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The greatest show and other bromances: Adam Riches and John Kearns ARE Ball and Boe @sohotheatre

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Alfie Boe and Michael Ball seem to be a bit of a joke act anyway. Their endless interpretations of popular songs (also known as covers) and their double-act bromance make them quintessential crossover artists where popular music meets opera and Broadway. And a perilous choice for the discerning listener. It’s not that they aren’t talented musicians and performers in their own right. Still, their musical choices are always safe, predictable and less than their potential. But every country deserves to have a pair of self-described national treasures that can tour the local arenas and give people a good time for the bargain price of £175 a seat.  And so the concept of Adam Riches and John Kearns - two world-famous from the Edinburgh Fringe comedians taking on this bromance seems like a curious choice for a Christmas musical fare. One can only hope that over the fourteen nights, it is playing at the Soho Theatre that the show evolves into something more substantial than a series of po...

Dance: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre


Source: http://www.alvinailey.org

In a week with a head cold from hell (which meant no gym, a lot of rest, and no socialising), it was somewhat of a relief to get out and see Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre at Sadlers Wells on Saturday night. Arriving at the theatre with the above artwork plastered all over the theatre (and most of Islington), I expected little was spent on the costume budget. But in a programme set to legendary jazz music, it turned out to not be the case. This was a bit of a relief as after a week of coughing and spluttering who needs to have somebody else's physical fitness rubbed in your face?

After the first interval I caught up with Fliss who was there with her posse. Fliss signed up to see the show on the strength of a viral video that was doing the rounds in the past month. I was there just for the artistic enrichment (plus I got a great seat at good price). Well that's my story and I'm sticking to it. Anyway I joined them the first interval onwards as a seat filler in the stalls. And while the view of the stage wasn't as good, the view of the stalls was much better and there were some pretty nice views there... Fliss and I also managed to bitch about some of the production team seating by who only vaguely managed to resemble their photos in the programme.

Anyway I digress... Setting dance to the music of Duke Ellington and others can only be a good thing and it was a great evening. I was even grooving along at various points. Afterwards I passed on a chance to dine with the posse in favour of more drinking and more jazz... It was probably not the best idea after a decongestant with pseudoephedrine (and may have explained the in-seat grooving) but what the hell. Regardless of what substances I was under the influence of, it still was a great night. They are in London until the end of this week before touring the rest of the UK. Definitely one to catch... And most of the seats at Sadlers Wells are pretty good...

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