MARIA DUARTE recommends a remarkable study of the friendship between a Palestinian and a Pakistani, broken by a hostile state
Latest editorial
Thatcherite blues
PAUL DONOVAN applauds a new production of Stoppard’s dated, yet witty study of middle-class morals and misdemeanours
LOVE IN THE AGE OF THATCHER: James McArdle (Henry) and Bel Powley (Annie) in The Real Thing at The Old Vic
[Manuel Harlan]
MATTHEW HAWKINS rakes through un-fancy words and flair-free summaries to find who and what might be flamboyant
PETER MASON is exhilarated by an exciting, well-considered and historically minded tribute to the great Trinidadian instrument
Reducing historical lives to ‘male’ and ‘female’ roles, we lose the nuance of those lives and a clearer understanding of past societies, suggests CLAIRE ISABELLA GILMOUR
CHRIS SEARLE relishes the genius of pianist Alexander Hawkins, his many ensembles, and his new album
The Real Thing
The Old Vic, London
THE latest production of Tom Stoppard’s 1982 play, The Real Thing, does not disappoint.
Impressive performances from James McCardle as Henry and Bel Powley as Annie keep the audience gripped, and the slick scene changes, bring a minimalist 1980s feel to proceedings. The strong blue of the latter part is in some way reflective of the Thatcherite timbre of the times.
Similar stories
GORDON PARSONS appreciates fine performances and a feel for ambiguity, but misses the music of the dialogue
MARY CONWAY becomes impatient with the intellectual self-indulgence of Tom Stoppard in a production that is, nevertheless, total class
Although this production was in rehearsal before the playwright’s death, it allows us to pay homage to his life, suggests MARY CONWAY
GORDON PARSONS is blown away by a superb production of Rostand’s comedy of verbal panache and swordmanship