City Hub 4 September 2014

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September 4, 2014

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WORDS FOR CHANGE Josh Pyke working to close the literacy gap

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Should the business vote be reformed in the City of Sydney?

A debate and public discussion with: Alex Greenwich, Independent Member for Sydney Angela Vithoulkas, Independent Councillor City of Sydney Edward Mandla, Liberal Councillor City of Sydney Linda Scott, Labor Councillor City of Sydney Robert Borsak, MLC, Shooters and Fishers Party has been invited On Wednesday, September 10, City Hub will host an open debate on the Shooters and Fishers proposed reforms to the City of Sydney Act. Residents and business owners will be able to ask questions following statements by debate participants in order to promote better understanding of the issues surrounding the proposed reform.

Beauchamp Hotel, 265 - 267 Oxford Street (Cnr South Dowling St) Darlinghurst Wednesday 10th September 6.45pm

BY Alex Greenwich Independent Member for Sydney Alex Greenwich on the Shooters and Fishers Party’s proposed reforms to business voting in the City of Sydney Businesses make an important contribution to the City of Sydney which is why they are already eligible to vote in local elections.

However, improvements in awareness and the registration processes are needed to increase participation rates.

Rather than seeking to improve the process for business voting, the Shooters and Fishers party - with the backing of the Government have sought to misrepresent the concerns of small businesses to justify their proposed gerrymander that could see vested interest manipulate inner city democracy.

Businesses should be able to exercise their right to vote effortlessly in local elections. I have a proposed business voting bill that would make it easier for eligible businesses to get on the electoral roll by creating permanent registers of non-resident owners, occupiers and rate paying lessees.

The current situation is excessively bureaucratic. Nonresidential electoral rolls are abolished after each election, requiring businesses and owners to re-enrol each term.

My proposal for a permanent register allows non-residential owners and businesses to apply to

be on the electoral rolls once and only once, removing the burden of having to enrol for each election.

The process of confirmation by the Electoral Commissioner will ensure the integrity and accuracy of the roll and reduce the opportunity for fraud.

What the Shooters and Baird Government want is for Sydney to adopt the Melbourne model.

Melbourne has a different rating system which does not allow direct adoption of non-residential voting. Melbourne prepares a new roll for every City of Melbourne election, with the roll based on a much broader method of charging rates. The council manages the non-residential roll rather than the independent Electoral Commissioner, which is the equivalent of the Department of Premier and Cabinet running a State Election. Melbourne allows up to two votes to each business occupying land, which many say drowns out the voice of residents.

In introducing the bill, Robert Borsak of the Shooters and Fishers Party made no attempt to disguise his aims: to change voting rules in order to change the makeup of the council. His speech raves about his dislike of the Lord Mayor and the council’s work on clean energy and bicycle paths. He thanked Alan Jones and the Daily Telegraph for their support.

A key principle of democracy is that all members of the community

have equal access to the political process, regardless of how much money each earns; one vote, one value. No matter how much tax each person pays, their say on polling day should be equal.

Giving businesses two votes when residents only have one subverts this principle and extends representation based on wealth.

The Shooters Bill also forces businesses to vote up to two times and fines businesses that fail to provide relevant information for the register $2,200 and businesses who don’t vote $55. This is despite the fact that many businesses and organisations have constitutions that require them to remain politically neutral and therefore not vote.

The government continues to

Independent member for Sydney Alex Greenwich

Not the right “way forward” for City of Sydney business vote Published weekly and freely available Sydney-wide.

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BY Angela Vithoulkas City of Sydney Councillor Angela Vithoulkas on the Shooters and Fishers Party’s proposed reforms to business voting in the City of Sydney The Shooters and Fishers’ business voting bill that is currently before Parliament is not the right fit for Sydney. While I agree that the introduction of legislation that will help business owners through the current voting maze is welcome, I don’t believe that replicating the ‘Melbourne model’ is the right way to go.

A large part of my decision to run as an independent candidate in the last City of Sydney elections was because of my frustration as a small business owner wanting to vote. In fact, even though I had operated a business in the city for the past 27 years, I was totally unaware that my business had the right to enrol to vote until a few years ago. I was also unaware that the register of enrolled business voters was wiped after every election.

So, my business enrolled to vote in 2012 and yes, I can confirm, the process was confusing, time consuming and frustrating. After I was elected as a councillor I also made a submission and appeared before a committee inquiry into the 2012 Local Government Elections to explain my experience about trying to enrol as a business and vote in the

last council elections.

In fact, when I gave evidence I even took along the sea of paperwork that eventually led me to the ballot box. My business was one of the determined 1,700 businesses out of a possible 40,000 odd that did not end up giving up half way through the enrolment process.

While I support the move to formalise the process and make it easier for business owners to vote, I also believe that the new laws that have been proposed by the Shooters and Fishers Party are not the right ones for the City of Sydney.

I understand that the electoral inquiry committee recommended a copy of the City of Melbourne model but I don’t agree. I don’t agree because the current draft bill does still not accommodate the small business voting experience.

Melbourne’s Lord Mayor, Robert Doyle, has given evidence that the City of Melbourne business voting bill was in some way shaped by the bipartisan commissioned study titled ‘A Way Forward’. Yet, no such study has been commissioned for the City of Sydney. The result is an ambiguous bill that is drafted in a way that appears to add layers of complexity as well as proposed new fines.

I also don’t believe that the Shooters and Fishers Party can explain away the two votes per

trumpet that the inquiry findings that lead to the Shooters Bill were bipartisan, however the Labor members on the committee opposed giving business two votes.

In fact, Labor MLC Amanda Fazio has publicly stated that the committee gave undue weight to evidence of the two first-term Liberal City of Sydney councillors.

The Government’s support of a manipulation of democracy is an extraordinary move at a time when the Liberal Party is caught up in a series of shocking investigations at the ICAC relating to dodgy donations. If the Premier is serious about restoring confidence in his government he should abandon plans to support the Shooter’s attack on our democracy.

Photo: clovermoore.com.au

Community Forum

“One vote, one value”

business in a couple of sentences while introducing the bill to parliament. Their link between two votes per business and the number of people that vote per household is tenuous at best. While there are plenty of households that contain a number of residents, statistics show that in 2011 the dominant household type in the City of Sydney was lone person households and by 2021 the number of lone person households is predicted to increase.

Along with the residents and visitors to Sydney the small

businesses that operate in the CBD and surrounds are an integral part of what makes this city great. There needs to be further discussion about the implications of the proposed laws in their current form and the discussion should not be framed as a residents versus business battle.

The City of Sydney bill needs to be about what is fair and reasonable, not about political rhetoric.

We need laws that will put in place a viable solution that accommodates business owners in the voting process in a way that’s realistic and hassle free. Business owners do engage with the local community, provide jobs and contribute to the local economy.

They are not big business but they are big part of the city.

Councillor Angela Vithoulkas

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Glebe community rallies as Sydney’s oldest women’s refuge closes

BY Lucia Osborne-Crowley On Friday August 29, Elsie Refuge for Women and Children in Glebe was taken over by St Vincent de Paul Society.

Established in 1974 by Dr Anne Summers, Elsie was the first women’s refuge to open in Australia. Over the 40 years since it opened, Elsie has remained independently-run and has specialised in providing care to women and children fleeing domestic violence.

Last week, Elsie became among the first of its kind to be taken over by large religious organisations under the NSW Government’s Going Home Staying Home reforms.

Under its new management by St Vincent de Paul, the refuge will become a general homelessness shelter that will have the capacity to house men as well as women.

Deputy Lord Mayor of the City of Sydney Robyn Kemmis expressed her concern about this element of the takeover.

“I am concerned about the possible impacts of the NSW Government’s Going Home Staying Home Reform Plan on specialist crisis services. The Government has included women’s services within their generalist homelessness policy response, and I am concerned that the complexity of the issues may not be recognised,” she said.

To protest the takeover, a rally was held in Minogue Crescent in

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Glebe on Friday (August 29). The rally was organised by community activist group No Shelter and was attended by NSW Greens MLC Mehreen Faruqi, NSW Greens MLC Jamie Parker and Labor candidate for the state seat of Balmain Verity Firth.

The rally was also well-attended by the community, with over 100 people attending throughout the event.

One of the focuses of the protest was the negative impact Christian management would have on the work done by Elsie and other independent, women’s-only refuges.

No Shelter representative Michelle Hoogesteger said she felt the extent of the impacts of these takeovers has not been articulated.

One major aspects of this is the loss of confidentiality surrounding these refuges.

“Ever since refuges were established forty years ago starting with Elsie’s, addresses have been entirely confidential. Only PO boxes are available for mail, people staying at the refuges know never to give out the addresses, workers never speak of it and you’ll never find it on the internet,” she said.

“This is absolutely essential to stop perpetrators finding women, which is something we know they will continue to do. For a woman to go into a homelessness services – say a Mission Australia building – that doesn’t have that protection is

placing her and her children’s lives at risk.”

Ms Hoogesteger also pointed out that the major loss in the takeover of independent refuges by large religious organisations will be in the loss of well-trained staff.

“All the staff who have worked at Elsie for years, who understand power and control issues and understand the dynamics of violence have been made redundant,” she said.

All the staff at Elsie will be

replaced by general homelessness staff at St Vincent de Paul.

Deputy Lord Mayor Kemmis echoed this concern.

“Women’s refuges were set up to provide dedicated support to women and children leaving abusive homes, they do not fit under a ‘generalist homelessness’ model. I am worried that larger generalist providers may not provide this expertise.”

Finally, Ms Hoogesteger highlighted the danger of allowing

men and women to be housed in the same generalist services when many women and children using these services were doing so to escape domestic violence.

“To place women and children who have escaped domestic violence – who are still very much in survival mode – in a situation where they feel an immediate threat from the person they share a bathroom with is completely inappropriate,” she said.

A spokesperson for the

Rally in Glebe against the closure of Elsie Refuge for Women and Children on Friday, August 29

Department of Family and Community Services said the contracts ensure this would not necessarily be the case.

“The contracts ensure that women and men cannot be housed in the same property unless a full risk assessment has been undertaken.”

Ms Hoogesteger said these changes were a deliberate outcome of the tender process introduced by the Going Home Staying Home reforms.

“In some cases, only the large Christian organisations were able to tender, there were packages that were not offered to anyone else. So the government was very explicitly handing over services to them,” she said.

A spokesperson from the Department of Family and Community Services said the management of refuges by religious organisations would not stop them from providing the services required.

“The Going Home Staying Home contracts state that providers cannot impose moral or religious values on clients where that contravenes professional ethics.”

No Shelter this week announced a total of 44 shelters in NSW that cater specifically to women, the Indigenous population and young people that will be closed or taken over by October 31st.

Planning Minister announces new committee to govern Sydney harbour

BY Lucia OsborneCrowley Planning Minister Pru Goward has ended rumours surrounding the abolishment of the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority with the announcement of an alternative plan this week.

Speculation surrounding the future of the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority arose last month when the Daily Telegraph printed that the NSW Cabinet would consider a proposal to abolish it entirely and return governance of the harbourfront to the City of Sydney Council.

At last Monday night’s Council meeting (August 25), Lord Mayor Clover Moore expressed her in-principle support for the transfer of the foreshore back to the City, while also noting she had received no information regarding the transfer from the NSW Government.

“While we have not received any formal notification or been consulted by the Government on this

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proposal, notwithstanding its significant financial and operational consequences, we have consistently supported and advocated for the return of local government responsibilities in development areas that have been excised from the City and are controlled by the UrbanGrowth NSW Development Corporation, Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority and Barangaroo Delivery Authority,” said the Lord Mayor.

It was announced last week that the transfer of responsibility would not go ahead. Instead, Minister Goward announced that a new committee would take over the governance of the Sydney Harbour foreshore.

The announcement included no mention of the role of the City of Sydney.

“Sydney’s harbour and foreshore is our city’s number one asset. We cannot rest on our laurels - the foreshore deserves a

Planning Minister Pru Goward

plan for the future,” Ms Goward said.

“That is why a committee is being established to have overarching responsibility for developing a vision for the foreshore, and bringing together all the agencies and entities which have an interest, for the benefit of every Sydneysider.”

Minister Goward said the committee would be “high level” and involve “key government agencies” and would consult “stakeholders”, however none of these individuals or bodies were specified.

Minister Goward’s office did not respond to requests for further clarification.

The announcement also confirmed the ongoing existence of the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority by announcing its new chair, former head of the Roads and Traffic Authority Les Wielinga.

Mr Wielinga is coming out of retirement to chair the committee.

Labor councillor for the City of Sydney Linda Scott said she is concerned the

new committee represents a move towards further commericialisation of the harbourfront.

“Any step to set up a Liberal state government authority is incredibly worrying because of the language the Minister is using. The Minister has described Sydney Harbour as our greatest asset, which implies it being ready to be developed and sold off,” Cr Scott said.

The Minister for Planning refuses to guarantee there will be public access to the foreshore and this is incredibly worrying.

Frankly, nothing I have seen has suggested this is anything other than a great plan to develop our harbour and sell it off.”

Cr Scott said she believes the best approach to the government of the harbourfront would be to return it to the City of Sydney, as was originally speculated.

“I support a move to return governance of Sydney’s harbour foreshore back to the City of Sydney.”

news in brief Pyrmont community remembers Andy Andy, a long-time member of the Pyrmont community, passed away last week. Andy was a young homeless man who has been sleeping under the awning of Raine and Horne at Jackson’s Landing for fifteen years. Andy was seen as an integral part of the Pyrmont community, with many residents buying him food and coffee each day. Last week, Andy became ill. Members of the community brought him extra blankets and arranged for him to see a doctor, however he refused to be taken to hospital. He died on August 28 and the bench where he slept has subsequently been covered with memorial flowers. Pyrmont resident Marcelle Hoff said he will be remembered by the whole community. “Andy was cared for, spoken about affectionately, respected, he belonged in the community – and

he knew it,” she said.

Pyrmont resident John Hoff said members of the community have formed a group to organise his memorial and funeral service, which they hope will take place on September 20. This will depend on ongoing police inquiries. “Everyone in Pyrmont knew Andy. He is definitely the most well-known person in Pyrmont. Everybody accepted him as a part of our community,” Mr Hoff said. “Everyone is very sad to lose him and he is already missed.” Mr Hoff said he personally would like Andy’s body to be cremated so it could be scattered at Jackson’s Landing. He said he would like to see a memorial plaque erected to ensure Andy is remembered as a part of the Pyrmont community.

Mr Hoff also said the overwhelming support from the community has led residents to begin establishing a memorial fund in Andy’s honour to support Sydney’s homeless community.

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make Leichardt unrecognisable,” he said.

Mayor Byrne said he believes the new developments could have a negative impact on the suburb in visual and cultural sense.

“There is a real danger the landscape of Leichhardt will be changed forever,” he said.

On Tuesday, August 26 council rejected a development proposal for the Lord Street site on the grounds of traffic, a lack of provision, amenity impacts, and a loss of jobs.

“The proposed rezoning would actually result in a net loss of jobs in our local government area as it would dilute Council’s ability to provide sufficient industrial land to accommodate demand,” Cr Byrne said.

The strong hand the Department of Planning is playing raises questions about how effective and independent the IHAP will be when they

begin operation this month.

“This Government was elected on the promise of returning planning control to local communities, but they are doing the opposite,” Cr Byrne said.

The IHAP will be made up of five members ranging from lawyers to architecture and urban planning specialists. Included will be one community representative.

Similar systems are already operating in the municipalities of Lane Cove, Manly, Mosman, North Sydney and Waverley.

The NSW Department of Planning was approached for comment on whether high-level apartments would change Leichardt and whether there was a need for them, but the Department said questions should be directed towards council.

Photo: commercialview.com.au

BY Elliott Brennan Leichhardt Mayor Darcy Byrne has raised concerns about the future of Leichhardt following a NSW Government announcement that it will build up to 1000 new units in the small inner west suburb.

Following this announcement, Mayor Byrne has questioned the level to which the NSW State Government is willing to let local councils control the development of their communities.

The Department of Environment and Planning last week announced the development of five different medium-density sites in a 1km space in Leichhardt.

This announcement came just as Leichhardt’s Independent Hearing and Assessment Panel (IHAP), a panel created to assess development applications in the local area, is preparing to launch later this month.

Following the NSW Government’s announcement, industrial sites on George Street and Lords Road have already been rezoned as a medium density residential site and a similar site on Allen Street is said to be the next.

The Mayor said the NSW Department of Planning had instructed council that if they did not rezone the Allen Street site by October this year, the state government would take over the process.

Mayor Byrne acknowledged the extension of the light rail network to include Leichhardt may have changed the image of the suburb, but does not feel it justifies further development.

“The extension of the light rail should help make existing and new homes more accessible in the Leichardt area, but the Government and the development industry are using as an excuse to

Site at Lords Road facing development

Cartoon: Peter Berner

State government development may threaten the future of Leichhardt

BY Christopher Harris Camperdown Bowling Club will become the second club in the inner west to become pokie free after Marrickville Council voted in favor of allowing Canterbury Hurlstone RSL to lead the club’s refurbishment.

As part of Canterbury Hurlstone RSL’s plan to rejuvenate the club, it will eliminate all poker machines.

The move comes in the wake of state greens senator John Kaye’s upper house inquiry into gambling last month that recommends tightening of existing laws to reduce access to poker machines in low-income areas.

Greens Councillor Sylvie Ellsmore said last week that the change is an important step toward addressing gambling problems in the local community.

“After an extensive tender process council has been able to secure a licensee who can upgrade and re-open the Camperdown Bowling Club; with better food, recreation activities, social events, and rejuvenation of at least one of the bowling greens. And, importantly, no poker machines.”

The no poker machine policy has been a sticking point for the site since Marrickville Council voted in favour of removing all gaming machines from the sites that it owns and/or operates.

Cr Ellsmore points to the nearby Petersham Bowling Club that successfully operates without revenue from poker machines.

President of Petersham Bowling Club, Mark Lucas, says his club has been going from strength to strength since its refurbishment.

“It’s been seven or so years since we moved the

poker machines out of our little club and I think we have proven to everyone that there is another business model that doesn’t involves gambling which can be a great place to be and also make a contribution to the wider community.”

He is happy about the decision other clubs are making in terms of removing poker machines. He believes he owes some of the clubs’ no pokie success to the general inner west demographic.

“I think things have changed, the demographic in the inner west is younger, well-educated and there are a lot of professional people that aren’t into sitting down for the evening and pouring their money into poker machines.”

Marrickville Mayor Jo Haylen agreed.

“Council wants to reduce problem gambling and limit gambling opportunities in Council-owned venues. We believe this also reflects the wishes of the local population, which tends to be progressive, compassionate, and community-minded.”

With the lease signed, it is believed development of upgrades existing site will be underway in 2015, subject to development approval.

Photo: Turi Travels

Camperdown Bowling Club scraps poker machines

Camperdown Bowling Club

Concerns heighten over rise of anti-Semitism in Bondi

BY Emily Contador-Kelsall The Jewish Community in Sydney’s Eastern suburbs have faced a rise in anti-Semitism, according to local politicians and community members.

Last week, a white supremacist group distributed flyers into mailboxes around Bondi and Double Bay, attacking Jewish people and urging “White Australia” to “Wake up”.

This rise in anti-Semitism gained widespread attention last month when intoxicated teenagers boarded a school bus and verbally abused students from Jewish schools.

Independent Waverley Councillor Miriam GuttmanJones, a member of the Jewish Community said she was very disturbed by the increase of anti-Semitism.

“We [the Jewish community] are feeling unsafe here.

For many of us, we are seeing the similarities with prewar Nazi Germany.”

“The recent Gaza conflict with the most blatant biased reporting has caused the negative feelings towards Jews to erupt and now the gloves are off and it is almost acceptable to be openly anti-Semitic in many circles.”

Alex Ryvchin, Public Affairs Director of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry said this incident was not isolated but the product of a time of increasing vilification of Jewish Australians, a cause of considerable concern to the community.

“These flyers had nothing to do with engaging in debate. They were an attack on people’s humanity and dignity. These leaflets were not intended to persuade.

They were intended to be hurtful and threatening.

They attacked their targets because of the targets’ national origin. You can change your opinions and ideas but you cannot change your national origin. “ The anti-Semitic flyers have been condemned by federal politicians as well. Malcolm Turnbull said the anti-Semitic leaflets distributed in Bondi were a crude

and vicious attempt to intimidate and insult the Jewish community.

“The leaflets and those responsible for them should be condemned for this hateful and un-Australian behaviour. “ Cr Guttman-Jones said these incidents were very damaging to the Jewish Community and that Waverley Council was concerned about these anti-Semitic incidences.

Security has increased across Jewish schools and Synagogues in the light of recent incidents.

“We are also having to increase security for our schools and Synagogues. Many are too afraid to admit that they are Jewish in a non-Jewish setting,” said Cr Guttman-Jones.

Mr Rychin said: “We have seen attacks on schoolchildren, a violent assault on a Jew in Melbourne and racist graffiti painted on Synagogues, schools and university campuses throughout the country. We have seen an increase in anti-Jewish content on social media and at an anti-Israel rallies. “

Federal communications minister Malcolm Turnbull has condemned the anti-Semitic literature

Sydney’s environment: the wins have been tactical, but the losses strategic

By gavin gatenby Sometimes I take an hour or two and travel back in time to the Sydney I was born into in 1948.

It’s a fascinating trip, and, at least until the bean-counters and fun police have their way, it’s all free on the NSW Government’s wonderful SIX Maps website.

SIX Maps is like a slow and slightly clunky version of Google Earth, but with superior, up-to-date images.

Perhaps its best feature is that you can view contemporary air photos of Sydney and then switch to the same view taken in 1943 (you get to this by clicking ‘Basemaps’ in the top righthand corner of the window).

In 1943, Sydney was at war, and a lot poorer and smaller than it is now. Its population was just 1.4 million and it had entered World War II impoverished by the effects of the Great Depression. In terms of urban form, not a great deal changed in the five years between when these photos were taken and my birthdate, so when

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I go back there via SIX Maps, what I’m looking at is very much Sydney as it was when I was born, and even a decade later.

I live in the Wolli Valley, a major tributary of Cooks River and I’ve devoted a great deal of my waking hours over the last 30 years to preserving and restoring this river system. One of the more amazing, and disturbing, things to see on SIX Maps is how the creation of Sydney Airport has dramatically changed the whole landform around the mouth of the Cooks River.

Kingsford-Smith Airport (the original name, Mascot Airport, refuses to die) is now one of the oldest in the world, having started in 1919 as a small private venture on a leased bullock paddock. Much of the site was owned by the Kensington Racing Club, as a hedge against it losing its government-owned site at Randwick.

In 1921, the Federal Government purchased 65 hectares of the site to create a public airfield and in 1923, compulsorily resumed all of the racing club’s land (although it didn’t use it all and the old racetrack is still there in the ‘43 photos).

In ‘43 the airport was a tiny affair with gravel runways, although strangely, the road serving the terminals – now a two-storey affair over much of its length – was there even then, although there were no passenger terminals in the sense that we understand them today. Mascot was then very much a military affair and the photos show a gaggle of

DC3 transport planes and even a single Supermarine Spitfire – easily distinguished by its elegant wings.

Parked near the Spit are three Australian-built Beaufort bombers.

Adjacent to the ends of the runways one can see eight concrete aircraft dispersal bays - no doubt intended to protect from a low-flying attack - the few interceptors tasked with defending the airport itself, but these are empty. After the battles of the Coral Sea and Midway in May and June 1942, the Japanese threat to Australia had receded, there was nil chance of carrier-based aircraft attacking Sydney, and precautions had lapsed.

The 1943 airport was hemmed in by two sweeping loops in the Cooks River which meandered through salty wetlands across today’s airport to flow into Botany Bay more than a kilometre east of the river’s present mouth.

Between 1947 and 1952 these loops were eliminated and the river was diverted to flow in an almost straight line from Cahill Park (across the Princes Highway from the new suburb of Wolli Creek), to the bay, and the modern airport with its parallel runways took shape where the loops of the river had once been.

The present International Terminal is located mostly on what had once been a loop of the river. From 1959 the main runway started to be extended into Botany Bay to accommodate larger jet aircraft.

All this had a rotten effect on the ecological health of the Cooks

River system and Botany Bay itself.

Happily, from the late 1970s on, a local movement to stop the looming threats to the Cooks River system moved haltingly into action (the sort of movement the developers and the Murdoch media term “nimbyism”).

The big threats were from freeways: the M5, which was originally to be a surface eight-lane job straight up the guts of the Wolli Valley, and the sonorously-named Cooks River Parkway which would have taken out

most of the parks on the north bank of the Cooks River.

Using SIX Maps to compare the ‘43 air photos with today’s, it has to be said that Sydney is at least a more “forested” place now than it was then, thanks to decades of tree-planting and intense environmental restoration in limited areas, but the city’s ecological footprint has spread much wider. The environmental wins have been tactical, but the losses strategic.

Then and now: the 1947 course of Cooks River and tributaries superimposed on today’s airport

EAT & DRINK

Yayoi “If you have any questions, hit the call staff button – that’s like a dog whistle for me,” my affable waitress jokes as she leaves me to my own devices with a printed and an iPad menu. She’s also very clear that the signature steamed rice – Kama Daki Gohan ($8) The Argyle Canteen Wood fire pizzas – and quite credible ones at that – are now delighting crowds inside this stylish, please-everyone space. Patate ($15) is the crowd favourite, and what’s not to like about doubling up the carbohydrates with potato, rosemary, garlic, mozzarella and truffle oil on a nicely charred base? On San Daniele ($18), Pizza Chef Andrea Fontana loads premium prosciutto, roquette and Parmesan.The red-chequered tablecloth Italian feel carries through to starters like Stuffed Zucchini Blossoms ($17) and Roast Porchetta ($24) on white bean cassoulet; but the dough’s definitely where the magic is at.While wine (with pizza) probably should’ve been the order of the day, the Woodford Reserve Old Fashioned ($18) proved too hard to pass up.

DARLO, KINGS X & SURRY HILLS Zushi In 2005 when Raymond Ang first opened Zushi in Darlinghurst, he says they were the only ones doing the inside-out rolls that are now staples on modern Japanese menus.Today his solid, everyday Japanese is now in Surry Hills, and those rolls – including the Tiger Roll ($18) featuring tempura Queensland banana prawns – are still popular. Raymond’s favourite dish, Ika Somen ($15), sees calamari crafted into piles of gossamer ribbons, swished through dashi dipping sauce for a textural adventure.The menu offers up

fBy Alex Harmon 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, now it’s a case of Maurice who? Aria’s Matt Moran and Peter

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 ($20) with avocado

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– cooked tableside, will take 25 minutes. It’s a small price to pay for a fluffy pot of freshly steamed rice and a bit of table-theatre while you decide on your “teishoku” (meal set). As this, the first Australian venture of a Japanese chain called Yayoiken, does balanced home-style Japanese meal sets, you don’t actually need an entrée. Regardless, a pretty plate of Gyu Tataki ($16) – seared waygu with asparagus and ponzu jelly – will keep you entertained, without adding too much bulk. Discussing the various merits of three sakes in the Premium Sake Selection ($10) should see you through (or not, booze is cheap) until it is time for table Tetris. Don’t take it to mean I don’t appreciate the detailed ceramic tableware, it’s just arranging two trays of it, our rice, the iPad and assorted drinks on the table takes skill. 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 $$$

18 Argyle Street,The Rocks (02) 9247 5500 theargylerocks.com Pizza, Cocktails $-$$

North Bondi Fish

EASTERN SUBURBS & BEACHES

By Jackie McMillan

modern reinterpretations of Japanese dishes: Sashimi Tacos ($17) show off Huon Tasmanian salmon against wasabi granita and wonton chips; while Okonomiyaki ($16) updates the curling bonito-covered pancake with Balmain bugs and a honey-mustard twist.

2A/285A Crown Street, Surry Hills (02) 9380 8830 zushi.com.au Modern Japanese $$ Chica Linda You’d be forgiven for thinking designer Mike Delany dropped a tab of acid before choosing this riotous colour scheme. Begin your mock South American vacation with arepas - dense corn flatbreads stuffed with Smoked Pork Belly ($6) with honey chipotle glaze and pickled ‘slaw.A Panamargarita ($17) keeps your lips tingling with jalapeno and tequila while you tuck into tender Chicken Hearts ($6).

Sullivan have brought the good old-fashioned seaside feel back to the restaurant, with a fresh and modern menu. Start with a Beachside Fizz ($16), a very fancy vodka soda with almond syrup; or if you want to feel like a tourist, indulge in the North Bondi Colada ($16), a fun and filling cocktail. Stick to the theme and order the Fish and Chips ($29), which would make the Motherland envious – and without swimming in grease either. Share the special of Mussels ($25), which also gets you a Stone & Wood beer. Beyond the drink, it’s big enough to share with the whole table.The Grilled Prawns ($35) are whoppers but need their own side to balance the salty sea creatures. Somehow the Crab Linguine ($30) gets it spot on, the lime and chilli offsetting the sweet crab flavour.And just because you’re at the beach, it doesn’t mean you have to order ice cream, go for the Cheese Platter ($25) and sink a few more cocktails while you watch the sun go down.

120 Ramsgate Avenue, Bondi Beach (02) 9130 2155 northbondifish.com.au Seafood $$

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 $$$$ Paperplanes It’s been two years since I visited PaperPlanes. The purple lighting, skateboard paraphernalia and Tokyo pop kitsch are all still there, and the menu remains largely unchanged. Edamame with Chilli Salt ($6) are a perfect

match for dizzyingly sweet cocktails, like Tokyo Pop ($16) with popping candy for an extra sugar high. Two perfectly formed Lettuce Cups ($5/ each) loaded with roasted duck go down a treat; as do Pork Belly Buns ($6.50/each).

My old favourite, Gyoza Panfried Dumplings ($16) with creamy lemon wasabi foam and crushed wasabi peas, also stand the test of time. It just goes to show, when you’re onto a good thing, why change?

Shop 15, 178 Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach (02) 9356 8393 paperplanesbondi.com Modern Japanese $-$$

Mordeo Bistro & Bar Nestled beneath five giant table lamps in the ultramodern Deutsche Bank Place foyer, I find myself smiling.

It could be bartender Sarah Jane Clare’s Jamon & Chargrilled Pineapple Sazerac ($18) warming my heart with Asado Prawns ($15/3) are also worth ordering, particularly if you avail yourself of the on-table fiery scotch bonnet sauce. Mains come Latino family feast style, so expect juicy Puerto Rican Roast Pork ($35) dripping in colourful tomato, corn and black bean salsa plus a side of Coca Cola Rice and Beans ($9).

The Carrington, 563 Bourke Street, Surry Hills (02) 9360 4714 drinkndine. com.au/chicalinda/ South American $$-$$$ The Colonial Some Indian restaurants celebrate authenticity; some celebrate a particular region; this one celebrates the time period of the British Raj, and the evolution of Indian cooking to the individual made-to-order dishes the British favoured. Chicken Tikka Masala ($17) is a staple in the British military’s

smooth butter-washed cognac, or maybe I just like this spot? You can treat it like a bar by starting with a Red Wolf ($15) – the cocktail you have when you can’t decide between a beer and an aperitif – before getting stuck into finger food like Caramelised Lamb Ribs ($12) made sticky and delicious by golden syrup. Or there are cute Bocadillos ($7/each) – they’re sliders from a Spanish mother – with grilled chorizo, piquillo peppers and lashings of saffron aioli.You could also treat this spot like a restaurant, and allow charming host Pascal Lebreux to “take you on a journey”. He might suggest a pretty plate of local Octopus Carpaccio ($22) against a cracking white Grenache – the 2012 La Miranda de Secastilla Garnacha Blanca ($59/bottle). He may also want to demonstrate that “your youth wasn’t that bad” by getting some Caramelised Brussels Sprouts ($8) onto your table. Let him, they rival Porteño’s popular vincotto version. 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 $$$

meal packs. Expect to find it alongside a range of curries inspired by London’s Brick Lane, including bright Chicken Chettinad ($16) with coconut, mustard and chilli. Breads, from Naan ($2.50) to wholemeal Roti ($2.50), are well handled. Low-priced entrees are quite generous, from fat chicken drumsticks marinated in mint yoghurt, spices and cheese,Tangari Kebab ($10) to cottage cheese-stuffed Paneer Jalapenos ($10).

118 Crown Street, Darlinghurst (02) 8084 6700 thecolonialrestaurant. com.au Indian $$ 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 Caramel Parfait Sandwich ($14) a ripper!

197 Evans Street, Rozelle (02) 9818 2788 3weeds.com.au Modern Australian,Wine $$$$

FOOD NEWS When a cookbook from one of Australia’s favourite food personalities, Lyndey Milan, landed on my doorstep, I was excited. Lyndey has rolled up her sleeves, donned her gumboots and set out to explore Australia. She has reported back her findings in a beautifully photographed tome, Taste of Australia [RRP $39.95], which hits the shelves this month. Expect to find a collection of easy to reproduce (and mostly single page) recipes bound together with producer stories from some of Australia’s finest. Lyndey tells me she is “proud it showcases Australian producers and fantastic cuisine.” While she says all the recipes are fabulous, she’s partial to the easy pulled pork with apple and Brussels sprouts ‘slaw, which speeds up the usual long pork shoulder cook by using pork scotch steaks. Lyndey’s red grapefruit update of the traditional lemon delicious pudding is going to make an appearance on my table, as will the baked (rather than fried) prosciutto-wrapped Scotch eggs. Even her twicebaked cheese and truffle soufflé manages not to look too ambitious, so I might give it a whirl. lyndeymilan.com

BAR FLY

THE WINDSOR

Cheap and Cheerful in the Central CBD’, or as otherwise subtitled: ‘Thank God For a Rainy Day’. It was pissing down actually; otherwise we wouldn’t have stumbled up the stairs looking for respite. What we found on our first, and then on a repeat visit, was a bit of old-fashioned pub charm, and a warm welcome. Best of all are the bargain cocktail prices: Monday $8 Cosmo; Tuesday $8 French Martini; Wednesday $6 Margarita, 4 x Coronas $20, $8 Mojitos all night from 5pm; Friday 2 cocktails for $15 5pm – 7pm, $8 Vodka Redbulls 8pm – 9pm; Saturday $8 Vodka Redbulls 9pm to midnight and $8 Mojitos. Otherwise, the cocktails are mostly just twelve bucks. Grub is good value too. The blackboard sports $18 mains specials. And speaking of sports, the couple of screens aren’t too big, and they are (phew) tucked out of sight.

48 Park Street, Sydney (02) 9283 3362 thewindsoronpark.com.au

By Rebecca Varidel

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

photo: Kurt Sneddon, Blueprint Studios

Europe

Out of Fear is a new play, a psychological drama, touching on the sensitive issue of men’s mental health. Mental ‘unwellness’ is not specific to men, it’s just that when things go awry the damage can be profound.

Travers is a good guy who does something terrible. He wakes on a dirt track in the middle of the outback where it appears that he is rebuilding his life – the life he left in the city. There is a wife somewhere back in the past – Lara – and a mysterious man with whom he has a series of bizarre conversations.

Piece by piece things are revealed and the enormity of what he is grappling with comes into focus.

Matt Thompson who plays opposite

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Travers (Chris Miller) is conscious of the sensitivities. “In rehearsals we’ve felt a growing sense of responsibility – if we’re not directly affected ourselves, we’ve got friends and family who are.”

While there are some pretty dark and distressing aspects to the story, it’s also a work that is full of hope. Out of Fear is the search for forgiveness and redemption – a ‘perennial’ of the human spirit.

Thompson says: “This is a man trying to come to grips with the violence within himself, while finding a way to protect and love those precious parts of himself as well.” (GW) Sep 3-14,Tap Gallery Theatre, 278 Palmer St, Darlinghurst, $26, sydneyfringe.com

a&e

Children of the Sun Maxim Gorky’s 1905 play, Children of the Sun, is revisited by celebrated playwright Andrew Upton and The Sydney Theatre Company.

Delineated as a tragic comedy, this production has previously been very well received and it is now adapted further for its approaching STC curtain call featuring a prima cast: Justine Clarke, Jacqueline McKenzie, Chris Ryan, Toby Truslove and Helen Thomson.

Out of of fear Fear out

15 STAGE 16 SCENE 17 Sounds 18 SCREEN

Arts Editor: Leigh Livingstone Music Editor: Chelsea Deeley Live Wire: Alexandra English

For more A&E stories go to www.altmedia.net.au

writer to have that level of immersion and to be an outsider looking in.” (GF) Until Sep 13, ATYP, Pier 4/5 Hickson Rd, Walsh Bay, (02) 9270 2400, atyp.com.au

photo:Tracey Schramm

Developed over two years in the Northern Territory, Rachael Coopes’s and Wayne Blair’s Sugarland will grace the stages of ATYP. The play is a confronting look at the lives of youth in rural areas, giving audiences an insight into what it is to be Australian and furthermore, what it means to be young.

Co-writer Coopes says: “The story is so authentic and rich that we could only get it from immersing ourselves completely in a remote area.”

Coopes says the experience of writing in the town of Katherine provided extensive inspiration: “It was amazing, when Wayne Blair brought me on board we went up and it was very gentle and slow, we had no real preconceptions about what it was like up there or what story we were going to tell.”

To gather material Coopes and Blair held workshops in schools and residencies throughout Katherine: “We hung out with children at YMCA groups and skate clubs,” she says, “we also did documentaries talking to the kids on camera, it’s a dream as a

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 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) Sep 10-27, Seymour Centre, City Rd & Cleveland St, Chippendale, $25-38, (02) 9351 7940, seymourcentre.com

photo: Phyllis Wong Photography

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

Sugarland

photo: Michele Aboud

Wooden Horse Productions is bringing an exploration of love and relationships in the critically acclaimed musical, LOVEBiTES. The production depicts a song series of seven short stories about falling in love from both sides.

“It has some extraordinarily powerful stories that was [sic] written six years ago now and it explores all sorts of different parts of relationships. In particular it explores the idea of gay marriage being legalised and six years later, nothing has changed on that front,” says director Troy Alexander, “so I think it’s important to re-tell these stories, get more people involved, and have that shown here in Sydney.”

The original production of LOVEBiTES

was staged in 2009 at the Seymour Centre and played at the Playhouse Theatre in Perth in 2010. The show has also played in London and New York.

Alexander’s recreation portrays a new level of the featured music.

“Peter Rutherford, the composer, has a whole new orchestration. This production will have five instruments; cello, bass, guitar, drums and piano,” says Alexander.

LOVEBiTES aims to shed new light into the audience’s own relationships by letting them observe the ups and downs of others, and ultimately explore what love can be and how it can change over many years. (CT) Sep 10-Oct 5, Hayes Theatre Co, 19 Greenknowe Ave, Potts Point, $42.9049.90, hayestheatre.com

photo: Blueprint Studios

LOVEBiTES

“This version is slightly more streamlined than the original adaptation. It’s about a family circling around this mad scientist who’s on the verge of a great discovery around the time of the Russian Revolution.

Everything is falling apart in this big, old, meandering house; he’s blinded to it and everyone else is trying to keep it together – inside the house and the chaotic outside world,” says Toby Truslove.

This intriguing backdrop is brought to life with Upton’s expert artistic direction and vision whilst dancing around social and political statements, and ultimately the exploration of those topics within a creative, colloquial context.

“Those people who are incredibly wealthy are sort of blind to the wider, imminent, falling down of their world. Being oblivious to other people’s misery, ultimately, will lead to your downfall,” says Truslove.

“It’s a big, rambling, heartbreaking and hilarious play,” he says. (RBM) Sep 8-Oct 25, Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Pt, $50-99, (02) 9250 7111, sydneytheatre.com.au

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

UNHOLY GHOSTS Wolf Lullaby photo: Brett Boardman

Renowned playwright, Hilary Bell, presents her latest production, Wolf Lullaby. The play is interpreted by theatre director Emma Louise, at the helm of her first full-length production, and performed by a cast of four: Lucy Miller, Peter McAllum, David Woodland, and Maryellen George.

Louise believes we all have different facets, some we hide and others we share freely.

“One of the things we’re playing with in this production is ‘the shadow’, it’s the dark side of our personality and it’s alive within every person. We have to constantly keep that in check and well balanced with our conscious ego in order to stay healthy human beings. This play shows an example of what happens if ‘the shadow’ or ‘the

wolf’ takes over,” says Louise.

“It’s a very dark set, we’re playing with the lights and shadows in this production as we move from scene to scene in the 80 minutes onstage. It’s a challenging performance and it’s confronting, you’ll be questioning yourself throughout this short masterpiece.”

This deliciously engrossing, albeit disturbing play, with its incendiary subject matter and undeniably talented cast and crew, promises to leave audiences howling.

“Come and see Wolf Lullaby, it’s a brilliantly written, thought-provoking play, with an amazing team of actors,” says Louise. (RBM) Until Sep 13, New Theatre, 542 King St, Newtown, $17-32, newtheatre.org.au

Love and Death and an American Guitar

Love and Death and an American Guitar is back due to an overwhelming response following an extremely successful run as part of The Hayes Theatre Co inaugural Cabaret Season. The production will make its return to the Hayes Theatre stage for three nights only.

“Everything in the show is pretty much the same, expect for some tweaking and editing,” says star Toby Francis, “the Hayes Theatre Co is such an amazing setting for this show as it is small and the acoustics are great!”

Love and Death and an American Guitar depicts the reality of the genius responsible for iconic rock album, Bat Out of Hell. It focuses on the personal and professional life of composer, Jim Steinman.

“It shows a very human and relatable side to Jim Steinman and I think the story of Neverland is quite fun,” says Francis of the concept for a rock opera based on Peter Pan that eventually spawned Meatloaf’s Bat Out of Hell instead.

“Jim Steinman wrote some of the biggest and best rock epics of all time, you should absolutely get out of the house and check it out.”

Toby Francis’ rock tenor awaits audiences on this journey through music like a ‘bat out of hell’. (CT) Sep 7, Hayes Theatre Co, 19 Greenknowe Ave, Potts Point, $30, hayestheatre.com.au Death is something we’ll all experience but how do you deal with the void left behind from the death of a loved one?

Playwright Campion Decent explores this grief and loss in his tragicomedy Unholy Ghosts.

Based on Decent’s personal experience of losing his parents, actor James Lugton, who plays the son, says the play is about a man dealing with the impending and eventual death of his parents.

“I think the experience of the son is one that everyone will experience, everyone loses their parents one way or another at some point in their life,” he says.

Relatable and moving, Decent explores the portrait of life in both a tragic and comic way, to reflect the madness of life.

THEATRE &

PERFORMANCE SYDNEY FRINGE FESTIVAL With over 300 productions across 60 venues covering everything from theatre, music, comedy, cabaret, 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

“Campion has written it beautifully, it’s not sentimental or self-indulgent, it’s poetic but matter of fact,” says Lugton.

Bare and intimate, the production aims to connect with audiences individually, and for each person then to take something from it personal to their own story and circumstances.

“I think everyone will take something different away from it, so what one person takes away will be completely different from the person sitting next to them,” says Lugton.

“It’s about the relationships and the words and everything in between.”

(SOC) Until Sep 20, Griffin Theatre, 10 Nimrod St, Darlinghurst, $28-35, griffintheatre.com.au

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 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

Kinski & I

When German movie star Klaus Kinski sat down to write about his life as an actor, he instead wrote an explosive memoir of his sordid sexual exploits.

Now it’s finally coming to the stage in the edgy Sydney Fringe Festival production Kinski & I, written and performed by CJ Johnson.

“I read it over fifteen years ago and my jaw dropped,” he says.

“I thought the book was so crazy that one day I would have to bring it to an audience.”

Sourcing material from the original manuscript, and from Kinski’s daughter, Pola, who alleges that he sexually abused her, Johnson focuses on the candid and disturbing reality of Kinski’s life.

“It has this crazy, mad start and then it’s followed with this intense and incredibly difficult reality,” he says.“Maybe he wasn’t having fun, maybe he was a monster.”

Resonating with the stories of modern celebrities such as

opportunity to collaborate with other artists, develop and try out new works, and find new audiences,” says Glasscock. (MT) various venues, various prices, sydneyfringe.com CONSTELLATIONS Portrayed by Sam O’Sullivan and Emma Palmer, this distinct love story will be a special piece of imagination to share with audiences using the interesting multiverse theory as inspiration.

“A couple fall in love; in some instances they choose to spend their life together and in other instances they choose to go their

separate ways. There’s no one story, it’s a collage of assorted stories. One relationship, infinite possibilities,” O’Sullivan explains.

“It’s all to do with free will, how choices early on in life can have different outcomes, and a butterfly effect on your circumstances later in life. I believe the message is: you’ve got the power to choose, that your life is yours, and that you only live it once, so go for it,” says O’Sullivan. A play that will leave audiences star gazing for a while, the lustre of Constellations will continue to grow. (RBM) Until Sep 7, Darlinghurst Theatre, 39

Rolf Harris and Robert Hughes, the production explores Kinski’s sexual addiction.

“When you first hear all this Kinski stuff it seems funny, but this is sexual addiction, and it gets these people into the worst sort of trouble,” says Johnson.

“It is very much adults only, something you want to approach with an open mind. It’s guaranteed to make jaws drop.” (SOC) Sep 3-14, Old 505 Theatre, Suite 505, 342 Elizabeth St, Surry Hills, $18-22, kinskiandi.com.au

Burton St, Darlinghurst, $30-43, darlinghursttheatre.com MACBETH Shakespeare’s classic tale of ambition, betrayal and brutality has been imagined onstage many times. However, director Kip Williams of Sydney Theatre Company’s latest adaptation has a keen determination to set his version apart from the rest. In a complete reversal of all theatre norms, the audience will sit on the stage itself while the play unfolds in the abandoned auditorium. But Williams’ innovative staging design is just one ambitious

decision of many. For Williams, in characterising Macbeth as a villain, the audience begins to disassociate themselves with his behaviour by the end of the play.

In STC’s version, starring Aussie icon Hugo Weaving, there’s an “open-ended identification with the terrible downfall of this individual,” he says. Despite the blood and brutality of Macbeth, it’s a play Williams believes is relatable to all. (MT) Until Sep 27, Sydney Theatre, 22 Hickson Rd,Walsh Bay, $50-109, (02) 9250 1777, sydneytheatre.com.au 15

Where are all the warehouses?

By Coffin Ed, Miss Death & Jay Katz Check out the picture above – three warehouses for sale at $2,900 each or grab all three for only $7,900.That’s a total of 9,000 square feet at less than a dollar a square foot. Sadly you would have to move to Detroit in the US if you want to take advantage of this bargain basement real estate.

The demise of Detroit as an industrial powerhouse and its subsequent glut of saleable and leasable real estate have been well documented in recent years. There are currently thousands of similar properties for sale or rent in ‘Motor City’ at prices that would make Sydneysiders cringe with envy. Many have been snapped up by community groups and co-ops intent on revitalising the city from the grass roots and upwards.

Here in the Emerald City we can only gasp in awe and remember a once flourishing warehouse culture that existed in the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s. Long before the rush to build loft apartments and similar real estate conversions, there were vacant warehouses all over the Sydney CBD and inner city, and they were dirt cheap to rent.

Regardless of whether they were zoned as purely commercial, many young people made them their homes, happy to live with makeshift kitchens and bathrooms in return for hundreds of square metres of creative space. A thriving underground culture grew around these industrial spaces with artists, musicians and filmmakers all making use of their generous areas and cheap accommodation.

Unable to lease them as commercial premises the owners were generally happy to have a group of students or artists paying the rent, albeit at a greatly reduced rate. If you were renting a warehouse and got a few

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weeks behind with your payments, it was a simple matter to organise a party with a couple of bands and wack a few dollars on the door. The warehouse scene soon spawned regular performance spaces such as Lanfranchi’s Memorial Discotheque and the Frequency Lab, and also played host to the exploding rave culture of the ‘80s and ‘90s. Together with a number of infamous Sydney squats there was a whole sub-culture of people living cheap and contributing to a vibrant cultural scene in the process.

Fast forward to 2014, where Sydney real estate is at a premium, and many of the previous warehouse spaces have been either demolished or converted into groovy apartments. Those that remain are not only expensive to rent but subject to all matter of council restrictions should you want to live there or utilise it as some kind of performance space.

Unlike cities such as Detroit, Sydney was hardly touched by the Global Financial Crisis and our real estate is currently among the most expensive in the world. It’s unlikely we will soon suffer an industrial meltdown like Detroit did with its auto industry or collapse similar to the bursting of the US sub-prime mortgage bubble. In the meantime we can only romanticise about the legendary warehouse parties of the ‘80s and ‘90s – either that or buy an air ticket to Detroit!

THE HIT LIST: You might remember a few years ago we ran a column devoted to the late great Filipino kung fu superstar Weng Weng and the renewed interest in his amazing career all around the world.

Now, as part of the Sydney Underground Film Festival comes a special screening of Andrew Leavold’s remarkable award-winning documentary The Search For Weng Weng – all about the incredible two-foot-nine action movie man. Check out the results of a sevenyear search for the truth behind this now legendary movie star at the Factory Theatre in Marrickville, screening this Sunday September 7 at 5.00pm. searchforwengweng.com

Haze

arms towards a central plinth surrounded by the black flags of political Haze, at 4A Centre for parades.

Contemporary Asian A stark white contrast is Art, is an exhibition by Sarah Contos’ 23 Ming three artists who visited Vases for Little Horse Beijing for the gallery’s (everything that moves inaugural studio program breaks). Her plaster with artist Shen Shaomin. vases juxtapose images Their works are a of collectable Chinese testimony to the efficacy pottery with the of the visit. disposable transience of Tully Arnot’s light modern life. sculpture, Cold Beer Cold Each artist has produced Women, takes advertising unique contributions lighting and transforms it that illustrate how their into a sparkling expose. exposure to a different Meanwhile Jensen’s cultural atmosphere Tjhung’s New God/False enhanced and expanded God, focuses on the the creative horizon. role of contemporary (LR) art in public space. This Until Oct 25, 4A Centre installation is dominated for Contemporary by two zombie-like Asian Art, 181-187 mannequins striving for Hay St, Sydney, free, survival, stretching their 4a.com.au

Photo: Zan Wimberley

THE NAKED CITY

‘Haze’Tully Arnot, Sarah Contos, Jensen Tjhung. 2014 installation view, 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art. Courtesy of the artists

motion/emotion – Annette Messager Annette Messager’s motion/emotion is an expedition through the physical to discover the spirit of humanity.

The artist’s early life in a French village famed as both a convalescent and tourist destination, is clearly connected to these astounding pieces which reflect the conundrum of sickness and celebration.

The voyage begins with a dissection of the outer shell. Brightly patterned gloves with pencil talons cling to long threads in Les Gants – Grimaces – The Gloves – Grimaces. But the metaphor of comfort is ripped apart in Les Depouilles – Skins, a series of desiccated hides hanging nearby.

The journey continues with Penetration where internal organs are suspended from the ceiling like a mobile over a child’s cradle, menacing yet familiar.

Then the chronicle reaches its apogee with the startling Casino, which plays with the legend of Pinocchio to comment on birth, death and Christianity.

This is a thoughtfully curated exhibition, which showcases a complex and unique artistic oeuvre. (LR) Until Oct 26, Museum of Contemporary Art, 140 George St,The Rocks, free, mca.com.au

‘Casino’ by Annette Messager, 2005

20 Years of Grace – Merri Cyr This month marks the 20th anniversary of Jeff Buckley’s sole studio album, Grace. As a celebration of this momentous milestone in music history, Blender Gallery is presenting an exhibition of unique images of the famous American singer.

Photographer Merri Cyr followed Buckley on tour and captured the many shades of his personality through the lens.

The showing features both posed and casual shots. One, that shows Buckley staring intently into a lit match, is a poignant reflection on his short life and incandescent career. In another he is reflected leaning pensively against a door frame, whilst a startling black and white triptych captures the intensity and spontaneity of a live Jeff Buckley performance.

The sadness and joy of these pictures illustrate the intimate life of the man yet maintain the charisma and aura of the star.

For fans of Buckley and rock photography, this show is a must-see. (LR) Until Sep 13, Blender Gallery, 16 Elizabeth St, Paddington, free, blender. com.au

‘Electric’ by Merri Cyr

Josh Pyke is busking for real change

The Green Mohair Suits – Aubergine The Green Mohair Suits’ new EP is one of those one-off finds that mixes bouncing, upbeat rhythms with slower more measured melodies. It’s nice to hear a little banjo playing a walking line; it adds a lovely happy note to any melancholy tune.

Unfortunately Aubergine is over before the listener knows it, before they have fully grasped the versatility and the imagination of just five songs. If the listener is not already on The Green Mohair Suits bandwagon, they have been missing out. (SP)

Reuben And The Dark – Funeral Sky This debut by Reuben And The Dark is a folk-pop offering littered with crisp instrumentals and beautiful vocal harmonies that at times work together masterfully but also fall flat at others.

The album shines when the energy levels hit that sweet spot between generic pop and moody folk, highlighted in the opening three tracks and later in Can’t See The Light.

Unfortunately the final two tracks Funeral Sky, an unimpressive instrumental that has no sense of purpose or direction, and Black Water, close the album on a sour note, which doesn’t bode well for future offerings. (JA)

counterparts achieved that benchmark.

Similarly, many Indigenous children lack basic writing skills. While a 94 per cent majority of non-Indigenous Year 3 students in very remote locations achieved the national minimum standard for writing in 2013, less than half (42 per cent) of their Indigenous peers reached that standard. In the Northern Territory, the literacy divide is even greater.

Having worked with some of Australia’s most isolated and vulnerable Indigenous communities, ILF Program Manager Tina Raye explains, “There are many reasons why Indigenous children are being outperformed in school – language is a key contributing factor. In remote areas, many Indigenous children learn to speak two or three other local languages before they learn English”.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), more than half of Indigenous families in very remote areas speak an Indigenous language at home.

Around Australia, of the 19,067 Indigenous children under 14 years who speak Indigenous languages, one third cannot speak English well or at all.

Ms Raye belongs to the Bardi & Jabirr Jabirr people, north of Broome and the Arabuna people, near Lake Eyre. She explains the cultural obstacles that impede literacy equality, “For many of these children, school is the first exposure to English. And, in many schools, teachers are not properly trained or experienced in teaching English as an additional language.”

She adds, “Access to quality books, including books in first language, is very limited in remote communities with no books available to buy and often no community library.”

Aiming to promote a nationwide culture of reading, the ILF provides remote Indigenous communities with free books. Working with community-based organisations, the ILF supports Indigenous parents so that they can develop literacy experiences together with their children.

Ms Raye says, “In some of these communities,

there is no understanding of the concept of storytelling with books – stories are passed on and shared in other traditional ways. We work with authors and illustrators, community members, and local elders to publish stories in the children’s first language, as well as English.”

With this fourth edition of his Busking For Change concert series, Mr Pyke expects to reach his $50,000 fundraising target for the ILF. He says, “I have always been outraged by inequality, and passionate about bridging the gap between Indigenous Australians and the rest of us.

“I felt like I didn’t have the knowledge or expertise to solve the problem, but working with ILF has allowed me to lend support in an organic way that creates opportunities for Indigenous kids and

Biffy Clyro They visited our island earlier this year for a stellar set at Soundwave, and Biffy Clyro vocalist Simon Neil recalls fondly how he and twins Ben and James Johnston had “the time of [their] lives”. Oh, and that slight head injury.

“When I play music I kind of lose my mind sometimes and I disconnect with my motor skills,” Neil says with an audible smile and a thick Scottish brogue. “I fell off one of the side pillars and smashed my head off one of the speakers. It looked as though it was going to be soft, but it very much wasn’t soft. I did split my head open a wee bit, so that was no fun.”

Their upcoming show at Enmore Theatre will make up for this tarnished (fuzzy) memory of the last trip. This tour was announced less than a month after finishing up with Soundwave and Neil explains

LIVE WIRE Kasey Chambers: Aussie country darling, Kasey Chambers, takes her experiences of growing up in the outback with nomadic parents and turns them into soft, powerful, and catchy tunes about love, loss, and life.

Alternating between hard-edged bluegrass, and jaunty swing melodies, she captivates audiences and transports city-folk to her country history.

that this time they wanted to do things a little differently.

“Every time we have played Australia, it seems like we have done it at two or three weeks notice. This time, because we’re desperate to come back and it’s been a while since we’ve played a run of shows, we tried to formulate a plan,” he explains. “But we also want to do it for any fans that we do have and play a proper show instead of playing for just 30 minutes. When you have six albums that’s fucking hard to do.”

An intimate gig may create a challenging set list for the Scottish rockers, but it’s the atmosphere that gets Neil every time. “Nothing beats when you’re in a smaller room and you get to see everyone,” he says. “It’s more like a moment in time with so much energy that could go either way.

Photo: Indigenous Literacy Foundation

By Carmen Cita You can keep the loose change in your pocket.

When Josh Pyke takes the stage at The Roller Den, he doesn’t want shrapnel – he’s calling for real change.

Moved by the looming Indigenous literacy crisis in remote regions of Australia, Mr Pyke is working with the Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF) to close the literacy gap between Indigenous children and their non-Indigenous peers. To celebrate Indigenous Literacy Day, Mr Pyke will be joined by local hip-hop artist Urthboy for the Busking For Change fundraiser.

As a songwriter and musician, Mr Pyke has an appreciation for the privilege of literacy – the ability to create meaning with words and a gift for storytelling. The ARIA Award-winner explains, “I couldn’t do what I do without the literacy skills that I have – reading and writing are the basis for my songwriting.

“Reading helps us to make sense of the world around us. Or sometimes you read a book to escape from the world. For Indigenous kids, improved literacy is a really important step towards selfdetermination.”

For those who struggle with basic literacy, reading is an alienating chore. Without literacy skills, communication is compromised and it can be difficult to fully participate in everyday life.

The scale of the Indigenous literacy gap is evident in the National Assessment Program Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) 2013 National Report.

Nationwide, in all areas of learning, the scores for Indigenous students are substantially lower than those achieved by their non-Indigenous peers.

The report shows that Indigenous students in remote locations are especially susceptible to low literacy levels. In Australia’s most isolated communities, only 54 per cent of Indigenous students met the national minimum standard for reading in Year 3, while 94 per cent of their non-Indigenous

Josh Pyke leads a songwriting workshop at Garma

Kind of like an open communication with the people there. It makes it more exciting.

“We’re used to being the underdog and playing first on the main stage at festivals to not that many people who are just confused and perplexed. But we do relish that feeling,” he adds.

So, can we have a guarantee that they will definitely be arriving in Australia this September, unlike their South By South West “Where is Biffy Clyro” hoax?

After initial laughter, we have the response and explanation we need.

“We thought it would be pretty funny to create this illusive show at SXSW but there was actually no show,” Simon Neil explains. “But I’m 99 per cent sure that we will definitely be in Australia for this tour. It’s definitely not a hoax.” (CD) Sep 5, Enmore Theatre, 118-132 Enmore Rd, Newtown, $70+bf, ticketek.com.au

Sydney Live Music Guide

Thu, Sep 4th, Newtown Social Club The Amity Affliction: This gig is part of the band’s biggest headline tour to date in support of their fourth album Let The Ocean Take Me. Long-time fans can rejoice that one of Australia’s most successful acts are playing in their largest rooms yet.

Thu, Sep 4th, Hordern Pavilion Dead Letter Circus: This Brisbane four-piece blur the

communities.”

Ms Raye says, “Josh is a great ambassador for ILF. Beyond his generous fundraising efforts, he has made an important contribution towards the work that we do to raise awareness and improve Indigenous literacy.

“Music and storytelling is a significant part of the culture. Josh has done songwriting workshops with children who speak a range of local languages – the music transcends language barriers,” she adds.

A gently spoken crusader, Mr Pyke says, “While I’ve always been a politically minded person, I don’t want to be a political musician. But when I see the consequences of inequality, the indignity, it’s impossible not to feel anger and I suppose, in some way, that creeps into my music.” (CC) Busking for Change, Sep 4, The Roller Den, 32 Erskineville Rd, Erskineville, $30, buskingforchange.com.au

lines between rock, metal, prog and alternative in a way that makes it seem as though the whole thing is just one big genre. Explosive tenor vocals and shimmering guitar sounds weave in and out of each other and into catchy melodic riffs that will have audiences trying to decide whether to head bang, bop, sway, groove or just simply stand still and absorb.

Fri, Sep 5th,The Basement

Tin Sparrow: This Sydney three-piece have spent some time reflecting on music and why they make it; a metaphysical journey that turned physical when they took time off last year to travel, surf, write music, and get back to basics.Their music is based on equal parts of strong narratives, strong melodies, and strong psychedelic vibes.Touchstones include Tame Impala, Arcade Fire, and Real Estate.

Sun, Sep 7th, Beach Road Hotel

Bob Dylan: In all honesty, audiences never know how a Dylan performance is going to go. His backing band is a well-oiled machine and Dylan’s voice never strays from its signature snarl but The Man himself can be a little hot and cold. His arthritis means he probably won’t pick up a guitar but he’ll make up for it by spending ample time on piano and wailing on harmonica. Dylan is always worth seeing. No question.

Sun, Sep 7th, Syd Opera House

Motown Mondays: Sydney-based funk, soul and Motown band, Soultrane, are committed to taking away the Monday night blues. Every week they hit up The White Horse with various acts for a night of Motown music inspired by Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, James Brown, Aretha Franklin and Marvin Gaye. Dance the night away and pretend it’s the 1960s. (AE) Mon, Sep 8th,The White Horse 17

The Reckoning

When Abbie (Chelsea Williamson) is killed in a hit and run accident, her sister Rachel (Hanna Mangan Lawrence) and companion AJ (Alex Williams) embark on a murderous quest to avenge her death. Detectives Robbie Green (Jonathan LaPaglia) and Jane Lambert (Viva Bianca) are chasing these runaways, who have footage revealing the identity of the driver.

The Reckoning is a well-structured and fast-paced crime thriller, utilising all the classic elements to deliver a suspenseful and spine-chilling film.

Boyhood

Richard Linklater’s epic Boyhood, filmed over 12 years using the same actors, follows Mason (Ellar Coltrane) as he goes from childhood to the precipice of adulthood.

Compelling at its premise, the film is insightful and unique but ultimately drags from lack of narrative drive. In a way, its understated nature is rather like life – perpetually moving with one sequence after another.

While audiences may relate to these experiences nothing new about the journey through

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 to expose him (Jai Courtney).

Director Matthew Saville takes us 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.

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Performances are strong, notably from Lawrence and Williams, who are on “God’s path” to avenge the death of their loved one.

Clichéd villains and improbable storylines typical in films of this genre don’t detract, but enhance the excitement leading to a predictable, yet satisfying climax.

Credibility becomes strained as this young couple successfully unravel a complex web of corruption that stems from the drug dealers up to the law enforcers, but ultimately The Reckoning is a very engaging Australian film. (MM) WWW½

adolescence is provided.

Still, to watch Mason (and the other actors) literally growup onscreen is fascinating.

Coltrane is all that he should be, a charming and sometimes mysterious little boy who grows into an individually minded young man.

The tension in Boyhood lies between the growth of childhood and the ‘being’ of adulthood. When the adults in Mason’s life seem no closer to a sense of conclusive ‘being’ how can he negotiate the transition to adulthood? (ATS) WW

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 20,000 DAYS ON EARTH You can immediately tell that cultural icon and focal point Nick Cave had a say in 100 per cent of everything that’s going on in this film. It’s an incredibly intimate portrait of a man, his dreams, his memories, his obsessions, processes, and thoughts.

The storyline, the staging and the soundtrack cannot be faulted; the film also features a slew of Cave’s friends and colleagues including Kylie

Sydney Underground Film Festival 2014 The Sydney Underground Film Festival (SUFF) is rolling the red carpet down Sydney’s inner-west this September and it leads to Marrickville’s Factory Theatre. SUFF is turning eight this year, and still going strong thanks to founders and directors, Stefan Popescu and Katherine Berger.

“For us, it’s about adventurous cinema. We want cinema to be a roller-coaster. We want to buy the ticket and take the ride. To reference Hunter S Thompson: ‘It’s an adventure, cinema should be an adventure’,” says Popescu.

With a comprehensive selection of underground films, from both local artists and international filmmakers, this year will showcase the best from hundreds of submissions, hand-picked by the festival directors.

“We usually start from the films themselves, and see what we respond to. What you normally find is that a theme ends up developing. This year there’s an apocalyptic/horror underlying current.

“It will be an experience like you’ve never had. I would recommend people come through for a day pass – you watch a film, then have a coffee or beer, and meet other filmmakers while you’re

Suburban Gothic

waiting for your next screening. [It’s] a great networking experience too,” he says. (RBM) Sep 4-7,The Factory Theatre, 105 Victoria Rd, Marrickville, From $14-120 (festival pass), suff.com.au

D-Day 3D: Normandy 1944

What We Do in the Shadows What We Do in the Shadows is a hilarious mockumentary that revolves around three housemates who just happen to be immortal vampires with a thirst for human blood. There is an outrageously surreal contrast between the normal streets of Wellington, New Zealand, and the very atypical selection of undead – including werewolves, zombies and vampires.

The film crew follows the lives of Viago (Taika Waititi), Deacon (Jonathan Brugh), and Vladislav (Jemaine Clement) as they look for their ‘necks’ victim,

Minogue. Diehard fans will find themselves witness to a side of the enigmatic Cave that the world has hitherto not been privy. (AE) Limited release. WWWWW PALO ALTO Based on the short stories of controversial Hollywood star James Franco, Palo Alto explores the turbulent, confusing and lonely time known as adolescence.

The directorial debut from the next generation of Coppola, Gia, transforms the film into something beautiful.

Sadly there’s only a semblance of a narrative to follow but considering the film’s subject matter perhaps that’s the point.

Although wonderfully shot, well acted and a poignant insight into adolescence, it has all been said before. (MT) WWW

and the comedic timing and performances is guaranteed to have audiences in stitches.

The camera work is emblematic of the genre and although some may find it distracting it rings true in this context. The duration only adds to the overall positive experience of this socially relevant satire. 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)

D-day 3D: Normandy 1944 is a comprehensive overview of the largest operation of WWII to liberate Europe from Germany.

On June 6th, 1944 the assault on Nazi forces commenced along the Normandy beaches in France.

Eleven nations united to fight the decisive battle that would change the course of history.

This concise and visually compelling documentary has been shot in the IMAX 3D format, utilising an imaginative array of techniques to explore the history and military strategy of this monumental event.

Animated battle maps, pop-up

books, archival photos converted to colourised 3D, and computergenerated sequences of air attack and naval bombardments are riveting. Sand animation, which is the process of manipulating grains of sand to produce images, is also employed to cleverly recreate the battle scenes.

Coinciding with the 70th anniversary of D-Day, this documentary is more importantly a memorial to the millions who perished fighting for the freedom of future generations.

Limited release: IMAX (MM)

WWWW

WWWW THE EXPENDABLES 3 Barney (Sylvester Stallone) replaces his current Expendables team with young blood, but when they’re captured and held hostage the old gang reform and a stunning rescue mission follows.

Star-studded Hollywood heavyweights including Harrison Ford and Arnold Schwarzenegger have been assembled for this mammoth sequel, with Antonio Banderas hilarious as the chatty wannabeexpendable.

After the release of this film’s cheesy predecessor the tired format was revamped, with the elimination of the self-parody and re-introduction of the more conventional serious style of action storytelling.

This has successfully revitalised the franchise, still remaining comical but adding an edge that should arrest

audiences and secure yet more sequels. (MM) WWW½

willing to wait for an ambiguous denouement. (LR) WWW

A MOST WANTED MAN A banker, lawyer, preacher, and spy combine to provide mystery and intrigue in John le Carré’s A Most Wanted Man. Set in a blue- and yellow-soaked Hamburg, one of Philip Seymour Hoffman’s last movies sees him portray the dissipated and avuncular Günther Bachmann, the head of a small Secret Service section of dubious legality.

This is a world of suggestive looks, simple words, and deceptive nods. It is a tale where good and evil are indistinguishable.

A Most Wanted Man is understated rather than sensational and sustaining the suspense over two hours is problematic. It is probably more suitable for an older audience that is

THE KEEPER OF LOST CAUSES From Denmark comes a crime sensation that will have audiences at the edge of their seats.

When disgraced chief detective Carl Morck (Nikolaj Lie Kaas) and assistant Assad (Fares Fares) investigate the cold case of a missing politician who allegedly committed suicide, they unearth the truth which leads to a race against time.This psychological crime thriller is superbly written, dark, and gritty, in which the mystery and suspense ensures audience interest is effectively maintained. Momentum accelerates at a fast pace leading to the disturbing climax which is heightened by an effective musical score. (MM) WWW½