Rendering №8 THEATRE

The article "Once the musical: A story of love, friendship, music – and success" was published on March 28, 2013 by Sarah Crompton.

The article

The author underlined that it would be hard to imagine someone less likely to be the director of a Broadway musical than John Tiffany. He’s a scruffy, straightforward Yorkshireman, who talks nineteen to the dozen, was once literary manager for the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh, and built his subsequent career on championing new writing.

It's the fact that Yet Once, a delicate, charming story of love, friendship and music, based on the popular Irish film of the same name, turned him into one of the hottest directors in America, winning eight Tony awards, including best director. It is now beginning previews in London, where it is likely to garner just as much praise.

There is a small part of the interview of Sarah Crompton and John Tiffany. 

-"Well that’s all very well, but there’s no choreography and where is your set?’ ”

He laughs, his entire face creasing. -“You can only make the work that you have to make. And I am old enough now to know that I can’t start making shows that are going to win awards. That way madness lies.”

The work that transformed Tiffany’s reputation was, in fact, not Once, but Black Watch, Gregory Burke’s gritty drama about soldiers from the Scottish regiment who served in Iraq. In the hands of Tiffany and his key collaborator Steven Hoggett (a friend from childhood) it became something else: a visceral, haunting evocation of the lives of military men, their hopes and dreams.

 

I'm interested in this article because it includes 2 thems which can draw my attention. The first one is a new Broadway musical "Yet Once", and the second - the way the director John Tiffany works.

Rendering №7 THEATRE

The article "Richard Griffiths, star of The History Boys and Harry Potter, has died aged 65" was published March 29, 2013 by Alice Vincent, Entertainment writer. 

The article

     British actor Richard Griffiths OBE has died from complications following heart surgery, aged 65.

     An actor of stage, film and television, Griffiths was best known for his roles in Withnail & I and the Harry Potter films. He also played Henry Crabbe, a disillusioned police officer in the crime procedural TV series Pie in the Sky.
     Griffiths received a Tony Award, a Laurence Olivier Award and the Outer Critics Circle Award for his performance as Hector, the tragic teacher in The History Boys, a role he also played on screen. National Theatre director Sir Nicholas Hytner told Sky News Griffiths' performance in the play was "quite overwhelming: a masterpiece of wit".
     The actor appeared as poet WH Auden in another Alan Bennett's play, The Habit of Art, in 2009.
     The writer reminded us that more recently Griffiths found a new fan base by appearing in the Harry Potter films as Vernon Dursley, Harry's short-tempered and cruel uncle. In 2008 the actor was appointed an OBE in the New Year Honours list. He also appeared opposite Potter star Daniel Radcliffe on stage in Peter Shaffer's Equus.

     I'm very, very upset to get to know about this terrible, grievous event. It's a sorrowful fact that every year, and even every month we lose such talented and indispensable people as Richard Griffiths. May his memory live for ever!

Individual Reading 6

From Strickland's doctor in charge of the case the narrator got to know that he had suffered from a grave disease: it was leprosy. All his neighbors and acquaintances had avoided his house being afraid to become infected. And only Ata with his children had been devoted to Charles to the utmost, although on of his children died from the infection. The artist's disease was taking very slowly and painfully. But in spite of it he had painted on the walls of his house before losing his sight. After his death, at Charles's request, the house was burnt by Ata, and she with her child had gone away.
Charles Strickland was a bright example of the artists who had become recognized only after their death.

Rendering №6 THEATRE

The “Burn The Floor, at Shaftesbury Theatre” article was written on the 13^th of March in 2013 by Louise Levene.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/dance/9928329/Burn-The-Floor-Barely-a-spark.html

The author express her own opinion about this performance.

“This ballroom extravaganza – returning to the West End after a huge world tour – is lacking in passion, mystery and humour!”  Louise Levene

Burn the Floor? I wanted to torch the entire theatre after two hours of this unrelenting ballroom extravaganza. The show, which has been touring the globe since its premiere in Bournemouth back in 1999, is back for an optimistic six-month run.

It remains well-drilled and generates enough energy to power a small abattoir, but it’s strangely charmless, lacking in the sexual chemistry that gives social dance its pulse.

Louise underlines that the great ballroom renaissance that began with Dirty Dancing and Baz Luhrmann’s game-changing 1992 film Strictly Ballroom has transformed this pursuit from a brilliantined bore into an international commodity.

And then she concludes that more interesting singers or more nuanced musical direction might have helped. Costumes are tacky (if plentiful), lighting is crude and hyperactive, and the staging unspectacular to the point of thrift.

In order to express my opinion I’d like to give you a proverb: “A picture is worth a thousand words”. That’s why I can’t judge this performance!!!

 

Rendering №5 THEATRE

The article "How The Audience echoes Shakespeare in showing the human cost of being Queen" was published on the 6th of March in 2013 on the website: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/theatre-reviews/9912659/How-The-Audience-echoes-Shakespeare-in-showing-the-human-cost-of-being-Queen.html

The author wrote that after watching Helen Mirren star as the Queen in the opening night of Peter Morgan’s play The Audience, Dominic Cavendish spots a parallel with Shakespeare's history plays.

One of the most haunting images in The Audience shows its prim and proper heroine trying to sneak a peak out of one of the windows of Buckingham Palace without being observed. Redoubling the poignancy, Peter Morgan revisits the vignette towards the end. The girlish princess (evoked wonderfully well on opening night by Nell Williams, clipped of accent, brimming with vigour) and her elder self (played with a sublime mixture of regal composure and subtle psychological self-exposure by Helen Mirren) hold themselves as still as statues to spy on the world beyond - which at once lies under their nominal dominion and yet also remains the undiscovered country.

That Morgan has learnt from Shakespeare about framing the historical moment is evident from the very first lines of the play, in which Geoffrey Beevers’ Equerry steps forward to help set the scene, in a latter-day echo of the Chorus.

I like such articles because they tell us about the novelties in the sphere of theatre. And friendly speaking, i'd like to watch this performance, it deeply interests me.

Individual Reading 5

In spite of such an attitude to Charles Strickland the narrator went to the artist's workshop to look at his paintings. It was their last meeting. Subsequently, traveling round the world, the writer got to know about Charles's life from the fellow-travellers who had ever known a famous artist Mr. Strickland. As people said, Charles went to Marcele where he earned his life working in different spheres. When there was a chance to go to Taiti he went away and married there a young girl Ata.

Individual Reading 4

Dirk Stroeve tried to make his wife come back but she didn't listen to him despising his lack of determination. One day the narrator got to know from Dirk about the suicide of Mrs. Stroeve: she had drunk oxalic acid after Charles's leaving. In some days she died from violent scald and pain. After so tragical events Dirk went to his native town in order to forget about his sufferings and to start a new life. Walking along Paris streets, the writer met Charles, who was calm and reconciled as if nothing had happened. It turned out that Charles Strickland didn't consider himself guilty of Mrs. Stroeve's death and he didn't even remember her: she was only a beautiful sitter for him. The narrator hated and scorned him for his words but Charles didn't notice such an attitude.

Individual Reading 3

One day the narrator with his friend Dirk Stroeve visited Charles Strickland and found him ill. Dirk, as a kind, devoted person, decided to take him to his house because Charles needed in care and attention. Charles lived in warm and live of Mr. and Mrs. Stroeve. However, the artist began to abuse Dirk's kindness and when he got better, he turned Dirk out of doors because he got used to work in isolation. Once, when Dirk spoke against such an attitude, Charles took all his things and wanted to leave his house but suddenly Mrs. Stroeve told about her love to Charles and about her leaving with him. As a decent man, Dirk left the house himself and allowed them to live together. Such an awful situation enraged the narrator and drained Dirk's spirit.

Film Review 3

"The Mystery of Natalie Wood" (2004)

Cast:
Justine Waddell as Natalie Wood
Michael Weatherly as Robert Wagner
Matthew Settle as Warren Beatty
Colin Friels as Nick Gurdin
Elizabeth Rice as Teenage Natalie Wood
Grace Fulton as Young Natalie Wood
Robert Taylor as Nicholas Ray
Alice Krige as Maria Gurdin
Malcolm Kennard as Christopher Walken
Christopher Pate as Elia Kazan
John Noble as Irving Pichel
Barry Langrishe as Jack Warner
Steven Vidler as Richard Gregson
Sophie Monk as Marilyn Monroe
Nathalie Roy as Lana Wood

The Mystery of Natalie Wood is a two-part 2004 made-for-TV biographical film directed by Peter Bogdanovich. Partly based on the biographies Natasha: the Biography of Natalie Wood written by Suzanne Finstad and Natalie & R.J. written by Warren G. Harris, the film chronicles the life and career of actress Natalie Wood, from the part of her early childhood in the 1940s until her untimely death in 1981.

So, it's difficult for me to explain my emotions after watching this film. I'm glad to get to know more about this interesting actress Natalie Wood. I'm deeply impressed by the plot and the choice of actors. I'm terribly upset by a tragic death of a talented actress. I'm delighted with her hardworking, force and strength of character. And it's sad to realize that many great actresses end their lives so ridiculous!!!

Individual Reading 2

The narrator came to Paris, met with Charles Strickland in a small, decrepit hotel and a conversation began between them. Charles explained that he didn't love his wife and children, he tied to live in lie and that he decided to take up painting. The writer could not bring him over and make him come back. Returned back, he told Mrs. Strickland about such news. She was not upset but on the contrary she got angry and rejected her husband. In five years, everybody's life was changed: Mrs. Strickland kept her own bureau and the narrator moved to Paris. There he got to know from his friend and artist Dirk Stroeve that Charles Strickland became a famous painter. Although, met him in a cheap café Charles looked like a poor, old man without a penny.

Pleasure Reading 6

After all those events, the incident was assumed as a suicide. Maxim with her wife Mrs. De Winter decided to drive all the night. It was the only chance to forget about the last events and drift away. Driving up to the estate, they saw that their Manderley was burned with a clear flame.

Pleasure Reading 5

During the investigation, an inquest brought a verdict of Rebecca's suicide. However, her cousin and, all the time, her lover Jack Favell attempted to blackmail Maxim, affirming that she could not have intended suicide. At the same time Dr. Baker revealed Rebecca had been suffering from cancer and would had died within a few months, and of course she could never had been pregnant. Such a circumstance explained her behavior when she had manipulated Maxim into killing her faster than she had faced her awful death.

Pleasure Reading 4

After the ball, Maxim told about her ex-wife's death. It turned out that there was a heavy gale when Rebbeca sailed. Her boat was turned over and Rebbeca died from serious injuries. And in some time after their talk, a diver investigating the condition of the wrecked ship's hull also discovered the remains of Rebecca's boat. The investigations showed new circumstances: before the tragedy, Rebbeca had got a mortal blow. Maxim confessed the truth to his wife: his marriage to Rebecca was nothing but a sham. From the very first days husband and wife had loathed each other. Rebecca was a cruel and selfish woman who manipulated everyone around her. She had had a lot of love affairs with different men, and that ill-fated day she said about her pregnancy from another man. She had intentionally provoked him, at which point he had shooted her, leading to her death. Then, fearing to be hanged, he had disposed of her body on her boat and had sunk it at sea.

Rendering №4 ART

This article "Proof 'original' Mona Lisa was painted by Leonardo da Vinci" was published on the 14 February in 2013 in the web-site "Visual arts news and gallery info".

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/art/leonardo-da-vinci/9869357/Proof-original-Mona-Lisa-was-painted-by-Leonardo-da-Vinci.html

It tells us about another test for the Mona Liza. Leonardo da Vinci or not?

New tests on a painting billed as the original version of the Mona Lisa, Leonardo da Vinci's 15th century portrait, have produced fresh proof that it is the work of the Italian master.

The experts tell a lot about this subject. But the results are here!
Documents show that a painting of his wife Lisa was commissioned around the turn of the 16th century by Florentine nobleman Francesco del Giacondo. In French, the Louvre version is known as "La Giaconde" and "La Giaconda" in Italian.

Supporters of the "younger" version say it was almost certainly delivered unfinished to del Giacondo before Leonardo left Italy in 1506 and took up residence in France, where he died in 1519 in a small Loire chateau.

From the Giacondo house, it probably eventually found its way to England after being bought by a travelling English aristocrat, this account runs, while the Paris version was probably painted by Leonardo around 1516 in France.

I think, it's important for our society to rehabilitate a great artist because it is disrespectfully towards the artist's work, talent and his wonderful inspiration. And i don't understand the people who try to prove "falsity" in everything. It's a shabby act!

Individual Reading 1

The narrator, a famous writer visited a fashionable woman and there acquainted with Mrs. Strickland, a wife of a well-off, middle-class stockbroker. Immediately, they became good comrades and interesting interlocutors for each other. In some time there was a meeting of the narrator and her husband Charles Strickland, who seemed to be a boring, pompous man interested only in his stock exchange affaires. Once, visiting Mrs. Strickland he became an unintentional witness of a depressed state of the woman and her brother's fury. It turned out that Charles left his wife and children and went to Paris. In order to bring her husband back, Mrs. Strickland asked the writer for the request: to go to Paris, to explain the terror of his act and to make him come back. He was afraid to offend the woman, that's why he agreed.

Film Review 2

Finding Neverland (2004)

 

 

Cast:

Johnny Depp as J. M. Barrie Kate Winslet as Sylvia Llewelyn Davies Dustin Hoffman as Charles Frohman Julie Christie as Mrs. Emma du Maurier Radha Mitchell as Mary Ansell Barrie Freddie Highmore as Peter Llewelyn Davies Nick Roud as George Llewelyn Davies Joe Prospero as Jack Llewelyn Davies Luke Spill as Michael Llewelyn Davies Ian Hart as Arthur Conan Doyle Oliver Fox as Gilbert Cannan Mackenzie Crook as Mr. Jaspers Kelly Macdonald as Peter Pan Finding Neverland is a 2004 semi-biographical film about playwright J. M. Barrie and his relationship with a family who inspired him to create Peter Pan, directed by Marc Forster. The screenplay by David Magee is based on the play The Man Who Was Peter Pan by Allan Knee. The film was nominated for several Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Actor for Depp's portrayal of J. M. Barrie, and won one for Jan A. P. Kaczmarek's musical score. I find this film very attractive, fascinating, thoughtful and full of common sense! It's like a fairy tale with child's smiles and dreams, with fairy-tale hero ( Petter Pen ) who gave the hope of the best and bright performance for little children. The film shows that even if you are adult you can dream, believe in miracles and hope of the best future. P.S Johnny Depp is the best!!!!!

Film Review 1

"Frida" (2002)

 

 



Cast:

Salma Hayek as Frida Kahlo

Alfred Molina as Diego Rivera

Geoffrey Rush as Leon Trotsky

Mía Maestro as Cristina Kahlo

Ashley Judd as Tina Modotti

Antonio Banderas as David Alfaro Siqueiros

Edward Norton as Nelson Rockefeller

Amelia Zapata as Maid

Alejandro Usigli as Professor

Diego Luna as Alejandro Gonzalez Arias

Frida is a 2002 Miramax/Ventanarosa biopic which depicts the professional and private life of the surrealist Mexican painter Frida Kahlo. It stars Salma Hayek in her Academy Award nominated portrayal as Kahlo and Alfred Molina as her husband, Diego Rivera.
The movie was adapted by Clancy Sigal, Diane Lake, Gregory Nava and Anna Thomas from the book Frida: A Biography of Frida Kahlo by Hayden Herrera. It was directed by Julie Taymor. It won Oscars for Best Makeup and Best Original Music Score (recipient: Elliot Goldenthal).

The life of artist Frida Kahlo--from her complex and enduring relationship with her mentor and husband, Diego Rivera, to her illicit and controversial affair with Leon Trotsky, to her provocative romantic entanglements with women, Frida lived a bold and uncompromising life as a political, artistic, and sexual revolutionary.

It's really interesting for me that 2 themes was connected with each other in the film "Frida": the theme of the art and the theme of the person's privet life. That's why i can say with the confidence that I'm deeply impressed by this film. I like the film because it's not only about the art and the artist but also about devoted love, life difficulties, tragical moments, unfaithfulnss and treachery. This film about a real, complete life of a talented artist. I really admire the main character Frida how she holded her own and in all  dismal cases she was strong and patient. This film leaves much room for meditation. And after watching it, i not only got to know about this artist and the art of that time, but also saw how people could pass all negetive situations with dignity. So, I like it very much!

Pleasure Reading 3

Mrs. de Winter got to know that in the days of Rebbeca at the estate Manderley there were many beautiful and fancy-dress balls, with the participation of very rich and respected people. She decided to renew them and met with her husband's approval. Mrs. Danvers helped her and  manipulated to choose the dress shown in a portrait of one of the former inhabitants of the estate Caroline de Winter. When the narrator showed Maxim the dress, he got very angry at her and ordered her to change. It turned out that the same costume had worn by Rebecca to much acclaim shortly before her death. That incident undermined their relationships and Mrs. de Winter began to think about Rebbeca and her place in the house and in her husband's heart more and more.

Rendering №3 ART

The article "New exhibition at Museo Picasso Málaga looks at Pablo Picasso’s earliest years as an artist" was published by All Art News on the 26th of February in 2013; Filed under Art Events & Exhibitions, Featured.
It's the link on this article http://www.allartnews.com/new-exhibition-at-museo-picasso-malaga-looks-at-pablo-picassos-earliest-years-as-an-artist/

MALAGA.- In the late 19th century, Malaga was a city full of contrasts. The enterprising spirit of the bourgeois classes had resulted in there being over 150 registered factories here in 1878. A large part of the population worked in them, with working hours of up to seventy hours a week. Described in travel books as “God’s paradise on earth”, this superbly located seaport suffered a series of natural disasters during this period that brought on an economic recession. The city tried to recover from this with new plans for urban growth and by promoting alternative forms of business.

This was the context in which Pablo Ruiz Picasso was born and spent his childhood.

It's interesting that portraits of his relations, lesson studies, bullfighting scenes, landscapes, still-lifes and copies of other artworks all bear testimony to those early years, when the young boy portrayed his home environment and the landscape around it to suit the aesthetic tastes of the city at that time.

The author underlined that the exhibition also contains 35 works by other artists such as José Denis Belgrano, Antonio Muñoz Degrain, Joaquín Martínez de la Vega, or the artist’s own father, José Ruiz Blasco, that reproduce the artistic atmosphere in Malaga at the time.

I'm impressed by this artwork, this ehibition and this article on the whole. I'm glade that in our modern society we have more and more new, interesting ehibitions and we don't forget about real masterpieces of great artists.