15 h. ago The Spin | ‘They’re like time machines’: the endless magic of cricket scorecards

What may look like an impenetrable column of unexplained figures can reveal plenty of eccentric talesThere’s a scene in The Matrix when Cypher, the sardonic turncoat played by Joe Pantoliano, sits with Keanu Reeves’s Neo in front of a bank of monitors. To Neo’s eyes it’s an endless waterfall of meaningless green code. To Cypher, and to those who have learned the language, it’s not numbers and symbols but living images: “I don’t even see the code,” he says. “All I see is blonde, brunette, redhead ”A cricket scorecard works in exactly the same way. To the uninitiated, it’s an impenetrable column of initials, abbreviations and unexplained figures. But for those who know, these sheets of names and numbers are alive with incident; the shape of an innings, the rhythm of a bowling spell, the hidden drama of a partnership. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago David Strathairn: ‘Authoritarianism is a very frightening concept when it comes to the arts’

Oscar-nominated actor, known for Good Night, and Good Luck and the Bourne franchise, talks about his new filmWhen George Clooney brought Good Night, and Good Luck to the stage earlier this year, it set a record for the highest-grossing play in Broadway history. Clooney, making his Broadway debut, was nominated for a Tony award for his portrayal of Edward R Murrow, a giant of broadcast journalism.But for diehard fans of the original 2005 film of the same name, which was made in response to US involvement in the Iraq war, something was missing. In that version, Murrow was played by David Strathairn, one of the US’s most perceptive, subtle and compelling character actors. Why did he not reprise the role on stage? Continue reading...

Culture

1 week ago Keanu Reeves thanked Jonathan Groff for iconic Tony Awards moment

Broadway star infamously straddled the ‘John Wick’ actor during his performance at the 2025 award ceremony

Events

2 w. ago Asian Persuasion review – indie New York romcom of divorcee meddling in his ex’s dating life

A coffee-shop owner tries to get out of paying alimoney with a scheme that lacks finesse at best and is sociopathic at worstIt is unexpected to see vintage romcom values upheld in an indie movie populated almost exclusively by Filipino-Americans. Tony award-winning producer Jhett Tolentino at least has a good high-concept hook for his feature directorial debut: a beleaguered divorcee tries to get out of paying alimony to his ex-wife by making a fake dating profile to bag her a new partner. Sadly, this tonally shaky and borderline-sociopathic outing doesn’t have the class or skill to be part of the much-needed renaissance for the genre.Asian Persuasion takes place on the great New York dating grounds beloved of many a romcom: feckless single dad Mickey (Dante Basco, who played the leader of the Lost Boys in Steven Spielberg’s Hook) is struggling to elevate his Queens coffee shop, Da Fili Beans, to hipster notoriety. Ponying up payments to his fashion designer ex Avery (KC Concepcion)...

Events

2 w. ago Richard Thomas dons wig and mustache to play icon Mark Twain in one

Richard Thomas has taken on the role of Mark Twain in a one-man show originally performed by Hal Holbrook

Politics

3 w. ago Netflix's 'female John Wick' thriller with 91% score that's better than Keanu Reeves spin

It was released before the actual female-led spin off movie

Politics