Charlie’s Angels review: A fun reboot, despite the ham-fisted subversion of gender roles November 29, 2019 Wasn’t there a remake of Charlie’s Angels a few years back, I hear you ask? Well, I regret to inform you that version – featuring Cameron Diaz, Lucy Liu and Drew Barrymore – was in fact made two whole decades ago. So here we are again, with another reboot of the hair-flicking, gun toting 1970s [...]
The Immersive Wolf Of Wall Street review: A trading tragedy November 29, 2019 The Immersive Wolf Of Wall Street, a theatrical event that promises to transport you into the hedonistic world of crooked stocks trader Jordan Belfort, has had a traumatic birth. The official opening was delayed owing to a “script in flux” and three separate flooding incidents at its venue near Liverpool Street. And boy does it [...]
My Brilliant Friend at the National Theatre review November 29, 2019 Taking place over two sittings, each more than two and a half hours long, My Brilliant Friend promises to be an epic production. And it is. Sort of. This adaptation of Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan novels (now a hit HBO series) runs the full gamut of human emotion, spanning decades and shifting violently in both tone [...]
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe at Bridge Theatre review: Perfect family fun November 29, 2019 Christmas is not typically a high-point for theatre, but parents seeking something beyond this season’s repertoire of pantomimes should look to this loveable interpretation of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. CS Lewis’ 1950 novel is sometimes viewed a little suspiciously, given it’s a fairly transparent allegory for the Christian origin story. But it’s [...]
Focus on Lewisham: New social scene sparks interest from first-time buyers November 29, 2019 One might assume there is something in the water in Lewisham. Although it is a relatively unassuming corner of South East London, it has been the birthplace of a wealth of musical talent: Cream drummer Ginger Baker, Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman and Sex Pistols frontman Sid Vicious were all born there. The town’s own [...]
Dora Maar at the Tate Modern review: Forget what you think you know November 29, 2019 Like so many women throughout history, Dora Maar is best known for her connection to a more famous man. For many art historians, she’s a footnote in the biography of Pablo Picasso, one of many young women the creepy cubist collected throughout his life. But this is 2019: if Picasso were around today he’d be [...]
Measure for Measure review: A play given impetus by #metoo November 29, 2019 Measure for Measure has great contemporary resonance, with the tale of a man abusing a position of authority for his own sexual gratification echoing the complaints of the #MeToo movement. The Duke of Vienna fears that his lax enforcement of public morals risks becoming a crisis, and so rather than dealing with the matter himself [...]
How a Notting Hill garage was transformed into an LA-style luxury home November 29, 2019 When you think of Los Angeles, you probably imagine broad, sun-drenched streets, palm trees and the kind of airy, modern villas that we see on TV and in the movies. It doesn’t have much in common with rainy London – but that didn’t deter the designers of a new home in Notting Hill, who set [...]
Rodrigues: The Indian Ocean’s hidden paradise November 29, 2019 Walking into Rodrigues’ Reserve François Leguat is one of those wild moments that will stay with you forever. As you enter a deep, green valley, you’re greeted by dozens of giant tortoises, which amble amiably towards you, ponderously dragging their massive bulk across the grass in the hope you’ll toss them a lime. They are [...]
New builds: homes on the market in London this weekend, including a former BHS in Ealing and shared ownership in the Docklands November 29, 2019 So Resi, Ealing From £106,000 for a 25 per cent share of a one-bed The former BHS store on Ealing Broadway has been transformed into a collection of one, two and three-bed apartments by Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing. The building contains plenty of outdoor space, with a communal podium garden on the first floor and [...]