pick of the day

THE PLAY

A Delicate Balance

On Broadway it starred Jessica Tandy, the film boasted Katharine Hepburn, and the star of this long overdue revival of the play that won Edward Albee his first Pulitzer prize is the elegant Eleanor Bron. Less histrionic than Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, the writing is splendidly understated, lean and deeply eloquent.

Opens tonight, Nottingham Playhouse (0115-941 9419)

THE OPERA

The Rake's Progress

Bryn Terfel is an outstanding Nick Shadow, but he's just one of any number of good reasons to see Matthew Warchus's Welsh National Opera production of Stravinsky's neo-classical masterpiece which shows the company off on its top form. Conducted by Mark Wigglesworth.

Royal Opera House, London WC2 7.30pm (0171-304 4000)

THE EXHIBITION

Cezanne

It is just possible that you haven't heard that this retrospective of the great French painter is rather astonishingly good. You've also probably heard that it has sold out. Wrong. The advance tickets have gone, but get to the gallery early and you can get in, so no excuses, OK?

Tate Gallery, London SW1 (0171-887 8000)