MARIANKA SWAIN ~ WRITE HERE, WRITE NOW

Home Futures, The Favourite, Michelle Obama and inspiring libraries

Posted on February 22, 2019 by mkmswain

In my February MoveTo Town and Country Arts pages:

Exhibition Avant-garde visions in Home Futures at the Design Museum
Film A right royal romp in award-winning The Favourite
Theatre Sondheim reborn in the sensational musical Company
Commuter corner Candid reflections from Michelle Obama in Becoming
Festival Support creatives directly at Parallax Art Fair
Dance Contemporary circus meets musical drama in Cirque Éloize’s Hotel
Opera Rising stars tackle Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte at the Royal Opera House
6 of the best… inspiring libraries in London

Shipwreck, Almeida Theatre

Posted on February 20, 2019 by mkmswain

“Isn’t that the problem with political theater, too much directness?” queries one of Anne Washburn’s characters in her new play – which, in meta fashion, and over a leisurely three hours, not only addresses Trump head on, but also painstakingly analyses our responses to the President and the present moment, including the role of the arts.

Read my full BroadwayWorld review here

Posted in Journalism, Theatre | Tagged almeida theatre, anne washburn, book tickets, broadwayworld, donald trump, drama, james comey, play, politics, president trump, review, rupert goold, satire, shipwreck, tara fitzgerald, theatre, trump | Leave a comment

BWW Interview: The cast of Six

Posted on February 19, 2019 by mkmswain

The current West End queens discuss the hit musical – and who is most like their alter ego…

Read my full BroadwayWorld interview here

Posted in Journalism, Theatre | Tagged actress, arts theatre, book tickets, broadwayworld, cheap tickets, divorced beheaded died, empowering, feminist, girl power, henry VIII, interview, london, musical, queen, singing, six, six the musical, songs, ticket deal, tudor, visit london, west end, wives | Leave a comment

Come From Away, Phoenix Theatre

Posted on February 19, 2019 by mkmswain

A remarkable true story birthed this modest Canadian musical, which went on to storm Broadway in 2017, and now makes it West End debut at a time when its heartfelt message seems more necessary than ever. In these murky, cynical times, Irene Sankoff and David Hein’s show feels like coming up for air.

Read my full BroadwayWorld review here

Posted in Journalism, Theatre | Tagged 9/11, book tickets, broadwayworld, cheap tickets, come from away, islanders, london, mayor, musical, newfoundland, phoenix theatre, rachel tucker, review, ticket deal, video, visit london, west end | Leave a comment

9 to 5 the Musical, Savoy Theatre

Posted on February 17, 2019 by mkmswain

In a programme interview, Patricia Resnick – writer of both the original 1980 film and this 2008 musical adaptation – notes that Jane Fonda wanted to convey a political message about workplace sexism, but realised couching it in comedy would make it more palatable. Like composer Dolly Parton herself, who appears on video to top and tail the stage show, it’s a considered combination of sugar and steel.

Read my full BroadwayWorld review here

Posted in Journalism, Theatre | Tagged 9 to 5, 9 to 5 the musical, amber davies, bonnie langford, book tickets, brian conley, broadwayworld, caroline sheen, cheap tickets, dolly, dolly parton, london, me too, musical, natalie mcqueen, photos, pictures, review, savoy theatre, sexism, ticket deal, video, west end | Leave a comment

The American Clock, Old Vic

Posted on February 14, 2019 by mkmswain

This year’s unofficial Arthur Miller season – following The Price and ahead of All My Sons at the Old Vic and Death of a Salesman at the Young Vic – now turns to his 1980 work, The American Clock, inspired in part by Miller’s own memories of the 1929 Wall Street Crash and subsequent Great Depression. It’s also based on Studs Terkel’s oral history Hard Times, and the combination is an uneasy one: a Miller-esque American family used as microcosm, but also constant diversions to other people and places in a sprawling three hours.

Read my full theartsdesk review here

Posted in Journalism, Theatre | Tagged america, arthur miller, capitalism, clarke peters, communism, golda rosheuvel, great depression, london, music, old vic, play, rachel chavkin, review, the american clock, theartsdesk, theatre, wall street crash | Leave a comment

Pasha Kovalev leaves Strictly

Posted on February 13, 2019 by mkmswain

Strictly Come Dancing fans went into mourning today following news that popular professional dancer Pasha Kovalev is leaving the BBC show. As his statement attests, Kovalev had an incredibly successful eight years, notching up 93 perfect 10s from the judges, reaching four finals, and triumphing in 2014 with Caroline Flack.

Read my full Telegraph article here

Posted in Dance, Journalism, TV | Tagged article, ashley roberts, ballroom, bbc, blog, caroline flack, chelsee healey, dance, dancing, kimberley walsh, leaves, pasha, pasha kovalev, pro, professional, quits, rachel riley, retires, strictly, strictly come dancing, telegraph, tv | Leave a comment

All About Eve, Noel Coward Theatre

Posted on February 13, 2019 by mkmswain

Fasten your seatbelts! Ivo van Hove has taken on the ultimate quotable backstage melodrama: Joseph L. Mankiewicz’s 1950 Oscar-winning film about a celebrated actress and her young wannabe assistant. And the modern star power is assured: Gillian Anderson succeeds Bette Davis, while Lily James follows in the scheming footsteps of Anne Baxter.

Read my full BroadwayWorld review here

Posted in Journalism, Theatre | Tagged actress, all about eve, backstage, book tickets, broadwayworld, celebrity, cheap tickets, gillian anderson, ivo van hove, lily james, london, noel coward theatre, play, review, star, theatre, ticket deal, west end | Leave a comment

BWW Interview: Justine Mitchell

Posted on February 8, 2019 by mkmswain

The actress discusses Anne Washburn’s new Trump-era play Shipwreck at the Almeida.

Read my full BroadwayWorld interview here

Posted in Journalism, Theatre | Tagged actress, almeida theatre, anne washburn, beginning, book tickets, brexit, broadwayworld, comedy, donald trump, interview, justine mitchell, london, new york, play, shipwreck, theatre, trump | Leave a comment

Pinter Seven, Harold Pinter Theatre

Posted on February 7, 2019 by mkmswain

Jamie Lloyd’s outstanding season of Pinter shorts – chock-full of mini revelations, innovative stagings, and a thrilling range of work from both actors and creatives – finishes on a high note with this thoroughly entertaining pair.

Read my full BroadwayWorld review here

Posted in Journalism, Theatre | Tagged a slight ache, book tickets, broadwayworld, cheap tickets, comedy, danny dyer, gemma whelan, harold pinter theatre, hitman, jamie lloyd, john heffernan, london, martin freeman, pinter, pinter at the pinter, pinter seven, play, review, the dumber waiter, theatre, ticket deal, visit london, west end | Leave a comment

MARIANKA SWAIN ~ WRITE HERE, WRITE NOW

Home Futures, The Favourite, Michelle Obama and inspiring libraries

Shipwreck, Almeida Theatre

BWW Interview: The cast of Six

Come From Away, Phoenix Theatre

9 to 5 the Musical, Savoy Theatre

The American Clock, Old Vic

Pasha Kovalev leaves Strictly

All About Eve, Noel Coward Theatre

BWW Interview: Justine Mitchell

Pinter Seven, Harold Pinter Theatre

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