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A Man For All Seasons: Seagull True Story - Marylebone Theatre

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It's not often that you see a play that tells you not so much a story but gives you a sense of how it feels to be in a situation, how it feels to be silenced, how it feels to be marginalised, how the dead hand of consensus stifles your creativity. However, in Seagull True Story, created and directed by Alexander Molochnikov and based on his own experiences fleeing Russia and trying to establish himself in New York, we have a chance to look beyond the headlines and understand how the war in Ukraine impacted a a group of ordinary creatives in Russia. And how the gradual smothering of freedom and freedom of expression becomes impossible to resist, except for the brave or the suicidal. Against the backdrop of Chekhov's The Seagull, which explores love and other forms of disappointment, it presents a gripping and enthralling depiction of freedom of expression in the face of adversity. After playing earlier this year in New York, it plays a limited run at the Marylebone Theatre . Fro...

Music: Daniel Boys

Thanks to a large volcanic ash cloud which stranded Johnnyfox in New York (not that he minded by his tweets), I was lucky to catch Daniel Boys at Pizza on the Park Thursday evening. Daniel has appeared in various shows including Avenue Q and has recently released an album  So Close, that has become very popular...

All of this has given him the opportunity to showcase his talents and charm in the intimate space of Pizza on the Park. It was Daniel, a great band and an audience. An audience that appeared to be mostly very appreciative women. There must be something about his boyish charm, enthusiasm and lovely vocals that drives women crazy. While they weren't throwing an underwear on stage I wondered whether this was simply because they weren't wearing any.

Anyway, Daniel performed mostly on a stool behind a music stand and looked loveable. This might have seemed a bit odd if you were directly in front of him (unless you like singing music stands), but fortunately I was off to the side. What was nice about the performance was his ability to give a fresh interpretation to a number of songs I had heard many times before. And of course he sounded great. I would prefer if artists could avoid the songs of John Bucchino and go for something lighter and fresher sometimes, but I guess you can't have everything.

Daniel stayed around signing autographs and his album is a treat. But so is seeing him live. This series has sold out but he is appearing at other venues later in the year... Pizza on the Park closes this June and while I will miss the eighties decor, I suppose all good things have to come to an end... As the audioboos suggest, while the men at my table weren't about to throw their underwear, good times were had by all. And it wasn't just the wine talking (hic).

Listen!
via AudioBoo

Listen!
via AudioBoo

Listen!
via AudioBoo

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