Gresham College Lectures - FREE - ★★★★★ - 2019


Gresham College is a fascinating institution that has been providing free lectures for over 400 years. Currently the College offers over 130 annual lectures and events. The range of subjects covered by their eminent lecturers is vast: law, literature, music, medicine, economics, astronomy, computer science.... The variety is amazing and the Gresham professors are leading scholars in their fields. The College is located in Barnard's Inn, but lectures are in various venues including the London Museum. The College has been recording its lectures since the 1980s and live streams all lectures. There are now over 2,000 lectures available on its website and on YouTube.

Reviewed by J.C.
 Our Score:  ☆☆☆☆☆ 

 WHEN, WHERE, GETTING THERE:
Times and Dates vary
Barnard's Inn, High Holborn
Nearest tube: Chancery Lane
Map & Location: 30 Holborn, London EC1N 2HH, UK

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The Match Box, Omnibus Theatre - ★★★★ - Until November 17, 2019

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With “The Match Box” Frank McGuinness has created a terrific female role and Angela Marray as Sal gives a sensational performance. During two hours alone on stage she offers us a psychological study of a tragic life following the shooting of her twelve-year-old daughter. Sal's lack of acceptance of the death is alarmingly displayed in a very well staged and lit scene in the mortuary. Her subsequent heartbreaking appeal on TV goes against all the advice she has been given and the consequences are dreadful to discover. Seamlessly changing to other characters in Sal's life Angela Marray is mesmerising. McGuinness' language throughout is eloquent yet realistic; he gives us insights into Sal's tortured mind and the character becomes ghostly and terrifying in her self-belief. Throughout there is interesting use of matches to demonstrate the ethereal nature of life. In fact the entire production by James O'Donnell is well judged and keeps us on the edge of our seats. Smal…
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A Life Twice Given, Upstairs at the Gatehouse - ★★★★★ - Until October 6, 2019

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Absolutely superb performances make this disturbing play quite outstanding. In these incredibly uncertain days the prospect of cloning humans is far too close for comfort, but here, in Gail Louw's adaptation of David Daniel's book, it is sensitively used to tragic effect. If less well performed and directed (by John Burrows) it could be mawkish. Indeed, the performances leapt off the stage.As the tragic father Johnny Neal really took flight; it is a complex character with lots of words and contrasting emotions. Johnny was stunningly good. He is matched all along the way by Natalia Campbell's mother who gets compelled into situations she is extremely unhappy with. Both actors conveyed the passing years most convincingly. Twenty-year-old Damian Reyes-Fox played the son from childhood to student doctor. In his big scene at the end he really performed brilliantly. The audience was held totally rapt throughout; this is a tribute to the faultless delivery and tremendous rapport …
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Afterglow, Waterloo East Theatre - ★★★★★ - Until December 6, 2019

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Afterglow is back because audiences loved it! It is a fascinating look at contemporary relationships and three people's capacity to deal with sexuality, infatuation and love. Can we really keep these emotional states in separate compartments or are they bound to bleed into one another resulting in pain and confusion? Is it a form of hubris to think we can control what the heart wants? This is the struggle faced by Josh, Alex and Darius as they try to negotiate the complexities of an open relationship. The cast members here are all equally strong and nuanced. Peter McPherson is excellent as the scientific, right-brain Alex who thinks he can control his jealousy and Adi Chugh is just as good as his impulsive, needy artistic partner, Josh. Benjamin Aluwihare completely captures the naïveté and vulnerability of the younger participant, Darius. Steven Kunis successfully builds on the original direction of Tom O'Brien and the piece is lively and well-paced. Libby Todd's set is b…
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Stop Kiss, Above The Stag Theatre - ★★★★ - Until November 30, 2019

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Callie reports on the traffic from a helicopter. She is separated from the world below and from herself until she is forced to confront life and her assumptions by Sara. In contrast, the latter has taken control of her life by moving to New York City and becoming deeply engaged as a teacher of under-privileged children. Diana Son gives us a very well written and thoroughly engaging work. From the initial meeting of the two women through their developing attraction the relationship is touchingly and humorously presented. The choice of narrative technique creates a tension and a sense of foreboding that would have been lost in a more linear telling of this love story. It ensures that the audience's attention is riveted even as we know what inevitably will happen. While there is a serious political point being made here, Son wisely lets the audience draw it out, concentrating on creating plausible characters while avoiding a polemic. Suzanne Boreel as Callie gets it just right with …
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Sinatra: Raw, Wilton's Music Hall - ★★★★★ - Until November 2, 2019

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Richard Shelton is probably the best British Sinatra performer on stage today. Old Blue Eyes was a brilliant interpreter of tunes and lyrics, and Richard Shelton brings all that, plus possibly even better vocal tone. We are very convincingly taken back to the Purple Room in Palm Springs, 1971, and treated to a host of songs in addition to insights into some elements of Sinatra's private life, especially his relationship with Ava Gardner. Shelton also delves into some of the spicier moments in the middle years and there are even a couple of surprises – for example his detestation of fellow Rat Pack member, Peter Lawford. Sinatra's campaigning for Kennedy and civil rights are also touched on. This is all presented with great panache and the phrasing, intonation and mannerisms are perfect. With just a pianist and a bottle of Jack Daniel's for company, Shelton treats us to a glorious meander through the Frank Sinatra Songbook of which he seems to have an encyclopedic knowledge…
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9 to 5: The Musical, Savoy Theatre - ★★★★★ - Until May, 2020

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Dolly Parton has always been about insight and intelligence packaged in a way we do not expect. Her persona and her reality challenge our stereotypes and this evening in the theatre does the same. In 9 to 5: The Musical we have all the fun and frolics of your big Broadway musical but some very serious political and social observations are being made. Jane Fonda who originally conceived this work and writer, Patricia Resnick, knew that a spoonful of sugar helped the medicine go down. Even as the injustice of women's treatment in the workplace and some serious feminist issues are explored in 9 to 5, it is upbeat and always keeps the audience engaged. Dolly's music and lyrics are quite unforgettable and Lisa Stevens' choreography is perfect. Caroline Sheen, Natalie McQueen and Chelsea Halfpenny are all terrific in the roles created for Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Dolly Parton. They all manage to layer characters whom they have a limited time to develop. Bonnie Langford as Roz…
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The Mask of Orpheus, The Coliseum - ★★★★★ - Until November 13, 2019

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If you are looking for a linear plot and long melodic lines, this is probably not your cup of nectar. This gigantic opera by Harrison Birtwistle uses the Orpheus myth as its basis, but his score and libretto give director, Daniel Kramer, the scope to let his sense of invention run free. This is a wildly imaginative, multi-layered look at the story and musically it ranges from coloratura to squeaks and grunts. There are also interludes of electronic music to punctuate the story accompanied by mimed action and gaudy parade. Indeed, the ENO production is quite dazzling with projections, challenging choreography and even aerial artists. Daniel Lismore's costumes were wonderfully unbelievable and outlandish, with incredible frocks frequently spattered with crystal encrustations. All of the performances are brilliantly sung, but Peter Hoare stands out in the phenomenally difficult role as Orpheus the Man, and his singing is simply sensational. Kudos also to Martyn Brabbins who musically…
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Soho Cinders, Charing Cross Theatre - ★★★★ - Until December 21, 2019

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It's all here but the pumpkin coach! This wonderfully updated telling of Cinderella's story takes place around Old Compton Street where Cinderella has become Robbieand Prince Charming is now a closeted politician. The fairy godmother played by Christopher Coleman expects a little more than appreciation and the two wicked stepsisters are now pole dancers threatening to take away Robbie's launderette. Does it sound like a lot of silly fun? Well, it is. It is also a slightly darker commentary on current political spinand image doctoring and on the tabloid culture that creates both political fairy tales and faux scandals. All of the cast are excellent. As the two totally over the top wicked stepsisters,Michaela Stern and Natalie Harman are hilarious in numbers such as "I'm So Over Men" and "Fifteen Minutes."Ewan Gillies as the evil spin doctor is quite perfect and "The Tail That Wags The Dog"sums up what so many of us see on the current politi…
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Reputation, The Other Palace - ★★★★ - Until November 14, 2019

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Can you make a musical about plagiarism? Apparently you can. This charming cabaret musical is a lovely throwback to the simple stories and lovely music of the 1930's. It has some echoes of Chicago.Jeremy Secomb is wonderfully sleazy as Freddy Larceny who steals the work of young aspiring novelist, Michelle Grant, portrayed with delightful innocence and a backbone of steel by Maddy Banks. Michelle's lawyer and love interest played by Ed Wade is also excellent, as are the rest of the versatile cast who are our heroine's classmates and perform in other various roles throughout. The plot here is paper thin and the characters are purposefully rather two-dimensional. This is intended to be an uncomplicated night of fun with some hummable tunes and a feel-good plot, and it all works. The whole thing is a great antidote for some of the more turgid works presently on offer. The use of the small space by director, Warren Wills and choreographer, Tamsyn Salter, is excellent and both…
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Toast, The Other Palace Theatre - ★★★★★ - Until August 3, 2019

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We need more theatre like this... heartwarming, humorous and with free sweets! Nigel Slater's biography has inspired a play which shows us that food is a medium by which we can express almost all our human emotions and concerns. It can serve as a refuge. It can stir memory or spur a rivalry. It can symbolise reconciliation and it can substitute for sex. But ultimately, food and cooking are about love and creativity. The real recipe for great food, as for having a fulfilling life, is to follow your heart. Giles Cooper does an amazing job at capturing Nigel and Lizzy Muncey embodies his mother. Stephen Ventura's Dad doesn't miss a beat. John Riordan's direction is deft and his choreography beautifully complements the narrative. Henry Filloux-Bennett's script is a fine adaptation of the biography. We wanted to ask for seconds.

Reviewed by J.C.
 Our Score:  ☆☆☆☆☆ 
WHEN, WHERE, GETTING THERE: Until August 3, 2019
Mon - Sat: 7:30 pm, Thu & Sat: 3 pm
The Other Palace The…
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