Merrie England (2.5/5)
Rockdale Opera Company
Town Hall, Rockdale
9th August 2009
(Composer: Edward German, libretto: Basil Hood. Director: Ralph Bott)
An Edwardian comic opera set during the reign of Elizabeth I (1590’s) makes fun of the English Court and peasantry. Strong leads in this amateur cast - Walter Wilkins, camp actor, brought a laugh to every nuance (Simon Ward). Pleasant if a little long, some of the secondary parts were not so well played and could have gone to save running time. Overall a nice mix of ditties, ballads and melodies, with touches of Python humour.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Tracksuits of St Mary’s
Tracksuits of St Mary’s (2.5/5)
CarriageWorks,
Sydney 7th August 2009
(Photographs by Harold David)
Daggy fashion item worn by the indolent? This selection of portraits from Sydney’s St Mary’s suburb reveals the tracksuit as practical, worn by ordinary people. The ordinariness of people at home, shopping and at play gives a touching sense of charm. Grouped tightly together, a black & white patch-work in the vast CarriageWorks foyer, creates a strong sense of belonging. The touching tribute to Peter Norman (Google him!) comes out of left field.
CarriageWorks,
Sydney 7th August 2009
(Photographs by Harold David)
Daggy fashion item worn by the indolent? This selection of portraits from Sydney’s St Mary’s suburb reveals the tracksuit as practical, worn by ordinary people. The ordinariness of people at home, shopping and at play gives a touching sense of charm. Grouped tightly together, a black & white patch-work in the vast CarriageWorks foyer, creates a strong sense of belonging. The touching tribute to Peter Norman (Google him!) comes out of left field.
Coco Avant Chanel
Coco Avant Chanel (2.5/5)
Dendy Opera Quays, Sydney
4th July 2009
(Director: Anne Fontaine, Cast: Audrey Tautou (Coco Chanel), Benoît Poelvoorde (Étienne Balsan), Alessandro Nivola (Arthur 'Boy' Capel))
Like the haute couture one associates with Chanel this movie goes for simplicity and elegance. Unfortunately it achieves one but not the other - a gentle story lacking real depth. Everyone is a little too nice or a little too naïve. What inspired Chanel to create a new fashion is only lightly explored when the early 20th century offers so much social and technological dynamism.
Dendy Opera Quays, Sydney
4th July 2009
(Director: Anne Fontaine, Cast: Audrey Tautou (Coco Chanel), Benoît Poelvoorde (Étienne Balsan), Alessandro Nivola (Arthur 'Boy' Capel))
Like the haute couture one associates with Chanel this movie goes for simplicity and elegance. Unfortunately it achieves one but not the other - a gentle story lacking real depth. Everyone is a little too nice or a little too naïve. What inspired Chanel to create a new fashion is only lightly explored when the early 20th century offers so much social and technological dynamism.
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