Listings: First Call, Last Call

First Call

LAST MONTH, the Beta Band had to postpone much of their proposed national tour which had earned them the front cover of NME. The Scottish quartet has received ecstatic reviews for its live shows which duck and dive from soulful acoustic rhythms to full-on dance beats. These rescheduled gigs coincide with the release of a CD compilation of their first three limited-edition EPs and should sellout fast.

Lemon Tree, Aberdeen (01224 642230) 23 Sept; La Belle

Angele, Edinburgh (0131-225 7536) 25 Sept; Lomax,

Liverpool (0151-709 4321) 28 Sept; Electric Ballroom,

London (0171-485 9006) 30 Sept

Last Call

EVEN IF YOU don't have a shred of sympathy for Victorian values, Oscar Wilde's melodramatic farce An Ideal Husband should still manage to appeal to you. Director Sir Peter Hall (right) produces a vivid picture of Victorian life as the institution of marriage comes under scrutiny. The play examines the distance between private and public morality, and how goodness can be seduced by power. The cast is led by Kate O'Mara.

The Albery Theatre, St Martin's Lane, London WC2

(0171-369 1730) to 22 Aug