Sun - June 19, 2005

Winterreise


Stately oblique contemporary movement adds atmosphere to Schubert's song cycle.

I knew it was Trisha Brown's choreography, but it wasn't until I heard and interview with Simon Keenlyside, the baritone, that I made a decision to go and see this ppiece. SOng cycles aren't really my "thing" and I guessed (correctly as it turned out) that most of the audience wold be there for the songs, and probably hate the dance. It;'s funny how the feeling of hte audeicnec can

Posted at 12:34 PM     Read More  


Sun - October 10, 2004

Saturday Night at the Festa


Glam Rock Gods and Perverse Puppets!

Somehow this year - the opening night of the Melbourne International Arts Festival l just passed me by...it didn't even register on my radar which is very strange and I have always gone to the opening. And it was Karaoke in Fed Square as well! how could I forget?

Months ago when I browsed the program for Robyn Archer's third festival I noted a few things that sounded interesting, including a Singapore/Japan/Australia co-production (Sandakan Threnody) and and old friend performing in "Cosmonaut" but I hadn't even started to get organised to go. I was feeling a bit flat on Saturday morning and had a busy day ahead - one of my chores was to get some tickets organised. I thought about going into the box office either in town or at Northland but I had three flats to go an inspect, a doctor's appointment, dry-cleaning to pick up, papers and fruit and veg to buy and then I had to vote in our Federal Election (not to mention the housework and my Spanish homework!). I had a look on the internet, but in order to receive a 25% discount I had to ring or visit. So I picked up the phone and in record time for Ticketmaster got through to an operator who had very similar tastes to me so we had a lovely time trying to find the best seats for the various shows.

But the first seat I booked was one for that night for Ronnie Burkett's Theatre of the Marionettes . It turned out (after we looked a few minutes later to move this one because of another show i wanted to see) that I had been sold the very last ticket for the entire run...15 performances and it's only the second night of the festival. I sat next to the woman who bought the second last seat (thankfully she was by herself!)

OK! Feeling strengthened by some credit card bashing, I was ready to face the world. I headed off to the Arts Centre to pick up my tickets and remembered that I had wanted to see The Tiger Lillies at the Spiegeltent - but I used up all my ticketing luck on Ronnie Burkett and they had sold out.

I figured I should go and check out the outdoor freebies in Federation Square which tonight was "Learn How to Sing Like a Glam Rock God" which sounded kinda crap to me - but ended up being a segment by the fabulous "Melody Lords" who spoof 70s Glam Rock. It was hilarious! (I should have trusted Robyn, I know!) and a lot of fun. There was a very energetic Auslang interpreter who managed to dance his way through "C'mon C'mon" (I think it's a Gary Glitter song). You'd swear it had been choreographed! I sang a small bit of Dragon's "April Sun in Cuba" with John from the Scaredies before having to walk back to the Art Centre for Ronnie Burkett. There are no latecomers allowed in (there's a nice training ground for rude Melbourne Audiences who don't turn up on time) so I was careful to get there in time, and as I was strolling through the arts centre I ran into Miss Mellie! (Melissa Madden Gray) who I haven't seen in many years. Brief exchange of phone numbers then I entered the wonderful world of Ronnie Burkett.

The woman next to me had bought her ticket on spec and asked me what it was about - I felt quite dumb as i tried to find words to explain Ronnie Burkett.
.. Picture 1.pdf Picture 3.pdf Picture 4.pdf

She asked me "was it any good?". At the end of 2 hours of Ronnie's frenetic, energetic, involving, masterful performance style she leapt to her feet and applauded for all her worth, tears streaming down her face. I think she had an experience to remember there! How lovely to be next to someone who had been totally surprised by the experience - I'm sure that's the reason why festivals keep on going - the surprise element, the trust you must place with the artistic director, the leap of faith! When it is answered so strongly as it was for her, the feeling lives with you for a long long time.

My favourite bits? Well, the roller-skating monket was magical puppetry, and a few quotes stoof out.."We want less Bette Davis and more Joan Crawford!" and "Some days you just want a pidgeon to whisper to you and to listen to a rabbit giggle."

I crammed a bit more in by popping of to the Vic Cafe afterwards to partake in some blatant "Show Tunes" singing. Yay! Gonna Love this Festival!

Posted at 08:21 AM     Read More  

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