Thursday 27 November 2003 Yuri Bashmet - Great Performers Barbican Hall
Yuri Bashmet plays the Viola. He came on stage for the first piece in a simple chinese style jacket and played Bach's Suite No 1 in G for cello, BWV 1007(arranged for viola by Fritz Spindler). He then went off and brought on Mikhail Muntian to play the piano and they played Brahms' Viola Sonata No 2 in E flat, Op. 120. The stage looked very wooden because it was a little bit dull. I felt like we were engaged in an evenings entertainment from the 18th century. After the interval they played Shostakovich's Viola Sonata, Op 120. This was different. It was hauntingly sad. Some of it was plucked, very quiet but built to larger sound. Very beautiful but it could bring tears if I was in a particular frame of mind.
Wednesday 12 November 2003 Kill Bill Woodgreen Cineworld
So the second part of the double bill (snuck into this film after seeing In the Cut) was this. It starts and doesn't let up until it ends. It leaves you ready for the next part and you know what is going to happen in the next two. So its about revenge. Its about taking revenge that is in line with the crime. We know why she does it. We know how she comes to want to do it. And its bloody in the style of japanese cartoons - gushing and spurting blood from lopped off arms and heads, fountains of the stuff. And its fight to the death. And girls fight each other (much for the men here). And there's witty one liners. And there's fight choreography in the tradition of kung fu movies - one girl manages to kill oh easily several hundred men with her samurai sword, and she can leap tall buildings and bounce off the walls.
And then it ends, and you can breathe again.
And I was left with one question which I still haven't yet answered in my head - what is the meaning of decapitation - what does it mean to cut someone's head off either to the perpetrator or to the victim? Both these movies feature a good deal of it although with completely different results and for different reasons. We think of medieval guillotining, "off with her head", samurai warriors honorable ways to die, serial killers keeping trophies of their kills, head hunters, head shrinkers etc etc.
Wednesday 12 November 2003 In the Cut Woodgreen Cineworld
So Meg Ryan is the most dour faced limp haired sex maniac in New York. She has chosen inappropriate sexual partners who hound her and then when she inadvertently witnesses the last blow job a girl ever gave before being killed by a serial killer she spends a lot of time with a police officer with the same tattoo as the man they suspect of killing the girl. So naturally she sleeps with him becuase theres sexual tension despite the fact she can't put it out of her head that he's the killer. Her sister lives over a lap dancing club with a transvestite doorman. Fairly graphic, good tension but ultimately very unbelievable and a little bit obvious. Still its a step out of character for Meg. Dark and dreary portrayal of NY also.
Tuesday 4 November 2003 We Will Rock You Dominion Theatre
I would never have chosen to see this because I am a culture snob. I am willing having sat through this to fully admit it without reservation. However when asked by a best friend and with a ticket bought for me I agreed to see a musical despite my reservations.
Lets say the acting was somewhere between wooden, old style theatrical over-acting, pantomime, school play enthusiasm and carry-on movie. Singing was considered to be good if it were belted out (much audience appreciation). Emotion in the singing was demonstrated by bounciness or falling to the floor. Choreography was lazy. Dancing mediocre apart from one gay dancer (he looked it and danced like it but that could of course be a generalisation, so please forgive me if you are in any way offended by this remark) who was enjoying himself immensly and stood out by miles. To say the plot was thin is stretching it, you could say the plot were emaciated.
The very best bit was as the whole thing started and lots of spots were shone around the theatre by two giant glitter balls. After that the set was sparse.
It was like a cross between a poor man's Handmaid's tale and a poor man's Footloose and Footloose wasn't good the first time round. Kids will overcome the world because they must ROCK! And to be rockers you must look like punks - this rule will stand even in the year 2365.
Give me a C, give me an R, give me an A, give me a P. What have we got....
At the end the majority of the audience gave a standing ovation. What I couldn't figure out was why. I can understand that people want to come to the theatre for a good time, they want to feel like they have had their money's worth. But does that mean they have to know all the songs beforehand? I would rather watch a Kylie video for its finesse and pomp, choreography and tune.
