COMEDY OF ERRORS at the GFT

The Comedy of Errors is a classic play in the Aristotle sense.

The play is about bonds and relationships , and as the end imparts , the old values will trump any transient and modish values of the age.To that end the modern setting of contemporary London is apt as it enhances the universal aspects of Humanity that transcends ages and time.Values that are as important to us and they were to Shakespeares time and to times ancient to his contemporaries.

The video below highlights the more slap-stick aspects of the play we all know and love in our time in programmes like "Frasier".



The play stars Lenny Henry , not a miscasting if his past record of familiarity in Shakespearean roles is known.


This review in the Daily Mail gives a fair reflection of how his portrayal impressed many critics.

The Comedy of Errors is a valuable work to know as it comes at an age when feudal society was giving way to industrialisation;commodification;military-blockbuilding ; crippling debt governing life and actions and early capitalism , time this was the biggest challenge to the universal Human Family and Community Bonds.Just like Cormac McCarthys "The Road" investigates , this play tells us Family Values will ultimately trump the destructive mores and morals of capitalism and its attendant monetarist moral values.


The last lines of the play contain its lesson , not much different to the lesson of Timshel contained in Steinbecks "East of Eden",namely "We came into the world like brother and brother; And now let's go hand in hand, not one before another."

FLECK at the ORAN MOR

Set in the top floor of the church Alisdair Gray has renovated in a secular spiritual astrological thematic scheme which fits in well with the sparse design and lends extra gravity to the freshly restored stone carved heads of religious thinkers in 16th and 17th century.Virtually all the figures commemorated were either educated in German Universities , or studied under scholars who did , showing the link between Germanic education in the Scottish academic heritage which sets its institutions apart from the English model.In most areas the Scottish system is regarded , and certainly was in the 17th century when unification took place , as superior to the English ad-hoc model.This is why Scottish influence , and Scots themselves , exerted a professionalism and fast-track dynamic in the administration and management of the Trade;Banking models and macro-Government technical expertise which led to the establishment of what ultimately became the British Empire.

Fleck is Alistair Grays version of the classic tale of Faust.The cast in this play featured many famous names in the world of letters including Louise Welsh , Zoe Strachan , Alan Bissett and Chiew-Shah Tei.

Alistair Grays version of Faust follows the basic outline of Goethe classic version, but does diverge in some important aspects , as Gray explains in the video below:



Faust early historical development started of as a warning not to ignorantly break out of divinely defined parameters and go on a journey of material moral-less fancy knowledge which can lead to devilish harm and ideologies.

In Goethe version Faust has the opposite paradox , the persuit of the essence of existence and how to come to Divine realisation using only material knowledge.

Gray also uses rhyme , but his main character has a moral clash with the corporate world.Ultimately Grays Faust triumphs over the devils advocate by choosing death instead of giving in to pressure to conform to all the dirty tricks big power can bring to bear.

HARRY PAPADOPOULOS PHOTO EXHIBITION at the STREET LEVEL GLASGOW

This superbly organised ,and attended, photographic exhibition explored the period between 1979-1985 , a period in which i started to attend my first concerts and buying records with my saved up pocket money.

This period was dominated mainly by the New Wave of Heavy Metal and the perennial progressive rock bands.The event i attended dealt with the Glasgow orientated local scene which made it big for a while with bands such as Orange Juice.They were a bit lightweight for me , i didnt really give them a second glance , nor regret doing so.Out of this generation one excellent band did come out called Aztec Camera , i saw them live at The Barrowlands and very good they were too.I dont recall what year i saw them but it was the tour in which the lead singer Roddy Frame was support in the form of an acoustic set , then coming on with the full band for the main set.

Harry Papadopoulos most iconic photo is one featuring Aztec Camera:



Another well regarded photo is of Vic Godard:

UN CUENTO CHINO ( CHINESE TAKE-AWAY) at the GLASGOW FILM FESTIVAL

The classic test if a film is truly great is if it would stand up if performed live on a theatre stage.A lot of Hollywood films would fail this test with flying colours , even if they come up with a , sometimes literal,smokescreen of special superficial effects.The film format them adds the unique ingredient of close up facial and situational effects that makes for a magical experience.

This film passes with style such a test.It is hard to believe , as the opening credits testify, this is based on a true story.No surprise it has won many Film Festival awards and was put up for no less than 14 Argentinean Oscars.

This is a story of bonds of commitment and not turning your back on pledges and responsibilities.





This review in The Variety misses several fundamental themes and points in what , unlike the review, is a well rounded , balanced film in which points fall into place once you think back knowing what you know about the main characters early history.

FINISTERRAE at the GLASGOW FILM FESTIVAL

"A weirdly blend of high art and low comedy" was the description by the Hollywood Reporter , and others suggested it was pretentious.To me that is a must see mix.

The intriguing , surreal outline of the plot would be temptation enough for one to watch this creation.Two Russian ghosts break away from an art installation in Barcelona and head to the Western Tip of Galicia , The Lands End of the Iberian Peninsula , The End of the World in both physical and metaphorical ways.In between there are strange , difficult and trial laden fixes and states and the spirits cross many landscapes and landmarks.

The video below gives some indications , and also a glimpse of a surreal soundtrack with music by the apt name of Suicide.



An ultimate cult , which is a euphemism for youll either love it or loath it , life road movie.

And here is The Hollywood Reporter review which captures the film well.

KHODORKOVSKY at the GLASGOW FILM FESTIVAL

A film about an Oligarch is always going to be a portrayal giving uneasy feelings about how much sympathy you can endear to an internal process power made figure purporting to be a champion of the common man.It a bit like a Rangers fan knocking lumps out of another Rangers fan in what we in Glasgow call Hun-On-Hun Action.Whoever is being hit gives one pleasure , and if they give each other as good as they get then it gives one self-satisfying justified pleasure.

Khodorkovsky ( pronounced without the "K") became a neo-billionaire when his early Komsomol connections ( The Soviet Communist Party Youth Wing) give him privileged inside access to the corridors of power when the former Soviet Union was giving out tenders for its Industries and Natural resources under the Yeltsen leadership.It was not unusual for an insider to buy a company for a sum of some lower hundred millions in restricted tenders , only to then have those same companies valued at several billions only a few short months later.At this time Russia was vying with Pakistan to be the most corrupt nation on the planet.

Khodorkovskys problems began when he broke an unwritten law in this process whilst Putin was in power of interfering in the political process, namely through his use of putting his media empire to openly support political rivals to Putin in the electoral process.This put him in a collision course with Putin in which there was only going to be one winner.

To my surprise the documentary is very critical of Khodorkovsky , though appreciative to persecute any Human under the spineless authority weighted justice system is not right , no matter who the victim is no Angel.

You can see the trailer of the film in the segment below:



This Guardian Review does highlight some of the doubtful matters in this subject.

Khodorkovsky was arrested in a special forces mission to apprehend him as soon as his private plane touched down , he was put on trial on charges of tax evasion and has spent time in a Siberian Prison ever since.Only to re-appear for a second trial on more charges and level of evidence that would not conform to any International Standards to get more time in his new Home.The Chances of him getting out before Putin grip on Power lessens seem remote.

This Telegraph review highlights the restrictions the documentary received when it was due to open in Moscow Cinemas.

THE MEXICAN SUITCASE at the GLASGOW FILM FESTIVAL

This brilliantly touching and crafted narrative documentary is quite rightly labelled a must-see for all History and Photography lovers.

The plot would be astonishing for a novel , but it is all true.

Legendary photographer Robert Capa archive of negatives was thought lost , presumed destroyed for 70 years , until they turned up in a suitcase in Mexico City in 2007.

This documentary is a tale of the photo archive and , consequently the lost story of a generation of refugees who fled the civil war to seek sanctuary in the only country that allowed them safe passage and permanent shelter , Mexico.

The video below tells the harrowing tale of those that were doubly punished by European Powers , allowed to suffer what Historian Paul Preston has described as a Holocaust within Spain , and then treated as Concentration Camp fodder when they fled the border seeking sanctuary in supposedly Socialist aligned France.




Conditions in the Concentrations camps in France were so bad , 20,000 evacuees perished in unwatered , filthy , unroofed squalor in just two Months , a rate of death far worse than had the remained in Spain.

As for the negatives themselves you can get the detailed story in the dedicated website.

Breaking News.....Breaking News.....BEARMAGEDDON

Breaking News.......Breaking News.......Breaking News......Breaking News...

Bearmageddon latest....



WARNING , THIS POST IS A REAL TEARJERKER! , have ample tissues ready!

It seems Scotland may be able to drag itself from the 17th to the 21st century after all....

( Click on the image for full quintessential quality)



More info from a TV programme due to be broadcast tonight should bring tears to a glass eye:






The Official Credit Rating latest Statement from Fitch is issued in Inverness:



Rangers Fans are no happy "so it is".Yesterdays Match at Home to Dundee United was like a Fancy Dress Party , the players dressed up as dud footballers and most of the loyal fans dressed up as empty plastic chairs.

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Check the poor guys faces in the link below , who says they dont get irony , they think they are at a wake , though a wake is usually a celebration of a great life , the game was more like idling about on death row:

Rangers Ultras Like to party (The copyright on these photos belong solely to the owner).


These are the kind of things ourlike may never ( hopefully) see again:



Celtic Fans Official reaction to the plight of the other half of the discredited concept of The Old Firm:



"Wouldn't it be great if Thatcher died the same day, wot a fecking party that would be

RFC RIP"

SirCustacCant


So the present looks like this:




What future now for ibrox , could this be it:

NEW SEASON at the ORAN MOR

The opening Play in the new season was an entertaining , thought provoking , topical witty satirical show.And all done within 45 minutes.In a word ineffable.

The Play itself is part of the highly successful A Play ,a Pie and a Pint series.This year the series will proudly celebrate its 250th production and , in this year of the 250th Anniversary of Rousseau publication of the Social Contract will host a very special fund raising event for the future showcasing of young talented artists by commemoration the anniversary by inviting members of the Scottish Artistic Community to give their take on the Social Contract in todays climate.

This year the series will also host productions , in collaboration with the National Theatre of Scotland , six plays from writers from the Middle East , a most welcome and timely focused showcasing of the voices of that influential part of the World.Im really looking forward to attending some of these.