Before I start detailing what has been happening to Ross and Russell, I just thought I'd let you know that the BBC's website have a clear and handy timeline of their actions from the minute the whole fiasco started.
You can see this here. I would attempt to copy it but this is the BBC we are talking about and I don't fancy becoming the next Ross/Brandesque victim...
On Wednesday, Jonathan Ross was informally suspended. Yesterday at exactly 1821 GMT he was then officially suspended from the BBC for 12 weeks without pay.
Oh boo hoo, poor Rossy. How ever is his £6 million annual salary going to cope? I don't think this is nearly enough if they are actually trying to punish Ross accordingly.
Do bear in mind though that I am a poor student journalist so that my view on that issue may be a tad biased.
Last year Ross envoked rage in the BBC's senoirs' department when he joked that his £6 million yearly salary
Ross provoked fury among the BBC's senior management by joking during last year's show that his £6 million annual salary was "worth 1,000 BBC journalists". Hysterical I'm sure.
And what about Russell?
And what about Russell indeed. On Wednesday evening this 'party animal' announced that he is going to quit his Saturday BBC radio show. I can't claim to care as I never listened to it anyway.
I also don't quite understand why the press keep referring to Russell as a 'party animal'. Yes he goes out and enjoys a good time but it stops there.
After reading his autobiography 'My booky wook' I learned that the celebrity is completely teetotal. Yes, yes we all know he was a heroin addict and he is now in recovery.
But what most don't know and his book reveals is that he has been clean for almost five years. And by clean I mean of everything. Not just from heroin, but from all drugs, including the liquid form of alcohol.
Most people would not view alcohol as a drug, but for a recovering addict such as Russell, a return to drinking could conlcude in disastrous consequences.
In the link mentioned above The Daily Mail discuss the fact that Russell has been out till 3am. He is pictured passing round a bottle of alcohol.
Now if you look closely you may too realise that the bottle of so-called alcohol is actually just a bottle of Hildon water.
I know this because I always drink this brand of water. Honestly, I should be a detective!
And back to the point
Both Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand have now both publicly apologised, as have the BBC. If not with a little, or a lot, of delay.
Please see Russell's apology below:
Unfortunately though, this heartfelt apology came a little too late for one crusty cranky old man. Yes that's right, Gordon Brown publicly called the whole incident "clearly inappropriate and unacceptable".
Quite why the most prominent political figure in the country decided to involve himself is inexplicable. I am sure there are better things Gordon should be doing with his time as Prime Minister than commenting on big-haired lunatics.
Friday, 31 October 2008
Thursday, 30 October 2008
Jonathan Ross and Russell Banned
What's been happening?
Just incase you have been living on a remote desert island for the last few days, let me explain what has been happening to poor comedian and (wannabe) actor Russell Brand and TV presenter Jonathan Ross.
The dynamic duo teamed up for the BCC's Radio 2 show. During their pre-recorded slot they made a prank phone call to Fawlty Towers 78-year old actor Andrew Sachs.
They left a voicemail on the actor's answering machine saying that Russell Brand had slept with Sachs' granddaughter Georgina Baille. Please see the video below:
Despite the show being prerecorded, the editors at BBC decided to include the prank call in the show. After the show was aired just two people complained.
One of these was Andrew Sachs.
Over 27,000 complaints
How did just two complaints from just one prank call on the radio (which by the way Capital FM do ALL the time) turn into nearly a whopping 30, 000 complaints? And counting.
The other 26,998 people decided to begin getting angry only after the Mail on Sunday led the story eight days later.
Most of these whining callers probably haven't even listened to the original broadcast at all.
As Andrew Gilligan so rightly wrote in The Evening Standard today, "They were reacting to the row, not the show".
The current situation is that Ross and Brand are having to deal with a plethora of unwanted negative attention from the press, the BBC, and even Gordon Brown.
Please see my next blog for the latest on this fiasco.
Just incase you have been living on a remote desert island for the last few days, let me explain what has been happening to poor comedian and (wannabe) actor Russell Brand and TV presenter Jonathan Ross.
The dynamic duo teamed up for the BCC's Radio 2 show. During their pre-recorded slot they made a prank phone call to Fawlty Towers 78-year old actor Andrew Sachs.
They left a voicemail on the actor's answering machine saying that Russell Brand had slept with Sachs' granddaughter Georgina Baille. Please see the video below:
Despite the show being prerecorded, the editors at BBC decided to include the prank call in the show. After the show was aired just two people complained.
One of these was Andrew Sachs.
Over 27,000 complaints
How did just two complaints from just one prank call on the radio (which by the way Capital FM do ALL the time) turn into nearly a whopping 30, 000 complaints? And counting.
The other 26,998 people decided to begin getting angry only after the Mail on Sunday led the story eight days later.
Most of these whining callers probably haven't even listened to the original broadcast at all.
As Andrew Gilligan so rightly wrote in The Evening Standard today, "They were reacting to the row, not the show".
The current situation is that Ross and Brand are having to deal with a plethora of unwanted negative attention from the press, the BBC, and even Gordon Brown.
Please see my next blog for the latest on this fiasco.
Monday, 27 October 2008
Hymne á L'amour
Below is the verse to Piaf's famous song 'Hymn to Love'. This is really half-poem half-song, but make of out what you will.
HYMN TO LOVE
Original: Hymne á L'amour (Piaf, 1950)
If the sky should fall into the sea
And the stars fade all around me
All the times that we have known here
I will sing a hymn to love
We have lived and dreamed we two alone
In a world that's been our very own
With it's memories ever grateful
Just for you I sing a hymn to love
I remember each embrace
The smile that lights your face
And my heart begins to sing
Your eyes have never lied
And my heart begins to sing
If one day you should ever disappear
Always remember these words
If one day we had to say goodbye
And our love should fade away and die
In my heart you will remain here
And I'II sing a hymn to love
O for love, we live eternally
In the blue we'll roll this harmony
With every day we are in heaven
As for you, I'll sing a hymn to love
Don't you ever worry, dear
And the stars shall fade from the sky
All the times that we have known here
I will sing a hymn to our love
Oh darling,
Just for you I sing
A hymn to love.
*****
And below you will find a video of Piaf singing 'Hymn to Love' in French:
HYMN TO LOVE
Original: Hymne á L'amour (Piaf, 1950)
If the sky should fall into the sea
And the stars fade all around me
All the times that we have known here
I will sing a hymn to love
We have lived and dreamed we two alone
In a world that's been our very own
With it's memories ever grateful
Just for you I sing a hymn to love
I remember each embrace
The smile that lights your face
And my heart begins to sing
Your eyes have never lied
And my heart begins to sing
If one day you should ever disappear
Always remember these words
If one day we had to say goodbye
And our love should fade away and die
In my heart you will remain here
And I'II sing a hymn to love
O for love, we live eternally
In the blue we'll roll this harmony
With every day we are in heaven
As for you, I'll sing a hymn to love
Don't you ever worry, dear
And the stars shall fade from the sky
All the times that we have known here
I will sing a hymn to our love
Oh darling,
Just for you I sing
A hymn to love.
*****
And below you will find a video of Piaf singing 'Hymn to Love' in French:
Saturday, 25 October 2008
Review: Piaf
'Piaf' was originally showing in London at the Donmar theatre in Covent Garden. However, due to popular demand, the production was moved to the Vaudeville theatre on The Strand in the West End when it had finished showing at the Donmar.
The play tells the moving story of Piaf's life. Edith Piaf sung the world-famous songs 'La Vie en Rose' and 'Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien' amongst many others. Edith Piaf (1915 - 1963) was a French singer, and is probably the country's most notorious singer.
The story showed Piaf's life, from when she was a young girl through to her last days. Piaf had an incredibly tough childhood, and claimed to be born on the streets to an alcoholic street singer who soon abandoned her after her birth.
She was raised by her grandmother, who ran a brothel in Paris. One day, Piaf is spotted singing on the streets by a cabaret boss, and so the fame begins.
From this point, Piaf's life is a whirlwind of rising fame, men, alcohol and later, drugs. Elana Roger captured Piaf's pain and unique voice perfectly.
Elena Roger's character interpretation of Piaf
Roger makes Piaf seem unaware of anyone around her and her character is fantastically unselfconscious.
Piaf's manners are straight from the streets and she is often rude and abrupt, yet remains warm and likable.
Although often surrounded by people and fans, Piaf cuts a lonely figure, and claims to constantly need a man in her life and is easy and carefree with giving her body to men.
There is a sad moment when she is for once without a lover in her life; she drunkenly tells her secretary how desperately alone and in pain she feels.
Roger does this however with humour which shines through the drunken slurs and stumbles.
Piaf's downfall is alcohol and drugs, and she eventually succumbs to the addictive nature of these substances. They transform her from a strong-willed and beautiful girl to an old, frail and broken woman in a wheelchair.
We saw Piaf enter rehabilitation. During this stage of her life, the men and friends in her life abandon her, and those that don't, she manages to push away.
There are some ugly scenes of sex and drug use that depict the seediness of that world.
In one of these scenes, we see Piaf inject herself, and our surroundings transform from London playhouse to Piaf's smoky and hazy world. The sound effects and special effects throughout the play were superb yet not at all overdone.
Piaf died a relatively early death aged 47. During the Piaf's funeral, Elana Roger sings what the audience have been waiting for, 'Non, je ne regrette rien'. It was everything I had been hoping for and there was not a dry eye in the house.
Singing a poem
The dialogue and chosen songs for the play were perfect. Elena Roger sings the songs in French, bar one which she half speaks, half sings. It is called 'Hymn to Love', and really was very moving. Please see my next view for the lyrics and video of Piaf singing this song.
Atmostsphere at The Apollo
Before the play started, the audience were played some 20th century French street music, and I felt slightly as if we had been transported back in time to an old Parisian theatre. The Vaudeville theatre is actually over 140 years old.
I looked around me at the cobbled stage-floor, and the fading and peeled 'Piaf' street posters on the walls and listened to the French music playing in the background.
People around me were reading the day's papers and quietly chatting whilst waiting for the play to start. Out of the hustle and bustle of the streets of West London, the interior of this theatre had a quintessential and lovely ambiance.
Overall, I would rate this play as truly superb. The acting was both believable and brilliant. I would go as far to say that Elena Roger's (Piaf) acting was the best I have seen in over a year. See here for booking - Piaf will show until the 24th January, 2008. Other critics have also given this play outstanding reviews.
Rating: 10/10
The play tells the moving story of Piaf's life. Edith Piaf sung the world-famous songs 'La Vie en Rose' and 'Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien' amongst many others. Edith Piaf (1915 - 1963) was a French singer, and is probably the country's most notorious singer.
The story showed Piaf's life, from when she was a young girl through to her last days. Piaf had an incredibly tough childhood, and claimed to be born on the streets to an alcoholic street singer who soon abandoned her after her birth.
She was raised by her grandmother, who ran a brothel in Paris. One day, Piaf is spotted singing on the streets by a cabaret boss, and so the fame begins.
From this point, Piaf's life is a whirlwind of rising fame, men, alcohol and later, drugs. Elana Roger captured Piaf's pain and unique voice perfectly.
Elena Roger's character interpretation of Piaf
Roger makes Piaf seem unaware of anyone around her and her character is fantastically unselfconscious.
Piaf's manners are straight from the streets and she is often rude and abrupt, yet remains warm and likable.
Although often surrounded by people and fans, Piaf cuts a lonely figure, and claims to constantly need a man in her life and is easy and carefree with giving her body to men.
There is a sad moment when she is for once without a lover in her life; she drunkenly tells her secretary how desperately alone and in pain she feels.
Roger does this however with humour which shines through the drunken slurs and stumbles.
Piaf's downfall is alcohol and drugs, and she eventually succumbs to the addictive nature of these substances. They transform her from a strong-willed and beautiful girl to an old, frail and broken woman in a wheelchair.
We saw Piaf enter rehabilitation. During this stage of her life, the men and friends in her life abandon her, and those that don't, she manages to push away.
There are some ugly scenes of sex and drug use that depict the seediness of that world.
In one of these scenes, we see Piaf inject herself, and our surroundings transform from London playhouse to Piaf's smoky and hazy world. The sound effects and special effects throughout the play were superb yet not at all overdone.
Piaf died a relatively early death aged 47. During the Piaf's funeral, Elana Roger sings what the audience have been waiting for, 'Non, je ne regrette rien'. It was everything I had been hoping for and there was not a dry eye in the house.
Singing a poem
The dialogue and chosen songs for the play were perfect. Elena Roger sings the songs in French, bar one which she half speaks, half sings. It is called 'Hymn to Love', and really was very moving. Please see my next view for the lyrics and video of Piaf singing this song.
Atmostsphere at The Apollo
Before the play started, the audience were played some 20th century French street music, and I felt slightly as if we had been transported back in time to an old Parisian theatre. The Vaudeville theatre is actually over 140 years old.
I looked around me at the cobbled stage-floor, and the fading and peeled 'Piaf' street posters on the walls and listened to the French music playing in the background.
People around me were reading the day's papers and quietly chatting whilst waiting for the play to start. Out of the hustle and bustle of the streets of West London, the interior of this theatre had a quintessential and lovely ambiance.
Overall, I would rate this play as truly superb. The acting was both believable and brilliant. I would go as far to say that Elena Roger's (Piaf) acting was the best I have seen in over a year. See here for booking - Piaf will show until the 24th January, 2008. Other critics have also given this play outstanding reviews.
Rating: 10/10
Tuesday, 21 October 2008
Commentary on The London Assembly Question Time
Boris Johnson was the most prominent figure at the London Assembly, and quite a fine figure he cut too.
I have never been particularly opposed to Mr Johnson (let's face it, he is better than Ken Livingstone), but at the same time, have never wanted to sign myself on as a full-blown Boris supporter.
After his scruffy schoolboy attire at the Beijing Olympics this summer however, I started to think that perhaps Ken Livingstone would at least have bothered to scrub up for such an important and internationally-broadcasted sporting event.
This was until I met (well, observed from the public gallery) the man himself in the suited flesh, and this time, his shirt was tucked in.
Throughout the three hours of the Assembly, our Mayor did not once lose his concentration or vivacity, and managed to inspire wit, eloquence and charm into even the most mundane of topics.
London Assembly leafy topic
One topic that was frequently referred to was the 50,000 new housing plan for the coming year. I feel strongly opposed to this plan.
London is cramped enough. On a further note, why are the government spending this much money on new houses when we are undergoing a nationwide financial slump?
If Boris really does feel as 'environmentally passionate' as he claims to, why not plant 50,000 new trees around London?
Surely this would be both cheaper and greener. They could build tree-houses rather than earth-destroying new building sites!
I did actually put this idea (the trees, not the tree-houses) to BNP party member Richard Barnbrook.
Mr Barnbrook was enthusiastic about the idea, and said that the Mayor is trying to make London a greener place to live.
Boris Johnson quotes
During the meeting, Boris Johnson spoke in the same that we used to write when he edited 'The Spectator'. That is, fantastically.
I have compiled some great Boris quotes from the London Assembly Meeting:
- Referring to the relentless traffic of buses on Oxford Street: "throbbing steel block of buses".
- "I've been growing my own cider - let me give you a bottle!"
- "Crusty old adult that I am..." (when talking about the trends of today's youth)
- "I don't see any harm in us reaching for the stars"; in reference to Sir Ian Blair being sacked and trying to create a better Met. Police Force.
It wouldn't surprise me if one day we see Boris Johnson running for Prime Minister - he definitely still has enough years left in him.
If I were living in a thriving multicultural city like London, I would want Boris up there running it, and fortunately for us, he is.
Did you know that anyone can watch the London Assembly Question Time with the Mayor each month? The next meeting takes place in November at City Hall, see here for details.
I have never been particularly opposed to Mr Johnson (let's face it, he is better than Ken Livingstone), but at the same time, have never wanted to sign myself on as a full-blown Boris supporter.
After his scruffy schoolboy attire at the Beijing Olympics this summer however, I started to think that perhaps Ken Livingstone would at least have bothered to scrub up for such an important and internationally-broadcasted sporting event.
This was until I met (well, observed from the public gallery) the man himself in the suited flesh, and this time, his shirt was tucked in.
Throughout the three hours of the Assembly, our Mayor did not once lose his concentration or vivacity, and managed to inspire wit, eloquence and charm into even the most mundane of topics.
London Assembly leafy topic
One topic that was frequently referred to was the 50,000 new housing plan for the coming year. I feel strongly opposed to this plan.
London is cramped enough. On a further note, why are the government spending this much money on new houses when we are undergoing a nationwide financial slump?
If Boris really does feel as 'environmentally passionate' as he claims to, why not plant 50,000 new trees around London?
Surely this would be both cheaper and greener. They could build tree-houses rather than earth-destroying new building sites!
I did actually put this idea (the trees, not the tree-houses) to BNP party member Richard Barnbrook.
Mr Barnbrook was enthusiastic about the idea, and said that the Mayor is trying to make London a greener place to live.
Boris Johnson quotes
During the meeting, Boris Johnson spoke in the same that we used to write when he edited 'The Spectator'. That is, fantastically.
I have compiled some great Boris quotes from the London Assembly Meeting:
- Referring to the relentless traffic of buses on Oxford Street: "throbbing steel block of buses".
- "I've been growing my own cider - let me give you a bottle!"
- "Crusty old adult that I am..." (when talking about the trends of today's youth)
- "I don't see any harm in us reaching for the stars"; in reference to Sir Ian Blair being sacked and trying to create a better Met. Police Force.
It wouldn't surprise me if one day we see Boris Johnson running for Prime Minister - he definitely still has enough years left in him.
If I were living in a thriving multicultural city like London, I would want Boris up there running it, and fortunately for us, he is.
Did you know that anyone can watch the London Assembly Question Time with the Mayor each month? The next meeting takes place in November at City Hall, see here for details.
Monday, 20 October 2008
The London Assembly Question Time with Boris Johnson
On the 15th of October I attended the Mayor's Question Time with the London Assembly at City Hall. I found a few points that were raised stood out in particular:
> The Mayor's PR told us that this May saw a 20% increase in the number of voters for the London Mayor elections since 2006.
> Since the 1st October 2008 the mayor is now the chair of the Met. Police Department. He is also head of Transport For London (TFL).
In my opinion Boris Johnson makes a good head of TFL because he uses public transport himself and is constantly seen cycling the streets of London.
> We discovered that earlier the year the assembly had become concerned about the number of Londoners who pave over their own front lawns.
They conducted the appropriate research and discovered that the total square area that has been paved over front gardens in London is 22 times the size of Hyde Park.
> Boris Johnson told the Assembly that he believes London will pull through the credit crunch and that there is a 'hysteria' in the media at the moment surrounding the credit crunch. Falling bankers will undoubtedly come through this financial crisis.
> During the first quarter of the meeting various protesters from the same group interrupted the meeting to shout about the injustice shown to the cleaners of London Underground. Apparently they are paid below the living wage, and must pay out of their own wages to travel to work.
> Boris on sacking the head of the Met Police, Sir Ian Blair: Boris was clearly bored of this question and said himself that this must be the 20th time it has been publicised. He told the Assembly that many people had complained to him about Sir Ian Blair, and he acted as he saw fit.
> Boris would like to see more ethnic police in the force.
> Bendy London buses will be off the streets by 2015 due to the dangers that they pose to cyclists. Boris expressed a desire to see all buses as route master buses.
> London river transport: The consensus was that there should be more river transport. However, this is hard to organise, and the wharfs need to be organised in order to do so. The 2012 Olympics will be used as an opportunity to galvanise travel.
> Cyclists: There are many cyclist fatalities and injuries because of heavy goods vehicles (HGVs). The HGVs need different mirrors so they can see cyclists, and signs warning cyclists that they are not visible to the driver should be placed on the back of all HGVs.
> The mayor does not want to see cuts on front-line services. There will be no police cuts on the streets next year, and more Met. police are needed on the streets.
> How helpful is promoting higher education to everyone? Not all young people in Britain are necessarily academic yet the system pushes everyone to attend a university.
Teenagers who want vocational training rather than academic education feel frustrated: "We should be equipping our children with skills needed for future engineering" (Boris Johnson).
TFL are designing a plan for a 'tube-tunneling' academy. This will provide 20,000 jobs that shall require technical know-how.
A question that is an ongoing subject of debate is 'should the academies be placed in boroughs that want them or those that need them?'.
> 50,000 new and affordable houses are to be built in London by next year (date unspecified).
> Richard Barnbrook, member of the BNP Party put down £140 on the table half way through the meeting.
Barnbrook declared that this was one day's wage for himself and the remaining Assembly members (excluding Boris Johnson).
In a gesture of philanthropy the £140 would go toward struggling pensioners so that they could have a merry Christmas.
Barnbrook implored the other members to do the same. Nobody volunteered to do so at the time.
* According to Barnbrook, Assembly members earn £50,000 per year.
> The mayor is opposed to Labour's plans for building a 3rd runway at Heathrow Airport. It is both costly and will provide more congestion for the environment.
> According to Boris Johnson, more citizens should be insulating their houses so as to save heating. People should be encouraged to have allotments.
Boris is keen to prompt a growth in allotment plots around London, and claimed to make his own cider from home-grown ingredients (!).
> On Youth Crime: Young Londoners are to see a Youth Opportunities Programme being introduced to the city. Boris stated that young people are the answer to some of London’s troubles, and not the problem.
The majority of knife crime happens because of gang-related issues. However, only 2,000 of kids around London are in gangs. A significant but small figure really, when you think of the capital’s population (7,512,400).
Boris Johnson said that: “The vast majority of kids have positive lives. We should stop the hysteria with dangerous children.”
> Interestingly, London’s theatres are a great source of evil to the environment. They produce 50,000 tons of carbon dioxide per year. There are plans to decrease the amount of lighting and electricity that theatres claim to need.
> Previous London mayor Ken Livingstone was present. Apparently he can be found there every month, although he is no longer mayor or part of the assembly. As BNP Party member Richard Bambrook told me after the the Assembly meeting, this is ‘pretty sad’.
In conclusion, what had the potential to be a long three hours of relentless questioning with monotonous pre-prepared answers, was actually an interesting and relevant three hours well spent.
Please see my next blog for a follow up on this slightly report-like review and some great Boris quotes!
> The Mayor's PR told us that this May saw a 20% increase in the number of voters for the London Mayor elections since 2006.
> Since the 1st October 2008 the mayor is now the chair of the Met. Police Department. He is also head of Transport For London (TFL).
In my opinion Boris Johnson makes a good head of TFL because he uses public transport himself and is constantly seen cycling the streets of London.
> We discovered that earlier the year the assembly had become concerned about the number of Londoners who pave over their own front lawns.
They conducted the appropriate research and discovered that the total square area that has been paved over front gardens in London is 22 times the size of Hyde Park.
> Boris Johnson told the Assembly that he believes London will pull through the credit crunch and that there is a 'hysteria' in the media at the moment surrounding the credit crunch. Falling bankers will undoubtedly come through this financial crisis.
> During the first quarter of the meeting various protesters from the same group interrupted the meeting to shout about the injustice shown to the cleaners of London Underground. Apparently they are paid below the living wage, and must pay out of their own wages to travel to work.
> Boris on sacking the head of the Met Police, Sir Ian Blair: Boris was clearly bored of this question and said himself that this must be the 20th time it has been publicised. He told the Assembly that many people had complained to him about Sir Ian Blair, and he acted as he saw fit.
> Boris would like to see more ethnic police in the force.
> Bendy London buses will be off the streets by 2015 due to the dangers that they pose to cyclists. Boris expressed a desire to see all buses as route master buses.
> London river transport: The consensus was that there should be more river transport. However, this is hard to organise, and the wharfs need to be organised in order to do so. The 2012 Olympics will be used as an opportunity to galvanise travel.
> Cyclists: There are many cyclist fatalities and injuries because of heavy goods vehicles (HGVs). The HGVs need different mirrors so they can see cyclists, and signs warning cyclists that they are not visible to the driver should be placed on the back of all HGVs.
> The mayor does not want to see cuts on front-line services. There will be no police cuts on the streets next year, and more Met. police are needed on the streets.
> How helpful is promoting higher education to everyone? Not all young people in Britain are necessarily academic yet the system pushes everyone to attend a university.
Teenagers who want vocational training rather than academic education feel frustrated: "We should be equipping our children with skills needed for future engineering" (Boris Johnson).
TFL are designing a plan for a 'tube-tunneling' academy. This will provide 20,000 jobs that shall require technical know-how.
A question that is an ongoing subject of debate is 'should the academies be placed in boroughs that want them or those that need them?'.
> 50,000 new and affordable houses are to be built in London by next year (date unspecified).
> Richard Barnbrook, member of the BNP Party put down £140 on the table half way through the meeting.
Barnbrook declared that this was one day's wage for himself and the remaining Assembly members (excluding Boris Johnson).
In a gesture of philanthropy the £140 would go toward struggling pensioners so that they could have a merry Christmas.
Barnbrook implored the other members to do the same. Nobody volunteered to do so at the time.
* According to Barnbrook, Assembly members earn £50,000 per year.
> The mayor is opposed to Labour's plans for building a 3rd runway at Heathrow Airport. It is both costly and will provide more congestion for the environment.
> According to Boris Johnson, more citizens should be insulating their houses so as to save heating. People should be encouraged to have allotments.
Boris is keen to prompt a growth in allotment plots around London, and claimed to make his own cider from home-grown ingredients (!).
> On Youth Crime: Young Londoners are to see a Youth Opportunities Programme being introduced to the city. Boris stated that young people are the answer to some of London’s troubles, and not the problem.
The majority of knife crime happens because of gang-related issues. However, only 2,000 of kids around London are in gangs. A significant but small figure really, when you think of the capital’s population (7,512,400).
Boris Johnson said that: “The vast majority of kids have positive lives. We should stop the hysteria with dangerous children.”
> Interestingly, London’s theatres are a great source of evil to the environment. They produce 50,000 tons of carbon dioxide per year. There are plans to decrease the amount of lighting and electricity that theatres claim to need.
> Previous London mayor Ken Livingstone was present. Apparently he can be found there every month, although he is no longer mayor or part of the assembly. As BNP Party member Richard Bambrook told me after the the Assembly meeting, this is ‘pretty sad’.
In conclusion, what had the potential to be a long three hours of relentless questioning with monotonous pre-prepared answers, was actually an interesting and relevant three hours well spent.
Please see my next blog for a follow up on this slightly report-like review and some great Boris quotes!
Thursday, 9 October 2008
REVIEW: Rain Man at the Apollo Theatre
On Saturday night I saw Rain Man at the Apollo Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue in London's West End.
The play stars Hollywood's Josh Hartnett and Olivier-nominated Adam Godley, and is based on the Oscar-winning film Rain Man with Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman.
I found the story heartwarming. It is about two brothers; selfish and money-driven Charlie Babbit (Hartnett) who discovers his unknown autustic brother, Raymond (Godley).
Charlie takes Raymond out of his familiar surroundings and on an exciting journey which involves dancing and gambling in Las Vegas, brotherly bonding and meeting women. Charlie's self-centredness and impatience with both his brother and life begins to diminish as he learns to connect with Raymond, and later his long-suffering girlfriend Susan.
The acting and Josh Hartnett
Godley's performance as an autustic man was absolutely fantastic and totally believable. Josh Hartnett wowed the appreciating audience (well, the female majority anyway) with his chiselled cheekbones and toned body.
Although Hartnett's acting was of a high standard, you could see that the actor is from a movie background rather than theatre.
Mostly towards the beginning of the play he spoke very quickly and quietly and we often had trouble understanding his lines, despite the fact that we were sitting near the stage.
He also stumbled on his words more than once, but managed to quickly recover.
The play stars Hollywood's Josh Hartnett and Olivier-nominated Adam Godley, and is based on the Oscar-winning film Rain Man with Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman.
I found the story heartwarming. It is about two brothers; selfish and money-driven Charlie Babbit (Hartnett) who discovers his unknown autustic brother, Raymond (Godley).
Charlie takes Raymond out of his familiar surroundings and on an exciting journey which involves dancing and gambling in Las Vegas, brotherly bonding and meeting women. Charlie's self-centredness and impatience with both his brother and life begins to diminish as he learns to connect with Raymond, and later his long-suffering girlfriend Susan.
The acting and Josh Hartnett
Godley's performance as an autustic man was absolutely fantastic and totally believable. Josh Hartnett wowed the appreciating audience (well, the female majority anyway) with his chiselled cheekbones and toned body.
Although Hartnett's acting was of a high standard, you could see that the actor is from a movie background rather than theatre.
Mostly towards the beginning of the play he spoke very quickly and quietly and we often had trouble understanding his lines, despite the fact that we were sitting near the stage.
He also stumbled on his words more than once, but managed to quickly recover.
Overall view of Rain Man
Apart from this faux-pas though, the play falls was faultless. There was one particularly heart-rendering scene where Charlie teaches his autistic brother Raymond to dance. There were also many humourous moments throughout the duration of the story.
I would describe this play as humourous, interesting and sweet. However, although touching, it did not completely move me as this genre of story usually would.
Were it not for Josh Hartnett, I am not sure I would see this play again given the opportunity.
Rating: 6/10
Rain Man is showing at Apollo Theatre until December 20th, 2008. For details and bookings, visit Apollo Theatre.
News, Reviews and Commentary
This blog is a space for my writing about what is happening in the news. I intend to report and also make my own commentary.
I will also be writing reviews. These reviews will mostly be London restaurants, bars, theatre, concerts, fairs and shops... anything really that is based in London. There may however be occasional reviewings from outside of London too.
I appreciate all comments or emails to me.
Enjoy! Charlotte
I will also be writing reviews. These reviews will mostly be London restaurants, bars, theatre, concerts, fairs and shops... anything really that is based in London. There may however be occasional reviewings from outside of London too.
I appreciate all comments or emails to me.
Enjoy! Charlotte
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