Comments for The Latest

Comment on Faust by latestreviews

latestreviews — Thu, 24 May 2012 09:00:51 +0000

I saw this on Wednesday evening and whole heartedly agree with VN. This company of multi talented performers brought real menace and sadness to the stage. Mephistopheles is a seductive force that I suspect few could resist. Faust is almost equal to him, but not quite, and this gives the story real power. The music has touches of Eissler and Weill, but also of Schönberg and Boublil and the production has the raw energy of a good Brechtian drama. Beautifully underlit throughout, and sparingly designed, (Mephistopheles could do with better shoes), this production is moments away from brilliant. The only misgiving that I had was the ensemble singing of the sacred music where their strong theatre voices lacked the purity and finesse of a church choir, but this is a minor quibble. Particular mention should be given to Eilidh Debonnaire who plays Gretchen with disarming innocence and to Jofre Belles Alsina whose solo is a real show stealer. I would go further than VN and give it 4.5 stars.
Andrew Kay

Comment on The Big Bite-Size Vintage Tea Party by Maeve

Maeve — Wed, 23 May 2012 15:28:03 +0000

Having seen the Bite Size Banquet at the Brunswick last year, I was really looking forward to this. What a disappointment!
There was no indication in the brochure that tea and cakes would be available BEFORE the event and when we got there we assumed that the event taking place in the gardens was an earlier event (there was a blackboard timetable listing events). It was very hit and miss as to who actually got cakes or tea.
The venue smelled like a school gym and the actors were very difficult to hear ( we were not many rows back). Despite the material being referred to as ‘fresh’ in the brochure, one entire sketch was one we had heard last year.

Comment on Tasha Dhanraj breaks the myth of tea by Rahie

Rahie — Tue, 22 May 2012 23:35:29 +0000

Thank you SO much for writing this! I’ve always wondered how the majority of the world could stand tea–I thought there was a trick to it or something. I’m just great with a good old fashion water bottle.

Fun fact for you–’chai’ means ‘tea’ in Hindi, so it’s like ‘tea tea’, which is awkward.

Comment on Fire chiefs urge deaf people in Brighton and Hove to fit smoke alarms by Sam

Sam — Mon, 21 May 2012 13:45:13 +0000

A vibrating fire alarm is crucial in helping deaf or hard of hearing people react to a fire. It allows deaf people the peace of mind that they will be able to react accordingly in the event of a fire and in a timely manner.

Comment on Matthew Bourne’s Early Adventures by latestreviews

latestreviews — Mon, 21 May 2012 09:56:17 +0000

Matt doesn’t mention that the audience for this event was largely of women of a certain age for whom having the men’s underwear felt a bit rough around the edges would have been a bonus, and they might have been able to help with the under rehearsal too!
On Thursday night there was a definite party atmosphere with plenty of laughter from a house full of discerning balletomanes.
Andrew Connal

Comment on dreamthinkspeak: The Rest Is Silence by carole mason

carole mason — Mon, 21 May 2012 08:37:47 +0000

I was bitterly disappointed in this performance. I love dreamthinkspeak. I have travelled afar to see other productions but this one did not do it for me. The feeling I had from the audience when I left was that most people felt the same.I found the venue and staging unappealing, standing for two hours uncomfortable, the actors were just not up to it – caged as they were. There has always been an element of excitement in going to a dreamthinkspeak performance, but this time it just was not there…….

Comment on Diabolical: The Magic Show by Gillian Barns

Gillian Barns — Sat, 19 May 2012 10:11:07 +0000

I have to disagree with this review. I have been to two other magic shows during the fringe period both of which lacked anything remotely resmbling comedy. I had been to see this show previously before at the three and ten and enjoy the fact that it is raw and a bit rough round the edges than other stuffy magic shows. Maybe it lacked a little originality but seeing russian roulette played with staple guns and Elvis Presley floating naked on stage was original enough for me!

Gillian

Comment on Andrew Kay joins the Chef’s Table at restaurant L’Eglise by Simon Hope

Simon Hope — Sat, 19 May 2012 10:02:57 +0000

Let me know when you would like a lift to the Crabtree at Lower Beeding Andrew!!!

Comment on Grace Siregar, Artists’ Open Houses 2011 by Sarah Riley

Sarah Riley — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:15:26 +0000

The ceramic house was the most inspiring and vibrant house of all that we saw. All three of us came away buzzing.

Comment on From Kabul With Love by H. Walsh

H. Walsh — Fri, 18 May 2012 10:58:39 +0000

I attended this performance with a group of friends and collectively our experience was completely at odds to the one described above by Mr. Woodrow Whyte. I for one found Husanovic’s politically engaged performance and assertion of empowered female sexuality refreshing. Her collage of personal and political events bought into play the troubling and often hidden stories related to war. For example, in bringing into view the politics bound up in the invitation extended to belly dancers to ‘dance for heroes;’ soldiers from the West active in the war in Afghanistan, Husanovic raises many questions. Her ability to raise these questions while at the same time both playing with and demystifying the modes of seduction employed within belly dance was impressive. And her use of belly dance to engage the audience in an unsettling manner aptly turned the objectification of women on its head. Within the moments of humour peppered throughout the performance, alongside the emphasis on her own life experience Edina presented herself in an honest and warm manner. In bringing multiple threads together yet resisting drawing any one conclusion Husanovic not only bought into play the confusing, disruptive and ongoing effects of war but also allowed the audience room to make their own subjective judgements. This performance is no doubt challenging to those accustomed to polished, scripted narratives that come to neat conclusions and those who seek to be comfortably entertained, from a safe distance. For these reasons and many more, it is worth going to experience it!