DESIGN FOR MURDER - THEATRE REVIEW

DESIGN FOR MURDER AT THE WOLVERHAMPTON GRAND THEATRE

Theatre Run: Tuesday 17 - Saturday 21 June 2014

Performance Reviewed: Tuesday 17 June 2014 (Press Night)

Reviewed by Kyle Pedley

PLEASE NOTE: There is a lack of supplemental images in this review due to there being no production stills of Design for Murder available.

ID Plays’ Summer Season 2014 at the Wolverhampton Grand continues this week with Design for Murder, a self-proclaimed ‘psychological drama’ as opposed to the more atypical murder mystery mould it’s title may first evoke. After a mixed audience and critical response to the season’s first show, Ladies in Retirement, it is encouraging to see ID springing back to form with a cracking, twisty-turny evening of drama, intrigue and even the odd giggle. Design for Murder may not be anything the estates of Conan Doyle or Christie need worry about, but it is nonetheless a consummately entertaining piece of theatre that is genuinely intelligent in places, has the decency to not take itself too seriously and offers enough U-turns and revelations to keep even the most ardent Marple enthusiast second guessing right up until the end.

GOOD PEOPLE - THEATRE REVIEW

GOOD PEOPLE AT THE NOEL COWARD THEATRE, LONDON

Theatre Run: Runs until Saturday 14 June 2014
Performance Reviewed: Thursday 05 June 2014

Reviewed by Kyle Pedley

Good People is ostensibly a show about class. Or rather peoples relationship with class and the social, financial and even emotional barriers it places upon oneself. Do we allow ourselves to be both defined and confined by our roots and upbringing, or is the idea of any choice in the matter a fickle illusion orchestrated by a mixture of luck and lifes happenstance? It’s a concept that is far from new to theatre, but in this, David Lindsey-Abaire’s Boston-set drama, it is given fresh life and perspective by dint of being filtered through the American psyche and in the form of two flawed, interesting, contradictory yet strangely complementary lead roles beautifully performed by Imelda Staunton and Lloyd Owen.

THIS MAY HURT A BIT - THEATRE REVIEW

THIS MAY HURT A BIT AT ST JAMES THEATRE, VICTORIA

Theatre Run: Wednesday 14 May - Saturday 21 June 2014
Performance Reviewed: Thursday 05 June 2014 (Matinee)

Reviewed by Kyle Pedley

Going into Stella Feehily’s satirical take on the NHS, This May Hurt A Bit, one would be forgiven for expecting an onslaught of left-wing sentimentality or political bulldozing. The shows marketing and poster colourfully depicts a caricatured David Cameron skulking into the labyrinthine ward of a sickly woman like some nightmarish imp and the programme itself begins with an impassioned plea by Jacky Davis of ‘Keep Our NHS Public’ to rally against the devilry and smoke-and-mirrors of the coalition's treatment of the National Health Service.

LONDON FILM FESTIVAL REVIEWS - PHILOMENA, DON JON

PHILOMENA
Sponsored by ST. ERMIN'S HOTEL, LONDON

Release Date: 1 November 2013 (UK)
Director: Stephen Frears
Running Time: 94 Minutes
Starring: Judi Dench, Steve Coogan
Screening Reviewed: London Film Festival American Express Gala Press Screening

Reviewed by Kyle Pedley

Stephen Frears is rapidly becoming the industry’s go-to guy for crafting powerful, intelligent and surprisingly moving film experiences based off of real-life, usually British, stories and events. His latest, Philomena, is one such terrific story that, much like his re-imagining of the events surrounding Princess Diana’s death in his superlative The Queen in 2006, does a sublime job of reminding us there is often nothing more disarming, surprising and cinematic than real life happenings.

LONDON FILM FESTIVAL REVIEW: ARGO

ARGO
Release Date: 9 November 2012 (UK)
Director: Ben Affleck
Running Time: 120 Minutes
Starring: Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin, John Goodman
Screening Reviewed: UK Premiere (London Film Festival Accenture Gala Screening)

Reviewed by Kyle Pedley

At face value, you’d be forgiven for expecting Argo to be a fairly generic and standard Hollywood CIA/espionage thriller, freshly sprung from the conveyer belt of formulaic genre fare. Being based on true events lent it that extra dash of intrigue and clout, but was hardly a new or original prospect. Credit must go, first and foremost then, to director-star Ben Affleck who, after proving his directorial mettle with his impressive debut Gone Baby Gone and follow-up The Town, has crafted a movie that is anything but.

DOCTOR WHO: THE ANGELS TAKE MANHATTAN REVIEW

DOCTOR WHO SERIES 7: EPISODE 5 - THE ANGELS TAKE MANHATTAN

Air Date: Saturday 29 September **
Channel: BBC One (UK), BBC America (US)
Starring: Matt Smith, Karen Gillan, Arthur Darvill, Alex Kingston, Mike McShane, Rob David

Reviewed by Helen Henderson

Amy and Rory are ready to bid farewell to the Doctor, but is he ready for their last goodbye?

With the departure of the Pond’s being in Steven Moffat’s own hands, all eyes were on the showrunner to bring the story of Rory and Amy to a beautiful and powerful conclusion, and in that respect he did not disappoint. Set against the backdrop of the Big Apple, New York, the city that never sleeps, it was possible that the Manhattan skyline was about to drown out the little story of a man and woman so much in love that they would do anything to be together, that the spectacle would pull focus from the heart. Regardless of the magnitude of the city, tonight it stood in hushed reverence to a hard hitting story that will have had even the hardest Doctor Who fan fighting back the tears. Rory and Amelia Williams bowed out in what can only be described as a heartbreaking finale. Even when it appeared that perhaps the story would be clear cut, Steven Moffat had surprises up his sleeve to ensure that the viewers would snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

DOCTOR WHO: THE POWER OF THREE REVIEW

DOCTOR WHO SERIES 7: EPISODE 4 - THE POWER OF THREE

Air Date: Saturday 22 September **
Channel: BBC One (UK), BBC America (US)
Starring: Matt Smith, Karen Gillan, Arthur Darvill, Mark Williams, Jemma Redgrave, Steven Berkoff

Reviewed by Helen Henderson

The Ponds have a big decision to make amidst a very unusual invasion.

From the pen of Dinosaurs on a Spaceship episode author Chris Chibnall, comes the underwhelming The Power of Three. A nod to the Russell T. Davies era that came before it, this episode was a tale focused on ‘normal’ life as opposed to the hectic knockabout way of things when travelling with the Doctor. With a distinct nod to the old James lyrics “If I hadn’t seen such riches, I could live with being poor”, the Ponds are attempting to live their lives in normality while deciding whether the constant travelling is really for them anymore. It shines an interesting light on a concept not yet seen in Who - can companions live a double life of travelling with the doctor whilst carrying on their normal everyday happenings? With the ability for the Doctor to hypothetically return companions to the moment he picked them up it is surprising this intriguing idea hasn’t been explore before. It is lended extra relevance being widely known as the Ponds’ penultimate episode – and further lends to the ambiguity of their eventual fate - will their final scenes be fatal or a final decision to end their travels?

DOCTOR WHO: A TOWN CALLED MERCY - TV REVIEW

DOCTOR WHO SERIES 7: EPISODE 3 - A TOWN CALLED MERCY

Air Date: Saturday 15 September **

Channel: BBC One (UK), BBC America (US)

Starring: Matt Smith, Karen Gillan, Arthur Darvill, Andrew Brooke, Adrian Scarborough, Ben Browder

Reviewed by Helen Henderson

The Doctor is faced with the ramifications of his own past in this tale of Wild West mayhem.

After last weeks’ tepid outing for the Doctor, A Town Called Mercy finally brought drama that packed a powerful punch back to our screens this Saturday. Written by Toby Whithouse, responsible for previous episodes including The God Complex, Vampires of Venice and School Reunion, this fantastic morality tale not only presented a compelling storyline but also boasted great performances from all involved and a tale where the line between good and evil are considerably blurred. It was a fresh spin on both the Sci-Fi and Western genres, and added further pathos and dimension to the series by showing that the consequences of the Doctor’s travels and interventions are not always beneficial to all.

The episode opened intriguingly with a man desperately (but fruitlessly) scrambling away from an unknown assailant who towered above him, instructing him to make peace with his Gods, name dropping The Doctor as curiously the ‘only one left’ and then sending the unfortunate man to his maker. It was a fittingly ‘Western’ opening to the episode, made further so by touches such as the shows title logo being displayed as made of wood, and a suitably accented opening narration.

DOCTOR WHO: DINOSAURS ON A SPACESHIP - TV REVIEW

DOCTOR WHO SERIES 7: EPISODE 2 - DINOSAURS ON A SPACESHIP

Air Date: Saturday 8 September **

Channel: BBC One (UK), BBC America (US)

Starring: Matt Smith, Karen Gillan, Arthur Darvill, Rupert Graves, David Bradley, Mark Williams, Riann Steele

Reviewed by Helen Henderson

The Doctor has six hours to save a spaceship but what terrifying truths lie within?

The second outing of this latest run of Nu-Who is crammed with many things that are likely to raise spirits and rekindle the more joyous and upbeat tone of the series, with the episode title alone instantly hinting as such. But don't be fooled by this apparent lightness of touch and the simplicity of the title; for despite this being a somewhat lighter affair than last weeks series opener, Asylum of the Daleks, the complicated, hurried nature of the plot means that the episode may thrill momentarily but ultimately leaves the viewer feeling a little unsatisfied and longing for what could have been. Yes, Dinosaurs on a Spaceship is a rip roaring adventure with plenty of action but with little true drama and a plot with various issues and omissions it could end up feeling a little disjointed and out of place in the narrative of the series and ultimately a throwaway episode with a few admittedly impressive or notable elements.