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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,
Jack Massarik's rating
Reader rating
Singing for Christmas: Claire Martin often collaborates with Ian Shaw
These two singers work together often and enjoy a remarkable understanding. They harmonise readily, with Claire Martin’s smooth, husky tone tempering Ian Shaw’s more bluesy edge, while Shaw’s piano backing gives them a rare rhythmic sureness.
Their tenth annual pre-Christmas stocking was a typically entertaining mixture of jazz, blues and cabaret. It being so early in December, Christmas numbers were shelved at first in favour of Harold Arlen classics (Blues in the Night, Get Happy) and a Joni Mitchell number, Borderline.
We also learned about aspiring songwriter Chester Babcock, who successfully changed his name to Jimmy Van Heusen after buying a shirt of that name. “He had a sister,” Shaw added, “called Polly Primark.”
Only after the interval, when the pair resurfaced in comical Santa hats, did the trusty Yuletide medley appear. Winter Wonderland, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas and The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire) all had worthy chord progressions. Happiness is the Best Facelift, one of Joni’s seasonal family-squabble numbers, had much better words than music.
Martin’s special tribute was Love is Real, a ballad by Esbjorn Svensson, the Swedish pianist tragically killed in a scuba-diving accident this summer. Happier moments came on two Stevie Wonder songs, Knocks Me Off My Feet and If It’s Magic, featuring the joyful polyphonic scatting this pair do so well.
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
