In the bookstore, downstairs off Collins Street, I was in the science fiction area, looking for a book recommended by my friend J. We'd had lunch and wandered around a little section of Fitzroy, enjoying conversation and the glorious autumn weather. A vision in hot pink spandex and matching sneakers excused himself. I looked up. The sound of the voice did not fit the expectations set by my peripheral vision. I was expecting a woman and saw a man. He was resplendent, with plumage in his hair to rival any bird during the mating season. His eyebrows were strong black diagonal lines. I figured he had been at the Supanova Pop Culture Expo which had been on at the Melbourne showgrounds until I saw him on the train this evening.
Tonight he was wearing a tight red mini dress with a purple faux fur jacket. Again, he was topped with spectacular plumage - red and purple feathers, sprinkled with jewels, covered his entire head. I noticed the eyebrows again.
As I made my way to the exit, he looked directly at me. We nodded at each other. Weirdly, it felt like we were recognising something kindred.
I took the plunge. "You look amazing," I said.
His face lit up. "So do you!"
This felt like high praise from someone who clearly spends A LOT of time on his appearance. I also work hard to maintain my artist's identity when I'm working in that capacity with corporate clients. I must have succeeded today.
"Same hair!" I laughed, referring to our matching red.
"Twins!" he responded with the appropriate amount of irony.
He held the door open for me and we both went out in the night. I found myself wondering where he'd spent his days and then decided he'd probably been earning a living, just like most of us travelling home at 6pm.
Showing posts with label artist. Show all posts
Showing posts with label artist. Show all posts
Monday, 13 April 2015
Friday, 6 June 2014
Friday thoughts
It's a long weekend. I love the feeling of signing off for three days in a row. Apparently we're celebrating the English Queen of Australia's birthday. I don't know what that means, but I'm very happy to have an extra day where I can wake up when I'm ready, instead of when the alarm goes off - which seems to be very early these days!
*****
Winter is setting in. It's not really cold yet, but I put some towels out on the line to dry today. They went out in the dark at 6:15 this morning. I took them off in the dark at 5:30 this evening and they weren't dry. They nearly were, but they weren't. This is my measure of the seasons.
*****
I'm watching the television show "Nashville" at the moment. It's a soap opera set in the Nashville music scene and has everything from the country music queen whose latest album hasn't really sold, the upcoming blond starlet who needs autotune to make her sound okay, the sexy, enigmatic cowboy/lead guitarist with a dark past and the two young hot things who accidentally start songwriting together. Add to this mix some local politics and financial corruption and you've got everything. I'm loving it.
The character of Scarlett is a gorgeous blonde girl who has been writing poems, but never considered herself a songwriter. Gunnar sets one of the poems to music and they smoulder as they sing together. They get a publishing deal and she speaks about songwriting at a dinner to welcome them to the fold.
She says that she has noticed that the more specific the image, the more universal the truth. YES! What a great summary of all kinds of writing.
I'm looking back at my songs and thinking about this idea.
*****
I'm thinking of going to the movies this weekend. On the list to see:
The Broken Circle Breakdown
Fading Gigolo
The Zero Theorem
Under the Skin
No blockbusters! What have you seen lately?
*****
Winter is setting in. It's not really cold yet, but I put some towels out on the line to dry today. They went out in the dark at 6:15 this morning. I took them off in the dark at 5:30 this evening and they weren't dry. They nearly were, but they weren't. This is my measure of the seasons.
*****
I'm watching the television show "Nashville" at the moment. It's a soap opera set in the Nashville music scene and has everything from the country music queen whose latest album hasn't really sold, the upcoming blond starlet who needs autotune to make her sound okay, the sexy, enigmatic cowboy/lead guitarist with a dark past and the two young hot things who accidentally start songwriting together. Add to this mix some local politics and financial corruption and you've got everything. I'm loving it.
The character of Scarlett is a gorgeous blonde girl who has been writing poems, but never considered herself a songwriter. Gunnar sets one of the poems to music and they smoulder as they sing together. They get a publishing deal and she speaks about songwriting at a dinner to welcome them to the fold.
She says that she has noticed that the more specific the image, the more universal the truth. YES! What a great summary of all kinds of writing.
I'm looking back at my songs and thinking about this idea.
*****
I'm thinking of going to the movies this weekend. On the list to see:
The Broken Circle Breakdown
Fading Gigolo
The Zero Theorem
Under the Skin
No blockbusters! What have you seen lately?
Monday, 10 March 2014
Cultural intake - what I've been seeing and hearing lately
I've had a cultural kind of weekend.
Friday night, I went to the Melbourne Recital Centre to hear the Balanescu Quartet play. Well, it was quartet plus occasional drum kit and looped recorded sound. Visual interest was added with film, including projections on the back of the music stands. Perfect! This was always redundant space and it's great to see it used for something other than advertising!
Anytime I hear music played in Elisabeth Murdoch Hall it is magical. The sound is incredible, no matter what is being played.
On my daily walk past the Malthouse Theatre, and on my way to the Balanescu Quartet, I stopped in at the box office and bought a ticket to see Simon Stone's production, "The Government Inpsector". It was to be a production of "The Philadelphia Story", but rights were refused and this production cleverly turns this rejection into an opportunity. I needed to see it out of curiosity, if nothing else.
I had the best seat in the house (centre front) and laughed myself sick for the duration. It was a matinee though and I wondered how the "language" would go down with the audience. I walked out still laughing, but noticed the rest of the audience seemed quiet, reserved and then I overhead one woman say to another, "Well, it takes all types of people doesn't it?" The I noticed she had been sitting beside me. Was she talking about me or the play?
It's delightfully creative and refreshing. Who needs to see another production of "The Philadelphia Story" anyway? The Age has a review here.
Yesterday, it was off to the movies to see "Her", the film that won the Oscar for best original screenplay and has one of my favourite actors, Joaquin Phoenix. It's an interesting premise and I would suggest, is actually a science fiction film. It's set sometime in the not too distant future where technology is familiar but can do just a little more than what mine does for me right now. Phoenix plays Theodore, a man separated from his wife and living alone with only virtual reality "people", the receptionist at work and a woman who lives in the same building for company. He purchases the new OS1, a "smart" virtual assistant, customised with a female voice (played by Scarlett Johannson) and falls in love with her. There's a suggestion that she also falls for him.
Cut 30 minutes out and it would have been fantastic.
Oh, and get the two women sitting next me, chatting away as thought they were alone in their loungeroom, to SHUT UP!
Tomorrow night I'm off to see Cuban jazz pianist Roberto Fonseca at the Melbourne Recital Centre. I'll be selling CDs too, so if you're there, come and say hello.
What have been doing lately?
Friday night, I went to the Melbourne Recital Centre to hear the Balanescu Quartet play. Well, it was quartet plus occasional drum kit and looped recorded sound. Visual interest was added with film, including projections on the back of the music stands. Perfect! This was always redundant space and it's great to see it used for something other than advertising!
Anytime I hear music played in Elisabeth Murdoch Hall it is magical. The sound is incredible, no matter what is being played.
On my daily walk past the Malthouse Theatre, and on my way to the Balanescu Quartet, I stopped in at the box office and bought a ticket to see Simon Stone's production, "The Government Inpsector". It was to be a production of "The Philadelphia Story", but rights were refused and this production cleverly turns this rejection into an opportunity. I needed to see it out of curiosity, if nothing else.
I had the best seat in the house (centre front) and laughed myself sick for the duration. It was a matinee though and I wondered how the "language" would go down with the audience. I walked out still laughing, but noticed the rest of the audience seemed quiet, reserved and then I overhead one woman say to another, "Well, it takes all types of people doesn't it?" The I noticed she had been sitting beside me. Was she talking about me or the play?
It's delightfully creative and refreshing. Who needs to see another production of "The Philadelphia Story" anyway? The Age has a review here.
Yesterday, it was off to the movies to see "Her", the film that won the Oscar for best original screenplay and has one of my favourite actors, Joaquin Phoenix. It's an interesting premise and I would suggest, is actually a science fiction film. It's set sometime in the not too distant future where technology is familiar but can do just a little more than what mine does for me right now. Phoenix plays Theodore, a man separated from his wife and living alone with only virtual reality "people", the receptionist at work and a woman who lives in the same building for company. He purchases the new OS1, a "smart" virtual assistant, customised with a female voice (played by Scarlett Johannson) and falls in love with her. There's a suggestion that she also falls for him.
Cut 30 minutes out and it would have been fantastic.
Oh, and get the two women sitting next me, chatting away as thought they were alone in their loungeroom, to SHUT UP!
Tomorrow night I'm off to see Cuban jazz pianist Roberto Fonseca at the Melbourne Recital Centre. I'll be selling CDs too, so if you're there, come and say hello.
What have been doing lately?
Monday, 17 February 2014
An audience with the Boss - Bruce Springsteen plays Melbourne.
Bruce Springsteen has long been one of my favourite songwriters. Ever since my grade eleven English teacher encouraged us to analyse lyrics, as well as poetry, for one of our assignments. I remember studying "Scarecrow" by John Mellencamp, "Four Walls" by Cold Chisel and "Born to Run" by Bruce Springsteen. So when the opportunity to see him live came up, I seized it with both hands.
I remember that he played at Lang Park in Brisbane after the "Born in the USA" album was released. I was at boarding school in Toowoomba, so the feasibility of going to a mid week gig in another city was zero. Bruce has been to Australia many times since then, but it has never really worked out.
I've heard people rave about him in live performance, but you have to be one of the tiny people in a huge stadium crowd to fully appreciate the extent of his artistry in performance. There was not a single moment when I felt taken for granted or that he was bored or not enjoying fully, his work.
The wonderful Dan Sultan kicked off the show at 5pm. I love Dan's music, but his smaller band and sound really suffered in the sound mix designed for the fat, saturated sound of Bruce and the E Street Band. The bass guitar was distorting and dominant over all the other sounds. Still, it's great exposure for him.
Hunters and Collectors re-formed to play this gig and it was great to hear them play their hits. It's been a while since I've seen a rock band with a french horn in the line up - if ever - so that was also a treat.
The Boss came on at 8pm and was on stage until about 11:45pm. No one could complain that they didn't receive value for money! I debated with my friend about what the first song would be and suddenly it was 1985 again as the instantly recognisable opening bars of "Born in the USA" hit us. It was on! Apart from every song, the absolute highlight was hearing that they were going to play the whole "Born to Run" album from start to finish! I was in heaven! Hearing this album (released in 1975) as a whole body, was an interesting opportunity to consider Bruce Springsteen's evolution as a writer. The perspective in 1975 was much more individual with stories about people from a personal level, while his more recent songs take a broader political perspective - they're still about people, but it's a broader perspective.
I had an emotional night. Joy was my main feeling, but I had a few tearful moments too. (The story leading into "Growin' Up" and the song itself were deeply affecting.) I think I was overwhelmed. Suddenly I understood all those pictures of girls crying at Beatles or Elvis Presley concerts. It can just happen when you're feeling open and receptive to the music.
While I was well out of reach to have any direct interaction, it was lovely to watch the crowd interactions. Those big screens and fabulous directors of photography did a wonderful job, capturing a huge event with a sense of intimacy.
I looked around the crowd and noticed how different we all seemed, yet here we all were, celebrating and united by music created by a great artist. If you're vaguely interested in music, writing or performance (he's a master of creating tension and holding a crowd) and have never seen Bruce Springsteen live, put it on your list!
I kept notes of the set list and include it here (if there are any errors, please let me know):
Did you go? Have you seen The Boss before? What did you think?
I remember that he played at Lang Park in Brisbane after the "Born in the USA" album was released. I was at boarding school in Toowoomba, so the feasibility of going to a mid week gig in another city was zero. Bruce has been to Australia many times since then, but it has never really worked out.
 |
| The crowd gathers inside AAMI Park. © 2014 divacultura |
The wonderful Dan Sultan kicked off the show at 5pm. I love Dan's music, but his smaller band and sound really suffered in the sound mix designed for the fat, saturated sound of Bruce and the E Street Band. The bass guitar was distorting and dominant over all the other sounds. Still, it's great exposure for him.
Hunters and Collectors re-formed to play this gig and it was great to hear them play their hits. It's been a while since I've seen a rock band with a french horn in the line up - if ever - so that was also a treat.
The Boss came on at 8pm and was on stage until about 11:45pm. No one could complain that they didn't receive value for money! I debated with my friend about what the first song would be and suddenly it was 1985 again as the instantly recognisable opening bars of "Born in the USA" hit us. It was on! Apart from every song, the absolute highlight was hearing that they were going to play the whole "Born to Run" album from start to finish! I was in heaven! Hearing this album (released in 1975) as a whole body, was an interesting opportunity to consider Bruce Springsteen's evolution as a writer. The perspective in 1975 was much more individual with stories about people from a personal level, while his more recent songs take a broader political perspective - they're still about people, but it's a broader perspective.
I had an emotional night. Joy was my main feeling, but I had a few tearful moments too. (The story leading into "Growin' Up" and the song itself were deeply affecting.) I think I was overwhelmed. Suddenly I understood all those pictures of girls crying at Beatles or Elvis Presley concerts. It can just happen when you're feeling open and receptive to the music.
While I was well out of reach to have any direct interaction, it was lovely to watch the crowd interactions. Those big screens and fabulous directors of photography did a wonderful job, capturing a huge event with a sense of intimacy.
I looked around the crowd and noticed how different we all seemed, yet here we all were, celebrating and united by music created by a great artist. If you're vaguely interested in music, writing or performance (he's a master of creating tension and holding a crowd) and have never seen Bruce Springsteen live, put it on your list!
I kept notes of the set list and include it here (if there are any errors, please let me know):
- Lucky Town
- Death to My Hometown
- High Hopes
-
- Born to Run
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- Ain't I good enough for you
-
-
-
- Encore
- This Hard Land (just Bruce, his guitar and harmonica)
Saturday, 9 November 2013
Congratulations Rose Wintergreen - Artist of the Year!
I'm so excited for my friend Rose Wintergreen who featured on divacultura a little over a year ago. She has been awarded Australian Independent Music Awards Dance/Electronic Artist of the Year for 2013 for her song Feet in the Sand.
Congratulations Rose!
A little over a year ago Rose mentioned in her interview with divacultura that she was "also working on songs for a new recording". Well Rose has certainly achieved that. I've watched Rose plan the project and then work really hard, riding the highs and the lows, and it's so great to see her vision and hard work pay off.
Rose crowd funded her album and I remember talking to her just before the deadline about how it was all going. There were some nervous moments, but we got her over the line. Thanks to everyone who joined me in contributing to bringing this artist's work into a wider world.
Visit Rose's blog to see photos from the Awards night and find out more. Maybe even say hello!
Congratulations Rose!
A little over a year ago Rose mentioned in her interview with divacultura that she was "also working on songs for a new recording". Well Rose has certainly achieved that. I've watched Rose plan the project and then work really hard, riding the highs and the lows, and it's so great to see her vision and hard work pay off.
Rose crowd funded her album and I remember talking to her just before the deadline about how it was all going. There were some nervous moments, but we got her over the line. Thanks to everyone who joined me in contributing to bringing this artist's work into a wider world.
Visit Rose's blog to see photos from the Awards night and find out more. Maybe even say hello!
Wednesday, 12 June 2013
Melbourne International Jazz Festival - closing night with Cassandra Wilson
As I mentioned yesterday, I convened my own private arts festival. After Saturday's outing to King Kong, Sunday saw me take a seat for the first time in the renovated Hamer Hall for Cassandra Wilson's closing night of the Melbourne International Jazz Festival.
Since enrolling in the jazz vocal course run by Bob Sedergreen here in Melbourne, I've really lifted my game and started attentively listening to jazz again. I always listen to music but have such eclectic tastes that I can cut whole genres of music out as I hone in on my latest passion. Most years I attend something at the Festival and semi-regularly go and listen to live jazz around Melbourne. The main barrier to doing this more regularly is the timetable - jazz musicians tend to play late, even on a school night.
Anyway, before starting the course, I had a vague recollection of the name Cassandra Wilson, but hadn't knowingly listened to her music. Fellow students and posters around town and press said that she's a great jazz singer. I thought I should take the opportunity to hear her sing live and bought a ticket on my afternoon walk past through the arts precinct. I'm really glad I did.
In preparation for the concert I resisted the urge to seek her music out. It's not often I can go and hear an artist for the very first time. It was an amazing, joyous and musically rich evening. Apart from her incredible voice and interpretation, the band was marvellous. Conversations between harmonica and violin were never so entrancing. Despite being unfamiliar with the repertoire, I loved the concert and was pleased that I've learned how to listen to new music. How can that syncopation or funky rhythm be resisted? It couldn't be. Well, not by me, anyway. The woman sitting to my right threw off an aura of unhappiness from the moment she was seated and left part way through the third song. I didn't mind.
To my left was an Indian couple and they were impressed that I was coming to hear an artist with completely fresh ears. They looked at me with envy. We talked about the Festival and other jazz artists we liked and whether or not they played any instruments (they didn't but had a fine appreciation for music).
After the (unnecessary) interval, we were rewarded with some exciting and infectious moments. The sound in the refurbished Hamer Hall is very, very good and the seats are very comfortable. I was interested that with the refurbishment, the colour scheme has moved from the dated salmon and flamingo hues to what will soon be outdated orange shades. I think this will date in a very quickly. But I do love the hanging sculpture in the foyer; it's trapezoidal shapes echoing the architecture of Federation Square, the Melbourne Theatre Company's theatres and neighbouring Recital Centre. The arts precinct now has thread uniting it from end to end. I also liked the lighting which reminded me of glow worms dangling from the ceiling.
Apart from loving every moment of Cassandra Wilson and band, I thoroughly recommend the experience of being whimsical and buying a ticket for something/someone unfamiliar. Afterall, venturing in to explore and experience unfamiliar territory is the heart of art and artists.
Since enrolling in the jazz vocal course run by Bob Sedergreen here in Melbourne, I've really lifted my game and started attentively listening to jazz again. I always listen to music but have such eclectic tastes that I can cut whole genres of music out as I hone in on my latest passion. Most years I attend something at the Festival and semi-regularly go and listen to live jazz around Melbourne. The main barrier to doing this more regularly is the timetable - jazz musicians tend to play late, even on a school night.
Anyway, before starting the course, I had a vague recollection of the name Cassandra Wilson, but hadn't knowingly listened to her music. Fellow students and posters around town and press said that she's a great jazz singer. I thought I should take the opportunity to hear her sing live and bought a ticket on my afternoon walk past through the arts precinct. I'm really glad I did.
In preparation for the concert I resisted the urge to seek her music out. It's not often I can go and hear an artist for the very first time. It was an amazing, joyous and musically rich evening. Apart from her incredible voice and interpretation, the band was marvellous. Conversations between harmonica and violin were never so entrancing. Despite being unfamiliar with the repertoire, I loved the concert and was pleased that I've learned how to listen to new music. How can that syncopation or funky rhythm be resisted? It couldn't be. Well, not by me, anyway. The woman sitting to my right threw off an aura of unhappiness from the moment she was seated and left part way through the third song. I didn't mind.
To my left was an Indian couple and they were impressed that I was coming to hear an artist with completely fresh ears. They looked at me with envy. We talked about the Festival and other jazz artists we liked and whether or not they played any instruments (they didn't but had a fine appreciation for music).
 |
| Hanging sculpture, foyer, Hamer Hall © divacultura 2013 |
 |
| © divacultura 2013 |
Apart from loving every moment of Cassandra Wilson and band, I thoroughly recommend the experience of being whimsical and buying a ticket for something/someone unfamiliar. Afterall, venturing in to explore and experience unfamiliar territory is the heart of art and artists.
Monday, 6 May 2013
Your opportunity to support new music.
Remember the fabulous Rose Wintergreen? She featured here almost a year ago.
One of the things I really admire about Rose is that she sets out to do things and then she does them! Rose decided to make an album and so started to really focus on her songwriting. When she had enough songs she booked in the studio and the producer and now she's recording in Alice Springs.
I wanted to let you know because Rose's new record is being crowd funded. It was Rose's birthday yesterday and my gift is to spread the word about what she needs. You can contribute to the birth of new music over here.
Rose has put a lot of thought into the rewards she can offer for your contribution. It's a pretty amazing list - from copies of the finished product, to the gorgeous dress she's wearing in the promo shot to an intimate house concert or personal concert over Skype! Wow.
You can also opt not to take a reward. Maybe you could donate the price of your coffee today.
Happy Birthday Rose! Can't wait to hear your music.
*Disclosure: Rose wrote a song about divacultura for last year's first birthday competition. (Lyrics are here.) So I might be a bit biased. Ok, I'll come clean - I'm a fan!
One of the things I really admire about Rose is that she sets out to do things and then she does them! Rose decided to make an album and so started to really focus on her songwriting. When she had enough songs she booked in the studio and the producer and now she's recording in Alice Springs.
I wanted to let you know because Rose's new record is being crowd funded. It was Rose's birthday yesterday and my gift is to spread the word about what she needs. You can contribute to the birth of new music over here.
Rose has put a lot of thought into the rewards she can offer for your contribution. It's a pretty amazing list - from copies of the finished product, to the gorgeous dress she's wearing in the promo shot to an intimate house concert or personal concert over Skype! Wow.
You can also opt not to take a reward. Maybe you could donate the price of your coffee today.
Happy Birthday Rose! Can't wait to hear your music.
*Disclosure: Rose wrote a song about divacultura for last year's first birthday competition. (Lyrics are here.) So I might be a bit biased. Ok, I'll come clean - I'm a fan!
Thursday, 11 April 2013
Have you seen the Hot Box yet?
If you're in Melbourne and have a pulse, you need to see Karin Danger's show "Hot Box" which is playing as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. I don't say this lightly.
Karin is an incredibly talented comic performer. She's funny and intelligent and sings the hell out of the songs. Did I mention that she also wrote them?
I loved her song about the morning after blues. Not once does she actually talk about what happened the night before and with references to "an Argentinian passport torn up in my bin" one can only wonder. It's hilarious and well delivered. Look out for the cracker Brownlow joke early in the show too.
Apart from the jokes, Karin has something to say and she puts herself on the line to say it. Whether you agree with her message or not, I think the idea of doing this is something to be encouraged.
The show made me happy. I delighted in every aspect of the show. It's great to see a young talented woman making art like this so I just really want lots of people to be happy too.
"Hot Box" is playing until 21 April at the gorgeously kitsch (and now city-based) Butterfly Club which is worth a visit too.
Karin is an incredibly talented comic performer. She's funny and intelligent and sings the hell out of the songs. Did I mention that she also wrote them?
I loved her song about the morning after blues. Not once does she actually talk about what happened the night before and with references to "an Argentinian passport torn up in my bin" one can only wonder. It's hilarious and well delivered. Look out for the cracker Brownlow joke early in the show too.
Apart from the jokes, Karin has something to say and she puts herself on the line to say it. Whether you agree with her message or not, I think the idea of doing this is something to be encouraged.
The show made me happy. I delighted in every aspect of the show. It's great to see a young talented woman making art like this so I just really want lots of people to be happy too.
"Hot Box" is playing until 21 April at the gorgeously kitsch (and now city-based) Butterfly Club which is worth a visit too.
Monday, 25 February 2013
Pondering artists' impressions and corporate gobbledygook
After dinner on Saturday evening, I walked with my friend to the Yarraville train station. As we crossed the tracks, a man came towards us. I was cautious until I noticed the police van parked nearby. There had been an assault in the vicinity on the previous Sunday morning and police were seeking information.
We were shown an artist's sketch and asked we recognised the man. This is the first time I've been directly asked this question. I've seen pictures on television, but it felt more significant when asked directly. I carefully studied the picture. I needed to get past my initial idea that it wasn't a real person - it's the idea of a description of a person. Then I said that I didn't recognise him. I also studied the picture because I wanted to be able to recognise him if he's buying milk at the supermarket.
After leaving my friend to catch his train back to the city, I walked back to where my car was parked on the other side of the tracks, feeling cautious and self-conscious about the fact that I was walking alone.
I think it's an amazing skill to draw someone from someone else's description. How do you get specific enough in the description to come up with anything other than a picture of a generic humanoid? Whenever I have been asked to describe someone (or myself) it seems to be a list comprising gender, hair colour and style, eye colour, height and clothing, which is fleeting. I'd love to know how the artists do it.
*****
On a different subject, I was bathed in corporate speak this morning while I was on a job. People were seriously saying things to me like:
I thought about a police artist trying to sketch a suspect in a situation where that suspect worked for a big corporation and spoke Manager.
"He was a senior leader who understood the value proposition of customer service. I liked him. He gave me an uptick on my appraisal and on passed the news to his leader who circled back and value added with me. Yeah, I liked him."
"..."
"Oh, he was 180cm tall, brown hair, brown eyes, looked after himself, you know? Sharp suits."
Tough gig.
We were shown an artist's sketch and asked we recognised the man. This is the first time I've been directly asked this question. I've seen pictures on television, but it felt more significant when asked directly. I carefully studied the picture. I needed to get past my initial idea that it wasn't a real person - it's the idea of a description of a person. Then I said that I didn't recognise him. I also studied the picture because I wanted to be able to recognise him if he's buying milk at the supermarket.
After leaving my friend to catch his train back to the city, I walked back to where my car was parked on the other side of the tracks, feeling cautious and self-conscious about the fact that I was walking alone.
I think it's an amazing skill to draw someone from someone else's description. How do you get specific enough in the description to come up with anything other than a picture of a generic humanoid? Whenever I have been asked to describe someone (or myself) it seems to be a list comprising gender, hair colour and style, eye colour, height and clothing, which is fleeting. I'd love to know how the artists do it.
*****
On a different subject, I was bathed in corporate speak this morning while I was on a job. People were seriously saying things to me like:
- We're looking for an uptick on that.
- Let's circle back on that.
- What's your value add?
- I understand the customer service value proposition.
After a while I found it hard to concentrate. These meaningless strings of words washed over me as I struggled to understand. And this was the biggest problem - the fact that it was up to me to decode the message being sent.
Whatever happened to plain, direct communication? What the hell is an "uptick"? Is it one word or two?
I thought about a police artist trying to sketch a suspect in a situation where that suspect worked for a big corporation and spoke Manager.
"He was a senior leader who understood the value proposition of customer service. I liked him. He gave me an uptick on my appraisal and on passed the news to his leader who circled back and value added with me. Yeah, I liked him."
"..."
"Oh, he was 180cm tall, brown hair, brown eyes, looked after himself, you know? Sharp suits."
Tough gig.
Tuesday, 12 February 2013
What's changed in two years?
Lately I've been noticing my reactions to situations and thinking about how differently I would have reacted two years ago. As I contemplate that, I am grateful that the situations that cause me to think about this are happening now (when I am better equipped) and not two years ago.
For example, last week I was doing some work for a client in the building that I used to work in. There are training and meeting rooms on one of the floors in the building so I go there fairly frequently. Not long after I finished my full time employment, I had to visit this building for some work. As I approached the building and contemplated going in, I had what I now know to be a panic attack - fast, shallow breathing, elevated heart rate, clammy sweat, hot flush of rash creeping up my neck and a feeling of general terror. Four years have passed since then and I can now look back and read all the signals about what was going on at that workplace which I couldn't see at the time. Reflection point number one.
Last week as I walked into the building, one of the people with whom I used to work came out of the building. She said hello and asked me what I was doing there. I responded with the facts, "I'm working with a client."
"Oh which client? What are you doing?"
"I'm working as an actress doing corporate roleplay for senior leadership development in one of the banks."
"You're kidding!?" (Where is an interrobang when you need one?)
And there they hung, those words.
Most artists will know the common urging from people who aren't artists about it being time to get a real job. It might be phrased as "your acting/art/music etc is wonderful, but can't you just have it as a hobby so you can go off and get a real job?" The concern about the real job is usually strongly tethered to the need to earn money.
Two years ago I would have felt the panic rise in expectation of the impending judgement. This time I didn't. This is my work and I make a good living.
I said: "Actually I'm not kidding. This is my work and I make a very good living out of it."
She reacted, quickly seeking to retract. It was as if she suddenly realised what that statement actually could mean.
We both ended the conversation. As I walked to the lift I contemplated my reaction. I'm pleased that I was able to stand up, proudly, for my work and not allow it, and me, to be dismissed, but reading back on this, I wonder how I will come across. There is more context to the relationship with this particular person that I'm not prepared to lay out here and I don't know whether it's relevant.
This is but one example. I'm finding in the project I'm managing where I'm back in an office for a couple of days a week, that I'm being confronted with everything I don't like about that environment. There is some good stuff too, but apart from the work itself, I'm being regularly confronted with the things that are challenging.
With another round of leadership development conversations coming up with another client (I'll be facilitating), it's timely that I am refreshing my experience in a hands-on leadership role.
I recently found myself needing to have an honest conversation with a member of the project team. As I prepared for it, I could hear myself coaching myself from the sidelines. A couple of years ago, my reaction and ability to handle that person would have been quite different. I would have dealt with the situation, but I think it would have taken longer and the landing have been less comfortable. For everyone.
The value of reflection is something that artists understand and practise - it is essential to artistry and artistic process, regardless of the art form. Lately, I'm hearing about reflection in the corporate setting and in medical training. It makes me happy to see the wisdom of artists permeating other disciplines. Lately, reflection has given me the opportunity to learn a lot about myself and my growth and how I'm going in my business (which is still less than two years' old.). I was very pleased to notice that I'm better suited to consulting than being attached to one office and one organisation. Thank goodness I made the right decision!
What have you reflected on lately? What are you noticing?
For example, last week I was doing some work for a client in the building that I used to work in. There are training and meeting rooms on one of the floors in the building so I go there fairly frequently. Not long after I finished my full time employment, I had to visit this building for some work. As I approached the building and contemplated going in, I had what I now know to be a panic attack - fast, shallow breathing, elevated heart rate, clammy sweat, hot flush of rash creeping up my neck and a feeling of general terror. Four years have passed since then and I can now look back and read all the signals about what was going on at that workplace which I couldn't see at the time. Reflection point number one.
Last week as I walked into the building, one of the people with whom I used to work came out of the building. She said hello and asked me what I was doing there. I responded with the facts, "I'm working with a client."
"Oh which client? What are you doing?"
"I'm working as an actress doing corporate roleplay for senior leadership development in one of the banks."
"You're kidding!?" (Where is an interrobang when you need one?)
And there they hung, those words.
Most artists will know the common urging from people who aren't artists about it being time to get a real job. It might be phrased as "your acting/art/music etc is wonderful, but can't you just have it as a hobby so you can go off and get a real job?" The concern about the real job is usually strongly tethered to the need to earn money.
Two years ago I would have felt the panic rise in expectation of the impending judgement. This time I didn't. This is my work and I make a good living.
I said: "Actually I'm not kidding. This is my work and I make a very good living out of it."
She reacted, quickly seeking to retract. It was as if she suddenly realised what that statement actually could mean.
We both ended the conversation. As I walked to the lift I contemplated my reaction. I'm pleased that I was able to stand up, proudly, for my work and not allow it, and me, to be dismissed, but reading back on this, I wonder how I will come across. There is more context to the relationship with this particular person that I'm not prepared to lay out here and I don't know whether it's relevant.
This is but one example. I'm finding in the project I'm managing where I'm back in an office for a couple of days a week, that I'm being confronted with everything I don't like about that environment. There is some good stuff too, but apart from the work itself, I'm being regularly confronted with the things that are challenging.
With another round of leadership development conversations coming up with another client (I'll be facilitating), it's timely that I am refreshing my experience in a hands-on leadership role.
I recently found myself needing to have an honest conversation with a member of the project team. As I prepared for it, I could hear myself coaching myself from the sidelines. A couple of years ago, my reaction and ability to handle that person would have been quite different. I would have dealt with the situation, but I think it would have taken longer and the landing have been less comfortable. For everyone.
The value of reflection is something that artists understand and practise - it is essential to artistry and artistic process, regardless of the art form. Lately, I'm hearing about reflection in the corporate setting and in medical training. It makes me happy to see the wisdom of artists permeating other disciplines. Lately, reflection has given me the opportunity to learn a lot about myself and my growth and how I'm going in my business (which is still less than two years' old.). I was very pleased to notice that I'm better suited to consulting than being attached to one office and one organisation. Thank goodness I made the right decision!
What have you reflected on lately? What are you noticing?
Thursday, 30 August 2012
Question Time - who is Jenny Peers?
A couple of weeks ago I received an email from Jenny Peers. I'd obviously signed up to her mailing list when I saw her art somewhere. In a moment of space, I read this email and learned about her Gratitude Card Project. I had to speak to this woman! The idea of creating a beautiful way to commemorate a moment of gratitude appealed immensely. Combining it with social media to explore interconnectedness made the whole thing even more interesting. I signed up to be an ambassador immediately.
My cards came wrapped in purple tissue paper it was like receiving a gift. They are gorgeous and I felt a pang of regret at the thought of giving them away. Then I realised that commemorating a moment of gratitude with something beautiful is significant and generous. Jenny found the mandalas which are printed on the cards through ordinary sources like nature and textiles. I can't wait to give them away and show my appreciation to people. (I regularly thank people, but I think the significance of this can often be lost in the hurly burly of our lives. And people often aren't very good at receiving thanks!)
We met yesterday at The Hub in Melbourne and had a lively conversation over a couple of hours. We discovered that our lives overlap in interesting ways. I learnt a lot! I hope you enjoy meeting Jenny Peers as much as I did.
What inspired the Gratitude Card Project?
There's no simple answer to that. It's a confluence of my interests. I wear lots of hats. I'm particularly interested in organisational culture. To create a culture of innovation there needs to be organisational creativity, which needs collaboration, which needs trust which needs emotional maturity. I took myself on a "solo corporate retreat" to do a life review. It was about exploring what I was put on earth to do. I devised a set of rules for living. Gratitude was one of these things
What do you hope to achieve with the Gratitude Card Project?
It's a combination of art, social science experiment and chaos and complexity theory. I'm interested in the idea that one simple act can cause change. What happens as a result of that act? I'm also tracking where the cards go. The cards are all numbered. This enables us to note and remember the moment of gratitude. The facebook page is a place to keep track and share stories. If you're not on facebook you can still stay in touch via email.
I have this stuck on my fridge to remind me each day: "Globally, there is a groundswell of opinion that the problems facing our planet can only be fixed in a spirit of creative collaboration, requiring a new way of interacting and being in the world. So I am stepping up to the plate to do what I can to foster this new way of working, living and finding solutions. My work will be with individuals, groups and organisations."
What are you grateful for?
Little things: health, my 5 faculties, living in this wonderful city, family, girlfriends, music. Today. At the end of each day I think about three things I am grateful for. Even on the worst day there are always things to be grateful for.
If you were in charge for a day, what's the one thing you would do?
I'd wave my magic wand and rebalance the world's yin and yang.
What's your favourite word?
Curious.
If you could script your dying words what would they be?
"That was interesting." I'd like that as my epitaph too.
What gets your hanky in a twist?
Ignorance. Channel 7. Prejudice. Politicians fiddling while Rome burns. People talking at me.
If I wasn't doing what I'm doing now I'd be...
...doing something I've already done. I'd be living out who I am, my life's purpose. I like to think about a poppyseed. In that tiny seed are all the instructions to make a poppy - the hairy stem, the petals, the colour, the stamen - everything that a poppy is. That's what a life is.
Find out more and get a set of gratitude cards at the website: http://gratitudecardproject.com/
Follow and share stories on Twitter: @gratitudecards
Join the conversation on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Gratitude-Card-Project/218709621529387?ref=ts
START A RIPPLE OF YOUR OWN!
Jenny is generously offering five packs of 10 gratitude cards to giveaway to 5 lucky readers. To be in the running to start a ripple of your own, leave a comment on this post and tell us what you'd like to thank someone for.
Entries close on Friday 7 September 2012 and are open to all readers, where ever you live.
My cards came wrapped in purple tissue paper it was like receiving a gift. They are gorgeous and I felt a pang of regret at the thought of giving them away. Then I realised that commemorating a moment of gratitude with something beautiful is significant and generous. Jenny found the mandalas which are printed on the cards through ordinary sources like nature and textiles. I can't wait to give them away and show my appreciation to people. (I regularly thank people, but I think the significance of this can often be lost in the hurly burly of our lives. And people often aren't very good at receiving thanks!)
We met yesterday at The Hub in Melbourne and had a lively conversation over a couple of hours. We discovered that our lives overlap in interesting ways. I learnt a lot! I hope you enjoy meeting Jenny Peers as much as I did.
What inspired the Gratitude Card Project?
There's no simple answer to that. It's a confluence of my interests. I wear lots of hats. I'm particularly interested in organisational culture. To create a culture of innovation there needs to be organisational creativity, which needs collaboration, which needs trust which needs emotional maturity. I took myself on a "solo corporate retreat" to do a life review. It was about exploring what I was put on earth to do. I devised a set of rules for living. Gratitude was one of these thingsWhat do you hope to achieve with the Gratitude Card Project?
It's a combination of art, social science experiment and chaos and complexity theory. I'm interested in the idea that one simple act can cause change. What happens as a result of that act? I'm also tracking where the cards go. The cards are all numbered. This enables us to note and remember the moment of gratitude. The facebook page is a place to keep track and share stories. If you're not on facebook you can still stay in touch via email.
I have this stuck on my fridge to remind me each day: "Globally, there is a groundswell of opinion that the problems facing our planet can only be fixed in a spirit of creative collaboration, requiring a new way of interacting and being in the world. So I am stepping up to the plate to do what I can to foster this new way of working, living and finding solutions. My work will be with individuals, groups and organisations."
What are you grateful for?
Little things: health, my 5 faculties, living in this wonderful city, family, girlfriends, music. Today. At the end of each day I think about three things I am grateful for. Even on the worst day there are always things to be grateful for.
If you were in charge for a day, what's the one thing you would do?
I'd wave my magic wand and rebalance the world's yin and yang.
What's your favourite word?
Curious.
If you could script your dying words what would they be?
"That was interesting." I'd like that as my epitaph too.
What gets your hanky in a twist?
Ignorance. Channel 7. Prejudice. Politicians fiddling while Rome burns. People talking at me.
If I wasn't doing what I'm doing now I'd be...
...doing something I've already done. I'd be living out who I am, my life's purpose. I like to think about a poppyseed. In that tiny seed are all the instructions to make a poppy - the hairy stem, the petals, the colour, the stamen - everything that a poppy is. That's what a life is.
Find out more and get a set of gratitude cards at the website: http://gratitudecardproject.com/
Follow and share stories on Twitter: @gratitudecards
Join the conversation on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Gratitude-Card-Project/218709621529387?ref=ts
START A RIPPLE OF YOUR OWN!
Jenny is generously offering five packs of 10 gratitude cards to giveaway to 5 lucky readers. To be in the running to start a ripple of your own, leave a comment on this post and tell us what you'd like to thank someone for.
Entries close on Friday 7 September 2012 and are open to all readers, where ever you live.
Saturday, 28 July 2012
Happy First Birthday - divacultura celebrates!
Today is divacultura's first birthday! On Thursday 28 July 2011, I wrote "Beginnings", the post that outlined my vision for divacultura's incarnation as a blog.
Looking back on that first post, I struggle to remember what my original title choice was. After some hard thinking I remembered. I'm glad that my longed-for title wasn't available. I have the right title!
One of the reasons I started blogging was to create a daily writing habit. I had had one many years ago, but had lost my match fitness. I needed to start exercising my writing muscles regularly; they were a bit flabby. I was also interested to see how my writer's voice developed and whether I could be as compelling on the "page" as on the stage. I'm still exploring that question and I think it depends on the subject matter. I've been delighted to receive feedback from you, my readers, about my written voice. It's fascinating. Also a wonderful reminder that applies to any artistic/creative practice, that one's work takes on a new life the moment it is handed over to the audience.
I've done pretty well establishing my daily writing habit. 366 days after I started I have produced 348 posts. That's roughly 18 days I've missed. I'm counting that as success on meeting my commitment. I've had holidays and been travelling for work where it hasn't been possible to post. When this has been the case, I've flagged it. (I'm still mystified as to why one of these posts is my third most popular post of all time.) I do acknowledge that some posts are purely pictorial and contain no, or not much, writing. That's okay with me. I've started to take photographs again and have noticed myself being more observant and sensitive to the world - ingredients essential for nurturing creativity. More importantly, I now feel the compulsion to write each day - confirmation that I have successfully ingrained a habit.
At the beginning I wasn't sure whether many people outside my immediate circle would read. I thought some of my Twitter followers would come over and read, because divacultura is also my Twitter name, but wasn't sure how long it would last. While I'm always conscious of audience, in the beginning I was largely writing for myself. Now, I write for my audience and am always curious to read comments on the blog and also on facebook. So please, if you feel the urge to say something, I'd love you to act on that impulse!
My other commitment was to produce copy that was error free. I've remembered how hard it is to proofread and sub-edit your own work and from time to time posts do contain typos and other errors. I'm very lucky to have a very diligent and eagle-eyed post production editor - my Mother. Mum reads everything and gives me feedback and reactions. She will also provide feedback on corrections. Sometimes we have an arm-wrestle when I've made a stylistic choice that clashes with formal grammar/usage. I win those ones, but it's always provocative and I appreciate having the opportunity to read my work from a different perspective. My writing is better for it. Thanks Mum!
A year on, I'm taking stock and thinking about how this body of work is relevant to how I position my business. A year on, I've become much more aware of other bloggers and have enjoyed learning from their experience.
IT'S MY BIRTHDAY & YOU GET THE GIFTS!
As I contemplate renewing my commitment to divacultura for another year, I feel excitement and affection. Thank you for sharing some of your time with me. As a thank you gift - and so I can gain a better sense of who's out there - I'll be giving away a pair of my hand knitted socks to two very lucky readers, where ever you are in the world (ie two readers will receive a pair of socks each). To be in the running, leave a comment on this post by Friday 17 August 2012, stating why you like reading divacultura. My favourite responses will receive the prize (my decision is final). Why not take the opportunity to sign up and follow too!
*****
In the meantime, here are some stats:
divacultura's biggest audience is in the US, followed by Australia, Russia, Ireland and the UK.
You can see the top five posts on the home page.
The next five posts which complete the top 10 are:
6. Photo a day - June round up and July list (My interest in the July list waned and I haven't followed through on this one.)
7. Secondhand fumes - ever come across someone chroming on public transport?
8. Challenge accepted - the challenge in question was the first Photo a Day I participated in.
9. Prayers to the Goddess of parking
10. Question Time - who is the Lazy Civil Servant? The launch edition of this regular feature. It was fitting to feature the person who inspired me to start blogging.
And just for fun, here's one of my favourite pieces - The Man on the Steps. A purely creative piece sparked by a glimpse while I was out and about. It highlights the importance of being in the world with my head up and my eyes open and a preparedness to shamelessly eavesdrop!
Looking back on that first post, I struggle to remember what my original title choice was. After some hard thinking I remembered. I'm glad that my longed-for title wasn't available. I have the right title!
One of the reasons I started blogging was to create a daily writing habit. I had had one many years ago, but had lost my match fitness. I needed to start exercising my writing muscles regularly; they were a bit flabby. I was also interested to see how my writer's voice developed and whether I could be as compelling on the "page" as on the stage. I'm still exploring that question and I think it depends on the subject matter. I've been delighted to receive feedback from you, my readers, about my written voice. It's fascinating. Also a wonderful reminder that applies to any artistic/creative practice, that one's work takes on a new life the moment it is handed over to the audience.
I've done pretty well establishing my daily writing habit. 366 days after I started I have produced 348 posts. That's roughly 18 days I've missed. I'm counting that as success on meeting my commitment. I've had holidays and been travelling for work where it hasn't been possible to post. When this has been the case, I've flagged it. (I'm still mystified as to why one of these posts is my third most popular post of all time.) I do acknowledge that some posts are purely pictorial and contain no, or not much, writing. That's okay with me. I've started to take photographs again and have noticed myself being more observant and sensitive to the world - ingredients essential for nurturing creativity. More importantly, I now feel the compulsion to write each day - confirmation that I have successfully ingrained a habit.
At the beginning I wasn't sure whether many people outside my immediate circle would read. I thought some of my Twitter followers would come over and read, because divacultura is also my Twitter name, but wasn't sure how long it would last. While I'm always conscious of audience, in the beginning I was largely writing for myself. Now, I write for my audience and am always curious to read comments on the blog and also on facebook. So please, if you feel the urge to say something, I'd love you to act on that impulse!
My other commitment was to produce copy that was error free. I've remembered how hard it is to proofread and sub-edit your own work and from time to time posts do contain typos and other errors. I'm very lucky to have a very diligent and eagle-eyed post production editor - my Mother. Mum reads everything and gives me feedback and reactions. She will also provide feedback on corrections. Sometimes we have an arm-wrestle when I've made a stylistic choice that clashes with formal grammar/usage. I win those ones, but it's always provocative and I appreciate having the opportunity to read my work from a different perspective. My writing is better for it. Thanks Mum!
A year on, I'm taking stock and thinking about how this body of work is relevant to how I position my business. A year on, I've become much more aware of other bloggers and have enjoyed learning from their experience.
IT'S MY BIRTHDAY & YOU GET THE GIFTS!
As I contemplate renewing my commitment to divacultura for another year, I feel excitement and affection. Thank you for sharing some of your time with me. As a thank you gift - and so I can gain a better sense of who's out there - I'll be giving away a pair of my hand knitted socks to two very lucky readers, where ever you are in the world (ie two readers will receive a pair of socks each). To be in the running, leave a comment on this post by Friday 17 August 2012, stating why you like reading divacultura. My favourite responses will receive the prize (my decision is final). Why not take the opportunity to sign up and follow too!
*****
In the meantime, here are some stats:
divacultura's biggest audience is in the US, followed by Australia, Russia, Ireland and the UK.
You can see the top five posts on the home page.
The next five posts which complete the top 10 are:
6. Photo a day - June round up and July list (My interest in the July list waned and I haven't followed through on this one.)
7. Secondhand fumes - ever come across someone chroming on public transport?
8. Challenge accepted - the challenge in question was the first Photo a Day I participated in.
9. Prayers to the Goddess of parking
10. Question Time - who is the Lazy Civil Servant? The launch edition of this regular feature. It was fitting to feature the person who inspired me to start blogging.
And just for fun, here's one of my favourite pieces - The Man on the Steps. A purely creative piece sparked by a glimpse while I was out and about. It highlights the importance of being in the world with my head up and my eyes open and a preparedness to shamelessly eavesdrop!
Sunday, 22 July 2012
Eat Pray Laugh - Farewell Barry Humphries
 |
| Image: Her Majesty's Theatre website. |
Yesterday afternoon I did something I've never done before. I went to see Barry Humphries live on stage in his show, Eat Pray Laugh at Her Majesty's Theatre in Melbourne. It's the farewell tour and I'm so pleased that I didn't let the opportunity to see a master craftsman performing pass me by.
Before Dame Edna took to the stage after interval we spent some time with Sir Les Patterson and the dead Sandy Stone. I'd heard of these characters and seen snippets, but didn't know very much about them. I knew that Sir Les is disgusting and wasn't sure about Sandy Stone. (Click here for photos of Sir Les and Sandy Stone.)
Sir Les is disgusting, but still, somehow, likeable. He has a generous spirit and a big smile on his face to go with the innuendo laden crudities and racist epithets that fly out of his mouth - along with the spit.
The show started in Sir Les' backyard, somewhere in the unmistakeable Australian suburbia. Silhouetted against the sky is a row of two storey houses with their television antennae reaching towards heaven. The yard has a lawn and is surrounded by a hedge. Everything is covered in astroturf. In the corner, there's a piano, also covered in turf. There's the obligatory garden shed, complete with painted cricket stumps and a barbecue set up near the back door to his house and the outside toilet. We know it's a toilet because Sir Les is having trouble with his guts. Suddenly the audience is roaring with laughter while they squirm at the bowel sounds he is emitting. He has already warned us about his "volatile emissions".
His outfit is marvellous: a bright orange, yellow and black, ugly "Hawaiian" shirt, over orange cargo shorts, black socks pulled half way up his calves and bright yellow Crocs on his feet. Sir Les is apparently very well endowed and wearing shorts presents a problem as his enormous appendage appears below the hem line of his strides. It's outrageous and screamingly funny because he's so open hearted! He refers to the enormous bulge in his pants, telling us not to worry, it's just his stash of cab charge vouchers.
Not only does Sir Les provide satirical comment on current affairs, he speaks frankly of his wife, Gwenny's, charms, variously referring to her nether regions as the "gates of paradise", the "tarantula" and thus himself as the "webmaster". And then he tells us about his latest venture - he's to be the latest celebrity chef. He's going to try out a recipe for us - rissoles. His helpers are The Condiments: four very buff dancers - two men and two women - and they wield their ingredients with aplomb while dancing around the stage showing off their incredible bodies.
As Sir Les plunges his hands into the raw mince to start mixing the rissoles by hand, the trouble with his guts takes hold again and these rissoles become even more revolting to think about than they had been when he was merely spitting all over the place.
I was left wondering why fart jokes and sounds are so funny!
Sandy Stone was the character which surprised me. I found the image of this old, softly spoken man standing on stage in his dressing gown unbearably poignant. I will even admit to tears as he remembered and sang, "My Blue Heaven". The imagery of the set, with an easy chair and lamp which descended from heaven, looking like it was made of clouds, was gorgeously fitting.
What a ride! To take the audience from guffaws to quiet comtemplation of our mortality illustrates the incredible craft, in writing, performance and direction, which was on display.
I needed the interval to recover before meeting Dame Edna.
She was fresh from a stay in a very posh ashram in India - the Dalai Lama may or may not have been one of her fellow travellers - and resplendent in a sky blue gown, sparkling with diamantes and reminiscent of a sari. We'd been shown a tabloid scandal reel to bring us up to date on the history of Dame Edna and then Dame Edna herself arrived on an elephant. She was up for a chat with the audience, engaging and terrifying the front rows - they could be singled out for her scathing assessments at any moment. Dame Edna does vitriol like no one else, leaving the audience relieved that someone else is in the firing line.
Showing skills as an improviser, there were some moments where the ordinary responses from the selected audience members were hilarious with no embellishment required. I'm thinking of Debra (Dame Edna's second favourite spelling, she prefers Deborah) who lives in a mud house in a suburb called "Research" with a cream coloured ceiling and coffee coloured bedspread. Or poor Isabel who was criticised for her "laser sharp intellect" after she could not explain what an epiphany was. Isabel was accompanied by an apparently elderly looking man. Dame Edna asked if this was her husband and there was uproar when Isabel revealed him as her grandfather! Denise described her home in Leongatha as being "Tuscan". Quick as a whip, Dame Edna imagined all the people in Florence who are living in houses which could be described as being built in the "Leongatha" style. Hilarious!
The people singled out for conversation were invited onto the stage, including Isabel's grandfather, who turned out to be blind. A substitute senior citizen was found and he stood up to reveal himself to be hobbling on a stick! It took considerable effort for him to climb the stairs, but he made it. Dame Edna affectionately did the Australian thing and immediately gave him a nickname - he was referred to as "Seeny" henceforth. (Short for Senior Citizen.)
There was a well-deserved standing ovation for Dame Edna after she had flung stems of gladioli to the audience and ordered us to sing "Wave that glad" with lyrics that went something like: "It's part of the show that's quite traditional, I was taught this song by an old Aboriginal, wave that glad!".
Another short film reel was shown and then Barry Humphries took the stage, with his trademark hat (a Fedora?) at a suave angle. The audience rose to its feet and I felt a wave of affection and respect for this incredible artist.
As I waited for my friend in the foyer, I observed the audience. They were considerably older than I am and their eyes were lit with the endorphins pouring through them as the result of almost three hours of laughter. I spied "Seeny". People were calling out to him and congratulating him on his "performance". He beamed, clearly enjoying his new found celebrity.
Don't miss the opportunity to see this show!
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