Culture
REVIEW: WNO Così fan tutte at Mayflower Theatre
The Welsh National Opera (WNO) is back at Mayflower Theatre with their second piece of their Spring collection in the all new ‘Così fan tutte’. Technically speaking, ‘Così’ (as I’ll call it from now on), is an opera composed by Mozart that was first performed in 1790. WNO’s production is a completely new and updated twist on this – and I think it was the right one. Alternatively named, ‘The School For Lovers’, this version of ‘Così’ is set in the 70s following four sixth formers discovering what falling in love is and all the emotions that come with it. ‘Così fan tutte’ literally translates to “So do they all”, using the feminine plural (tutte) to indicate women. This basically paints all you need to know about this opera and in hindsight is incredibly important.
I’m starting to understand opera more and more, and in particular how WNO keep things fresh in trying to open opera’s doors to the masses. I think this adaptation shows this more than any of their productions I’ve seen so far. This Italian sung opera is said to be the perfect ensemble opera with six different roles almost equal in weight and performance, without an individual ‘leading lady’. As always, the show is accompanied with English surtitles and leaving the theatre I remember thinking that this is the first opera that I haven’t struggled to follow along with once. I always read a brief synopsis of the story before hand, and I think I would have still been able to follow along perfectly if I hadn’t done that. This is all thanks to the clarity in how the story is both set, told and directed – something director, Max Hoehn, should take high credit for.
Outstanding overall.
The way in which they have adapted this story is actually extremely clever. Reading about it before hand, all I could think was how dated and cringe worthy this was going to be – and don’t get me wrong, the themes and some of the things they were saying still definitely were. BUT, in the context of a 70s sixth form, it made so much more sense. It slowly became more relatable and more acceptable in its satirical form. To try and give some context to my review and summarise extremely briefly: Four students are given a valuable lesson in love, life and liberty when their teacher involves them in a secret experiment. Testing the limits of their love in a bet of temptation, the boyfriends leave and come back disguised to see if each others partners stay loyal to them or not. Yes, it is just as weird as it sounds.
As I’ve mentioned, the cast comprises of six people (and WNO’s brilliant chorus). As WNO have stated, ‘Così’ is probably Mozart’s opera that is most dependant on the chemistry of its performers, and their performers have smashed it. Making their WNO debuts were Kayleigh Decker as ‘Dorabella’, Egor Zhuravski as ‘Ferrando’, and José Fardilha as ‘Don Alfonso’. They were joining Sophie Bevan as ‘Fiordiligi’, James Atkinson as ‘Guglielmo’, and Rebecca Evans as ‘Despina’. Decker, Zhuravski, Bevan, and Atkinson were amazing as the sticky quad relationship. It goes without saying that their voices were just incredible, usually in operas there is a majority of individual singing but some of the harmonies I heard tonight were pitch perfect. As well as this, the emotions that they portrayed when they weren’t singing was amazing, something that really helped the story flow along so easily. The comedy and chemistry between them all was incredibly natural. I also really like that in Act 2, they all had their individual time to shine with big solos. Just amazing! Fardilha and Evans were also a fantastic comedy duo, that almost acted as the ‘voice of reason’, but also not in some crazy way. When WNO’s chorus came into play, there was a huge sense of musical theatre which heightened the whole value of the opera. Outstanding overall.

As for the set, it was actually very good! Reminiscent of a musical in many ways. The main bulk of the set was a 70s school classroom, with a heightened stage and chalkboard that slides to reveal a canteen. Not to forget those nostalgic wooden wall bars that I’m sure we all remember! Along with this were some brilliantly crude flats featuring modern day nods to phallic and sexual culture – we all know what the cherry and grapefruit mean… The moving pieces of set, like the lockers and desks were again very reminiscent of a modern musical and it worked with what they were going for. The lighting design was also very simple, but very effective. The change in colour to show emotion as well as day/night was very clever – and especially effective coming through the windows at the top, to only lighting half the stage creating the effect of a real window. The whole locker scene was also just bonkers, but in a good way!
WNO are smashing it and I can’t wait for their next instalment.
I’ve mentioned already how some of the language used throughout the opera was dated and would definitely not cut it in today’s day and age. I stand by this even if put in a comedic way through context. But if you were to take it out, you’d completely miss the point of the story. You have to remember that it’s from the 18th Century so it’s not going to be politically correct today. Saying this however, there was so much about this opera that I really enjoyed. For one, the comedy used was brilliant. The mixture of physical, slapstick, clever scripting/timing and subtle fourth wall breaks – all brilliant! There was a particular point when they used the chalkboard to draw a boat with two stick men waving, and the use of irony was staged and timed to perfection. I also really liked all of the whisper lines where they’re meant to be talking to themselves, but in effect are talking to the audience instead.
As always, the wonderful WNO orchestra played out some of Mozart’s most ravishing music headed by conductor, Tomáš Hanus. A live orchestra can heighten any story, and WNO do it perfectly. ’Così fan tutte’ is an opera that is over three hours long. This is enough to put anybody off, and I was really worried that you would be aware of how long it was going on as well. However, it flew by just like watching a movie. I actually wrote in my notes: come act 2, you had forgotten it was an opera and you were now instead watching the wildest, weirdest, and whackiest romcom of all time. There were more twists and turns than a rollercoaster or series of Friends (sorry for the cliché!). One major thing that I’ve taken from this production is that WNO are smashing it and I can’t wait for their next instalments. If you get the chance to watch ‘Così’ before it finishes for the season you cannot skip it, but if you don’t get the chance – find out when WNO are coming to a theatre near you and try open your eyes to an opera. You won’t regret it!
Culture
Hampstead movie review
With the passing of Diane Keaton I decided that I would watch some of her old work.
I chose to watch the 2017 movie Hampstead as it seemed to be quite a good representation of her acting skills.
It is based loosely (trying not to give the plot away, however it did come out eight years ago!) on Harry Hallowes real life, he used to live on a plot in Hampstead Heath and then managed to claim rights on it.
One of the best parts of this movie was the chemistry between Diane Keaton and Brendan Gleeson.
It felt natural and not strained which definitely made it more believable for me.
Their chemistry also helped make their characters seem more natural making their performance that much better.
I’m not one who normally enjoys romantic (some may say sappy) movies but the mixture of romance and social justice themes in this movie made it not too uncomfortable.
It gives the audience a feel-good time with us feeling like we are doing something right, due to us deciding that Gleeson’s character is right.
It made me feel like I was standing up for the underdog and marginalised communities.
I found it quite clever how they made it an easy movie to watch, not too many sad themes, while also fitting in the themes of community and standing up for the right thing.
I would say that if you are feeling a bit down then this would be a very good movie too watch.
A perfect movie for a light matinee
As a nature person, the setting of this film was spectacular.
I really liked the idea of an expanse of nature so close to a city.
It creates a very picturesque backdrop for the movie which further added to the warmthness portrayed throughout the movie.
I especially liked where Keaton’s character ended up living in the end.
However, as always there are critics.
With this movie one of the big critiques was that the story was very predictable and followed the same formula that a lot of other romance movies used.
There was just too many cliches which made it painful for the audience to witness again and due to the lack of surprises it was not the most engaging film to watch.
This goes hand in hand with the fact that the characters where more broad and stereotypical than they should have been.
The other big critique from this movie was that people thought it lacked tone and depth, saying that while it did touch on different societal problems such as eviction, class divide and property divide it didn’t pronounce it enough.
It felt a bit like dipping one toe into the water of the problems.
While I do agree that it didn’t delve deep into the problems society faces, I didn’t think that was what the movie was about or what the directors were trying to get across to the audience.
I believe that it was simply highlighting these issues in an easy to understand way.
Culture
Are Max Martin and Shellback the downfall of Taylor Swift’s latest album?
The release of Taylor Swift’s 12th LP, The Life of a Showgirl, has been met with divided opinions.
Although a record breaking 2.7m albums were sold on the first day of release, not all these buyers are satisfied.
It might be a push to say the majority are. Online, listeners argue this album is “millennial cringe” and that Swift is showing her “true capitalist self”.
Alongside Swift herself, Max Martin and Shellback produced the album.
Long-time collaborators, they previously helped define 1989 and Reputation. But this marks the first time the trio have exclusively worked together.
1989 and Reputation catapulted Swift to global pop fame.
Through hits such as Blank Space, Shake it Off and Getaway Car, Martin and Shellback provided Swift a clean break from her country roots, throwing her into the deep end of mainstream pop.
However, a decade later the formula feels tired.
So why has The Life of a Showgirl fallen so flat?
Following Swift’s last album The Tortured Poets Department, a lyrically rich 31 song LP radiating heartbreak and introspection, the synthetic glitz and glamour of Showgirl feel false.
In a post-Folklore world, where Swift proved her strength as a lyricist with the help of producer Jack Antonoff, the return to maximalism and Martin-Shellback production feels hollow.
With the loss of Antonoff and the return of Martin and Shellback, has Swift lost the reflective heart of her songwriting?
That’s not to say Showgirl is without merit.
Its production is faultless, and the album follows a clear and fluid theme.
But perhaps that’s the problem. In collaborating solely with Martin and Shellback, Swift may have created her most technically accomplished album but her least emotionally convincing one.
Whether this is a misstep or the purpose of the album remains to be seen.
But the reception of The Life of a Showgirl questions the path Swift is on.
Now the world dominating Eras Tour is over, is the peak of Swift’s career over too?
Culture
The End of Strictly Come Dancing as we know it?
We all know Strictly Come Dancing as one of the most popular prime time slots on a Saturday night.
But could this be the end of Strictly as we know it?
The BBCs show has struggled recently with allegations of bullying and inappropriate behaviour, but now Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman have released a joint statement to say they are passing the sparkly button on at the end of this series.
Their Instagram statement in full:
We have loved working as a duo and hosting Strictly has been an absolute dream. We were always going to leave together and now feels like the right time. We will have the greatest rest of this amazing series and we just want to say an enormous thank you to the BBC and to every single person who works on the show. They’re the most brilliant team and we’ll miss them every day. We will cry when we say the last “keep dancing” but we will continue to say it to each other. Just possibly in tracksuit bottoms at home while holding some pizza.
Tess & Claud
Following their joint statement they each released their own statements as a follow up.
Tess Daly’s statement in full:
After 21 unforgettable years, the time has come to say goodbye to Strictly Come Dancing. It’s hard to put into words what this show has meant to me, so here goes… Strictly has been more than just a television programme. It’s felt like having a third child, a second family, and a huge part of my life since that very first show back in 2004. I knew then it was something special, but I could never have imagined the magic it would bring.
Strictly has always been about joy, celebration, and bringing people together – and I’m so proud to have played a small part in something that continues to mean so much to so many.
From that very first series, I had the great honour of standing alongside the incomparable Sit Bruce Forsyth.
Brucie set the tine for everything that Strictly became: warmth, wit, connection, and pure showbiz magic.
I have always been in awe of our superbly talented professional dancers, our magnificent judges, and all the celebrities who have taken part. I absolutely adore our brilliant crew – every single member of the Strictly team who have worked tirelessly to make this show what it is. You are the very best in the business – the kindest, most fun, most loyal, and definitely the hardest-working team in television.
Thank you for your laughter, the friendship, and the countless memories over all these years. You’ve filled my heart in ways I’ll never forget. I’ll miss you all so much.
And to you – the viewers at home – the biggest thank you of all. Thank you for welcoming us into your homes for over two decades.
Your love, loyalty, and unwavering support have meant the world. You’ve carried us through every series, and that has never, ever been taken for granted. You are the heart of this show, and I feel so lucky to have shared it with you. Being part of your weekend from September to Christmas for the past 21 years has been one of the greatest joys and privileges of my career.
To my beloved Claud – what an absolute joy and pleasure it has been sharing this adventure with you. You’re one of a kind, and I’ll treasure every giggle, every live show, and every backstage moment we’ve shared. I’m so grateful to have you as my friend for life.
This isn’t goodbye to glitter, sequins, or Saturday night sparkle (I could never say goodbye to those!). Strictly will forever hold a special place in my heart – but it does feel like the right time to hand over the reins.
With all my love and endless gratitude, Tess x
Tess Daly has been on the show since its very first episode seeing over 300 celebrities enter the ballroom and join the competition.
She started the show with Sir Bruce Forsyth, with Claudia Winkleman being a part of their presenting team hosting the sister show It Takes Two.
The duo made history in 2014 becoming the first female presenting duo of a prime time slot.
As a team they have welcomed almost 200 celebrities into the ballroom.
Over their time on the show they have also seen nine judges join and leave the show.
Claudia Winkleman’s statement reads:
It’s very difficult to put into words exactly what Strictly has meant to me. It’s been the greatest relationship of my career. From working on It Takes Two in 2004 until now it has been my everything, the show I will be eternally grateful for. I will never forget Len Goodman trying to teach me what a cucaracha is (I still don’t know) and the complete thrill and honour it was to work with Tess on the results show to cohosting on Saturday nights.
Strictly is a magical, glittery, fake tanned train and it’s been a privilege to be a tiny part of it. The extraordinary talent of the dancers, the band, the hair and makeup and costume teams, the unbelievable production crew and creatives – all utterly amazing. I’ve always believed it’s best to leave a party before you’re fully ready to go and I know the new hosts will be magnificent, I look forward to watching them take Strictly to new heights. As for Tess – I’m so so lucky I got to stand next to you. You’re funny, kind, whip smart and a true friend and I love you.
With two of the biggest jobs in the BBC now up for grabs who will we see step into the glitz and glammer of Saturday night at Strictly Come Dancing?
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