In my opinion, a really amazing theatrical experience is one part script, one part direction and three parts acting. Really good actors can make an ordinary script seem insightful, and mediocre acting can reduce an excellent play to tedium. If you have a marriage of the best of these three ingredients, the result is the magical theatrical experience we all seek.

Aliens is a beautiful play, well awarded by the American author Annie Baker. So well written is it that I would chase any of her plays from now on. It is set in the U.S and there are so many place names/American events  mentioned throughout the play that it has to be performed with American accents. These accents were natural and flawless. The story centres on two troubled friends, both middle aged, who are coming to grips with life’s expectations and disappointments. The characters are nuanced and complex, and I was completely drawn into their world.

The set is excellent- the yard at the back of a cafe theoretically reserved for staff on breaks- including a dump bin for cafe rubbish. The two friends, K.J. and Jasper have commandeered this area to hang out. Little details such as tiny weeds growing between the cracks on the ground, and a painted wall featuring a tired ‘Coke’ advertisement enhance the theme. The direction is flawless in pace and movement so that the audience has time to linger on the dialogue.

The acting from the cast members is exceptional- Ben Wood, Jeremy Waters and the young James Bell. I have already mentioned Jeremy as a ‘must see’ actor who is always in great productions, and this play reinforced my view.He is always charismatic, even when he is down and out. The characters have been so carefully and tenderly brought to life by this trio, that being in the audience is a priceless experience. It is like eating at a three Michelin star restaurant, and only being expected to pay cafe prices. This play is a must see.

We all know that our health is the product of our genes and our environment- the food we eat, the toxins we smoke or ingest, the exercise we do, the stress we are under. There now a practical way to accurately check for some important gene polymorphisms, which is our genetic endowment AND know how to modify the effect of this using natural remedies to up regulate or down regulate the effected genes.An earlier test, the ’23 and me’ gives the recipient a bewildering amount of data and is very difficult to interpret practically.The new test will also show some well researched solutions, and this can have a profound effect on the underlying cause of disease and symptoms. The MTHFR test is well known by now, but this is just one of the genes assessed with the fitgenes technology, and whilst it is important it is only one character in the play! I was very impressed with the quality and level of research when I did my certification

Fitgenes requires only a mouth swab and can be ordered by any practitioner who has been appropriately trained( certified). It really is at the cutting edge of medicine!

The current play at the Old Fitz is ‘Blonde Poison’ which tells the true story of a Jewish woman convicted of Nazi collaboration during WW2. It is a one woman show, featuring Belinda Giblin, famous for television and film work. Belinda is an acting force to be reckoned with in this performance. Firstly she looks superb..the part must surely have been written with her in mind. Her accent is flawless and natural, and her capacity to shift from narcissist to war victim with a word or expression is breathtaking. This character becomes utterly convincing . Even as a Jewish woman I could understand how she travelled that path and could ( almost) feel sympathetic. I feel that this is the best female performance of the year.

The late show, ‘Flame Peas’ is a marvelous pairing with ‘Blonde Poison,’ a short musical piece which is endearing, very funny and showcasing some terrific musicality. For younger audience members I recommend that you read the words to ‘Flame Trees’ by Cold Chisel since this will heighten the humour!

The entertainment quality of these two plays represents tremendous value and with a bite to eat between shows is a really great night out.