Review – Page 6 of 8

‘Lady Be Good’ made this lady feel good!

19Nov

By Victoria BastableNo Comments

Culture & Literature, Music, Theatre & Performance

‘Lady Be Good’ made this lady feel good!

‘Lady Be Good’ made this lady feel good! Last night I was treated to the Savoy Opera Society’s main term show ‘Lady Be Good’, music and book by George and Ira Gershwin, directed by Monte Marché. It was the perfect start to my weekend. I was giggling and singing the songs all the way home! The plot follows the misadventures of brother and sister Dick Trevor (Tom Chippendale) and Susie Trevor (Jenny Collins) after becoming destitute on the streets of New York. Their struggle to turn their fortunes around leads to false marriage proposals to the rich and glamorous Josephine Vanderwater (Sarah Vanderplank), falling onto the wrong side of the law via the misguidance of the mischievous lawyer Watty Watkins (Will Davidson) and a run in with Mexican gangsters, lead by the serial murderess Ma...

3Nov

By Joanne ArcherNo Comments

Culture & Literature, Music

Interview with Quarterlights

Orbital’s Joanne Archer caught up with up and coming band, Quarterlights, a group who originated from Royal Holloway. Meeting and interviewing Quarterlights with my Deputy Editor, Beth Carr, has to be one of the highlights of being the Arts Editor for the Orbital thus far- it’s only been a few months but still! Although I was only able to meet three out of four of the group, I could get a real sense of what this band is all about. Quarterlights, made up of three RHUL alumni and one of their friends, got their start playing in the Forester’s Arms. The pub, which is situated in Egham, allowed them to build a small following which later lead to their success playing at Summer Ball in 2015. Originally the band went by the name Cardboard City, a name which they pointed out was also shared wi...

31Oct

By Beth CarrNo Comments

Culture & Literature, Music

Stranger Stranger Review

Beth Carr reviews Stranger Stranger’s recent set at the Students’ Union. The third Coffee House Session of the year welcomed duo Stranger Stranger to Tommy’s Kitchen, an ethereal and mesmerising performance. As with all the artists so far this was the second show in the tour and of the day, but firmly their first (and probably only!) performed on the landing of a staircase. Our quirky setting was a great accompaniment to their quirky set, and its unearthly quality resonated across the SU. Stranger Stranger’s style of music is hard to pinpoint. Full of dissonance and harmonies, it’s a concept that doesn’t sound like it would work but, in fact, it brings a unique tone to the saturated world of music. It was clear that the duo were incredibly immersed in the music and performance and ge...

Drama Society presents ‘No Sex Please, We’re British’

28Oct

By Rosalie FallaNo Comments

Culture & Literature, Theatre & Performance

Drama Society presents ‘No Sex Please, We’re British’

Rosalie Falla reviews the first night of Drama Society's Week 5 Show. No Sex Please, We’re British by Anthony Marriot and Alistair Foot is a simply hilarious concept: when a newly-wed couple, Peter and Frances, receive a box of Scandinavian pornography in lieu of glassware, comedy ensues. Uninvited houseguests, a police investigation, a lost cheque, boxes and boxes of risqué material and many a mix-up make this a show worth seeing. Katie Dale’s and Niamh Dunne's directorial efforts succeed in bringing the British farce to the Jane Holloway stage in only five weeks, no mean feat considering the cast and crew balance intense rehearsals with their degrees- perfectly timed comedy is not an easy skill to master and yet Dale and Dunne's cast had the audience in fits. Speaking of the cast, ...

27Oct

By Georgia BeithNo Comments

Culture & Literature, Film & TV

Review: HBO’s Westworld

Imagine a show set in the near future in a high-tech, ultra-realistic, Wild West themed amusement park populated by artificial beings known simply as ‘hosts’, and visited by guests referred to as ‘the newcomers’ who are free to do as they please. That show is Westworld, HBO’s attempt at filling the hole that will be left when the astronomically successful Game of Thrones finally draws to a close. So, can Westworld succeed in meeting such high expectations? Produced by sci-fi heavyweight JJ Abrams and starring household names such as Anthony Hopkins, the odds look good for Westworld to become HBO’s next big hit. Based on the 1973 film of the same name, directed by Michael Crichton (screenwriter of probably the best known film about a fictional theme park; Jurassic Park), Westworld is cer...

21Oct

By Beth CarrNo Comments

Culture & Literature, Music

Warner Newman: Runaway

TRIGGER WARNING: MENTIONS OF ABUSE Catchy yet harrowing, Runaway brings the deep issue of domestic abuse to the urban-pop scene. This is the debut single from Warner Newman and one that promises great things for his debut album, The Death of Warner Cornish, set to be released in March next year. From the first verse it is clear that this song was born out of personal experience and Warner’s gritty spoken word is perfectly juxtaposed with a beautiful female vocal that brings food for thought to the listener. Despite the deep, haunting subject matter, there is a glimmer of hope to be found from the song: themes of running away, as the name suggest, and victims as fighters permeate the lyrics. It is a song that demands to be heard and the message stays with you long after the first ...

25Jul

By Beth CarrNo Comments

Culture & Literature, Film & TV

New Blood: A new concept for BBC One?

I was introduced to New Blood by the Metro, promising a fantastic foray from Anthony Horowitz into the gritty side of London's policing and fraud investigation. Once a friend from the capital mentioned the show and its greatness, I knew I had to 'tune in' and find out for myself. I use 'tune in' in the figurative sense because the first I heard of the show was as a box set on BBC iPlayer, not realising it had a prime time slot on BBC One. The way this works is that the series is made up of three cases, each consisting of two episodes (except the first which has three instalments), and released on a case by case basis. The episodes are also aired weekly over seven weeks on BBC One on Thursday evenings. A strange idea, some might think, considering that the episodes are already available ...

#KeepTheSecrets: Harry Potter Play Reviewed

7Jul

By Beth CarrNo Comments

Culture & Literature, Theatre & Performance

#KeepTheSecrets: Harry Potter Play Reviewed

Beth Carr reviews the highly anticipated Harry Potter and the Cursed Child ahead of its official opening in late July Walking up to the Palace Theatre, it is clear that this is the only place in the West End to host Harry Potter's eighth story. Visually spectacular, the Victorian red brick frontage is reminiscent of Hogwarts and the interior is equally magical, benefiting from a refurbishment especially for J. K. Rowling's newest creation. The theatre was surrounded by eager fans and as doors opened the queue was already winding around the entire building. A warm welcome awaits spectators from security and staff, and after parting ways with an unfortunate packet of BBQ Beef Hula Hoops (no food is allowed into the theatre but you can take in water bottles) we were soon seated, ready to enj...

17Jun

By Nebiu SamuelNo Comments

Culture & Literature, Music

Krept and Konan, A Night to Remember

Krept and Konan are one of the biggest names in rap at the moment since the success of their mixtape 'Young Kingz' in 2013. They have worked tirelessly, producing hit songs known across the country. On April 1st, the pair promised a night to remember with the first performance of their spring tour at the O2 Academy Brixton and they certainly delivered. After Ty Dollar Sign had warmed up the crowd, the lights went out, phones were out with Snapchat and Instagram ready, the anticipation of the Duo’s grand entrance grew among the crowd. The screen covering the stage fell to reveal a London underground tube carriage across the stage, followed by the sound of the very familiar underground voice-over which was used throughout the show to introduce special guests. Then the vocals from Konan’s tra...

Kygo triumphs with debut album Cloud Nine

7Jun

By Beth CarrNo Comments

Culture & Literature, Music

Kygo triumphs with debut album Cloud Nine

There hasn't been an album in recent years that has surprised me as much as Cloud Nine, the debut album of Norwegian DJ and songwriter Kygo. Having risen to prominence with his single Firestone in late 2014, it is hard to believe that this is only his first album but it is well worth the wait. It captivates from the very beginning with a minimalist track Intro, full of building emotion and repetitive themes that leave you longing for more. More is exactly what the album brings, showcasing his production talent with 14 collaborations with artists including Tom Odell, Kodaline and Labrinth. The quality persists throughout the whole album with each track bringing a different vibe but reflecting the consistency of Kygo's technically complex but audibly pleasing style. A surprise highlight w...