The Wind Witch Murders by Casey Dunn. Book Review.

 For those in the market for a compelling slice of Folk Horror, with strong character development, The Wind Witch Murders is well worth your time.

Raven's backstory ties in with the enigmatic 'Hill People' who seem to hold sway over the town of Silverfield, Arkansas including some of Raven's 'friends'.
Unexplained murders and dark cult secrets and lies link to Raven's mother; Deanne Moore whose untimely demise may have done more than just leave her daughter mourning a life-changing loss.
There's plenty of dark and white magic to savour here, together with tense chase sequences; duplicitous relationships; a slow burning romance and the chill that comes from one of the books key themes: the dead do not always rest easy.
It's a medium-paced read, but one you'll likely want to take your time with. There's an awful lot packed in here, with plot twists and sometimes surprising actions from the colourful cast.
Hang on tight as the story reaches its conclusion with a memorable finale. As the professor states in Dario Argento's film Suspiria, 'There is magic all around us'.
The Wind Witch Murders will be published by Severn House.

The Passion of Pedro Almodovar: A Self-Portrait In Seven Films. Book Review

 Full disclosure: for me, the Spanish auteur Pedro Almodovar can do no wrong. The sheer volume of top notch films in his catalogue are, in my opinion unmatched and only Rainer Werner Fassbinder immediately springs to mind when it comes to quantity and quality. James Miller's book takes a look at seven films from this rich body of work:

Pepi, Luci, Bom and Other Girls On The Heap

Law of Desire

The Flower of My Secret

Bad Education

Volver

Broken Embraces

Pain And Glory

Here, the themes and textures of these films are explored,acknowledging the autobiographical nature of some of the director's key works, and helping to generate fresh ways of looking at them through better eyes. The director's experiences in Catholic schools are referenced with regard to stories he tells on a personal journey that will hopefully continue for a good while to come. Miller's interpretations of mood and motivation are, for me, always engaging but I will offer friendly advice to those who are at the formative stage of their Almodovar exploration. The analysis of these seven films do, by necessity, include spoilers, so I suggest watching each film before reading about it. My guess is that you'll immediately book a repeat viewing, fired by Miller's ideas. 

The Passion of Pedro Almodovar is published in the UK by Columbia University Press, and highly recommended for seasoned admirers and newcomers alike.

The Mouthless Dead by Anthony Quinn. Book Review

 Anthony Quinn's 'The Mouthless Dead' was inspired by the infamous 'Wallace Murder' which rocked England in 1931. Julia Wallace was found battered to death in her Liverpool home, and her husband George was accused of her murder. After a 15 year gap, the inspector who worked on a previous case returns to what was called 'the impossible murder', examining once again George Wallace's movements that fateful evening and going over the timeline in an effort to determine whether Wallace really had been able to murder his wife and finally solve whether the shadowy figure of a man named Qualtrough really did exist and if he did, what part did he play in Julia's death.

This is a fascinating account of mood and motive that lay behind what may have been a crime of passion, detailing police procedural work, with wonderful use of historical events and vividly drawn locations that really do place the reader in the very centre of this baffling case. It's a completely engrossing read that never gets bogged down considering there's a lot of information to take in. The Wallace case had drawn tens of thousands of column inches down the years and this book will provoke re-evaluation from those who were aware of the details while introducing many newcomers to this puzzle. During and after the journey, readers will undoubtedly have their own opinions on whether or not George Wallace was guilty, or if the mysterious Qualtrough or someone closer to the family was responsible.

If you enjoy slow burn true crime with speculative fiction added to the recipe, I think you'll find 'The Mouthless Dead' very much worth your time. It's released on 6th March 2025 by Abacus.

The Hairy Ones Shall Dance by Manly Wade Wellman. Audiobook Review

 Manly Wade Wellman's "The Hairy Ones Shall Dance" is a horror novel, and the opening book of the 'Judge Pursuivant' trilogy. The story begins with a skeptic of psychic phenomena attending a seance in the company of a friend who has much to say about the reality of the supernatural. After a slow buildup, the seance gets underway, leading to an encounter with a legendary creature, with grimoires, delicious folklore and the pitting of science against the occult with the two often coming together throughout the rest of this tale. 

I appreciated the investigative angle here, and enjoyed the pacing throughout. The characters are well drawn and frequently challenged by the events unfolding around them. The author doesn't offer much in the way of clues - a decision that pleased me - and a letter dictated to the judge near the end supplies a compelling backstory of just how we got here. Fans of the macabre with a taste for snatches of cosmic horror and pseudo-scientific theories will find much to enjoy here and this audiobook is a fine way to experience the story. A few words of praise for the narrator are due. Gene Blake is excellent at conveying the necessary atmosphere of fear and high tension and also handles the different accents so very well. His voice is clear and enjoyable to listen to as he switches from character building to passages of high suspense while always keeping in tune with the spirit of this opening book. "The Hairy Ones Shall Dance" is a fun read. Nothing heavy and perfect for the dark nights in front of a fire.  

Sick Houses: Haunted Homes & The Architecture of Dread by Leila Taylor. Book Review

This is an endlessly fascinating study of what Stephen King famously describes as 'The Bad Place'. Leila Taylor begins by taking a look at home ownership, and details the hopes and fears that accompany moving from one house or apartment to another, sometimes attempting to bury bad memories in pursuit of security and happiness. The question of when does a house become a home is fully addressed and by the time we move on to what constitutes a undesirable residence, some readers may well be nodding their head with regard to past or current location.

Real and fictional places come under the spotlight in this book: the Ed Gein house of horrors; Amityville; the Winchester home and cinematic gems such as the Bates house from Psycho, the imposing gothic mansion from The Haunting and (bonus points for this one) the bone chilling centre of Peter Sasdy's The Stone Tape.

As well as movies, Leila also includes a literary angle in her study, and her brief description of 'Piranesi' compelled me to push the book to the top of my tbr pile. 

Leila Taylor's writing is crisp and intelligent and happily - at least for people like me - is not overly academic. It never confuses with complicated jargon, and is easy to follow with a sharp, keen-eyed analysis of the subject matter. My own shallow knowledge of Victorian architecture and other building designs was certainly heightened by this enjoyable look at houses with a dark history and fresh builds with a clean slate.

A genuine 5 star delight!

Published by Repeater Books

Death Upon A Star by Amy Patricia Mead. Book Review

 Amy Patricia Meade's'Death Upon A Star introduces readers to Evelyn Galloway who quickly wins our undivided attention, landing the coveted position as script supervisor to Alfred Hitchcock for his film 'Rebecca..

It's 1939 in Los Angeles, and there's an immediate air of mystery and suspense as Evelyn is befriended by an actor and finds herself trying to untangle a web of murder and deceit with several people in the frame for a shocking crime.

Lovers of cozy mysteries, film buffs and anyone who likes to pit their wits against a well written puzzle will be right at home here, and will relish the prospect of further adventures with this likeable heroine.

Death Upon A Star is an enjoyable read, moving along at a fair old clip, with no triggers to report and I thoroughly recommend it..

Death Upon A Star will be released on 4th February 2025 by Severn House

Schroeder by Neal Cassidy. Book Review

 First of all, a trigger warning: 'Schroeder' contains extremely graphic descriptions of a string of murders. If you can handle that, Neal Cassidy's book is a quite riveting read, following a trail of slaughter and the thoughts, lifestyle and circumstances of the killer.

The author adds social, political and religious context to the character's mindset, and there's an awful lot that makes sense when you consider the world today.

You may well be scratching your head, wondering how an individual  who can appreciate kindness and compassion whenever he sees it can sink to  such an apparent disregard for human life. The answer makes for a harrowing read in itself.

'Schroeder' is beautifully written, full of acute observations on the life of this loner and the way he views this essentially  planet in turmoil ,and makes the killer's short bicycle journeys fascinating as past, present and future are presented in often poetic detail.

Certainly not a book for the fainthearted but I found it a compelling read, and a 5 star experience.

The Watkins Book of Urban Legends by Gail De Vos Book Review

 Storyteller, librarian and former teacher, Gail De Vos has several books on folklore under her belt and this latest collection is required reading for those with an interest in urban legends.

Gail covers a multitude of areas, with sizeable portions of her book covering supernatural legends. By charting the evolution of stories which range from the chilling to the downright humorous, we can see how certain tales were altered as they were passed from one generation to the next, mixing the ancient with the modern. For me, one of the most fascinating parts covered the famous '27 Club' where famous musicians and singers passed way before their time, and there were several fascinating theories; some of which I'd heard and one which really caught my breath.

If haunted tunnels, highway ghosts, curses generated by social media and a good few stories that have influenced motion pictures.

The only section that disappointed me just a little concerns conspiracy theories: I did hope for more comprehensive coverage of conspiracy theories. That's just me being picky though. Overall, this is a fine collection, beautifully written and offering real value for multiple reads.

Perfect Days. Film Review

 Hiayama (Koji Yakusho) is a janitor, cleaning public toilets by day in Tokyo.

He’s a loner with hardly anything to say and has a passion for reading, photography and impeccable taste in music.

His nights are spent with his beloved books before turning in as part of preparation for a job he  does with pride, displaying a strong work ethic.

Right from the word go, Hiayama is someone I cared deeply about, with his outlook and appreciation for the simple things in life earning great admiration: sitting in a bar lovingly regarding a pint glass of water with the same reverence as a connoisseur of wine might look at the nectar before them , or taking the time to appreciate his surroundings. He’s a man wedded to routine; calm and friendly with warm glances towards his fellow citizens, but he is capable of not only opening up but being assertive when push comes to shove and these different sides to his character make him fully rounded.

Wenders’ film is full of the things that make life special, as well as a great sadness for words let unsaid and a growing realisation that Hirayama may be within reach of his soulmate but unlikely to ever meet. 

It’s a quiet masterpiece in my opinion, and a worthy addition to a filmography that contains so many wonderful films from a director with real heart and soul.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Film Review

 Have to admit I hadn't seen Tim Burton's original film since it played at cinemas 36 years ago, and took the opportunity to revisit a few days ago, in anticipation of  Beetlejuice Beetlejuice hitting the silver screen. Happy to report I still find the first film to be a thoroughly enjoyable experience and had an even better time with this new release. While I accept opinions that there may be a few too many plot points going on here, I really had no problems going with the flow. The presence of characters from the first film - Delia and Lydia are even more of a delight this time round - and new faces such as Jenna Ortega, Willem Dafoe and Monica Bellucci as Delores score highly; the latter delivers a wonderfully physical turn and her entrance alone  may well be  worth the price of your ticket!

The man himself is driven by another memorable turn by Michael Keaton, introducing new tricks to his repertoire, while being just as obnoxious as ever and Ortega, for me, is an unqualified success as the sceptic who is forced to do a 360 as events make it clear her mom knows best.  A second viewing may possibly endear Dafoes' character to me even more and there's so much else to look forward to with regard to a repeat performance. Danny Elfman's score really captures both the tragic aspects of this story and the screwball comedy on offer here, while the use of 'MacArthur Park' and a spooky rendition of Harry Belafonte's 'Day-O' will both live long in the memory. It's also great to see Tim Burton continue his career-long admiration of the late, great director Mario Bava. The opening shot of the monochrome sequence is straight out of Black Sunday/Mask of Satan, and also pleased to catch both a namecheck and a scrapbook reference to my favourite Bava film. Do try to see this on the big screen, if circumstances permit. It's quite a ride!

Withered Hill by David Barnett. Book Review

 David Barnett's Withered Hill moves between the ultra hectic world of London and a secluded Lancashire village with the end result being a deeply unsettling tale that will appeal to lovers of horror fiction; particularly folk horror.

With nods to one of the UK's infamous 'unholy trinity' of films, Withered Hill is still very much its own beast, using different timelines and perspectives to construct a dark, foreboding account of what can happen when your past catches up with you. Sophie Wickham finds herself caught up in a nightmare that stretches back to her childhood and it's an absolute joy to encounter new characters placed in her path and grapple with plot twists, morality, mood and motivations along the way. Just when I thought I knew where the story was heading, something new came up to shred my expectations, which, for me, is the hallmark of a very fine book.

The traditional folk horror theme of merging the ancient and the modern works beautifully in Withered Hill, suggesting that 'the 'old ways' still hold sway in various locales which is both uplifting and chilling here. The titular village is so very well drawn; a place far removed from the pressures of everyday life, and it's characters equally so. Underneath its calm exterior lies a locale steeped in lore and barbarous practices that chill the spine; even more so as Barnett's powers as a writer induce the feeling that somewhere out there is a place that mirrors this setting.

Withered Hill is published by Canelo, and due for release on 23rd September 2024. Good to learn that Canelo have David signed up to write another folk horoor based book; title to be announced. This is an easy 5 star rating and a real pleasure to encounter a book that succeeds so very well within its chosen genre.

Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Canas Book Review

 The second horror novel from this highly acclaimed author. Vampires of El Norte takes place during the Mexican-American war, and centres on the romance between Nena - daughter of a ranchero - and Nestor (a vaquero) who returns to his true love, following a long absence. As a historical romance, Vampires works very well indeed, taking a childhood friendship that blossoms into a love that's hard to deny, even in the face of testing circumstances. There's also a supernatural element to this story, which initially whetted my appetite. Although the titular vampires are not front and centre for much of the book, when they do appear, it's to devastating effect , and their presence is never too far away. 

The story is engaging, right from the word go, with strong characterisation, detailed backstories and vivid descriptions of the locale which capture a war-torn region mixed in with paranormal activity of a truly horrifying nature. There's also interesting commentary on colonialism and class, making this a book that provokes deep thought on many levels. Vampires of El Norte is tailor made for those who appreciate historical romances, with a delicious twist of otherwordly terrors. It's perfectly paced, but a read to be savoured with concentration and  reflection amply rewarded.

This paperback edition will be published in the UK 24th October  2024 published by Rebellion . Solaris Books Imprint.

A Glimmer In The Hollows by Lorna Selley Book Review

 A substantial debut from author Lorna Selley. The story takes place in Driftwood; a mountain town where 6 year old Olivia Garcia disappeared two decades earlier. Now, her babysitter for that fateful night must claw back unremembered fragments from her past in order to find her missing charge.

When a famous author turns up in the town, the stage is set for an investigation that is delicious to follow. Characterisation and backstories are beautifully written, along with vivid descriptions of the town and surrounding area. The story went into places I didn't expect and I applaud the author for this, mixing local legend with something else that has been here even longer.

No trigger warnings to report. This is a hugely promising start for a career that should go from strength to strength. If you like inspired writing, with a multitude of spooky moments and white knuckle tension, this may well be for you. 4 stars!

Longlegs. Film Review

 I went into this one knowing very little about its story, having avoided teasers/trailers and reviews. I was aware of 'early bird' comparisons with Silence of The Lambs via social media posts, and that Longlegs had been labelled '"he scariest film of the decade".  Did I find it scary? No. The only film that really scared me was my first viewing of The Exorcist which was shown on a double bill with Exorcist II at a local cinema. This was at the age of 17 when I had already seen a good number of films on the big screen. However, I did find Longlegs to be enormously unsettling, with a feeling of dread inhabiting every minute of the running time.

FBI agent Lee Harker (Maika Monroe) is assigned to a case known as 'The Birthday Murders' and her tense, nervy character can be related to subconscious suppression of childhood memories. Harker possesses unreliable psychic abilities; an 'asset' that's all the more chilling when we realise just where her powers came from. Monroe delivers a terrific performance here, as does Nicholas Cage as a facially scarred instrument of pure evil.

The cinematography by Andres Arochi Tinajero is exceptional, working in tandem with a soundscape that's never less than completely unnerving.Together, they fully succeed in getting right under the skin and staying there. Director Osgood Perkins installed several moments of dark humour into this film, but at the 2 screenings I attended, not a single person laughed. Maybe we had temporarily forgotten how?

I will not go into any plot details for the benefit of those who can't get to a cinema and are awaiting a physical media release or streaming. What I will say is that Longlegs is certainly worthy of your most earnest attention and that multiple viewings are required to plumb its hidden depths and to better appreciate just what am achievement this is.

Ghost Camera by Darcy Coates Book Review

 An abandoned camera found in a lighthouse forms the basis for Darcy Coates' Ghost Camera; a compelling novella which explores the concept that the line between the living and the dead is wafer thin.

While I feel a little more of the characters' backstories would have been nice, the story certainly delivers multiple chills down the spine along the way.

A camera which captures spirits on film makes for a delightfully unsettling read, with echoes of Hideo Nakata's Ringu, taking us on a journey full of flourishes that will almost certainly prompt glances over your shoulder.

At 118 pages, this is a fast, punchy read and the good news is the inclusion of several short stories, some containing nods to M R James, William Hope Hodgson and Lovecraft., mixed in with refreshing author invention.

My own particular favourite concerns a plane crash and the subsequent desperate fight for survival but in truth, every story here has considerable merit.

Highly recommended!

Raven Hill by Jools G. King. Book Review

/

Raven Hill is a deliciously entertaining addition to the booming genre of Folk Horror, initially following the troubled relationship of Nate and Miranda who are soon to discover that these tempestuous times will prove to be the very least of their problems.The characters are beautifully drawn, and inspired either a genuine sense of caring or extreme revulsion from this reader.The book is very well paced, moving along at a fair clip but finding time to focus on characterisation and locale; the latter blending the ancient and the modern as the very best Folk Horror should do.It's a well constructed plot too, using an idea of a wandering band of colourful characters to search for rogue witches who made the diabolical leap from white magic to black.Moderate horror, with nothing that's really extreme, and a real page turner.

4 stars out of five.

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre 50 Years Anniversary Screening. Quad Cinema Derby

 When I heard that probably the most important Horror film ever made was being shown as part of Quad's wonderful 'Fright Club' offerings, I was determined to put a long run of bad health to one side and attend.

15th June 2024, saw me making a 15 miles trip and took my seat to enjoy an exceptional introduction by Darrell Buxton who should be familiar to avid consumers of cult cinema. Darrell talked for 15 minutes about this classic slice of relentless horror, and even found time to give us a rundown on the rest of the Chain Saw films in a series that simply refuses to relinquish its collective grip.

Before Darrell's introduction, the audience were asked to signal with a show of hands just how many of them had seen TTCM before and a surprising number hadn't. Oh boy! I envy them getting a first view of this film on the big screen. The film has been rightly treated to a 4K restoration, and why not? True, there is a lot to be said for nostalgia-driven insistence that Hooper's sonic assault on our senses should  be seen in Grindhouse image quality but the director always wanted his film to look as good as possible and it looks amazing in this new transfer. There's a healthy presence of grain here, and many scenes where the colours pop to further heighten the unease created by what is very much a descent into hell via the gorgeous scenery of a world they must leave behind to confront a truly nightmarish locale.

I have seen this film many times, ranging from blurry 3rd gen VHS boots, right up to pristine blu-ray editions, but last night's screening to things to another level. And then some.

Here, the performances took us to  a new, astonishing dimension. While Paul  A Partain's rendering of Franklin Hardesty had previously irritated me beyond annoyance, last night I finally saw just what a beautifully judged performance it always has been, switching from a frankly deranged persona to a guy who is perhaps the smartest of the bunch.  Of course, the most talked about turn has to be Marilyn Burns who plays Sally Hardesty. To see her reactions, the sheer terror in her face during that final gruelling third of the movie on the big screen increased my admiration tenfold. If you're looking for the most physically and mentally challenging role that a script has demanded  in the history of Horror Cinema, well.... this is the girl.Indeed, the silver screen captured this remarkable performance in its extreme, and demonstrated this was never a case of just turning up and screaming blue murder. There's a frightening realism to her performance that draws both admiration and also an ever increasing sense of horror as we are forced to watch and not look away for even a moment. That's one of the most compelling things about Hooper's film: you are hypnotised by its savagery yet it's a relatively bloodless affair though last night, I did notice a few drops that had thus far eluded me.

One of the things that came over infinitely stronger with this special screening were the set designs. This charnel house of horrors looks and feels even more disturbing, with constant reminders we are dealing with something that has its roots in tradition of the most horrifying 'religion' and something that cannot and will not cease, even as some of the participants grow more decrepit. There's a philosophy and a mindset at play here that is simply too strong for anyone to escape with their mind intact and that remains one of the most troubling elements of the film. I have to say that Hooper injected moments of humour into this work, but I listened out for audience chuckles last night and not a sound of even nervous laughter came through. The sight of Drayton Sawyer treats The Hitchhiker to the business end of a broom should come across as hilarious, but instead it's yet another moment of great unease because of the way it's shot, directed and portrayed. Praise too, for the soundtrack which is made up of industrial, discordant sound that really does add immeasurably to the ever present atmosphere of dread and decay. o be honest, discussing another important part of this film is way beyond me: the astrological theme of this film really does need to be discussed by those far more capable and astute than myself, because it's an important part of TTCM and deserves many column inches.

To those who have yet to see this film,  warn you that it will most seriously screw up your year, but as a wholly disconcerting example of how unforgiving, how brutal this genre can be, it's quite honestly unbeatable. Thanks very much to Quad and all those involved for making this such a special event.

I Am Providence: The Life and Times of H.P. Lovecraft. Book Review.

 Endlessly  fascinating two volumes by the finest Lovecraft scholar S.T. Joshi Here, Joshi provides in depth analysis and often controversial opinions on Lovecraft’s life and work: we can read about Lovecraft’s formative years; his precarious health( the failed marriage( those famous letters and, of course the stories themselves.

Racist beliefs have long blighted Lovecraft’s name and it’s a crying shame held those opinions, but he often comes over as a charming and stimulating companion. Personally, I feel the author is a little too hard on some of Lovecraft’s work but the wonderful thing about all art is that it often divides opinions.

A word about Lovecraft’s voluminous correspondence: many think that Lovecraft would have written a lot more stories if it wasn’t for the urge to instigate and respond to mountain’s of mail. I fully agree with the author that this is probably not the case. Those letters made him the writer that he was. Some excerpts from this lifetime of communication are included here and make for engrossing study.

An absolute must-read for those interested in weird horror fiction, mixed with scfi and fantasy.

The Haunting of Borley Rectory: The Story of A Ghost Story. Book Review

 The first book on Borley that I've read, and held to be definitive by many.

Here, Sean O'Connor gives us an in-depth account of the  history; the lives of the people who lived there and various outsiders who visited what has long been labelled 'The most haunted house in England'. Certainly, the legend of Borley boasts quite a reputation - even to this very day - and appears to have split opinion as to the likelihood or not of the various manifestations claimed to have taken place there. Ghostly nuns; writing on the Rectory walls; strange noises emanating from unoccupied rooms; a phantom coach and a strange man in a top hat seen prowling servant's quarters are just a few of the alleged phenomena experienced in this undesirable property.

The part of this story involving famous ghost hunter the late Harry Price has given doubters plenty of ammunition in their quest to debunk claims that Borley really was haunted and Sean provides valuable research and commentary on darn near every aspect of the story. My own feelings contain a belief that the Rectory did play host to the supernatural. While I accept that Price almost certainly was guilty of faking 'evidence' and that other people helped to dishonestly add to the mix, for me there was still enough to make it unlikely that every supernatural occurrence was either faked or from the projection of wild imaginations. Do read this book, and make up your own mind. The exhaustive research and how it was all put together make this a five star read.

 

Swan Lake. Ballet Review from the Ashbourne Elite Cinema and Theatre.

 My first encounter with Ballet came via Powell and Pressburger's extraordinary film, The Red Shoes. Many years later, following a couple of ballet screenings on BBC4, I decided to attend a screening of Swan Lake by the Royal Ballet at my favourite cinema. This particular performance took place at the Royal Opera House 24th April 2024.

Directed by Kevin O'Hare, Swan Lake is a truly timeless 4 act ballet that tells the heartbreaking story of a beautiful princess named Odette who is cursed by the scorcerer Von Rothbart. During daylight hours, Odette and her companions become swans, only regaining their human form at night.  Prince Seigfried falls deeply in love with Odette, who explains to him the only way to break the spell.

Betrayal, deception and the power of love are just a few of the themes in this ballet which was conceived 1875-76. Pyotr Ilych Tchaikovsky wrote the music for Swan Lake and some early reviews condemned it as being too symphonic and not well suited for ballet. While I'm not yet at a level required to offer informed comment on either classical music or ballet, this beautiful score worked for me. Moving from joyous to sombre and introspective, with some truly glorious melodies, my overriding impression is the music has a sense of great recurring sadness. 

On a technical level, the entire production excels: choreography by Marius Petipic and Lev Ivanov is constantly breathtaking; the costumes are exquisite and the orchestra - conducted by Martin Georgiev - exemplary. The superb cast really shine here: Yasmine Naghdi verges on the supernatural in the roles of Odette/Odile, so alive to every nuance the performances demand, while Matthew  Ball (Prince Seigfreid) and Thomas Whitehead (Von Rothbart) are especially fine.  One of many details I noticed, watching this on a cinema screen, is that every single member of the cast remained completely in the moment, including those sitting on the sidelines when not involved with ballet steps. As far as the broadcast was concerned, much praise for Petroc  Trelawny and the lovely Darcey Bussell who played host to several very informative interval features.