Music videos from Barkly St (wealth of nations)
November 16, 2009
Wealth of Nations – the fringe festival experience – is all over, but i managed to grab some photos and videos. Lachlan’s uploaded them to places like youtube and flickr.. and there they are.
Pete and the Tar Gang were one of my favourite performances from the season. Pete is such a bold character on stage, with his old sea shanties.
They played the following week at the Fringe Club in North Melbourne, and followed up with the Tar Pit Men’s Choir. One of the guys sang a truly amazing solo piece which got the whole crowd turning their heads (at the Fringe CLub). Talk about upstaging!
Mamushka were hilarious and jazzie. Aviva is so stunning up front, and when she pulls out that bass clarinet, you know you’re in for some rollicking.
(i saw them again last week at Open Studio.. without all the costumes. They leap from their circus jazz into a bit of rock thrash every now and then.. and back again. What a blast.. but why was nobody dancing?)
The Kurtletts of course were thoroughly gorgeous.. Kirri and Sofiya play so beautifully together.
Links:
- more videos from the Tar Gang, and their myspace
- mamushka on myspace
- sanctum theatre (main site, youtube, flickr)
Oh, and the photo slideshow, which has some of my photos mixed in with other people’s too.
united states of tara. wow.
October 23, 2009
Toni Collette you are the world’s most wonderful.
Just saw the finale of season 1, and i’m completely shredded.
Wow.
Who’s that Chik!
October 1, 2009
i’ve seen another amazing fringe show. Having a good season so far.
Candy Bowers in Who’s that Chik? (“A hip hop tale of a brown girl with big dreams”).. Candy B is probably best known as Rasheda Eda MC of Sista She.. and now she has ventured into the world of the solo show.
Hip hop superstar.
With sister Busty Beats on sound (and video perhaps).
i don’t want to give too much away, but this show draws on the lady’s life history. Hip Hop etiquette 101 meets Candy B’s ethnicity. If you’ve ever wanted to ask her, “So where are you from?” (Dandenong!) this show will give you the answer. She is not happy about the lack of cultural representation given to minority people and particularly people of colour. One act features Candy on fire (metaphorically?) with anger. This was really strong and emotional and courageous and beautiful and it hit me bang in the heart.
Full on. Go Candy.
..
“But where is your hair from?”
“Uh.. my head.”
..
Ooh look here she is in a preview:
and here’s some more publicity shots:
if that doesn’t convince you, please note that in the tags for that second video on you tube, the lady herself lists “velurejumpsuit” and “hoodie”
..
So anyway, What Was i Thinking sitting in the front row? All on my own?
i was thinking.. “this show is going to be righteous! and Somebody has to sit in the front row. What is wrong with you people!”
You do feel a bit vulnerable in that position, but fortunately for me when Candy singled me out for some audience participation, it was for the final dance, when my heart was already jumping from her “on fire” closing number.
Ka boom.
Sweet.
..
other links
- Candy B was on Q & A recently (vodcast links here).
- Melbourne fringe site Chik page.
- A recent interview at same same.
- Review from when the show was in Sydney.
..but wait here’s more.. an interview where she talks about a different show that i wish i’d seen now, where she had young people and senior citizens on stage in Footscray earlier this year:
Plus, one more.. via Defamer Australia: the Lionel Ritchie “All Night Long” video clip (which Candy incidentally showed as a video during the show).
Neon Toast for dinner and a dance
September 29, 2009
Neon Toast opens in darkness.. but i won’t tell you why. Let’s just say the lighting arrives unexpectedly.
There are plenty of surprises in this delightful piece from Brunswick trio Eleanor Riley, Kerrily Aitchison and Rachael Dyson-McGregor.
A series of diverse dance pieces touching on life in a bakery, urban dating, the thrill of the chase. Such a beautiful sense of nostalgia in some of the scenes. Although there’s no time setting, it feels like the past, with jazz from the twenties and a bath before dinner. Gorgeous humour in the words and movement. Sifting flour through socks as all three women move so gracefully.
i really enjoyed this show.
Anytime Place has a strong record for astounding performance..
and Neon Toast builds on that tradition.
.
Links:
- Melbourne fringe festival show page.
- Don’t just take my word for it: Also reviewed over at Simple Things, and the Arts Hub.
Wealth of Nations approaching (a festival show)
September 22, 2009
“You are invited to join Sanctum Theatre and Fenestra Productions in celebrating the 233rd anniversary of Adam Smith’s seminal work, Wealth of Nations as part of this year’s Melbourne Fringe Festival. The ship may be sinking, the ‘invisible hand’ might have lost its grip on the invisible wheel, but there is an alternative. For two weekends in September Sanctum and Fenestra break away from the globular economic system to realise Smith’s ideal of a true and unfettered market on a small patch of turf in Brunswick – ‘Wall Street on Barkly’.”
Lachlan read us the Business Age yesterday, because the economical journalists there had noticed the number 233 in connection with Adam Smith. They suspect theatrical shenanigans. They would be correct: here comes the Nut Economy. The roller coaster of free trade.
- Opening Thursday 24th September. 6 evenings only. (1, 2 + 3 October still to come!)
- Music, performances and more. Street hawkers, snake oil merchants.. etc:
- Mamushka (Thursday 1st October!)
- Suitcase Royale, the GFC dj masters (Grand Funk Connection).. Pete & the Tar Gang.
- Visit Sanctum Theatre dot org for full details.
Here are some photos from the previous incarnation back in May ‘09
Oh and here’s the official publicity line: ‘Merchants of mania, hawkers of hubris, snake oil salesmen and peddlers of useless pendants’ peddle their wares in the Wealth of Nations market place. Do you have anything to offer? Come up with a product and a pitch, fill in a Trader’s Application form, get in for free and earn your peanuts to buy drinks for the evening. Get your Trader’s Application form from Sanctum Theatre.
WARNING: MAY CONTAIN PEANUTS!!
Each night will feature a different band and guest performer. Bands include:
- Pete and the Tar Gang, Sex on Toast, Mamuska
- The Kurtletts, Minstrels of the Revolution, The PANTY CHRI$T$
Guest performers include
- Suitcase Royale, Daniel Oldaker, Cabaret Existenz, The Gibbon Twins
- The Sewell Family Cabaret, An Inconvenient Spoof, The R.S.P.F.C.L.B.H.M
How exciting! Can’t wait.
mary and max is a corker
May 19, 2009
Sweet, beautiful and gut-wrenching. Adam Elliot knows how to explore the mad side of life.
i thought for a moment the constant narration would be too much, but i got over it. How else can you tell the story in a claymanimation?
In the end, this story draws you in so well. The claymation is so invigorating and kitsch. The Glen Waverly curtains, the boots hanging over the power lines, Vera testing the sherry, Dad stuffing his birds in the shed .. Damian with his trips to Mikenos and his NZ pen-pal.
And the heart-stirring madness of Max the New Yorker who has anxiety attacks whenever Mary asks him a difficult question.
Really touching.
So fitting that Barry Humphries is the narrator. The madness of Melbourne.
i went along to the fundraiser for Pacific Black Box. Heck why not spend 6 extra dollars to support Georgie and her NGO on their mission to teach young adults on the Carteret Islands. They must be doing something right if the students are winning international awards, right?
i give it 4 and a half stars. Must see.
Links:
- ..plus, guess what, they opened Sundance !!
- There are extra bits on the wibsite.
- Margaret liked it more than David did.
life as a trekker .. on the stimulation train
May 14, 2009
Last week Tim and i hit the city for an early movie ..
11am in the central place, the new beginning/ prequel version of star trek, with Sylar Guy as Spock. Ooh he’s a good actor.
The action is non-stop.
i’ve never ever cared about the original star trek characters, but this remake brings everyone back to life. Superbly!
.
.
Then a whole day of mooching around the city looking for new and exciting ways to stimulate the economy:
- the latest buffy comic at minotaur (Dawn is still suffering from that awkward spell by the jealous thricewise)
- some music including the latest spoonbill venture at collectors corner (can’t wait to listen !)
- lovely smelly things from the body shop.
oh yeah, i’ve been at the forefront of the GER (global economic recovery). Spending my way to freedom. Woohoo. On the Stimulation train. Oh yeh.
mm. Retail therapy .. much needed.
Ooh look here’s Zachary officially denying that he’s in the film.
photo credit: TCM HitchhikerHamish .. a festival winning film
March 30, 2009
i went with annie to a film festival in Northcote .. to see a film we heard about on 3RRR the other day.
There were a few short films made for this competition, and “Hamish” was the winner for many good reasons. Really enjoyable film, great character, gentle humour.
Claire Moon has Asperger Syndrom and her sister Hannah wanted to make a documentary about her .. partly to learn how to make movies. Well Hannah learned pretty well, because this film has won more than one award now.
Here’s “Hamish”. i recommend you spend the next 7 minutes watching it.
Taken from you tube.
The competition / festival was for the Women’s Health in the North (WHIN) International Women’s Day (IWD!) celebration.
Wealth of Nations .. hilarious
March 23, 2009
Sam Downing as Agent Smog was delighted when she heard that one audience member had asked, “Who was on the door? She was such a bitch!”
Job well done Sam!!
Tim gave us the brief to be casual and dismissive in our authority as customs agents, interrogating and searching immigrants to the Wealth of Nations Nut Economy by Sanctum Theatre.
Of course Tim has the expertise as Sergeant Blank from the Watch-house. He knows all about tormenting people who refuse to acknowledge his authority or try to play funny games.
Nice to be directed by a master of his craft.
This was an hilarious evening, as people scrambled to purchase their local currency (peanuts) while the exchange rates went up and down. Tim and Lachy revisited their “Battle of Civilisations” in Michael Camilleri’s huge city-costumes of Gog and Magog.
The Kurts gave us fine music.
The red lentil soup was divine.
Nobody got arrested.
Gran Torana makes me cry
March 22, 2009
i’ve never been a big fan of Clint Eastwood, but i must now admit he is a genius. Went to see Gran Torino with michael on the weekend, and i was in floods of tears.
Can’t write too much about it here because i don’t have any way to conceal the spoiler effect .. but the grumpy old man character arc i found astonishing, refreshing, touching!
And yes, when i thought the movie would be about a car, because i kept mispronouncing it Torana .. turns out i was right about that.
So i’m off to the Movie Reel in Westgarth to stock up on Clint’s back stories.
Have you seen the movie, and did it make you cry?
photo credit: ben_templesmith
Theatre twice in one day
March 16, 2009
Some days are just brilliant. The Melbourne theatre scene is alive and well.
i was lucky enough to have a sneak preview of Roundangle’s latest – “in the dark” – which promises to be very enjoyable and innovative. (Part of the Art of Difference festival.)
It was an early dress rehearsal, so Jodie would say things like, “You have to imagine a long screen here. You can’t see those people.” .. and “Okay now it’s a complete blackout, so close your eyes please.”
Later that night Zeena and i headed to the recently rescued La Mama in Carlton for a fabulous evening with Moira and Yumi’s “Salon de Dance“.
Gritty, sexy, horrific in places .. as you’d expect from those hellish dancers; and romantic in an old-school kind of way.
This show opened with a priest stripping down to his red-crucifixed knickers. Hilarious! and raunchy.
Yumi wrestling with her jacket, a couple of young Town Bikes apprentices dancing out an actual wrestling match, Moira slow-dancing with a cigarette on Highway 66. All fun.
The centre-piece was Moira and Yumi playing out a Gothic feast, beginning with the tall one eerily peering through the window .. and ending with an outrageous red wine splash-o-rama.
Gorgeous.
Funny video about cheese
January 31, 2009
Nathan has been camping out here at the Barkly St .. not only has he been an angel to live with, and inducted me into the world of Nintendo Wii, but also shared crazy stories like the Zombie Street Sign Hacker of Texas .. and this video he made with his hilarious friends.
i recommend you watch it.
Who ate the cheese?
Somewhere, there must be a link to more videos like this .. yes, here: Justin Juswah has a youTube channel.
Heroes .. a new obsession
January 14, 2009
Nearly finished Deadwood and Life on Mars, so i was definitely in need of a new DVD obsession. Fortunately the strange futuristic evolutionary tales of “Heroes” were filling the gap nicely.
Similar to the genetically-modified characters of Dark Angel, the mutants of X-men, and also the returned “altered” people in the world of the 4400. This one concerns people who are developing new skills and talents .. the next step in human evolution. In the future, everyone will be Superman, Spidergirl .. Catwoman; able to use their own special powers for good .. or evil.
If i could have a superpower, i would definitely be able to fly. Save so much hassle at airports, and cut down on carbon footprint too.
Or maybe radiate peace and love from my heart into the world around me, so that people around me experience balance and a deep sense of personal safety. That would be cool.
Give me comment please:
What would your superhuman power be?
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PS: when i came to Phnom Penh, all i really wanted to see was the rest of Season One. Fortunately Katie discovered the series and shared my fascination. We got through the whole 23 episodes in 3 days!! How outrageously self-indulgent.
Just a few loose threads in the plot at the end of it all ..
.
photo credit: TCM Hitchhiker
photo credit: Randy Son Of Robert
