Entertainment
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The Rat Pack – The Sands Hotel 1960 Comes To Birmingham
If I could choose a time to go back to, the Las Vegas 1960 would be where I would head. The Rat Pack were in town to film Oceans 11, and Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr and Dean Martin were playing to packed houses at the Sands Hotel. Their blend of unforgettable songs, dance and chat, complete with a bar on stage, was the show to see, and the front row was often packed with the likes of Marilyn Monroe, Kim Novak and Lauren Bacall. It was the height of glamour, and is brought to life in wonderful style by The Rat Pack show that is currently showing at Birmingham’s…
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Evita at 40 – Still Sublime.
The iconic musical Evita came back to Birmingham last night, and showed why it is still a ,musical by which all others are measured. The Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice masterpiece is 40 this year, but the story of Eva Peron is still pertinent, and fresh in its telling, and with those instantly recognisable songs, and perfect lead performances, it remains one of the most astonishing pieces of musical theatre of our time. Eva Duarte is poor, but is not without ambition, and sees the singer Malgadi as a way to get to Buenos Aires. Once there, she makes her way as an actress, finding both fame and notoriety amongst the cream…
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Sweeney Todd At The Wolverhampton Grand – Gothically Good.
The notorious tale of Sweeney Todd, the demon barber of Fleet Street arrived at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre last night, performed by the Walsall Operatic Society. The Stephen Sondheim musical classic is a dark and macabre tale of murder, madness and cannibalism, all held together by a glorious score and just a little humour. In the hands of the WOC, it showed that it still has the power to thrill and horrify an audience at the same time. Benjamin Barnes has just arrived back in London, 15 years after being transported to Australia for life on a trumped up charge. He arrives with a family reunion on his mind, for…
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Blood Brothers at the Wolverhampton Grand
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Obsession Marlene Dietrich – The Pierre Passebon Collection
The word legend can sometimes be overused, but it is certainly the only word to use when talking about Marlene Dietrich. A formidable actress, style icon, stage and cabaret star, Marlene was unconventional, original and beautiful, elevating androgynous style into an art form. Now, in a new book from French publishing house Flammarion, Marlene’s effortless style is celebrated once more. The book, ‘Obsession Marlene Dietrich’ by Henry Jean Servat, uses rare photographs of the actress from the collection of Parisian tastemaker Pierre Passebon. An interview with Passebon is included in the book, and it is there that he details the depth of his obsession with the actress, one which stretched…
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What to Wear: Casinos
When the safe, yet repetitive tedium of work and home becomes all too much, the urge to throw on your glad rags, order a taxi and head to the bright lights of town is enormous. Although we all know what’s great to wear for a tip out on the tiles, an increasingly popular late night pastime is somewhat more mysterious when it comes to deciding what to wear: the casino. We’ve all been told scare stories of how degenerative gambling can be- and these stories are indeed true- but enjoying one night of silliness and excitement is perfectly all right every once in a while! Nowadays the popularity of playing…
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Blood Brothers at the Wolverhampton Grand
