In Loyal Company by David William Bryan and Sascha Moore at Pleasance Theatre Splendid one-man play by David Bryan telling the true story in words and action of his great-uncle Arthur, from Birkenhead, who fought in the Second World War and was captured and imprisoned for three years by the Japanese forces in Singapore. His family failed to determine his whereabouts until he arrived home unannounced and in poor health, only to die subsequently from tuberculosis. Wonderfully imaginative script and amazing acting in the tiny venue. A justifiably sold-out show. 5*
Underground Railroad Game, a play written and acted by Jennifer Kidwell and Scott R. Sheppard at the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh
A comedy with a very dark undercurrent, the play starkly addresses the issues of race and mixed race sexuality. Two US schoolteachers present a lesson on slavery and abolitionism through a kind of classroom game, with the audience as the pupils. However, the lesson gets seriously out of hand, as the teachers move on to blatantly express their sexual attraction for each other; this in turn moves to masochistic behaviour in which the table is turned on the historical physical and sexual humiliation of white over black. Cleverly shocking. 4*
Brexit: a play by Robert Khan and Tom Salinsky at Pleasance Theatre, Edinburgh
An original and clever production based on the idea that yet another new Tory Prime Minister (the fourth since Article 50 was declared) is still as incompetent as the previous ones and is still struggling to escape from the Transition Period five years later. He chooses to appoint two ministers with completely opposing ideas to work together (loosely based, I suspect, on Jacob Rees-Mogg and Anna Soubry) to work together on a post-Brexit business policy, in the hope that one or other, along with their trouble-making followers would finally be silenced. Some clever dialogue, (and one of at least four plays about Brexit at this year's Festival and I guess if you didn't laugh at it, then there would be only one appropriate response left. 3*
Christopher Guild: a Really Short Introduction to Scotland's Piano Music at Stockbridge Church, Edinburgh
Well, not very short at all, but well worth taking in. A shame about the poor attendance, because the pianist, who specialises in music by Scottish composers, put together an interesting programme of work by Ronald Stevenson, James Macmillan and others, including some very short and charming pieces by the rarely performed Francis George Scott, both in their original form and in arrangement by Stevenson. All very competently and sensitively played, and nice to meet the pianist in the local Indian restaurant after the performance. 4*
Piotr Andreszewski (piano) at Queen's Hall, Edinburgh
Renowned for the perfection of his playing and this showed why. A programme of Bach Preludes and Fugues followed by Beethoven's masterwork Diabelli Variations. This is the first time I have heard the latter in its entirety performed live and was able to understand its complexities, quite apart from the technical achievement of the whole programme being performed from memory, of course. I can only marvel at how it can be possible. 4*
Viktoria Mulova (violin) and Katia LaBeque (piano) at Queen's Hall, Edinburgh
A flawless and exiting programme of sonatas by Schumann and Ravel, along with the rarely performed (for good reason, I feel) sonata for solo violin by Prokofiev and pieces by Arvo Part and Takemitsu. 4*
Author, Composer, Soldier-of-a-Sort written and performed by Jan Carey at the Attic, Pleasance Theatre, Edinburgh.
A beautifully scripted and acted solo performance revealing the friendship between musicologicst Marion Scott and composer and songwriter Ivor Gurney. Related by Jan Carey in the persona of Marion Scott reflecting on her relationship with Gurney during and after the First World War and accompanied by recordings of his poetry and some of his best songs. Extremely accomplished and moving. 5*
First Reformed: a film by Paul Schrader
How does one react to the realisation that we have destroyed the Earth and that is the legacy we leave for the next generations? Is despair the only response? This is a serious film that tries to address these issues in dramatic form, cleverly scripted and movingly acted. Beautifully shot throughout, almost in monochrome. The only weakness is the ending, which suffers from the ever-present US movie syndrome.4*
Generation Wealth: a film by Laura Greenfield
Greenfield's documentary is the result of almost 25 years of photographic observations of American society, with emphasis on her major obsession: the desire for accumulation of extreme wealth and its effects on those who pursue it. The director stops short of a moral judgement on the people she observes as brings into the equation some admissions on how she was similarly influenced and how these may have contributed to (relatively minor) failings in her own life. And there is no take-home message that the acquisition of obscene wealth necessarily leads to one's downfall. Think Trump. 4*
Charlie Wood and Jacqui Dankworth at Wirral Festival of Firsts
An evening of jazz by the very talented duo, currently on tour in the UK. Particularly moving was Charlie with his own song Stay with Me. 4*
La Traviata: opera by Verdi live at Longborough Opera Festival, Gloucestershire
This production, under the direction of Daisy Evans received both appalling (The Arts Desk) and glowing (Leamington Courier) reviews, along with some somewhere in between. I loved it. The singing by Anna Patalong as Violetta, Peter Gijsbertsen as Alfredo and Mark Stone as the Father was superb, all the more appreciated in the intimate setting of the opera house. The story was set in the 1950s, with Violetta as a kind of Marilyn Monroe-type figure, dependent for her living on a Havey Weinstein-like Baron. This worked well, once it was clear how the plot was going to develop. The several weaknesses of the opera itself were nicely covered with humour and, amazingly, acrobatics, although not much, inevitably, could be done about the excessive amount of dying at the end. 4*
The Big I Am: A reimagining of Ibsen's Peer Gynt, by Robert Farquhar. Liverpool Everyman Theatre Company
Wonderful adaptation of the classic play in which the story of Peer Gynt is presented as that of a Liverpudlian born during the World War II blitz. We follow his life history through the subsequent decades as the prevailing cultures transform him from local scally through to morality-free Trump-like entrepreneur and back again. At time surreally funny, at others moving and tragic. Brilliant, I thought. 5*
Stephen Hough in concert with members of the Liverpool Philharmonic woodwind and brass sections: The Music Room, Liverpool
An understandably sold-out concert (but then why have it in the very limited space of the Music Room?) with three works for piano and wind instruments. The first was one of Stephen Hough's own compositions: Was Mit Den Traenen Geschiecht for piano, bassoon and flute (or piccolo). I found it difficult on first hearing to detect the direction of this piece, despite the detailed technical notes provided. This was followed by a sensitive performance of two equally unfamiliar works: Mozart's Quintet for Piano and Winds and Poulenc's Sextet for Piano and Winds, both sensitively played. The Poulenc was a real treat, with all the hallmarks of the composer's mature comic/profound style, where Naomi Atherton was especially brilliant in the horn part. 4*
Lord Arthur Savile's Crime by Constance Cox
The latest production from Theatr Fach, Dolgellau, of this play based on a short story by Oscar Wilde. Many notable performances, including those of Ifor Davies, Vaughan Davies and Christine Jones. Directed and produced by Ruth Nicholls. Hilarious. 5*
New Town Utopia: film directed by Christopher Ian Smith At Picturehouse at FACT.
A documentary on the negative and positive perceptions of Basildon New Town. The negative side dwells on the deterioration of the town to its current condition, contrasting it with the vision expressed in Labour's post-war housing policy: streets and public spaces are poorly maintained, houses and shops are boarded up. The positive is expressed in the grassroots popular cultural activities that have emerged and continue to exist in the second and third generations of residents. It would be wrong, I suspect, to see Basildon as typical of all UK New Towns on either count. 3*
Manon Royal Ballet
A revised production of the famous 1970s Kenneth MacMillan choreography. Live on film at Kingsbridge, Devon. Astonishing choreography, moving and enormously athletic with a wonderful performancy by principal Sarah Lamb. 5*
La Forza del Destino by Verdi at Venue Cymru, Llandudno. Welsh National Opera
A nice train journey from London to Llandudno on a summer-like day, with oversight of our very familiar walking territory from 3-4 years ago. (Hair-raising 2-minute train connection at Crewe.) Fine perfromances of the opera paticularly from Gwyn Hughes Jones, tenor, and Luis Cansino, baritone. As opera plots go, it is one of the sillier ones: an extreme melodrama involving gypsy fortune-telling, multiple acts of war and a very strange pantomime-within-a-play involving priests. But well staged and beautifully sung by soloists and chorus. 4*
Lady MacBeth of Mtsensk by Shostakovitch, live at Royal Opera House
Tremendous production of this fantastic crazy opera, with its storyline of murder, guilt and sexual abuse. It's so hard to believe that it received over a hundred sold-out performances in the Soviet Union before it was banned by Stalin. Amazing performances by Brandon Jovanovich, John Tomlinson and particulary Eva-Maria Westbroek. 5*
Matthew Bourne's Cinderella
Ballet live at Liverpool Empire. Interesting interpretation, surprisingly but effectively set in London during World War II, with an amazing representation of the blitz. Astonishing energy and stamina from the company. Just a pity not to have a live orchestra. 4*
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
An interesting programme with Maxime Tortelior as conductor and Francesco Tristano (https://goo.gl/images/BbtS1q) as pianist in the Ravel Piano Concerto and a new work of his own. An interesting interpretation of the concerto, with the most rigidly metronomic version of the slow movement I have ever heard, but quite effective. The orchestra were splendid as always, particularly in the brilliant Symphonic Metamorphosis of Themes by Carl Maria von Weber by Hindemith. 5*
Mary Stuart by Schiller at The Lowry, Salford
Much praised performances by Juliet Stevenson and Lia Williams as either Mary, Queen of Scotland or Elizabeth, Queen of England. The play develops the concept that the two queens met and that Mary's failure to accept Elizabeth's superiority led to her execution. The performances of both actresses, and in particular Stevenson, were impaired by their tendency to whisper the most critical lines, presumably for dramatic effect. The effect was lost, however, to all but the audience in the front three rows as the words were completely inaudible. Disappointing, considering the reviews it had received. 2*
The Square Film directed by Ruben Ostlund.
A clever satire/comedy on the superficiality of some contemporary art and the concept that there should be no boundaries to artistic expression. The anti-hero falls foul of his beliefs, in a continuation of Ostlund's previous themes of the repressed nature of middle-class Scandinavian society. Slightly too many real-time sequences lead to an over-long film, but his best yet. 4*
Great concert from the William Byrd Singers (including friend Mark) at the obscure venue of Christ Church, West Didsbury: the seldom performed Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom by Rachmaninov. So much work for one performance! 4*
Liverpool Phil 10/10
Superb concert by Ensemble 10/10 chamber orchestra at St. George's Hall, Liverpool, conducted by the brilliant Jessica Cottis. Highlights: fascinating composition for strings Within Her Arms by Anna Clyne, exciting and dynamic Zoom and Zip by Elena Kats-Chernin and excellent debut composition Pale Fires by young composer Grace-Evangeline Mason. Will look out for more from her. Pity it was so badly attended; I hope it was just the result of the weather. 4*
Lady Bird
Enthusiastically reviewed, Oscar-tipped mainstream film by director Greta Gerwig. Supposedly presents issues of class that are rare in US movies, but of course regularly aired on UK TV (e.g. Coronation Street); so nothing new there. Good acting from the main roles, but full of movie cliches (strict Mum, sympathetic Dad; boyfriend found kissing mate, therefore rejected as gay, etc.). Ideal movie for teenage girls and their mums. 1*
Tosca
On film live from the Royal Opera House Extraordinary and moving production of the Puccini opera with stellar performances from Joseph Calleja and Gerald Finley. Adrienne Pieczonka also excellent as Tosca. The production and set are perfect on stage but under-appreciated in the filmed version as there is a bit too much close-up, as always. 5*
Loveless A film by Andrei Zvyagintsev
A commentary on contemporary life in Russia intelligently presented as a gripping thriller. Grimly realistic 5*
New Towns A lecture by Elain Harwood of Historic England Organised by Liverpool Modernist Society
Witty and informative (as always) account of the architecture of new towns in the UK. My minor contribution an anecdote about Cumbernauld in the 60s. 5*
A Passage to India A play by Simon Dormandy, adapted from the novel by E.M. Forster
Brave but ultimately unsuccessful attempt to dramatise the novel in a low-budget touring production 2*
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri A film by Martin McDonagh
Strong cast and original story line but spoiled by unbelievable Hollywood-style conclusion 4*
The Post A film by Steven Spielberg
Interesting and still very relevant insight into attempts to suppress the media during the Vietnam War. Great performance by Meryl Streep 4*