Banff Mountain Film Festival, on tour from the Canadian Rocky Mountains to York Barbican tonight. Picture: Jordan Manoukian
FROM dangerous liaisons to messy science experiments, Charles Hutchinson looks forward to an action-packed February half-term.
Nail-biting film adventure of the week: Banff Mountain Film Festival Tour, York Barbican, tonight, 7.30pm
HERE comes a new collection of short films packed with extreme expeditions, intrepid characters and stunning cinematography. “Join the world’s top outdoor filmmakers and adventurers as they climb, ski, paddle, run and ride through the wildest corners of the planet,” says tour director Neil Teasdale. “We guarantee you’ll leave inspired to have an adventure of your own.”
Tonight’s highlights include A Team Sport, featuring ultra-runner Courtney Dauwalter; Of A Lifetime’s account of three extreme skiers and snowboarders sailing across the notorious Drake Passage to ride the steep, icy lines of Antarctica and Soul Flyers – The Longest Line, where Fred Fugen, Vincent Cotte and Aurélien Chatard achieve the longest terrain-flying wingsuit line in history. Box office: yorkbarbican.co.uk.
Abbie Budden’s Annette Hargrove in Cruel Intentions: The ’90s Musical at Grand Opera House, York. Picture: Pamela Raith
Dangerous liaison of the week: Cruel Intentions: The ’90s Musical, Grand Opera House, York, today, 2.30pm and 7.30pm; tomorrow, 7.30pm; Friday, 5pm and 8.30pm; Saturday, 2.30pm and 7.30pm
CREATED by Jordan Ross, Lindsey Rosin and Roger Kumble from Kumble’s 1999 film spin on Les Liaisons Dangereuses, this American musical is powered by the 1990s’ pop gold dust of Britney Spears, Boyz II Men, Christina Aguilera, TLC, R.E.M., Ace Of Base, Natalie Imbruglia and The Verve.
Step siblings Sebastian Valmont (Will Callan) and Kathryn Merteuil (Nic Myers) engage in a cruel bet, where Kathryn goads Sebastian into attempting to seduce Annette Hargrove (Abbie Budden), the headmaster’s virtuous daughter. Weaving a web of secrets and temptation, their crusade wreaks havoc on the students at their exclusive Manhattan high school. Soon the dastardly plotters become entangled in their own web of deception and unexpected romance with explosive results. Box office: atgtickets.com/york.
Stuart Green’s inspector, Truscott, and Miles John’s thief, Dennis, in York Settlement Community Players’ Loot at York Theatre Royal Studio
Scandalous play of the week: York Settlement Community Players in Loot, York Theatre Royal Studio, until February 27, 7.45pm except February 23; 2pm matinee, February 22
KATIE Leckey directs the Settlement Players in agent provocateur Joe Orton’s scabrous 1965 farce, the one with two thieves, dodgy police officers, adult themes, offensive language, sexism and xenophobia, references to sexual assault, including rape and necrophilia, a live actor playing a dead body in a coffin and digs at the Roman Catholic Church.
Don’t let that put you off! Yes, it still carries a content warning and age recommendation of 16 upwards, but it remains outrageously funny. Box office: 01904 623568 or yorktheatreroyal.co.uk.
Connie Howcroft in rehearsal for her role as Jo March in Wharfemede Productions’ Little Women – The Broadway Musical
Marching on together: Wharfemede Productions: Little Women – The Broadway Musical, Theatre@41, Monkgate, York, until Saturday, 7.30pm plus 2.30pm Saturday matinee
HELEN Spencer directs York company Wharfemede Productions in their first solo show, playing Marmee too in Allan Knee, Jason Howland and Mindi Dickstein’s musical account of Louisa May Alcott’s story of the March sister – traditional Meg, wild, aspiring writer Jo, timid Beth and romantic Amy – growing up in Concord, Massachusetts, while their chaplain father is away serving in the American Civil War. Box office: tickets.41monkgate.co.uk.
Top Secret: Demonstrating the magic of science at Pocklington Arts Centre on Friday
Experimental show of the week: Top Secret: The Magic Of Science, Pocklington Arts Centre, Friday, 2pm
IS it magic… or is it science? Fusing the mystery of magic with wondrous and miraculous feats of science, Top Secret go on a high voltage adventure in a fast-moving, colourful, interactive show filled with mystery, suspense and loads of mess in experiments to capture the imagination. Box office: 01759 301547 or pocklingtonartscentre.co.uk.
Julia Titus celebrating the blues of Bessie Smith in Ma Bessie’s Prohibition Party at Milton Rooms, Malton
Blues night of the week: Rural Arts On Tour presents Julia Titus in Ma Bessie’s Prohibition Party, Milton Rooms, Malton, Friday, 7.30pm
BUILDING on her passion for the Empress of the Blues, Julia Titus started to perform as Ma Bessie in 2015 to share the music of Bessie Smith and her contemporaries with a new generation. Julia’s rich, warm vocals combine with dynamic guitar and saxophone musicians who look as well as sound the part.
Ma Bessie features classic blues and jazz tunes from the inter-war years, along with original songs and handpicked covers from the past 50 years of popular music: Careless Love, Nobody Knows When You’re Down And Out, Gimme A Pig Foot et al. Box office: 01653 696240 or themiltonrooms.com.
Ryedale play of the week: Jenny Lockyer in Amy Johnson: Last Flight Out, Helmsley Arts Centre, Saturday, 7.30pm
BORN in the year the Wright Brothers made their first flight and into an age where the romantic heights of flying captured her heart, Amy Johnson lived her life for adventure and the future of aviation. In January 1941, aged 37, she was killed while serving her country on a routine flight for the Air Transport Auxiliary.
Written and performed by Jenny Lockyer, Last Flight Out charts how the “lone girl flier” achieved so much while faced with challenges of all kinds. We meet Amy in a world of memories, desires, wishes and ambitions, where we see how the pieces fit together and learn of the tools she used to bring her dreams to reality. Box office: 01439 771700 or helmsleyarts.co.uk.
James Oliver, top, Mark Kemlo, bottom left, and Norman Watt-Roy: Playing Shire Hall, Howden, on Saturday
The other blues night of the week: Howden Live presents James Oliver with Norman Watt-Roy, Shire Hall, Howden, Saturday, doors 7.30pm for 8pm
IRREPRESSIBLE Welsh blues guitar talent and vocalist James Oliver will be joined in Howden by bass stalwart Norman Watt-Roy, from Ian Dury & The Blockheads, Wilko Johnson’s band and Wreckless Eric’s Captains Of Industry, plus drummer Mark Kemlo.
“James is a passionate roots rocker loaded with guitar firepower,” says guitar legend Bill Kirchen. “I am not easily impressed by guitarists, but this guy is definitely a comer,” adds Captain Beefheart drummer John Drumbo. Box office: 01430 432510 (Shire Hall), 01430 431660 (Dove House shop) or howden-live.com.