Cultural Highlights of the 2010's

 A bleak decade on the whole, the bleakest part being the last four years of the accursed "Brexit". These were the happier moments whether socio-political or cultural, at least for me during the decade,:

2010: Pope Benedict XVI's visit to Britain
2011: New York visit
2012: London Olympics & Paralympics
2013: Pass the Butler (Box Office for Headgate Theatre)
2014: Manchester visit (including Victoria Baths and The Wizard of Oz in 3D at Odeon Printworks) and The Shawshank Redemption at Plaza Stockport
2015: The Thrill of Love (Headgate Theatre)
2016:  100th anniversary of Walter Lazell's death in WWI, visiting Ypres and Vermelles (see also Ypres)
2017:  Pygmalion (Chameleon's Web)
2018: 40 Years of Young Musician of the Year BBC Prom
2019: The Fantastic Mr. Fox (Chameleon's Web)

Angel's Advocate: Parliament

John F. Kennedy once said in 1962 that Freedom has many difficulties, and that Democracy is not perfect. Never more has the democratic process been exposed and laid bare than at this moment with the "Brexit" debate - but one rash referendum conceived by a Conservative party at war with itself has led to nationwide disagreement; literally, a divided nation.

Through all of this, in spite of the many impassioned views on either side, have been the many votes inside the House of Commons - presided over by the current Speaker of the House (and Chancellor of Essex University), John Bercow -  which on this occasion have, at least, represented the people in a fair manner. For those who would barely give any second glance to Parliament and how it functions, they are truly seeing their own democracy in action.

This harsh but imaginative depiction by Banksy sums up the general disillusion of an uncaring nation towards its Parliament.

Romeo-ld

(Headgate Theatre, Colchester)
Romeo and Juliet
Priory Players. Act I 55m. Act II 50m.

Generational role reversal of Shakespeare's play set in an old people's home (in rival Montague and Capulet wards) with disapproving children instead of parents for the aged lovers. Ingenuously a lot of it comes off, in better fashion than Priory's similarly experimental punk Richard III (qv), although the feudal aspect amongst grumpy old people seems a little odd when taken out of context, but a fine cast of veterans show the unexpected charm and humour of the play, making winsome romantic lines sound rather charming and witty when coming out of the mouths of septuagenarians, some of whom are on the top of their game.

d: Lorraine Haworth
s: Sara Green, Tony Winn, Paul T. Davies (as the Nurse), James Potter, Ivy Dillon, Helen Bridge, Donna Potter, Nigel Walford, Sara Carr
piano: Izzy Liddamore

#MenToo

At this interesting time of insecurity for the male sex, the picture of Marilyn Monroe and Cary Grant in Monkey Business (from 1952), sums up the whole dilemma quite neatly: Marilyn at the time was the emerging hot property, cast by the male-run Hollywood studios as a stereotypical "dumb blonde" sexy secretary. It was also one of her major breakthrough roles on the road to superstardom, and a glittering opportunity to work alongside one of Hollywood's most eligible of leading men.

Not all leading men were as debonair or as gentlemanly as Cary Grant. In such a provocative situation as this, many in Hollywood (especially producers) overstepped the mark, with actresses eager for further their careers on the notorious "casting couch".

Therein hangs the tale. It has come back to hit men hard in recent years; with certainly more harm and detriment to their careers than women. One such offender, actor Kevin Spacey, found himself completely removed from a film that had been finished because of his alleged misdemeanours off camera, that were next to nothing to do with his performance on screen. Should we now remove other famous leading men from films for fathering illegitimate children? For raping young wannabes (male or female) who were also big fans? Or for having illicit sex with other famous women who were possibly thrilled and secretly flattered that they were having an affair with such a big star.

In the present climate, women are rightly striking back, but the general state is a perilous one, as it has generally been for some time, little by little - so well emphasised in The Full Monty, the quintessence of male insecurity; losing it all, literally and metaphorically. It is likely that, regardless of who is really winning the Battle of the Sexes, the Men were always destined to lose it.

It is also a sphere of global impeachment and world scandal that has unfortunately also produced its victims: Guilty until proven Innocent, and immediately tarnished by the mere allegation in the eyes of a reactionary Media in the instant access culture. Even some noted female actresses have expressed their concern at how the whole thing has snowballed too far, and how the whole art of flirtation and courtship and seduction may be destroyed as a result. So redress has to be made, both for the Men as well as the Women.

So here's to the male species, in its flawed and imperfect and self-confident way - still essential to sustain life on this planet. Ultimately they all aspire to be like Cary Grant.