Wednesday 17 August 2011

Mads about the boy . . .

Have I got to the age where some music leaves me cold? maybe. I really, honestly, truthfully don't understand and don't actually want to understand Cher Lloyd's "Swagger Jagger". Is it supposed to be a nursery rhyme? Anyway, if you fancy something a little more chilled on these balmy (?) summer evenings, why not give Mads Langer a try? He's a 27 year old singer-songwriter from Denmark who cites his influences as including Prince, Neil Young & Ray Lamontagne! Don't worry - he's not trying to cram all of these styles into the excellent album "Behold".

Best taken with a glass of white at the end of a long week at work. Enjoy.

Sunday 7 August 2011

More theatre darlings!

"We must have got our Wires crossed . . ."
To the tiny Duchess Theatre near Drury Lane to see Simon Gray's wonderfully dark comedy "Butley". I previously saw this on Broadway back in 2006 where Nathan Lane took the lead role. The West End revival has "The Wire" star Dominic West as the decaying, whisky-soaked university don. For every dark moment there is something to chuckle at, whether it be Butley's exaggerated Yorkshire accident or his camp outrageous humiliation of colleague Joseph. Paul 'Doctor Who' McGann gives a brooding performance as Joseph's lover.

I was surprised that the play is showing at such a tiny theatre as the Duchess. Maybe a transfer is in the offing. A great night out though, plus a lovely if expensive meal in Covent Garden.