Posted by Bonnie at
5.26pm
I am pleased to say that An Ideal Husband has been extended by another week and now ends on Saturday 26th February 2011. Tickets are still available from Nimax Theatres so book as soon as you can if you want to go!
I've added another review of the play from CurtainUp.com London, which sadly didn't paint a particularly glowing picture of Rachael's performance (probably because I said the other day that I hadn't seen any negative criticism of her!) but it wasn't entirely damning, either.
As for the auction, I am still waiting on some photos and information from Rachael, but she's so busy at the moment that she doesn't have much free time. Luckily we have got an extension until the end of May 2011 to raise the money, though obviously we'd like to hold the auction as soon as possible. However it is looking more likely that it may be delayed until the New Year now. It will give us more time to publicise it as well.
In the mean time, please sign up for our announcements mailing list on the Charity Auction page to make sure you don't miss out hearing the news when the auction goes live, or when we have some more photographs of the items available for auction. 
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Posted by Bonnie at
5.33pm
Most of the reviews of An Ideal Husband have now hit the press, so here is a round-up of them all. I am very glad to say that out of more than twenty reviews, I have not read a single bad word about Rachael Stirling. The only slightly negative thing mentioned is that the character was not very interesting and therefore the role did not really challenge her. I agree with this, to some extent, but then I do prefer her when she's playing an emotionally deep character, or someone who is a bit of a bitch.
The following links lead to reviews of An Ideal Husband from the named publication:
Lots of reviews of this one — blimey! 
1 Comment
Posted by Bonnie at
12.45am
I have spent a lot of time this weekend trying to get word out there about the charity auction and fund-raising effort, mainly through posting on Twitter, Facebook, and various blogs and message boards. It's hard work but has generated a lot of interest; we've had over 2,000 visitors in the past 24 hours and have already raised £165. Thank you to everyone who has donated via http://www.justgiving.com/rachael-stirling/ and also to everyone who has signed up to the announcements mailing list.
We have been lucky enough to gain the support of several high-profile people and organisations, including Tipping the Velvet author Sarah Waters, Lip Service star Ruta Gedmintas, BBC3's Lip Service, actor Hugh Bonneville (who played Ralph Banner in Tipping the Velvet), actress Lisa Faulkner, Rachael's current co-star in An Ideal Husband Elliot Cowan (who plays Lord Goring), comedian and TV host Bridget McManus, DIVA Magazine, and Logo TV.
As soon as I have more details from Rachael, I will of course be updating the Charity Auction page, but in the meantime, please continue to donate so we can make a head start before the auction begins!
Please pass this on to anyone you know who may be interested. Thanks!
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Posted by Bonnie at
12.00am
Lindsay Posner's production of Oscar Wilde's An Ideal Husband features in the main roles real life husband and wife Alexander Hanson as Sir Robert Chiltern and Samantha Bond as Mrs Cheveley, the woman who threatens to bring about the politician's downfall unless he agrees to her blackmail request. The real hero of Wilde's play is the character based on himself, the witty, erudite, confirmed bachelor, Lord Goring (Elliot Cowan) who will intercede on behalf of his friend and muddy the waters with unintended consequences.
Posner's interpretation, whilst making the play accessible and modern, loses out in the minor roles when they speak their parts stiltedly and self consciously aware of the importance of delivering Wilde's famous aphorisms. It is only when Samantha Bond arrives on stage that we find Wilde's witticisms delightfully naturally spoken as if we are hearing these well trod phrases for the first time. However by Acts Three and Four, the play has become more pleasurable with the very sexy Elliot Cowan on tip top form, charming in his deep turquoise (an unlikely and daring colour for that era) private library set with adjoining doors. His repartee with Miss Mabel Chiltern (Fiona Button) is an absolute joy as Goring meets his intellectual match!
Just when we are convinced that we are watching Victorian melodrama, we wonder whether Posner was constructing a nod to West end farce when one lady is shown into another room by Goring's manservant. This is not the person Goring was expecting and the confusion complicates the plot as Goring is anxious to protect Lady Chiltern's (Rachael Stirling) reputation. However we know that in Wilde's plays noone will be seen running around in their underwear.
Stephen Brimson Lewis's sets are sumptuously over the top, his Chiltern drawing room being covered in gold leaf but with the decayed silvering of old mirrors implying a fustiness of age or maybe a decadence to suit the Naughty Nineties. The chandeliers are of course magnificent as are the intricate costumes.
Rachel Stirling has the hardest role as the incorruptible Lady Chiltern but that merely makes her seem lacking in a sense of humour and less fun to be with. Samantha Bond on the other hand twinkles with attraction, even when she finds the stolen bracelet locked on her wrist. Alexander Hanson is reliable if a bit stuffy as Sir Robert. Caroline Blakiston's long, gossipy, filler, crowd pleasing speech from Lady Markby gets a big hand but has little relevance to the plot. This is Samantha Bond and Elliot Cowan's night with two stellar performances and the opportunist and the deliverer of her comeuppance.
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Posted by Bonnie at
11.10pm
As you will probably be able to tell from the banner at the top of the site, Rachael Stirling will be holding a charity auction of Tipping the Velvet props, for the Too Many Women campaign (for Breakthrough Breast Cancer) this December.
I have now created a dedicated page for it here on the site, which is where all the latest news will be: Charity Auction. You can also use the form on that page to sign up to receive announcements about the auction as they unfold.
In the mean time, if you wish to donate to Rachael's fund without bidding on an auction item, you can do so at her JustGiving.com page: Rachael Stirling is trying to raise £5,000 for "Too Many Women". You can see how much we have raised by looking at the total in the right hand sidebar.
Please pass this on to anyone you think may be interested in either the charity auction, or in donating to Rachael's fund. Thank you!
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