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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
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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,
Sarah Frater's rating
Reader rating
Dir: Antonio Gades (choreographer/director).
Cast: Antonio Gades Company, Stella Arauzo, Adrian Galia
Description: A celebration of the 25th anniversary of Gades's version of Bizet's love story, with Stella Arauzo and Adrian Galia.
Trains: Tube: Angel 
Phone: 0844412 4300
Website: www.sadlerswells.com
In no danger: Stella Arauzo as Carmen and Adrian Galia as Don José
Given its status today, it’s hard to believe flamenco was once little more than flouncey-skirted tourist tat. Its revival owes much to Antonio Gades, the dancer and director who died in 2004 but who lives on in his 1983 film Carmen. He also created a stage version, which runs all week at Sadler’s Wells.
The set-up is simple enough — a flamenco troupe is preparing a version of Carmen, only for the director, who also plays Don José, to fall for his leading lady.
Life imitating art and actors imitating their characters is not new but Gades went further, creating a startlingly innovative double plot that weaves Bizet and cante, reality and fantasy, performance and rehearsal, with dancers both revering and spoofing their art form.
It transformed flamenco, as well as including some of the best dance sequences ever caught on film. It’s all there on the DVD, which is miles better than this stage version.
The main problem is Stella Arauzo, the company director and long-time Gades favourite, who is too old for the lead — there may be mileage in a mature Carmen but Arauzo isn’t it.
Other problems include the soggy direction, the fuzzy action and the 26-strong company who lack the energy and irreverence of the dancers they portray. Most are able, but they’ve no impetus, no danger.
Despite its name, this is no Carmen. Gades would turn.
Until 22 March (0844 412 4300, www.sadlerswells.com).
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
I think that the company needs to rehearse a bit more, found it a bit.
Yes able dancers but lack of coordination, i got a bit bored, the show encouraged me to buy tickets to see Yerbabuna who recompensed me with her fine art
- Uge, lONDON
I think Sarah Frater is the soggy one here. Stella Arauzo is pretty amazing as Carmen, not once, even for a second did I or any of the full house on Saturday, consider her too old or ill-equipped in any way for the role. Ms Frater's description of the evening bears no resemblance at all to the performance we saw. The show was vibrant, energetic & exciting. I thinfk her description of Flamenco as being 'flouncy-skirted tourist tat' shows that she knows little about the art of flamenco and she probably should have left the reviewing of Carmen with someone a little more knowledgeable on the subject.
- J.A.Chandler, uk
