Film
Cosmo Landesman and Edward Porter
For Your Consideration Christopher Guest could be accused of choosing
easy targets for this comedy about Hollywood types, but the shots he takes
at them are funny, and the performances of his regular troupe (Catherine
O’Hara, Harry Shearer, Fred Willard and co) are as skilful as ever. EP
12A, 86 mins
Infamous Confronted by the director Douglas McGrath’s Infamous, you
might be tempted to scream: “Not another Truman Capote film!” But this is
the funny side of Capote that we haven’t seen, and he is brilliantly
portrayed by Toby Jones. CL 15, 118 mins
Charlotte’s Web The broad comedy that this film adds to EB
White’s classic tale will be greatly enjoyed by children, and we get a
generally satisfying account of the book’s shrewd fable, in which a
word-loving spider tries to save the life of a barnyard pig. EP U, 97 mins
Notes on a Scandal Richard Eyre’s treatment of Zoë Heller’s tale of
love and betrayal is faithful, if uninspired. Barbara (Judi Dench), a lonely
schoolteacher, befriends her colleague Sheba (Cate Blanchett) — who is
having an affair with a 15-year-old pupil. Dench shines in an otherwise
mediocre film. CL 15, 92 mins
Theatre
Christopher Hart and John Peter
The Harder They Come Based on the 1970s Jamaican film about a “rude
bwoy” and his reggae dreams, with Jimmy Cliff classics including Many Rivers
to Cross and You Can Get It If You Really Want, this is the coolest musical
in town by miles. CH Theatre Royal Stratford East, E15
The Seagull Christopher Hampton’s new version is a stately affair.
Kristin Scott Thomas is all icy, smiling egomania as Arkadina, and Mackenzie
Crook is convincing as Konstantin. It achieves all the depth the play
deserves. CH Royal Court, SW1
Happy Days Fiona Shaw gives a towering performance: less poetic, more
factual; less wistful, more robust. This is Beckett with a difference. The
word “great” comes to mind, and stays there. JP Lyttelton,
National, SE1
Art
Frank Whitford
Gilbert & George: Major Exhibition A career survey of unmistakable
photo-based, mural-sized works, whose stained-glass colours and simplified
forms grab the attention and lodge in the mind. It shows that to be
successful in today’s art world, you need a trademark. Weird behaviour and
outrageous statements help too. Tate Modern, SE1, until May 7
Gaudier-Brzeska and the Birth of Modern Sculpture Celebrating its 50th
anniversary, Kettle’s Yard concentrates on the French sculptor who dominates
its permanent collection, examining how his innovative work compares with
that of his contemporaries, Brancusi and Picasso among them. Kettle’s
Yard, Cambridge, until Mar 18
The Parrot in Art The Barber Institute’s brilliant director, Richard
Verdi, has two passions: art and parrots. So he’s indulging himself here.
And good on him, as it makes for a charming show, with works by Dörer, Goya,
Edward Lear and the greatest living parrot illustrator, Elizabeth
Butterworth. Barber Institute, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, until
Apr 29
Callum Innes: From Memory Excellent examples of the Scottish abstract
painter’s work over the past 15 years. Modern Art Oxford,
until Apr 15
Hogarth Am I right in thinking that we don’t recognise Hogarth’s
greatness as a painter — as opposed to his brilliance as a printmaker? His
etchings are exhibited here, but so are paintings such as the Election
series and The Shrimp Girl. A satisfying anthology. Tate Britain, SW1,
until Apr 29
Francis Bacon in St Ives It may come as a surprise that Bacon was ever
in St Ives, but he spent a few months there in 1959 and 1960, painting works
for his first show at Marlborough Fine Art. Some of them form the core of
this exhibition, which also includes pictures done just before and after
them. The period was definitely transitional — and the more interesting for
that. Tate St Ives, until May 13
Citizens and Kings The sitters alone sustain one’s interest, ranging
from George Washington to Richard Arkwright’s grandchildren, and the artists
are as varied as Reynolds, Goya and Delacroix. It is fascinating to follow
the course of portraiture from baroque to Romantic. Royal Academy, W1,
until Apr 20
Canaletto in England The benefits of immigration are illustrated by
this display of 39 paintings of astonishingly detailed panoramas of London,
and views of stately homes, by the great Venetian artist, who came to London
in 1746, attracted by a lucrative market. Dulwich Picture Gallery, SE21,
until Apr 15
Opera
Hugh Canning
La bohãme This strongly cast revival of Steven Pimlott’s
“abstract”, modern-dress Bohãme for ENO has the diminutive Mary Plazas in
her first Puccini role in London since her triumph in Anthony Minghella’s
Madam Butterfly. Peter Auty sings Rodolfo, with Mark Stone and Giselle Allen
as Marcello and Musetta. Coliseum, WC2, Thu, Sat
Madam Butterfly David Freeman’s popular in-the-round staging of
Puccini’s Japanese tragedy, in David Roger’s water-garden set, comes round
again with new casts: Ai-Lan Zhu and Jee Hyun Lim share the title role, with
Gerard Powers and James Edwards as their Pinkertons, and Richard Burkhard
and Andrew Rupp as alternating American consuls. Peter Robinson conducts the
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Raymond Gubbay, Albert Hall, SW7, Thu-Sun
(Sat mat and eve)
Dance
David Dougill
The Bull Fabulous Beast Dance Theatre’s new work, by Michael
Keegan-Dolan, is a contemporary reinterpretation of an Irish literary epic,
set in a decor of peat moss. Barbican, EC2, from Wed until Mar 3
Dance at Sadler’s Wells An action-packed week: American Ballet
Theatre ends its visit with two programmes (today); the radical Australian
Dance Theatre opens a tour with the British premiere of its quick-fire
production Held (Tue, Wed); and Ballet Flamenco Eva Yerbabuena opens the
annual flamenco festival (from Fri to Feb 25). Sadler’s Wells, EC1
English National Ballet ENB tours a triple bill of Michael Corder’s
Melody on the Move, Christopher Hampson’s Sinfonietta Giocosa and David
Dawson’s A Million Kisses to My Skin (Tue, Wed); and Will Tuckett’s
adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s The Canterville Ghost (from Fri to Feb 25). Swan,
High Wycombe
Birmingham Royal Ballet BRB dances a triple bill of
Stravinsky/Balanchine ballets, Agon, Stravinsky Violin Concerto and Symphony
in Three Movements (Tue, Wed); and David Bintley’s Cyrano, with music by
Carl Davis (Thu-Sat). Lowry, Salford
Rambert Dance Company Our perception of the human body is the theme of
André Gingras’s Anatomica #3, set to music by Joseph Hyde and premiered on a
quadruple bill. Theatre Royal, Brighton, Fri, Sat
Concerts
Paul Driver
Marc-André Hamelin The Canadian pianist’s afternoon recital
comprises Beethoven’s sonatas in E, Op 109, and A flat, Op 110, and
Schubert’s B flat sonata, D960. QEH, SE1, today
CBSO Youth Orchestra Paul Daniel conducts Walton’s Spitfire Prelude and
Fugue, Korngold’s Violin Concerto (with the soloist Tasmin Little),
Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No 2 (Little Russian) and a new work by Tansy Davies. Symphony
Hall, Birmingham, tonight
Takacs Quartet The peerless string quartet play Haydn’s Quartet in G,
Op 77, No 1, Bartok’s Quartet No 1 and Brahms’s A minor quartet, Op 51, No
2. QEH, SE1, Sat
Pop
Mark Edwards
Maxïmo Park The combed-over postpunks return to the fray. A bigger
tour will start in April, when their second album, Our Earthly Pleasures, is
due. Stage 2, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Tue; Astoria, WC2, Wed
Simple Kid The brilliant Ciaran McFeely (and if you had a wonderful
name such as Ciaran McFeely, would you bother with a stage name?) supports
his new single, Lil’ King Kong. Joiners, Southampton, Sat
Union of Knives The Scottish rocktronica trio’s Violence &
Birdsong album was one of last year’s hidden gems. If you missed it, get to
one of these shows to hear the missing link between Radiohead and U2. Louisiana,
Bristol, tonight; Barfly, NW1, Mon; Faversham, Leeds, Wed; Barfly,
Birmingham, Thu; Roadhouse, Manchester, Fri; Social, Nottingham, Sat
Comedy
Stephen Armstrong
Ed Byrne Superb observational stand-up with a spiky, new-found
cynicism, as the smiley Byrne shows his darker side. Riverside Studios,
W6, until Mar 3
Dan Clark The Day iLost My iPod is a set of whimsical meanderings
through our dependence on gadgetry, with smart one-liners and nice set
pieces. Rondo Theatre, Bath, Fri
Russell Howard Effortless stand-up from the if.comeddies-nominated
comic. Soho Theatre, W1, Wed-Sat
