Five Things To Do In Edinburgh - Thursday 20 September

FILM

HOPE SPRINGS (12A)

Arnold Soames (Tommy Lee Jones) and his wife Kay (Meryl Streep) celebrate their latest wedding anniversary by buying each other cable television subscriptions.

The couple’s children Brad (Ben Rappaport) and Molly (Marin Ireland) sense all is not well, but Arnold appears unconcerned, content to stick to the same routines and sleep in a separate room to his wife. Kay is deeply unhappy. “When was the last time you touched me that wasn’t for a picture?” she tearfully asks her spouse. In desperation, Kay uses her savings to buy a series of intensive couples counselling sessions with Dr Bernie Feld (Steve Carell), who runs the courses from his offices in coastal Maine.

General release, various cinemas, times and prices

MUSICAL

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA

Cameron Mackintosh presents a spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera..

The Edinburgh Playhouse, Greenside Place, 7.30pm, £19.50–£56, 0844-871 3014

COMEDY

THE THURSDAY SHOW

With Dan Nightingale, Brendan Riley, Elaine Malcolmson and host Joe Heenan.

The Stand, York Place, 9pm, £8 (£7; members £4), 0131-558 7272

THEATRE

THE GUID SISTERS

Scots translation of the original Québecois play Les Belles-soeurs.

Royal Lyceum Theatre, Grindlay Street, 7.45pm, £14.50–£29, 0131-248 4848

MUSIC

THE MOONS

Sixties-influenced indie sounds from The Moons, with support from Last Minute Glory and Modern Faces.

The Caves, Niddry Street, 7.30pm, £7, 0131-557 8989