Nassim Soleimanpour’s peerless, hugely acclaimed 2010 show White Rabbit, Red Rabbit, could be the ultimate puppet show, in spite of no marionettes on the stage. Instead, one single performer- either a well-regarded actor or comedian- stands alone on a bare stage with a table and script, penned by Soleimanpour.There are no distractions like complex scenographyContinue reading “The Ultimate Puppet Show: White Rabbit, Red Rabbit”
Author Archives: loreleiirvine
David Hockney Was Art, David Hockney Is Art
David Hockney , who died yesterday at the age of 88, was proof positive that you didn’t have to come from Paris or London to be an Innovator in the art world. Born in Bradford , he made art with a photographer’s eye for detail, but a painter’s delicate, experimental touch. His famous approach toContinue reading “David Hockney Was Art, David Hockney Is Art”
Overlooked Classic : Bauhaus – The Sky’s Gone Out
There isn’t much in the way of the concept album in the goth genre- perhaps only The Cure’s ‘Pornography’ comes close- but Bauhaus ‘ brilliant, multi-faceted The Sky’s Gone Out is perhaps our equivalent of a post-punk Pink Floyd or something, just with better songs. Forgive me, PF fans, but I don’t like post-Syd FloydContinue reading “Overlooked Classic : Bauhaus – The Sky’s Gone Out”
Mark E Smith : His Part In My Downfall
The audition had been bloody. Smith had various band members by the lapels, shaking them like human piñatas, waiting for ideas to just fall out. Smith kept screaming, for reasons best known to himself, “Peters and Lee!” A new musical detour for us to consider, no doubt. There had been dark mutterings in the ranksContinue reading “Mark E Smith : His Part In My Downfall”
Vintage Film Review: Funny Face
Before ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ , another film looked at an intelligent young lady willing to sell her soul to capitalism: Funny Face. Despite its feel -good posturing, there lies a deeply problematic film. Stanley Donen was considered a Hollywood great, a director of great elan with the wit to back it up. This film,Continue reading “Vintage Film Review: Funny Face”
Film Review : Billy Idol Should Be Dead
When I was a kid, Billy Idol epitomised the naughty boy we all fancied. He was always a bit cheeky, but we knew that. What we didn’t know was that he was also a heroin addict. Jonas Akerlund’s documentary about the former William Broad, who grew up in Bromley and reinvented himself as “punk” singerContinue reading “Film Review : Billy Idol Should Be Dead”
Archive: The Angst of Corky St Clair
June 29, 2018 • Spoilt Victorian Child Misunderstood… Corky dans le bain de bubbles Pity poor, misunderstood, Corky St Clair, the genius, the doyen that is the off-off Broadway, musical theatre maverick in the making. His tears are but pearls of sadness, for he is a man of grand schemes, and big, proscenium arch- shaped dreams. NoContinue reading “Archive: The Angst of Corky St Clair”
TV Review: Falling Part 2
I’m prepared to contradict my initial impression. It’s been a couple of weeks since my last confession. ‘Falling’ is getting better since its first two episodes. Now, we’re getting into the ethics of the series, the meat, a heavy juxtaposition of forbidden love and devout faith, it’s a slow -burning, rather good series, actually. JasonContinue reading “TV Review: Falling Part 2”
Archive Review: John Waters at Glasgay
Arts:Blog The Real Dirt–John Waters Posted by Across the Arts on November 18, 2014, at 12.36pm Lorna Irvine reports from the icon’s performance ‘This Filthy World Vol 2’, recently seen at the O2 Academy in Glasgow. Photos: Greg Gorman For the perfect finale to the Glasgay! festival, there could be only one. Bounding onto the stage inContinue reading “Archive Review: John Waters at Glasgay”
Five Of The Best: Marilyn Monroe Songs
Marilyn Monroe would have turned 100 years old yesterday… Imagine! A whole century of MM.I think she’d have been a brilliant old lady, laughing at how far she’d come. Sadly, she passed away at thirty six. Her legacy remains though, she’s still adored to this day: a reminder of the real triple threat performers ofContinue reading “Five Of The Best: Marilyn Monroe Songs”