Tomorrow Thou Must Go

What: The Two Gentlemen of Verona by William Shakespeare

Where: The Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-Upon-Avon

When: July 17, 2014

The programme, which you can purchase for £4 at the theatre door, makes much of the fact that this is one of the very few times that the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) has staged “The Two Gentlemen of Verona” in recent years.

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On the Jersey Shore

What: Jersey Boys

When: 20th June 2014

Where: Cineworld, Hammersmith, London

I’ve been a big fan of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons since the 1970s. I live in London. The musical of “Jersey Boys” opened in the West End of London in 2008. It has never occurred to me to go and see the musical. But here I was on the opening day of the “Jersey Boys” film release with my large bag of popcorn (and I mean large!) waiting for the film to start. Life is full of curious choices.

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The New York Yankees – The Pitchers in June

The Yankees, struggling to stay in contention to the extent that it is now as easy for them to win their division as it is for them to capture a wild card booth, are not making the task easy for themselves. And their injury situation is becoming more and more complex. Let’s see what happened amongst the pitchers in June.

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The New York Yankees – The Batters in June

The Yankees endured a miserable month in June with a win/loss line of 12-15 and so many batters were below or just above the Mendoza line that it was sometimes difficult to know where their next win was coming from. Even then though they sometimes hit a hot streak and managed to keep in contention. In a close American League East, it is difficult to know what might happen, particularly if they can come up with a couple of key trades prior to the deadline.

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Natural Progressions: The History of a Long Flight

Who:           Eagles

Where:        o2 Arena, Greenwich, London

When:         16-21 June 2014

Something had made Don Henley slightly annoyed. “We don’t do this because we’re bored”, he informed the audience at the o2 arena in Greenwich.

In an interview two weeks before, Robert Plant had been informing the press why he wouldn’t join a Led Zeppelin reunion that Jimmy Page had suggested. Some old bands go back out on tour because they’re bored, he suggested, and he wanted no part of that. And then he went on to specifically mention the Eagles and Don Henley had obviously heard the reports.

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Folk ‘n’ Magic

What: Cordner and Rudolph supported by Perkelt

Where: Ravenscourt Arts, Hammersmith, London

When: June 11, 2014

This show promised to be an unusual and cosmopolitan evening of folk music and it didn’t disappoint. The main act came from Northern Ireland and France, the support from the Czech Republic and in the show there was something for everyone.

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The New York Yankees – The Pitchers in May

The Yankees continued to need to re-jig their starting rotation and still had problems filling the last spot or two in their bullpen. Add this to their on-going struggles with the bat and this was always going to be a difficult month and that’s just how it proved.

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Fare you well, Falstaff. I, in my condition, shall better speak of you.

What: Henry IV Part II

When: May 15th 2014

Where: Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-Upon-Avon.

The Royal Shakespeare Company last performed Henry IV Part II in 2008 as part of their “Histories” cycle. On that occasion it was necessary that they performed both Henry IV plays in tandem as they were performing all of Shakespeare’s history plays. Now in 2014, they have chosen to perform the two together again. I wonder at the wisdom of this decision.

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