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MIDWEEK WINES  |  A NEW ARRIVAL – DE MARTINO 

THEATRE REVIEW  |  POWERFUL MODERN CLASSIC

“Don't call your wife 'baby'.” Those four little words should go down in the pantheon of Most Powerful Dramatic Quotes Ever, easily up there with “You talkin' to me?”, “Go ahead, make my day,” and, when it comes to misogynistic, patriarchal admonitions, miles ahead of “Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn”. But hang on: misogynistic? Patriarchal? The line is delivered by a women to a man, so she can't possibly be accused of such allegations! And surely she has every right to make her thoughts clear? And surely the reaction that her words provoke are... ah no, we can't possibly get into that debate so early on in this review.

Three decades before #MeToo when Harvey Weinstein was best known for making movies and way before Cancel Culture ruled the social media waves, the award-winning writer, director and author David Mamet wrote Oleanna: a tense, two-handed drama that, by exploring the see-sawing power struggles between college student Carol and her professor John, put sexual politics in the centre stage spotlight by exploring themes around what does or does not constitute sexual harassment.

During various premieres between 1992–94, audiences from New York to London cheered, booed and even physically fought during the play's key scenes – there were even reports of couples splitting up mid-performance – before being polled by various political groups for their opinion on exiting the theatre (Was he guilty? Was she right? Etc), while Mamet was accused by critics of either hating women, putting them on a pedestal or being too soft on 'girls'. So: have the past 28 years been kind or cruel to Oleanna?

This new production of this powerful modern classic doesn't have 'revival' written all over it... because it doesn't need to; recent history has revived Carol and John's story for them. Even viewed alongside contemporary takes on a similar theme (I May Destroy You, Unbelievable and even Fleabag all come to mind here), Mamet's fast-paced script delivers context in spades, while director Lucy Bailey turns our attention and focus to that script by giving two actors (Rosie Sheehy as Carol; Jonathan Slinger as John) the space and pace to skilfully light all manner of proverbial fireworks just as, I believe, Mamet intended them to be lit.

Despite the strong performances and that script, however, Mamet makes it deliberately difficult to work out how a seemingly 'innocent' chat between a professor and one of his students turns into such a nightmarish denouement – which is, of course, the whole point of the play. 

Okay, so the setup is all present and, perhaps, politically incorrect (a girl and a man in an office with a closed door; a sofa possibly symbolising casting couch connotations), but at first, Carol is more young, snippy and frustrated than mature, guileful and angry, and John apparently way too distracted, egocentric and boringly vainglorious to be threatening – in fact, he comes across as rather nice. Mamet's occasionally hyperreal dialogue, meanwhile, is rarely unambiguous in intent, so we're never quite on clear-cut discomfit territory. Does John promise Carol an 'A' grade in exchange for an intellectual two-way discourse on the topic of the whole point of higher education and academia... or in exchange for her 'company'? Does Carol's incessant note-taking flag up her thirst for clarity... or is she building an armoury of evidence against him? 

Yes, John comes across as a paternalistic master of mansplaining (even when he invites Carol's opinion on any given subject, her responses are littered with his constant interjections: “Go on, yes, speak for yourself, yes, go on,” to the point where she can't possibly get her own words in). And no, he doesn't need to stand so close to her, nor place his hand on her shoulders when she cries, or allow his personal life to intrude on his professional life by constantly picking up the phone to deal with his own domestic dramas in Carol's presence (boundaries, John!). But has John committed crimes deplorable enough to merit Carol's formal complaint of gravely inappropriate behaviour – allegations that threaten to destroy his tenure at the college? Or has Carol seen through John's gaslit cloak of superficially amiable goodwill and called a power-abusing sleazeball to task? These are the questions that you'll be mulling over long after the Ustinov's lights go down. But before they do...

Even when almost all between John and Carol has apparently been said and done (or not said and not done, depending on your personal perspective) few audience members will fail to find the final scene both literally and emotionally shocking.

Regardless of the visceral reaction route Oleanna leads you down, Mamet's tour-de-force remains one of the most challenging, provocative and compelling late 20^th century dramas... and #AllToo relevant today. 

Ustinov Studio until December 22 and 4-16 January; theatreroyal.org.uk

EXPLORE MILSOM PLACE  |  A HAVEN OF FESTIVITIES

Explore a haven of festive gifts and tempting eateries in the heart of Bath!

Discover distinctive jewellery and designer gifts from the only Alessi stockist in Bath, Quadri; everything for the wine-buff in wine retailer Le Vignoble; or take home a hand-tied bouquet of beautiful blooms or a seasonal Christmas wreath from the resident florist, Anemone. Alternatively, give the gift of good food, wine and happy memories with restaurant gift vouchers available from The Botanist and Côte Brasserie.

Dress to impress for the festive season with sophisticated womenswear including lovingly handcrafted luxury shoes from Chanii B Shoes, feminine tailoring in Hobbs or affordable and sophisticated styles by Phase Eight. Seek out stylish gifts and Christmas decorations for the home amongst Biggie Best’s timeless collections or bag a bargain in the Yves Delorme Outlet with up to 60% off luxurious, designer bath and bedlinen and gift sets.

Throughout December, you can also enjoy tempting Christmas cocktails (Frangipane Daiquiri anyone?) and festive menus in The Botanist and Côte Brasserie, or sample Bandook Indian Kitchen’s distinctive Christmas feast…

milsomplace.co.uk

FESTIVE SHOPPING  |  INDIE SHOP SHOUT-OUTS

DECEMBER ISSUE  |  OUT NOW AND LOOKING GOOD

URBAN COMMENTARY  |  RICHARD WYATT

Those who live in towns and cities rely on the green lungs provided by local authority parks to freshen their air and give them somewhere to stroll and socially interact amidst more natural surroundings.

There’s every indication that even more people may move into our city centres as living accommodation starts to replace some of the empty shops now littering our high streets. 

Retail is both transforming and even shrinking but putting an alternative social spin on things is no bad deal and that’s where our historic open spaces could well experience a rebirth, growing in importance as a recreational and mentally stimulating environment for town dwellers.

Anyone strolling through the historic Sydney Gardens of late will see that contractors have moved in to begin the multi-million pound scheme to restore historic buildings, invest in landscape and garden restoration works, and create new ‘play areas’ for all ages. Over the next year or so it’s going to revitalise a former Georgian pleasure ground that was once the exclusive haunt of those who – if they were deemed socially acceptable – could afford the admission price.

It’s been open to the public since 1913 but of late has been showing it’s age. While work is underway people can still wander through and, at this ‘off-season’ time of year, benefit from something the Sydney Gardens Project has made available online. It’s the new Tree Trail which celebrates 15 fine specimens in the park, some of them as old as the grounds they were planted in. Running alongside this is a lengthier online article by writer and artist Richard White in which he uses park trees, and their origins, to link together ‘wealth, power, people and plants.’

As Richard says in his introduction to his research into this ‘green jewel’ at one end of Great Pulteney Street: “The Pulteney Estate with Sydney Gardens at its heart connects us into the wealth of Empire and slave-ownership, drawing us into the strange world of trophy plants and plant collectors, the naming and collecting of plants, and the story of European botany.” 

Mark my words, this little island of flora and fauna has as important a role as our Roman ruins and Georgian architecture in exploring and explaining the city’s social and economic history.

Link to Richard’s article via medium.com

The Sydney Garden’s Tree Trail is bathnes.gov.uk

MIDWEEK RECIPE  |  SWEET TREATS

Creamy, indulgent and somehow rather glamorous, this featherlight chocolate mousse, made with just three store cupboard ingredients, is pretty much ready when you are. And you're ready for it right now, right? 

Ingredients

200g dark chocolate
3 large eggs, separated
50g caster sugar
To serve: whipped cream, grated chocolate, fresh mint (optional)

Method

1. Break the chocolate into chunks in a large, heatproof bowl and add 120ml cold water. Set the bowl over a pan of just simmering water (but do NOT let the bowl touch the water) and heat gently, stirring occasionally with a metal spoon, until the chocolate has melted. Remove from the heat and allow to cool slightly.
2. Whisk the egg whites with the sugar until stiff peaks are formed. Beat the egg yolks into the melted chocolate before gently folding the egg whites into the mixture until fully combined.
3. Spoon the mousse into individual bowls or glasses and chill for at least two hours (or overnight).
4. To serve: top with a swirl of whipped cream, a dusting of grated chocolate and a sprig of fresh mint (optional).

OBJECTS OF INTEREST  |  MONTBLANC AT MALLORY

ANNUAL EXHIBITION  |  TALENTED LOCAL ARTISTS

In 2020, for the first time ever, the Bath Society of Artists' Annual Exhibition has been displayed online. The exhibition is usually held at the Victoria Art Gallery, which is currently closed due to Covid-19 restrictions and will reopen on 29 March 2021.

Art enthusiasts can browse and buy a selection of fabulous works by mainly local artists until 3 January 2021 by visiting: victoriagal.org.uk.

This year’s selection was made by a panel of guests and Bath Society members. The prize judges were David Simon of David Simon Contemporary and Jessica Lloyd-Smith of Modern Art Buyer.

Enjoy a two minute read about the 115th annual exhibition here and read more about the winners here.

Images:

Left: Constance Regardsoe, Altered Surface
Top right: Haidee-Jo Summers, Ranunculas and Lilacs from the Garden
Bottom right: Helen Masacz, Deliverance

CHRISTMAS DAY  |  PERIOD DRAMA

Bath is set to play a starring role in the new period drama, Bridgerton which premieres on Netflix on Christmas Day.

Bridgerton is a witty, romantic, emotional and thoroughly modern take on England’s Regency era. Although the series is set in London, Bath provides the backdrop with scenes from the drama, based on the books of Julia Quinn, filmed in the city between August and November 2019.

It was the most extensive and ambitious filming ever carried out in the city. No 1 Royal Crescent features as the exterior of the home of the Featheringtons, one of the key families in the drama, but multiple other interior and exterior locations were used across the city centre from Abbey Green and Bath Street, to the Holburne Museum and the Banqueting Room at the Guildhall.

Filming was co-ordinated by Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Film Office, which promotes the district as a film and TV location and helps productions to access public areas with the minimum of disruption to residents and businesses.

Viewers who tune in to Bridgerton will follow the exploits of the beautiful, wealthy and respected Bridgerton family who expect to have no trouble finding their latest debutante, Daphne (Phoebe Dynevor), a husband. That is until anonymous gossip writer Lady Whistledown (voiced by none other than Julie Andrews) declares her unworthy.

As well as Bridgerton, viewers can expect to see Netflix and Bristol-based Aardman’s first animated musical Robin Robin on screens next year. Netflix’s adaptation of Daphne du Maurier’s classic novel Rebecca was also filmed in and around the south west.

The Bridgerton series has been made by Shondaland for Netflix. Shondaland’s previous hits have included Greys Anatomy and Scandal.

BEAUTY MUST-HAVES  |  GERT LASHES

Add some major drama to your look with Marc Jacobs' Beauty Velvet Noir Major Volume Mascara, £25.

The lash maximising curvy brush places the most volume at the hard-to-reach centre lash line, ideal for completing your festive eye look.

Online at harveynichols.com

GIFT INSPIRATION  |  LUXURY WOOLLEN SOCKS

Luxury socks and accessories brand Corgi Socks has been hand-crafting luxury woollen goods for more than a century. These Fairisle cashmere and cotton socks are the perfect Christmas gift presented in a new Corgi Christmas box. Beautifully comfortable for lounging at home and keeping your toes toasty on a chilly evening. Available in three sizes.

£39; available online at corgisocks.com

TAKE FOUR  |  TASTEBUD TANTILISERS

Preheat the oven to 180ºC/gas mark 6. Cut 1 x 320g sheet of ready made puff pastry into 18 squares and place the squares onto a baking sheet lined with greaseproof paper. Brush the edge of each square with beaten egg and place a slice of goat's cheese and ¼ of a fresh fig in the centre. In a small bowl, whisk 1 tbsp chopped fresh rosemary with 2 tbsp olive oil, 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar, 1 tbsp runny honey and a pinch of salt. Drizzle the dressing over each puff and bake for 15–20 minutes until puffy and golden.

Dissolve 50g soft light brown sugar in 2 tbsp water over a gentle heat in a small saucepan. Bring to the boil, but don't stir! As soon as the sugar has turned to a dark brown caramel, whisk in 10g butter, remove from the heat and add 3 tbsp double cream, taking care while doing so as the mixture may spit a bit. Add a pinch of ground cinnamon and stir vigorously. In a sturdy saucepan with a tight-fitting lid, pop 25g popcorn kernels. Remove from the heat and toss the fresh popcorn in the sweet glaze until evenly coated.

TRENDING IN TECH  |  BUILD A SYNTHESISER

Teenage Engineering is an über-cool Swedish consumer electronics company producing synthesisers, radios, portable gaming devices and accessories that are clever, aesthetically pleasing and the perfect detox to all things big tech.

As well as stylish ready to go products, we found these home-build kits (no soldering required) that will satisfy techie  engineers as well as a romantic voyage into electro-synth. They are called Pocket Operator Modulars and come in three kits: the POM-16, 170 and 400.

The POM-170 is a home-build analog monophonic synthesizer with built-in programmable sequencer. This is a complete kit with powder coated aluminum chassis, keyboard, oscillator, filter, envelope, lfo, vca, speaker, power distro, psu, a screwdriver, 8 patch cables, and an illustrated build guide. £399

The POM-400 is the next step up, once again a home-build analog synthesizer with 3 oscillators, noise, random generator, 2 envelopes, 2 vca's, lfo, filter, mixer, a speaker box, power pack and a 1-16 step sequencer. Complete the kit with powder coated aluminum chassis, 16 modules, 15 patch cables, screwdriver, and an illustrated build guide. £499.

Either of the kits can be used with a stand-alone keyboard; POM-16 (left; £199) which has individual tuneable keys and a programmable step sequencer. Note: the POM-16 does not produce sound but outputs CV gate and MIDIi signal to the 170 or 400.

Who knows, we might just inspire the next Goldfrapp?

Visit Teenage Engineering

ON THE BOX  |  A FAMILY AFFAIR

A family spanning three generations comes together over a weekend at their country house to be with their terminally ill mother, Lily, for the last time. As tensions brew between Lily's daughters, Jennifer and Anna, secrets emerge, threatening hopes of a peaceful farewell.

Blackbird is a remake of the 2014 Danish film Silent Heart and stars Hollywood favourites Kate Winslet, Susan Sarandon and Sam Neill and Mia Wasikowska.

Watch it on Amazon Prime on 18 December

PROPERTY UPDATE  |  ON THE MARKET

This beautiful detached home has in excess of 3,800 sq ft of accommodation – with a total of 8 bedrooms, it is split between the main house and an annex set at the top of the garden. It's not only a wonderful property for a large family, but also with the potential to operate as a B&B business, or simply just some additional income from using the annex as holiday accommodation.

Originally designed as a pair of semi-detached houses, the owner re-worked the plans to create a detached but very versatile house. The main residence offers two receptions rooms, an open-plan kitchen and dining room opening onto the rear garden, there are seven bedrooms with three ensuites and two additional bathrooms.

The annex features a kitchen dining room with doors to the terrace. A shower room with a walk-in shower is also found on the ground floor with a bedroom and living room on the first floor with French doors onto a balcony.

The front garden is level with trees and shrubs and a patio to sit back and enjoy the most breathtaking view across the city. The rear garden is tastefully landscaped. A large patio area leads from the house with built-in seating. Paths lead up through the garden and around the annex to a residents' access lane where there's parking for the annex and a double garage. Asking price £1,400,000.

This spectacular property is available with Andrews Estate Agents.