Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood

"Like a fool, I fell in love with you. You turned my whole world upside down"

On 27th May, I attended The Royal Albert Hall in London, and was privileged enough to be a member of the audience witnessing the phenomenal and dynamic performance from Eric Clapton, founder of the super-group Cream, alongside Steve Winwood, lead vocalist of Traffic. With high expectations and the hope of hearing a variety of classic and well-loved songs from both artists, I most definitely was not disappointed.

The two-hour-plus set opened with a captivating performance of the song Had to Cry Today originally from the band Blind Faith's self-titled album (1969), which consisted of both Clapton and Winwood, along with fellow band members Ginger Baker and Ric Grech, the track immediately displayed the strength, talent, and excitement which would continue from this opening number throughout the concert. This enticing performance was followed by songs Low Down, After Midnight, Presence of the Lord, Glad, and Well Alright.

Blind Faith

Intertwined within Clapton and Winwood's set were a couple of surprises and highlights; namely in the inclusion of the Muddy Waters classic Hoochie Coochie Man, and a cover of Jimi Hendrix's Voodoo Chile. Before this Hendrix classic was played the audience were already up on their feet from The Spencer Davis Group's song Gimme Some Lovin', and the buzz that filled the room continued from the opening riff of Voodoo Chile. In my opinion seeing and hearing Slow-hand, one of the best guitarists to grace the world, perform an anthem originally performed by another outstanding guitar-player was unbelievable; Clapton and Winwood both certainly did this song more than justice. Other personal highlights for me, were of the presentation of the songs Layla and Cocaine, the awesome guitaring and the catchy and fantastic lyrics sung so powerfully just emphasised how exceptional Clapton is as both a writer and a performer.

Other songs that were performed to the sold out Royal Albert Hall were: While You See a Chance, Key to the Highway, Midland Maniac, Crossroads, Georgia on My Mind, Driftin', That's No Way to Get Along, and Can't Find My Way Home. The incredible set finished with a performance of Dear Mr Fantasy, initially from Traffic, had the audience on their feet once again and the buzz vibrating throughout the Hall which displayed just how electrifying and satisfying the incredible duo performed for their masses of fans this night, and I am sure for the rest of their shared dates of the tour.

It is absolutely fitting that both Clapton and Winwood would grace the stage together at the would famous Royal Albert Hall; both the arena and artists as fantastic as the other.

"I went down to the crossroads, fell down on my knees".

The Great Gatsby (2012)

In 2012, Baz Luhrmann, director of William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet (1996), and Moulin Rouge (2001), is set to direct, produce, and write the screenplay for F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel published in 1925, The Great Gatsby.

The Great Gatsby is a story set in Long Island's North Shore and in New York City during the 1920s. Without revealing too much, the tale is told through the conscious narrative voice of Nick Carraway, a Yale graduate, who moves to New York and next-door to the eccentric Jay Gatsby, a millionaire. Regardless of the elaborate and opulent parties he throws every Saturday, Gatsby is dissatisfied, and Carraway discovers why. Gatsby has always been in love with Daisy, and although the feelings are reciprocal, she is married to someone else, Tom Buchanan. Through the lives of such characters, the tale explores the damning and insightful concepts of "The American Dream" in that era.

Leonardo DiCaprio

Casting for Luhrmann's film is indeed a treat for movie fans with a large well-known cast of actors. Leonardo DiCaprio, who also featured as 'Romeo' sixteen years previously in Luhrmann's film, is set to play Jay Gatsby. With Tobey Maguire, the leading-role in the Spider-Man Trilogy (2002-7), as Carraway, and Carey Mulligan, 'Winnie Gekko' in Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (2010), as the female lead of Daisy Buchanan.

Carey Mulligan

 

The film will clearly be compared to the Oscar-winning adaptation of the novel by Jack Clayton in 1974, and in particular the passion demonstrated by Robert Redford and Mia Farrow will be a challange to better.
Although, it is a certainty that the acting greatness of DiCaprio and Mulligan is set to make this film as captivating as it could be.

Obviously, I personally cannot wait for this movie to be released as I am a major fan of the novel, and I love Luhrmann's direction.
Bring on 2012!


Skins: Series 5

The teenage BAFTA-winning show, Skins, began its fifth series on 27th January.With a brand new cast and the challenge of fulfilling the drug-infused, love-lusting, crazy-raving that began three years prior to the new series, Skins had a lot to live up to.

The show, set in Bristol, brought its viewers a variety of "cliche" characters, who unlike before are not all in the same clique of friends. Uniquely, the character of 'Franky', played by The Golden Compass (2007) actress Dakota Blue Richards, is different to other protagonists of the show before, in that she is the "outsider" - the new girl, whose efforts to fit-in are somewhat tainted from the onset, as seen from the tragic times she spent in her previous school. It appears from the first episode that the audience will witness dramatic changes and potential character growth in Franky; this is hinted at from the mysterious guy, actor Sebastian De Souza, whom she meets and calls her 'beautiful'.

Franky Fitzgerald

The plot also contains the unoriginal "Mean Girls" (2004) in Mini, the "Queen Bee", played by Freya Mavor, and her two followers. More reminiscent from the Mark Waters film, is the imitated scene where stolen pictures from Franky's laptop are spread across the school; the ultimate scandal of the bully. Personally, there are far more unique ways to demonstrate such behaviour as bullying, and predictability becomes less and less watchable.

Mini McGuinness

Nonetheless, within the first episode, the talent can be seen from the British young actors. Already, I have a slight dislike to the character of Mini, and have got a soft spot for Alexander Arnold's character, 'Rich Hardbeck', music snob and metal head.

As it is only the first episode, I do not believe Skins Series 5 should be written off just yet, as the easy-watching and appealing show always manages to bring a lot of laughs and some good fun.

I personally will look forward to the second episode!

Wicked: The Hit Musical

"The Untold Story of the Witches of Oz"

On Saturday 15th January, sitting in Row A of the Dress Circle at London's Apollo Victoria Theatre, I waited for the musical phenomenon of Wicked to begin. I had read some great reviews of the show, and everyone that I know who had seen it, had thoroughly enjoyed its spectacular performance, so obviously I had high expectations which were more than fulfilled.

Directed by Joe Mantello, the exciting plot is based on the novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (1995) by author Gregory Maguire. The show explores the untold tale of the "Good" Witch Glinda, played by Louise Dearman, and the "Wicked" Witch Elphaba, played by runner-up in the 2008 hit BBC television show I'd do Anything, Rachel Tucker. The musical begins with the announcement that the "Wicked Witch is Dead!", and the shocking discovery that 'Gaaaalinda' was, in fact, very good friends with green-skinned Elphaba; the show develops by depicting how the two complete opposites became friends, and their lives up until the demise of the Wicked Witch.



The climatic moment in the musical, in my opinion, is when Tucker (pictured above) and Dearman sing the most popular and well-known song from the show, Defying Gravity, which occurs just before the intermission. From this captivating and powerful performance, it is obvious that Tucker was made for this role, and in a way, was a positive thing that she did not achieve the role of 'Nancy' over Jodie Prenger two and a half years ago. The staging and scenery of the musical is escalated in this song where Tucker, dramatically, ends up floating/flying through the air. Other personal favourite songs from the show are Popular, The Wizard and I, and I'm Not That Girl.

As well as the phenomenal actresses cast to play the Witches from the fantasy-land, Lee Mead (pictured below), winner of BBC's Any Dream Will Do in 2007, played Fiyero, the love-interest of both Glinda and Elphaba.

The plot ties up all of the lose ends which the original concept, The Wizard of Oz, does not; the audience discovers how the scarecrow, lion, and tin-man, were transformed into such beings. Wicked brings an alternative story to the popular fairytale, and with the fantastic costume variety, exciting actors, and the "magic" of Oz, it is almost predetermined that the musical will continue its ongoing success for many more years to come, enthralling audiences for a long time yet.

"It's all about popular! It's not about aptitude, it's the way you're viewed. So it's very shrewd to be very very popular, like me!"