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In early February The English Touring Theatre was at the Lyceum, Crewe with “HUSHABYE MOUNTAIN” by Jonathan Harvey (also responsible for the recent BBC2 Sitcom “Gimme Gimme Gimme”) This play concerns friendship, love and family relationships and how these are affected by illness and death. A group of friends is trying make sense of life following the death of their friend Danny from AIDS. His partner, Connor, is bereft, his brother is straighter than straight, his best friend Lana is Hysterical and his mum, Beryl, is in a mental hospital having visions of her bewinged son, languishing amongst cotton wool clouds outside the Pearly Gates, waiting to pass over to the after life. He is accompanied at this time by his guardian angel, Judy Garland (no less), knitting and lighting up the stars.

“Hushabye Mountain” take a look at a world learning to live with AIDS. It confronts serious issue of AIDS such as safer sex, combination therapies, survivor guilt and returning to work. It explores attitudes towards gay sexuality in particular. It was to have grave repercussions for the mental health of Danny’s mum when her husband issued an ultimatum on learning Danny was gay, that she support him or Danny. Death and loss, grieving but still needing to live in the here and now, hanging on to those we love but at the same time having to let go of them for the sake of our own mental health, are all issue which are dealt with sensitively and movingly.
Jonathan Harvey writes in a language for us all to understand. Go and see this play. You’ll cry, you’ll laugh until you cry and experience every other emotion in between. I saw this production on the first night, scene shifts were many and not very slick, but I pick nits. And I almost forgot, Andrew Lincoln aka ‘Egg’ from BBC’s “This Life” played the part of Danny, that’s not to single him out from the rest of the actors, it was an equally strong cast... .It’s just that I’m watching “This Life” for the first time on video and I thought it was an amazing coincidence, cos I really like ‘Egg’
Maureen Cuell

Newcastle Players at the Mitchell Memorial Theatre Hanley 26th April to 1st May 1999 An amateur production of this acclaimed play. A West End success! If you missed “Hushabye Mountain” reviewed above, this could be a consolation. It has a gay theme and the Daily Mail described it as “a play shot through with the most bounteuous comic invention and with moments so intensely moving they should make grown men cry.” - so take a box of tissues! - Ed

Elizabeth and Shakespeare in Love have been and enjoyed by many. We shall have to see how they fare in the Oscars awards. The next film which is essential viewing is Little Voice. There was an excellent production at Derby Playhouse of the play on which the film is based -it was terrific. Well by all accounts the film lives up to the same high standards.
The local film theatre says that it is an excellent adaptation of Jim Cartright’s play with impressive performances all round - particularly by Jane Horrocks in the role written for her. You can also catch the film at both Hanley commercial cinema complexes and no doubt in the South as well. It has already been screened at the Metro in Derby but to mark the centenary of Humphrey Bogart they are showing four of his greatest films throughout March. The African Queen, Key Largo, The Maltese Falcon and To Have and to Have Not. Full details are in the current Metro Brochure which is available at the Hanley centre or from their web site: http://www.derby.ac.uk/metro-cinema/

The new brochure for the Victoria Hall ‘The People’s Palace’ is now available. There would seem to be entertainments to cater for every taste. For those who love classical music there is the BBC Philharmonic on March 11th and 23rd April and a wonderful innovation, the “Aiming High” concert which is an award -winning project to raise the aspirations and ambitions of young people in North Staffordshire. There are two free public performances which feature the entire BBC Philharmonic, dancers from the Birmingham Royal Ballet and 450 North Staffordshire students. For details ring 01782 281666.
At the beginning of May (Sunday 2nd May) The State Opera of Wroclaw will perform a fully staged production of Verdi’s “Aida”. Middle of the road programmes include: “The Magic of the Musicals” starring Marti Webb, 17th march; “Top Brass” featuring The Band of the Prince of Wale’s Division and the Ceramic City Choir; BBC Big Band, 22nd March; Audley Male Voice Choir, 28th March;British Police Symphony Orchestra, 10th April; Red Army Band 20th April; Biddulph Male Voice Choir and the Band of the Royal Air Force Regiment, 25th April. There are too many live performances of much popular music to mention not only at the Victoria Hall but at the “Royal” and other venues as well.

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