La Boheme, Festival Theatre

My first ever visit to a classical opera.  And, based on this one experience, probably my last.  So perhaps I am not the best person to be weriting a review!

I'd outline the plot, but... here isn't much of one.  Four guys, poverty stricken artists of various kinds, enjoy life as best they can.  Two of them fall in love, the affairs are on, then off.  Rodolfo's girl, Mimi, returns, in poor health, and dies.  Everyone is sad.

Around that there are modern day crowd scenes, with much colour and spectacle.  Lots of music and songs, but I couldn't recall a single melody afterwards.  And the words, whilst sung and spoken in Italian, are relayed to the audience in English supertitles.  This is handy for keeping up with what's supposed to be going on, but also distracting, far more so than subtitles on a film.  They also made me laugh at their content sometimes, probably when i wasn't supposed to.  "I'll go for my muff" was a memorable moment.

There's also the intensity, which rarely seems to vary.  Somebody singing "How's your cough, it seems better than yesterday" is accorded the same level of drama as "She'll be dead in half an hour".  Nuanced it is not.

I don't regret going, it was an experience, butI don't think I'll ever be an opera buff...

The Baker's Wife (La Femme du Boulanger)

 A black and white French comedy classic from 1938.  Villagers are excited that a new man has taken over the old bakery (the only one they have).  His loaves are perfect, and he has a very attractive wife who draws the men in to purchase their bread.  But when the wife runs off with another man (a local), and the baker stops baking, the locals know they have to intervene - they want their fresh baguettes back!

Farce meets an expert view of small town life, of rural mores and communal action.  There are well delineated characters and relationships, conservative values and hypocrisy,  a storyline that never flags.  Very funny, very observant, very enjoyable.  Sometimes old is best.

Alice Howe and Freebo, Bijou Cinema, Southport

Support came from The Cabin Hill Band - guitar, double bass and 4 voices.  Plenty of good musicianship and singing quality on offer, but their arrangements of some pop classics were weak.  Things imporved greatly when they moved on to some old time Americana - blues and gospel - and a self penned number from the guitarist.  

And then on to the stars of the night.  Howe and Freebo bring very different backgrounds and experiences together to form a duo that performs with love for the music and laughter never far away.  Freebo is a hugely experienced and talented musician, who can write some good songs and sing with the confidence of his years.  Alice is not as strong on the strings, but has a voice full of warmth, expression and range that can bring new life to oldies and passion to her own material.  Her cover of Joni Mitchell's A case of You is outstanding, standing up well to the original version.  While her own material shows her depth of songwriting experience, and ability to write from the heart.  Add in a lot of funny moments, and some audeince participation, and this was a wonderful evening of music.

Righ Aisgair : The Fisher King (A Play, a Pie and a Pint), Traverse

 2 young women hiking acorss the moors of Lewis.  Lexie (Fiona MacNeil) is on a mission, to fish in the loch where she used to go with her dad.  Effie (MJ Deans)  is, it seems, relauctantly chumming along, and not happy with the pace her pal expects her to go at.  Along the way there are tales of fairies and ghosts and some songs and jokes.  All tied in with a mix of happy and sad memories, and delights and fears.  And as secrets come out the pair learn about one another, and the mysteries of the land.  Ca they make it back safely in the dark, when the mist is swirling and confusing?

This is about the power of myth and how it can relate to real world issues, and about facing up to fears and secrets.  Gaelic is woven into the script, which works quite well, but the jokes lack punch, and the narrative loses it's way at times.  It's an interesting concept, and well acted by both parties (there is a third actor, but their appearance is brief - and weird), but lacks cohesion and a real conclusion.  Enjoyable enough, but not memorable.   

Kathryn Tickell and the Darkening, Traverse

Tickell is a folk veteran, a great creative and has her heart in the right place.  She was accompained by a 4 piece Darkening.  Amy Thatcher on piano accordion, vocals and... clogs!  Heather Cartwright on acoustic and electric guitars.  At the back sat Joe Truswell and his drums.  And finally Stef  Conner playing a lyre (!), mini keyboard and bits of percussion.  All bar the drummer contributied vocally as well, with only Heather not having a turn at singing lead.

While they form a very talented line up, the main attraction remains Tickell, playing the Northumbriam smallpipes and fiddle, and adding her own excellent vocal contribution.  Together they played a mix of new and trad Northumbrian music, with many influences from other lands, such as Galicia.  Indeed the set list was notable for variety, with a wide range of tempos, swithing between tunes and songs, traditional tunes given modern arrangemnts, no fear of experimentation, and the fun addition of Amy's clog dancing.  All that and a bit of audience participation too.  Tickell is a fun raconteur between numbers, and the interplay within the band was ofrten hilarious.

KY reamins one of English folk's powerhouse performaers, a virtuoso on an unfashionable instrument, with a delightful accent to talk to us in.  She is matched by the incredible Thatcher, and soaring vocals of Conner.  Hugely entertaining. and a night that brought a lot of smiles.

I Swear

 A biopic of John Davidson,the Galashiels man with Tourette's Syndrome who overcame a difficult early life to become a well known champion to promote wider understanding of the condition.  It begins with his childhood, when a  well liked lad and promising goalie suddenly becomes a social pariah, misunderstood at home, and life becoming a misery.  

The adult John is adrift, unhappy with home and his mother who still doesn't understand his condition.  Until a chance meeting with an old pal, takes him on a different path where he will gain understanding, employment, mentoring, and a place in the world.  And even without the man who became his mentor he is able to develop and become a champion for incresing knowledge and understanding of Tourette's.  With a few significant bumps along the road.

While the film takes some liberties with the detials of John's real world story, the message remains, and it it feels a fitting trubute to a man who overcame and achieved so much in life.  Tourette's is a more widely known condition now, and medical science is helping those with the disability to live easier lives (advances which we also see Joh playing his part in).  Yes it can be sentimental at times, but it's also funny, upsetting and satisfying.  Go and see it.

Maybe Tomorrow (A Play, a Pie and a Pint), Traverse

 A  musical with a well worn theme.  Ageing entertainer Sian Silver (Liz Ewing) never quite made the big time, and now she;s reduced to a dingy theatre, creepy fans and a struggle to get by.  Once upon a time she saw herself as Annie, starring as the little orphan girl, but that ship sailed long ago.  Indeed long before she could have boarded.  Now she's harassed by the stage crew, exploited by the promoters and... imagining conversations with her younger, more hopeful, self.  So can the old hope be revived?  Playing all the other parts is Julia Murray, as fan, stage manager, entrepreneur, young Sian and more.  

There are some laughs, the songs aren't bad (although £250 goes on a bit...), but it all feels a bit shabby.  We've seen this story so many times before, and there's nothing new this script has to offer.  I expect better from the PPP series.

The bright spot is Murray's impressive performance, with a great singing voice, real stage presence, and deliniation of multiple characters.  Including a section where she was having a conversation with herself behind the set, whilst also changing back into the outfit of a third character.  Seamless.

I hope the final offering of this season is going to be a big imporvement - not a high bar to cross over!