Category Archives: Theatre

PIAF, Theatre

The Turning

The TurningI’m always keen to see at least one original commission for the Perth International Arts Festival, and this year’s re-imagining of Tim Winton’s collection of short stories – The Turning – did not disappoint.

I’m not a huge Tim Winton fan it must be said. Cloudstreet was okay, The Riders woeful IMHO – I just hated the ending, and you might have read what I thought of Dirt Music – the one I’ve liked most so far. Short stories don’t generally hold my attention so I haven’t read The Turning and can’t comment how faithful Bill McCluskey’s rendition of it is but I think it must be pretty close because all the way through I’m thinking “oooh this is very Tim Winton.”

Last year I went to see The Drovers’ Wives and I don’t know whether you caught this production – it was a dance piece reflecting Henry Lawson’s work and it used film to project the setting of the outback.

Likewise The Turning uses video and film to carry some of the story and set the scenes – very effectively. In a few of the scenes a woman films herself as she’s talking and that image is flashed up on one of the screens. Cleverly done. In fact the use of the film really does take the production to another level and I was intrigued by how well it captured the mood of the scene – important I suppose when you have a short scene and need to tell so much.

All they need to add is some of the smells – the bushland, the forest, the sea – to really take us there. That will be next I suppose.

The scenes though mostly dark and menacing are leavened by some almost Kath&Kim portrayals of West Australian characters. Ern, Cleo and Nan provided some much needed levity – with some classic lines:

It’s not a fucking truck, it’s a Landrover.

It is a truck and all we do is fuck in it!

Note:  If you are offended by “strong language” – don’t go.

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Cut me off at the knees and call me tripod.

Some parts were so Western Australian, I cringed, and wondered how the production might travel – even to other parts of the country.

The music – like The Drovers Wives was by Iain Grandage – and it was lovely. Setting the scene without intruding. And the acting was fantastic. Especially Nick Simpson-Deeks who plays Vic and Alison Van Reeken who plays Gail/Jackie. Jai Courtney was also impressive as Boner. In fact the whole cast was good.

A couple of things annoyed me though. I don’t know why he bothered to rename Albany, Angeles. I really don’t. Every other town is named and really – how many other towns have had a whaling station on the South Coast? Irritating.

Also (and this was just me – Groover worked it out) I got confused because one actress played two of the main parts and I thought she was playing the younger her grown up. For those who have seen it – the Gail/Jackie actress is the one I’m talking about.

And finally it’s just too long. 3 hours and 10 mins plus a 20 minute interval. Way too long. Was it Rogers and Hammerstein who insisted on cutting their shows to end no later than 11.00 so that people could catch the train home. Well we drove but the sentiment is a fine one. Cut it back by at least half an hour (though not sure what you would cut) and it would be perfect.
In summary, it’s ambitious, completely Australian and entertaining. And if you get a chance to see it I’d be interested in your thoughts.

Will I read the book? Maybe.

Other reviews: Australian Stage Online, Guera

Reviews, Theatre

Miss Saigon

The wedding sceneFirst of all can I say that if you love this musical already – you will enjoy the production at the Burswood.  The staging is great, the helicopter scene clever, the cast can sing and their group dancing is spot on.  The orchestra wonderful.  It’s a big production and it’s done well.

If you are not the biggest of musical fans…

And don’t get me wrong – I love a good musical – have even in my time bought soundtracks.  I love for example Les Miserables, Chess and of course more recently Keating!.  I’m a big fan of the classics too and have even enjoyed Andrew Lloyd Webber productions in the past.  And sign me up for another look at Mamma Mia and We Will Rock You.

But.  I didn’t enjoy Miss Saigon.

Now I will say I was tired.  It had been a busy day at work and I was rushed to get there.  And I was sitting next to Groover – not the biggest fan of musical theatre.

But still.

I was over it by the second song.  The problem with this musical is that there are too many solos and duets.  The love affair between Chris (who calls their hero Chris?  Sorry to all the Chrises out there but wtf?) and Kim is tender and sweet but do we really need four aching love songs with loads of kissing inbetween every line?

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The other problem is that there are very few light moments in the script so it is one degrading, depressing scene after the next.  This means the big show stopper numbers like American Dream in the second act seem contrived, as if the producer says “you know what we need here?  how about a big chorus line…”

Then lets add some worthy notes and put a montage of abandoned orphans on – sure yes, worthy, their fate awful – but I’m in my seat for musical theatre people!

I said at interval to Groover – this music reminds me of Les Miserables – and no wonder.  I’ve since discovered both musicals were written by the same team.  At least Les Mis had a stirring anthem and a couple of funny songs – Master of the house for example.

What is it with prostitutes and these writers??

Anyway I sat through it – although tempted to leave at half time.

Sorry to be such a bah humbug but it just didn’t engage me.  You can’t please all of the people all of the time I guess.

Theatre

Keating!

Hey Keating! The Musical is coming back to Perth in January. Go and see it. Hilarious!

We’re taking in the matinee on Australia Day. My Orchid Hunter can’t wait – he knows all the songs off by heart.
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Tickets via Ticketek – it’s at the Regal.

Blogging, Theatre

Grumpy Old Woman

That’s me. I’ve had the database fixed and this site is still stuffed, although I can still see all the posts in the back end. So I’m grumpy.

Last night I went to see Grumpy Old Women at the Burswood. I’m thinking I’m still too young. For one thing I was confused by their demographic. They talk about being 48 (which Jenny Eclair actually is… the others are 50 and 55), they act about 70, in fact even my closer to 80 mother-in-law acts younger than they did onstage.

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The best line? Strokes are the new Botox. 🙂

PIAF, Theatre

Keating!

If you can beg borrow or steal tickets to Keating! on at the Octagon as part of the Perth International Arts Festival – go and see it.

Clever, outrageously pro-Keating, hilarious, naughty – the singing is fantastic, the music varied, the atmosphere great. I loved it. Here’s what they say:

Share in the heady rise, tempestuous reign and tragic fall of the Placido Domingo of Australian politics. GASP! as Hawke ignores the Kirribilli agreement! THRILL! as Prime Minister Keating sticks it to the drones opposite! CHEER! as he wins the sweetest victory of all! HISS! as the evil Howard betrays his colleagues in his thirst for power! SCOFF! at the blatant historical revisionism!

I’m not sure what Alexander Downer thought, but I thought it was great.

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Would you have loved Keating if you were a staunch Liberal voter? I was sitting next to one and he said yes.

The shame of it is that it will never travel overseas – maybe they could do a musical about someone more universally known like… Clinton! They’d have some material to work with there!

Books, Theatre

Book Slam

Tonight went to see Book Slam, part of PIAF and the brainchild of Patrick Neate.

Book Slam heads down under for the first time to humbly hand over the ashes of English literature. We will be joined for the ceremony by: –
– ANTHONY SWOFFORD, author of Jarhead and now Exit A
– Award-winning poet SAMUEL WAGAN WATSON. Renowned for his humour and wry take on contemporary urban life (Brisbane News)
– Plus, singer-songwriter FELICITY GROOM and DJ BEN TAAFFE of the mighty Underground Solution radio show. [all of that from the Book Slam website]

It was packed upstairs at the Leederville Hotel, a seedy, shabby old fashioned hotel, the kind you might find in a country town. The stage was small, the lights too bright for some of the readers, the audience attentive and prepared for something new.

Now the deal with Book Slam is that Patrick Neate and his mate Ben (from everything but the girl – incidentally one of my old faves), decided that book readings in libraries and cafes were BOR-RING so why not have one in a pub. And because most people seem to have the attention span of a gnat – and besides want to talk to their mates as well as be inspired – why not offer literary excellence in bite-sized pieces? Good idea?

The first author was pretty good I thought. Tony writes action thrillers I think with a US Marine flavour – if you get what I mean – I’ve not read any of his books but he read about ten minutes from his latest and that was the feel I got from it. I don’t mind action thrillers with a US flavour. He read it well. I thought – yeah okay.

Then after a break we met Sam Wagen Watson, a poet from Brisbane. He read four of his poems. My favourite I think was White Stucco Dreaming. I thought he was brilliant. Funny, compassionate, great writing. I bought the book as you do.

A couple of phrases from his book “Smoke Encrypted Whispers”. (This is for you travellers out there)

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and an honour guard assembled for the dearly departing;

I just love that dearly departing phrase…. and this from “white stucco dreaming”

front yards studded with old black tyres
that became mutant swans overnight
attacked with a cane knife and a bad white paint job

He was really good. And afterwards I asked him to sign my copy and he was really sweet about it.

Then came Felicity Groom who was wearing a fabulous red and black frock, strapless, lacy underskirt, fishnet socks to just under her knee and a guitar. She’s a local girl and sings rather depressing songs IMHO. After she started the fifth (which didn’t sound much different to the first four) I’m afraid I left. Hey I have to work tomorrow… er today!

Anyway it was quite a good night – if I’d got there early enough for a booth we might have stayed longer… or if Felicity hadn’t done such a long set… who knows. In the meantime I’m the richer for being exposed to Sam’s poetry.

Oh and I had better review The Trouble With Don which I saw last night at The Blue Room. What can I say? He was funny – I laughed out loud. Unashamedly West Australian references which I thought were hilarious. Especially all the school references. It’s a cheap night out at the theatre and the intimate atmosphere of venue will charm you.

Theatre

If I were a rich man….

I probably wouldn’t still be singing for my supper at the age of 70… so perhaps the years haven’t been so financially kind to him as they might… still if that’s the case it is our gain for I think Topol has probably grown into the role he has made famous.

Topol in Fiddler on the Roof

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I took my MIL to see Fiddler on the Roof tonight at the Burswood. I love musicals. I love the hammy acting, the contrived plots, the singing and the dancing. And I loved Fiddler. It’s a pretty depressing story mind, but there is a certain joy contained within the sorry state of the protagonists.

I can’t imagine it without Topol though.

The only niggling thing for me was the Australian accents, shown up by Topol’s lovely Jewish sounding lilt. In particular the Rabbi – he had so few words – couldn’t he have done the accent?

Apart from that I was willing to take myself to pre-revolutionary Russia and Teyve’s world.

Theatre

Walking with Dinosaurs

Last night we went to see Walking with Dinosaurs – The live experience. I was quite impressed. They were very cleverly made and manipulated – not once did we see a collision – and the set was well done as well. The plants were air filled so that they “grew” around the stage – it was lovely to watch.

The narrator/paleontologist was great and led us through the different ages. At this point I became very impressed with the depth of knowledge of number one son who helped me out with extra bits of knowledge along the way.

For me the most impressive were the ornithosaurus – a huge flying dinosaur which was “flown” in front of a moving landscape which made you think it was indeed flying (best view of that was front on)… and the T Rex – which made me jump!

To give the impression of great weight the foley effects were expertly used. Every time a giant foot came down the auditorium reverberated with sound.
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In fact if I have a criticism it’s that the sound was too loud to be comfortable.

The only other criticism I have is for the audience. Even though they expressly forbade flash photography there were so many people taking photos that it really spoiled it for everyone else. Flashes are SO bright in a darkened room. I had got to the point where I wished they had stopped the show and told people to stop it – it was that annoying. Shame on all of them! Oiks!

Today I noticed that our old DVDs of Walking with Dinosaurs were on the telly and the kids had also found their old dinosaur encyclopedias… bless!

PIAF, Theatre

The Tiger Lillies

We went to see the Tiger Lillies on Monday night at The Verandah.

It was truly “out there”.

Groover was expecting three scantily clad women (I had wondered why he was so keen to go…) I didn’t really know what to expect.

We met up with Mr Smartrider and his lovely wife Miss Lithuania and sat down in the somewhat chilly conditions of this outdoor venue.
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It was dark, it was ribald, it was offensive, it was funny, it was tragic, it was bizarre. Did I love it? I’m not sure. I didn’t hate it.

I was waiting for people to leave – especially when they did a song about banging the nails into Jesus – I thought that might have crossed the line for some but I guess if you can handle “Sex with Flies”, blasphemy is small bikkies.

They were very clever in their music and the main singer had the most fantastic Edna-esque falsetto and some of their songs had me laughing – somewhat hysterically – but laughing. I was glad I went.