Daily Archives: May 28, 2011

In A Forest Dark and Deep

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A new play by American playwright Neil LaBute, In A Forest, Dark And Deep tells the story of a sibling rivalry which takes you to some very dark and nasty corners which you certainly don’t see coming. All throughout the play (over an hour and a half straight with no interval) there are some serious dark undertones (encouraged by the storm raging on set) which keeps you on edge as you wonder where Neil is taking you. Olivia Williams is Betty who is packing up her “holiday home”. She calls her brother, Bobby (Matthew Fox) to help her out. Only, he can’t quite understand why he has called her – they have never got along and even with the first few words they are soon bickering and arguing. She is a college dean, an intellectual, settled, with children. He is a sexist carpenter anti-intellectual. As the play moves on slowly slowly secrets, dark secrets, of immorality and hidden desires are revealed.

The play is at once intriguing and uncomfortable. Because of the subject matter and the intensity of the performances, credit to Matthew Fox and Olivia Williams for delivering a very engaging performances, and because we were right in their vision it almost felt like you were a dirty little voyeur, or at best a third wheel on a very involved date. I’m not sure I walked out of the play liking either character, which happens when you play along the edges of morality, but I did walk out liking both of the actors. The best parts of this dark disturbing play.

Fast Five

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Honestly I don’t even remember watching Fast & Furious (that’s Fast 4) but let’s be honest you don’t really need to know too much of the back story to fully enjoy any of the movies in the “The Fast and The Furious” franchise – you just have to enjoy slick cars, fine men, hot gals and heist / trickster storylines. Fast Five opens with Vin Diesel being broken out of his prison transport bus by Jordana Brewster and Paul Walker. They escape to Rio where the rest of this movie is set. They find themselves out of money so help out on a job heist to lift three cars from a train. In short there’s a sort of double-cross and the trio end up with the car which has something very important in it – so important that the drug king pin of Rio would do anything to get it back. Of course the DEA get involved … and welcome to The Rock. He is the man. I swear – total chemistry when The Rock and Vin Diesel are onscreen (and not in a g*y way!) You’d think that two big actors like that onscreen would be a total fizzle but they are absolutely awesome together. Love those guys.

Fast & Furious differs slightly from the rest of the franchise in the sense that there is less focus on the street-racing scene and more on the heist angle, think of an Italian Job and Ocean’s Eleven mash-up. The one surprise of the movie was that it was really long – you don’t often get action movies going beyond the 90 minute mark, guess they had a load of action and “story” to fit in.

Its got a giant cast (google if you really care to know) but kudos definitely to the cast for not taking it all too seriously. The movie was hot on action but it was also very entertaining and funny. Did I mention that the cast are particularly attractive in this movie – people-wise and car-wise! Movie was also a laugh a minute and it certainly had some memorable quotes. My favourite:

Roman Pearce: Sexy legs, baby girl. What time do they open?
Gisele: [pulls her gun on Roman] They open at the same time I pull this trigger. Want me to open them?

Ha!

Look out for the hook at the end of the movie after the “first” set of credits.

Another Day out with James

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Another theatre date with James today – this time to see In A Forest Dark and Deep. My sole reason for seeing this show was Matthew Fox. Most recently seen in Lost though I still remember him best as being a heath-throb from his Party of Five days. Day tickets to In A Forest Dark and Deep were £10 from 10am … we got to the theatre as early as we got there for Children’s Hour but that proved to be too early – clearly this play wasn’t as popular! Still, we were rewarded for our patience with front row tickets smack bang in the centre. The Vaudeville Theatre is good for the front row as the stage isn’t too high so you’re not killing your next like at other venues.

So, time to kill before the matinee meant we had time for some brekkie and a movie! I’d planned it a better this time around!

Brekkie, or brunch, was at The Breakfast Club in soho. Whilst not exactly a chain of restaurants The Breakfast Club has gotten so popular that it has expanded to four venues across London and although three of the venues are now in the cooler /edgier East London, the Soho is the original. True to its name its signature is breakfast – from full English to Eggs Benedict to cross-overs with pancakes and huevos rancheros. Lines are often out the door and around the corner, and with only about 20 covers on the generous side the wait can be very long. Luckily for James and I our visit was timed to perfection and a table cleared just as we walked in the door. Service at The Breakfast Club is friendly and accommodating. They’re not concerned with pushing you out the door either, which is a plus when you’re already seated, and a major negative when you’re waiting in line!

The food is pretty awesome if I do say so myself although I can only talk about our breakfasts. James tried the Huevos Rancheros (Fried eggs, tortilla, refried beans, chorizo, salsa, sour cream and guacamole) on for size and I couldn’t deny the call of the All American (Pancakes, eggs, sausage, hashbrowns, streaky bacon and maple syrup.) Portions are absolutely massive and though the pancake wasn’t the lightest nor fluffiest I’ve ever had everything around it was quite delicious – in particular the hashbrowns which were more of a roasted potato mixed in with very sweet onions/shallots. They have a great range of smoothies and juices and, if the calories in the breakfast weren’t enough for you, the shakes menu includes the likes of The Elvis (Peanut Butter and Banana – that one is for next time!) and Cadbury’s Caramel. A fun venue for brunch.