Theatre review: Carmen Disruption at Almeida 17:04 28 April 2015 Carmen Disruption at the Almeida Theatre. This updated Carmen is intriguing but its idea wears thin, says Caroline David. A huge animatronic bull lies wheezing, almost imperceptibly, centre stage in Simon Stephens’ freewheeling play inspired by Bizet’s opera. The audience enters past a mocked up dressing room into a part-reconfigured Almeida auditorium, set up with red velvet seats and a chandelier. Two cellists play Bizet’s score. But for anyone hoping to orientate themselves through their knowledge of the plot - forget it. Carmen Disruption is an ambitious blend of impressionistic monologues, expressionist movement and opera with only the sliver of a storyline running through it. The Singer [Sharon Small] travels to endless cities, staying in identikit hotels, always singing the role of Carmen. Her life of artifice and repetition is becoming too much: she’s losing her memory. Incarnations of modern-day types from the opera circle her world: a rent-boy as Carmen [Jack Farthing], Don Jose the soldier as a female cab driver [Noma Dumezweni], Escamillo the bull fighter as a strung-out banker [John Light], and village girl Micaela as a suicidal student [Katie West].

All characters are equally disconnected, enslaved by their dependence on cell phones and social media. The passionate spirit of Carmen [Viktoria Vizin] haunts them. Projections of their dialogue appear as email messages, texts, tweets on a scrolling dot-matrix display screen. They rush past each other, avoiding collision – just. This bleak night of the souls culminates in a motorbike crash.There is some wonderful movement direction by Imogen Knight to convey their repetitive neuroses and the cast is exceptional in Michael Longhurst’s carefully staged production. Farthing is mesmerizing as the heartless, egoist boy-Carmen. While Stephens’ script is ripe with mordant witticisms, the play’s concept dominates any drama and the novelty of all this experimentation wears thin after a while. It’s the extracts from the opera, so beautifully sung by Vizin, which make a lasting impression. Latest Tottenham Entertainment StoriesWhat, you thought we'd lead a post about the 2012's first regular season game on North American soil with a picture of actual baseball action?

While there was a baseball game played at Marlins Park on Wednesday night, the St. Louis Cardinals' 4-1 victory over the Miami Marlins often seemed like a mere footnote to the action taking place off the field.Not that there's anything wrong with that. Major League Baseball has a new ballpark to sell and fill, which is why it landed the first slot of the national television schedule. Even though the defending champs were in town, the stadium was the star of the three-hour show with its South Beach flavor present at every turn. If you missed it all for your regular Wednesday night ultimate frisbee league, don't worry. We combed the broadcast and photo wires for evidence of the extracurriculars to bring you a primer on the new brand of baseball experience in south Florida.• First things first, the answer is 'no': The only time the infamous home run sculpture went off was before the game in a dinger-free demo we've seen before. It was not set off during the game because of an actual Marlins home run (you would have been alerted to it by 15,325 tweets and 687 different baseball blogs if it had).

Whether its dormant state was guaranteed by the anger of the baseball gods or the actual talent of Cardinals starter Kyle Lohse — who carried a no-hitter into the seventh before Jose Reyes singled —we can't say for certain. chandelier pas cher tatiAll we know is we'll have to wait another nine days — no, that's not a typo — for Giancarlo Stanton to get another shot. chandelier boutique okinawaThe Marlins won't play home game No. 2 until Friday April 13, against the Houston Astros.• Muhammad Ali is a good person to bring along if you're afraid you're going to get booed: Then again, Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria could have invited the two guys from LMFAO to throw out the first pitch and he would have received just as much insurance from people upset at the way he financed the stadium. waterford crystal chandelier cranmore

We also would have been saved the sad and awkward scene of the Parkinson's ravaged champ delivering the game ball to the Marlins infield.• Jose Feliciano can still bring it: The blind Puerto Rican singer performed the National Anthem before the game and it sounded a lot like the version he performed before Game 5 of the 1968 World Series (embedded below). Back then, the "soulful interpretation" caused an uproar with legendary Tigers announcer Ernie Harwell branded a Communist by some for inviting Feliciano to sing. On Wednesday though, Feliciano's rendition was a welcome addition to a multi-cultural celebration.• The Brazilian carnival dancers should stay: Each member of the Marlins starting lineup was escorted to his pregame introduction by two beautiful women. And because it added so much drama, flair and fun, we think it's something that should happen before all 162 games this season. Yes, both home and away.• This woman not only served as baseball's first "champagne chandelier": She also discovered the home run sculpture doesn't make any sense when you're looking at it upside down, either.• This is what happens to Milwaukee's sausages when they spoil: We get it.

Everyone wants to have their own version of an onfield mascot race. But let's be honest here: The only time anyone should see something like this is after you fall asleep on the beach for a few hours and wake up with dehydration and a wicked sunburn.• Finally, they're apparently interested in selling a lot of alcohol at this place. And with all the money they're saving on bartender uniforms, the margins are going to be huge.Make sure you're ready for opening day ... Follow @bigleaguestew, @KevinKaduk and the BLS Facebook page!A four-bedroom, £3million penthouse in Hadley Wood, Hertfordshire, on the outskirts of London, is attracting the attention of top footballers - and has already been viewed by two Premiership stars.Danny Welbeck, who plays for Arsenal and Erik Lamela, a Spurs star, were reportedly spotted checking out the magnificent home, part of the newly developed Miriam House, at its recent launch.With crocodile skin door handles and 24 carat gold taps in the cloakroom, a Swarovski crystal chandelier in the lobby and high-tech windows that black out with the touch of a button in the master suite, it's no surprise the property is turning heads.

A four-bedroom, £3million penthouse in Hadley Wood, Hertfordshire, on the outskirts of London, is attracting the attention of top footballers and has already been viewed by two Premiership stars, Pictured, the fireplace in the penthouseIt's no surprise the property is turning heads among Premiership footballers The beautiful skylight and chandelier in the master bathroom, which has grey marble floors and wools and black high-gloss units Danny Welbeck, who plays for Arsenal (left) and Erik Lamela, a Spurs star (right), were spotted checking out the magnificent homeAs well as the no-expense-spared interior, the footballers might also be drawn to the property's location which is close to to both the Spurs and Arsenal training grounds - London Colney and Hotspur Way.There's also plenty of security to keep the paparazzi away - an electronic gated entrance, basement parking and Banham CCTV and security systems.Set in beautiful landscaped grounds and featuring majestic columns and intricate stonework, Miram House, looks more like a mansion than an apartment block.

On the top floor of the development, the 3,000sqft penthouse occupies the entire top floor with commanding views over the golf course and features its own lift opening into a grand entrance lobby, two balconies and a large terrace to the rear. Beautiful skylight in the penthouse hallway with Swarovski crystals chandelier. The penthouse is accessible via a private lift The spacious master suite in the penthouse - one of the four bedrooms in the 3,000sqft property The bathroom features mosaic tiles, a free-standing bath and luxurious lighting The walk in wardrobe in penthouse. There are also four two-bedroom apartments located on the ground and first floors, in Miriam HouseIt also features a 200-bottle wine cellar, a stunning modern kitchen and limestone baths. There are also tennis courts within the landscaped grounds and the property has views of Hadley Wood Golf Course.Paul Artemi from Artemi & Gibbs, who developed the beautiful property commented: 'We chose the name Miram House as Miram comes from the Latin word 'amazing', and we are extremely proud of the homes we have created here. 

'Attention to detail is at the core of everything we do and Miram House is no exception, we have blended the latest technologies with the finest materials and traditional craftsmanship to create six very special, unique homes, which are simply unparalleled in Hadley Wood.' There are also four two-bedroom apartments located on the ground and first floors, which all feature terraces as well as the garden suite on the lower ground floor which features a large private west facing landscaped garden complete with outdoor fireplace.But if you're after a bargain, there are also two-bedroom apartment, which start from £1.75m. The light, airy kitchen in the penthouse has high gloss tiled floors, recessed lighting, an angled island and bi-fold doors onto a balcony The second bedroom: There property has views of Hadley Wood Golf Course and there are tennis courts within the landscaped grounds The master bedroom suite in the penthouse: Lush carpets and finishes create a luxurious feel in the spacious room