Angela Lansbury in the West End; Kate Winslet in Labor Day; Sebastian Barry's new novel
Angela Lansbury in Blithe Spirit, Kate Winslet in Labor Day, Veronese exhibition at the National Gallery, ITV's The Widower, and Temporary Gentleman by Sebastian Barry.
At the age of 88, Dame Angela Lansbury returns to the West End theatre playing Madam Arcati in a revival of Noel Coward's wartime comedy Blithe Spirit. On Broadway it was widely acclaimed - how will a UK audience, traditionally less adulatory - receive her exuberant performance?
Kate Winslet is an actress who can open and carry a movie; nobody denies her pull at the box office and skill on the screen. Her latest film 'Labor Day' is about an escaped prisoner (Josh Brolin) who ends up spending time on the run in her home. Can one of today's finest screen actresses convince us of the learning that takes place on both sides of the relationship?
Sebastian Barry won the 2008 Costa book prize for his novel The Secret Scripture. His latest work The Temporary Gentleman is a highly fictionalised version of the life of Barry's own grandfather. A young man is offered a commission in the British Army for the duration of The Second World War and this work brings turmoil into his personal life. Is this novel another potential award winner?
The exhibition by the sixteenth century painter Veronese at London's National Gallery includes works from art collections around the world which have never been seen together before. When he was working (at a prolific rate) he was one of the leading artists in Europe and later artists including Van Dyck, Rubens, Watteau and Delacroix depend upon his example. Will our reviewers be overwhelmed by this generous display of Renaissance Venetian art?
TV drama based on relatively recent real life events is a contentious subject. The Widower on ITV stars Sheridan Smith and Reece Shearsmith in the story of Malcolm Webster who murdered his first wife and attempted to murder his second. Does our familiarity with Shearsmith's gallery of grotesque oddballs mean we can see him as an ordinary man capable of doing ghastly things?Tom Sutcliffe is joined by Stephanie Merritt, Nicholas Barber and Susan Jeffreys.
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Blithe Spirit
Directed by Michael Blakemore,Β isΒ at the Gielgud Theatre in London until 7 June 2014.
The Temporary Gentleman
Veronese: Magnificence in Renaissance Venice
Labor Day
The Widower
Credits
Role | Contributor |
---|---|
Presenter | Tom Sutcliffe |
Interviewed Guest | Stephanie Merritt |
Interviewed Guest | Nicholas Barber |
Interviewed Guest | Susan Jeffreys |
Producer | Oliver Jones |
Broadcast
- Sat 22 Mar 2014 19:15Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
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Saturday Review
Sharp, critical discussion of the week's cultural events, with Tom Sutcliffe and guests