by Cedric | Dec 16, 2018 | General
Firstly, I should like to preface this post by stating clearly that there are no words with which I can describe this event. What follows is difficult to express. Never in my years on this Earth have I seen a show so profoundly well executed. WOTW Alive on Stage wasn’t a show by any measurable standards; it was an event.
Legendary Jeff Wayne conducted the 36-piece ULLAdubULLA Strings orchestra, accompanied by the 9 piece ‘Black Smoke Band’. Behind the musicians was a screen 100ft wide. Flanking this giant screen were 2 enormous square screens. The latter screens were where Liam Neeson, who starred as the Journalist, appeared.
I’ll admit to you that I was in tears throughout the whole of the first half of the show. The combination of the orchestra; band; holograms and light show was too much to bear. The enormity of this spectacle is difficult to express. You know by now that I look for the numinous in my music. that is to say evidence of something greater, something bigger than the sound. WOTW delivered that in abundance.
The 39 ft tall; 3.5 tonne Martian Tripod was a particular highlight. Dropping from the ceiling with a thunderous crash, this machine proceeded to spit fire at key moments and astound and strike fear into the audience. I was taken aback by the grandeur of the machine. It was just awesome.
Jason Donovan played the crazed parson so very well. He clung to his cross as his sanity slowly ebbed away from him. I was so shocked when the Journalist knocked him out. Given that Neeson wasn’t there in person, I wondered how they would get around this. But the hologram fully punched Donovan!
Carrie Hope Fletcher played his wife. Her vocal range and stage presence were stunning. The famed Newton Faulkner acted as the sung voice of the journalist. I didn’t find him as captivating as the others, especially Inglorious singer Nathan James. The strength of his vocals cannot be understated. He brought a classic rock & roll feel to the Voice of Humanity. His rendition of Thunder Child sent chills down my spine. Finally, Adam Garcia was brilliant as the Artilleryman. He plays demented very well.
Overall, I cannot impress upon you the scope of what Jeff Wayne has achieved here. I’m unable to watch the few videos I took from the show without being moved profoundly. WOTW Alive on Stage is by far the greatest show I have ever attended. I am awed and humbled by its scale.
by Cedric | Dec 13, 2018 | Food and Drink, General
Now let us get the unpleasant aspects of this, and indeed many pubs around the country, out of the way: the music is unbearable. I live an existence surrounded by the most moving musical triumphs known to man. I’m often so shaken by the beauty of music that I’m brought to tears. Gosta Green’s music choice, however, ‘laisse à désirer’, as the French would say.
If one can move past the shocking choice; volume and quality of sound emanating from the speakers, Gosta Green is actually quite a charming pub. My friend St Nick, who is from Leeds, invited me to attend the weekly pub quiz. One more Yorkshireman turned up. Our heavenly threesome was then rudely interrupted by a Southerner. But my time in England has taught me that xenophobia is not desirable, and leads to people putting on strange accents to avoid it.
Blasting through my self-deprecation, the four of us took the quiz head on. The theme was ‘How I Met Your Mother’. I’ve never been one for Television so I didn’t know a damn thing about it! But you don’t want to hear about my general knowledge, let me say a few words about the pub itself.
The atmosphere at Gosta Green is as delightful as the food. During my time there, I sampled the halloumi fries and the mushroom wrap. From my first bite, it was clear to me that the oil they’d used to fry the halloumi was fresh and high quality. the crunch factor was excellent. As for my wrap, it was recommended by one of the barkeeps, who was herself a vegetarian. The wrap was delightful and filled well. The ingredients were clearly fresh and well put together. I had to add a little salt, but that’s perhaps on account of English people actually caring for their cardiovascular health. We the French don’t put such stock in our arteries!
The decoration; atmosphere and cider selection (try Lilley’s 6% one) is excellent. The location, too, is terribly central. I recommend this pub for a cool full or partial night out. I certainly had a good time. Except all those pesky Southerners.
by Cedric | Dec 10, 2018 | Food and Drink, General
Ah, Mr Brown! So many excellent and foggy memories stemmed from this bar. The drinks are dangerously cheap, the location is shockingly central. What more could one possibly ask for from a Roman bar?
The cocktails are all three euros fifty. The atmosphere is incomparable. One downside is that it opens relatively late. As a Brit, one makes a point of dining out around 6. Do not ask me why. I don’t understand the practice myself. Mr Brown opens at around 7, negating the possibility of an early sloshing.
Those more filthy among you will have their eyes drawn immediately to the bottom left hand corner of the above photograph. Mr Brown’s famous porno shot consists of chocolate liquor poured out of a skull shaped bottle. They are absolutely delightful and help anyone with deep seated issues forget their problems, for a short time at least.
The bar is well stocked with any and every possible alcohol you could desire. And the decor is really something. All over the walls and ceilings, you’ll find pop references to your heart’s delight. My favourite decoration is the poster of Fight Club on the ceiling in the back room. I was born on the same day as Brad Pitt, which s a fact I’m equally proud and disturbed by.
In all, Mr Brown is an iconic bar in the centre of Trastevere which very much deserves to be visited. You won’t spend anything and you’ll have a great time, even if you forget half of what you did. Let me know what you think!
by Cedric | Dec 7, 2018 | General, Recipes
Ho ho, Christmas is fast approaching. Have you bought disproportionate amounts of Linx body spray for your teenage relatives? Have you remembered the true meaning of Christmas as family and togetherness rather than unnecessary material possessions? Just checking!
Those of you who know what love means will simply adore this recipe. It’s superbly easy and delicious. Additionally, it is vegan – so you can have your soul warmed and feel good at the same time. So, here we go.
You’ll need a slow cooker and a hand held blender.
Ingredients:
- 500ml good tomato passata. The good stuff, from an Italian deli, or from Waitrose
- 250ml white wine (quality of cooking wine doesn’t matter, go for the cheap non-sparkling stuff)
- 500ml good quality vegetable stock
- two celery sticks, chopped roughly
- Two carrots, peeled and chopped roughly
- One onion, chopped roughly
- Two garlic cloves, crushed
- 16 basil leaves, plus more for the final garnish
- rock salt and pepper, to taste
The beauty of slow cooking food is that it takes almost no work. You combine everything in your slow cooker, or big old pot, and set it on low. Then you leave. If you are doing it in a pot, rather than a slow cooker, you may have to stay with it to make sure it doesn’t burn at the bottom. Equally, you don’t want the house to burn down.
When you come back from whichever nefarious event you attended (be it work or university), the house will be replete with delightful smells. Use the hand blender to reduce everything to a gorgeous smooth soupy texture.
Then, garnish it with some more basil leaves. Your soup is now ready to be consumed at terminal velocity.
If you want to make it even more splendid, make croutons. You’d need to cut some slices of bread (preferably homemade) and fry them in some olive oil until they are crispy. Watch that they don’t burn, mind.
This dish is wonderful for winter. It soothes all ills and warms the soul. I hope you enjoy it.
by Cedric | Dec 4, 2018 | General, Miscellaneous
Visiting private museums can be a difficult task in Rome, especially as a student. The vicious corporate overlords refuse even the most minor discount, driving up prices to fill their fat pockets.
You thought I’d gone mad then, didn’t you? Admit it. Honestly, this museum is a little more expensive than the rest, but the difference is only that of 2 euros. Which really isn’t so bad. But this museum is worth ever cent.
In the heart of Rome, right by Barberini metro station, you’ll find an impressive tall convent. Now it serves as a museum to the Capucin order. The real attraction for people is the marvellous crypt adjacent to the museum. We shall get to that in time. For me, the preamble to the crescendo of the crypt is just as impressive. Learning about the history of the Capucin order and how they came to undertake global good work is fascinating.
Now, those who know me will be aware that I am a sucker for old ivory carvings. New ivory, not so much. But pieces like this which exist in the realm of museums fascinate me. The gorgeous rendition of religious scenes always inspire me. To think someone can so deftly create pieces as magical as these.
This is my favourite piece in the museum. The resplendent rendition of the crucified Christ in ivory humbles me. One can see the pain and betrayal in this rendition. And mortality is a persistent theme in the Capucin museum. This is also a theme which haunts me on a daily basis.
Take care when walking through the museum, there is a beautiful Caravaggio in one of the recesses. This was not attributed to the masterful artist until relatively recently. This painting depicts St Francis in meditation and is simply breathtaking. One would be remiss to walk past it.
Finally, the truly outstanding part of this museum is the ultimate section.
A series of small chapels beneath the church of Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini contain the bones and mummified remains of an estimated 4,000 individuals. The Capuchin order believes the ossuaries are far from being macabre, that these remains of former friars are a silent reminder of our mortality and the passage of life on Earth.
One finds difficulty expressing the profound depth of the five chapels. One of my favourite quotes, perhaps ever, is on the placard just before entering the crypt:
“The soul sinks forlorn and wretched under all this burden of dusty death. Thank Heaven for its blue sky; it needs a long upwards gaze to give us back our faith.”
I hope this museum affects you as profoundly as it did me.
