see), we learn more of the dysfunction, the personalities, the mix of dynamics and of the gossip and antics that goes on behind (and beyond) the dressing room between the members themselves.<br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Dramatic irony elements occur in this act as the <i>Noises Off</i> audience knows, to some degree, the action and lines of fictional play having seen their rehearsal of it in the first act. Therefore, some of this has stuck in the mind and so there is a consciousness of something familiar being played out 'at a distance' and out of sight during Act II. However, due to the clever switch of the set at the first interval break (from front view to back view), the performance of the characters' matinee performance, is playing second fiddle to the off stage/backstage shenanigans and this is the main focus of this act.</span><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 4.5pt; margin: 4.5pt 0cm 0cm; mso-outline-level: 3;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 4.5pt; margin: 4.5pt 0cm 0cm; mso-outline-level: 3;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkHbMEZj0i9fF88an6eKoAULVbnWrEhyOCFvPZoRiA0zsqq5klTmUnUZubfOwjC-oE6Jq_Yia-Ac3OiEn4iZVpD2ZdO4rFKjR_zwdFEZOpNrZMh2CplWBm7FAHA_EcihZq-4OpXdqalqbypvHqedl1mFtKeDnz_XWfuIo3OepaDtCqH5wMLSWOJ50iygk/s1405/103_77A5768_Noises%20Off_Pamela%20Raith%20Photography.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1405" data-original-width="1062" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkHbMEZj0i9fF88an6eKoAULVbnWrEhyOCFvPZoRiA0zsqq5klTmUnUZubfOwjC-oE6Jq_Yia-Ac3OiEn4iZVpD2ZdO4rFKjR_zwdFEZOpNrZMh2CplWBm7FAHA_EcihZq-4OpXdqalqbypvHqedl1mFtKeDnz_XWfuIo3OepaDtCqH5wMLSWOJ50iygk/w484-h640/103_77A5768_Noises%20Off_Pamela%20Raith%20Photography.jpg" width="484" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Actors Lisa Ambalavanar as Brooke Ashton (playing Vicki)<br />and Dan Fredenburgh as Garry Lejeune (playing Roger)<br />in <i>Noises Off</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 4.5pt; margin: 4.5pt 0cm 0cm; mso-outline-level: 3;"><br /></p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Act III: and we are ready for a straight up, last leg performance in Stockton-on-Tees, by the madcap players of their play in earnest. The rundown of this play we now know quite well, nevertheless we are also aware of the kind of things that goes on backstage between the players and the technicians on a personal level, so now we see how this plays out in public.<br /><br />As expected, the whole thing comes crashing down! The timings are all out of kilter, props are not where they should be when and accidents occur. Lucy Robinson as Belinda (as Flavia) is working at improvising, others simply stand dumb struck and bewildered and Dotty appears to have given up the ghost with her character, Mrs Clackett (Liza Goddard).</span><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 4.5pt; margin: 4.5pt 0cm 0cm; mso-outline-level: 3;"><br /></p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /><b>Negative Comment</b><br /><br />Despite the clever structure of this play and all the good work associated with all the fabulous elements of a farce to be enjoyed in this production, the script itself, in today's world, is unappealing and in Act I particularly is a little dull.<br /><br /><b>Positive Comment</b><br /><br />Act II counterbalances any negativity felt after Act I, not in regard to the script as mentioned, but purely in terms of physical performances. The timings and tussles really work, as do the miming sequences. The mimes which convey pain, jealousy, anger and frustration in a backstage setting with a 'No Noise' ruling is incredible. <br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">**ENDS**</div></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 4.5pt; margin: 4.5pt 0cm 0cm; mso-outline-level: 3;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Review by theatre critic, Debra Hall who attended press night of <i>Noises Off</i> at The Birmingham Repertory Theatre, on Tuesday 29 August, 2023 at 7pm</span><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 4.5pt; margin: 4.5pt 0cm 0cm; mso-outline-level: 3;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #606060; font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /><br />References<br /><br />Birmingham Repertory Theatre - Press Release <i>Noises Off </i>(July 2023)<br /><br /><br />Birmingham Repertory Theatre Noises Off production photography (Aug 2023)<br /><br /><br />Production Photography by Pamela Raith<br /><br /><br />The Rep programme <i>Noises Off </i> (2023)</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><a href="goog_276709146"><br /></a></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 4.5pt; margin: 4.5pt 0cm 0cm; mso-outline-level: 3;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #606060; font-size: 15.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.google.com/">https://www.google.com/</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 4.5pt; margin: 4.5pt 0cm 0cm; mso-outline-level: 3;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 4.5pt; margin: 4.5pt 0cm 0cm; mso-outline-level: 3;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 4.5pt; margin: 4.5pt 0cm 0cm; mso-outline-level: 3;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 4.5pt; margin: 4.5pt 0cm 0cm; mso-outline-level: 3;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 4.5pt; margin: 4.5pt 0cm 0cm; mso-outline-level: 3;"><br /></p></div></div>Debra Hallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16372083794735194835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209848031663482359.post-67874246312433165402023-08-25T00:40:00.002-07:002023-08-25T00:53:26.693-07:00In The Late August<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiZcRnL7_SPkvJHpSBGFCzwek2dxSJcfnSD_kc2Eyc1iPlblM9beHKs_P5Jr8Vh1-VU_todUWwALIKZLdiLwz51lE7a51H9NG-cs_wkK613ftbu1cMW2pAxZxR3iKlmYS3jGgG2KDV12-Lqs_nebEwpttQSj4VkzTWnM3cct-pYeFRlR1vS1y4UkCvfvQ/s2285/summer's%20end.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2043" data-original-width="2285" height="572" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiZcRnL7_SPkvJHpSBGFCzwek2dxSJcfnSD_kc2Eyc1iPlblM9beHKs_P5Jr8Vh1-VU_todUWwALIKZLdiLwz51lE7a51H9NG-cs_wkK613ftbu1cMW2pAxZxR3iKlmYS3jGgG2KDV12-Lqs_nebEwpttQSj4VkzTWnM3cct-pYeFRlR1vS1y4UkCvfvQ/w640-h572/summer's%20end.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>In The Late August</b></i><br />digital art by artist debra hall</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> <p></p>Debra Hallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16372083794735194835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209848031663482359.post-4191921661855641012023-08-19T08:19:00.001-07:002023-08-19T08:28:04.037-07:00 Digital Artwork - Peaceful Perception<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMTY00Q30FmQQ1hMiiFp459pm3aP4RTnAkztFe7qM7jkuIG2JvYRJJKbCIUtsjTbiUNlCt-lqFXcczHTPjfqmVlxHqyFrdl_UEYXiIJUREx2ldZOmPLR2MG-AixD12SNrZym6XkwaOpq7VYfQcf5CTDsc99ZvqPc3b4I_of1K8hlJpy2QJGtrdRkwLpaE/s672/digi%20iii%20jpeg.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="672" data-original-width="604" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMTY00Q30FmQQ1hMiiFp459pm3aP4RTnAkztFe7qM7jkuIG2JvYRJJKbCIUtsjTbiUNlCt-lqFXcczHTPjfqmVlxHqyFrdl_UEYXiIJUREx2ldZOmPLR2MG-AixD12SNrZym6XkwaOpq7VYfQcf5CTDsc99ZvqPc3b4I_of1K8hlJpy2QJGtrdRkwLpaE/w576-h640/digi%20iii%20jpeg.jpg" width="576" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Peaceful Perception</i><br />digital art by debra hall <br />email <a href="mailto:debrahall.artist@gmail.com">debrahall.artist@gmail.com</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p>Debra Hallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16372083794735194835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209848031663482359.post-79066122296162817682023-08-18T10:37:00.003-07:002023-08-18T10:38:44.273-07:00A Torn Paper Collage and Acrylic Paint Artwork<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtgHZ4EuyGsmM_C2CFo3DnJ6b_1LBd2i6PU29fPtCcZIDcWZXsP1bLXViV9CZoy4r_6U2L661a5UrXX2U1eqzJrYfIdXbnk0w3nJYM6BMZeC0YPAd6DHPXSaQZIB0YJyDIoWfa2nHyvS4YTOZOdKgEX3QFyhl24QmWggdLtsSNft7EztiHkHNSabfM7Kc/s3239/IMG-2728.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3239" data-original-width="2588" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtgHZ4EuyGsmM_C2CFo3DnJ6b_1LBd2i6PU29fPtCcZIDcWZXsP1bLXViV9CZoy4r_6U2L661a5UrXX2U1eqzJrYfIdXbnk0w3nJYM6BMZeC0YPAd6DHPXSaQZIB0YJyDIoWfa2nHyvS4YTOZOdKgEX3QFyhl24QmWggdLtsSNft7EztiHkHNSabfM7Kc/w512-h640/IMG-2728.jpg" width="512" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Autumn on Both Sides of the Fence</i><br />A Mixed Medium painting using torn paper collage <br />and acrylic paints on art board<br />by artist Debra Hall<br />12 x 10 inches Framed</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p>Debra Hallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16372083794735194835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209848031663482359.post-45306808658642729832023-08-18T10:02:00.007-07:002023-08-18T10:38:19.321-07:00The River Man mixed medium painting<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_w4ZJgcj_yW5beZqBhpJWnmYWkCRd9k7LD9q8vH58vxsvLQIeQad61U3PNn-Zxf1Wv2kjVCfO8tkGOrlst9J-ISJtR-Zwxrukc7vSbPF-R-8JYqhY-rADGaMKvxPxO0t1JuczAY24qyclcLtG8TuVkEghd8GLKYXc_AkVTC1Thz25UCGVJiaXDbKR3J4/s3349/IMG-2725.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3349" data-original-width="2630" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_w4ZJgcj_yW5beZqBhpJWnmYWkCRd9k7LD9q8vH58vxsvLQIeQad61U3PNn-Zxf1Wv2kjVCfO8tkGOrlst9J-ISJtR-Zwxrukc7vSbPF-R-8JYqhY-rADGaMKvxPxO0t1JuczAY24qyclcLtG8TuVkEghd8GLKYXc_AkVTC1Thz25UCGVJiaXDbKR3J4/w502-h640/IMG-2725.jpg" width="502" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>The River Man</i><br />a mixed medium painting by<br />Artist Debra Hall<br />36 cm x 27 cm (14 x 11 inches approx)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p>Debra Hallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16372083794735194835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209848031663482359.post-2193005169782106282023-08-16T13:03:00.003-07:002023-08-16T13:07:35.612-07:00Purple Ivy <p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHHEi5LX4vH_SCKgsFTr8QujI6fzuSG-uIDxzRaWlPnpQmBhylXvJp2WBbCme9iciUuSt8BB22wel8dr6sJ2F_AYf_BHQdH0Qve96uX70MnQpo1K-Y8tPD8FM6hwzUcPI9JyGgPiQkYGF-nBDq6UNX5d4-RXmlAIMmg2G7bbtJvHAv5k7BxjlPYfiRs5M/s580/DIGI%20ii.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="479" data-original-width="580" height="528" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHHEi5LX4vH_SCKgsFTr8QujI6fzuSG-uIDxzRaWlPnpQmBhylXvJp2WBbCme9iciUuSt8BB22wel8dr6sJ2F_AYf_BHQdH0Qve96uX70MnQpo1K-Y8tPD8FM6hwzUcPI9JyGgPiQkYGF-nBDq6UNX5d4-RXmlAIMmg2G7bbtJvHAv5k7BxjlPYfiRs5M/w640-h528/DIGI%20ii.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Purple Ivy</i><br />Digital Art<br />Credit the artist Debra Hall</span><br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> <p></p>Debra Hallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16372083794735194835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209848031663482359.post-66425217728959946362023-08-14T12:31:00.002-07:002023-08-16T02:34:01.126-07:00Gone Camping<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLSTUIQAg58kjQ_YJwnyVfn3uUQK8kkNrJnUtJtnzd2RRiDSK7Y3tfQE9CtrmrqfLFvmaQ5f0NS-lKo49QW4IflkblUNKTWVDQCRPqaDcMLsb_587xDVTyAeyOc3LaCf9kSHEgqNrr9I8foP9vI0Qf27PvT6AV1TQA9757-T-iwO38xh2uA27GzzwLSl0/s2780/gone%20camping.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="975" data-original-width="2780" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLSTUIQAg58kjQ_YJwnyVfn3uUQK8kkNrJnUtJtnzd2RRiDSK7Y3tfQE9CtrmrqfLFvmaQ5f0NS-lKo49QW4IflkblUNKTWVDQCRPqaDcMLsb_587xDVTyAeyOc3LaCf9kSHEgqNrr9I8foP9vI0Qf27PvT6AV1TQA9757-T-iwO38xh2uA27GzzwLSl0/w640-h224/gone%20camping.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Gone Camping</i><br />digital artwork <br />credit the artist debra hall</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p>Debra Hallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16372083794735194835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209848031663482359.post-23410045868881539042023-07-16T04:11:00.014-07:002023-11-02T01:56:12.163-07:00Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream - Chatsworth Players <p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUelAW71MnUBHTZ6bNApQxjZDv8msUzYGacVUm9fvecvMQ38gwWgNwxwf8bl33XUP7RdpkVzDxPZXidA0Kwd5hz2cwgVj2_6z0oW-kD_mepJDKQ-HHkWPgY-LPKXlEN09z3fyaaKrnrd-ADWnEwgW0XwzV_-1p0X-w0AO_9DZENU3O86JyZSYCcLq7iYs/s3036/IMG-2568.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3036" data-original-width="2938" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUelAW71MnUBHTZ6bNApQxjZDv8msUzYGacVUm9fvecvMQ38gwWgNwxwf8bl33XUP7RdpkVzDxPZXidA0Kwd5hz2cwgVj2_6z0oW-kD_mepJDKQ-HHkWPgY-LPKXlEN09z3fyaaKrnrd-ADWnEwgW0XwzV_-1p0X-w0AO_9DZENU3O86JyZSYCcLq7iYs/w620-h640/IMG-2568.jpg" width="620" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chatsworth Players perform <i>A Midsummer Night's Dream </i>by William Shakespeare<br />pictured are members of the cast<br />A Summer 2023 touring production </td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐</span></p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">'Another five star production by Chatsworth Players!'<br /><br />Shakespeare's amusing tale of mix up and mayhem has been toured across open air venues of the North Peak District by Chatsworth Players this July. The reviewer attended the final date in Darley Dale where company members gave quality performances despite having to deal with cloud bursts of heavy rain and dampness underfoot. <br /> <br />Chris Rooke plays Oberon, King of the Fairies, he and G. Day as Hermia, are transfixing in their delivery of poetic speech. <br /><br />The troope of actors from the playscript itself have country dialects and provide much of the comedy; with Stuart McLean being everything you'd want Bottom to be. </span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Most scenes take place within the forest, in Act 3, after the enchantment of Lysander (Will Cousins) and Demetrius (Tom Dawes) has occurred, they are both pursuing the confused Helena (Mia Luft) who is unaware of the reasons behind her new popularity. Hermia tussles with all three and is both hurt and offended in equal measures.<br /><br />Some notable performances by the youngsters in the cast - wonderful! However, the talent of S. Day as Puck is the key performance. Day's body pose, balance and voice intonation is exceptional and he plays violin (in a fiddle style) like a dream! Turn up the volume of the insta video that appears at the foot of this review and listen out for it. <br /><br />Costume and make-up is authentic, in fact, all the design elements work for its outdoor presentation with tech staff operating the light and sound from the back of a van. <br /><br />This is not the first open air theatre tour by Chatsworth Players but it is their first production of a Shakespeare play. The company, which consists of a mix of its original core members and many who have joined along the way, are consistently presenting a varied mix of hugely entertaining stage shows, expertly led by director, Lindsay Jackson. <br /><i><br /> A Midsummer Night's Dream</i> is so special and it is firmly rooted in the fantastical experience it provides. This comedy favourite feels earthy and ancient. The whole play is closely associated around the traditions we attach to folklore, but its exploration of people's sense of duty to their elders and the pains of young love and rejection is timelessly human.</span><p><br /></p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CuwDRogIYmq/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 3px; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 0px 0px 1px 0px, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.15) 0px 1px 10px 0px; margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px; width: calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding: 16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CuwDRogIYmq/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 0; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank"> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0px;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0px auto 12px; width: 50px;"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g fill-rule="evenodd" fill="none" stroke-width="1" stroke="none"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0px;"></div> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px;"><div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12.5px; margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 14px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px); width: 12.5px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style="border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); border-top: 2px solid transparent; height: 0px; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg); width: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="border-right: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); transform: translateY(16px); width: 0px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; transform: translateY(-4px); width: 16px;"></div> <div style="border-left: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); height: 0px; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px); width: 0px;"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0px 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CuwDRogIYmq/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Debra Hall (@debrahallcreative)</a></p></div></blockquote><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Theatre critic, Debra Hall, attended the performance as a press guest at The Whitworth Centre, Darley Dale, Derbyshire on Saturday 15 July 2023 at 7.00pm</span></p><p><b style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">References</b></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Chatsworth Players Printed Programme <i>A Midsummer Night's Dream </i>(2023)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">online:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.chatsworthplayers.com/whats-on">https://www.chatsworthplayers.com/whats-on</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">**ENDS**</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p> <script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></div>Debra Hallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16372083794735194835noreply@blogger.com0