Sunday 16 May 2010

week 8

''I hate poor people!'' shouts one of the diners at the Riot Club, a privileged dining society at Oxford University for rich kids. They dress up, get drunk, trash a dining room, abuse a waitress and beat up the landlord – because in the end they can get away with all that by leaving some cash. Or do they? This is a synopsis of the new superb play Posh by Laura Wade, based on the infamous Bullingdon Club of which Cameron, Johnson and Osborne all were members. For me, two hours spent at the Royal Court watching this brilliantly acted show were the best theatre experience this month.

Nearly as impressive was The White Guard at the National based on Bulgakov's work. This is a story of a pro-tsarist family trapped in Kiev just before the Bolsheviks take the city. Bulgakov shows the essence of the Russian people – humour, family values, forced chameleonism and, of course, treating vodka as water. It is my third encounter with Bulgakov and I must say he charmed me with his satire and insight into the human nature.

Thankfully I managed to see Van Doesburg and the International Avant-Garde at the Tate before it closed today. I absolutely loved the paintings constructed from primary colours and clear shapes, bursting with joy.

As the Cannes film festival is in full swing, I treated myself with the winner of last year's Palm d'Or – M.Haneke's The White Ribbon. It is an illustration of life in a small German village before WWI, tainted by cruel crimes happening without reason. The White Ribbon, filmed in black and white, is definitely one of the best movies from the last decade.

Also this week: really wanted to enjoy Peter Pan in the dark Scottish National Theatre production, but felt bored and, again, the same with Gergiev conducting Turangalila for LSO – wanted to like it, but spooky ondes martenot sounds made it a sci-fi soundtrack.

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