THEATRE A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Stephen Sondheim’s opening song promises “Comedy tonight!”, and Edward Hall’s revival of the Roman romp delivers it in style. This joyous updating of Plautus has an excellent cast.
Olivier, National Theatre, SE1
Victoria Segal
ART Edward Hopper Hopper was a master of sinister silences, threatening emptiness and urban alienation in small-town America. He influenced Hitchcock, whose Bates Motel is just one of several movie images inspired by a Hopper picture. Hurry — it is the last two weeks.
Tate Modern, SE1, until Sept 5
COMEDY Jimmy Carr Stand-up’s most litigious returns to the damp streets of Edinburgh for a short run. His sharp suits and sharper tongue always deliver at a festival where some comedy shows can seem the longest hour of your life.
International Conference Centre, Edinburgh, Thu-Sat
DANCE Circus Oz A new show from Australia’s bewitching specialists in contemporary circus, back in London for the first time since a sellout season in 2000. Dazzling acrobatics, theatrical surprises, live music and a dash of social satire.
RFH, SE1, today and from Wed until Sept 5 (except Aug 30, 31)
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OPERA Capriccio The superb soprano Soile Isokoski sings her first Countess Madeleine in Richard Strauss’s conversation piece about how music and text relate in opera. A starry line-up includes Anne Sofie von Otter. The operatic highlight of Edinburgh 2004?
Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Usher Hall, tonight
CONCERTS Lausanne Chamber Orchestra The pianist Christian Zacharias conducts and is the soloist in a programme of Dvorak’s Serenade for Strings, Op 22, and Serenade for Winds in D Minor, Op 44, with Chopin’s Piano Concerto No 2 in F Minor, Op 21.
Snape Maltings, Suffolk, Tue
POP Carling Weekend The cool fans will be at Reading on Saturday or Leeds on Sunday (the White Stripes, Franz Ferdinand, Morrissey, the Libertines); those who just want excess will prefer Reading on Friday and Leeds on Saturday (the Darkness, the Hives).
Richfield Avenue, Reading, and Bramham Park, Leeds, Fri-Sun