... Parallel Lines Gerald Berkowitz The Pit In Theatre Cryptic's take on the last chapter of James Joyce's Ulysses, the role of Molly Bloom is divided among an actress (Sheelagh O'Kane), a singer (Monica Brett-Crowther), and two musicians (Jenny Scott and Anthea Haddow). According to a programme note by director Cathie Boyd, they are meant to represent, respec tively, the conscious and uncon ...

... Discs bring past to life Spoken word records are not usually the province of this column but an exception must be made for Naxos' excellent four-CD set on The History of the Theatre, (NA 419922). Invaluable for students, but of considerable interest to actors and members of the theatregoing public, particularly as it is narrated by Derek Jacobi at his most mellifluous. It has been written ...

... Musical masters return It is strange to discover that two discs released on LP by the specialist Overtures label 20 years ago now turn up on a new American label dedicated to musical theatre, Bayview. Moreover, both of them could hardly be more English. They celebrate the work of two writers who took the British musical by storm in the fifties, Sandy Wilson and Julian Slade, remembered now ...

... The Comedy of Errors Stratford-upon-Avon Lynne Parker's interpretation at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre is so inventively acted that an audience could follow the story even if ft did not understand the words. And given the complexity of the plot, this is quite an achievement. It is gloriously funny, with a teasing musical score and some equally teasing effects. The action takes place in an ...

... COWARD RARITIES On Volume 2 (PPCD 78141), the standout item is a Noel Coward rarity, a medley of his songs he recorded in New York with Leo Reisman's Orchestra in 1933. Many of those on Volume 1 reappear, including Gertrude Lawrence, this time with The Saga of Jenny, saxophonist Freddy Gardner, Carroll Gibbons and his Boyfriends, the Quintet of the Hot Club of France, with Reinhardt and ...

... STANDARD ISSUE Very unusual is Tim Whitehead's Personal Standards album (Home Grown HMR 047), on which this highly-regarded saxo phonist uses contemporary songs as the basis for exciting improvi sations. Material like My Heart Will Go On, Lovely Day and My Girl proves to be worth exploring. Equally interesting is the Village Life album Bubbling Under (98116 VL), in which a jazz trio featuring ...