THE ACADEMY IN AUGUST
· Thursday 1 August at 6.30 p.m. Prometheus
· Friday 2 August at 6.00 p.m. Lusitania School presents ‘Shrek’
· Saturday 3 August at 4.30 p.m. The Phoenix Choir: ‘Those Good Old Days’
· Thursday 8 August at 6.30 p.m. A United Kingdom
· Friday 9 August at 6.30 p.m. La Dame aux Camélias – ballet
· Thursday 15 August at 6.30 p.m. Woman in Gold
· Friday 16 August at 6.30 p.m. Smetana: The Bartered Bride
THURSDAY 1 AUGUST AT 6.30 P.M. PROMETHEUS
Carriages: 8.45 p.m.
The discovery of a clue to mankind’s origins on Earth leads a team of explorers to the darkest parts of the universe. Two brilliant young scientists lead the expedition. Shaw (Noomi Rapace) hopes that they will meet a race of benevolent, godlike beings who will in some way verify her religious beliefs, while Holloway (Logan Marshall-Green) is out to debunk any spiritual notions. However, neither the scientists nor their shipmates are prepared for the unimaginable terrors that await them. Directed by Ridley Scott, the film also stars Charlize Theron, Idris Elba and Michael Fassbender.
- Prometheus is genuinely epic. [Detroit News]
- This is a remarkably scary and eye-popping headrush of a movie, an experience that offers a maximum adrenaline boost at the same time as it engages your intelligence. Don’t miss it. [MSN Movies]
- It supplies enough visual spectacle, tense action and sticky, slithery monster attacks to hit the spot with thrill-seeking audiences worldwide. [Hollywood Reporter]
- Prometheus is a great ride. [London Evening Standard]
- It’s something to gorge on hungrily: majestic to look at in every way, and wild enough that many of the opening-night crowd – this viewer included – will be right back for seconds. [ Daily Telegraph]
- ‘The keen fan’, Scott has said, ‘will recognise strands of Alien’s DNA’. The keen fan will be regularly concussed by these strands. [Financial Times]
Admission: US$2.50 [free to Film Members]
FRIDAY 2 AUGUST AT 6.00 P.M. LUSITANIA SCHOOL PRESENTS ‘SHREK’
Carriages: c.7.15 p.m.
Set in a mythical ‘once upon a time’ land, Shrek the Musical is the story of a hulking green ogre who, after being mocked and feared his entire life by anything that crosses his path, retreats to an ugly green swamp to exist in happy isolation. Based on the 2001 DreamWorks Animation film Shrek, along with elements from William Steig’s 1990 book Shrek!, it has music by Jeanine Tesori and book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire.
Lusitania School bring the greatest fairy tale never told to the Academy stage in a whole new way in this breath-taking Broadway musical adaptation.
SATURDAY 3 AUGUST at 4.00 for 4.30 P.M. THE PHOENIX CHOIR: ‘THOSE GOOD OLD DAYS’
The Phoenix Choir was established 65 years ago as the Salisbury Caledonian Choir but became the Phoenix Choir in 1965 and has been going strong ever since! The Choir has toured South Africa three times, most recently in August last year, as well as the United Kingdom. The Choir’s 34 members range in age from 28 to 85, one of whom, John Jones, is a founder member.
Their programme ‘The Good Old Days’ is a nostalgic trip down memory lane with songs from the twenties, thirties and forties including some from the ragtime band era, romantic love songs and even ‘Over the Rainbow’.
Admission: US$5.00 Tickets available from the Orange Elephant. There will be a cash bar after the performance.
THURSDAY 8 AUGUST AT 6.30 P.M. A UNITED KINGDOM
Carriages: 8.35 p.m.
Before his return from his studies in London to Bechuanaland where he is to become king, Prince Seretse Khama (David Oyelowo) falls in love with a white British clerk, Ruth Williams (Rosamund Pike), and they plan to marry. While they suspect that Khama’s uncle, the Regent, would disapprove, nothing prepares them for the diplomatic firestorm and domestic political tumult their defiant love sparks. Facing a citizenry wary of a white Briton as their Queen, they find the international opposition even more unyielding, from both the British holding their land as a protectorate and the National Party government in South Africa fearful of this affront to their recently introduced apartheid.
- A United Kingdom is a very likeable film about two very admirable people. [The Independent]
- The opening title ‘Based on a true story’ can cover a multitude of movie sins, but in A United Kingdom, it unlocks the door to a romantic drama that grows more remarkable by the minute. [ Los Angeles Times]
- An interracial romance between a British clerk and African royalty highlights a historical flashpoint and offers a primo acting showcase for Oyelowo and Pike. It’s a defiant cry from the heart. [Rolling Stone]
- A rousing true love story brings African history to life. [Daily Telegraph]
Admission: US$2.50 [free to Film Members]
FRIDAY 9 AUGUST AT 6.30 P.M. LA DAME AUX CAMÉLIAS – BALLET
Carriages: 9.00 p.m.
Based on the Alexandre Dumas novel that also inspired the stories of Verdi’s La Traviata and Hollywood’s Moulin Rouge, John Neumeier creates a riveting dance drama around the famous ‘lady of the camellias’. The passionate tale of Marguerite Gautier and Armand Duval unfolds ingeniously through a drama-within-a-drama as they meet at the theatre during a performance of Manon Lescaut. So begin their romantic adventures in Paris, brought to life by Neumeier’s intense and refined choreographic language. Chopin’s ravishing music highlights this exceptional neo-classical ballet featuring the star dancers of the Paris Opéra Ballet. This lavish production, filmed live at the Palais Garnier, is all about love, passion, danger and glorious dancing from one of the best ballet companies in the world.
- The most intense beautifully danced and acted story ballet and narrative I’ve ever seen live or taped. Bravo Paris Opera Ballet, Neumeier and especially soul-searing astounding leads Letestu and Bullion. [Amazon]
- A full length ballet which does justice to the Dumas novel on which La Traviata is more loosely based. John Neumeier’s poetic choreography is blessed with Agnès Letestu’s Marguerite. [BBC Music Magazine]
- This production of Neumeier’s ballet La Dame aux Caméliasis a glorious achievement, beautifully captured on DVD But the ballet belonged to Letestu: as Marguerite, one of her best roles, she gave herself over entirely to the moment, relishing every line, radiant in her freedom. [Financial Times]
Admission: US$2.50 [free to Red Carpet Members]
THURSDAY 15 AUGUST AT 6.30 P.M. WOMAN IN GOLD
Carriages: 8.30 p.m.
Sixty years after fleeing Vienna, Maria Altmann (Helen Mirren), an elderly Jewish woman, attempts to reclaim family possessions that were seized by the Nazis. Among them is a famous portrait of Maria’s beloved Aunt Adele: Gustave Klimt’s ‘Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I. With the help of young lawyer Randy Schoenberg (Ryan Reynolds), Maria embarks upon a lengthy legal battle to recover this painting and several others, but it will not be easy, for Austria considers them national treasures.
- A deeply moving and very satisfying piece of entertainment that knits up seemingly disparate elements in a tapestry of family pain and pride. [Flick Filosopher]It’s a touching film that entertains with warmth and humour while teaching us something about history, law and justice with enormous heart, subtlety and compassion, brilliantly acted and skilfully written. Is there anything Helen Mirren cannot do? [Observer]Simon Curtis’ Woman in Gold is a fictionalization of a true story, but it’s a fascinating story, beautifully photographed and greatly elevated by a brilliant performance from the invaluable Helen Mirren. [Chicago Sun-Times]A highly recommended story about justice, the importance of family, and reconciling the past and present. [Metacritic]
Admission: US$2.50 [free to Film Members]
FRIDAY 16 AUGUST AT 6.30 P.M. SMETANA: THE BARTERED BRIDECarriages: 9.15 p.m. Smetana was born 200 years ago in 1824 and The Bartered Bride is the best known of his eight operas. It’s a story of thwarted love and arranged marriage, something which the spirited heroine, Mařenka, is not prepared to accept. She has to use every last ounce of determination, charm and cunning that she possesses in order to marry the man she loves, encountering bribery, corruption and parental opposition along the way. Smetana’s opera has come to be seen as a celebration of Czech culture and identity, which translates here into a more familiar setting, complete with village pub and a maypole on the green. Dance is at the heart and soul of– from the intoxicatingly lively overture to a riotous and festive polka. There’s a circus with jugglers and acrobats, an escaped bear, rousing drinking songs and heart-stopping love duets and arias. It’s an irresistible combination.
- This is a splendid performance of a great comic opera. It will brighten your day. Strongly recommended. [Amazon]
- This production has all the humour and the charm of The Bartered Bride and is blessed with great performances. Although the production is more than thirty years old, in no way does it feel dated. It is a traditional production and looks absolutely beautiful in both costumes and sets. {IMDb]
Admission: US$2.50 [free to Red Carpet Members]
SEPTEMBER [PROVISIONAL!]
