Art Express was also being exhibited.  The creative thinking and expression of 118 year old artists is phenomenal.  I will make a point of seeing this in the future!

Trailer for Painted Veil

Set along a tributary of the Yangtse – I knew I’d been there before.  The peaks along the gorges were magnificent.  It is a beautiful story, which observes the growth of young love, based on  a developing  understanding and appreciation of strong character and humanity.

1920s China was still a primitive frontier world – superstition, catholic missionaries, British colonialisation, disease, cholera, and the threat of political upheavals!

It was not considered a place for a woman – but from this experience the flippant society girl developed into a thoughtful and caring young woman.  From tragedy grew personal strength.

Highly recommended!

Magnificent!  Incredible!

16 years ago we went to Melbourne to see the Phantom.  We’d learnt the songs and were blown away by the depth of the performance.  We were a little disappointed that we weren’t going to see Anthony Wharhole perform and would see the understudy instead – Rob Guest – easy to see why he soon became a star in his own right.

But today we went to the matinee at Star CIty and Anthony Warhole was unexpectedly performing!  Karma!

The Phantom by Gaston LeRoux

The show was again, breathtaking.  There were differences in the actual performance – mainly due to the constraints of the theatre itself – but the modern effects and staging were thoroughly engaging.

This is our favourite show.  We have decided that we are going to see it whenever it comes to town!

What a fantastic night – friends, food, wine and amazing entertainment.  The cowboys are brilliant musicians – the guitar work of Rex Goh and Pete Northcott has to be seen to be believed!  They play together so well and I loved the way that all the members of the band played off each other and watched and encouraged each other during the many solos!  The performance was a wonderful experience and I am now a fan!

Bodacious Cowboys live at the Basement

Keating, the musical!

If ever a politician was a contrast of stereotypes – “He da man!”

From Bankstown fibro to Eastern suburbs grandeur. Double breasted Amani was his signature – but he still had a passion for equity and the underdogs. Keating paved the way for Reconciliation and helped to keep some of the bastards honest.

From beginning to end, Keating the musical is a hoot – his colleague Prime Ministers are fair game and provide a rich backdrop for this hysterical version of Australian political history.  I will always see Mr Downer in fishnet stockings and Dr John ….  not sure about him!?

Clever staging – the band’s role in the show was really interesting  the way they moved between players and conscience like a chorus in a Greek tragedy.

Enjoy!

The markets kept us occupied with interesting local produce and throughout the day there were exhibitions of knights fighting and archery.  None of this was staged – it was real and fast!

We went to the matinee of an incredibly polished futuristic version of Henry 1V.  What good is valour and pride in world decimated and destroyed!  THe production, by Newcastle theatrical group was wonderful, thought provoking and at times comical.

The feast was fun – come dressed up and get into the swing of it!  The decorations and conviviality are to be commended.  We stayed at a motel in easy walking distance and have decided that we will definitely be back

with lots of our friends – hopefully!

As it turned out others were a little more far sighted and understood the potential. In two short decades those clumsy Macs have changed the world. They are more than tools, but are an integral component of our modern lifestyle. Today those of us who have a foot in both the pre and post digital worlds are struggling to come to grips with the concept of technology as a social medium – we still see it as an isolator!

… and so I play with blogs, facebook. second life in an effort to better understand the learners of the 21st century. For me , it is not a social imperative but more of a contrived introduction to social networking. I still think I’d rather just go to the pub – I know I don’t quite get it.