Tag Archives: 1960s

So. Farewell then, Stephen Ward.

March 31, 2014Musicals, Theatre1960s, BLOATED PLUTOCRAT, Christopher Hampton, Don Black, Lloyd Webber, No Dusty Springfield or Pet Shop Boys, Scandal, Stephen WardViv Wilby

Stephen Ward, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s latest musical, opened with the usual fanfare just before Christmas, only to close four months later, dogged by lukewarm reviews and empty seats. Viv Wilby caught the show before it suffered the same fate as The Beautiful Game and Love Never Dies.

They’d already buried Stephen Ward before I got the chance to praise it. News broke last month that Andrew Lloyd Webber’s latest musical would close at the end of March after less than four months. I saw it in a half-empty theatre and the curtain has already come down for the last time. Continue reading So. Farewell then, Stephen Ward. →

Annus Mirabilis as seen from the back row

January 22, 2014British Film, History, Uncategorized1960s, A Place To Go, British cinema, Kind Hearts and Coronets, Robert Hamer, sex, The Bargee, The Pumpkin Eater, VictimBlake Backlash

Blake Backlash takes Philip Larkin’s declaration that ‘sexual intercourse began in 1963’ as point-of-departure to explore cinematic depictions of sex in early ‘60s British cinema. Or maybe he just watches some old films and tells you about the dirty bits.

Continue reading Annus Mirabilis as seen from the back row →