... A bohemian alternative London Coliseum La Boheme The line between genius and talent is a thin one, which is why Puccini's 'bohemian' opera has eclipsed Leoncavallo's, in many ways a more truthful depiction of Murger's essentially tiresome and self-regarding Chararters Leoncavallo's libretto (he dev ised his own) lacks the economy and concision of Illica's and Gio- cosa's for Puccini. Acts I ...

... Don Giovanni Glyndebourne/Touring Graham Vick's production of Mozart's Don Juan masterpiece, first seen at Glyndebourne this summer, was thoroughly panned by the critical fraternity. And although it remains literally a pile of pooh, its new cast and conductor miraculously make irrelevant the perverse staging. The opera blazes into life. Conductor Martyn Brabbins' secure grip on the score ...

... Les Ballets Jazz de Montreal Peacock Theatre Television, music and the movies exert a powerful pull on the young, both as light entertainment and theatrical career choices. This can leave dance in general, and ballet in particular, trailing in their wake, a factor that has surelv insDired the ethos and repertory of this company. Since its founding in the early seventies, the Canadian troupe ...

... Masterclass in cabaret Jermyn Street Theatre Kaye Ballard One very damp evening recently, as six youngish singers were pulling out all the stops in their efforts to become the Voice of Musical Theatre on BBC Radio 2, a group of rather more mature souls sat spellbound in this tiny theatre while a Broadwav and popular music legend held court. Dispensing with an opening number on the grounds ...

... Si J'Etais Roi Wexford If I were king the fisherman Zephoris scrawls in the sand, heartbroken that Nemea, the young woman he has saved from drowning and loves, is a princess above his station. As a joke, the Goan King real ises the wish. Thus empowered, Zephoris rights wrongs, unmasks Prince Kadoor's treacherous involvement with invading Portu guese, whose attack he foils, gains advancement ...

... Birmingham's triple thrills Sunderland/Touring Triple Bill A delightful threesome to get the pulses racing, Birmingham Royal Ballet's Triple Bill at the Sunder-land Empire combined the best of classical and modem dance and thrilled an appreciative audience. The first element, Scenes de Ballet, provided a breath of light ness, a gentile offering in the classic style with the movement measured ...

... Tim McArthur On-line Jermyn Street Theatre A couple of years ago Tim McArthur tried out his cabaret act at London's Canal Cafe. There was no doubt then that the actor and singer had a great deal to offer, but the show was somewhat formulaic, a string of compositions and a few 'and this song is written by links. How times have changed. The ever versatile McArthur has constantly reinvented ...

... Good Old Days Leeds In the past 30 years nobody has written a song you can sing along to, says Clinton Ford. The splendidly attired audience agrees so he delves back into the past and sings Jolson classics and ballads from the fifties. Ford sings superbly. Everyone sings aiong wnen mvitea ana nostalgia drifts in like white sum mer clouds. For the last in the autumn series of Good Old ...

... Conchita Wexford Wexford Festival uniquely features operatic rarities. Inevitably, therefore, some may turn out to be ropier than expected, and Ric- cardo Zandonai's excursion into Spanish territory is about as dire as it gets. Puccini, no fool, turned down the libretto based upon a Pierre Louys novel which was thought steamy in its day. Handsome young nobleman Mateo falls for free-spirited ...

... Divertissements/ The Two Pigeons Sunderland/Touring The second section of the Birm ingham Royal Ballet's offering at the Empire was simply stunning. Divertissements threw up four short works emphasising Fred erick Ashton's imagination and range of styles. Voices of Spring was quiet, moving and full of passion. Five Brahms Waltzes in the manner of Isadora Duncan was sensual, evocative and at ...

... Scottish Dance Theatre Edinburgh In these two newly-commissioned works at the Traverse, Dundee Rep's associated dance company has stepped away from the narrative linearity of recent works, while retaining a strong sense Of the theatrical. Plunge, choreographed by Janice Garrett to a score by Chris topher Bernstead, was the easi est on the eye. The slinky costume design by Craig Givens ...

... Krazy Spirit Manchester Congratulations to the Contact Theatre on its first anniversary and to RJC Dance, the popular black contemporary group who helped with the theatre's launch and returned to perform at the new celebrations. RJC s individual blend of con temporary dance mixed with jazz, reggae and club culture brought a packed house to see the specially commissioned Krazy Spirit. This ...