Summer Book Special | What To Read

Posted on July 7, 2015 by Frostie

Five Days Later by Julie Lawson Timmer

This book was hard to put down. A beautiful and heart-breaking novel on love and lost, it is simply stunning. A must-read.

Mara is a successful lawyer, and devoted wife and mother. Struggling with a devastating illness, she has set herself five days to make the ultimate decision for her family.

Scott lives a thousand miles away, and is a foster parent to a troubled eight-year-old. Scott is facing his own five day countdown until his beloved foster son is returned to his biological mother.

The two connect through an online forum, and find a friendship to help guide them through the most difficult, and momentous, week of their lives.

Five Days Left is available here.

Some kind of wonderful by Sarah Morgan

A great, engaging, fun story. Sarah Morgan has a talent for writing great in-depth characters. This is the second book in the Puffin Island series. A good read that is hard to put down.

Her whole life, Puffin Islander Brittany Forrest has dreamed of adventure. And at the age of eighteen, she thought she’d found it in bad boy Zachary Flynn. But after just ten tempestuous, smouldering days, their whirlwind marriage went up in smoke, and Brittany resolved to put him out of her mind forever.
Zach knows he let Brittany down, but being back on Puffin Island and seeing Brittany again stirs up long-buried emotions. This daredevil pilot has never felt worthy of her, yet he can’t stay away—even when he knows the chemistry between them will only complicate his life.

As long, hot summer days on the beach dissolve into sultry, starry nights, Brittany and Zach find that the sparks between them are more powerful than ever. Could it be that the second time around, their dreams of a happy-ever-after will finally come true?

Fall in love with the all new Puffin Island series from Sarah Morgan, the bestselling author who brought you Sleigh Bells in the Snow:

Some Kind of Wonderful is available here.

A Meditation on Murder by Robert Thorogood

From the creator of BBC drama Death in Paradise, this great crime novel is riveting and full of twists that will keep you guessing. An enjoyable read, perfect for fans of crime novels.

An original story from the creator and writer of the hit BBC One TV series, Death in Paradise, featuring on-screen favourite detective, DI Richard Poole.
Enhance your enjoyment of the series as, for the first time, Robert Thorogood brings the characters to life on the page in an all-new locked-room mystery.

Aslan Kennedy has an idyllic life: leader of a spiritual retreat for wealthy holidaymakers on one of the Caribbean’s most unspoilt islands, Saint Marie. Until he’s murdered, that is. The case seems open and shut: when Aslan was killed he was inside a locked room with only five other people, one of whom has already confessed to the murder.

Detective Inspector Richard Poole is hot, bothered, and fed up with talking to witnesses who’d rather discuss his ‘aura’ than their whereabouts at the time of the murder. But he also knows that the facts of the case don’t quite stack up. In fact, he’s convinced that the person who’s just confessed to the murder is the one person who couldn’t have done it. Determined to track down the real killer, DI Poole is soon on the trail, and no stone will be left unturned.

A must read for fans of the TV series and Agatha Christie crime classics featuring Marple and Poirot.

A Meditation on Murder is available here.

A Summer Promise by Katie Flynn

This wartime novel is a heartwarming romance novel. Believable and engaging.

From the bestselling author Katie Flynn. Growing up in the Yorkshire Dales, Maddy Hebditch can’t imagine the changes that war will bring when she joins the ATS.

1938: Maddy Hebditch has been living in poverty with her cantankerous grandmother since she was orphaned when she was just five, and it’s a constant struggle to stay out of the workhouse.

However, though life is hard, Maddy has her friends Alice, Marigold and Tom to help her. Together the four spend their summers exploring the Dales and making plans for the future.

Until war breaks out and everything changes.

As the four go their separate ways, Maddy joins the ATS, where she is recruited for one of the most dangerous jobs a woman could do in wartime: the Ack Ack sites.

All four face dangers as the war worsens, but when Tom is terribly injured, Maddy’s world falls apart…

A Summer Promise is available here.

Doris Day Vintage Club by Fiona Harper

A brilliant and unique novel. Hard to put down and lots of fun. Make sure you pack this amazing novel in your suitcase, it is the perfect holiday read and essential for fans of Doris Day.

Claire Bixby grew up watching Doris Day films at her grandmother’s house and yearned to live in a world like the one on the screen – sunny, colourful and where happy endings were guaranteed. But recently Claire’s opportunities for a little ‘pillow talk’ have been thin on the ground.

Until she meets new client Nic who comes into her travel agency looking to book the perfect get away. Too bad it’s for two!

But as Nic and Claire get closer, the sparks start to fly, and Claire’s questioning everything Doris taught her about romance.

Can true love ever really be just like it is in the movies?

Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps…

The Doris Day Vintage Film Club is available here.

Nightingales at War by Donna Douglas

The latest in the Nightingales series, this is a heart-warming tale of friendship and love. A great coming-of-age drama set in pre-war London. A touching novel which is perfect for fans of Call The Midwife.

As the war takes its toll, the Nightingale nurses must do their bit for king and country…

Dora is the devoted mother of twin babies but, determined to help the war effort, she goes back to work at the Nightingale Hospital.

More used to nights out in the West End, Jennifer and Cissy volunteer in the hope of tending to handsome soldiers. They soon find out that nursing isn’t quite what they were expecting.

For shy and troubled Eve, the hospital provides an escape from the pressures of home, but the life of a nurse is never easy, especially at wartime.

Can the nurses rally together while war rages all around them? And will the Nightingale Hospital survive the Blitz?

Nightingales at War is available here.

Russian Tattoo by Elena Gorokhova

A stunning page-turner. This is the second memoir from Elena Gorokhova and it is a fascinating and beautiful tale on the mother-daughter bond, Candid and full of emotion, this book is a great read.

The possibility of leaving Russia was never as thrilling as the prospect of leaving my mother.’

When Elena Gorokhova arrives in America, the only link back to her Russian past is a suitcase filled with twenty kilograms of what used to be her life. Navigating a country she had been taught to fear, Elena begins to carve out a new life in an unfamiliar world.

Before the birth of Elena’s daughter, her mother comes to visit and stays for twenty-four years. Elena, must struggle with the challenge of raising an American daughter whilst living with her controlling mother, a mirror image of her Motherland.

Russian Tattoo is the story of what it means to be an outsider, and what happens when the cultures of our past and present collide. Above all, it is an insightful portrait of mothers and daughters.

Russian Tattoo is available here.

The Umbrian Thursday Night Supper Club by Markena de Blasi

We loved this book. A wonderful novel about a group of women in Italy who meet up on Thursday night to talk and cook. Full of wonderful description and amazing recipes you can cook yourself, this book takes you into the heart of Italy. This is a true story that never stops entertaining. Full of emotion, it perfectly evokes Italy and the Italian people. Wonderful. You cannot wait to find out what happens to these women and what happens in their lives.

Pull up a chair for the true story of the Umbrian Thursday night supper club.

Every week on a Thursday evening, a group of four Italian rural women gather in a derelict stone house in the hills above Italy’s Orvieto. There – along with their friend, Marlena – they cook together, sit down to a beautiful supper, drink their beloved local wines, and talk.

Here, surrounded by candle light, good food and friendship, Miranda, Ninucia, Paolina and Gilda tell their life stories of loves lost and found, of ageing and abandonment, of mafia grudges and family feuds, and of cherished ingredients and recipes whose secrets have been passed down through the generations. Around this table, these five friends share their food and all that life has offered them – the good and the bad.

For fans of all things Italian, and the thousands of readers who loved Deborah Rodriquez’s The Kabul Beauty School; Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat, Pray, Love and Deborah Moggach’s Best Exotic Marigold Hotel;

The Umbrian Thursday Night Supper Club is available here.

Villa America by Liza Klaussmann

One of the books of the moment, and rightly so. This book is a stunning and sophisticated page-turner. This tale of marriage set in the 1920s on the French Riviera is a glorious read.

Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, Pablo Picasso, Cole and Linda Porter, Ernest Hemingway, John Dos Passos – all are summer guests of Gerald and Sara Murphy. Visionary, misunderstood, and from vastly different backgrounds, the Murphys met and married young, and set forth to create a beautiful world. They alight on Villa America: their coastal oasis of artistic genius, debauched parties, impeccable style and flamboyant imagination. But before long, a stranger enters into their relationship, and their marriage must accommodate an intensity that neither had forseen. When tragedy strikes, their friends reach out to them, but the golden bowl is shattered, and neither Gerald nor Sara will ever be the same.

Ravishing, heart-breaking, and written with enviable poise, Villa America delivers on all the promise of Liza Klaussmann’s bestselling debut, Tigers in Red Weather. It is an overwhelming, unforgettable novel.

Villa America is available here.

Everyday Detox by Megan Gilmore

Too many diet books are based on deprivation. This book makes being healthy easy and delicious. Megan Gilmore has practical recipes that are easy to make and she focuses on simply daily changes. This great book will make you healthy and is so great and simple you won’t even notice it is happening.

This no-nonsense approach to healthy detoxing by certified holistic health coach and blogger Megan Gilmore offers 100 delicious and properly combined recipes for breakfast, lunch and dinner, including smoothies, snacks and desserts to help you lose weight and feel great. Each recipe is gluten- and sugar-free and include vegan, vegetarian and grain-free alternatives.

Whilst most diets and detoxes require all-or-nothing approaches which encourage unhealthy cycles of restriction followed by bingeing, Everyday Detox takes a realistic, sensible approach to healthy eating and weight loss. The simple, delicious recipes, such as Coconut Banana Muffins, Cauliflower Fried Rice, Baked Spaghetti and Double Chocolate Brownies, will help you to discover the benefits of using all-natural, wholefood ingredients that not only promote good health but stave off feelings of hunger and deprivation. And since each recipe has been designed to promote good gut health while gently removing toxins, you won’t feel bloated or uncomfortable after eating.

Packed with invaluable advice on how to stock a detox-friendly kitchen, and a handy food combination cheat sheet to help you to enjoy the benefits – and the results – of Everyday Detox without delay, this is an essential no-fuss approach to looking and feeling great!

Everyday Detox: 100 Easy Recipes to Remove Toxins, Promote Gut Health and Lose Weight Naturally is available here.

The GŎNG At Shangri-La Hotel At The Shard Hosts Johnnie Walker Blue Label City Edition Cocktails…

Posted on July 1, 2015 by Corinne Tuddenham-Finn

JOHNNIE WALKER BLUE LABEL, the leading luxury Blended Scotch Whisky, has launched two stunning City Edition bottles, celebrating the spirit of the UK’s most iconic cities: London and Edinburgh.

The intricately-designed limited editions and their striking presentation boxes take the viewer on a journey through the streets of London and Edinburgh, featuring the unique architecture and attractions that make up the cities’ distinctive city skylines.

Only 4,000 of these exquisitely-designed bottles have been created, with each individually hand-numbered to create a must-have gift for whisky enthusiasts and collectors alike.

The Johnnie Walker Blue Label Cities Collection, which is a series of whiskies from this popular Scotch brand that has engraved on it a cityscape from different regions of the world, is back after its Dubai bottling earlier this year with two new releases. This time around appearing on the bottles are two different cities from the United Kingdom.

The first offering, the Johnnie Walker Blue Label London Edition, features a design on it which includes iconic landmarks of the UK’s capital such as Big Ben, the Gherkin, Nelson’s Column and Tower Bridge. The other new release is the Johnnie Walker Blue Label Edinburgh Edition, and it is set with a design said to pay honor to the Scottish city of the same name. It sports ‘a sweeping, spiral flow from the peak of Edinburgh Castle, including national treasures such as the Scott Monument and the Duke of Wellington alongside the city’s cobbled streets and walls’.

Limited to just 4,000 bottles, the Johnnie Walker Blue Label London and Edinburgh City Editions, noted officials from spirits giant Diageo, are now available in the United Kingdom for around £200 ($315 USD). Available from June, the City Edition bottles are the first to be released outside of travel retail where the new Cities Collection was introduced in February with a bottle depicting Dubai. The previous Skyline Collection in travel retail featured cities such as Singapore, Hong Kong, Mumbai, San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York and Auckland.

Costing not much more than the standard Johnnie Walker Blue Label, the new City Edition bottles come in bespoke gift boxes with more illustrations of their respective cities. Edinburgh’s depicts Scotland’s national symbol, the thistle, and attractions such as The Balmoral Hotel and Arthur’s Seat, while London’s packaging shows famous icons including St Paul’s Cathedral.

To celebrate the launch of these exclusive limited editions, Johnnie Walker Blue Label has partnered with GŎNG at Shangri-La Hotel, At The Shard, London and Scotch at The Balmoral Hotel, Edinburgh, two of the most iconic landmarks featured within the limited-edition designs, to create to exclusive cocktail serves.

To mark the launch of the Johnnie Walker Blue Label City Edition bottles, the ‘Eagle Eye’ and ‘Famously Edinburgh’ cocktails were created to celebrate the best of these extraordinary cities with the remarkable smoothness of Johnnie Walker Blue Label.

‘Eagle Eye’, created by Christian Maspes at GŎNG at Shangri-La Hotel, At The Shard, London explains “Known for their intently watchful, sharp and supreme sight across some of the world’s most beautiful landscapes, the eyes of an eagle are estimated to be up to eight times stronger than that of a human’s. The idea of such skill and precision – the same qualities Johnnie Walker apply when creating their rarest blend of whiskies – together with GŎNG’s unrivalled views over London were the inspiration behind the ‘Eagle Eye’, a specially created cocktail to mark the launch of Johnnie Walker Blue Label’s limited City Edition bottle, celebrating London’s iconic skyline.”

45ml Johnnie Walker Blue Label

2-3 dashes Abbott’s Bitters

15ml Barolo Chinato

Homemade strawberry and peppercorn shrub

Garnished with blue ‘Johnnie Walker Striding Man walking stick’ meringue

The ‘Eagle Eye’ is currently available, priced at £17.00, with an ‘on-the-rocks’ version also available upon request.

‘Famously Edinburgh’, created by Fraser Robson, Whisky Ambassador at Scotch, the Whisky Bar at The Balmoral Hotel commented “The inspiration behind the Famously Edinburgh cocktail came from my experience of the City and all that it is known and loved for. I thought about what was famous in the City and how that relates to local people, what they famously enjoy doing and where. Whisky and tea are ingrained in every great Scot. Johnnie Walker is the world’s most famous whisky and here, at the Balmoral, situated at Edinburgh’s most famous address, guests visit for the finest cup of tea in town. These three pillars gave me the basis of my creation. Starting with a double measure of Johnnie Walker Blue Label, I look at how I could incorporate the tea. Edinburgh locals tend to have a sweet tooth so I added a tea-infused sugar syrup as a nod to that Edinburgh tradition. I was careful to ensure that Johnnie Walker Blue Label was at the forefront of the cocktail and selected some whisky barrel-aged bitters and Fino sherry to heighten those flavours. The City and the people of Edinburgh are renowned for their elegant ways, so there was only one piece of glassware for the occasion – a Champagne coupe.”

50ml Johnnie Walker Blue Label

15ml Famous Edinburgh tea-infused sugar syrup

10ml Fino sherry

2 dashes whisky barrel-aged bitters

Orange zest to spray over the glass

The ‘Famously Edinburgh’ is available at Scotch, the whisky bar at The Balmoral Hotel priced at £42.50.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQ7kWpTrtJw

About Johnnie Walker Blue Label Whisky…

JOHNNIE WALKER® BLUE LABEL™ is one of the pinnacle offerings from JOHNNIE WALKER.

Only sublime, rare whiskies at the pinnacle of perfection are used in the blending of JOHNNIE WALKER BLUE LABEL, with only 1 in 10,000 casks containing whisky of sufficient character to deliver its remarkably smooth signature taste. Each is hand selected by the JOHNNIE WALKER Master Blender himself, part of an unbroken lineage of Master Blenders stretching back over 190 years – it is an ultimate expression of whisky making today and an remarkable achievement for the modern era.

Presented in individually numbered bottles, it is reminiscent of the 19th century style of whiskies. The Master Blender uses his decades of experience to select some of the rarest casks from the JOHNNIE WALKER reserves for their quality, character and flavour to create the powerful, complex, smooth character of BLUE LABEL.

BLUE LABEL has a mellow, rounded nose, with a dry smokiness (a JOHNNIE WALKER signature flavour) mixing with raisin sweetness. It is best savoured with the palate cleansed and cooled by iced water. One sip reveals a velvety mouth-feel, then an explosion of flavour. At once you’ll discover hazelnuts, honey, rose petals, sherry and oranges. Subsequent sips reward you with more hidden secrets like kumquats, wispy aromatic smoke, sandalwood, tobacco, and dark chocolate.

DIAGEO is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands across spirits, beer and wine categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, JεB, Buchanan’s, Windsor and Bushmills whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness.

The JOHNNIE WALKER and BLUE LABEL words, the Striding Figure device and associated logos are trade marks © John Walker & Sons 2014.

About GŎNG at Shangri-La Hotel, At The Shard, London…

With a dramatic backdrop of unparalleled views, GŎNG, the hotel’s destination bar – and the highest bar in London – brings a new dimension to the city’s social scene. Perfect for sunset cocktails and late-night drinks, the bar offers three lofted areas; a cocktail bar, champagne bar and an infinity pool, for guests to relax and soak in the stunning cityscape.

Uncomplicated and seamless, the bar’s service ensures the ultimate escape from the city’s bustle. Sample one of the delicate, signature cocktails or indulge in rare, vintage champagnes available by the glass.

Please note that GŎNG operates on a walk-in policy basis, however seating is subject to availability at time of arrival. There is a £30 minimum spend policy per person and tables are allocated for two hours.

http://www.gong-shangri-la.com

About Scotch, the Whisky Bar at The Balmoral Hotel…

Presenting Edinburgh’s largest collection of whisky available to the general public, Scotch at The Balmoral Hotel is a chic bar and lounge setting. Enjoy rare vintage drams dating back as far as 1940, accompanied by delicious complementing bar snacks.

With a 400-bottle-strong cellar offered to guests, a luxury stock of blends, malts and vintages are sourced from Speyside, Islay, Campbeltown, the Highlands and the Lowlands. This supreme collection is overseen by Scotch bar’s 3 resident whisky ambassadors, who are always on-hand to advise both novices and connoisseurs.

Scotch whisky bar in Edinburgh also offers a contemporary Scottish food menu, featuring dishes from The Balmoral’s executive chef, Jeff Bland. Knowledgeably-paired nibbles are served as standard with each whisky, with offerings including wild boar salami, and dark Swiss chocolate.

Set within the 5-star Balmoral Hotel, the Scotch bar area is swathed in chocolate-brown leather, mustard velvet and heavy tartan fabrics. Edinburgh Waverley Station is just 2 minutes’ walk away.

reservations.balmoral@roccofortehotels.com

Rose McGowan Fired By Agent For Calling Out Hollywood Sexism

Posted on June 26, 2015 by Frostie

Rose McGowan has been fired by her agent for pointing out how sexist a casting was. The casting was for an Adam Sandler movie she auditioned for. The script notes stated “push-up bras encouraged,” and the name of the male lead rhymed with “Madam Panhandler.” The Charmed star tweeted:

casting note that came w/script I got today. For real. name of male star rhymes with Madam Panhandler hahahaha I die pic.twitter.com/lCWGTV537t

— rose mcgowan (@rosemcgowan) June 18, 2015

She went on to say “It was just so dumb. I was offended by the stupidity more than anything… This is normal to so many people.” She then said she was “not trying to vilify Adam Sandler,”

Unbelievably, the tweet made her agent fire her. She went back on Twitter to say: “I just got fired by my wussy acting agent because I spoke up about the bulls— in Hollywood. Hahaha. Douchebags… Bring it… The awesome thing about being an artist? You can’t be fired from your own mind. Freedom.”

Depressing. It seems that Hollywood still has a way to go when it comes to equality.

Interested in acting? Read Catherine Balavage’s book on acting, How To Be a Successful Actor: Becoming an Actorpreneur. It has gotten numerous five star reviews and has been called the ‘best advice available’ by numerous sources.

Review: Educating Rita – Minerva Theatre, Chichester

Posted on June 25, 2015 by Vicky Edwards

Educating Rita
Minerva Theatre, Chichester
Until 25 July
Box Office: 01243 781312
www.cft.org.uk

Picture credit: Manuel Harlan

In her quest for choice and betterment would Liverpudlian hairdresser Rita throw herself into an Open University degree course today? Nah. More likely that she would develop an app for stylists.

Written and set in the early 80s (and with more than a little doffing of its hat at Shaw’s Pygmalion), what Willy Russell’s play lacks in modern relevance is more than compensated for in the performances of Lenny Henry and Lashana Lynch.

As Frank, the disillusioned tutor and one-time poet whose career is now just a means of funding his drinking, Henry could be a shade more embittered. But visibly relaxing into the second act, first night nerves squarely dealt with, he hits his stride.

Frank’s passion for teaching is reignited when Rita explodes into his office with a desperate thirst to learn. His feelings for her grow fonder and when he realises that she has all but achieved her dream of being educated the ensuing bender upon which he embarks is not inspired by a wish to toast her success. Beautifully pitched by Henry, who is well paired with his co-star – their chemistry gives the production a palpable boost – the final scenes are especially touching.

Lashana Lynch is on track for Big Things. Exuberant, warm, funny, ambitious, determined and childlike in her wonder of academia, Lynch manages to convey it all, stealing the hearts of the audience while she’s about it. A two-hander is a huge mountain for any actor to scale but Lynch makes it look effortless.

Not so the transitions from scene to scene. Limited to a point by both script and Ellen Cairns’ bookshelf-lined set, Rita’s arrival to each tutorial at the start of each new scene is clunky.

But this is a minor grip and overall this production, in educational terms, falls only slightly short of getting a First.

Luna Gale at the Hampstead Theatre Review

Posted on June 25, 2015 by Paloma Kubiak

Taken by Manuel Harlan

Luna Gale is undeniably an intelligent, thought-provoking and memorable play which is debuting at the Hampstead Theatre this summer after receiving mass acclaim over in the States.
Playwright Rebecca Gilman expertly draws the audience to judge each character almost immediately, but their thoughts are shown to be misconceptions as the play unwinds.

For it starts off with young couple Karlie and Peter sitting in a doctor’s waiting room; he’s fading in and out of consciousness and she’s twitchy, abusive and violent.

Social worker Caroline tells the couple that their baby daughter, Luna Gale will be taken into care while they seek help for their crystal meth addiction.

At that point, we’ve already judged the couple – dirty drug-taking low life’s who have endangered the life of their vulnerable, innocent baby, which has forced the state to intervene.

And we’ve made up our minds about Caroline too – the veteran social worker – who strives to do things by the book.

But as the play unravels, we warm to Karlie and Peter who show their devotion to each other and in cleaning up their acts to get their daughter back.

At first, Karlie’s mum Cindy is portrayed as a good, stable figure and it’s almost inevitable that Luna Gale will be placed with her grandmother in ‘kinship’, despite Karlie’s protest over this (we learn Karlie had a rocky relationship with her mum).

However, Caroline mocks Cindy’s faith in God and the more she hears Cindy speak of the ‘end’, the less inclined she is to let her have Luna.

That is until the straight-talking Caroline asks Karlie if she was abused as a child which is why she acted out as a teenager. She answers ‘no’ and the curtain closes with Caroline asking ‘but what if it did?’.

In an interview about the production, playwright Rebecca Gilman says the play isn’t dark and she doesn’t want it to seem like a miserable night out.

It covers the disturbing subjects of childhood sexual abuse and drug abuse and Gilbert explains she wanted to bring this to the mainstream stage to show that it can and does happen.
But there are comedic and touching moments too – which would be a shame to reveal here – making Luna Gale a fantastic all-rounder. Directed by Michael Attenborough, the cast were flawless, passionate and truly inspiring in their roles.

Luna Gale is showing at Hampstead Theatre until 18 July.

The Avon Guard Forget | Music News

Posted on June 24, 2015 by Frostie

onestown
12 June 2015

The Avon Guard is Dominic Silvani (vocals and lyrics) and Andy Mitty (music, artwork and photography). Following a close friendship spanning twenty years, this band represents the first time the duo have recorded together.

Dominic was vocalist/lyricist for 90s Midlands band Penelope’s Web who released a single ‘Potboiler’ on Cherry Red Records. Andy was the frontman for Transistor, a Camden based indie glam band.

‘Forget’ is a record that sits somewhere between Nick Cave and Lloyd Cole, it’s an accomplished debut from a band that has taken twenty years to form, but The Avon Guard have certainly proved to be worth the wait.

Face The Music at Ye Olde Rose and Crown Theatre, Walthamstow

Posted on June 22, 2015 by Paloma Kubiak

What struck me most about the All Star Productions cast was how much each actor seemed to enjoy their time on stage, despite the show being set against the backdrop of the ‘Great Depression’.

Face The Music, originally written by Moss Hart with music and lyrics by Irving Berlin, has been resurrected for a twenty-first century audience at the Ye Olde Rose and Crown Theatre in Walthamstow, but it maintains the character, costume and camaraderie of 1930’s America.

The play centres on the ‘make or break’ theatre show to be directed by Hal Reisman, but in an age of austerity, he struggles to find the financial backing to get the show on the road.

Spurred on by love’s young dream, Kit Baker (Joanna Hughes) and Pat Mason (Alessandro Lubrano), the three meet with bent copper Meshbesher and his eccentric wife Myrtle who are only too happy to splash the cash in a bid to avoid having their haul discovered by the government.

In fact the more the play’s a failure – they’re happy to sink 800,000 dollars into the production – the happier the couple are, as it will cover their dodgy money trail.

And so a round of auditions ensues which sees jazz hands, tap dancing and catchy sing-alongs such as ‘On a roof in Manhattan’, ‘My beautiful rhinestone girl’ and ‘If you believe’.

I particularly enjoyed the relationship between plain PC O’Rourke (James Holbrooke) and the sultry streetwalker (Joanne Clifton) as she woos him to avoid being sent to prison and instead is given the opportunity to join the cast.

However, the play is missing one big thing – sex. As they say, ‘sex sells’ and once the ladies start to strip off, the show is a success, even with the most critical of reviewers.

Ultimately, the show’s success is the cause of the Meshbesher’s failure, as they’re dragged to court to answer to the charge, of corruption, extortion and embezzlement.

Leading lady, Joanna Hughes, had a serene yet authoritative presence on the stage and James Holbrooke’s facial expressions capture each emotion portrayed by his character perfectly.

Directed by Brendan Matthews, Face The Music is a fun and enlightening production and a big round of applause should also go to the orchestra tucked away in the corner of the stage area.

Face The Music is on at Ye Olde Rose and Crown Theatre, Walthamstow until 3 July, tickets available from the box office on 020 8520 8674. Ps, you may want to arrive early to sample the pizza from the make shift hut just outside the pub…

Words for the Wounded Independent Author Book Award Part 3

Posted on June 20, 2015 by Margaret Graham

Over the last two weeks we’ve highlighted First and Second Place in the recent WforW Independent Author Book Award. Today we have the final winner, Eric Sinclair who achieved Third Place.

As I keep saying to people, The Independent Author Book Award has been a revelation. There are just so many good writers out there, which made our task hugely enjoyable, if difficult. At last we decided on those who were to be commended, highly commended, and then – the winners. In the end, our decision was unanimous. Great books all of them. Thank you all so much for entering – rest assured that 100% of the entry fees go to the wounded.

Thank you, Palamedes PR for sponsoring a professional press release for the winner, and the opportunity of a discounted press release for 2^nd and 3^rd. Thank you Frost Magazine for publishing a review of the top three

The great good news is that Felicity Trew, of the highly respected Caroline Sheldon Literary Agency, is now representing the winner, Jane Cable.

Felicity Trew will also be our final judge for the 2015 Independent Author Book Award. The excitement is immense.

3^rd place

Man, Dog, Stroke by Eric Sinclair

This is the story of one man’s experience of the devastating effects of a major stroke, and his attempts to recover from it. It is also the story of a dog’s experience of life with unpredictable, irrational human beings.

Judges’ comments: Man, Dog, Stroke is a beautifully written and moving memoir of a stroke victim, with a chapter from time to time from his whippet’s point of view. This is a whippet who sees life, and events, from his side ‘of the pond’ and is a fantastic idea.

We laughed out loud, held our breath, and longed for Eric Sinclair to survive, and to thrive. Man, Dog, Stroke brought out the isolation experienced by stroke victims, the powerlessness when their lives are changed in just a few seconds, in of all things, a strange hotel room. The fear, the long fight back. ‘…The trouble was I didn’t seem able to move my legs or arms at all. With growing fright and disbelief I tried to roll over.’

It made us understand what a patient needs, and how absolutely crucial is good post stroke therapy.

It could happen to any of us. Read this. Laugh, and learn. It’s beautifully written.

Proceeds from the book will be donated to The Stroke Association.

Biog.

Eric Sinclair is a writer and education consultant living in Aberdeenshire who has worked in schools and colleges in West Africa, Turkey and Germany, as well as the UK. For ten years he was Head Teacher of Kirkwall Grammar School in Orkney, and subsequently was Head of Aboyne Academy, Aberdeenshire, before setting up his own education consultancy and training business in 2000. He was a part-time selector with the Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) Assessment Team in London from 1989 – 2004.

Since suffering a major stroke in 2004, he has undertaken voluntary work for the Stroke Association, and is vice-chair of their Scotland Committee. In December 2011, he published – Man, Dog, Stroke – describing his experience of recovering from stroke in Oslo and Aberdeen. The sequel to this book is a blog of the same name. He has also published a number of articles in The Scottish Review.

Eric has been a public partner with NHS Healthcare Improvement Scotland and has extensive experience of managing change in a variety of settings, as well as the lived experience of dealing with a chronic health condition. In January 2015, he was appointed by the Scottish Government to the Board of NHS Grampian, which provides health and social care for Aberdeen and the north-east of Scotland.

Eric relaxes by walking and communing with his whippet, Archie, and by singing in a local choir.

Frost Magazine

Books and Lifestyle

Category Archives: Culture