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An awesome and ridiculous film that leaves you thrilled beyond the point of your natural endurance
2012
Theatre
The show has suddenly become quite wonderful, and the galvanising factor is the terrific stage debut of Melanie C
Blood Brothers
Music
The British pop music industry may be eating itself but if Muse are the pick of what it can offer the world in 2010 then British music is in rude health indeed
Muse
I was smitten by both Gilberts enormous luxuriant moustache and the intelligence and nuance of this highly entertaining play
I totally recommend Babbo to anyone who is looking for really good and traditional Italian food
Always been a fan but never seen them live. I was ecstatic to be part of this epic event. WOW!
London,
Bruce Dessau's rating
Reader rating
It may not have marked the end of civilisation, as perennially brilliant compere Daniel Kitson said, but the closure of Finsbury Park's Red Rose Club after two decades was definitely the end of an era. Jack Dee, Eddie Izzard and more cut their teeth here and Seven Sisters Road will be a grimmer place without it.
The final show trod a gloriously chaotic line between sentimentality and anarchy. Sketch combo Pappy's Fun Club rattled along nicely despite an intrusive row outside. Ronnie Golden - "not so much Badly Drawn Boy as badly overdrawn middle-aged man" - strummed his guitar then was gone.
One-liner king Tim Vine tried some dodgy new gags before reviving old crowdpleasers: "Exit signs. They're on the way out." Deadpan veteran Hattie Hayridge more skilfully slipped new material into a set that included jokes done when the club first opened.
After the interval Robin Ince demonstrated why he is one of comedy's most articulate angry men with a rant that took in Richard Dawkins, Darwin and Vanessa Feltz. Serial misanthrope Ian Cognito continued the nihilistic theme, denouncing everything but with less charm.
Ivor Dembina closed after five hours. Looking at Alan Davies, who was in the audience, he recalled an early gig when the takings were stolen: "Don't worry, it's only money," said Davies back then. It was a very different world.
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
