The sun streams through the glass
as if trying to set the paper doilies
on our wooden bench
alight or at least spark into life
the broadsheet news that lays between us
and the sway of information,
the language barrier breaking down,
between the forties and the roaring
twenty-something who between them
understand that love is not
an emotion that signifies sex.
The sound of belly-ache
laugh ripples untidily
across the rip tide of tea
and the thought of cinema
going on overhead;
Liverpool Sound and Vision Review 7/10
Cast: John Turturro, Woody Allen, Sharon Stone, Sofia Vergara, Vanessa Paradis, Lieb Schreiber, Max Casella, Aida Turturro, Michael Badalucco, Aurélie Claudel, Loan Chabanol.
Fading Gigolo he maybe in a film but there is nothing faded, jaded or withered about John Turturro as a writer or as a film maker.
When Fioravante, John Turturro, helps purveyor of old and rare books Murray, Woody Allen, help finally close his shop due to the economic times we live in, it sets of a chain of events that sees the two impoverished men turn the tide slightly back in their favour by the under-discussed subject of prostitution for rich female clients.
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
There are many places in which the soul may take you during the hours of dark in Liverpool. The abundance of theatres is only beaten by advantage that London has in its sheer size and with a venue to fit almost every occasion and almost every band that could ever hope to find its way to the city that defines culture in England. The night life is there for the taking. What happens during the day light hours when those who find solace in the brightly lit confines of the theatre or music venue find themselves in the heart of the city and in need of a different type of comfort, namely the pleasant surroundings of somewhere that offers good food and refreshment?
Alan Hewitt leans back on the chair in FACT and smiles, a man wistful with memories of gigs and stories which culminated in his book on Steve Hackett, the Genesis guitarist who has carved out perhaps the most productive solo career of all those that made Genesis one of the finest Progressive Rock bands to hail from the U.K. being enjoyed rightly by the multitude. Sketches of Hackett is a book of immense value and warmth and just chatting to him, time seems to lose its meaning as the 20 minute time limit we set ourselves becomes muddled and extended until we have broached the subject of almost every Steve Hackett solo album and his contribution to the richness of the second and third period of the Genesis era.
Richie Grice cuts a commanding but ultimately loveable figure as he sits before you. His love of comedy radiates outwards from the very time you meet him and he certainly knows his stuff and his ready laugh is easy and a joyous thing to hear whenever you mention something that tickles his own funny bone.
With rehearsals well under way for Bon Voyage at The Epstein Theatre, which stars the superb Lindzi Germain and the legendary Mickey Finn, I was able to catch ten precious minutes with the man who co-wrote the play with Paul Nicholson at The Garden at FACT and ask him his thoughts on the play and on comedy.
FACT has always been at the forefront of thought provoking and innovative style and technology. Whether it is the astonishing installations they have had in their building including a look at the use of fracking, or the relaxing atmosphere of the Garden at FACT, there is seemingly nothing better than making the use of this ground-breaking building can do.
Now for two nights only, Friday 6th and Saturday 7th September, FACT is bringing the Merseyside public Ready to Cloud. Using theatrical fog, a hacked launch pad, motion recognition technology and a high speed internet connection to Bauhaus Dessau, Germany Ready to Cloud allows visitors to step inside the digital cloud which floats above us all and interact with a person on the other side of the continent.
The Malmaison may have seen many sights in its short while in the city but the hotel and the staff could be forgiven if the sight of Gotham City’s finest crime fighting unit, Batman and Robin, handing out the programme of events ahead of the launch of this year’s Liverpool Pride to all, was one that had by-passed them…until today.
The reason for the dynamic duo, in reality Matt Belfield as Bruce Wayne’s alter ego and Dan Hicklin, suitably attired as his partner Robin, was soon apparent as Liverpool Pride this year will take over the City Centre superhero style on Saturday 3rd August.