Very enjoyable adaptation of ex-Labour MP Chris Mullin's diaries of the New Labour era. The actor playing Mullin manages to keep the pace going throughout and the supporting actors can somehow capture the array of other MP's who make an appearance.
What was the feeling I left the theatre with? That Tony Blair, who let's be honest none of us ever trusted, was an outstanding politician with the gift of being able to communicate and connect with people on a personal basis and on the big stage. He also had the advantage that no Labour leader has ever had before of a huge majority in parliament... and what did he do? He blew it by being too conservative, and more tragically, by getting into bed with the most right wing president in America's history! And after taking us into a disasterous war that costs hundreds of thousands of lives on the back of dodgy evidence that had been 'sexed up' we now read in the Financial Times weekend magazine that he feels it is time for him to return for a big new role. Tony, do you honestly think so? At least it makes you appreciate what Harold Wilson achieved in the 1960's by managing to keep the UK out of Vietnam, even though, no doubt, he was under huge pressure to join in a 'coalition of the willing' or whatever stupid phrase they would've come up with, especially as the UK at the time still owed the USA a huge debt from WWII. Blair didn't even have that as an excuse.
Tuesday 3 July 2012
Monday 2 July 2012
Attila the Stockbroker at What's Cookin'
Birkbeck Tavern, Leyton, E10
With Michael Gove threatening to bring back O levels and then seeing that poet/musician Attila the Stockbroker (who’s 1st album I bought many years ago) was due to play just down the road from me it felt like back to the 1980’s. I was hoping to hear ‘Russian’s in the DHSS’, Attila’s ode to cold war paranoia in order to take me back to my days in the ‘department’. A long time ago, since when the Russian’s who were our enemies, have become our friends and are now back to, I’m not sure, wariness on both sides I think – an Orwellian shifting of alliances. It turns out however that worringly it’s me and the odious Gove who have nostalgia in common, Attila on the other hand is always moving on, tackling the latest outrage such as 'Bye Bye Banker' about the recent financial scandals . His poems are still angry, political and above all humorous, the subjects are often personal, for example moving poems about his mother’s dementia and subsequent death and then moving onto his aunt coming to visit his mother, ‘Poison Pensioner ‘ which magnificently deals with the difficulty of dealing with a relative whose views he finds abhorrent and then a poem about his relationship with his stepfather who he came to like and respect after many years during his mother’s illness. I also particularly liked Comandante Joe, his ode to Joe Strummer, someone Attila never met but a lovely tribute to someone many of us still revere. Attila’s out on a nationwide tour soon, I recommend you catch him if you can.
http://www.attilathestockbroker.com/
With Michael Gove threatening to bring back O levels and then seeing that poet/musician Attila the Stockbroker (who’s 1st album I bought many years ago) was due to play just down the road from me it felt like back to the 1980’s. I was hoping to hear ‘Russian’s in the DHSS’, Attila’s ode to cold war paranoia in order to take me back to my days in the ‘department’. A long time ago, since when the Russian’s who were our enemies, have become our friends and are now back to, I’m not sure, wariness on both sides I think – an Orwellian shifting of alliances. It turns out however that worringly it’s me and the odious Gove who have nostalgia in common, Attila on the other hand is always moving on, tackling the latest outrage such as 'Bye Bye Banker' about the recent financial scandals . His poems are still angry, political and above all humorous, the subjects are often personal, for example moving poems about his mother’s dementia and subsequent death and then moving onto his aunt coming to visit his mother, ‘Poison Pensioner ‘ which magnificently deals with the difficulty of dealing with a relative whose views he finds abhorrent and then a poem about his relationship with his stepfather who he came to like and respect after many years during his mother’s illness. I also particularly liked Comandante Joe, his ode to Joe Strummer, someone Attila never met but a lovely tribute to someone many of us still revere. Attila’s out on a nationwide tour soon, I recommend you catch him if you can.
http://www.attilathestockbroker.com/
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