In an interview I heard on Radio 4 this morning, David Cameron spoke of how constituents ought to be given the right to vote out their representative in Parliament (in the old days it used to be called a General Election) if they were dissatisfied with his/her conduct in cases such as the recent expenses scandal.
As two random(!) examples, he cited Alistair Darling or Gordon Brown.
Sunday 31 May 2009
Educating Rita
Chameleons Web. Act I 82. Act II 68m.
A Liverpudlian haidresser wants to improve her mind by taking an OU English course.
Willy Russell's modernised socio-political take on Pygmalion is as much about the flaws of its Henry Higgins figure (played by Dave King with a brilliantly understated air of disillusionment), as its Eliza Dolittle: the life-loving, motormouth, initially chalk-and-cheese figure of Susan (aka. "Rita"), equally well played by the always technically excellent Suzanne Bailey - who here handles the complexities of a Liverpudlian accent (and slight upperclass variations) with considerable aplomb. As a potentially long, episodic two-hander Malcolm Kimmance's production never lags, and although the costume changes are a little sparse, this is a splendidly accomplished, intriguingly designed (making intimate use of a double-sided Headgate stage) and very well acted version of a popular crowd-pleaser, another feather in the cap for the emerging Chameleons Web group.
A Liverpudlian haidresser wants to improve her mind by taking an OU English course.
Willy Russell's modernised socio-political take on Pygmalion is as much about the flaws of its Henry Higgins figure (played by Dave King with a brilliantly understated air of disillusionment), as its Eliza Dolittle: the life-loving, motormouth, initially chalk-and-cheese figure of Susan (aka. "Rita"), equally well played by the always technically excellent Suzanne Bailey - who here handles the complexities of a Liverpudlian accent (and slight upperclass variations) with considerable aplomb. As a potentially long, episodic two-hander Malcolm Kimmance's production never lags, and although the costume changes are a little sparse, this is a splendidly accomplished, intriguingly designed (making intimate use of a double-sided Headgate stage) and very well acted version of a popular crowd-pleaser, another feather in the cap for the emerging Chameleons Web group.
Sunday 10 May 2009
Let He Who is Without Sleaze...
There's been a lot of slightly sanctimonious stuff in the Media lately about MP's expenses, when I think it's fair to say that screwing the system is an activity not just confined to politics. The principal leader of this moral crusade seems to be The Daily Telegraph - whose owner was the corrupt Conrad Black.
In many cases these politicians or ministers seem to have making the most of the perks that they thought were freely available to them. Politics is a dirty game, but it should have its compensations - or it used to. I suppose there is the view that as representatives of the people, they should be examined to scrutiny greater than for other professions. But I still wonder how much of the furore is distracting from the more important business of world affairs.
I also wonder how far this is going to spread. Just imagine how much would come out if, for instance, there was a similar expose of Hollywood stars or film producers who'd lapped up the complimentaries and over-indulged themselves for their own personal gain.
In many cases these politicians or ministers seem to have making the most of the perks that they thought were freely available to them. Politics is a dirty game, but it should have its compensations - or it used to. I suppose there is the view that as representatives of the people, they should be examined to scrutiny greater than for other professions. But I still wonder how much of the furore is distracting from the more important business of world affairs.
I also wonder how far this is going to spread. Just imagine how much would come out if, for instance, there was a similar expose of Hollywood stars or film producers who'd lapped up the complimentaries and over-indulged themselves for their own personal gain.
Saturday 9 May 2009
Silent Heaven
It's rare to be able to get the chance to see silent films nowadays, particularly in their original setting with live musical accompaniment. I've had the extreme good fortune to have seen two in the last seven days. Starting off with Salome, a very fragrant and curiously unique Biblical epic, starring the lesbian Russian star Alla Nazimova in the title role, directed by her homosexual husband Charles Bryant (in a "lavender marriage" as it was once dubbed by the press), and the production is very opulent to look at, if mostly intended to be in awe of the 
enigmatic Ms. Nazimova, who does a snappy dance when she gets round to it. It was nice to hear the splendid organ accompaniment by Donald Mackenzie, using the "The Duchess" Odeon Leicester Square instrument for its original purpose.
Then on Friday as part of the "Electric Silents" film weekend at the Electric Palace in Harwich, I managed to squeeze in A Cottage on Dartmoor, which belies the notion that Britain - and Anthony Asquith - could only make conservative dramas. A quite simple but boldly made thriller (similar in plot to later films such as Ealing's It Always Rains on Sunday), using a mostly European cast, in the days when film was a universal language. I found it powerful, beautifully photographed, and quite moving at times. On the piano of the cinema was Stephen Horne, giving it the proper atmosphere. The most amusing moment was when the musical accompaniment to a silent film (in the Electric Palace as well as on screen) stops because a "talkie" is about to start, and shows all the problems audiences had to adapt to the new medium when it was first introduced in 1927.
enigmatic Ms. Nazimova, who does a snappy dance when she gets round to it. It was nice to hear the splendid organ accompaniment by Donald Mackenzie, using the "The Duchess" Odeon Leicester Square instrument for its original purpose.Then on Friday as part of the "Electric Silents" film weekend at the Electric Palace in Harwich, I managed to squeeze in A Cottage on Dartmoor, which belies the notion that Britain - and Anthony Asquith - could only make conservative dramas. A quite simple but boldly made thriller (similar in plot to later films such as Ealing's It Always Rains on Sunday), using a mostly European cast, in the days when film was a universal language. I found it powerful, beautifully photographed, and quite moving at times. On the piano of the cinema was Stephen Horne, giving it the proper atmosphere. The most amusing moment was when the musical accompaniment to a silent film (in the Electric Palace as well as on screen) stops because a "talkie" is about to start, and shows all the problems audiences had to adapt to the new medium when it was first introduced in 1927.
Tuesday 5 May 2009
R.I.P. Bea Arthur: You know you're a Star Wars Fanatic when...2
... you hear about the sad loss of Beatrice Arthur this weekend; the first thing I associated her with was not The Golden Girls, but her barmaid in The Star Wars Holiday Special!
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