The Week in Review

THE OPERA Coppelia Overview: Ronald Hynd's English National Ballet production of the delicate 19th-century comedy with Kevin Richmond as Dr Coppelius and Monica Perego as the heroine, conducted by Stephen Lade.

Critical View: Louise Levene bemoaned a charming production "spoilt by half-hearted dancing". "Women struggled to maintain their balances while the men heavyfooted it," noted the Times. "Never reaches beyond the sugary," scowled the Standard. "Anyone with winter blues could hardly do better to pep up their spirits," beamed the Telegraph.

On View: Closes tonight, Royal Festival Hall, London SE1 (0171-960 4242).

Our View: A disappointing farewell to the Festival Hall from the ENB.

THE FILM

The Preacher's Wife Overview: Penny Marshall directs an all-black, gospel Yuletide remake of The Bishop's Wife with Denzel Washington in the Cary Grant role of an angel saving the marriage of Loretta Young, now Whitney Houston.

Critical View: Ryan Gilbey recoiled at "endless ear-punishings by Whitney ... Washington almost redeems the whole mess." "Bland is the word," mused the Standard. "Queasy," winced the Times. "Schmaltzy," mumbled the FT. "Surprisingly tolerable," decided Time Out. "Less the Lord's servant, more Dirk Bogarde in The Servant," pondered the Spectator.

Cert U, 124 mins,

On View: Odeon West End and on general release.

Our View: For extremely dedicated Denzel fans only.

The CLOWN Slava Polunin Overview: The Russian clown Slava Polunin and Brazilian sidekick Angela de Castro return after immense success in Edinburgh with a unique blend of sadness, theatricality, comedy and absurd humour.

Critical View: Clare Bayley was thrilled. "Fills you with innocent amazement ... a thousand people forget everything." "Stunning ... terrifying, invigorating, overwhelming ... brings us back to the lost Eden of childhood," breathed the FT. "Laughter and tears have never been harder to distinguish," cheered the Independent on Sunday. "I tried, I really tried," squirmed the Telegraph.

On View: At the Peacock Theatre, London WC2 (0171-413 8800) to 30 Jan.

Our View: Transcends every clown stereotype to deliver staggering coups de theatre.