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www.jewishnews.co.uk
Jewish News 11 June 2020
Weekend / Entertainment
VIRTUAL MUSICAL The Last Five Years A special lockdown version of The Last Five Years by Tony Award-winning composer Jason Robert Brown, about a rising Jewish novelist and a struggling non-Jewish actress falling in and out of love will be streamed to at-home audiences later this month. Actress Lauren Samuels (Bend It Like Beckham, Over The Rainbow), who also makes her directorial debut and The Prince of Egypt star Danny Becker will record their performances in isolation, before it is edited into a fulllength show. The production will be streamed for three nights on 25, 26 and 27 June at 7.30pm, with tickets priced at £8 and only a limited number
available to emulate a real theatre experience. Since its 2001 debut, The Last Five Years has had numerous productions around the world, including a film adaptation starring Pitch Perfect’s Anna Kendrick. To book tickets, visit lwtheatres.co.uk/ whats-on/the-last-five-years
ONE TO WATCH
FILM Artemis Fowl Josh Gad is well-known as the voice of friendly snowman, Olaf, in the Frozen animated movies – but his latest fantasy role is somewhat more sinister, as a kleptomaniac dwarf in Disney’s Artemis Fowl, which is being released on demand from next week. Directed by Kenneth Branagh and adapted from Eoin Colfer’s popular books, Artemis Fowl tells the story of a boy genius (played by Ferdia Shaw), who stumbles across a subterranean fairy world. The visuals and special effects are stunning and a host of star names within the cast are set to make this a Disney hit, albeit not one released in cinemas as intended. Dame Judi Dench plays Commander Root, head of the LEPrecon, a fairy secret service, and is joined by Game of Thrones actor Nonzo Anozie and Colin Farrell as Artemis’ father. Artemis Fowl (12A) is available on demand from 12 June on Disney Plus
APPLE TV PLUS
Beastie Boys Story Schitt’s Creek and Mariah Carey The cast of hit comedy Schitt’s Creek performed a special lockdown version of Mariah Carey’s Hero for YouTube’s Dear Class of 2020 special – only to be joined by the pop diva herself. Dan Levy, who plays massive Carey fan David Rose on the show, pretended to faint as the Grammy-winning singer made her entrance and performed to him, as well as real-life father Eugene Levy, who plays his father, video magnate Johnny Rose, on the show. They were joined by Catherine O’Hara (Moira Rose), Annie Murphy (Alexis Rose), Emily Hampshire (Stevie Budd), and the rest of the cast. “Moira, darling, I hope you didn’t mind that I jumped in like that. You all sounded so good that I had to get in on it,” said Carey. She dedicated the song “to all the teachers and professors, especially the ones who have to deal with students like me, who never really showed up to school on time, you rose to the occasion and helped these students reach the finish line”.
Beastie Boys Mike Diamond and Adam Horovitz are ready to make some noise in this live documentary experience directed by long-time friend and collaborator, film-maker Spike Jonze. The resulting film takes an intimate look at the legendary trio of rappers – all of whom had Jewish backgrounds over the last 40 years. Apple TV Plus’ eye-popping documentary was released to coincide with the 26th anniversary of the hip hop band’s 1994 album, Ill Communication, for which Jonze directed the music video for their immortal hit single, Sabotage. Beastie Boys Story is available to stream now on Apple TV Plus
COMING SOON
Bibi
THERE’S RARELY a shortage of drama when it comes to Benjamin Netanyahu’s personal life – and now it’s set to be played out on screen in a new show about his life. Bibi, so-called after the beleaguered Israeli prime minister’s nickname, will be based on the bestselling biography, The
Netanyahu Years, penned by veteran Israeli journalist Ben Caspit, according to Variety. The series is set to be produced by Abot Hameiri, the Tel Aviv-based company behind Israeli hit Shtisel, as well as the country’s own
versions of X-Factor, The Bachelor and Survivor, and will be written by award-winning screenwriter Kirk Ellis. “Ben Caspit’s insightful reporting demonstrates how private life always shapes public
affairs, and there’s no shortage of conflict – or opinions – when it comes to Benjamin Netanyahu,” Ellis said in a statement. Bibi will be the first television series about Netanyahu, who is Israel’s longest serving prime minister, having been appointed since 2009. This is his second time in the job, having previously been in power from 1996 to 1999.