The Genius and the Goddess

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It could be argued that Arthur Miller is now remembered as much for his four-year marriage to Marilyn Monroe as for his plays, including at least one masterpiece, Death of a Salesman. But in post-war theatre, only Tennessee Williams rivalled Miller in stature. When the outspoken, liberal playwright won the heart of America’s golden girl in 1956, many predicted this unlikely match would soon fail.

Nearly sixty years later, their marriage is the subject of a new book by Jeffrey Meyers. Continue reading →

Grace of the Gamblers

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Image by Peter Griffiths

Grace O’Malley (Gráinne Ní Mháille) was born in Mayo circa 1530, daughter of a chieftain. She became Ireland’s most renowned sea-raider, and her battles with Sir Richard Bingham, the Governor of Connacht, are the stuff of legend. In 1593, when English colonisation was at its peak, Grace famously negotiated with Elizabeth I at Greenwich Palace. The life of Ireland’s ‘pirate queen’ has long been celebrated in folklore, literature and song. Most recently the poet Naomi Foyle has composed an ‘epic ballad’, Grace of the Gamblers: a Chantilly Chantey. Continue reading →

Power of Madonna

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‘Power of Madonna’ is the 15th episode in the Fox TV series, Glee, featuring a show choir or ‘glee club’ in a fictional Ohio high school. The choir tends to attract the quirkier, less popular students, encouraged by their Spanish teacher, Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison), and their rivals, a cheerleading team led by Will’s arch nemesis, P.E. instructor Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch.)

Media buzz was generated last autumn when Madonna granted the Glee team full rights to her musical catalogue. Continue reading →

Caresse Henry

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Caresse Henry, one of America’s leading entertainment managers, died aged 44 on March 31st, 2010. Her body was found in Irvine, California, where she lived. According to the Orange County Coroner’s office, Ms Henry died of a self-inflicted gunshot. However, ‘despite rumours to the contrary, the cause of death has not been determined and is currently under investigation,’ as Liz Rosenberg, publicist to Caresse Henry’s former client, Madonna, confirmed in a statement to CNN on April 2nd. Continue reading →

From Russia With Love

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Artwork by Michael Gillette

‘City Reads’ is an annual event in Brighton and Hove, beginning on World Book Day in March and concluding during the Brighton Festival in May. Each year one book is chosen, to be read and discussed by the whole community over three months. Since 2005, a variety of texts from Lewis Carroll’s classic fantasy, Alice in Wonderland, to contemporary novels such as The Book Thief by Marcus Zusack have been selected.

This year’s read is From Russia With Love, the fifth of Ian Fleming’s thrillers featuring the dashing secret agent, James Bond. Continue reading →