Category: Entertainment

THEATRE REVIEW | Buried Child

✭✭✭ | Buried Child

CREDIT: Buried Child

If you want to see Ed Harris sitting on a couch for close to three hours, then Buried Child is the show for you.

Harris, film and television star, is excellent as Dodge, the father of two sons (dysfunctional doesn’t even come close to describing them). He lives in an old, ram shackled dilapidated house in Illinois with his wife Halie (Harris’ real-life wife Amy Madigan), who pops up in the first and third acts. Yes, this play has three acts, with two very quick ten-minute intervals between the acts. The last show I saw that had three acts, (The Intelligent Homosexual’s Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures), was very painful to sit through and felt a bit like Chinese water torture. Buried Child, playing at Trafalgar Studios, is not that bad but it still feels like a long show.

Harris does spend the whole time on centre stage, on the sofa, and he’s even on the sofa before the show even starts. Dodge and Halie share their home, unwillingly, with their two grown up sons. They’ve obviously missed the financial gravy train and are unfortunately tethered to their poor lot in life. One son, Bradley (Gary Shelford), never left home, and who continues to bring into the house freshly dug up vegetables from no one knows where because there’s not a garden anywhere near the house. Tilden (Barnaby Kay), who used to live in New Mexico, has returned to the family homestead because of an incident that happened there. It’s up to Halie to be the sane member of the family, this is until their grandson Vince (Jeremy Irvine), son of Tilden, arrives in town with his girlfriend Shelly (Charlotte Hope). Immediately Shelly is uncomfortable in the house full of Vince’s miserable and depressed and sick grandfather, father and uncle. But there is a family secret that’s slightly mentioned which peaks Charlotte’s curiosity, and she wants to find out more. Meanwhile, Vince goes to the grocery store to buy booze for his grandfather because the bottle he had under the couch is missing, and while Charlotte is speaking to Bradley and wanting to know more about this secret and starts nagging a bit too much, he puts his hand into her mouth (at this point if I were her I would’ve run out of that house). But the secret that has doomed this troubled family is literally, and eventually, out of the bag, but not before Vince goes missing for the rest of the night and Halie returns home with the family pastor who’s just as uncomfortable in the house as Charlotte is. But it’s not until the final scene that leaves you with an image that you won’t soon forget.

Buried Child is a very wordy play. perhaps a bit too wordy, but it being a Sam Shepard play, there is lots that is over dramatic, over the top, and bordering close to the unbelievable. Surely cutting out one act would’ve made this play more biting, sharper and dramatic instead of long-winded, but director Scott Elliott is able, just, to keep the drama and tension up, while maintaining, until the very end, the mystery of this family’s tragic existence on earth.

Buried Child is now playing at Trafalgar Studios until February 18, 2017.

11th December 2016
Lord Sugar shuts down Dillon St. Paul after he admits tough journey to get to the board room

Lord Sugar shuts down Apprentice hopeful Dillon St. Paul, after he tried to explain the difficulties of being gay in business.

(C) Boundless

Lord Sugar seemed less than impressed by Dillon’s attempt to explain the realities that many gay men face in business, and the struggle that many face to get up the corporate chain, after pointing out that the two other candidates Dillon was sitting with, in the firing room, were also people who had overcome obstacles in business.

As Dillon fought for his place in the BBC business reality show, he tried to explain that as a gay man he had dealt with struggles and adversity in business, however the 69-year-old business tycoon wasn’t having any of it when he immediately dismissed the conversation and pointed out that Dillon’s competition Sofian had arrived in the UK, with nothing but £180 in his pocket and that Grainne was a mother with a business.

Dillion said,

“I’ve spent my whole life trying to be a creative designer. I came from not much, I had to leave a small town, I had to go to the big city and make it on my own. People talk about women having equality in the workplace, but as a gay man, I’ve come across a lot of adversaries, I tried my best to make a career for myself, it didn’t come easy for me at all.”

Lord Sugar replied,

“That’s nice and commendable, I understand what you’re saying, but he (pointing to Sofian) also just came over here, with £180 in his pocket, 13 years ago, and taught himself how to speak English, and she’s (speaking about Grainne) a mother who has also got her own business…”

(C) Boundless

In 2015, leading LGBT rights charity, Stonewall, revealed that one in five gay employees experience verbal homophobic bullying from their co-workers and that one in eight would not feel comfortable in reporting homophobia to their bosses.

Dillon was just one of the few openly gay candidates to ever to appear on the show. Lord Sugar fired Dillon and Sofia at the end of the episode.

10th December 2016
Saara Aalto already has a Christmas hit album and it’s AMAZING

This year’s favourite to win X Factor Saara Aalto already has a Christmas hit – in the form of the classic Christmas album and it’s absolutely amazing.

©Thames / Syco

Saara Aalto is the best female vocalist the X Factor has had in a long time and it seems as though she’s already had a Christmas hit album called Angels which she released in 2011.

The album features Christmas hits such as “Walking In The Air” and this amazing version of “O Holy Night”.

The singer who had a rocky start in her time with the juggernaut show said that she feared an anti-gay backlash and felt forced to live a lie after getting engaged to her girlfriend in the summer. She revealed that she and her girlfriend, Meri were the first gay female couple to come out in Finland.

Yesterday it was revealed an ambitious/rich punter has bet a whopping £30,500 that Saara Aalto will win this year’s X Factor competition. Should she actually pull it off the punter will be in for an amazing £62,650 windfall.

9th December 2016
Which version of Band Aid’s Do They Know It’s Christmas is the best?

Did you know there’s four version of “Do They Know It’s Christmas” And they’ve all got to Number 1…

BAND AID

But which is the best?

The 1984, 1989, 2004 or 2014 version? Altogether there have been (around) 138 vocalists involved with the single, which has sold over 11.7 million copies world. It raised £8million blasting the original hopes of Bob Geldof to raise £70,000. So which is your favourite version?

1984

1989

2004

2014

9th December 2016
Beeb makes a statement with their gay kiss

Bravo bravo BBC.

Aunty has made a truly impactful statement after featuring a full on male on male kiss in their Christmas advert.

A brief kiss on the lips by two guys is featured in the latest heart-warming Christmas advert by the BBC.

Watch the entire ad here

8th December 2016
Exciting news about Celeb Big Bro, we have a launch date

People we have a launch date!

Celebrity Big Brother 2017 | Channel 5

Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy, we’re so excited. Celebrity Big Brother now has a launch date and we won’t have to wait that long. Cancel all plans for the 3rd January. As per usual Celebrities will only be announced on the night!

There’s been many loud voices in Celebrity Big Brother over the years and in 2017 Channel 5 are bring back some of the more explosive of those personalities, named the All Stars, to battle it out once more to the end with some new faces titled New Stars.

Looking back through the CBB series we wonder who will be reunited together in the new colourful pop art designed house. Will the powerful forces of ‘I know this will offend you Katie Hopkins‘ and the ‘24 hour Perez Hilton show‘ be brought back together to battle wits again?

Or, maybe Ken Morley and Biggins will be back, and hopefully not get booted for unacceptable behaviour this time?

Maybe Renee will re-enter to finally hunt down some Bear? Of course, we’re hoping for one great big gay CBB house with the delights of Julian Clary, Louie Spence, Leslie Jordan and Austin Armacost.

We’ll of course, keep you updated as soon as news is revealed on CBB 2017. One thing for sure is this is going to be a series you won’t want to miss as they battle it out for Ultimate Celebrity Housemate.

8th December 2016
Someone has bet a lot of money that Saara Aalto will win the X Factor

Have you got £30,500 floating around? Yes? Then you could match someone who have bet that exact amount that Saara Aalto will win this year’s X Factor.

©Thames / Syco

An ambition/rich punter has bet a whopping £30,500 that Saara Aalto will win this year’s X Factor competition. Should she actually pull it off the punter will be in for an amazing £62,650 windfall.

The bookies have suggested that Saara is now the favourite to win the competition.

William Hill spokesman Joe Crilly said,

“Saara has come from nowhere to become the red hot favourite to win the X Factor and there are plenty of people who have been backing her to win in recent weeks, not least our punter who has staked £30,500 on her in the space of the last seven days”.

The singer who had a rocky start in her time with the juggernaut show said that she feared an anti-gay backlash and felt forced to live a lie after getting engaged to her girlfriend in the summer. She revealed that she and her girlfriend, Meri were the first gay female couple to come out in Finland.

8th December 2016
People are losing their minds over Zac Efron’s abs

OH. MY.

Oh and when we say people, we clearly mean us.The new trailer for the Baywatch movie has dropped and people are losing their shiz over just how ripped Zac Efron are.

The new trailer for the Baywatch movie has dropped and people are losing their shiz over just how ripped Zac Efron are.

The Paramount remake of the 90’s TV show is due for release in May next year! Enjoy!

8th December 2016
THEATRE REVIEW | Strictly Ballroom – The Musical – West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds

★★★★| Hunky dance champion, Scott Hastings throws the uptight world of the Australian Ballroom Federation into disarray when he strays from tradition and introduces his own steps onto the dance floor of the competition. Horrifying his mother, his coach, his friends and, most importantly, the federation’s chairman, his new moves ignite a spark in Fran, the dance school’s ugly duckling. As Scott rejects his potential new partners and routines, he secretly practices with Fran, falling in love as they do. But as they head to the Pan-Pacific Grand Prix Finals, not everything on the judging panel is ‘strictly ballroom’, and Scott is forced to choose between dancing from the approved moves and dancing from his heart.

In 1992, Baz Luhrmann opened his Red Curtain Trilogy of films with this offbeat satire on the world of ballroom dancing and the film quickly garnered critical praise and cult status. The show has come full circle, moving from stage to screen and back to stage in a production which is wildly vivacious, colourful and as camp as they come. Featuring songs from the film along with a number of new musical numbers, the camp factor is ramped up to the max, with the whole thing swishing around in a swirl of sequins, feathers, 80’s pastel shades and deliberately dodgy wigs.

Broadway veteran Sam Lips makes his UK theatre debut in the role of Scott, with his strengths primarily in his voice and his dancing; whilst Gemma Sutton relishes in a believable transformation from shy wall flower to leading lady, as Fran. Richard Grieve steals every scene he is in with his portrayal of the flamboyant Les Kendall and there are brilliantly understated performances from Tasmin Carroll and Stephen Matthews as Scott’s parents. Flesh out the cast with an ensemble of excellent dancers, including a plethora of perfect pecs and bulging biceps and you have a top notch cast who are clearly enjoying themselves as much as the audience.

The ingenious set design by Soutra Gilmour opened out into the key locations with remarkable versatility and comfortably accommodates Drew McOnie’s steady direction and thoroughly enjoyable choreography. The first act focuses primarily on the narrative, which never strays too far from the familiar film, whilst the second act opens up into a barrage of musical numbers which are unyielding from the opening number right up until the curtain falls, bringing the crown to their feet in thunderous approval.

With Strictly Come Dancing riding high in the public consciousness, the UK premiere of Strictly Ballroom is well timed, and proves just as undemanding but far more enjoyable than its nearest television counterpart. Whilst underneath the glitz, glam and gayness of it all, there is a rather corny Pygmalion-eque love story, this is one evening at the theatre that is more about the joy of the journey rather than the destination. Cheesy, tongue in cheek and with a distinct flavour of both irony and homage to the art form, it’s a smile inducing spectacle, and one can only hope that a national tour will follow.

Musicals really don’t come any gayer than this, and the show is a piece of unadulterated, joyous, feel-good theatre.

Strictly Ballroom is currently playing at West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds until 21st January 2017. For tickets, further information and details of their new season, visit their website at www.wyp.org.uk or call the box office on 0113 213 7700

8th December 2016
Is Adam Lambert due to perform at the X Factor final?

We’re hearing reports that American Idol legend Adam Lambert could be performing on the final of X Factor UK… We’re very very excited.

Apparently, Adam Lambert could be joining Saara Aalto on stage this coming weekend for the now famous “duets” part of the final. Adam is just returning from a very successful stint as a judge on the Austrailian version of X Factor. However, producers for the UK version of the show are remaining tight-lipped about the rumours.

Saara Aalto has become firm favourite to win the competition despite an incredibly rocky start to the competition. She was a wildcard entry for her mentor, Sharon Osborne, and for the first few weeks was forced to sing for her position in the competition after failing to get the voting public behind her. However, it’s all change as she’s become one of the most talked about singers this season – especially with the news that she’s now engaged to be married to her girlfriend, Meri.

©Thames / Syco

If Adam Lambert joins the finalists this Saturday he would join a handful of stars who have graced the X Factor stage for the usually very successful duets part of the final. Past megastars who have joined contestants include Rihanna who sang with Matt Cardle and Beyoncé who sang with Alexandra Burke, both finalists became the winners of the competition.

Adam Lambert rose to fame during the 2009 series of American Idol, where he placed runner-up. He’s gone on to release three albums and sold millions of records around the globe. Earlier this year he celebrated his success on Spotify after clocking up over 100,000,000 streams of his music.

7th December 2016
FILM REVIEW | The Pass

★★★★ | The Pass

CREDIT: Grapevine Digital

Two footballer players end up scoring with each other in Ben A. Williams feature film debut The Pass, which was recently featured at London’s BFI Film Festival.

The Pass take place in a ten-year time span which tracks the relationship between two Premiership football players. There’s always been some kind of chemistry and attraction between James (an electric and very good Russell Tovey) and Ade (Arinzé Kene – Hollyoaks – also very good). We meet both of them while they’re sharing a hotel room in 2006 in Bulgaria right before one of their first big matches. They’re both very young, and they’re also both very fit, masculine and extremely sexy, and they spend the first third of the movie in their tight white underwear.

James and Ade are talking lads stuff, having a laugh about other players, and watching a video that was taken of another player having sex. The sex talk continues, and the banter goes something like ‘getting as hard as your sister sitting on my face.’ They’re playing around with each other; it’s hot, it’s erotic, it gets brutal and homophobic, plus, we find out later, it leads to more than just talk.

The Pass takes us beyond the hotel room to tell us the story of the relationship between these two men, but especially about the relationship James has with himself. He’s all man, a star footballer, with all the trappings of stardom; money, women, celebrity, and eventually a wife with two kids. But he’s also battling with his sexuality, and even though he buys whatever, and whomever, he wants when he wants it, the thing he wants most is out of his reach. And when he’s questioned about his sexuality by a woman who has been paid to videotape having sex with him, he wants to go through with it, just to prove to the world (and obviously to himself) that he’s not gay. He’s a man who is not able to accept who he is and who he really wants to be with.

The Pass is 88 minutes of purely charged up adrenaline. It’s a movie that’s full of dialogue, dialogue that goes from playful banter to sexually-charged hi-jinks, up to and including the final third scene of the movie, which involves a hotel bellboy that’s a bit over the top. But it’s not to take away from a movie that brings up a real issue – that there is not one out gay football player in the game now.

Let’s hope this film opens up the dialogue that it’s fine for a player to come out of the closet. Originally produced for the Royal Court Theatre in 2014, The Pass makes an excellent transition to the big screen. Kene brings a real toughness kindled with a bit of softness to his role, but it’s Tovey who owns the movie. He’s never been better; his James is battling with his sexuality while at the same time trying to uphold his image. Tovey is electrifying and is at the top of his game. This is one pass that you have to catch.

The Pass is out in cinemas this Friday.

7th December 2016