Two stories about how a public process, because of politics, can make it very difficult, and costly, to connect two points.
London
Fuse Theater Review: Shakespearean Sublimity — “Red Velvet”
As an aged Ira Aldridge, John Douglas Thompson creates a spellbinding picture of vulnerability and strength.
Theater Feature: John Douglas Thompson on “Red Velvet” — Race and Shakespeare in the Nineteenth Century
Few people are familiar with the achievement of nineteenth century African-American Shakespearean actor Ira Aldridge.
Fuse Theater Review: Carlo Goldoni’s Classic Comedy Goes Mod
The Broadway run of The National Theatre’s production of One Man, Two Guvnors, based on The Servant of Two Masters by Carlo Goldoni, has been nominated for 7 Tony Awards. Here is Fuse Critic Ian Thal’s review of the National Theatre Live broadcast of the British production, first posted in September, 2011.
The Fuse in London: Jazz Festival Diary 6 — Sonny Rollins
Like a guru, Sonny Rollins offered words to live by at the conclusion of the show, words that are his own guidelines as much as they were advice to his fans: “Keep yourself straight and never mind the rest of the world.” By Steve Elman Imagine a great, blank canvas. Now begin to populate the […]
Musical Theater: London Celebrates Sondheim’s 80th
By Caldwell Titcomb Stephen Sondheim, the greatest genius in the history of musicals, has turned 80 this year, and there have been celebrations of all sorts to mark this milestone. London joined the hoopla by devoting its BBC Prom 19 on July 31 to a full evening drawn from Sondheim’s achievements and presented in the […]
Classical Music: The BBC Proms in London
By Caldwell Titcomb The world’s largest festival of classical music is the BBC Proms in London. Founded in 1895 by Sir Henry Wood (who in 1918 was offered the conductorship of the Boston Symphony Orchestra but declined), the Proms this season run for two months from mid-July to mid-September. The core of the enterprise is […]