Today's Joanna Page

Today’s Joanna Page: From Hell

 

Today’s Joanna Page is From Hell, an impressively unpleasant and bad film, which is odd*, given that it was based on a graphic novel by the lovely Alan Moore, stars the equally lovely Johnny Depp and features the very lovely indeed Joanna Page. She plays a former prostitute trying to turn good for the sake of her baby. Which is… nice? Sigh. Where’s Andrea Dworkin when you need her?

* Okay, it’s about Jack the Ripper, so that should have been a clue. What’s the fascination there, by the way? We’re talking about a bloke who was really nasty to women. I’m not really sure he’s worth dwelling on unless you’re a criminal psychologist or a historian…

Monday’s villainous news

Doctor Who

Film

Theatre

British TV

US TV

Theatre

Fat Pig

Anna’s mentioned it, I’ve mentioned it in passing, but Fat Pig‘s PR company has just asked me very nicely to point out that performances of Fat Pig are starting on May 16th. And since it stars Robert Webb (of Mitchell and Webb, Peep Show and those Apple ads), Kris Marshall (My Family, My Life in Film and those BT adverts), Ella Smith (Meadowlands/Cape Wrath) and blog-favourite Joanna Page (Gavin & Stacey), why not?

Apparently, they would be really appreciative, as would everyone else involved with the show (probably). Do you reckon that means free tickets? And could my editorial independence be even more compromised if it does?

KRIS MARSHALL & JOANNA PAGE, ELLA SMITH & ROBERT WEBB TO STAR IN THE UK PREMIERE OF THE COMEDY “FAT PIG”

WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY NEIL LaBUTE

OPENING AT THE TRAFALGAR STUDIOS IN LONDON ON TUESDAY 27 MAY WITH PERFORMANCES STARTING ON 16 MAY

Kris Marshall will star as ‘Carter’, Joanna Page as ‘Jeannie’, Ella Smith as ‘Helen’ and Robert Webb as ‘Tom’ in the UK premiere of Neil LaBute’s comedy “FAT PIG”, which will open at the Trafalgar Studios in London on Tuesday 27 May, following previews from 16 May. The limited season will finish on 6 September.

Robert Webb is one half of the duo ‘Mitchell & Webb’, who are one of the most popular comic acts in the country and who are behind hit television shows, such as “Peep Show” and “That Mitchell & Webb Look”. Kris Marshall was recently on the West End stage with Billie Piper in ‘Treats’ and his television credits include starring as ‘Nick’ in “My Family”; his film credits include “Death at a Funeral”, “The Merchant of Venice” and playing ‘Colin’ in “Love Actually”. Joanna Page stars as ‘Stacey’ in the BBC comedy series “Gavin and Stacey” and can also currently be seen in “Love Soup”; her film credits include “Gideon’s Daughter” and starring in “Love Actually” and she was recently seen with Ian McKellen in the Old Vic stage production of “Alladin”. Ella Smith was a regular character in the television drama series “Cape Wrath” and has recently starred opposite Kris Marshall in the BBC drama “Sold”.

“FAT PIG” will be directed by its author Neil LaBute.

When Tom first meets Helen there is an instant connection, but it’s not exactly love at first sight… Helen is a bright, funny, sexy young woman who happens to be plus-sized – and then some – and it’s only so long before the insults start to fly from Tom’s shallow yet shockingly funny office buddies. Television’s hottest young comedians star in this searing, funny and ultimately touching love story.

“FAT PIG” in London will be produced by Howard Panter for Ambassador Theatre Group and Broadway producer Barry Weissler, responsible for the New York and London hit musical “Chicago”.

Performances at the Trafalgar Studios will be at 7.30pm on Mondays – Saturdays, with 2.30pm matinees on Thursdays and Saturdays. Tickets priced from £25-£45, with previews priced at £30 and day seats at £25, are available from the Trafalgar Studios Box Office on 0870 060 6632 or online at www.theambassadors.com/trafalgarstudios.

There’s a web site, too.

Today's Joanna Page

Today’s Joanna Page: Love Soup

Today’s Joanna Page, despite the best efforts of the BBC, is Love Soup, David Renwick’s slightly odd look at love that stars Tamsin Greig, Sheridan Smith and the superfluous one from Ashes to Ashes.

I caught an episode of it once to see what Sheridan Smith was up to in her time off from Two Pints and wasn’t desperately impressed. This time round was better, notably because of Joanna Page who got to exercise her acting muscles in a surprisingly subtle way. More on that later.

Strangely, Love Soup seems to have more in common with Jonathan Creek than Renwick’s One Foot in the Grave, with bizarre love mysteries to be solved in outlandish ways. It’s not great, but it’s okay: as much as I love Tamsin Greig – and indeed Sheridan Smith – Greig’s character, Alice, is just dull (although that’s probably the point) and Smith’s doesn’t really have a lot of depth. Still, it’s only half an hour long and nearly at the end of series two, so I’ve probably missed out on a lot.

Anyway, more pics of JP after the jump, including a great big spoiler. If you haven’t seen the episode yet and intend to, don’t go any further.

Incidentally, I do warn you that if you have still to see it, do not watch it where anyone can see you: it is definitely Not Suitable For The Office. Or indeed public transport. 

Continue reading “Today’s Joanna Page: Love Soup”