New Moon is nothing if not an international advertisement for the hungry virtues of virginity and young people can’t get enough of it
The Twilight Saga: New Moon
Theatre
A smart, prickly and rewarding view of sexual and emotional confusion
Cock
Restaurants
Kitchen W8 is a bargain for this area, if such sophistication is what you crave
Kitchen W8
Too long and drawn out but very entertaining with excellent special effects
This is a peculiar play and does not work for me. Some of it is very funny but there are real flaws
Alex has a strong powerful voice and was faultless, she is far better now than she was on the X-Factor
London,
Charlotte O'Sullivan's rating
Reader rating
Dir: Niall Heery.
Cast: Iain Glen, Steven Mackintosh, Stuart Graham
Description: Aspiring country singer Doug lives in a close-knit Irish community, making the most of the poor cards life has dealt him. When old buddy Burley staggers back into town, Doug's day to day existence begins to resemble a country song: he loses his girlfriend and is forced to move in with mechanic pal Bill. Through his misery, Doug taps into a rich new vein of creativity, channelling his despair into a collection of moving songs.
Country: UK/IRE. 2006. 102mins
Cowboy blues: Country and western devotee Iain Glen (centre) sings of his sorrow
Bill and Doug - the two fortysomething friends at the heart of Niall Heery's debut feature - are damaged nobodies who find solace in country-and-western songs. They are lonely men desperate to escape the Irish backwoods they call home, but terrified that the big wide world might inflict even more pain. Then their old pal Burley gets out of jail and the pain really sets in.
Heery has likened the film to a country song, and it takes him a while to establish its rhythms. Yet by the time the shambolic Doug gets up the courage to perform at his local bar, you're hooked - he's singing about his wife, in the audience with her new lover.
Iain Glen and Steven Mackintosh are fine as the awkward best buddies but it's actually the lesser-known Irish stars - including Stuart Graham as the embittered Burley - who makes best sense of the teasing script. Is it foolish of the men in this community to venerate Nashville and its gold-plated cowboy blues? Or have they found a genuine moral compass with which to navigate the world?
Heery loves and respects his characters; it's easy to love and respect them back.
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
Morning:
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