I love Dorothy Parker and I love Stephen Sondheim, so presumably if both were combined in a cabaret production I’d be extremely happy.
Colin and I found out about this production while attending a terrific play at The Stables called Strangers In Between. During intermission we got to chatting with a woman who was in the show called Buster Skeggs who seemed absolutely lovely. We exchanged cards and a few days later a brochure for the production arrived.
The basic premise for this production was that the words (and wit) of Sondheim and Parker would combine well to construct a narrative about a couple before and after their marriage.
Like Sondheim, Parker, who famously attempted and then committed suicide…
Razors pain you;
Rivers are damp;
Acids stain you;
And drugs cause cramp.
Guns aren’t lawful;
Nooses give;
Gas smells awful;
You might as well live.
has work which ranges the gamut of emotions… though not as she famously said, “the gamut of emotions from A to B”.
Sondheim also has work which ranges from the beautiful “Another Hundred People” which I’ve loved since I first heard it sung by Jodie Gillies to the terrific spoof on “The Girl From Ipanema” called “The Boy From … a little Spanish town called Tacarimba La Tumba Del Fuego Santa Maliga Sacategas Lo Onto Del Sol Y Cruz.”
The vocal performances ranged from ok to excellent… this show worked in so many ways.
“Kung Hei Fat Choi” is a Cantonese phrase which means “Happy New Year”. It’s just one of the phrases and things I’ve learned over the last few days working on a radio program to celebrate “Lunar New Year”. And I use the phrase “Lunar New Year” in preference to Chinese New Year (most commonly used in Sydney because City of Sydney celebrates Chinese New Year), because Koreans, Vietnamese and many others also celebrate New Year right now, or around this time.
There were lots of good things about this. Mostly, though because I got to work with a great team from ABC Local Radio, ABC Multi-platform and Radio Australia who were so incredibly passionate about doing this. The slideshow below features the program co-presenters, David and Andrea who are featured “over the moon”, as you would be with Lunar New Year, with happiness and excitement. David got to meet Canto-pop superstar, Frances Yip, who sang the song “Shanghai Beach” which was the theme music for an iconic Hong Kong 80s soap opera, and who sells out stadiums when she performs in Asia. Back in Australia, where she mostly lives now, she is happy to perform at the equally iconic Rooty Hill RSL. In another photograph, you’ll see Andrea eating some yummy food (Yee Sang which is a terrific dish) and who I think really, really enjoyed working on the program on so many levels, and who I also, personally, enjoyed working with again.
David Hua and Francis Yip
Andrea eats Yee Sang
Lunar NY special dish, Yee Sang
Chinese NY Pop-Up Shop in Sydney
Francis Yip performs live in ABC Radio Studio
At the end of it all, I was tired, elated, and well and truly informed about so many things I had only a cursory knowledge of before. Oh, and totally in love with Frances Yip. “Hubba hubba”, as David commented on the radio yesterday.
I hope this is helpful if you’re ever planning to visit Stockholm. I appeared earlier tonight on ABC Local Radio’s “Nightlife” with Tony Delroy, in his “Travel Spot” talking about Stockholm.
There’s a saying that if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all. It’s a saying I generally believe in, and part of the reason why I’ve been agonising for twenty-four hours about what to say about “Melodifestivalen #4”. Even though I watched it yesterday afternoon, it’s not until tonight that I’ve known what to say.
The problem was that none of the songs instantly connected with me. It wasn’t until a second viewing earlier tonight that I began to connect with any of the songs. In the end there’s two songs which I think are quite good. By a long shot, I liked “Dance Alone” by Love Generation, an all-girl group with shades of The Spice Girls. Beyond that, I half-liked Linda Bengtzing’s song “E det fel på mej” (“Is It Wrong Of Me”). Linda is a great Swedish schlager artist who just missed out on representing Sweden a couple of years ago in Eurovision with “Hur svårt kan det va” (“How Hard Can That Be?”. She lost to “Hero” by Charlotte Perrelli.
Beyond that, I thought it was slim pickings this week with far too many awful rock ballads – “Run” by Anders Fernette and “Leaving Home By Nicke Borg” – far too many half-arsed copy cats – “The Hunter” by “The Melody Club” had shades of former Swedish Eurovision entrant, “The Ark”, and “Better Or Worse” by Julia Alvgard was little more than karaoke – as well as the truly bizarre.
Lasse Stefanz
And by bizarre, I mean Lasse Stefanz singing “En Blick Och Nånting Händer” (“A Look And Something Happens”). Lasse Stefanz is a “country music inspired dansband” according to Wikipedia. From what I can see the Dansband phenomenon is quite big in Sweden – they’ve inspired a national tv show like Idol – which centres around a bunch of often middle-aged blokes doing cover versions. You could imagine them playing a RSL clubs in Australia on a Sunday afternoon. But somehow, they’ve reached greater heights in Sweden. “And why, I just don’t know” – to quote ABBA.
In the end, Linda Bengtzing made it through to the final, and so did Nicke Borg. Frankly, I can’t see either giving Eric Saade much competition in the final to represent Sweden at Eurovision this year. Hopefully, Love Generation might make it through to the final also via appearing in “Andra chansen” (the “another chance semi final”). So anyway, a bit disappointed again this week, especially compared with last week which was quite good.
In the end, I’ll leave you with “The Ark”. They were Sweden’s entry in Eurovision in 2007 with their glam-rock inspired stylings and a very catchy tune, “Not The Worrying Kind”. I’m more of a fan of their hit song last year, though.
Last night, I was lucky enough to be invited to the Sydney Theatre for the Opening Night of Pippin, the first production for Kookaburra, the newly formed national musical theatre company. As with all opening nights, there was a buzz about the event, but I guess it was doubly so last night, since this was also the “birth” of a new national theatre company.
Although I was aware of the “hit song”, “Corner Of The Sky”, I had only a cursory knowledge of the musical garnered from the interweb and from my friend, Colin who came with me who directed a production many years ago. Pippin, you see, was the son of Charlemagne, (or Karl der Grosse, or Carl The Great, depending on which part of Europe you lived), the first Holy Roman Emperor. A rather dramatic story, Pippin killed his father due to his concern about the raping and pillaging occuring under Charlemagne, but then also failed to live up to his own expectations as a ruler, and thus endured a crisis of confidence about his role in life and what was important to him. “Hamlet with show tunes” is how I described it later in the night.
Part of the attraction was also seeing Matthew Robinson in the title role. I’ve seen Matthew perform live a few times now, including a significant role in “Eurobeat – The Musical”, in cabaret with Lucy Durack at “Bar Me”, and in “Mamma Mia” (although I don’t exactly recall which character he played). I think he’s a real talent and thought he played the lead role with warmth, intelligence and humour. And what a beautiful voice he has, with a tremendous range. Having seen him perform previously, I also know that he has immense song-writing talent.
Also fabulous was Trisha Noble as Pippin’s grandmother. After many years living in the United States, Trisha has returned to the stage, and this was the second production I’ve seen her perform in. My first introduction to her was through the 1970s drama, “Executive Suite”, but I also know she was once “rock singer” Patsy Ann Noble, and my dad used to tell the story of her working many years ago as a nurse at the Lismore Base Hospital before her performance career.
I was very impressed with the production, as it demonstrated high levels of professionalism and creativity. There were only brief moments that need a little tightening up, such as towards the end of the first half. At the after show party, though, we learned the interval was actually “forced” into the show, as when it first premiered it was run without interval. Modern audiences, it seems, need a break!
As far as opening nights go, there probably weren’t all that many famous faces. Mostly it seemed like most of those attending were fans of musical theatre, as were we. Perhaps the “biggest name” was Jeanette Howard, the Prime Minister’s wife, who was there (along with her heavily pregnant daughter or daughter-in-law). Her good friend Janet McDonald was also there and they waved to each other on taking their seats. And from Labor, Bob & Helena Carr were sitting a few seats ahead of us.
Speaking of politics, there’s a strong current political theme in Pippin as it deals with the futility of war, with a particularly effective scene about wartime casualties.
“These are the reason I haven’t worn a watch in about twenty years”, I told Sue, as we wandered around the ABC Studio at Old Parliament House, now the “Museum Of Australian Democracy”.
I was referring to something commonly known as a “bulk eraser”, though they probably had a more formal name. In the days before extensive digital storage, audio (and video) tape was commonly re-used. That’s part of the reason why many episodes of classic radio and television programs no longer exist.
“You must have it in the archives somewhere?” is a sentence I commonly here. “No”, I have to tell people, adding, “We never kept it”. We couldn’t afford to keep everything, and in a very practical way, there was never enough room to store it.
A big part of my early career involved recording things, putting them to air, and then recording over that item the very next day. To speed up the process you used a “bulk eraser” which, in effect, was a big magnet which erased the magnetic tape, allowing it to be freshly used.
One of the side effects of having a “big magnet” was that it played havoc with analogue watches. So, you either a) removed your watch while you used it; b) “did a dance” which involved keeping your watch hand as far away from the eraser as possible or c) stopped wearing a watch. I stopped wearing a watch, and in the years since, the mobile phone, of course, has replaced the watch anyway.
Bulk eraser at the ABC Studio at Old Parliament House
I think it was the first time I’ve been to the old ABC Studio at Old Parliament House in Canberra. The move to the new parliament house occured before I joined the ABC. And although I’ve visited Old Parliament House a few times, I don’t ever recall seeing that part of the museum before. It was fascinating to see the video showing at the museum of people like a very young Barrie Cassidy reporting from the studio there.
“It’s so much smaller than the new parliament house”, I said to Sue as we wandered around. There was an exhibition of political cartoons which we enjoyed very much, as well as an exhibition about press freedom which was also very good.
And of course, there were the chambers themselves.
House of Representatives at Old Parliament House, CanberraLocated outside Old Parliament House is the Aboriginal Tent Embassy, and the wonderful “Sovereignty” sign
Our visit to Canberra was a brief one : less than twenty-four hours. I was really keen to catch up with a colleague who was recently made redundant, and a school friend that both Sue and I had known from Lismore. Awesome catchups. It was also part of our return to Sydney.
As we had both extensive knowledge of Canberra (Sue had lived there for three or four years, and I have visited extensively over many years), we struggled to think of what else we might do.
We both love the National Portrait Gallery, and so we visited there.
National Portrait GalleryNational Portrait Gallery
“I’d like to visit the War Memorial”, Sue said, noting that despite having lived in Canberra, she’d never actually visited it before. The last time I visited was in 2014. https://thelimbshift.com/2014/08/roll-of-honour/
Photograph taken by Kerry Alchin Order reference: PAIU2014/152.28 Contact: esales@awm.gov.au
In 2013 and 2014 (and later), I managed a project for the ABC (in conjunction with the Australian War Memorial) which saw school children from all over the country come into ABC studios to record the names of those who appear on the Roll Of Honour. Honestly, it’s one of the most wonderful things I’ve ever done, as the children learned about the history of the names they were due to recite, how to pronounce them, and often travelled long distances to record them.
I was so touched the names were still being recited as we walked along the Roll Of Honour.
Roll Of Honour at the Australian War Memorial
The Australian War Memorial is truly remarkable. In fact, it’s almost overwhelming. After about an hour of walking around, we realised we’d only touched the surface, had only just completed the area concentrating on World War I.
Australian War Memorial
Due to time restraints, we spent less time on the following conflicts which is a shame. “You could spend two or three days here,” I said to Sue.
One of the highlights for me of the Australian War Memorial was the current exhibition which looks at tattoos, and their significance for service men and women, particularly since the Gulf and Afghan Wars.
And with that, we went to the petrol station, filled up, grabbed some chocolates, and headed back home.
Though I know Jacaranda trees are considered a “pest” in many parts of Australia, because they’re an introduced species, I love them. Maybe it’s because I’m originally from the NSW North Coast, and nearby Grafton is considered the “Jacaranda Capital of Australia”? The purple flowers are, in my view, quite beautiful, and as I stopped and admired them tonight on Riley Street, Darlinghurst, there was another person taking in their view, and taking photographs of them, so I can’t be alone. I was on my way to meet a friend at “Bar Vincent”, on Liverpool Street, Darlinghurst. “This restaurant has an Onde vibe” to it, I said to my friend, reminiscent of another nearby restaurant with a similar “neighbourhood vibe” and menu, where we we had often dined together over the last twenty years. As it turns out, one of the key staff members had also worked there, during the restaurant’s final six months.Shared kingfish for entree. Shared beef for the main.
To be honest, we probably spent too much on the bottle of wine we shared, but hey, you only live once. The food, wine and company were excellent.
From there, we wandered up Oxford Street, checking out the Thursday night sites of Halloween.
People drinking wine and painting.“I used to always buy wallets from Sax Leather” I told my friend. I don’t think she quite believed me, noting the shop is more known for bondage gear, and politically-inspired shop displays.
As my friend and I waited for her Uber, I received a text from another friend who had just been to a college reunion. “Where are you?”, she asked, knowing I lived close-by. “About 100 metres away”, I replied, and as one of my good friends said goodbye, another said hello. What an awesome Thursday night.
