Musical delights from the stage to big screen
Film: The Metropolitan Opera Live: Madama Butterfly In selected cinemas from May 11 Damon Smith 3/5
CAROLYN Choa directs a revival of Anthony Minghella’s acclaimed staging of Puccini’s impassioned love story set in the Japanese port city of Nagasaki at the turn of the last century, broadcast live from the stage of the Lincoln Centre For The Performing Arts in New York.
Lieutenant Benjamin Franklin Pinkerton (Jonathan Tetelman) of the US Army is preparing to marry beautiful Japanese geisha Cio-Cio-San (Asmik Grigorian), who is known affectionately as Madam Butterfly. She is glad to renounce her faith and cast aside personal possessions, save for a sword given by her father, in order to marry the outsider. When the local priest discovers Cio-CioSan’s sacrifice, he curses her and the nuptials.
Film: 42nd Street: The Musical (PG) In selected cinemas from May 16 Damon Smith 3/5
ANOTHER chance to watch director Mark Bramble’s critically acclaimed production of the glitzy musical which was recorded live on the stage of the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in London.
Ingenue Peggy Sawyer (Clare Halse) pursues her dream of stardom in the chorus line of new Broadway show Pretty Lady until lead star Dorothy Brock (Bonnie Langford) is unexpectedly indisposed thanks to a broken ankle. Suddenly, Peggy is given an opportunity to glide into the spotlight. The songbook includes
We’re In The Money, Lullaby Of Broadway, I Only Have Eyes For You and Dames.
Film: Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (PG) In selected cinemas now Damon Smith 3/5
A 25th anniversary re-release of the first chapter of George Lucas’s sprawling sci-fi opus set in a galaxy far, far away.
The peace-loving planet of Naboo is under threat from a greedy Trade Federation. Queen Amidala (Natalie Portman), naively believes that words and diplomacy can solve this tricky situation.
When the Federation sends Battle Droids to spearhead an invasion, she is forced to flee accompanied by wise Jedi Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) and his apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor). Meanwhile, a young boy named Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd) begins his long and tortured journey towards the dark side of the Force.