3/07/2012

The Arts Desk: Theatre, comedy and film reviews

By Catherine McCulloch


The Arts Desk covers a range of material from comedy programmes to Denzel Washington's latest production and Cheek by Joel's rendition of Jacobean tragedy. The Arts Desk's writers Adam Sweeting, Veronica Lee and Alexandra Coghlan dish the dirt on these different dramas.

The new film Safe House starring Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds is a top-selling thriller, which had Adam Sweeting questioning its success due to its unoriginal storyline and character base. The plot follows a CIA agent and officer as they escape the agency together when a list of spies come to light.

The story shows the endeavours of a CIA officer and agent who accidently reveal a secret spy list decide they want out. Although Sweeting enjoys the acting in addition to the directing by Daniel Espinosa, the poor character development made the film a disappointment. However, he recommends watching it if you're in the mood for a mindless film that doesn't require much thought process or analytical skill whatsoever.

Veronica Lee considered the BBC Two's new comedy sketch, featuring the great female comics Lorna Watson and Ingrid Oliver, to be one of the best comedy shows around. According to Lee, Watson & Oliver is similar to the wit throughout French and Saunders collaborations, creating high expectations for the duo and programme. A combination of live sketches and those that have been previously recorded, the series also incorporates appearances from celebrities as well as highlighting a well-balanced type of humour that compliments both acts, playing on their strengths as comedians.

The Arts Desk's Alexandra Coghlan considered Cheek by Jowl's version of 'Tis Pity She's a Whore to be the ultimate piece of theatre with very few flaws present. The play, which lasted for two hours, took place at the Barbican Theatre and is a modern take of John Ford's original Jacobean tragedy. There's plenty of debauchery in this teen horror flick filled with gothic flair including adultery, incest vampire tendencies and booze-fuelled sex.




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