... Putting on the raunch Pizza on the Park Julie Wilson and Steve Ross It has been six years since Julie Wilson visited London, and though it may not seem proper to say it, 50 years since she starred here in the original production of Kiss Me, Kate, but age has by no means withered her sauciness or style. Apparently Wilson's appearance at the Music Room is almost an accident, for the original ...

... Love arranged for others to shine By JOHN MATLAND What a pleasure it was to hear one of the bes-liked personalities ever to grace the UK music scene, Geoff Love, being celebrated in The Arrangers (BBC Scotland for R2, from Tuesday, August 8). Although he died aged 73 in 1991. throughout his long career as an arranger, composer, musical director, conductor and much more. Love seemed to have ...

... Great British R&B Festival Colne Numbers may have been down on last year's record crowds, but an estimated 50,000 revellers still assembled to turn this annual event into a joyous occasion. With a quality line-up of American talent on the main stage, supplemented by a host of homegrown musicians ai more man a aozen venues around town, there was certainly no shortage of live music for the ...

... Nicely does it, Clive Donmar Warehouse Clive Rowe There is little doubt that Clive Rowe has a big enough voice and personality to fill a theatre, but in other respects he hardly fits the dictionary 'prima donna' definition of diva. Here were is no amnciai emotion, forced intensity and massive ego to massage instead we are offered fun, honesty and true personality. And how refreshing it all is. ...

... This revival is truly shipshape Royal Opera House Billy Budd Director Francesca Zambello's markedly cool version of Britten's opera is back at the ROH, the lighting (Alan John Burrett) all blues, sea green and mauve, the stage a bare raked wedge, with a Lorraine cross as mast, which rises hydraulically for below decks. Early in the opera, Billy stands silhouetted on the mast as if crucified ...

... The Marriage of Figaro Leeds Caroline Gawn's brash, all-purpose production (1996) of Mozart's masterpiece is back at The Grand. Happy first-night laughter affirmed the Opera North audience love it. Personally, I think it's a stinker Gawn presents Figaro, a divine comedy of thematic complexity, as a jolly romp devoid of the crucial social distinctions. Hence, presumably, Alice Purcell's ugly ...

... The Coronation of Poppea London Coliseum ENO's second Italian offering is Monteverdi's penetrating exposition of love burgeoning between two monsters, the one devious, the other psychologically unstable. Never has music of such sen sual urgency and beauty been lavished upon the likes of Poppea and Nerone, whose cruelty chills the heart even as one melts to their ecstatic duet 'Pur ti miro'. ...

... Square route EastEnders lead writer Tony Jordan was picked to help pen the soap when working as a market trader. Ben Dowell finds he still dislikes the new job today I hate the process of writing, lead writer of EastEnders Tony Jordan told me in a side room at the soap's home in Elstree Studios. My God. I half expected this bombshell to be accom panied by the massive drum beats of an Easties ...