Tangentially prompted by a recent posting in the R&B Q&A section (specifically about Van Morrison and his lack of presence in the Primer section of this website), I have somewhat precariously decided to place an R&B music derived article into the main musings section – although, in my defence, this is fundamentally about more than one artist’s simple inclusion in a fan’s on-line tribute to a musical genre…it goes beyond the specifics of Larry’s question and debates the merits of valuing an artist’s work, irrespective or in spite of the individual’s own personal characteristics. As such, it has a far broader reach than Van The Man and yet he remains very much at its core. A complicated and divisive topic, but I’ve started now…..
Theatre, Film, Arts
Sudbury, famous for…..
being the birthplace of Thomas Gainsborough and for the house within which he spent his childhood. We’ve been threatening to go for many years and, on Friday, we finally did. He later resided there (again), following the death of his father in 1748 and before his move to Ipswich.[6] The building still survives and is now a house-museum dedicated to his life and art. Thee house was (predominantly) the focus for the journey.
Alfred Munnings
Noticed recently that the Munnings Museum had just reopened for the new ‘season’ so, as we had lived here for twenty seven years and hadn’t managed to squeeze in a visit, decided to do precisely that. After all, it’s such a long drive, being all of half an hour away down the A12 (sigh)
Allelujah
Went to the pictures on Sunday after a (very) long break to see the film of the Alan Bennett play Allelujah. I should note however that the film is actually scripted by Heidi Thomas (of TV’s Call The Midwife fame). It is set in a geriatric hospital unit in Yorkshire populated by lovable eccentrics and …
It Snows In Benidorm
Spent yesterday afternoon popping up to Aldeburgh to catch the late afternoon matinee of “It Snows In Benidorm“, primarily because it starred Timothy Spall, one of our favourite actors. Heard it described as “part noirish story about corruption and a missing person, part romantic comedy about a buttoned-up Brit who discovers a sensual side in …
Brudenell and Beyond
As we’d booked the Barb Jungr gig a while ago, decided to augment the concert with a two nighter at the Brudenell in Aldeburgh…
London
…..and then what?? Well, following the Seville trip and a measly four or five hours sleep, a quick pack and we were on the train to London for a three night stay. Originally set up before we managed to squeeze in the Seville break, hence the short turnaround time between trips. As we were at the Albert Hall the first night, we decided to try the delights of the Gore at Kensington….
William Hone (You ask?)
Another matinee at Wolsey Theatre yesterday, this time a comedy about a man I’d never heard of (neither man nor deed) by Ian Hislop and Nick Newman. Called ‘Trial by Laughter‘, the play focused almost exclusively on the three trials in three days that a man called Hone faced in December 1817. William Hone was a …
Habit Of Art at the Wolsey
Popped along for a quick lunch followed by the matinee performance of Alan Bennett’s “Habit of Art” at the Wolsey Theatre yesterday afternoon. Excellently acted by Matthew Kelly and David Yelland as the two principals it is at its sharpest when the two old friends/rivals play a game of chance or luck with the words …
Bury Blast
Spent yesterday in Bury, ostensibly for a matinee of “The Case of the Frightened Lady” at the intimate Bury Theatre Royal. Well, I say intimate but as a result of a late purchase we were up in the gallery. A combination of moderately uncomfortable seats, extreme heat and less than optimal acoustics lead to an …
Artful Norwich
Just back from a couple of nights in Norwich, staying at the Assembly House just round the corner from the Theatre Royal where we went to the appropriately named ‘pensioners matinee’ of the excellent Art. (well, I’m sure I was one of the youngest in the audience)!
CÉZANNE – Portraits of a Life
An undervalued hero. As we didn’t make it to the London exhibition, we decided to catch the Sunday screening of the documentary directed by Phil Grabsky, who also attended. Featuring interviews with curators and experts from the National Portrait Gallery London, MoMA New York, National Gallery of Art Washington, and Musée d’Orsay Paris, and correspondence from …