City Hub 25 September 2014

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September 25, 2014

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YEAR OF THE ABBOTT Stand up comedian Jonas Holt stands in for Tony Abbott

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Inner city residents demand better access to public education community groups, the Department of Education and Communities (DEC) convened a large-scale consultation on the issue.

The consultation involved meetings with teachers, principals, parents and community members in order to ascertain what the community wants

Photo: CLOSE/Facebook

BY Lucia Osborne-Crowley Sydney’s inner city residents have announced unequivocally that the area needs a new public high school to accommodate the influx of school-aged children moving into inner city suburbs.

Following continuous calls for a new public inner city high school from local

Local public highschools are unable to cater to the growing number of inner city residents

from the public education sector in terms of the growing inner city population.

The series of consultation meetings held by the DEC concluded this month.

“The Inner City Schools Working Party is currently considering the community feedback as part of the consultation process,” a DEC spokesperson said.

Skye Molyneux, Co-Director of community group Community for Local Options for Secondary Education (CLOSE), said the results of the consultation are indicative of the desperate need for change to the provision of public education in the area.

“The results that have come out of the process are really interesting and they tell a story about what’s actually going on,” Ms Molyneux said.

Independent Member for Sydney Alex Greenwich agreed the consultations results were indisputable.

“The community response to the department’s consultation reinforces what we’ve been saying – a new inner city high school is urgent. The government must find a site and begin construction now,” he said.

Data collected from the consultations indicates that inner city families need more public schools in their local area to operate as alternatives to sending their children to local private schools.

“Find a site for new high school immediately,” was one comment from an unnamed community member.

“We want and need comprehensive school or schools in the city and inner east.”

Parents, teachers and principals cited issues such as transport and traffic congestion currently created by moving children outside of inner Sydney each morning in order for them to attend a public high school, as well as the broader issue of inner city children no longer being accepted into local public schools due to oversaturation.

The complaints centred around inner city suburbs and inner eastern areas such as Surry Hills and Paddington.

Suggested solutions included building a new public school at sites such as Barangaroo, Paddington Barracks or the land currently occupied by Sydney Girls and Sydney Boys High School.

Along with the demand for provision of more public high schools in the inner city, the consultations produced consistent recommendations to abandon the selective schools system in the interest of making all public education more comprehensive.

“Combine Sydney Boys/Girls into one co-ed selective school, with additional buildings and use remaining school for local enrolments,” suggested one community member.

“We believe there are too many specialist schools and not enough general public schools in the area,” said another.

One issue that created controversy both between consulted members of the community and between the community and the DEC is the proposal to repurpose the Cleveland Street Intensive English School.

Some community members see this as an opportunity to create a new public

high school in a central location, while others feel the intensive English school needs to remain operational.

According to Ms Molyneux, the DEC is reluctant to consider this possibility.

“One of the sites CLOSE as a group has always questioned and wanted the Department to re-purpose is the Cleveland Street site because it is really well situated,” Ms Molyneux said.

“For some reason, the DEC is adamant this site not be touched. Adrian Piccoli (NSW Minister for Education) has written to us directly saying he is not considering re-purposing the site.”

While Ms Molyneux was pleased the community was consulted on the issue, she said the consultations could have been better handled.

“The destination was positive but the journey to get there was very arduous,” she said.

“It was conducted in such a way that really displayed that the Department of Education doesn’t understand the communities they are dealing with.”

Ms Molyneux also said that the consultation has put considerable pressure on the DEC to act on these demands.

“The department will have no choice but to act,” she said.

Mr Greenwich has urged NSW Parliament and the Minister for Education to act on these findings immediately.

Based on the results of the consultation, the DEC is expected to make a formal recommendation to the Government in coming months.

Darling Street businesses on road to recovery Published weekly and freely available Sydney-wide.

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BY Lucia Osborne-Crowley The majority of businesses on Darling Street have re-opened following an explosion on Thursday, September 4 and are confident about their prospects for recovery.

Last week, businesses that had been closed for a full two weeks were able to re-open following Leichhardt Council’s opening of the street to traffic, and are pleased with the response from the community since they opened their doors.

Noelene Brittliff, owner of Next on Darling cafe, told City Hub the community support has been very helpful for the cafe’s economic recovery.

“There has been incredible support. We’ve had people come in from all different areas just to help us get back on our feet,” Ms Brittliff said.

“This morning we had people come in from Cronulla who used to live here and who came back to support the businesses. We’ve had customers from Haberfield and Birchgrove and all over Sydney.”

Millie, manager of Local Store on Darling Street also said her business has received a huge amount of support from the community.

“The community has been amazing in supporting us,” she said.

“It has been incredibly busy.

People have been walking up and down the street trying to visit all the stores to help out with recovery.”

Millie also said Leichhardt Council’s campaign to bring

shoppers back to Rozelle following the re-opening of Darling Street had played a significant role in the business’s success.

While Ms Brittliff agreed that Leichhardt Council had been very helpful in supporting local businesses, she had concerns about the fundraising concert held in King George Park on Sunday, September 21.

“The feedback of locals and businesses along this strip has been that we are all very very disappointed with the function being held down in the park. We can’t understand why it would not have been held on this part of the strip,” she said.

“The fundraiser had one sausage sizzle, whereas we are all here with food and coffee and desperate for business. I don’t think it was well thought out at all.”

Ms Brittliff said it is important that Leichhardt Council follow through on a separate plan to host a street fair along the Darling Street strip to encourage visitors to return to the area.

On Monday, September 22, NSW Labor leader John Robertson and Labor Candidate for Balmain Verity Firth visited businesses along Darling Street to consult with business owners and residents about their recovery.

“We need to encourage people not just from the local area but right across Sydney to come and show support for businesses in this area.

People need to come down, buy a coffee, buy some clothes, have a meal and show real support for these businesses,” Mr Robertson said.

“Part of the reason people live in the inner west is because they love the vibrancy of our local shopping strips and our local small businesses,” said Ms Firth.

“This is about supporting the

whole inner west and how it does business.”

This week NSW Police charged the convenience store owner believed to be responsible for the explosion with three counts of murder, two counts of attempted murder, three counts of manslaughter and seventeen charges relating to damage of property.

Memorial flowers on Darling Street to remember victims of the explosion

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Debate rages over implementation of medicinal marijuana in NSW

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discretion in not pursuing prosecution for people using cannabis to treat chronic illnesses.

Mr Kaye believes that the trial should not be restricted to people suffering only chronic illnesses, but should include other groups such as those with epilepsy.

“The problem with what the NSW government has done is that they have not done much at all. It doesn’t provide any legal protection for people with non-life threatening conditions and it certainly doesn’t provide a pathway forward, especially for people who are suffering from non-fatal illness.”

A spokesperson for the Premier said the medicinal marijuana trials are a significant step in providing the public with more knowledge of the benefits and risks of cannabis usage.

“A clinical trial is an important step so that we can better understand the role that cannabis can play in providing relief for patients suffering from a range of debilitating or terminal illnesses.”

The spokesperson did not give a time frame on the trials nor an estimate what the cost would be to the taxpayer.

“The Working Group that has been set up by the NSW Government to establish the clinical trial for medical cannabis is due to report back by the end of 2014.”

“The scope of the trial is to be defined by the NSW Government after consideration of the report from the Working Group.

This includes funding arrangements.”

A 2004 report produced under the then NSW Labor Government highlighted the fact that financial cost would be a significant challenge to any cannabis trial program.

It said: “Experience overseas has shown that high costs are involved in setting up a program, particularly if the government supplies the product. Expenditure can become disproportionate when only a small percentage of the population using cannabis for medicinal purposes registers with the government scheme.”

It was reported last year that Health Minister Jillian Skinner’s preference for a cannabis based drug for medicinal use was Nabiximols, a drug which is estimated to cost $800 a month and is not currently on

the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

However, in 2013 an application to add the drug to the PBS was rejected.

In response, My Kaye will put forward his own legislation, which will privilege questions of speed and cost.

“I will be introducing my own legislation to challenge the government to do much more than what they have so far. I want to challenge the NSW Government to do the right thing by those who are suffering right now, and not into the distant future.”

Mr Kaye believes his legislation will offer

a simple solution.

“Looking at getting a drug on PBS is a long process, in the meantime there are cheaper alternatives. We should be looking for the most cost effective way which might be the legalisation of crude cannabis which people are using already successfully to treat their conditions.”

“I suspect the most sensible thing to do is to recognise people are self-medicating already, and provide protection from prosecution, not leading it up to the discretion of police.”

Photo: Medical Marijuana 411

BY Christopher Harris Greens NSW MP John Kaye has announced he will be introducing his own legislation to parliament to challenge the government to take steps to broaden the availability of medicinal cannabis.

Mr Kaye has expressed his belief that medicinal cannabis should be available to those with debilitating conditions as well as chronic and terminal illnesses.

Mr Kaye has described the moves by the government last week as “small step” in the right direction towards legalising cannabis to help those suffering from cancer and HIV. NSW Premier Mike Baird this week announced plans to introduce a Working Group that would oversee a clinical trial for medicinal cannabis use.

“We want the terminally ill to have greater peace of mind. We do not want carers having to watch their loved ones suffer when their distress could be alleviated,” Mr Baird said.

HIV advocacy group ACON supports the government’s actions.

“ACON believes that the use of cannabis may help people with terminal and chronic illnesses to alleviate some of the pain and other symptoms they experience,” said Acting ACON CEO Karen Price.

“Research shows that cannabis can be effective in reducing pain and increasing appetite, and ACON supports the availability of cannabis for medical use.

The forthcoming trial represents a practical and compassionate approach, and we congratulate the government for responding in this way.”

The Premier also announced plans for new police guidelines, which would show

Medical cannabis to be trialled in NSW

Extensive WestConnex drilling creates further confusion

Photo: Marrickville Greens

BY Lucia Osborne-Crowley The announcement of drilling sites for the revised WestConnex route through Sydney’s inner west has been met with controversy and has sparked more lingering questions from the community.

The first stages of drilling commenced this week.

WestConnex authorities announced a total of eighteen drilling sites spanning Tempe, Sydenham and St Peters. The sites focus around the Princes Highway and include controversial locations such as St Peters Public School, Sydenham Green and Sydney Park, the majority of which fall within the Marrickville Local Government Area.

The WestConnex Delivery Authority (WDA) described the commencement of drilling as a “significant milestone”.

“Treasurer Joe Hockey, NSW Premier and Minister for Western Sydney Mike Baird and Roads Minister Duncan Gay today marked the start of geotechnical drilling along the corridor - a

Marrickville Greens oppose WestConnex drilling

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significant milestone towards delivering Stage 2 of WestConnex,” a WDA spokesperson said.

“Today’s geotechnical drill was the first of about 100 along the M5 East route as part of preconstruction work for the new tunnels.”

Marrickville Greens Councillor David Leary expressed serious concern following the announcement of the number of locations of the drilling sites.

The number of drilling sites was higher than expected, and Cr Leary feels their location is worrying in terms of the as yet unannounced revised WestConnex route.

“This is very disturbing news. I am especially concerned to see drilling will take place at St Peters Public School and Sydney Park. This is sheer madness. What on earth is this rotten state government thinking?” Cr Leary said.

“While this may be dismissed by the State government as simply exploratory drilling, we can now start to see what the possible route for Westconnex may look like. No wonder the State

government has wanted to keep this all secret.”

Marrickville Mayor Jo Haylen also expressed concern about what the drilling sites may indicate for the final WestConnex route.

“While the state government have indicated that the drill sites do not necessarily represent the route, they continue to refuse to publicly identify the route,” Mayor Haylen said.

“We need the details of this new route, exactly where the tunnel entry and exit points will be, and the locations of any exhaust stacks.”

In response, the WDA has insisted the drilling sites do not indicate where the final WestConnex route will be.

“The geotechnical investigations are not necessarily carried out along an exact alignment, as the information is used to produce a geological profile of the area. This aids in understanding ground conditions which may influence design criteria.”

The spokesperson also said the locations were specifically selected to minimise impact on residents during drilling.

Despite this, both Mayor Haylen and NSW Greens’ spokesperson for Transport and Roads Dr Mehreen Faruqi have expressed concern about the impact of the drilling on residents in the Marrickville local government area.

“I remain highly concerned about any adverse impacts of the proposal on local residents,” said Mayor Haylen.

“Now we know that residents living in the inner west will suffer the same fate as those around the M4, as the M5 tunnel will just funnel more traffic onto their residential and local streets,” said Dr Faruqi.

Uncertainty surrounding the WestConnex route may not be resolved until 2015. The WDA spokesperson confirmed that following the current drilling, a “preferred” design and contractor for the final WestConnex project will be selected in mid-2015.

news in brief

Carrington Road cycleway completed

Waverley Council considers amalgamation

This week the Carrington Road cycleway in Marrickville is expected to be completed. The cycleway, designed and implemented by Marrickville Council, provides a cycle link between the Cooks River and Marrickville Station.

The route will create a new link in Regional Cycle Route 05, which runs from the Cooks River to Camperdown. “The designated cycle path makes the otherwise potentially dangerous high traffic stretch along Carrington Road much safer! The new cycleway will give commuters more confidence to make the journey on two wheels,” Mayor Jo Haylen said. “The link will also mean friends and families will be more likely to ride together for fun and exercise. I want to encourage our residents to get out of their cars and test out the new cycleway with a picturesque ride along the Cooks River.”

Waverley Council has this week announced it will consider all options presented by the NSW Government’s ‘Fit for Future’ reforms, including amalgamating with other councils. Waverley Mayor Sally Betts noted that the NSW Government has offered a package of $153 million for councils who voluntarily merge, however the Mayor also said she required more information before proceeding. “We need more information because there appears to be criteria for scale and capacity, which we do not fully understand,” Mayor Betts said. Regardless, Mayor Betts said it was important for Waverley Council to be involved in the state government’s plans for local government reform. “It is in the Council’s and the community’s best interests to be part of this conversation about structural reform, otherwise we risk not having a say and letting change happen to and around us.”

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know how to defend themselves against the over-development of their neighbourhood.

“The problem is that the residents don’t know the system works until they have been involved in it. By this time it is all too late to effectively lobby the councillors.”

“I am sure that this is not a problem for the developer or their consultants. They have all done this

Photo: realestate.com

BY Emily Contador-Kelsall Randwick residents have expressed concern that their council is continually favouring developer interests over resident interests.

Randwick Council recently approved a proposal for a residential flat building with basement parking at 16 Coogee St despite fierce community opposition and a lack of mediation between the developer and residents.

Earlier this year, council told residents that the developer would have to enter into mediation with residents following the community outcry. The growing community concern related to the failure of the developer to meet several council guidelines that protect the area from over-development.

Despite refusing the request to enter into mediation, council approved the developer’s proposal with few amendments.

“There is no statutory requirement for mediation to occur in relation to a DA. As council cannot compel the parties to attend a mediation, it had no option but to consider and determine the application,” a council spokesperson said.

Randwick resident Andrew Whitten said the community doesn’t

before.”

Daniel Lissette, another resident whose property would be affected by the Coogee Street development said he is concerned about developer interest continuing to trump resident interest.

“As for mediation, the Applicant got nothing more than a slap on the back of the hand with councillors stating their disappointment but stressing the Applicant has no obligation to enter mediation with residents.”

“Developers continually push the boundaries of council and new precedents seem to be established every time.”

Key concerns of residents towards

A Randwick proprerty in the area of the proposed development

the proposal included parking, overshadowing, height limits and the lack of compatibility the proposed apartment building would have with adjoining properties.

These concerns aligned with the areas the developer failed to uphold in council guidelines.

Mr Lissette said he was disgusted that these “ridiculous applications continually swing in favour of the developers without consideration for residents”, and said the applicant seemed to have the upper hand.

“Residents should be able to rely on councillors to be the voice of reason!”

Whilst council was divided on the vote to approve the proposed development, many residents felt their council did not represent them appropriately.

“Cr Anthony Andrews and Cr Harry Stavrinos were very vocal at lobbying the other councillors to get the development approved even though it clearly fell short of a number of planning objectives,” said Mr Lissette.

“Cr Andrews and Cr Stavrinos concerns were only for the developer around extra fees/costs they would be charged if they had to alter the plans, which is clearly inappropriate.”

Mr Whitten said the developer had continued to show a complete disregard and lack of respect towards the community.

In an email to council Mr Whitten said: “I really don’t understand why you could be so supportive of the developer, to the detriment of the people that elect you.”

Cartoon: Peter Berner

Randwick residents disillusioned over development clash

Marrickville Council says no to Citizen’s Question Time Shooters and Fishers

BY Lucia Osborne-Crowley a Marrickville Council meeting on community issues of their own. Current practice also does Marrickville Council has voted business voting legislation September 16. not allow members of the public choosing. against a motion to introduce While Crs Phillips, Ellsmore, to ask questions unless they The motion would change the passes upper house a “Citizen’s Question Time” in Brooks and Leary voted in favour have already made a statement current practice of Marrickville council meetings.

The Question Time would involve a dedicated 30 minute slot at each Marrickville Council meeting during which members of the public are able ask questions of councillors and speak about

Council, which allows members of the community to speak to items already on the council agenda for that particular meeting but does not allow them to introduce agenda items of their

Councillor Max Phillips

submission.

The motion was moved by Greens Councillor Max Phillips, who has been a strong advocate for council transparency since he was charged last year for leaking confidential council information to the media. The charge was later overturned on appeal.

“The Greens are interested in making council more transparent, more accessible and more accountable,” Cr Phillips said.

“I saw this as a way to put community concerns on the council agenda and get a direct response from elected officials in the public arena.”

Cr Phillips said he was inspired by a similar procedure undertaken

by Leichhardt Council in the 1970s.

“Back in the 1970s, Leichhardt Council had more radical councillors who started a program called ‘Open Council’, which tried to engage citizens a lot more. People could even sit up at the councillors’ table during meetings.”

“I was inspired by what had been possible in our neighbouring council of Leichhardt and want to bring some elements of this to Marrickville Council.”

The motion was voted down at

of the motion, Crs Gardiner, Hanna, Macri, Woods, Iskandar and Haylen voted against it, and the motion was lost six votes to four.

Mayor Haylen, who voted against the motion, said a Citizen’s Question Time was unnecessary and would not be useful.

“Marrickville citizens have open access to all councillors,” she said.

“The problem with a Citizen Question Time is that it would add considerably to the duration of council meetings and would be open to political manipulation. I would fully expect that the time would be taken up with Dorothy Dixer type questions.”

“This would not be a good, or useful, political process.”

Cr Phillips disagreed, saying there were too many obstacles to citizens’ engagement with council and that it needed to be made more accessible to the public.

Following on from this motion, Cr Phillips indicated he intended to pursue the idea of live streaming of council meetings.

Live streaming has become a controversial issue in recent weeks in light of its rejection by the City of Sydney Council.

BY Lucia Osborne-Crowley Last week the NSW Legislative Council passed the controversial Shooters and Fishers bill to reform business voting in City of Sydney Council elections.

The City of Sydney Amendment (Elections) Bill automatically enrols businesses in the City to vote in local government elections, makes voting compulsory for businesses and allows two people per business to vote.

The bill was passed in last week’s sitting of the Legislative Council and will come into effect at the 2016 local government elections.

NSW Greens MLC David Shoebridge proposed an amendment to the bill which would block the legislation from being applied to all councils across NSW. The amendment was accepted and was included in the final version of the legislation.

“There was a small victory for democracy with the Parliament voting in favour of a Greens amendment to prevent this ugly corporate voting scheme from being rolled out across the state,”

If you see something, say something

By nick possum You’ve gotta feel a bit sorry for Syrian President Bashar Hafez alAssad. If you’re an Arab ruler it’s hard to ever do the right thing by the Yanks, unless, like the Saudi monarchs, you still have significant reserves of oil.

The story goes that the secular authoritarian ruler ran an awful regime.

His terrible security guys tortured opponents. This was certainly true, and they must have been good at it, because for years Syria was one of the places the CIA “rendered”, for torturing, the suspected al-Qaeda types they’d picked up here and there.

But however many favours you do for the Yanks, they can turn against you in the blink of an eye.

Initially, the opposition to Assad that emerged at the time of the much-hyped and ill-fated “Arab Spring” appeared to be a coalition of just-maybe-secular and definitelySunni groups and they were said to be fighting for democracy.

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In western Sydney, a kind of fundamentalist adventure tourism industry emerged. It helped young men (and a few young women) get to Syria to fight against Assad. It was a bit like the Hippy Trail of the 1960s and early 70s, but with Qurans and Kashnikovs instead of Kombi vans and cannabis.

For a couple of years ASIO and the federal and state police turned a blind eye to the Jihad Trail because the West was against Assad. These guys and girls were expendable idiots in the service of our foreign policy, which was about democracy in the Middle East, blah, blah. What was actually being fought out through the streets and across the fields was a proxy US-Saudi war against Syria’s ally, Iran. (Strange thing, that. For all its faults, Iran is about the closest thing to you get to democracy in the region, but because they’re against Zionism, we’re against them).

And then it emerged that the loopiest Sunni fundamentalists were the most effective fighters against Assad and they’d all but disposed of the milquetoast moderate anti-Assad coalition people and were sweeping to dominance not just in Syria but across a vast swath of Iraq.

Guess where all those fired-up second-generation Aussie jihadists were suddenly going? Not to a bunch of evil losers tainted by association with The Great Satan USA … oh, no, they were going to the successful

guys with the purest, maddest, vision, and suddenly, Houston, we had a problem, and the answer was Operation Hammerhead.

In the upshot the great police swoop was all a bit underwhelming, except to the few blameless folk traumatised by a show of force that was as unnecessary as it was gratuitous. The political spin was that Islamic State was a credible and immediate threat to “our way of life” in the same way that Nazism had been, but only barking mad people like Jacqui Lambie really believe that.

All that’s emerged so far is that a few young hotheads – monitored to within an inch of their lives by security – blathered to each other about beheading an infidel at random. In the larger scheme of things, innocent folks get killed at random all the time.

I mean, we’ve just been through a huge public debate about “coward’s punch” killings. Innocent kiddies get traumatised for life by paedophile priests and scoutmasters every other day. The Hunter Valley, the Great Barrier Reef and the world’s atmosphere are vandalised by coal mining and CSG extraction and thousands of innocent people die from air pollution, but the perpetrators aren’t subjected to dawn raids and Tony Abbott and Mike Baird don’t pontificate about them at press conferences with grim-faced lackeys nodding behind them. In fact the government exists to support them with every obscurantist, religious, anti-

scientific spin at its disposal.

And sure, Tony Abbott and his cabinet are gravely intoning that the raids weren’t aimed at the majority of law-abiding Muslims, blah, blah, but they know as they speak that the folks they’re dog-whistling to will whisper to each other that their Tony has to cover himself by saying stuff like that because otherwise the crafty intellectual elites will crucify him.

Anyway, they say if you see something, you should say something, so here’s something. Here we are off to a weird three-way war in Syria.

Mr Shoebridge said.

Mr Shoebridge is among several local politicians who have spoken out in opposition to the bill, including Independent Member for Sydney Alex Greenwich and Lord Mayor Clover Moore.

Mr Greenwich, who proposed his own alternative bill to challenge the Shooters and Fishers’ legislation, expressed disappointment the bill passed the upper house.

“Big business should not have more influence on decision makers than residents and I will work to have these laws repealed,” Mr Greenwich said.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the passing of the bill represents an attempt to change the leadership of Town Hall.

“They’ve tried this kind of thing before. By moving boundaries and changing voting rules, they have tried to get their mates into power,” she said.

The bill has been passed to the Legislative Assembly for concurrence.

We’re backing the “moderate” Syrian opposition forces against the secular Assad while raining down missiles on the IS. Meanwhile Assad, with the backing of the Russians, is fighting against both our “moderate” opposition and the IS forces. What happens now if the Russians decide they’ll match our effort and send in their airforce against both sets of Assad enemies? What’s going to happen when one of our pilots, flying in support of the “moderates” comes up against a Russian plane flying against them? Or when Assad’s guys use a Russian-supplied missile to bring down an Australian plane, let alone an American one?

What’s going to happen if one of our pilots, flying in support of the anti-Assad “moderates” comes up against a Russian plane flying against them?

Year of the Abbott – “It’s like shooting fish in a barrel” and paradoxes that characterise Australian political life. The revue is presented by two political pundits, played by Shane Addison and Timothy Hugh Govers, who recap the year that was, serving up an irreverent pastiche of fond reflections and barbed observations. To complete the picture, the show is peppered with unforgiving impersonations of Rudd (Lentern) and Tony Abbott (Jonas Holt).

Onstage, Mr Lentern impersonates the former Prime Minister with forensic attention to his passive aggressions and backhanded compliments. He says, “An integral part of playing Kevin is to explore how he ducks and weaves out of questions – he answers them, but at the same time he never really answers them at all.”

When Mr Holt takes the stage as Prime Minister Abbott, audiences can expect 12 months worth of one-liners crammed into his seven-minute monologue.

“I spew out one-liners like a shotgun.

As soon as I step onstage, I basically start lecturing everyone in the crowd – like they’re school children who need to be told what’s good for them,” he says.

Known for his parodies of troubled rugby league stars – from Anthony Mundine to Geoff Toovey to Sonny Bill Williams – Mr Holt makes a memorable splash in the realm of political satire with his impersonation of Tony Abbott.

Mr Holt says, “Abbott is fun to impersonate because there are so many facets to him – he likes fire trucks, cycling, he enjoys swimming, he used to be the mad monk on his way to becoming a catholic priest. A lot of politicians are boring, fat guys who get caught going to brothels and stuff like that – not him.

As dull as he might seem from a distance,

Tony is quite an interesting character.”

Mr Holt concedes that a transformation takes place when he steps into the Prime Minister’s persona. He says, “It all starts with a blue tie and a couple of clumps of blue tack behind my ears. But to really capture the mannerisms – or ‘idiotsyncracies’ – of Tony Abbott, I study not only how he speaks but also what makes him tick.

“I have spoken to his supporters – they’re hard to find in the Inner West, but where I live, in Manly, they’re everywhere – to get inside the head of his loyal followers.”

While the name of the show suggests that the Prime Minister might be the butt of all the jokes, Mr Lentern insists that Year of the Abbott is a nonpartisan comedy where none are spared from ridicule. He says, “It’s not an assault on the Liberal Party, it’s just an annual review of politics – a very funny one.”

Mr Holt agrees, “Abbott definitely cops a roasting in the show, but the roast is balanced – we take the piss out of the yellow, green and the red of politics.

There are plenty of gags about K-Rudd, Clive Palmer, and of course Jacqui Lambie. So much ridiculous stuff has happened in politics in the last year – it’s like shooting fish in a barrel.”

The first year of Abbott’s prime ministership has generated plenty of material for comics. Mr Holt nominates the notorious Abbott wink as a favourite, “As far as gaffes and blunders go, the wink would have to be the defining moment for Abbott. All the elements were there to make it comedy gold – he had already been called out for sexism, he didn’t know he was being filmed, he was

trying to be a bloke’s bloke.”

Now in its fifth year, the Sydney Fringe Festival is a thriving celebration of local artists, encouraging new audiences to experience the independent arts of Sydney.

Spread out across five cultural precincts,

the festival provides an essential platform for the creative fringe of the city.

(CC & SOC) Sep 27, Chippendale Hotel, 87-91 Abercrombie St, Chippendale, $15, (02) 9310 5133, sydneyfringe.com Photo: Chris Peken

By CARMEN CITA & SHAUNA O’CARROLL It’s been a turbulent year in Australian politics, rife with sordid scandals, clumsy gaffes, furtive smears, and one-dimensional slogans – the kind of year that makes light work for political satirists.

As the daily political folly continues down in Canberra, a cast of comedic counterweights take over Chippendale Hotel to present Year of the Abbott for Sydney Fringe Festival.

Looking at the year in review, the production promises to take audiences on a seriously hilarious one-hour romp through the abundance of blundering interviews, slippery resignations, contentious reforms, flagging popularity, and deeply flawed media predictions that have punctuated the political narrative since the 2013 Federal Election.

Writer Nathan Lentern, who also plays former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, says the show is a light-hearted analysis combining conversation, interviews and recordings that celebrate the absurdities of Australian politics. He explains, “A lot of political comedies try to make a point and further political argument – we steer clear of that. [Year of the Abbott] is playful, as opposed to critical. It’s a celebration of the amusing things that celebrity politicians can do.”

Straddling play and variety show formats, the production pieces together some of the missteps and broken promises that our leaders might prefer we forget.

From ‘suppositories of wisdom’ to inappropriate winks to ‘Team Australia’, no faux pas has been spared.

With incisive wit, Year of the Abbott shines the spotlight on the eccentricities

Jonas Holt in Year of the Abbott

EAT & DRINK

Golden Age Cinema & Bar Managing Director Bob Barton dots our conversation with film references, but baulks at being called a film buff. He even hires an expert to pick the flicks for his glorious boutique cinema, doubting his own taste is $ - mains less than $15

$$ - mains between $15-$22

DARLO, KINGS X & SURRY HILLS Devon By Night Chef Zachary Tan has kept dinner at this popular cafe distinctly casual.

He’s dishing up Malaysian-influenced hawker snacks, dressed up with the same premium ingredients that make Chef Jacqui Ektoros’ morning menus so special. So expect to find heady Manjimup truffle slices adorning Chinese Egg Custard ($29), and fleshy lobster tails slathered with Kewpie mayonnaise inside buttery brioche in an individual Lobster Roll ($15.50). Drink from a concise but cleverly chosen list of alcoholic beverages like the 2012 Mitchelton Marsanne ($17/glass) or Echigo Koshihikari Rice Lager ($12). End 12

By Jackie McMillan all encompassing:“You can’t play Weird Science every night!” I’m very taken with his gorgeous bar, complete with electronically controlled curtains that silently glide to reveal a mirrored stage and two microphones. It’s like a golden version of The Black Lodge from Twin Peaks; or a posh Govinda’s – just “without the smell of cumin or backpacker mattresses,” Bob quips.The Maple Pecan Old Fashioned ($18) made on smooth Bulleit Bourbon suits the space, but if you’re sleepy-tired and planning a movie, Paramount House ($19) is an espresso martini made on beans from Paramount Coffee Project upstairs.

You can also dip into (another) interesting Ned Brooks wine list, against snacks like Tiger Sharks ($10) - canned anchovies – or Szechuan Popcorn ($5).The 2012 Ngeringa Growers Series Rousanne ($65/bottle) would be an affable companion to any of their movie-inspired toasties, from The Spielberger ($9.50) – basically your Reuben – to The Big Cheese ($8), loaded up with three cheeses and chives.As they’re small, you’ll definitely need a Gelato Messina Sundae ($8) too.Whether you see a movie, is totally up to you…

Lower Ground, 80 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills (02) 9211 1556 ourgoldenage.com.au Bar, Cocktails, Bar Food $ $$$ - mains between $22-$30

with the poor man’s ‘snow egg’ of Coconut Jelly, Guava Sorbet and Freeze Dried Pineapple ($11).

76 Devonshire Street, Surry Hills (02) 9211 8777 devoncafe.com.au Pan-Asian, Café $$$ Bar H Dining Pickles, Chicken Skin, Wasabi ($12) are a delightful way to cleanse the palate and commence your Bar H Dining adventure into ‘Chuka’ cuisine, celebrating Japanese style ‘Chinese’ dishes. Chewy white mochi (rice cakes) give a nicely textural twist to Eggplant, Turnip, Dashi ($14), while fermented garlic and bacon give Pambula Oysters ($10) an updated ‘Asian Kilpatrick’ edge.

The slightly cloudy Uehara Shuzo ‘Soma no Tengu’ ($15/glass) will suit your bivalves, though if you’re a sake

$$$$ - mains over $30

beginner, they don’t come much prettier than Houraisen Bi Junmai Daiginjo ($14/glass). Inside this dark and moody drinking den, beautifully balanced bar snacks like Cucumber, Black Fungi and Pigs Ear ($13) shine, even if the light level mutes their visual impact.

80 Campbell Street, Surry Hills (02) 9280 1980 barhsurryhills.com Chinese, Japanese $$$ ROCKS & CBD Yayoi While the signature steamed rice Kama Daki Gohan ($8) - takes 25 minutes, the tableside-theatre and resulting pot of fluffy, freshly steamed rice, is worthwhile.This is the first Australian venture of a Japanese

El-Phoenician This gleaming glass box in Walsh Bay has largely escaped my notice because it’s tucked just around the corner from busy Hickson Road on Towns Place.The immediate advantage of this is a good supply of parking right out chain called Yayoiken.Their speciality is balanced home-style Japanese “teishoku” (meal sets).While you don’t need an entrée, a pretty plate of Gyu Tataki ($16) – seared waygu with asparagus and ponzu jelly – will keep you entertained. So will discussing the merits of the Premium Sake Selection ($10).Then tuck into a comforting wagyu beef hotpot - Wagyu Sukiyaki ($33) - or use the balanced sides as an excuse to dabble in deep-fried Pork Fillet Katsu ($27).

Shop 2, 38-42 Bridge Street, Sydney (02) 9247 8166 yayoi.com.au Japanese $$$ Mordeo Bistro & Bar Nestled beneath five giant table lamps in the ultra-modern Deutsche Bank Place foyer, I find myself smiling. Perhaps it’s bartender Sarah Jane Clare’s Jamon & Char-grilled Pineapple Sazerac ($18) warming my

front. Upon entering, it’s apparent that this is a cut above the usual Cleveland Street eateries, shrouded in dusty carpet and humming with traditional tunes.And white tablecloths, comfortable leather chairs and a minimal ambient soundtrack are just the beginning.You’ll also find cocktails and a credible wine list.While the 2010 Denis Pommier Chablis ($85/bottle) is priced on the upper edge, its fruit-driven, dry style is perfect for the cuisine. Now I categorise all Lebanese restaurants into Homous ($11) or Baba Ganouje ($11), dependent upon which dip they do better.While the chickpeas here definitely outdo the smoky eggplant, it’s actually the yoghurt or Labne ($9) that got me enthused. Ordering the Combination Banquet ($62/head) gives you the chance to make up your own mind, delivering all three plus a hefty array of salad, seafood, poultry and meat, cleverly spread across three waves. The star of the show is the chicken Shish Tawouk ($30), which goes down well with 961 Pale Ale ($10).This craft beer is infused with sumac, anise and mint, giving it a distinctive Lebanese edge.

7 Towns Place,Walsh Bay (02) 9633 161 el-phoenician.com.au Lebanese $$$

heart with smooth butter-washed cognac, or maybe I just like this spot? Treat it like a bar with a Red Wolf ($15) cocktail combining beer and aperitif, and Caramelised Lamb Ribs ($12).Treat it like a restaurant, with Octopus Carpaccio ($22) and a cracking white Grenache: 2012 La Miranda de Secastilla Garnacha Blanca ($59/bottle). Silky Sautéed Squid Ink Gnocchi ($23) and the 2012 Terra Sancta Estate Pinot Noir ($80/bottle) should see you through until the gurgling fountains become silent pools of reflection.

Shop 1, 126 Philip Street, Sydney (02) 9232 1306 mordeo.com.au Mediterranean, Cocktails $$$ PappaRich This fast-growing Malaysian eatery chain creates queues by drawing the masses out of Broadway Shopping Centre for a quick, inexpensive feed.

After populating your own order pad, tuck into stainless steel thali plates bearing everything from Mixed Satay ($13.90/6 sticks) to ultra-fragrant Biryani Rice (3 Dishes) ($15.90), made every 3-4 hours in this high-turnover space. Flaky golden Roti Canai with Beef Rendang ($13.90) might not unseat Sydney roti king Mamak, but it comes within cooee. It’s accompanied by a wicked, hot and garlicky sambal, dhal, and credible beef rendang. Wok-fried flat noodles, Char Koay Teow ($13.50), are popular for good reason. Green teabased Matcha Rocks ($7.50) doubles as drink and dessert.

Shop 5, 185 Broadway, Ultimo (02) 9281 3228 papparich.net.au Malaysian $

EAT & DRINK

All Good Things Eatery If Devon and Cornersmith had a love child, this is what it would look like. Between their chosen font, the distressed furniture – down to a wooden ladder leaning against the wall housing pepper shakers - and old-fashioned light switches linked to caged Edison INNER WEST Restaurant at 3 Weeds Decorated with bright Aboriginal art from Utopia, this comfortable restaurant is now in the hands of Chef Nathan Jackson. He first cooked here under Leigh McDivitt, and is now producing a short menu accentuated by a great wine list.The 2011 Domaine Bruno Sorg Sylvaner ($74/bottle) performs well against an interesting House Smoked Mackerel ($18) scattered amongst horseradish, pickled radish and gaufrettes. Fontina and Truffle Tortellini ($18) – a shade thick – are sound on flavour with shaved Serrano ham and mushroom consommé. Mains are bested by the somewhat pricy 7+ Wagyu Flatiron ($40) with bone marrow butter, pine mushrooms and ox tail jus. Ultrathin ginger nut biscuits make the Salt

By Jackie McMillan bulbs, nearly all the hipster clichés are covered.The long communal centre-table lies under a hanging cage of pickles, (frustratingly) not for sale. For cold drinks, they’ve forgone jam jars in favour of old-fashioned glass milk bottles.They’re practical, if on the large size, so go big for freshly squeezed Orange Juice ($7.50) and stick to “kids” for your Salted Caramel Milkshake ($4). It’s made on indulgently creamy jersey milk, which shines in a well-made Latte ($4) too.Arriving via a tip-off that claimed:“Even the Granola ($12) was special”, I expected the food to be good. However even I was surprised by beautifully plated Salmon and Eggs ($19) with crisp-skinned Huon salmon, crunchy enoki, smoked trout roe, poached eggs and intriguing white kimchi compressed citrus.You’ll get eggs, toast, confit potatoes and fennel cream with the Pork and Fennel ($16) sausages, made in-house like their totally amazing Bacon ($5).And if huge flavours for breakfast aren’t your thing, the lunch menu reads even better. Have a Doughnut ($5) while you wait…

Shop 9-11 Mashman Avenue, Kingsgrove (02) 7903 0198 facebook.com/allgoodthingseatery Café $$

Caramel Parfait Sandwich ($14) a ripper!

197 Evans Street, Rozelle (02) 9818 2788 3weeds.com.au Modern Australian,Wine $$$$ EASTERN SUBURBS & BEACHES North Bondi Fish Last year North Bondi Italian closed its doors and no one could imagine this neck of Bondi Beach ever being the same.That was until North Bondi Fish moved in. Stick to the theme and order the Fish and Chips ($29), or branch out with the Mussels ($25) that include a refreshing Stone & Wood beer. Grilled Prawns ($35) are whoppers but need their own side to balance the salty sea creatures.

Crab Linguine ($30) gets it spot on,

Camelot Lounge I’d follow singer Christa Hughes - daughter of the legendary Dick Hughes, the first solo jazz pianist to perform at Sydney Opera House – just about anywhere.Which is pretty much how I ended up climbing two long flights of narrow stairs into a crazy collector’s jazz bar in downtown Marrickville.You might know Christa better from her time at the top of the

charts as K.K. Juggy with rock band Machine Gun Fellatio. I digress… So what will you find at Camelot Lounge? Well a lot of camels – totally not the reference I was thinking of when I read the name.The walls are well worth trawling for kitsch dromedary depictions. Now while the food isn’t anything to write home about, I’m telling you about this spot because live music venues are getting a bit thin on the ground, and this one’s quirky enough to visit regardless.What you can expect to be eating with your sharp, salt-rimmed Margarita ($15) or Napoleone Pear Cider ($7) are home-style pizzas with thin, crunchy bases. Stay simple with a Garlic Pizza ($8), or dress things up with salami and Kalamata olives on the Salama ($12.50), or pastrami and pineapple on a Blue Hawaii ($12.50). Or just accompany a bottle of wine from their under-forty-dollar list with a Trio of Dips ($8).

19 Marrickville Road, Marrickville (02) 9550 3777 camelotlounge.wordpress.com Bar, Pizza $

wrapped beef bulgogi - Ssam ($7/each) - were a meal highlight; as was the unusual Moon Park smoky Eggplant with Egg Two Claude’s chefs, Ben Sears Custard ($16). Blow-torched and his Korean wife Eun Hee marshmallow on the Moon Pie An, are “learning what it is to ($14) will ensure you emerge manage a restaurant in Sydney,” onto Redfern’s streets smiling. explains former Claude’s Level 1, 34 Redfern Street, manager Abby Meinke. She Redfern (02) 9690 0111 runs a seamless floor with moon-park.com.au full command of the exciting Modern Korean,Wine $$$ wine list. The 2013 Ochota Swanson Hotel Barrels ‘The Flint Vineyard’ Another notch in the belt Chardonnay ($85) suits bar for Sydney’s expanding pub snacks like Moonlight Flat gentrification with the former Claire de Lune Oysters ($4.50/ Kurrajong Hotel being refitted each) with chilli threads and and re-imagined British West plum vinegar, and Sea Urchin Indies-style by the Balmain Roe ($6/each) on seed biscuits Pub Group. Start in the first with black garlic. Cabbagefloor cocktail bar where a NEWTOWN & ENVIRONS

the lime and chilli offsetting the sweet crab flavour. End with cocktails – the Beachside Fizz ($16) fancy vodka soda with almond syrup – and a Cheese Platter ($25) to watch the sun go down.

120 Ramsgate Avenue, Bondi Beach (02) 9130 2155 northbondifish.com.au Seafood $$ Vincent Poulet Roti ($35) combines everyone’s favourite - roast chook - with rich bread sauce, chestnuts and sprout leaves. It’s a cool weather smile-maker I enjoy whilst facing a cabinet of cheese in the dining room of this popular restaurant, located in the classic Hughenden boutique hotel. Co-owner Traci Trinder oozes warmth and friendliness, shepherding us into a great 2012 Moreau Naudet Petit Chablis ($79) from the extensive wine list. It compliments delicate Cured Kingfish

caramel smear makes the Espresso Martini ($18) rather special. Move on to the 2012 Howard Park Flint Rock Chardonnay ($15/glass) in the dining room, against pungent piccalilli accompanying a rustic Pork Terrine ($16) or the well-balanced Beef Tartare ($16). The hero of the menu is the Char-grilled Spatchcock ($26), served on a fighting combination of Brussels sprouts, bacon, lentils and chilli.

And pub desserts rarely scrub up as pretty as The Swanson’s Crème Catalan ($13).

106-108 Swanson Street, Erskineville (02) 9519 3609 swansonhotel.com.au Pub Bistro $$$

The Union Hotel While the padded white booths in the upstairs showpiece Uncorked are now only reserved for functions, there’s still reason to visit The Union Hotel to eat. Le Bistro reads like a hybrid of a traditional pub menu with elements of the Gallagher Hotels’ runaway success - Le Pub.The menu recognises that steaks and ($20) with avocado and finger lime on calamari crackers, while still standing up to more decadent choices. End with Chabichou - soft and creamy goats cheese - against green Brasserie Du Mont Blanc La Verte ($14.50) beer, or tackle tart Baked Passionfruit Custard ($14).

14 Queen Street,Woollahra (02) 8039 1500 vincentfrench.com.au French $$$$ GREATER SYDNEY Spakka-Napoli Positioned at the end of a weirdly shaped arcade and saddled with a quirky spelling of Spaccanapoli (the road that bisects Naples), this restaurant makes you work for your reward: lightly charred, puffy-crusted

schnitzels are pub staples, while still adding a bit of flair for those who want something more interesting.

There’s also a definite focus on group dining, including a strong hors d’oeuvres selection.The “dogs” I loved at Le Pub Balmain have migrated over, sadly without the same crusty buns.The Pulled Pork Dog ($6) edges out the Marinated Chicken Dog ($6) on flavour, but still doesn’t come close to the lamb. Duck and ‘Slaw Open Steamed Buns ($14/2) have the kind of alcohol absorbing qualities I like when I’m settling in to drink; while the flavoursome Pea and Parmesan Croquettes ($15.50) with truffled pecorino, pea puree and mint, aren’t just put on there for vegetarians.Accompany either with the Jean Luc Mader Pinot Blanc ($56/bottle) before advancing to the Fickle Mistress Central Otago Pinot Noir ($15/glass) with your Slow Cooked Lamb Shoulder ($25). Labne breaks up the intensely flavoured chickpea and pimento ragu.You need a bowl of the Union Waffle Chips ($10) too.

271 Pacific Highway, North Sydney (02) 9955 5844 unionhotel.com.au Pub Bistro $$-$$$

Neapolitan pizzas.The Monday/Tuesday special – three “tapas” dishes and a cocktail for thirty bucks – makes me rethink my ambivalence toward limoncello with The Amalfi ($14.50).

Robust namesake Spakka Napoli ($13.50) sangria is guaranteed to complement their terracotta pots of Meatballs ($9.50), Eggplant Parmigiana ($10.90) and my favourite – Pollo Alla Cacciatore ($9.90).The Eggplant Sausage Pizza ($22.90) special is further improved by chilli sauce, which should come with a warning label, or at least imported red-label Peroni ($7) to ease the pain.

Shop 13, 166-174 Military Road, Neutral Bay (02) 9908 7045 spakkanapoli.com.au Pizza, Italian $$ Royal Cricketers Arms Thirty minutes and thirty years from

FOOD NEWS

Sydney is a pub where strangers chat, and Bar Manager John Mundy uses common sense and conversation to enforce the rule of law. Over an Old Speckled Hen ($11.50/pint) you might enquire after his jar of Pickled Eggs ($1.10/each). Eat “the manager’s hangover cure” doused in Worcestershire and Tabasco right at the bar.Tuck into traditional Toad in the Hole ($21) - three good-quality English pork sausages baked in a Yorkshire pudding with mash and onion gravy; or flex your cooking prowess on the high-tech grill.There’s Grass-fed Sirloin ($27/250g), grain-fed beef and Snags ($20/3) – best have a James Squire The Chancer ($9/pint) while you decide.

Cricketers Arms Road, Prospect (02) 9622 6498 mycricketers.com.au Pub Bistro, British $$-$$$

By Alex Harmon Turning the underwater dance floor into more of a relaxed lounge style bar for the earlier hours of the night, The Cliff Dive are now offering a tuck shop style menu with the launch of Yurippi.

Here it’s all about the sticks. And boy will you be surprised at how much flavour you can pack onto a skewer.

At three bucks each, you can afford to try them all, with choices such as beef with ginger and caramelised sweet soy, pork with turmeric, lemongrass and sweet tamarind sauce, or tofu with chilli, tamarind and som tom sauce. Of course you can still get your Tiki cocktails served in deliciously kitsch paraphernalia, like totem mugs and coconuts, made by the guys who brought you Tio’s. This is a far cry from its days as a seedy backpacker bar called The Gaff. www.thecliffdive.com.au

BAR FLY

By Jackie McMillan

THE WHISKY ROOM Sydney was clearly champing at the bit for another place to celebrate whisky, but as bar industry heavyweight Jeremy Shipley explained, it takes time to amass over a hundred whiskies! Once you’ve swung open the saloon doors on the first floor of The Clock Hotel, you’ll be met with quite the selection.You can drink ‘em neat; you can drink ‘em on the rocks; you can drink ‘em in a cocktail; you can drink ‘em with freshly squeezed juice, or take on three in a whisky flight. The flights are themed – mine was called Islands ($25) – matching three whiskies that all call islands home, with three tiny snacks. Japan’s Hakushu with green tea sorbet was my favourite combination. Monkey Shoulder (with an Ardbeg float) pops up in a cocktail called Penicillin ($17). With honey-ginger syrup, it’s guaranteed to cure any lingering tickles winter has left at the back of your throat.

Upstairs, The Clock Hotel, 470 Crown Street, Surry Hills (02) 9331 5333 clockhotel.com.au

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Stephen Sondheim might not be a famous face, but chances are you’ve heard at least one of his songs.

Squabbalogic’s latest production, Sondheim on Sondheim, takes a look at the man who revolutionised musical theatre with productions such as Sweeney Todd and West Side Story.

Created to celebrate Sondheim’s 80th birthday, this event interweaves video footage of the world-famous lyricist with live performances of his songs, telling the story of his childhood, relationships, his career spanning 50 years, and his songwriting relationship with composer Hal Prince.

Cast member Monique Salle says that audiences should “expect the unexpected,” as there are

some surprises in store for even the most die-hard of Sondheim fans.

“I’m definitely a much more educated fan than I was before,” she says. “That’s kind of the great thing about this show – you see a number, or there’ll be a few numbers from a show and you’ll just want to see that show!

It just highlights what a brilliant man he is – he’s both incredibly complex and yet so simple. He’s very witty, very passionate.”

Salle says there’ll be “something for everyone” regardless of whether or not you’re familiar with Sondheim’s work.

“I think anyone who appreciates art or creation or someone who just loves what they do and does it well... they’ll definitely appreciate it.” (AS) Oct 1-18, Reginald Theatre, Seymour Centre, City Rd & Cleveland St, Chippendale $42-49, squabbalogic.com.au

photo: Blueprint Studios

Review

LOVEBiTES

When it comes to love, there are two sides to every story.

Hayes Theatre Company’s latest production, LOVEBiTES, is a funny, touching look at different types of love.

The first act kicks off with a cheery, bouncy, opening number before introducing seven couples (played by Kirby Burgess, Tyran Parke, Adele Parkinson and Shaun Rennie) in various meet-cutes.

The second act is much more sombre, as the audience finds out from the other halves of the couples how things turned out.

You think you know what to

Wicked Steve Danielsen joins seasoned Wicked stars Jemma Rix (Elphaba) and Lucy Durack (Glinda) as the award-winning musical returns to Sydney this month.

Danielsen is a relative newcomer to the musical theatre stage, with an extensive acting career spanning film and television series such as Offspring and Neighbours, he spent a solid year in Legally Blonde the Musical before landing the dream role of Fiyero in Wicked.

Asked what it’s like joining a team who have been performing Wicked for years and years, Danielsen says Rix and Durack have been very welcoming and working together has been “amazing”.

“I love it, and I don’t really just have to say that either, this show really means a lot to me,” he says.

Despite debuting over a decade ago, Wicked:The Untold Story of the Witches of Oz, is still one of the most popular musicals in the world and Danielsen shares that it’s surprisingly easy to keep it fresh every night.

“As Long As You’re Mine [a romantic duet in the second act] is still vocally challenging to me, so every night I try a new technique and I try and make that note sound better,” he says. “It’s a challenging show, it’s not like it’s an easy show for me or for anyone for that matter, so we try to better ourselves every night.”

With the whole cast working hard to deliver the best performances they can each night, Danielsen says that the “incredible sets and costumes” will make it “really hard not to like this show”. (LL) Until Dec 31, Capitol Theatre, 13 Campbell St, Haymarket, $69-114, wickedthemusical.com.au photo: Jeff Busby

Sondheim on Sondheim

expect, but there are clever twists.

Parke and Rennie have a huge amount of onstage chemistry as a gay couple who meet at a book club but can’t get married in Australia (sadly, still as relevant today as it was in the ‘90s when the show made its debut), and the biggest laughs come from Annie (Parkinson) and Kevin (Rennie) – a couple based on a cringeworthy urban legend. (AS) Until Oct 5, Hayes Theatre Co, 19 Greenknowe Ave, Potts Point, $42.90-49.90, (02) 8065 7337, hayestheatre.com.au

Surry Hills Festival

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a&e

You may have been to the Surry Hills Festival in the past, but creative producer Victoria Johnstone guarantees you haven’t seen a Surry Hills Festival quite like this before. “We’ve had an entirely different approach this year,” she says, “back to the heart of Surry Hills.”

That heart is exemplified in this year’s theme: Stories, Love and Tales, which encompasses both the evolution of Surry Hills from a hotbed of crime and vice, to a thriving centre of industry and a creative haven, and the individual and collective histories of those who call it home.

This year’s festival is a celebration of the creative and community aspects of Surry Hills. “We have an inaugural Creative Trail,” Johnstone explains, “together with Urban Walkabout [in which] creative spaces around Surry Hills will be participating. Their doors will be open... you can take fashion and photography workshops and there’ll be architects talking about their work. There’s an Art Tea at Object Gallery, free salsa classes, gallery exhibitions, [showings of] old history footage,” and much, more including live music and entertainment.

15 STAGE 16 SCENE 17 SCREEN 18 Sounds

Arts Editor: Leigh Livingstone Music Editor: Jamie Apps For more A&E stories go to www.altmedia.net.au and don’t forget to join the conversation on Twitter at @AltMediaSydney

In collaboration with a variety of groups, including Art and About, this year’s festival, rather than being your standard set-up of stalls and vendors, is “like a lily pad” – a clever homage to the notorious Frog Hollow area, which was home to n’er do-wells and amphibians in almost equal numbers.

In that spirit, this year’s Surry Hills Festival promises to be a celebration of everything the area is and was, including its less mainstream past.

“Creatives have always come from that,” Johnstone notes. “It has a self-generating energy. There are a lot of wonderful independent, self-sustaining creative businesses around here that support each other, and we’re trying to showcase that,” she says. “If they don’t survive, then we lose a very important history of the inner city and as things become gentrified, we have to make sure we maintain the diversity.” (SW) Sep 27, various venues, Surry Hills, free (entry by donation), surryhillsfestival.com

Contributors: Alexis Talbot-Smith, Anita Senaratna, Carmen Cita, Ciaran Tobin, Craig Coventry, Elise Cullen, Georgia Fullerton, Greg Webster, Hannah Chapman, Jamie Apps, Leann Richards, Linda Carroll, Marilyn Hetreles, Mark Morellini, Mel Somerville, Melody Teh, Michael Muir, Michelle Porter, Peter Hackney, Rocio Belinda Mendez, Ruth Fogarty, Shauna O’Carroll, Siri Williams

JENNIFER FORVER Two Peas Theatre Company presents a deeply dark look into the lives of two people whose needs are not satisfied by what civilisation can afford them. Jennifer Forever holds a mirror up to society and demands some answers.

“It’s a story about a girl who is particularly extraordinary and a man who is seemingly really normal. It follows the story of their relationship of when they first meet and the demise of that relationship,” says lead actress Gemma Scoble.

Director and writer Tara Clark wanted to create something that she would perform, as she was tired of the lacklustre roles female actors usually portray. However, she opted out of starring and is taking the helm as director instead.

“She [Clark] was looking for someone who’s bold and who has the courage of their convictions and a woman who has the desire to play roles outside the typical girl roles in theatre,” says Scoble, “Someone who wasn’t afraid to play and bring dimension to a character.”

Jennifer Forever is not scared to delve into some hard-hitting issues, such as sexual abuse and paedophilia. Clark believes that despite the sombre subject matter, it will be an enjoyable experience for both the audience and actors and sometimes “the best art is the ugliest to look at”. (CT) Sep 17-28, Old 505 Theatre, 342 Elizabeth St, Surry Hills, $20, thetwopeas.com

After a brief hiatus, the Sydney Children’s Festival returns this year to a brand new venue – the Seymour Centre. According to festival director, Tim Jones, the new location allows for interaction between the children, artists and exhibits that has not been possible before. “It works terrifically well as a contained but vibrant arts environment,” he enthuses, noting that the venue, “gives the kids a real buzzing environment [with] workshops in art rooms, theatre happening in theatre spaces and wandering magicians. [It’s] up close and personal.”

In fact, the strong focal point of this

year’s festival is what Jones calls, “unusual engagement in high-quality arts experiences.” Children can work with artists on sculptures, be part of the creation of a mural which will decorate the courtyard, and even be part of the show in the case of Twinkle – a theatrical show, “in which young people can sign up.

They’ll have four to six hours rehearsal, and then they join the professional actors and become part of it.”

There’s even a circus tent set up, where kids can live out their dreams of running away to join the circus.

With all of this action jam-packed into one place, expect some very tired kiddies on the car ride home.

(SW) Sep 23-28, Seymour Centre, City Rd & Cleveland St, Chippendale, no entry fee, event prices vary, sydneychildrensfestival.com

Peter and the Wolf

Prokofiev’s perennial favourite, Peter and the Wolf, comes to Balmain Town Hall for one day only. Much loved by children and with more than a nod and a wink towards the adults, it features The Metropolitan Orchestra. After cutting her teeth on the Opera House’s Baby Proms, artistic director and conductor Sarah-Grace Williams has the tiny humans firmly in mind.

Europe

When Aussie bloke, Douglas, and European actress, Barbara, have a fleeting fling in Australia they leave it like many holiday romances – they’ll try and “see each other again.” But when hopeful Douglas flies to Europe to see if he can rekindle the affair, Barbara is wary. Over the next 24 hours, they wander through a quintessential European city talking, arguing, flirting and ultimately discovering more about each other.

While the play is ostensibly a romance between Barbara and Douglas, the deeper love affair under the surface is the one of Australia for Europe.

“Australia looks to Europe as the kind of mature, cultured civilisation that has much to inform us of,” says director James Beach. “It’s that whole thing about the cultural cringe. We might be starting to shake it off but those issues are still things we talk about all the time.”

Although Michael Gow’s comedy Europe was written in 1987, Australia’s continuing fascination with the continent still makes it relevant today.

“More Australians will have a direct personal experience of THEATRE &

PERFORMANCE THE WITCHES This one-man show, an adaptation of Roald Dahl’s The Witches, began as a final year NIDA project for director Lucas Jervies. Through workshops with actor Guy Edmonds it became an energetic, physical and darkly comedic show.

Two years on and with a successful run at the Malthouse in Melbourne, The Witches is playing for Griffin

Theatre Company in Sydney.

The chance to tackle mature themes with a child-like sensibility seems to be what drew Edmonds to this role.

Speaking about Dahl he says, “He doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of life. He fills it with joy and love, but it’s not entirely a rosecoloured view of the world.” (ATS) Until Oct 5, SBW Stables Theatre, 10 Nimrod St, Kings Cross, $22-25, griffintheatre.com.au KRYPTONITE It begins when they meet at University – Lian, the shy Chinese

exchange student and Dylan, the carefree charismatic Sydneysider. As the years go by their paths cross and lives entwine, drawn closer until the personal and political collide.

“They have such a great love for each other,” says Ursula Mills, who plays Lian, “but life gets in the way.”

Set against a background of political intrigue and the spectre of Tiananmen Square, Kryptonite is an unconventional love story.

Having writer Sue Smith (Brides of Christ, Mabo) in the rehearsal room is clearly an important part of the

chemistry. One of Australia’s most treasured screenwriters, she has only recently turned her hand to theatre. “It’s such an amazing privilege having Sue in the room with us,” says Mills, “there is so much trust in the writing and direction.” (GW) Until Oct 18, Sydney Theatre Company, Wharf 1, Pier 4, Hickson Rd,Walsh Bay, $50-99, (02) 9250 1777, sydneytheatre.com.au SYDNEY FRINGE FESTIVAL With over 300 productions across 60 venues covering everything from theatre, music, comedy, cabaret,

“These ‘cushion concerts’ dispense with the usual chairs, putting rugs and cushions on the floor so young audiences can get up close and personal with the music,” says Williams, “If you’ve got a bub on your lap and they’re going to enjoy it – bring them along.”

For the many grown ups who were introduced to orchestral music through Peter and the Wolf, there will be some fond memories. It’s hard not to hear an oboe, without thinking ‘duck’ – and then there are always those nasty, smelly, scary, ‘wolfish’ French horns.

“It’s a wonderful piece of music,” says Williams, “but also has the ability to introduce young audiences to the instruments of the orchestra.”

And what would Peter and the Wolf be without the narrator?

Famously played by people as diverse as Gorbachev and Sting – even Dame Edna Everage – this version has Bevan Rigato in the fatherly armchair.

Performed alongside the Australian premiere of The Unhappy Aardvark, tickets are limited and bookings essential. (GW) Sep 28, Balmain Town Hall, 370 Darling St, Balmain, $10, metorchestra.com.au

what it is to go that far, to see those things, to test the limits of their personality, and have those flings that probably weren’t possible when this was written,” says Beach. (MT) Until Sep 27, Seymour Centre, City Rd & Cleveland St, Chippendale, $25-38, seymourcentre.com

dance and visual art, the annual Sydney Fringe Festival promises to be better than ever. This year’s program showcases the abundance of quirky and alternative culture that Sydney’s arts scene has to offer.

While occasionally the term ‘fringe’ may lend itself to images of esoteric productions held in random back laneways, this year’s new festival director, Kerri Glasscock, is making sure every experience at the festival will be cohesive and illuminating.

As a force of nature in Sydney’s art scene and co-founder of

photo: Kurt Sneddon, Blueprint Studios

Sydney Children’s Festival

trendsetting underground performance space,Venue 505, it’s important to Glasscock that everyone involved – the venues, the performers and, of course, the audiences – are getting the most out of the festival. After all, festivals like Fringe are vital to Sydney. “It provides local independent artists an opportunity to collaborate with other artists, develop and try out new works, and find new audiences,” says Glasscock. (MT) Until Sep 30, various venues, various prices, sydneyfringe.com 15

THE NAKED CITY

All aboard the weird Sydney tour!

By Coffin Ed, Miss Death & Jay Katz If you want to take a bus tour around Sydney there are a number of options, from the tourist oriented Sydney Sightseeing bus to the more quirky ghost and historical tours.

But what about a trip that seeks out the eccentric, the bizarre, and the downright cranky? Time to climb aboard the totally different ‘Weird Sydney Tour’.

We’ll be travelling in an old WWII double decker bus, decked out in discreet army camouflage and guaranteed to blend in with the environment. The vibe is high after a round of community singing from an old Boomerang songbook and fittingly we begin our journey at “The Happiest Place In Town.” That’s the sign outside the classic pinball parlour in George Street, immortalised in the loving words of the Do-Ré-Mi song. We stop for 10 or 15 minutes to rattle the old machines, admire the circus-like murals, and immerse ourselves in a world of eternal childhood.

It’s not yet lunchtime but we are feeling peckish and next stop is the offbeat “Bad Taste” restaurant, on top of the Agincourt Hotel in Broadway. We are all seated at tiny tables, straight out of Playschool with Mickey Mouse placemats and vases of plastic flowers.

The wait staff is deliberately rude but we know it’s all a game and the food is a welcome sustenance after all that pinball action.

Onwards we cruise, stopping briefly at the Crystal Palace Arcade for a bout of shopping at its idiosyncratic range of shops such as The Land Beyond Beyond, Skin Deep and the eye-popping Badge Shop. The spending does not stop there and our double decker inches its way down the narrow lane that is Sydney’s Rowe Street with its bohemian style cafes, bookshops and galleries. It’s our own little version of Paris’s Left Bank

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and a set of pawnshop bongos are lovingly passed around the bus.

There’s a welcome cup of coffee at the out-there, galactic-themed Mars Bar in Pitt Street and then our driver announces an hour or two of siesta. We decide against the State Theatrette newsreel in Market Street and opt for the more palatial Capitol at Haymarket.

There’s a Roger Codman double on offer but like most of the patrons we curl up in our seats, grindhouse style, for sixty minutes of kip and snooze.

Totally invigorated we climb back aboard the old double decker and head for Kings Cross with an afternoon of nonstop sightseeing and gratuitous pleasures. There’s the obligatory strip clubs, the Kings Cross Wax Works, the Piccolo Bar, the El Rocco Jazz Cellar, the busking birdman at the El Alamein fountain, the Yummy Yummy Food Bar and the funky Outback Bar with it’s fake stuffed fauna and all-Aussie paraphernalia.

The afternoon soon morphs into night as we find ourselves at the Texas Tavern, cocktails in hand, grooving to the sounds of the all-electric Ray Charles automaton Jojo Ivory. He appears to overheat halfway through the set and as the plug is temporarily pulled we make our way to the notorious Venus Room in Orwell Street.

Unfortunately there’s just been a shooting and we decide not to venture inside, moving instead for the headbanging ambience of the Manzil Room and it’s super squelchy carpet. There’s a competition as to who can leave the legendary rock venue with the most carpet stuck to the sole of their shoes but that’s soon overshadowed when we discover our bus has been hijacked by a bunch of suburban footy hoons. We are all offered free accommodation at the Astoria for the night but decline in unison and most of us cab it home.

It’s been weird and it’s been wonderful but sadly it all took place some thirty years ago.You not only need a bus but a time machine if you want to jump on the Weird Sydney Tour.

These days it’s all a bit too predictable!

Prey – Leila Jeffreys

With Prey, Leila Jeffreys captures the beauty and grandeur of owls, eagles and kites with breathtaking intricacy and exquisite detail.

The eyes of the birds peer myopically at the camera, their feathers smooth and graceful, with individual patterns flowing in delicate shapes and curves. Their amber and tan plumage leaps off the walls with a painterly technique that renders each picture unique and powerful.

Each has a story and a name that is detailed in an accompanying narrative. To Jeffreys these creatures have an anthropomorphic quality which is amply demonstrated in the photos. Take for example, Ash, a grey falcon whose profile nobly conveys his endurance of suffering.

This is more portraiture than wildlife photography and the stark white backgrounds add to the immediacy and intimacy of each image.

A truly stunning and satisfying display, Prey speaks of the wonder of the natural world and advocates its preservation with a deafening silence. (LR) Until Sep 28, Olsen Irwin Gallery, 63 Jersey Rd, Woollahra, free, timolsengallery.com

‘Cleo’ Peregrine Falcon by Leila Jeffreys, 2014

Hidden Rookwood, Australia’s oldest cemetery, will play host to a unique outdoor sculptural exhibition. Hidden, established in 2009, showcases work from 40 selected artists, transforming parts of the iconic cemetery.

The exhibition hopes to challenge the perception of cemeteries being morbid, while highlighting the cultural diversity Rookwood is renowned for. Sydney-based Barbara Licha will have her wire sculptures on display: “My work explores what it means to be a human being through the use of wire to show different expressions, daily activities, and interests that portray movement and behaviour,” she says, “Human behaviour is something that

I always like to portray in my scultpures.”

The Polish-born artist has practised for 25 years in Australia: “I’ve had my work appear in Sculpture by the Sea and other outdoor exhibitions. I heard about Hidden a long time ago but never had the time to apply, this year I did, and luckily I got chosen.”

Licha says: “A cemetery is a very special place, it makes you think about the relationship between life and death and also about the past and present, which my work reflects on as well.

It’s a very symbolic place to hold something like this, it will definitely add a lot to the cemetery.” (GF) Until Oct 12, Rookwood Cemetery, Hawthorne Ave, Rookwood, free, rookwoodcemetary.com.au

Domestic Departures

Domestic Departures at Chalk Horse Gallery challenges ideas of home to produce a group show that is aesthetically interesting and politically powerful.

In The Re-introduction of Australian Knighthood Abdul Abdullah focuses on a menacing balaclava-clad figure draped by Australian iconography as a caustic comment on modern patriotism.

While Abdullah confronts the public sphere, Jasper Knight examines the personal.

The fractured armchair of Single Origin 1 shatters the metaphor of safe-haven with its cubist-like composition.

The third included artist,

James Oram, has contributed a visual narrative in Stack, which uses the ubiquitous lottery scratchie to suggest the fragility of suburban utopia. It concentrates on a hand which scratches a series of losing tickets and uses them to construct a house of cards. It is a beautifully rendered film which connects on a deep level with the ‘fair go’ mythology.

Overall this exhibition is a profound exposition on contemporary Australian conundrums. (LR) Until Oct 4, Chalk Horse Gallery, 171 William St, Darlinghurst, free, chalkhorse.com.au

‘Single Origin 1’ by Jasper Knight

Lavazza Italian Film Festival 2014 The Lavazza Italian Film Festival should be a real treat for Sydneysiders, this year’s selection features a wide range of Italian films that promise to bring a dash of Mediterranean romance to Palace cinema locations.

Launching the festival with some melody is Marina, an entertaining biopic that tells the true story of singer, songwriter and accordionist, Rocco Granata.

I Can Quit Whenever I Want is a fast-moving, farcical comedy about academics that can’t find employment worthy of them, so decide there’s more money in the drug trade. A molecule in the drug they peddle is not illegal so, for a while, they manage to dodge the attention of the law – but not the attention of mobsters from a rival drug-ring.

Perhaps the most hilarious moment is when the gang hold-up a pharmacy with antique muskets and one of them is recognised (despite wearing a mask). The moral of the story is that every choice has a cost – and theirs comes in the form of fractured relationships and imprisonment. The use of saturated colour makes red, yellow and green very evident, resulting in lurid visuals that seem to match the action.

Let’s celebrate the fact that Italy still makes cinema that is uniquely Italian. It could be a wonderful few weeks. (MMu) Until Oct 12, Palace Norton St, Palace Verona & Chauvel Cinema, $15-19, italianfilmfestival.com.au

The Little Death Josh Lawson makes his directorial debut with The Little Death, voted second choice for best feature at The Sydney Film Festival. The offbeat and sometimes obscure comedy explores the sexual relations and fantasies of a group of neighbours and friends.

Unashamedly it delves into sexual and social taboos, as behind closed doors ‘normal’ couples discover what lengths they will go to to experience that fleeting ‘la petite mort’ – the little death.

With an ensemble cast of

familiar Australian talent, each character is well rounded and expertly acted. Lawson’s writing displays quick wit and a love for awkward cringe-worthy comedy.Without losing the characters to caricature, Lawson unravels hilarious exploits in a genuine manner.

Certainly, the comedy won’t be to everyone’s taste, at times the film walks a close line to taboo but with a charmingly authentic treatment it is a subtle reminder that it’s okay to be weird. (ATS) WWW½

Step Up All In

Step Up All In is yet another failed attempt at making a feature film simply by showcasing dancing talent.Well-choreographed movement is surprisingly lacking throughout, given the subject matter, however, it endeavours to entertain in the last 15 minutes and somewhat succeeds – too little, too late.

The progression of the ‘story’ constantly skips over entire moments, with as little as one sentence or a voice-over to catch the audience up.

Unfortunately the acting is laughable and not just during intentionally comedic dialogue.

THE INFINITE MAN is a quixotic journey through the mind of a very confused man. It is a tale of obsession and erotic fantasies.

Dean (Josh McConville), a quirky, neurotic pseudo scientist, is obsessed with Lana (Hannah Marshall) but his quest for her love takes an almost incomprehensible turn when he uses time travel to repair the rifts in their relationship.

The sparse setting of this movie is a reflection of its low budget, but works well as a backdrop for the raw revelation of human emotions.

This movie is confusing as a narrative; however, as a metaphor for the utter heart-rending dishevelment caused by jealousy and

The Skeleton Twins

Brothers and sisters should love and care for one another, isn’t that what families do? That’s what twins Maggie (Kristin Wiig) and Milo (Bill Hader) did for each other as children, but then they become separated as teenagers and end up estranged. When we meet them they are in their 30s and haven’t communicated for a decade. After a suicide attempt, Milo accepts his sister’s invitation to stay with her and her husband.

This is a wonderful little film.

abandonment, it is a stunning, humorous and thoughtful success.

(LR) WWW½

Those teens, though – they are a life force! We Are the Best is almost worth seeing just for them. (MMu)

WE ARE THE BEST! In 1982 two loveable 13-year-old nonconformists, Bobo (Mira Barkhammar) and Klara (Mira Grosin), believe punk is the recipe for life – despite the fact that everyone else says it’s dead. They set out to convert shy Christian girl Hedvig (Liv LeMoyne) and the trio form a punk band whose only song is I Hate Sport – a slim basis for a feature film and at only 102 minutes it seems overly long. It has its moments, but unfortunately not nearly enough.

WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS is a hilarious mockumentary that revolves around three housemates who just happen to be vampires – there is an outrageously surreal contrast between the normal streets of Wellington, New Zealand, and the very atypical selection of undead.

The film crew follows the lives of Viago (Taika Waititi), Deacon (Jonathan Brugh), and Vladislav (Jemaine Clement), and the comedic timing and performances will have audiences in stitches.

WW

A synopsis might detail the events but would give you no idea of the emotion, warmth and humanity at the heart of it, not to mention the pain and the sadness.

Does that mean it’s a ‘downer’? No, there’s a great deal of fun and humour. Ultimately, it’s a positive and life-affirming work, one that will give hope to anyone that experiences it – and that’s why it must be seen.

So well written, so well acted. (MMu) WWWW

The Equalizer

What resonates about this enjoyable story is that the scenario is as old as the Arthurian legends and their notion of ‘might for right’; it’s reassuring to think there’s a good man stronger than the bad ones – a defender of the vulnerable. The hero tells a corrupt police officer “You’re meant to stand for something punk.” Amen!

Denzel Washington is getting a bit old for action roles – grey haired and paunchy – but he’s still one of the coolest people

around and makes an ageing warrior, who has lost none of his combat skills, look good.

And he will need all of them to take on – multiple times – the Russian mafia; initially to avenge their brutal beating of a young prostitute.

Based on the ‘80s television series that starred Edward Woodward, an earlier planned film was meant to have starred Russell Crowe.

Warning: this is extremely violent – sometimes glibly so.

(MMu) WWW½

There are some good, sporadic dance sequences intertwined between weak performances and the only breath of fresh air is Moose (Adam Sevani) and his beautiful parents, which add the humility needed to make any of these plot progressions believable.

For fans of this franchise it may manage to meet expectations, although even diehard dancefanatics may be tired of this regurgitated story and its boring predictability. In an oversaturated dance-battle-extravaganza market – it’s time to step down.

(RBM) W Almost like an inside-out horror production, What We Do in the Shadows has an abundance of comedy with horror relief – an eccentric and imaginative perspective on an oversaturated subject. (RBM)

WWWW THE IMMIGRANT 1921: Ewa (Marion Cotillard) and her ill sister Magda (Angela Sarafyan) arrive in the USA at the Ellis Island immigration centre after fleeing post WWI Poland.

Cotillard as Ewa looks beautiful, demure and vulnerable, and she needs protection from the exploitation of Joaquin Phoenix’s sinister Bruno, who gets her a job at the Bandit’s Roost, first as a dancer,

then as a prostitute.

Ultimately, The Immigrant is a reminder of the value of courage and persistence in the face of life’s vicissitudes. (MMu) WW½ FELONY Joel Edgerton writes and performs in this intense story about a good cop who does a bad thing. A lie snowballs quickly but the avalanche to come is a slower process as he battles his own demons, the senior detective ready to cover it up (Tom Wilkinson), his conflicted wife (Melissa George), and the idealist relentless in his pursuit (Jai Courtney).

Director Matthew Saville takes audiences on an uncomfortable but compelling ride, whilst the

performances are full of strength and subtlety. (CC) WWW½ PREDESTINATION In this Australian production, American actor Ethan Hawke plays the Temporal Agent who must neutralise the one offender that has eluded him through time.

Robert A. Heinlein was one of the genius writers of science fiction and the twin Spierig brothers (writers/ directors/producers) have taken on the challenging task of telling one of his stories visually.

It’s a film that puts a new spin on the familiar tale of the agent working to prevent a terrorist outrage. (MMu) WWW

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Smokey Robinson – Smokey & Friends When you see the words ‘and friends’ in an album title, it generally indicates a stopgap: an artist roping in a few friends to do some covers and keep their hand in. And that’s what’s happened here.

But this being R&B legend Smokey Robinson, it’s done pretty well – and the friends aren’t just any old musos. In this case, they include Steve Tyler, Sheryl Crow, John Legend, Elton John and Gary Barlow, all collaborating with Robinson on new versions of his classic hits.

The resulting album isn’t going to change the world but it’s a pleasing slice of nostalgia.

(PH) Tim Hulsman – Dead Man’s Chest Tim Hulsman’s Dead Man’s Garden is at once beautiful and rough. It is slow, gritty and sometimes sad, rolling along a line of strings.

The album’s 10 tracks wade in and keep to a constant tempo, threatening to drop and tickling the ears with a hint of something just underneath.They pull and push in infinitesimal changes, as natural as the tide and just as persistent.

The variety of stringed instruments from the roguish sounds of Hulsman’s slide guitar to the melancholy strains of the violin, layers depth and makes this album a study for the ears. (SP)

Over a decade ago, Shannon Noll was the runner up of Australia’s first Idol series.

He was sold as the gravellyvoiced, Jimmy Barnes-type rocker and it fit him like a glove. In the years that followed Noll released five top 10 albums and had roaring success with singles such as, What About Me, Learn to Fly and Shine.

When we meet for lunch, the sun is shining brightly, bringing with it the promise of impending summer.

There’s a tinge of excitement in the air at the thought of the warm weather returning and it’s a fitting atmosphere to talk about new developments and the album Noll has in the works.

Although there are some projects he won’t reveal the details of just yet, the down-

to-earth singer is more than happy to discuss anything and everything else.

Noll moved his family back to Sydney recently after a stint ‘away’, but even though the WOLO tour (named for his latest single, We Only Live Once) is being plugged as a major ‘comeback’, Noll says he hasn’t stopped working.

“The first year I moved down to Melbourne, I did 80 shows off the back of the last album and we went everywhere. Then I had a 12-month contract with NSW racing; that took me on the touring thing – I was gone every weekend. Then I wrote an album. So I haven’t had a holiday in three years,” he continues, “This is supposed to be a comeback.

Don’t know where I was really. Somewhere that

LIVE WIRE Matthew Fagan With La Fiesta Trio: Once described

by Billy Connolly as “the best guitarist he’s ever toured with”, Matthew Fagan is coming to Sydney to celebrate the release of his new records Virtuoso and Ukulele Land. Combing with international artists Marek Podstawek and Alex Yarosh to provide a night centred around guitar, ukulele and percussion from multiple styles including Latin,

doesn’t resemble a holiday!”

It’s obvious that the Aussie icon is feeling reinvigorated.

The last few years have seen him plagued with a back injury that required emergency surgery and forced him to pull out of Dancing With The Stars in 2012, but although Noll still harbours a twinge of pain, his energy and motivation is palpaple. The muso says it’s time to get “stuck in” again.

WOLO was released in June and is a change in musical direction, full of catchy pop sensibilities that fans are loving. Noll is proud of the toe-tapping track saying, “It’s got a real swag to it and it’s a happy song.” (LL) Sep 27,The Basement, 7 Macquarie Pl, Circular Quay, $35+bf, thebasement.com.au

Sydney Live Music Guide

Flamenco, gypsy jazz and world music.

Thu, Sep 25th,The Basement Ball Park Music: The Australian indie darlings are set to head back out on the road with their Trippin’The Light Fantastic Tour to treat fans to an even more unforgettable live show. The band is well known for their energetic entertainment and after performing sold-out shows in April the group are now taking the show to

bigger venues to allow more fans to experience them live.

Fri, Sep 26th, Enmore Theatre Shannon Noll: Following a successful decade in the Australian music scene 2014 has been a watershed year for Noll with his latest release being touted as his “comeback to the mainstream”. Performing a mixture of older well known hits and new tracks, this show will only further emphasise the longevity and

SHANNON NOLL success of Noll’s career over the past decade.

Sat, Sep 27th,The Basement Harry Manx + Clayton Doley: Fusing Eastern musical traditions with blues, Manx provides his unique brand of music that slides effortlessly between acoustic and electric guitar, banjo, and the Mohan veena (an instrument created by his Indian mentor Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt). Eleven award-winning and critically acclaimed albums speak for themselves – a must-see.

Sun, Sep 28th,The Basement Maybeshewill: The UK-based five-piece have already toured throughout the UK, mainland Europe, Russia, China and Japan and are now bringing their talents Down Under following the successful release of their fourth studio album, Fair Youth. An album that combines well known rock tropes with some funky electronic features for a highly unique sound that will bounce off the walls of Newtown Social Club.

Mon, Sep 29th, Newtown Social Club Blues Brothers Rebooted: This ode to all things Blues Brothers brings together a six-piece band; piano, bass, drums, guitar, trumpet and trombone, for an epically nostalgic night.

Attendees are encouraged to come dressed as their favourite character and there will also be trivia, all in the name of high energy – fun, entertainment for people of all musical tastes.

Tue, Sep 30th,The Vanguard

FREEWILLASTROLOGY

by Rob Brezsny

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ARIES (March 21-April 19): It’s no secret. The wealthy one percent of the population has been getting progressively wealthier. Meanwhile, the poor are becoming steadily poorer. I’m worried there is a metaphorically similar trend in your life. Am I right? If so, please do all you can to reverse it.

Borrow energy from the rich and abundant parts of your life so as to lift up the neglected and underendowed parts. Here’s one example of how you could proceed: For a while, be less concerned with people who think you’re a star, and give more attention to those who accept and love your shadow side.

I will say that again in different language, because it’s crucial you understand the principle.

You’ve got to be very clear about what you really want, and install a shining vision of what you really want at the core of your everyday life. If you don’t do that, you will end up being controlled by your habits and old programming. So be imperious, Gemini. Define your dearest, strongest longing, and be ruthlessly devoted to it.

just 34 seconds to devour a 12inch pizza. When Jerry Miculek is holding his rifle, he can get off eight crack shots at four targets in a little more than one second.

While upside-down, Aichi Ono is capable of doing 135 perfect head spins in a minute.

I don’t expect you to be quite so lightning fast and utterly flawless as these people in the coming weeks, Leo, but I do think you will be unusually quick and skillful. For the foreseeable future, speed and efficiency are your specialties.

Libra. You are teeming with the buoyant energy that throbs when a seed is ready to sprout.

You have been biding your time, gathering the nourishment you need, waiting for the right circumstances to burst open with your new flavor. And now that nervous, hopeful, ecstatic moment is about to arrive. Be brave!

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TAURUS (April 20-May 20): “I choose a lazy person to do a hard job,” says Bill Gates, the world’s second-richest man, “because a lazy person will find an easy way to do it.” That’s good counsel for you right now, Taurus. You’d be wise to get in touch with your inner lazy bum. Let the slacker within you uncover the least stressful way to accomplish your difficult task.

According to my analysis of the astrological omens, there is no need for you to suffer and strain as you deal with your dilemma.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Henri Cartier-Bresson (1908-2004) was an influential French photographer, a pioneer of photojournalism who helped transform photography into an art form. In 1986 he was invited to Palermo, Sicily to accept a prize for his work. The hotel he stayed in seemed oddly familiar to him, although he didn’t understand why. It was only later he discovered that the hotel had been the place at which his mother and father stayed on their honeymoon. It was where he was conceived.

I foresee a comparable development on the horizon for you, Cancerian: a return to origins, perhaps inadvertent; an evocative encounter with your roots; a reunification with an influence that helped make you who you are today.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): As the makeup artist for the film *Dallas Buyers Club,* Robin Mathews had a daunting task. During the 23 days of shooting, she had to constantly transform lead actors Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto so that they appeared either deathly ill or relatively healthy.

Sometimes she had to switch them back and forth five times a day. She was so skillful in accomplishing this feat that she won the Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling.

Her budget? A meager $250.

The film was a shoestring indie production. I’m naming her your inspirational role model for the next few weeks, Virgo. I believe that you, too, can create magic without a wealth of resources.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): The English verb “cicurate” is defined as “to tame or domesticate” or “to make mild or innocuous.” But it once had an additional sense: “to reclaim from wildness.”

It was derived from the Latin word *cicurare,* which meant “to bring back from madness, to draw out of the wilderness.”

For your purposes, Scorpio, we will make cicurate your theme, but concentrate on these definitions: “to reclaim from wildness, to bring back from madness, to draw out of the wilderness.” In the coming weeks, you will be exploring rough, luxuriant areas of unknown territory. You will be wrangling with primitive, sometimes turbulent energy.

I urge you to extract the raw vitality you find there, and harness it to serve your daily rhythm and your long-term goals.

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g

i

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GEMINI (May 21-June 20): If you don’t identify and express your conscious desires, your unconscious desires will dominate your life.

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LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): With expert execution, musician Ben Lee can play 15 notes per second on his violin. Superstar eater Pete Czerwinski needs

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LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): “I am a seed about to break,” wrote Sylvia Plath in her poem “Three Women.”

That’s how I see you right now,

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22Dec. 21): ”You can exert no influence if you are not susceptible to influence,” said psychologist Carl Jung.

Extrapolating from that idea, we can hypothesize that the more willing and able you are to be influenced, the greater your influence might be. Let’s make this your key theme in the coming weeks. It will be an excellent time to increase your clout, wield more authority, and claim more of a say in the creation of your shared environments. For best results, you should open your mind, be very receptive, and listen well.

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CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Congratulations, Capricorn. Your current dilemmas are more useful and interesting than any that you have had for a long time.

If you can even partially solve them, the changes you set in motion will improve your entire life, not just the circumstances they immediately affect. Of the several dividends you may reap, one of my favorites is this: You could liberate yourself from a messed-up kind of beauty and become available for a more soothing and delightful kind.

Here’s another potential benefit: You may transform yourself in ways that will help you attract more useful and interesting dilemmas in the future.

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AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Alan Moore is the British author who wrote the graphic novels *Watchmen* and *V for Vendetta.* He is now nearing completion of *Jerusalem,* a novel he has been working on for six years. It will be more than

a million words long, almost double the size of Tolstoy’s *War and Peace,* and 200,000 words bigger than the Bible.

“Any editor worth their salt would tell me to cut two-thirds of this book,” Moore told the *New Statesman,* “but that’s not going to happen.” Referring to the author of *Moby Dick,* Moore adds, “I doubt that Herman Melville had an editor.

If he had, that editor would have told him to get rid of all that boring stuff about whaling: ‘Cut to the chase, Herman.’” Let’s make Moore and Melville your role models in the coming week, Aquarius. You have permission to sprawl, ramble, and expand.

Do NOT cut to the chase.

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PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): For a long time, an Illinois writer named ArLynn Leiber Presser didn’t go out much. She had 325 friends on Facebook and was content to get her social needs met in the virtual realm. But then she embarked on a year-long project in which she sought face-to-face meetings with all of her online buddies. The experiment yielded sometimes complicated but mostly interesting results. It took her to 51 cities around the world. I suggest we make her your inspirational role model for the coming weeks, Pisces. In at least one way, it’s time for you to move out of your imagination and into the real world. You’re primed to turn fantasies into actions, dreams into practical pursuits.