I find magic captivating. There is something about the illusion of rising beyond the mundane, the tantalizing imagined possibility of defying physics and chemistry and logic and even death that unfailingly draws me in. And it’s not just me: every seat at ‘Show and Tell’, Barry and Stuart’s show at the Bloomsbury Theatre was sold … Continue reading
Category Archives: Reviews
Anthropological Anxieties
I’ve been watching Grayson Perry’s series on the English class boundaries around ‘taste’ (titled helpfully ‘In the Best Possible Taste’). His research was ultimately aimed towards creating six large tapestries, but as the techniques he’s using to do the research are largely anthropological in nature it brought home for me again some of the anxieties … Continue reading
Staged Magic
I went to the last performance of ‘The Duchess of Malfi’ at the Old Vic. When I entered the theatre clouds of frankincense wafted over me. What an evocative scent, one that will always remind me of trying to find calm in a turbulent time. I burned frankincense candles in Egypt when all was going … Continue reading
Spurious Museums
Well, despite my time in Scotland being a writing trip I did manage to find time for distractions and diversions. On the first day I left the Elephant cafe wandering up towards Edinburgh castle. As I moved towards the entrance I finally realized that the giant sports-stadium style scaffolding projecting out from the hillside is … Continue reading
The Gas Leak
Just before I left the house for the evening last Tuesday, my housemate drew my attention to the smell of gas in the kitchen. We sort of hemmed and hawed for a bit, not knowing exactly who you’re supposed to call when you suspect a gas leak. And really? A gas leak? I mean, how … Continue reading
The Fitzrovia Radio Hour (or, What-Ho at the Ambassador!)
Neither of us had wine with dinner. Mild surprise registered on the face of the waitress, given that it was Valentine’s Day. After she disappeared, we looked at each other. “She probably thinks we’re having a…” “Completely non-romantic evening. Which is exactly right, of course!” The waitress returned with our pot of tea and no … Continue reading
A Fitzrovian Evening
For those of us of a Wodehousian disposition, life can occasionally be very difficult. There are few Jeeveses in today’s harsh modern world. There are yet fewer bemonocled Psmiths, impeccably dressed and always up for some sort of dashing adventure. We wander about, us Wodehousians, reading away in every spare moment and heaving the occasional … Continue reading
Cake at the Roundhouse
Once upon a time, the Roundhouse was a steam engine turning station. In the engines would go, onto a giant turntable that could revolve them in whatever direction was needed. When newer, bigger engines outgrew the Roundhouse, it became a wine storing facility. And now, it is a pretty darn cool live music venue. I … Continue reading
Much Ado
It’ll be a week or so before I blog again. My PhD graduation is coming up next week, family and friends are flying in, and there is a lot of celebrating to do! So I will leave you (for a time) with these reflections on my very favorite play. The first time I saw the … Continue reading
The Creature
Excerpt from Skirt.com, click the link to read the rest 0 Okay, I’ll save you the suspense (what little is left.) I did get a ticket to Frankenstein. Some of you may be wondering, “How on earth does that unemployed PhD with threadbare elbow-patch jackets even manage to afford going to all that theatre anyway?” … Continue reading
In a Merry Hour: Caitlin E McDonald 