Sylvanian Families: the movie at The Light cinema, New Brighton

Very wet weather and a 5-year old staying — the only two possible reasons for going to see this film.  I had thought that this was a film designed to sell Sylvanian Family toys, but it seems that those toys have been popular for many years and this is the only film that has been made that stars them. 

The toys move around in a way that implies that they are being manipulated by a child and the scenery and characters are clearly designed with a young child’s interest in mind. The story was very boring: Freya the rabbit has to find a present for her Mummy’s birthday and then, in a strange subplot, has to be the judge of an annual competition to find the best tree in Sylvania (which turns out to be a town, not a country, as I had thought). Somehow, I expected that today’s children would be getting something more sophisticated.  The plot would not have been thought exceptional in 1953 when I was that age; then it was Prudence Kitten in black and white. 

Niamh said she enjoyed it, even although she stayed in her seat for less than 30% of the time. 0*

Mr. Burton, a film by Marc Evans at The Light cinema, New Brighton

The subject matter seemed interesting: how a young Richard Burton, born as Richard Jenkins, motherless son of an alcoholic miner in Port Talbot, was encouraged and inspired by his schoolteacher Philip Burton, who recognised his talent, to take up a drama scholarship and ultimately to be recognised as one of the greatest English-speaking actors. 

The story explains how Richard Burton acquired his name, by being adopted by his teacher, which was supposedly the only way he could support his scholarship.  This arrangement is presented as involving money changing hands from Philip Burton to Richard’s drunken father, with insinuations of an improper  relationship between the teacher and the boy, but this aspect was quite rightly not pursued and the follow-up text at the end of the film showed that Richard Burton and his teacher remained good friends. 

Unfortunately, the screenplay and direction were quite seriously flawed. The actor, Harry Lawtey, who played Richard was far too old to be plausible as a schoolboy — in fact all the pupils looked to old for the part — and, although it avoided the difficulty of having two actors, it was impossible for Lawtey, however impressive he was at playing the older Richard, to convey the innocence and naivety of a mining town boy. 

Toby Jones played the Philip Burton character with real skill, managing to express the emotional attachment between the two main characters that was limited by convention and propriety but was deeply felt by both of them. But that aspect was overplayed for dramatic effect, with emotional scenes taking place in graveyards, churches and other clichéd circumstances, all accompanied by awful Hollywood-style sentimental music that killed off any subtlety of acting or dialogue.  A waste of a good idea. 3*

Janácek Glagolitic Mass and Beethoven Symphony No. 6 at Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool

The RLPO was enthusiastically conducted on this occasion by Dinis Sousa. 

It was a treat to hear the very familiar Pastoral Symphony played so perfectly, with particular precision and light-heartedness from the woodwind.  How do I know this piece so well, without having listened to it, live or otherwise, at all recently?  Now I've been singing it all week — not an earworm I necessarily want to get rid off. 

The Glagolitic Mass was something else.  Real skill from the Philharmonic Choir tackling the text in Czech, along with four Czech soloists, of whom only the soprano and tenor had significant roles. And the organ part, played by Daniel Greenway made a major contribution to the piece. However commendable the performance, however, this isn’t a piece of music I will rush to hear live again — very loud, too much brass, a text that supposedly expresses humanity but seems to be a fairly straightforward Christian mass. But worth seeing it once, here in particular for the skill of the orchestra and choir. 4*

Birkenhead Choral Society at St. Saviour’s Church, Oxton

Another fine performance from this amateur group, here tackling a difficult piece: A German Requiem by Johannes Brahms. 

I’m familiar with this work but haven’t heard it for a while. The Society weren’t able to fund an orchestra this time and so relied on excellent (but not quite the same) accompaniment on two pianos by Jon Barton and Richard Lea.  Especially good on this occasion were soloists Rosie Lomas and Bass Baritone Piran Legg, both of whom have a fine record of professional performance. 

The choir also performed two short pieces by Felix Mendelssohn.

It’s great to see this group tackling such challenging repertoire and carrying it off so well. 5*

Ensemble 10/10 at the Tung Auditorium, Liverpool

Another encouragingly well attended concert of contemporary music as Liverpool continues to grow its reputation in that area.  The main attraction was the baritone Benjamin App, who sang a new work by Jörg Widmann entitled Schumannliebe.  This was effectively a straight orchestration of Robert Schumann’s Dichterliebe. What was unique and highly original was the orchestration for small orchestra supplemented by an amazing array of timpani and percussion that produced a highly unpredictable setting of the recognisable song cycle. 

The other works in the concert were equally interesting. First was a new work by Rushowrth local prizewinner Nneka Cummins. Alexander Goehr’s Sinfonia from 1979 was completely unfamiliar to me. He doesn’t rang high in my list of favourite composers. Nor does Pierre Boulez, but also on the programme was his Mémoriale of 1971.  This was a complex, sharply crafted short piece for solo flute and eight instruments from 1985, here played beautifully and precisely by the RLPO principal flautist Cormac Henry.  

Geoffrey Paterson conducted the whole concert. 5*

Masters of Song, a recital by Jonathan Aasgaard (cello) and Ian Buckle (piano) at The Music Room, Liverpool

The title of the concert might suggest works for voice but it referred to the fact that the composers featured were all known for their vocal music (the association wasn’t obvious to me, but it served well to bring some of the artists’ favourite pieces together). The two performers are well known for the quality of their playing, as the fact that the concert was sold out clearly showed. 

I most enjoyed their performance of the Sonata by Francis Poulenc and the Popular Suite by Manuel de Falla and a largely unknown 3-movement piece Pohodka by Leoš Janáček. Also on the programme was the Sonata by Benjamin Britten and the Adagio and Allegro by Robert Schumann.

To my ear, these were faultless performances. The only criticism that was relayed to me was that the programme lacked sufficient breadth to retain interest for the duration and I can understand that would be the case for audience members unfamiliar with the works. 4*

The Seagull, a play by Anton Chekov at the Barbican Theatre, London

I was getting behind with writing up this blog. So I thought I would ask ChatGPT to write a short review of what was on at the Barbican on Thursday night. This is what it produced: 

“On Thursday night, the Barbican Theatre hosted a modern reimagining of Anton Chekhov’s “The Seagull,” directed by Thomas Ostermeier and adapted alongside Duncan Macmillan. This production features an ensemble cast led by Cate Blanchett as Arkadina, a celebrated actress grappling with the complexities of fame and aging.

Blanchett’s portrayal of Arkadina is both commanding and nuanced, capturing the character’s vanity and vulnerability. Her performance has been widely acclaimed, with The Guardian noting that she “shines” in the role. Tom Burke delivers a compelling performance as Trigorin, Arkadina’s lover, embodying the character’s narcissistic tendencies. Emma Corrin brings depth to Nina, the aspiring actress entangled in the complexities of love and ambition. Kodi Smit-McPhee portrays Konstantin with a blend of earnestness and frustration, effectively conveying the character’s artistic struggles.

The production is set in a contemporary, hipster-like country estate, a design choice that enhances the play’s themes of isolation and unfulfilled desires. The minimalist set design, featuring elements like virtual reality headsets and a quad bike, adds a modern twist to the classic narrative. The Financial Times lauded the staging as “ingenious,” highlighting its ability to explore contemporary issues of fame, love, and art. 

Ostermeier’s direction skillfully balances humor and melancholy, preserving the play’s comedic and tragic elements. The use of modern music, including “Golden Brown” by The Stranglers, injects irony into romantic scenes, adding layers to the characters’ interactions. This approach aligns with Chekhov’s intent to blend comedy with drama, offering a fresh perspective on the classic work.

While the production has been praised for its innovation and performances, some critics have noted that certain modern elements, such as the use of rock music and satirical jabs, may not feel groundbreaking and could be seen as reusing well-worn devices. However, the overall reception has been positive, with audiences appreciating the fresh take on a timeless play.

In summary, this adaptation of “The Seagull” at the Barbican offers a compelling and contemporary exploration of Chekhov’s themes, brought to life by a stellar cast and inventive direction.”

Couldn’t have put it better myself, but I would have to add the human criticism that from the very high Upper Circle seats (still £69.50 each), some of the dialogue was inaudible — in particular from Tom Burke and Emma Corrin in a particularly important scene in the play.  (We had to download the text to find out exactly what had been said.) Tom Burke needs to bear in mind that he is not on his usual medium of TV or film and cannot whisper his lines in a huge auditorium noted for its poor acoustics.  In contrast, the rock music that ChatGPT was critical of was blasted out at a probably illegal volume no less than 100decibels. 4*

A Real Pain, a film by Jesse Eisenberg at The Light Cinema, New Brighton

This seemed not to be on the ‘my kind of film’ list, being a comedy about young American men.  However, the reviews persuaded us to go and they were right.  This was a clever and perceptive comedy about a couple of twenty-something cousins, who set out from the US to visit Poland, the the places their grandmother had lived her life and the concentration camp where so many of their  (Jewish) family members had been murdered.  Not obviously a comic scenario, but the humour emerged from the relationship, primarily the extreme differences in their characters that had developed over the several years since they had been close as children.  Benji (a Golden Globe -winning performance from Kieran Culkin) is extrovert, irrational, emotionally unstable, while David (played by Director Eisenberg) is neurotic, uptight, conventional. But there is a strong bond between them.

On their trip they inevitably meet an assortment of interesting and realistic international characters and through them more emerges of David and Ben’s life histories in the interim. But it is their reactions to the realisation of the horrors of the concentration camp that ultimately reveal the true differences in their approaches to life and, particularly in the case of Benji, how he has struggled and continues to struggle with his mental state. Clever script and impressive direction. 5*

César Franck and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra at Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool

The Franck Symphony in D minor was the major work at this concert — a piece I know but I’m not sure I have ever heard performed live. The programme was not attracting a huge audience, I think, as we were offered a free ticket from the Box Office. 

The other works were the Piano Concerto no. 5 by Camille Saint-Saens, played very nicely by Spaniard Javier Perianes and Six Epigraphes Antiques, an arrangement for orchestra of piano dues by Claude Debussy. I knew neither of these works and so it was interesting to get exposed to them, but I haven’t rushed to listen to them again. 

Domingo Hindoyan conducted the, as always, extremely competent orchestra. 3* 

Ensemble of St. Luke’s lunchtime concert at The Music Room, Liverpool

A brief treat with this excellent ensemble playing two string quartets: Shostakovich No. 8 and the quartet by Ravel. Cellist Gethyn Jones gave his usual informative introduction to each of the works. Competent, passionate and sensitive playing as always from this group. 5*

Shostakovich Symphony No. 6 at Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool

The RLPO was conducted by Lidiya Yankovskaya in three works: River Rouge Transfiguration by Missy Mazzoli, the violin concerto by Johannes Brahms and Shostakovich’s 6th Symphony. 

All were performed with the usual brilliance.  The energetic Mazzoli work was based on Ford car factory in Detroit and was enjoyably metallic. Alena Baeva was the soloist in the Brahms: wonderfully subtle playing in a concerto that doesn’t come very close to the top of my favourites, but may have crept up a bit as result of this performance. 

I realised that I just didn’t know the Shostakovich Symphony.  It has a very powerful first movement, full of Russian regret and sadness.  Probably to please Stalin, though, the last movement develops into a cheerful romp, perfect for picking up the enthusiastic applause at the end. 5*

Macbeth, a play by William Shakespeare, on film at The Grosvenor Picture House, Glasgow

It wasn’t that long since we had seen a live performance in Liverpool of Macbeth with Ralph Fiennes and Indira Varma in the title roles.  This latest production is the one filmed from the Donmar Warehouse production with David Tennant and Cush Jumbo, directed by Max Webster. It takes is an altogether different approach and ranks as probably the best performance of the play I have ever seen. 

The witches, who are often difficult to portray satisfactorily in the play are cleverly played by the whole cast, in a kind of amplified whisper, suggesting that their prophesies are no more than Macbeth’s paranoia about his colleagues’ intentions. Unusually for Shakespeare, Tennant’s diction, and that of most of the rest of the cast, comes over crystal clear (in the live performance, the audience listened through headphones); so we miss nothing and we can fully engage in the fine, realist acting out of the plot. Maybe this is helped by the fact that the actors, with the exception of Lady Macbeth, all have an authentic Scottish accent. The Scottishness is accentuated by the one light relief in the play (the soliloquy by the Porter) being played cleverly like a Glaswegian stand-up comedy act. 

Superb acting, brilliant cast and production throughout.  Nothing to fault. 5*

Hard Truths, a film by Mike Leigh at The LIght, New Brighton

An interesting film from Mike Leigh as he portrays in his usual fashion a selection of individuals going about their everyday lives. Marianne Jean-Baptiste plays Pansy, a middle-aged housewife living in suburban London.  She comes from a Black British background and all her friends, family  and the colleagues of her husband are Black. Pansy suffers from severe depression.  She is hypercritical of, and constantly angry about, of the society she lives in, about her husband and her similarly depressed teenage son and suffers from hypochondria and obsessive compulsive disorder relating to cleanliness and hygiene.  

Pansy’s family tolerates her behaviour but find it challenging.  Her husband lives in despair of there ever being any happiness in their relationship and her son has lost all motivation. Only her sister and two nieces still make any attempt to support Pansy and to offer help, but that is always bitterly rejected. 

I expected that there would be one event that would be responsible for changing Pansy and her family’s live and at one point in the film it did seems that this was happening, at least for the son. But Leigh doesn’t take that comfortable line and we are left with the true realisation that clinical depression ruins lives and is not easily resolved. That is the hard truth. 5*

The Brutalist, a film by Brady Corbet at Picturehouse at FACT, Liverpool

This has been nominated for so many awards and appeared to be about a subject of some interest —brutalist architecture — so I was looking forward to its appearance, even if the 3.5 hour duration (with interval) seemed daunting.  As it happened, the extreme length of the film and its epic style was unnecessary for the fairly ordinary, if interesting, story of a Holocaust-surviving Hungarian Jewish architect of some repute, Lázlo Tóth, who fled to the United States, where he initially finds only poorly paid work with his cousin. This proves unsustainable and he falls into poverty but he is then ortunate to find work redesigning a library for a wealthy industrialist, Van Buren. His uncompromisingly modern redesign does not meet with the industrialist’s approval, but, after he finds that it receives praise from the architectural world, he commissions Lóth to build an enormous concrete folly, effectively a monument to himself, on top of a hill in Pennsylvania. 

Much of the film then explores the breakdown in the relationship between the architect and his patron, on whom Tóth becomes totally dependent as the huge concrete edifice is painstakingly constructed. Through the influence of Van Buren, Tóth’s journalist wife and his niece are smuggled into the country from Germany, but they are not readily accepted in the society they are introduced to, on account of their being Jewish.  This uncomfortable scenario ultimately ends in drug dependence, insanity, violence and acts of brutalism that reflect the style of architecture and the film’s title. 

At one point I was confused as to whether or not the film was in fact a dramatised documentary on the life of a real architect. In fact, it seems that it was loosely based on the life of former Bauhaus architect Marcel Breuer, but, according to reviews by some architects, did no justice to the life or work of Breuer and grossly exaggerates his professional life for dramatic effect. So it really should be seen only as an entertainment — a work of fiction. 

The film ends particularly unconvincingly as Tóth, as an old man in the 1980s, is presented with a lifetime award in recognition of his brutalist architecture.  This seemed quite improbable as the 1980s were a period in which most brutalist architecture was being denigrated; had he existed, he would surely have had to wait a further 20 years for his work to be recognised. 4*

Ensemble 10/10 concert at The Tung Auditorium, Liverpool

An unusually full house for a 10/10 contemporary music concert, particularly one with unfamiliar works. The orchestras in both halves were conducted by Domingo Hindoyan, the first time he has led a 10/10 programme. 

There were three works: Danu’s Rhapsody by the recent Rushworth Composition Prize winner Sam Kane, the Violin Concerto No.1 from 2014 by Syrian-born composer Kazeem Roustom and the Chamber Concerto by Alban Berg. 

The Rhapsody was a nicely orchestrated enjoyable work for small orchestra that made no demands on the listener; the composer was present to receive an enthusiastic response. 

Michael Barenboim was the soloist in the technically demanding violin concerto by Roustom. It was allegedly based on a theme from a Mozart piano concerto, although I didn’t pick that out.  But more obvious were the passages that were clearly influenced by Turkish or Middle Eastern music, in particular the dance-like themes in the last movement. 

Michael Barenboim appeared again in the last work of the concert — Berg’s Chamber Concerto for violin and piano and 13  wind instruments — this time along with locally born soloist William Bracken. This is a complex, fully fledged serial piece, 100 years old this year, and still presenting a challenge for both performers and audience; yet clearly exhibiting its origin in late Romanticism. I loved the technical virtuosity of the soloists and orchestra and just being surrounded by that sound world. 5*  

Nickel Boys, a film by Ramell Ross at Picturehouse at FACT, Liverpool

The film has received multiple awards, including the National (US) Society of Film Critics Best Film of 2024. It is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning book The Nickel Boys, by Colson Whitehead, which I read a few years ago. 

The film tells the story of a teenage Black boy, Elwood Curtis, played by Ethan Harisse, who, in 1960s Florida, manages to navigate the racial prejudice to gain a place at a college. On his way there, he accepts a lift from a stranger, who, it turns out, is driving a stolen car.  Elwood is wrongly convicted of being an accomplice to the theft and is sent to a notoriously violent and abusive young offenders’ institution, the Nickel Academy.  While the white boys sent there are treated well and receive an education, the black boys are segregated to inferior accommodation and are subjected to beatings and abuse by the white officials. 

A moving subplot is the attempt by Elwood’s grandmother to organise an appeal against his conviction, but the money she pays to a solicitor is embezzled and she is unsuccessful. Also alongside the main story we see Elwood several years later as a successful business person in a relationship but still obsessed with the revelation of unmarked graves of boys being discovered on the Nickel Academy grounds.

Elwood separates himself from the other inmates and, as a result, is bullied and ostracised. He makes friends with one other inmate, Turner, and the two support each other.  Elwood takes notes of what happens with a view to revealing it to the authorities, but when he does so no action is taken and Elwood is convinced that he will be beaten to death, as has happened to other boys who even inadvertently challenged the system. He and Turner plan to escape before this happens.  They steal bicycles but are unable to flee from the guards, who chase them in a van.  Turner manages to escape but Elwood, weakened from a previous beating, is shot and killed. 

At the end, we see Turner visiting Elwood’s Gran and being hugged by her as if he was her grandson.  In a way that remains enigmatic in the film, but is explained in the book, Turner goes on to take Elwood’s identity and to campaign for civil rights and justice for the victims of the Academy. 

The film takes this relatively straightforward story and presents it in a very sophisticated way.  The main dramatic episodes are interspersed randomly with shots of political events of the 1960s.  The filming technique is quite unique: we see and listen to each of the main characters as if we in the audience were the other one and in several places, it is unclear which boy we are; their identities seem to be interchangeable.  This is clearly a way of leading to the ultimate taking on of Elwood’s identity by Turner in later years. This is clever film-making but quite challenging, particularly as the dialogue is delivered in a Florida teenage drawl that is often quite unintelligible; it would have been good to have seen the film with subtitles because, while not all the dialogue was essential, understanding more of it would have removed some of the confusion about the identities. I’ll definitely try to watch it again when it appears with text.  5*