Heritage - Victoria Baths, Manchester

Star rating - 10/10

Imagine an Edwardian palace of bathing beauty - largely intact minus the water, in the centre of Manchester. Well in truth you don't have to imagine it, as the jewel that is Victoria Baths is alive and well and available for you to visit. Today was a Heritage Open Day, and after hearing about the place for years, and shamefully never having been inside, I made my first visit there today, and it will definitely not be my last.

The building is an architectural gem from outside, but inside it is a wonder of times past; gorgeous stained glass; and light and green tiles to die for. You can imagine all the people having a ball in there from the time it was opened in 1906, right through to when it last closed its doors to active swimmers in 1993. 

The was a first and second class entrance for men, only one for women, I'm not sure why but there you go. And the rooms of the Turkish baths are still there to see in all their glory. This wonderful building has featured in many films and TV programmes, from an obscure film with Bee Gee Barry Gibb and Michael Hordern that we watched a clip from today; to Prime Suspect, and Sherlock. 

This building is still there to marvel at thanks to the tireless efforts of the Friends of Victoria Baths, after several years of neglect and decay. And today we were treated to the wonderful sound of Ordsall Acappella Singers performing in one of the pools. Acoustics to die for indeed.

My soul was truly fed by this visit. It is an awe inspiring place. If your soul is ever in need of a spot of nourishment - I urge you to visit. 

http://www.victoriabaths.org.uk

Theatre - Our Country's Good - Bolton Octagon

Star rating - 6/10

This Australian convict ship drama has an interesting plot, as it has a play within a play theme, and preaches the redemptive power of theatre - which I wholeheartedly agreed with. It is the creation of Out of Joints theatre company, and directed by Max Stafford-Clark.

The very small, and (it has got to be said) overheated confines of the Octagon Theatre stage in Bolton was certainly a challenge for the small ensemble cast, who each play about three different roles. Lieutenant Ralph Clarke has the brave and bright idea of trying to introduce a bit of culture into the not otherwise obviously enriched lives of the prisoners.  Dominic Thorburn is great as the enlightened officer, who can't help but fall for one of the cast amidst all the dramatic tension. Amusing arguments ensue over who will play which part, and if they actors can be kept from the hangman's noose long enough to see out the performance at all.

However, some of characters seemed slightly stereotypical, and not fleshed out enough within the constraints of the action to illicit the sympathy the story seemed to be asking for. There were scene and costume changes galore, which were admirably done. After a bit of a slow start, it was very funny in places, but despite the good acting, I came away with more than a hint of the feeling of am dram, which is never a great thing.

Film - Berberian Sound Studio - directed by Peter Strickland

Star rating - 7/10

Psychological thrillers are not my normal bill of fayre when it comes to films, and my guess is that Berberian Sound Studio is not your normal run-of-the-mill psychological thriller either, so this was a real step into the unknown.  Which is exactly what straight laced Englishman Guilderoy (Toby Jones) does when he enters the creepy and strange world inside this particular 1970s Italian sound studio, created by director Peter Strickland.

Here nothing is as it seems, and what it seems to be is gradually extremely disturbed and disturbing for the visiting technician. Macabre sounds are made with fruit and vegetables, which are then left to rot in a putrid mass in a box on the side of the action. The grainy muted colour palette which the film is shot in heightens the tension, and adds to the decidedly odd atmosphere.

There is a very scary producer (Cosimo Fusco) in charge of proceedings, who directs two women in a booth to record truly horrible sounds. But there does not seem to be an actual film. Everyone is serious and stern, especially the receptionist who persistently refuses to deal with Gilderoy's expenses, and then tells him that his flight did not exist at all. It will definitely cast a whole new light to my expenses claiming procedure at work, I can tell you. And then there is a young sweet man who keeps appearing with chocolates for no apparent reason.

This is a film which defies easy description, and is probably one for the film buffs. It gets increasingly disturbing and confusing as it goes on, and stayed with me long after the credits rolled, wondering what it all meant and what really happened - never mind why. It was a good experience - sort of - I think, and I left with the same feeling I get after watching an excess of David Lynch. So that's not a bad thing. Go and find out for yourselves is really the best advice I can give. 

Film - Shadow Dancer - directed by James Marsh

Star rating - 7/10

This gritty IRA era conspiracy film boasts a star studded cast, and gets the tone of 1993 heightened anxiety, before the Good Friday Agreement was finally reached, just right. The action starts with a flashback to 1973 when a young boy is shot in the street, a tragic incident which changes the course of many lives.

Andrea Riseborough is excellent as always in her role as Colette McVeigh, a young woman drawn into IRA activity as the young boy in question happened to be her brother. After planting a bomb in London which does not go off, she is caught by the security services, and offered a deal - information for her freedom.  Clive Own plays Mac, the British intelligence officer who offers the deal, and who as a result gets closer to the young Irish mother than he was supposed to.

Their relationship, whilst being one of the driving forces of the action, is also one of the central problems I had, as it just did not feel realistic, no matter how convincing the two central performances are.

There is excellent support from Aiden Gillen and Domhnall Gleeson as her two brothers, who are also involved with the IRA to varying degrees. But the ending when it comes, and I wouldn't dream of spoiling it so don't worry, is confusing and debatable. Indeed the group I was with had several different and contradictory theories about who did what to whom. Which isn't exactly what you want in a thriller of this sort. It's a shame as it started so promisingly , and is a great subject for a film, it just lost its way slightly in the final third.

Gigs - Justin Townes Earle/Gabriel Minnikin - Brudenell Social Club, Leeds

Star rating - 9/10

After a great but relatively downbeat gig from Justin Townes Earle at the Academy in Manchester in June, at least by his very high standards, he was back on top form last night in Leeds. And again wonderfully supported by Manchester's adopted Canadian angel Gabriel Minnikin.

I don't usually regret much in life, (debatable trait I know...) but one of the hazards of giving ratings for cultural events is that I often change my mind about them in the fullness of time. When I was first introduced to the wonderful showmanship and raw talent that JTE clearly represents back in January 2011 at the Deaf Institute, he totally blew me away, but I only gave him a 9/10. I am now going to admit that I made a mistake (again not something I do readily), and say that that particular night was gig perfection in every way. There's something about having no expectations and then being delighted to the core of your inner being  that is a complete one off darned miracle.

Well at the delightful Brudenell Social Club (think Wheel Tappers and Shunters without the old men nursing pints and smoking pipes) that Justin was almost back. He delighted the appreciative but quiet crowd to some of his beautiful heartfelt songs from his growing back catalogue. He was flying solo this time but the way he plays his guitar makes you think there is more than one musician on stage. His recent albums have been very much influenced by place - and from Harlem River Blues he played great tracks such as One More Night in Brooklyn, Rogers Park, and Christchurch Woman. And obviously the crowd pleasing foot stomping title track went down a storm. 

His latest release, Nothing's Gonna Change the Way you Feel About Me Now, has much more of a southern soul sound, but don't worry there are all the country hallmarks of demons and heartaches aplenty included too so all is well. Particular favourites of mine from here that we were treated to were Maria and Memphis in the Rain. At his best JTE is a superstar, just a shame about the demons getting in the way sometimes - but hey - that's country for you.

 

And the wonderful and talented Gabriel Minnikin gave a great guitar based support set with some of my favourite tracks from his Parakeets with Parasols record. If you haven't heard him yet - listen to his husky velvet tones on the likes of Arkansas and Halifax Blues, and lose yourself in the Phil Spectoresque beautiful wall of sound he has created. You will thank me for it. He may thank you too... he's very polite like that.