Reviews
Gimme the LootWednesday, 01 May 2013![]() It’s the sort of New York summer week where the sidewalk melts. But in writer-director Adam Leon’s SXSW Grand Jury prize-winning cool breeze of a debut, the mood stays amiably balmy. It’s the tale of teenage Bronx graffiti artists Malcolm (Ty... Read more... |
Fräulein Julie, Barbican TheatreWednesday, 01 May 2013![]() Most theatre directors produce work which is visually the same as everyone else’s. Katie Mitchell doesn’t. Her plays are always brilliantly acted, highly atmospheric and often use film media in an amazing way. But she almost never works in this... Read more... |
Archaeology: A Secret History, BBC FourWednesday, 01 May 2013![]() “A bunch of beardies rooting around with trowels. On the lookout for shinbones and such. It’ll be knockout.” There will have been naysayers at the meeting when they first pitched the idea for a series about archaeology and yet nearly 20 years on... Read more... |
Ellen Gallagher: AxME, Tate ModernWednesday, 01 May 2013![]() Ellen Gallagher is obsessed by the issue of black cultural identity; but if that sounds tedious or tendentious, think again. She explores her theme in work that is so varied, so beautiful and so humorous that the furrow she ploughs seems more like... Read more... |
La bohème, English National OperaTuesday, 30 April 2013![]() I’m not one to get misty-eyed over La bohème (unless it be a red mist of rage), but this second revival of Jonathan Miller’s production at English National Opera brought me closer than any yet to understanding the snuffling, lip-quivering reactions... Read more... |
Vicious/The Job Lot, ITVTuesday, 30 April 2013![]() What a line-up for a sitcom; three of our most accomplished actors - Ian McKellen, Derek Jacobi and Frances de la Tour – star, and the writers are the super-talented playwright Mark Ravenhill and Gary Janetti, who used to work on Will & Grace,... Read more... |
Just in From Scandinavia: Nordic Music Round-Up 7Tuesday, 30 April 2013![]() Continuing its voyage through Scandinavia’s music, theartsdesk opens the latest chapter in Norway with Still Life With Eggplant, the 16th album from Trondheim’s prolific, long-lived, occasionally challenging and always vital Motorpsycho.Their last... Read more... |
Hofesh Shechter/ Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Puz/zle, Sadler's WellsTuesday, 30 April 2013![]() I was trying to remember the last time a choreographer actually tried to make the audience smile in the past few months. Dance-lovers are suckers for guilt. They creep into the dark of their seat to be regaled by their share of the blame for the... Read more... |
Sundance London 2013: A.C.O.D.Monday, 29 April 2013![]() Occasionally an ensemble cast comes along that makes you want to get down on your knees and give praise to the movie gods; A.C.O.D. (Adult Children of Divorce) has such a cast. The directorial debut of Stu Zicherman brings together Parks and... Read more... |
Olivier Awards 2013: Many Shows Called, Few ChosenMonday, 29 April 2013![]() The Oliviers consider more than twice the number of productions for their annual awards compared to Broadway's Tonys. But you could be forgiven for thinking otherwise following Sunday night's 37th annual shindig, which divvied up the kudos among... Read more... |
Mick Hucknall, Hammersmith ApolloMonday, 29 April 2013![]() There was a point about two-thirds of the way through last night's gig when someone lobbed something onto the stage in front of Mick Hucknall. It was not clear exactly what it was due to the sea of dancing mums in front of me, but my strong... Read more... |
I'm So ExcitedMonday, 29 April 2013![]() "What makes you think all this is funny?" businessman Ricardo Galán (Guillermo Toledo) snaps after a particular high-spirited episode in Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar's latest, and it's undoubtedly a remark that will resonate with some members of... Read more... |
