Melbourne Observer. August 16, 2017

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16, 2017

VICTORIA’S INDEPENDENT WEEKLY NEWSPAPER

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S TATE EDITION Vol 49 No 1676 SERVING VICTORIA SINCE 1969

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Final siren sounds for Harry

Photo: Fiona Hamilton

Football identity Harry Beitzel has died at age 90.

Turn To Page 6

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Observer Vale Harry Beitzel inc orpor a ting the Melbourne A d vvertiser ertiser incorpor orpora Ad ertiser,, Melbourne T ict orian Rur al Ne ws Trr ader ader,, V Vict ictorian Rural New and Melbourne Seniors News News..

Victoria’s Independent Newspaper First Published September 14, 1969 Every W ednesda y Wednesda ednesday

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Our Team Editor: Ash Long Features Editor: Peter Mac Columnists: Len Baker (harness racing), Matt Bissett-Johnson (cartoonist), David Ellis (wine and travel), Rob Foenander (country music), Kerry Kulkens (astrology), Nick Le Souef (outback Australia), Mike McColl Jones (life), Greg Ne wman (r adio ), T erry Radf or d ((C C ourt ewman (radio adio), Terry Radfor ord roundsman), Aaron Rourke (movies), Ted Ry an (r acing), Jim Sherlock Ryan (racing), (movies, DVDs), Cheryl Threadgold (local thea e ), K e vin T sho wbiz), theatt rre Ke Trrask ((sho showbiz), Veritas, G avin W ood (Holly w ood).

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■ Victorian football legend Harry Beitzel has died at the age of 90, after a long period of illness.

For many years, Beitzel contributed his Footy Week column in the Melbourne Observer newspaper.

Henry John Beitzel was born in Fitzroy on April 6, 1927.

He had a keen interest in football, playing some games for the Lions.

Beitzel's early career consisted of umpiring Victorian Football League matches, of which he officiated in 182 senior games (including the 1955 Grand Final) from 1948 to 1960.

After an operation on his achilles tendon, Beitzel regained fitness and intended to continue umpiring, but instead took up a role in the media for the 1961 season.

He joined radio station 3KZ as a replacement for Jack Mueller.

Beitzel later covered football for 3AW, 3AK and the ABC radio stations, as well as stints for 96.5 Inner FM and Stereo 974.

Harry Beitzel wrote for the Herald Sun, Truth, the Victorian edition of the Sunday Telegraph and The Australian.

In the 1960s, Harry Beitzel started the free Footy Week publication, made available through Spotless Dry Cleaners and Caltex service stations.

Harry also worked on television for the ABCand the Nine Network.

His innovations included the introduction of statistics during broadcasts of matches, as well as comprehensive previews and reviews of games.

His friend Ray Young was instrumental in the prepara-

● Harry Beitzel as a VFL umpire

● Harry at a Sydney Swans function tion of the statistics ited with pioneering from the six suburban the development of matches held across the composite rules Melbourne every Sat- sport international rules football. urday afternoon.

He drew inspiraIn 2005, Beitzel rejoined 3AW as a semi- tion from watching the regular contributor to 1966 All-Ireland SeRex Hunt's pre-match nior Football Championship Finalon teleshow.

Beitzel is also cred- vision, and in 1967 sent an Australian side – ‘The Galahs’ – to play the game against an Irish side.

He followed this the next year with The Australian Football World Tour, a sixmatch series with games played against Irish teams in Ireland, the UK and United States.

The 1968 Galahs also played exhibition matches of Australian rules throughout the tour, including a game in Bucharest, Romania.

The Footy Week projects included a ● Harry Beitzel after his eye surgery Western Australian

edition headed by Geelong star Graham ‘Polly’ Farmer.

Harry Beitzel had served in the Navy, tried his luck as a furniture retailer in Brunswick, ran a public relations agency, as well as publishing newspapers and specialist publication.

His Sunday News business in the early 1970s lost more than $200,000 in just 26 issues.

Harry Beitzel was sentenced to 18 months jail in October 1994, with a minimum of eight months to be served.

He had pleading guilty to obtaining financial advantage by deception over matters related to his work for a lottery organisation.

He served his sentence initially at Pentridge Prison and then at the open, minimum-security Morwell River Prison Farm.

Beitzel strenuously denied that he had ever intentionally committed a crime.

During his prison term, football identities including Kevin Sheedy were exceptionally loyal to their friend.

I was aged 12-13 when I first met Harry Beitzel. Our family’s part-time newpaper distribution business assisted in the weekly delivery of Footy Week, Sunday Sport and Sunday News.

This was done in association with the Nation Review publication, developed by Gordon Barton, who had founded the Melbourne Sunday Observer.

Our family lost a modest amount when the Beitzel business collapsed.

So when I approached Harry in the 2000s to include his weekly Footy Week column in the Melbourne Observer, he readily accepted.

Harry more than re-paid the debt.

Harry Beitzelloved seeing the development of Aussie Rules football, nationwide.

He prized his association with the Sydney Swans.

In later years, Harry and second wife Kaz lived on the NSW Central Coast.

A service will be held in Sydney, and family members plan to hold a Melbourne memorial later.

Our sincere sympathy to the family.

- Ash Long

Your Stars with Kerry Kulkens Aries: March 21-April 20.

Colour red Lucky day Friday Racing numbers 2.3.5.1.

Lotto numbers 13.15.26.24.40.42.

Not a good time to start arguments with people who are important to you in your career matters, because of something you did in the past you can now enjoy the benefits, you should be kept very busy for some time.

Taurus: April 21- May 20.

Colour green Lucky day. Monday Racing numbers 6.5.4.8.

Lotto numbers 13.18.27.7.1.20.

For the young at heart there should be propositions and proposals and most should enjoy their love life. Not a good time to confide secrets to anyone and use tact in all communications.

Gemini. May 21- June 21.

Colour white Lucky dayWednesday Racing numbers 2.6.5.4.

Lotto numbers 13.15.26.24.40.33.

Some happy reasons for family celebrations could come up and things an\d people you lost years ago could suddenly come back into your life again. Something you thought was a defeat could turn into a victory.

Cancer: June 22- July 22.

Colour lemon Lucky day. Friday Racing numbers 5.6.8.4.

Lotto numbers 13.14.40.22.5.8.

Some chance of travel over the next few weeks and better to say yes than no to an offer. You might not feel as energetic as you would wish so make sure you have enough rest.

Leo: July 23-August 22.

Colour blue Lucky day Monday Racing numbers 3.6.9.5.

Lotto numbers 1.6.23.32.20.11.

To save yourself some embarrassing moments make sure your bills are paid in time. Do not push too hard in your love life as this could put certain people off. It should be a very busy period.

Virgo.August 23- September 23.

Colour green Lucky day Monday Racing numbers 6.5.2.1 Lotto numbers 6.15.24.40.20.33.

You could have a very good chance to improve your financial position with a new idea and business partner.

What you did in the past will now bring the benefits.

Your romantic life is in for a lift also.

Libra: September 224- October 23.

Colour white Lucky day Friday Racing numbers 6.5.4.1.

Lotto numbers .13.15.26.40.22.10.

A period in which many marriages are talked about even more are decided on. Very busy social life and maybe a welcome addition to your family circle could make your life more interesting.

Scorpio: October 24- November 22.

Colour orange Lucky day Saturday Racing 6.5.2.1.

Lotto numbers 13.15.26.24.40.33.

Time when you must listen to your head more than your heart as your romantic aspects could be a little confusing. Your financial matters should be making life a little bit easier.

Sagittarius: November 23- December 20 Lucky colour white Lucky day. Tuesday Racing numbers 4.6.5.7.

Lotto numbers 1.5.19.24.40.45.

Family situation should be more harmonious and many happy moments are predicted for the domestic scene.

Some news from distant places could turn your thoughts to travel plans for the future.

Capricorn: December 21- January 19.

Colour lilac Lucky day Sunday Racing 7.8.9.4.

Lotto numbers 13.15.26.40.22.33.

A period in which you must be very careful with your business and real estate matters, read the fine print in everything you sign and make sure you understand everything. Family might give you some worries.

Aquarius:; January 20- February 19.

Lucky colour blue Lucky day Friday Racing numbers 6.5.4.1.

Lotto numbers 1.5.13.34.40.22.

Time for decisions in a big way, you must make up your mind about something or someone in a hurry. People will be in the position to help you and will be doing so in due course.

Pisces: February 20- March 20.

Colour fawn Lucky day. Monday Racing 5.8.6.1.

Lotto numbers 1.6.24.40.45.8.

Make sure you do not make decisions without the help and approval of your mate or you might get yourself in hot water emotionally. It is a good period for starting new projects and ideas are coming thick and fast.

Visit Kerry Kulkens Magic Shop at 1693 Burwood Hwy, Belgrave Phone/Fax 9754 4587 www.kerrykulkens.com.au Like us on Facebook

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Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, August 16, 2017 - Page 7

Showbiz Latest

It’s All About You!

Melbourne

Every trick in Observer the book In This Edition

● Michael Bula and Ophelie Durand in the Melbourne French Theatre’s Every Trick in The Book.

■ The Melbourne French Theatre celebrates its 40th anniversary year by presenting the classic French farce, Every Trick in the Book, from September 7-16 at a Pop up Theatre at 203-205 Canning St, Carlton Written by Georges Feydeau and directed byAlec Gilbert, Every Trick in the Book is regarded as a ‘thinking person’s comedy’, featuring a total of 10 performers.

The story centres around Ribadier, who thinks he’s got it right by hypnotising his wife Angèle. But his plans come unstuck when Thommereux, her former lover, learns the technique and tries it too – with unexpected and chaotic consequences.

Enter Gusman, love-struck by Ribadier’s maid Sophie, then throw wine merchant Savinet into the mix, and the ending is sure to surprise.

With surtitles in English, the play is accessible to the non-French-speaking and the hearing impaired, and is all-age-friendly.

With its transposition from the Belle Epoque of the original to glittering 1930s Hollywood, Every Trick in the Book offers a glimpse into social tensions and class welfare of the era, with a comedic twist.

Included in the ticket price, Melbourne French Theatre patrons can enjoy pre-show wine and beer, cheese and French bread, enhancing the sensory experience of the play that combines live French theatre with the sights, smells, sounds and taste of French culture.

Performance Season: September 7 – 16 Venue: Pop-up Theatre, 203-205 Canning St., Carlton.

Booking Details: Visit www.melbourne frenchtheatre.org.au - Cheryl Threadgold

High Tea and Jazz

Long Shots: Vale Harry Beitzel ......... Page 6 Gavin Wood: West Hollywood ........... Page 8 Matt Bissett-Johnson: Cartoon ......... Page 9 Kevin Trask: Whatever Happened ... Page 12 Nick Le Souef: Outback Legend ...... Page 12 Mark Twain: Classic Books .............. Page 13 David Ellis: Travel and Wine ............ Page 26 Len Baker: Harness Racing ............. Page 27 Ted Ryan: Observer Racing .............. Page 28 Rob Foenander: Country Music ....... Page 30 Cheryl Threadgold: Theatre ............. Page 33 Country Music Radio News Local Theatre Showbiz

Observer Showbiz

Latest News AroundVictoria

Car tracked

■ Threealleged criminals were jailed after an Anglesea man used the ‘find my phone’app to locate his stolen car. Geelong Magistrates’ Court heard on Wednesday that Tyler Oborne and two alleged cooffenders were arrested on Tuesday at a home on Magpie Close, Lara, where stolen property and drugs were seized, the Geelong Advertiser reported.

Police operation

■ Police have launched a major road policing operation targeting driver behaviour in Melbourne’s south-eastern suburbs following an increase in the number of lives lost on local roads.

Boosted local Highway Patrol and State Highway Patrol resources have been deployed to Southern Metro Region Division 3, which comprises the municipalities of Greater Dandenong, Casey and Cardinia, as part of Operation Prominent.

‘Caravan’ at Doncaster

Tow truck theft

■ Police are appealing for witnesses following the theft of a tow truck from a car parts business in Reservoir. The truck, a white 2003 Isuzu tray, registered 2040TT, was stolen from outside the Newlands Rd business.

Forecast ● Natasha Arancini (Gwendolyn) and Julian Campobasso (Pierce) rehearse Caravan. Report on Page 9.

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Today (Wed.). Cloudy. 9°-16° Thurs. Shiowers. 7°-14° Fri. Showers. 4°-12° Sat. Scattered showers. 3°-12° Sun. Mostly sunny. 7°-14°

Mike McColl Jones ● Monique Di Mattina performs at Gasworks Arts Park on Sunday (Aug. 20) ■ As part of Melbourne winter music festiThis is sure to be a treat for all the senses. val Live N Local, Monique Di Mattina will be Freshly brewed tea and coffee is included,and performing at Priscilla Jones at Gasworks Arts with Priscilla Jones’s famous homemade sauPark on Sunday (Aug. 20). sage rolls on the menu there will definitely be Spend a lazy afternoon listening to jazz no need for dinner. and blues whilst sampling the popular high tea Nestled in the stunning surrounds of the experience. beautiful Gasworks Arts Park, Priscilla Jones Monique Di Mattina is a creative force, is famous to the locals of Albert Park for their known for her energetic performances and home style classics with a twist, and this mouth regular Triple R and ABC 774 segments. watering high tea experience will be no exShe has played recitals for dignitaries in- ception. cluding Bill Clinton and Vaclav and has worked Date: Sunday, August 20. Time: 2pm-5pm. with artists such as Lou Reed, Bjork, Peter Price: $28 per person. (Includes bubbles and Gabriel and Norah Jones. an assortment of sweet and savoury treats, Enjoy a glass of bubbles on arrival and an tea & coffee). Venue: Priscilla Jonesat Gasindulgent assortment of sweet and savoury works, 21 Graham St, Albert Park. Bookings treats, all served at your table while you relax Essential: 9682 8255. and enjoy one of Australia’s finest musicians.

- Cheryl Threadgold

Top 5

THE T OP 5 TOP THINGS THA T HA VE THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN GOOGLED 5. The book of instructions for the DESAL plant.

4. The DNA of a Dim Sim. 3. Brynne Edlesten's school report cards.

2. Bernard Tomic's list of excuses.

1. Kim Jong Un's hairdresser.

Page 8 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Observer Magazine

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Stateside with Gavin Wood in West Hollywood

International director arrives in WeHo

■ Hi everyone, from my suite at the Ramada Plaza Hotel and Suites comes this week's news.

Ramada Review ■ Ramada West Hollywood offers beautiful, luxurious rooms and spiral staircases.

- Reviewed by: David Smith from AU Review.

Top film man in the house

■ Internationally acclaimed film director Simon Wincer made a brief visit to West Hollywood last week and caught up with his long-time friend Alan Johnson, Managing Director, Ramada Plaza Hotel and Suites, West Hollywood.

The Free Willy director was in Los Angeles to look for locations for his next top-secret movie.

If you go to the Gold Coast and see the Australian Outback Spectacular, which is a $23 million show extravaganza, you will witness the directing brilliance of Simon Wincer.

Simon is credited with such landmark movies as Free Willy, Quigley Down Under, The Phantom, Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles, Operation Dumbo Drop, The Cup, Lightning Jack and many more blockbusters.

Self driving semi-trailers ■ Tesla is getting close to testing a prototype of a long haul, electric semi-truck that can drive itself and automatically follow a lead vehicle in a "platoon", Reuters reports.

The electric-car maker discussed possible road tests for the new technology with the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles in an email exchange seen by Reuters.

A regulatory official with the company told Nevada authorities the goal is to test two trucks "without having a person in the vehicle".

Tesla was also due to meet with authorities in California to discuss similar plans, according to the report.

Chief Executive Elon Musk said earlier this year that the company's new electric truck would be unveiled in September, though he didn't mention self-driving capabilities at that time.

● Simon Wincer and Alan Johnson

Carrie Fisher leaves $7m

■ Billie Lourd has been working hard to get used to life without her grandmother and mother around.

Now, new court documents reportedly reveal what the star's late mother left her after her passing.

Carrie Fisher, Lourd's mother, died in December 2016. It was previously reported that the late Star Wars actress left her daughter a slew of owned assets including bank accounts, a 2016 Tesla S, ownership of several companies and a life insurance policy.

This doesn't even cover Fisher's various jewellery items, artwork, and collectables.

The Boss on Broadway

■ Bruce Springsteen has confirmed an eight-week run of Broadway performances, set to begin in October at the Walter Kerr Theatre.

The engagement, titled Springsteen on Broadway, will feature the legendary singer-songwriter performing songs from all eras of his career as well as readings from his 2016 memoir Born to Run. "I wanted to do some shows that were as personal and as intimate as possible," Springsteen said.

"I chose Broadway for this project because it has the beautiful old theatres which seemed like the right setting for what I have in mind.

“In fact, with one or two exceptions, the 960 seats of the Walter Kerr Theatre is probably the smallest venue I've played in the last 40 years. My show is just me, the guitar, the piano and the words and music.

“Some of the show is spoken, some of it is sung. It loosely follows the arc of my life and my work. All of it together is in pursuit of my constant goal to provide an entertaining evening and to communicate something of value."

Sad passing of star

■ Glen Campbell, the sweet-voiced, guitar-picking son of a sharecropper who became a recording, television and movie star in the 1960s and '70s, waged a publicised battle with alcohol and drugs and gave his last performances while in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease, passed away in Nashville.

He was 81.

GavinWood

From my Suite at the Ramada Plaza Complex on Santa Monica Blvd

Get out there and mingle ■ One is the loneliest number and, sometimes, it could even be the most dangerous.

Loneliness is just as much of a public health hazard as obesity, if not more so, according to research presented at the American Psychological Association annual conference last week.

Research from 148 studies, involving 300,000 participants, showed people who had greater social connections had a 50 per cent reduced risk of dying early, and another set of research involving 70 studies representing 3.4 million people in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia found social isolation, loneliness or living alone each played a significant role in premature death.

More than 42 million Americans over the age of 45 suffer from chronic loneliness. More than one-quarter of the population lives alone and more than half are unmarried, according to the US Census Bureau.

People that considered themselves lonely were less likely to engage in social activities, such as going to religious services, volunteering or finding a hobby. So get out there and mingle.

www.gavinwood.us

Seriously though, how many hotel rooms do you ever get to stay in that have a spiral staircase? Like, actually in the room?

My first thought entering my room at the luxurious Ramada Plaza West Hollywood was that I was in a room far fancier than I was used to.

The bottom floor of the room is a spacious living area with couches, a TV and large windows that show off a view of the city south towards Downtown.

The bathroom is tucked away behind it all, itself well appointed and boasting a bath-shower combo along with a large, well-lit basin area.

There's a small kitchenette that is particularly well stocked and will make things easy for anyone looking to stay for longer periods.

A balcony outside skirted the entire room, providing an area augment to the already stellar view.

It's rare to stay in a hotel room this wide open and I revelled in it momentarily before remembering that I could, in fact, head upstairs.

I'm about 90kg and as such, I'm often very aware of my weight when climbing anything.

Thankfully, the spiral staircase is actually quite solid and never once complained about me clambering up and down it as I went about my business during the E3 2017 conference.

Upstairs is a rather spacious landing about half the size of the living area downstairs. A massive, very comfortable kingsize bed sits against the south wall, putting Santa Monica Boulevard directly behind you.

This was momentarily a concern for me, traffic in Los Angeles is a constant background hum, the honking of horns is a part of the city soundscape.

How would I ever get any sleep? Imagine my surprise when, by night, I was never once troubled.

Literally no engine noise made it into the room and I slept soundly the entire night, one of the first complete nights of sleep I'd experienced since my arrival. They definitely get the tick for soundproofing.

This is a beautiful, luxurious room that affords a stay beyond the criminally short single night I was very generously provided. I t is comfortable, quiet, cool in the blazing LA summer and spacious in a way many other hotel rooms aren't. All in the heart of a bustling West Hollywood. I can't wait to come back.

Hotel Ramada West Hollywood Address: 8585 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069, USA.

David Letterman returns

■ Late-night talk show legend David Letterman will emerge from retirement to star in an upcoming Netflix series.

The unnamed show, set to premiere in 2018, will mesh Letterman's knack for in-depth interviews with his flair for out of studio antics in six one-hour episodes.

"I feel excited and lucky to be working on this project for Netflix," says Letterman.

"Here's what I have learned, if you retire to spend more time with your family, check with your family first."

The longest-serving host in US late night television, Letterman's last episode of CBS's The Late Show aired May 20, 2015.

Special Holiday Offer

■ If you are considering a move to Los Angeles or just coming over for a holiday in the well-appointed rooms of the Ramada Plaza Hotel then I have got a special deal for you.

We would love to see you at the Ramada Plaza Hotel and Suites, 8585 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood.

I have secured a terrific holiday deal for readers of the Melbourne Observer and The Local Paper.

Please mention 'Melbourne Observer' when you book and you will receive the 'Special Rate of the Day'.

Please contact: Joanna at info@ramadaweho.com Happy Holidays, Gavin Wood

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Melbourne Arts AT NGV Gareth Sansom in Conversation: A pre-eminent figure of the Australian avant-garde for over 60 years, Gareth Sansom merges pop culture references with intuitive and gestural mark-making.

Hear the artist reflect on his career in conversation with art critic Sebastian Smee.

Monday September 18. 6.30pm - 7.30pm Venue: Exhibition Space NGV, St. Kilda Rd. Curator's Perspective: Speaker: Simon Maidment, Senior Curator Contemporary Art. Sunday September 17. 11am. Venue: Exhibition Space NGV, St Kilda Rd. Speaker: Pip Wallis, Curator, Contemporary Art. Wednesday October 25. 2pm. Venue: Exhibition Space NGV. St. Kilda Rd. Film Screening Psycho Gareth Sansom often takes breaks from working in his studio to watch films, with references found in his body of work. Alfred Hitchock's iconic film Psycho had a profound effect on Sansom, with his painting Bates Motel referencing the movie.

Cost free. Bookings recommended 8620 2222. Sunday October 29 at 2pm, Venue: Theatre NGV St. Kilda Rd. - Peter Kemp

Opera Lohengrin

■ Melbourne Opera's choice of production for the second venture at Melbourne's Regent Theatre was Wagner's Lohengrin.

A story of Telramund who accuses his ward Elsa of murdering her brother. Elsa is called to defend herself and calls for the knight of whom she dreamed to come and save her.

The stage was simply set; at stage rear were a set of steps used in different positions throughout the production. The rear was a large screen used to show in Act 1 a country scene and Act 2 the interior of a church. Act 3 reverted back to Act 1. Simple but very effective.

Lohengrin, the mystery knight was given a superb performance by tenor Marius Vlad.

Vlad has a brilliant voice, good stage presentation and worked well with Elsa (Helena Dix) as the wronged victim of the story was given a wonderful interpretation, showing her soprano and acting skills with a good rapport with Marius Vlad, Friedrich of Telramund, Count of Brabant was performed by Hrólfur Saemundsson, the villain of the piece.A great performance with another good stage presentation, voice to match and good acting.

Friedrich's wife, Ortrud was given an outstanding performance in both presentation and a wonderful mezzo soprano, very clear enunciation and a pleasure for the audience.

Heinrich, the King of Germany was played

by Eddie Mulaumaseali, outstanding presentation as a king, good stage appearance enhanced by a good strong baritone.

A large cast with good movement, strong voices and well directed.

A long evening of opera but so entertaining one did not realise that the time passed.

Another great success for the Melbourne Opera and a company to be added to your opera diary.

- Peter Kemp

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, August 16, 2017 - Page 9 Melbourne

Observer

Death of Don Black

■ The GEMCO Players have shared the sad news that their valued member Don Black has passed away, aged 72.

“Don will forever be remembered by those that knew him as a welcoming and enthusiastic member of not only GEMCO, but our entire hills community,” said the company “He threw himself into numerous creative and social endeavours and his presence will be missed by all that had the pleasure of knowing him.

“He was the first to welcome anyone that entered the Gem with a smile and friendly greeting, offering help wherever he could.

“Don was a great supporter of the arts for all ages, attending many shows by local groups and assisting in our youth theatre program.

“You would be hard pressed to find a more prolific performer in recent years.

“Although Don has lived with chronic ill health for the last 20 years he never allowed it to dampen his spirit and he would always be there with a ready smile and a bit of a joke.

“His energy and passion will be sorely missed. He loved and was loved by all. Always in our hearts.”

Sincere condolences to Don Black’s family and friends and all at GEMCO. Don’s funeral will be held at 1.30pm on Friday (Aug. 18) at 1.30pm at Bunurong Memorial Park, Dandenong South.

● Don Black

Big Heart tackles fears ■ Dee and Cornelius’s Big Heart tackles the fears and prejudices embedded in our nation’s identity, providing a rare insight into our struggle with our multi-cultural self.

An Australian woman adopts five children; each of them from different continents: Asia, Europe, Africa, South America and an indigenous child from her own. She believes she offers them a better life, absent of poverty and war and neglect.

Big Heart follows their lives through babyhood, adolescence and adulthood and is punctuated by moments of catharsis and joy.

It's about relationships; about love between mother and child, and between siblings. It places Australian identity at the centre of a cross-examination from all corners of the globe, exploring themes of multiculturalism, racism and class.

The characters of the five children represented are from Vietnam, Bosnia, Ethiopia, Nicaragua and indigenous Australia, reflecting a refreshing and important view of ourselves that we rarely see represented on our stages.

“Big Heart is a play that I’m very excited about,” said Patricia Cornelius. “It’s a play of ideas, it’s a play about what constitutes family and what’s constitutes the real face of Australia.

“It’s a play which risks treading on toes, which might offend, which says unflattering stuff about us. What better for a new Australian drama?”

Writer, Patricia Cornelius and director, Susie Dee have worked together for over 30 years and

Melbourne Observations

with Matt Bissett-Johnson

Showbiz News

What’s On NGV International

■ “The National Gallery of Victoria is pleased to offer an eclectic program of live music that will compliment our two summer exhibitions, David Hockney: Current and Victor and Rolf Fashion Artists,” said Director Tony Ellwood.

The combination of after-hours exhibition access and diverse live music acts had made Friday nights one of the most popular programs on the NGV calendar.

Australian artists in the summer line-up include seminal 1990's pop band Custard, Melbourne singer-songwriter Sarah Mary Chadwick, Sydney rock band Dappled Cities, experimental quintet Tangents, ARIA Hall of Fame inductees Models, voice of TISM Damian Cowell appearing as part of Damian Cowell's Disco Machine (with Tony Martin), and award-winning blues and country sixpiece Cash.

Savage and the Last Drinks The New Year will see performances by emerging post-punk stars Gold Claws, io-fi Brisbane trio I Heart Hiroshima, creator of lush synthesiser soundscapes KaitlynAurelia Smith (USA), psychedelic jazz mused experimentalists The Comet is Coming (UK), deft wordsmith and multi-instrumentalist Olympia, underground danceworld legends NoZu, London based electroverts PVT and ARIAAward-winning rockers Dave Graney 'n' the Coral Snakes.

Along with headline acts performing in the Great Hall, NGV Friday Nights include after hours entry to major summer exhibitions David Hockney: Current and Viktor & Rolf Fashion Artists, DJs in the NGV Garden, talks and access to food and bars.

Superstar provocateur Amanda Palmer breakout talent of the Memphis music scene Julien Baker and Latin Grammy-nominated electro-pop El Guincho are among the musicians featured if the next series of NGV Friday Nights, kicking off at NGV International on November 11.

- Peter Kemp

Caravan

● Andrea Swifte, Daniela Farinacci, Kasia Kaczmarek, Solomon Salew, Elmira Jurik, Sermsah and Bin Saad (Suri) in Big Heart. have made award winning, visceral and powerful works. Dee and Cornelius’s last two productions, Shit and Savages were met with critical and award-winning acclaim.

They are great examples of the kind of work which this duo have been investigating. Patricia and Susie worked together on Max at Theatre Works, The Berry Man at Hothouse Theatre, Taxi at Big West Festival, Savages at 45 Downstairs and Shit at Neon (MTC) and 2017 Sydney Festival.

They have worked on numerous developments and readings together and have the privilege of an understanding of each other's work and processes so that each new project can develop further along from the last, can elucidate clear steps to take into the next work and make it more fine, more audacious, more theatrically powerful.

“It’s the blazing, uncompromising tenacity of Cornelius’s text that provides the foundation for this superbly realised show,” said Limelight magazine of Shit.

“Susie Dee and Patricia Cornelius deliver the wake-up call Australian theatre needs,” said The Monthly.

Venue: Theatre Works, 14 Acland St, St Kilda Dates and times: Wed. Sept. 6 – Sunday Sept.

24; Tue-Sat at 7.30pm; Sat at 2pm; Sun at 5pm Tickets: $38 Adult / $30 Concession Duration: 70 minutes, no interval Bookings: theatreworks.org.au - Cheryl Threadgold

● From Page 7 ■ PEP Productions present Caravan from August 17-26 at the Doncaster Playhouse.

Written by Donald McDonald and directed

by Lorraine Millar, Caravan takes a lighthearted look at friendship, age and the holidays you should never have.

Five best friends, nudging 40 and hating it, take their first holiday together in a caravan.

One of them brings along his new, and alltoo-young girlfriend, who threatens the holiday from the start. In the confined space of a caravan, tensions rise and the laughs begin.

Please note that Caravan contains adult themes and may not be suitable for all audiences.

Show Dates: August 17, 18, 19, 24, 25 at 8pm, August 26 at 2pm (matinee) and 6pm (twilight performance) Venue: Doncaster Playhouse, 679 Doncaster Rd., Doncaster Tickets: All tickets $25 Bookings: https://www.trybooking.com/ QMNR 0418 549 187 Email: contact@pepproductions.org.au - Cheryl Threadgold

Archie

■ An original ballet based on Swan Lake.

The Melbourne Ballet Company presents Archie.

This exquisite ballet is based n the age-old classic Swan Lake with inspiration from both Greek mythology and classic solo The Dying Swan.

The program explores and embraces much of the original narrative and some of the classic repertoire.

Director Simon Hoy has structured this work around his unique choreographic style and has developed a score including music

by Tchaikovsky, Enaudi, Morricone and Elgar.

Season: Sunday September 2 at 7.30pm Venue: The Memo 235 Maroondah Highway Healesville.

- Peter Kemp

Page 10 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, August 16, 2017

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Page 12 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, August 16, 2017

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Observer Magazine

■ Whenever you mention the name Alan Jones these days people immediately think of the Australian radio broadcaster on 2GB. But there was a famous American singer and film star during the Golden Days of Hollywood who had a hit with a song called The Donkey Serenade in 1937.

Allan Jones was born Theodore Allen Jones in Pennsylvania in 1907.

He worked with his father in the coal mines until the age of 26 when he won a University Scholarship to study music.

Allan received classical training and got sing in several Broadway musicals before breaking into films with a small singing role in the Jean Harlow MGM film Reckless in 1935.

Allan was noticed by the studio and cast in the Marx Brothers film A Night at the Opera where he sang two songs Alone and Cosi - Cosa.

In the 1936 version of Showboat, Allan Jones played ‘Gaylord Ravenal’ opposite the beautiful Irene Dunne. I think this black-and-white classic is the best film version of Showboat.

During the making of The Great Ziegfeld, Dennis Morgan mimed the voice of Allan Jones singing A Pretty Girl is Like a Melody in a big musical production number as he walked down a huge wedding cake.

In 1937 Allan was cast in another Marx Brothers film A Day at the Races. He had a small role as the opera singer in Rosemarie and loved working with Jeanette McDonald.

Whatever Happened To ...

Allan Jones

By Kevin Trask of 3AW and 96.5 Inner FM

His next film with MGM was Everybody Sing and Allan coached a very young Judy Garland in some of her scenes.

In The Firefly, Allan was once again cast opposite Jeanette McDonald and sang Rudolf Friml's composition The Donkey Serenade which was to become his signature tune.

Allan played the leading role in The Boys from Syracuse in 1940. His next film was A Night in the Tropics and this film had a disastrous effect on his film career. Allan and Robert Cummings were the two leads but the director was keen to introduce two new comedians called Abbott and Costello.

The comedy team were only supposed to do one sketch in the film but they were so good

● Allan Jones their roles were increased and Allan's role was reduced. Although Allan still appeared in films his career waned over the next five years.

During the war years Allan was one of the first entertainers to volunteer to sing for the troops overseas. He returned to the stage in Great Britain and then toured the US with several offBroadway musicals.

Over the next 20 yearsAllan worked the nightclub circuit. In the early 1950s he appeared a the Tivoli Theatre in Melbourne and was a guest star on radio shows such as Australia's Hour of Song.

Allan was married four times and had two children. His son Jack Jones became a very successful singer and sings the theme song for the television series The Love Boat.

Allan Jones was a guest star in television shows such as 77 Sunset Strip and The Love Boat.

During the 1970s Allan played the role of Don Quixote in stage productions of Man of La Mancha.

I met Allan Jones and recorded several radio interviews with him when he was here in Melbourne in 1991 for a concert at the Melbourne Town Hall.

Shortly after the Melbourne visit Allan Jones passed away of lung cancer at the age of 84 After all these years I still enjoy listening to his version of The Donkey Serenade.

Kevin Trask Kevin can be heard on radio The Time Tunnel - on Remember When Sundays at 9.10pm on 3AW That's Entertainment - 96.5FM Sundays at 12 Noon 96.5FM is streaming on the internet.

To listen, go to www.innerfm.org.au and follow the prompts.

Tales from Australia’s Outback Legend ■ When I first moved to Blairgowrie 50 years ago, one of the first structures I noticed, after having marvelled at the sea and the sand, was the Blairgowrie jetty. It was a flimsy little construction, just three planks wide, atop some spindly supports.

I've fished from it, fallen off it, watched whales jumping around from it, poked stingrays with long sticks beside it, escorted young ladies along it, and often dived off it.

I have also watched as it's been transposed over the years from its humble beginnings to the solid concrete structure it is today.

And there's even a huge marina jutting out from it now.

The windward side of this marina is a wooden barrier, protecting the boats from any recalcitrant northerlies.

However, this wood is now full of shipworms, and is due for replacement. Not only, however, are the worms there, but a colony of sponges reside there as well.

I am not a diver, so I've never noticed them, but they do seem to be important in the scheme of things.

So, according to Nicole Morton, of Dive2U, who dives there regularly, the BYS, and Aegir Divers, who are replacing the wall, are combining to save the sponges, rather than having them discarded with the old wall. They will remove them, and glue them to the new wall.

Highly environmentally responsible - better than ending up at the tip.

■ I have never been much on pranks and practical jokes - some people thrive on them, but not I. And I've heard of many such situations regarding reptiles.

A construction worker years ago was startled to find a tiger snake nestling in his lunch box.

His mate had killed it earlier, and secreted it there - that did the trick.

And then there are countless instances of people scaring their mates or their girlfriends with fake snakes, which can look decidedly real.

And the NT has more than its share of scallywags, often mischievously spurred on with alcohol, so it's not surprising that there are somewhat bizarre episodes every so often.

Like the gentleman who inserted a

The Outback Legend

with Nick Le Souef Lightning Ridge Opals 63 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne Phone 9654 4444 www.opals.net.au

bed. I walked past later and he had gone, with just a pile of vomit to indicate that he had been there.

I thought at the time that when I got up in the morning, I had a myriad of choices. Whether to have a shower, clean my teeth, which clothes to wear, what to have for breakfast.

He had none of these - he just got up, put his shoes on, and shuffled off.

Recently in Footscray there was a homeless man sleeping by an ATM, so the bank closed this machine, with a sign on the window saying that an "inconsiderate" person had forced this issue.

About six months ago I encountered a few Territory Aborigines who were visiting Melbourne and had similarly chosen to set up camp outside the Combank in Swanston St. No window notices here - a speaker playing Joan Sutherland boomed out all night.

Soon cleared that spot.

■ When one wanders around the streets of Alice Springs one encounters many Aboriginal individuals, including many children. And they are so cute, with their white teeth and innocent wide smiles and a bright darting eyes.

Cute though they are now, I always penny bunger in his bottom, and lit it, thought, this will usually sadly fade as a few years ago. A trip to the Darwin they grow up, when the inevitability Hospital with second degree burns. of their social situation strikes home, And last week one young lady was and low self esteem, and peer presawakened by her flatmate to inform sure will take their toll on their apher that there was a 6 foot crocodile in pearance and demeanor. her bathroom.

But occasionally I would strike Sure enough, there it was on the some individuals who had managed floor. Although its jaws were tied, its to buck this trend, and strode proudly claws were still unhinged - these and about. There is one such lady curits tail can inflict significant damage. rently in Darwin, Magnolia Some prank!

Maymuru, fromYirrkala, in Arnhem Crocs are in fact quite good busi- Land. ness in the NT - the Government, if One reads about Hollywood stars returned to power in the next election, being discovered in shopping malls has promised to double the industry. she was spotted at an AGM in Darwin Its current value is about $25m, so and offered a modelling opportunity. they'll always be on the front pages.

However she decided to finish her education, and now, at 19, has decided ■ There is much talk about the home- to give it a go. She ended up at NT Fashion Week last year, and was less on the streets of Melbourne.

I recall walking past one gentle- crowned NT Miss World Australia man in Flinders Lane a couple of winner.

And now she's just been named the years ago - he was in a small alcove which was just big enough to fit him Face of Chadstone. Good on her. and his blanket and a pillow - his shoes were neatly placed at the foot of his ■ Not only are there bizarre practi-

cal jokers afoot in the Territory, but the antics of some Territorians as they compete in official activities are also somewhat eccentric.

Each rodeo or weekend event in a country town has its own bizarre events.

There is cow-pat tossing, pig catching, lizard and frog racing, with the Beer-can Regatta.

And just last week in Darwin there was another notable event. The McGrath Foundation is a worthy recipient of much charity, so they decided on the Miss Muddy Event to raise some funds.

This was a female-only obstacle course, held at the Hidden Valley Raceway.

A couple of thousand women turned up for the event, which was run over 5 kms.

So off they went, down water slides, into ice baths, dodging past paint cannons, and diving into jelly baths and mud pits.

Sounds like to Sir Les Patterson would have enjoyed the day.

- Nick Le Souef ‘The Outback Legend Originally published on August 10, 2016

OK. With John O’Keefe Coming your way

■ In the seventies KC amd the Sunshine Band was the hottest group around the world. Well, they've regrouped and the 15-piece band are due to play gigs in Australia, not once, but two very different concerts.

First is a Cruise and Groove voyage with guests including Village People, JPY, Marcia Hines and others. Then they will be returning for a national tour December 7 -17. Too good to miss.

They’re back

■ John Blackman and his cheeky sidekick Dickie Knee are back in town and on our TV screens.

This time in a TV spot pushing a joint pain remedy that's just the solution - you guessed it, for dickie knees. Boom, boom.

Another group making a welcome return is the Masters Apprentices, who after 50 years will blast off at a reunion concert, Corner Hotel, Richmond on September 1. Be there.

Mike visits Melbourne

■ These days Gold Logie winner Mike Walsh calls London his home and right now he is visiting friends and checking on his theatrical interests in Australia Along the way has won a total of 24 Logies, and a OBE. My first encounter with Mike when he was chosen to ring the bell at junior school The rest is history.

Sam returns

■ Big, bad Sam Keckovich is soon to return to our small screen, this time presenting a commercial for Telstra Phonewords. The commercial shows Sam at his crazy best, sitting behind a presentation desk as outspoken as ever like his pal Donald J. Trump when the two egos clashed at a meeting in Trump Towers.

Boy from Broadie

■ Another arm of Eddie McGuire's business empire is Twenty 3 who amongst many services provide matching clients to sporting events. Whoops, make that in past tense as Australia Post has bailed as sponsor of next Stawell Gift. Get Eddie on the blower if you'd like to have your name linked to Australia's richest footrace.

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, August 16, 2017 - Page 13

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Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Sometimes we’d have that whole river all to ourselves for the longest time. Yonder was the banks and the islands, across the water; and maybe a spark — which was a candle in a cabin window; and sometimes on the water you could see a spark or two — on a raft or a scow, you know; and maybe you could hear a fiddle or a song coming over from one of them crafts. It’s lovely to live on a raft. We had the sky up there, all speckled with stars, and we used to lay on our backs and look up at them, and discuss about whether they was made or only just happened.

Jim he allowed they was made, but I allowed they happened; I judged it would have took too long to MAKE so many. Jim said the moon could a LAID them; well, that looked kind of reasonable, so I didn’t say nothing against it, because I’ve seen a frog lay most as many, so of course it could be done. We used to watch the stars that fell, too, and see them streak down. Jim allowed they’d got spoiled and was hove out of the nest.

Once or twice of a night we would see a steamboat slipping along in the dark, and now and then she would belch a whole world of sparks up out of her chimbleys, and they would rain down in the river and look awful pretty; then she would turn a corner and her lights would wink out and her powwow shut off and leave the river still again; and by and by her waves would get to us, a long time after she was gone, and joggle the raft a bit, and after that you wouldn’t hear nothing for you couldn’t tell how long, except maybe frogs or something.

After midnight the people on shore went to bed, and then for two or three hours the shores was black — no more sparks in the cabin windows.

These sparks was our clock — the first one that showed again meant morning was coming, so we hunted a place to hide and tie up right away.

One morning about daybreak I found a canoe and crossed over a chute to the main shore — it was only two hundred yards — and paddled about a mile up a crick amongst the cypress woods, to see if I couldn’t get some berries. Just as I was passing a place where a kind of a cowpath crossed the crick, here comes a couple of men tearing up the path as tight as they could foot it. I thought I was a goner, for whenever anybody was after anybody I judged it was ME— or maybe Jim. I was about to dig out from there in a hurry, but they was pretty close to me then, and sung out and begged me to save their lives — said they hadn’t been doing nothing, and was being chased for it — said there was men and dogs a-coming. They wanted to jump right in, but I says: “Don’t you do it. I don’t hear the dogs and horses yet; you’ve got time to crowd through the brush and get up the crick a little ways; then you take to the water and wade down to me and get in — that’ll throw the dogs off the scent.”

They done it, and soon as they was aboard I lit out for our towhead, and in about five or ten minutes we heard the dogs and the men away off, shouting. We heard them come along towards the crick, but couldn’t see them; they seemed to stop and fool around a while; then, as we got further and further away all the time, we couldn’t hardly hear them at all; by the time we had left a mile of woods behind us and struck the river, everything was quiet, and we paddled over to the towhead and hid in the cottonwoods and was safe.

One of these fellows was about seventy or upwards, and had a bald head and very gray whiskers. He had an old battered-up slouch hat on, and a greasy blue woollen shirt, and ragged old blue jeans britches stuffed into his boot-tops, and home-knit galluses — no, he only had one. He had an old long-tailed blue jeans coat with slick brass buttons flung over his arm, and both of them had big, fat, ratty-looking carpet-bags.

The other fellow was about thirty, and dressed about as ornery. After breakfast we all laid off and talked, and the first thing that come out was that these chaps didn’t know one another.

“What got you into trouble?” says the baldhead to t’other chap.

“Well, I’d been selling an article to take the tartar off the teeth — and it does take it off, too, and generly the enamel along with it — but I stayed about one night longer than I ought to, and was just in the act of sliding out when I ran across

Mark Twain

you on the trail this side of town, and you told me they were coming, and begged me to help you to get off. So I told you I was expecting trouble myself, and would scatter out WITH you. That’s the whole yarn — what’s yourn?

“Well, I’d ben a-running’ a little temperance revival thar ’bout a week, and was the pet of the women folks, big and little, for I was makin’ it mighty warm for the rummies, I TELL you, and takin’ as much as five or six dollars a night — ten cents a head, children and niggers free — and business a-growin’ all the time, when somehow or another a little report got around last night that I had a way of puttin’ in my time with a private jug on the sly. A nigger rousted me out this mornin’, and told me the people was getherin’ on the quiet with their dogs and horses, and they’d be along pretty soon and give me ’bout half an hour’s start, and then run me down if they could; and if they got me they’d tar and feather me and ride me on a rail, sure. I didn’t wait for no breakfast — I warn’t hungry.”

“Old man,” said the young one, “I reckon we might double-team it together; what do you think?”

“I ain’t undisposed. What’s your line — mainly?”

“Jour printer by trade; do a little in patent medicines; theater-actor — tragedy, you know; take a turn to mesmerism and phrenology when there’s a chance; teach singing-geography school for a change; sling a lecture sometimes — oh, I do lots of things — most anything that comes handy, so it ain’t work. What’s your lay?”

“I’ve done considerble in the doctoring way in my time. Layin’ on o’ hands is my best holt — for cancer and paralysis, and sich things; and I k’n tell a fortune pretty good when I’ve got somebody along to find out the facts for me. Preachin’s my line, too, and workin’ camp-meetin’s, and

missionaryin’ around.”

Nobody never said anything for a while; then the young man hove a sigh and says: “Alas!”

“What ’re you alassin’ about?” says the baldhead.

“To think I should have lived to be leading such a life, and be degraded down into such company.” And he begun to wipe the corner of his eye with a rag.

“Dern your skin, ain’t the company good enough for you?” says the baldhead, pretty pert and uppish.

“Yes, it IS good enough for me; it’s as good as I deserve; for who fetched me so low when I was so high? I did myself. I don’t blame YOU, gentlemen — far from it; I don’t blame anybody. I deserve it all. Let the cold world do its worst; one thing I know — there’s a grave somewhere for me. The world may go on just as it’s always done, and take everything from me — loved ones, property, everything; but it can’t take that.

Some day I’ll lie down in it and forget it all, and my poor broken heart will be at rest.” He went on a-wiping.

“Drot your pore broken heart,” says the baldhead; “what are you heaving your pore broken heart at US f’r? WE hain’t done nothing.”

“No, I know you haven’t. I ain’t blaming you, gentlemen. I brought myself down — yes, I did it myself. It’s right I should suffer — perfectly right — I don’t make any moan.”

“Brought you down from whar? Whar was you brought down from?”

“Ah, you would not believe me; the world never believes — let it pass — ’tis no matter. The secret of my birth —” “The secret of your birth! Do you mean to say —”

emn, “I will reveal it to you, for I feel I may have confidence in you. By rights I am a duke!”

Jim’s eyes bugged out when he heard that; and I reckon mine did, too. Then the baldhead says: “No! you can’t mean it?”

“Yes. My great-grandfather, eldest son of the Duke of Bridgewater, fled to this country about the end of the last century, to breathe the pure air of freedom; married here, and died, leaving a son, his own father dying about the same time.

The second son of the late duke seized the titles and estates — the infant real duke was ignored.

I am the lineal descendant of that infant — I am the rightful Duke of Bridgewater; and here am I, forlorn, torn from my high estate, hunted of men, despised by the cold world, ragged, worn, heart-broken, and degraded to the companionship of felons on a raft!”

Jim pitied him ever so much, and so did I. We tried to comfort him, but he said it warn’t much use, he couldn’t be much comforted; said if we was a mind to acknowledge him, that would do him more good than most anything else; so we said we would, if he would tell us how. He said we ought to bow when we spoke to him, and say “Your Grace,” or “My Lord,” or “Your Lordship”— and he wouldn’t mind it if we called him plain “Bridgewater,” which, he said, was a title anyway, and not a name; and one of us ought to wait on him at dinner, and do any little thing for him he wanted done.

Well, that was all easy, so we done it. All through dinner Jim stood around and waited on him, and says, “Will yo’ Grace have some o’ dis or some o’ dat?” and so on, and a body could see it was mighty pleasing to him.

But the old man got pretty silent by and by — didn’t have much to say, and didn’t look pretty comfortable over all that petting that was going on around that duke. He seemed to have something on his mind. So, along in the afternoon, he says: “Looky here, Bilgewater,” he says, “I’m nation sorry for you, but you ain’t the only person that’s had troubles like that.”

“No?” “No you ain’t. You ain’t the only person that’s ben snaked down wrongfully out’n a high place.”

“Alas!”

“No, you ain’t the only person that’s had a secret of his birth.” And, by jings, HE begins to cry.

“Hold! What do you mean?”

“Bilgewater, kin I trust you?” says the old man, still sort of sobbing.

“To the bitter death!” He took the old man by the hand and squeezed it, and says, “That secret of your being: speak!”

“Bilgewater, I am the late Dauphin!”

You bet you, Jim and me stared this time. Then the duke says: “You are what?”

“Yes, my friend, it is too true — your eyes is lookin’ at this very moment on the pore disappeared Dauphin, Looy the Seventeen, son of Looy the Sixteen and Marry Antonette.”

“You! At your age! No! You mean you’re the late Charlemagne; you must be six or seven hundred years old, at the very least.”

“Trouble has done it, Bilgewater, trouble has done it; trouble has brung these gray hairs and this premature balditude. Yes, gentlemen, you see before you, in blue jeans and misery, the wanderin’, exiled, trampled-on, and sufferin’ rightful King of France.”

Well, he cried and took on so that me and Jim didn’t know hardly what to do, we was so sorry — and so glad and proud we’d got him with us, too. So we set in, like we done before with the duke, and tried to comfort HIM. But he said it warn’t no use, nothing but to be dead and done with it all could do him any good; though he said it often made him feel easier and better for a while if people treated him according to his rights, and got down on one knee to speak to him, and always called him “Your Majesty,” and waited on him first at meals, and didn’t set down in his presence till he asked them. So Jim and me set to majestying him, and doing this and that and t’other for him, and standing up till he told us we might set down. This done him heaps of good, and so he got cheerful and comfortable. But the

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Observer Classic Books From Page 13 duke kind of soured on him, and didn’t look a bit satisfied with the way things was going; still, the king acted real friendly towards him, and said the duke’s great-grandfather and all the other Dukes of Bilgewater was a good deal thought of

by HIS father, and was allowed to come to the palace considerable; but the duke stayed huffy a good while, till by and by the king says: “Like as not we got to be together a blamed long time on this h-yer raft, Bilgewater, and so what’s the use o’ your bein’ sour? It ’ll only make things oncomfortable. It ain’t my fault I warn’t born a duke, it ain’t your fault you warn’t born a king — so what’s the use to worry? Make the best o’ things the way you find ’em, says I— that’s my motto. This ain’t no bad thing that we’ve struck here — plenty grub and an easy life — come, give us your hand, duke, and le’s all be friends.”

The duke done it, and Jim and me was pretty glad to see it. It took away all the uncomfortableness and we felt mighty good over it, because it would a been a miserable business to have any unfriendliness on the raft; for what you want, above all things, on a raft, is for everybody to be satisfied, and feel right and kind towards the others.

It didn’t take me long to make up my mind that these liars warn’t no kings nor dukes at all, but just low-down humbugs and frauds. But I never said nothing, never let on; kept it to myself; it’s the best way; then you don’t have no quarrels, and don’t get into no trouble. If they wanted us to call them kings and dukes, I hadn’t no objections, ’long as it would keep peace in the family; and it warn’t no use to tell Jim, so I didn’t tell him. If I never learnt nothing else out of pap, I learnt that the best way to get along with his kind of people is to let them have their own way.

Chapter XX. THEY asked us considerable many questions; wanted to know what we covered up the raft that way for, and laid by in the daytime instead of running — was Jim a runaway nigger? Says I: “Goodness sakes! would a runaway nigger run SOUTH?” No, they allowed he wouldn’t. I had to account for things some way, so I says: “My folks was living in Pike County, in Missouri, where I was born, and they all died off but me and pa and my brother Ike. Pa, he ’lowed he’d break up and go down and live with Uncle Ben, who’s got a little one-horse place on the river, forty-four mile below Orleans. Pa was pretty poor, and had some debts; so when he’d squared up there warn’t nothing left but sixteen dollars and our nigger, Jim. That warn’t enough to take us fourteen hundred mile, deck passage nor no other way. Well, when the river rose pa had a streak of luck one day; he ketched this piece of a raft; so we reckoned we’d go down to Orleans on it. Pa’s luck didn’t hold out; a steamboat run over the forrard corner of the raft one night, and we all went overboard and dove under the wheel; Jim and me come up all right, but pa was drunk, and Ike was only four years old, so they never come up no more. Well, for the next day or two we had considerable trouble, because people was always coming out in skiffs and trying to take Jim away from me, saying they believed he was a runaway nigger. We don’t run daytimes no more now; nights they don’t bother us.”

The duke says: “Leave me alone to cipher out a way so we can run in the daytime if we want to. I’ll think the thing over — I’ll invent a plan that’ll fix it. We’ll let it alone for to-day, because of course we don’t want to go by that town yonder in daylight — it mightn’t be healthy.”

Towards night it begun to darken up and look like rain; the heat lightning was squirting around low down in the sky, and the leaves was beginning to shiver — it was going to be pretty ugly, it was easy to see that. So the duke and the king went to overhauling our wigwam, to see what the beds was like. My bed was a straw tick better than Jim’s, which was a corn-shuck tick; there’s always cobs around about in a shuck tick, and they poke into you and hurt; and when you roll over the dry shucks sound like you was rolling over in a pile of dead leaves; it makes such a rustling that you wake up. Well, the duke allowed he would take my bed; but the king allowed he wouldn’t. He says: “I should a reckoned the difference in rank would a sejested to you that a corn-shuck bed warn’t just fitten for me to sleep on. Your Grace ’ll take the shuck bed yourself.”

Jim and me was in a sweat again for a minute, being afraid there was going to be some more trouble amongst them; so we was pretty glad when the duke says: “’Tis my fate to be always ground into the mire under the iron heel of oppression. Misfortune has broken my once haughty spirit; I yield, I submit; ’tis my fate. I am alone in the world — let me suffer; can bear it.”

We got away as soon as it was good and dark.

The king told us to stand well out towards the middle of the river, and not show a light till we got a long ways below the town. We come in sight of the little bunch of lights by and by — that was the town, you know — and slid by, about a half a mile out, all right. When we was threequarters of a mile below we hoisted up our signal lantern; and about ten o’clock it come on to rain and blow and thunder and lighten like everything; so the king told us to both stay on watch till the weather got better; then him and the duke crawled into the wigwam and turned in for the night. It was my watch below till twelve, but I wouldn’t a turned in anyway if I’d had a bed, because a body don’t see such a storm as that every day in the week, not by a long sight. My souls, how the wind did scream along! And every second or two there’d come a glare that lit up the white-caps for a half a mile around, and you’d see the islands looking dusty through the rain, and the trees thrashing around in the wind; then comes a H-WHACK! — bum! bum! bumble-umble-um-bum-bum-bum-bum — and the thunder would go rumbling and grumbling away, and quit — and then RIP comes another flash and another sockdolager. The waves most washed me off the raft sometimes, but I hadn’t any clothes on, and didn’t mind. We didn’t have no trouble about snags; the lightning was glaring and flittering around so constant that we could see them plenty soon enough to throw her head this way or that and miss them.

I had the middle watch, you know, but I was pretty sleepy by that time, so Jim he said he would stand the first half of it for me; he was always mighty good that way, Jim was. I crawled into the wigwam, but the king and the duke had their legs sprawled around so there warn’t no show for me; so I laid outside — I didn’t mind the rain, because it was warm, and the waves warn’t running so high now. About two they come up again, though, and Jim was going to call me; but he changed his mind, because he reckoned they warn’t high enough yet to do any harm; but he was mistaken about that, for pretty soon all of a sudden along comes a regular ripper and washed me overboard. It most killed Jim alaughing. He was the easiest nigger to laugh that ever was, anyway.

I took the watch, and Jim he laid down and snored away; and by and by the storm let up for good and all; and the first cabin-light that showed I rousted him out, and we slid the raft into hiding quarters for the day.

The king got out an old ratty deck of cards after breakfast, and him and the duke played sevenup a while, five cents a game. Then they got tired of it, and allowed they would “lay out a campaign,” as they called it. The duke went down into his carpet-bag, and fetched up a lot of little printed bills and read them out loud. One bill said, “The celebrated Dr. Armand de Montalban, of Paris,” would “lecture on the Science of Phrenology” at such and such a place, on the blank day of blank, at ten cents admission, and “furnish charts of character at twentyfive cents apiece.” The duke said that was HIM. In another bill he was the “world-renowned Shakespearian tragedian, Garrick the Younger, of Drury Lane, London.” In other bills he had a lot of other names and done other wonderful things, like finding water and gold with a “divining-rod,” “dissipating witch spells,” and so on.

By and by he says: “But the histrionic muse is the darling. Have you ever trod the boards, Royalty?”

“No,” says the king.

“You shall, then, before you’re three days older, Fallen Grandeur,” says the duke. “The first good town we come to we’ll hire a hall and do the sword fight in Richard III. and the balcony scene in Romeo and Juliet. How does that strike you?”

“I’m in, up to the hub, for anything that will pay, Bilgewater; but, you see, I don’t know nothing about play-actin’, and hain’t ever seen much of it. I was too small when pap used to have ’em at the palace. Do you reckon you can learn me?”

“Easy!”

“All right. I’m jist a-freezn’ for something fresh, anyway. Le’s commence right away.”

So the duke he told him all about who Romeo was and who Juliet was, and said he was used to being Romeo, so the king could be Juliet.

“But if Juliet’s such a young gal, duke, my peeled head and my white whiskers is goin’ to look oncommon odd on her, maybe.”

“No, don’t you worry; these country jakes won’t ever think of that. Besides, you know, you’ll be in costume, and that makes all the difference in the world; Juliet’s in a balcony, enjoying the moonlight before she goes to bed, and she’s got on her night-gown and her ruffled nightcap. Here are the costumes for the parts.”

He got out two or three curtain-calico suits, which he said was meedyevil armor for Richard III. and t’other chap, and a long white cotton nightshirt and a ruffled nightcap to match. The king was satisfied; so the duke got out his book and read the parts over in the most splendid spreadeagle way, prancing around and acting at the same time, to show how it had got to be done; then he give the book to the king and told him to get his part by heart.

There was a little one-horse town about three mile down the bend, and after dinner the duke said he had ciphered out his idea about how to run in daylight without it being dangersome for Jim; so he allowed he would go down to the town and fix that thing. The king allowed he would go, too, and see if he couldn’t strike something. We was out of coffee, so Jim said I better go along with them in the canoe and get some.

When we got there there warn’t nobody stirring; streets empty, and perfectly dead and still, like Sunday. We found a sick nigger sunning himself in a back yard, and he said everybody that warn’t too young or too sick or too old was gone to camp-meeting, about two mile back in the woods. The king got the directions, and allowed he’d go and work that camp-meeting for all it was worth, and I might go, too.

The duke said what he was after was a printingoffice. We found it; a little bit of a concern, up over a carpenter shop — carpenters and printers all gone to the meeting, and no doors locked.

It was a dirty, littered-up place, and had ink marks, and handbills with pictures of horses and runaway niggers on them, all over the walls.

The duke shed his coat and said he was all right now. So me and the king lit out for the campmeeting.

We got there in about a half an hour fairly dripping, for it was a most awful hot day. There was as much as a thousand people there from twenty mile around. The woods was full of teams and wagons, hitched everywheres, feeding out of the wagon-troughs and stomping to keep off the flies. There was sheds made out of poles and roofed over with branches, where they had lemonade and gingerbread to sell, and piles of watermelons and green corn and such-like truck.

The preaching was going on under the same kinds of sheds, only they was bigger and held crowds of people. The benches was made out of outside slabs of logs, with holes bored in the round side to drive sticks into for legs. They didn’t have no backs. The preachers had high platforms to stand on at one end of the sheds.

The women had on sun-bonnets; and some had linsey-woolsey frocks, some gingham ones, and a few of the young ones had on calico. Some of the young men was barefooted, and some of the children didn’t have on any clothes but just a tow-linen shirt. Some of the old women was knitting, and some of the young folks was courting on the sly.

The first shed we come to the preacher was lining out a hymn. He lined out two lines, everybody sung it, and it was kind of grand to hear it, there was so many of them and they done it in such a rousing way; then he lined out two more for them to sing — and so on. The people woke up more and more, and sung louder and louder; and towards the end some begun to groan, and some begun to shout. Then the preacher begun to preach, and begun in earnest, too; and went weaving first to one side of the platform and then the other, and then a-leaning down over the front of it, with his arms and his body going all the time, and shouting his words out with all his might; and every now and then he would hold up his Bible and spread it open, and kind of pass it around this way and that, shouting, “It’s the brazen serpent in the wilderness! Look upon it and live!” And people would shout out, “Glory! — A-a-MEN!” And so he went on, and the people groaning and crying and saying amen: “Oh, come to the mourners’ bench! come, black with sin! (AMEN!) come, sick and sore!

(AMEN!) come, lame and halt and blind!

(AMEN!) come, pore and needy, sunk in shame!

(A-A-MEN!) come, all that’s worn and soiled and suffering! — come with a broken spirit! come with a contrite heart! come in your rags and sin and dirt! the waters that cleanse is free, the door of heaven stands open — oh, enter in and be at rest!” (A-A-MEN! GLORY, GLORY HALLELUJAH!) And so on. You couldn’t make out what the preacher said any more, on account of the shouting and crying. Folks got up everywheres in the crowd, and worked their way just by main strength to the mourners’ bench, with the tears running down their faces; and when all the mourners had got up there to the front benches in a crowd, they sung and shouted and flung themselves down on the straw, just crazy and wild.

Well, the first I knowed the king got a-going, and you could hear him over everybody; and next he went a-charging up on to the platform, and the preacher he begged him to speak to the people, and he done it. He told them he was a pirate — been a pirate for thirty years out in the Indian Ocean — and his crew was thinned out considerable last spring in a fight, and he was home now to take out some fresh men, and thanks to goodness he’d been robbed last night and put ashore off of a steamboat without a cent, and he was glad of it; it was the blessedest thing that ever happened to him, because he was a changed man now, and happy for the first time in his life; and, poor as he was, he was going to start right off and work his way back to the Indian Ocean, and put in the rest of his life trying to turn the pirates into the true path; for he could do it better than anybody else, being acquainted with all pirate crews in that ocean; and though it would take him a long time to get there without money, he would get there anyway, and every time he convinced a pirate he would say to him, “Don’t you thank me, don’t you give me no credit; it all belongs to them dear people in Pokeville camp-meeting, natural brothers and benefactors of the race, and that dear preacher there, the truest friend a pirate ever had!”

And then he busted into tears, and so did everybody. Then somebody sings out, “Take up a collection for him, take up a collection!” Well, a half a dozen made a jump to do it, but somebody sings out, “Let HIM pass the hat around!” Then everybody said it, the preacher too.

So the king went all through the crowd with his hat swabbing his eyes, and blessing the people and praising them and thanking them for being so good to the poor pirates away off there; and every little while the prettiest kind of girls, with the tears running down their cheeks, would up and ask him would he let them kiss him for to remember him by; and he always done it; and some of them he hugged and kissed as many as five or six times — and he was invited to stay a week; and everybody wanted him to live in their houses, and said they’d think it was an honor; but he said as this was the last day of the campmeeting he couldn’t do no good, and besides he was in a sweat to get to the Indian Ocean right off and go to work on the pirates.

When we got back to the raft and he come to count up he found he had collected eighty-seven dollars and seventy-five cents. And then he had fetched away a three-gallon jug of whisky, too, that he found under a wagon when he was starting home through the woods. The king said, take it all around, it laid over any day he’d ever put in in the missionarying line. He said it warn’t no use talking, heathens don’t amount to shucks alongside of pirates to work a camp-meeting with.

The duke was thinking HE’D been doing pretty well till the king come to show up, but after that he didn’t think so so much. He had set up and printed off two little jobs for farmers in that printing-office — horse bills — and took the money, four dollars. And he had got in ten dollars’ worth of advertisements for the paper, which he said he would put in for four dollars if they would pay in advance — so they done it. The price of the paper was two dollars a year, but he took in three subscriptions for half a dollar apiece on condition of them paying him in advance; they were going to pay in cordwood and onions as usual, but he said he had just bought the concern and knocked down the price as low as he could afford it, and was going to run it for cash. He set up a little piece of poetry, which he made, himself, out of his own head — three verses — kind of sweet and saddish — the name of it was, “Yes, crush, cold world, this breaking heart”— and he left that all set up and ready to print in the paper, and didn’t charge nothing for it. Well, he took in nine dollars and a half, and said he’d done a pretty square day’s work for it.

To Be Continued Next Issue

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Observer Crossword Solution No 32 S M A S P A R O H E T Y V O I D I N T E R B E U R O M P E I A T O S S I M I O W N E R N A G S T F C L A T H R O W F R E F U S E D L N B L O C L Y R E S O D M O B E S E M R L E L E C T D O D O N M A G R E E W D E C I V I L N E S D S M E T A I D O L S S U H N I C E O H M O I N E E E R R E S T R S I T E G M H P R S T Y E Y R E

N A G E O R A D A C H V M I L N E T L A Y T D O E M I S U E N N N I C O L C A V E N D N S C U E E S P H A I R L I E A N T B D E A V E M C M A D O R C P L O U S M C A P I N N C M H E A O E T A S B E R U S S M I S A I N R E P G S E S S U E E S I S T

R I D H E N I T I O F P Y T S A K E N T E R A Y R L I

A L L A M I A S F R A U G E A L S E E P I E A M P U T Y L

S T R E A W A R F S T O N N A L C H O T O E E M O D E S M X I D A T L D S E T V S T O S I K P E E K S U S R M R O V E P N R E T A H A N C E

C A L L I E A L W E L A N C W A T A N R R A B M I D S Y S T E S I S P R E A A S C A T A E E N M I R A Y E G U N D E R P E A P F A M I S T S E P S T R O N O L A N T A L L R I L Y C A O D O S B N E A S Y C S T L R E B U H O D C A M E I A S T I C K Y A M F R A A B O O X R O A I L A N G E C E S S U A U B G S E A L

S I N I O L G E H O L I R M A R E A T S R E S P A D Y U E D I N G E T R R H U N G E S E A P A S S I U E D N S I D T E O M E R W M I S I N T E U N W U R P S O H A I R S T I L T A V R O N U B S O U T T L I L A E A G L S T M T E X A S I T A T D C E M A A N E

R E G U L A E A L A D E C L C G I T E E N A G S T A B R O N T R A Y S O B L R S O L O I S O C U N C L E A L R A C L E X E M E E K R N E D U E P I N D O N E E N E S T R E E R T S O R E A R O M A G P T I E I A R R A N T I G R D E A L E B Y L A R V E L A L C A A I L A R I M M A D N E S T O M O U R N E N E X E E Y E P D A F T E S S D I N H E R I E M T S A B D I T K O A S S I G N

T I N I N S E W A E M U T S Y E R A N N E I S T E T W A D D L E D I S P E N S E R

S R A D

N O

O N O E D U L K E E Y O K A M I Y A S S A S L E E M B L P E S A L L M O B S M E E S I S N E S E M I U U

A S I S A U R G O G O O T L V D C A T E N S M E N T

C V A L R A I F E N E D E U P I C T A N O T E O S E R S A S S T I A N F I R S I A C K C A N H I I V E E V V I E E L L L D I C T L E S R A P T O L E R A C T A H I E T E S U T D E R E N A W R L A V P

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Buying Guide

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Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, August 16, 2017 - Page 19

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Travellers’Good Buys

with David Ellis

World’s most expensive cheese

■ The world’s most expensive cheese doesn’t come from cows or goats, and you won’t find it in the plushest restaurants or finest delis in London, New York or Paris.

Instead this cheese comes from the milk of donkeys, just 100 jennies amongst a pack of 130 of them that live in a Special Nature Preserve outside the Serbian capital Belgrade.

And if you want to find out why it can command such a bizarre price, you’ll have to go to Belgrade to try it for yourself, because it’s not sold retail anywhere else in the world - and you’ll pay the equivalent of around AU$3000 a kilo for your little indulgence.

Called “Pule” it’s made in what’s said to be the world’s only donkey cheese factory, with 25 litres of donkey milk (6.6 gallons) required for each kilogram of cheese, and annual production a mere 200 kilograms.

Those who’ve tried it in local restaurants, say it’s white and crumbly, intensely flavoured, has a natural saltiness to it, and is smoked in the final stages of production.

Highly nutritious donkey milk that’s beneficial to babies’ immune systems and is used in many European beauty and skin-care products, is also available at an equally pricey 40 Euros a litre (around AU$59) – because donkeys are simply not big daily milk producers.

And which reminds us that ancient Egypt’s Queen Cleopatra bathed nightly in donkey’s milk to preserve the beauty and youth of her skin… and to indulge her whim, needed 700 of the animals on stand-by no matter where she travelled.

● Serbian donkey cheese is white, crumbly and intensely flavoured and the most expensive cheese in the world.

Melbourne

Observer Wines & Liqueurs

with David Ellis

To go with Christmas turkey ■ It’s not often we get the chance to taste a $150 bottle of what is obviously up there with the very best of the best, so when that opportunity did come our way recently it proved not only one of our most memorable tasting experiences, it decided us on just what we’ll be putting with the family Christmas turkey this year.

We’re talking about a Wynn’s Michael Shiraz from the best-of-vintage fruit off their best vineyards in Coonawarra, and made only in exceptional years when the most extraordinary of fruit is available, in this case 2013. First labelled in 1955, company proprietor David Wynn released the wine as a one-off in that year after noticing the outstanding quality of two particular barrels, and naming it Michael after his son.

It has since gone on to become something of a legend of the Australian industry, and one of the most highly-regarded of Aussie Shiraz – which is saying something. Endless layers of fruit, spice and texture are centre to this 2013, together with powdery tannins, nutty oak and suggestions of ginger.

And all of which make for it being the perfect partner with the Christmas turkey, and why all our family will be pitching-in for a couple of bottles with ours this year.

One to note ■ It is hard to believe that it is 45 years since Yellowglen first hit hotel and bottle-shop shelves across this country, and since then showing that Australia can be up there with the best when it comes to making stand-out bubblies for all-occasion celebrations.

One such that’s now available and worth looking at for special events or festivities is their 2009 Perle Vintage, made from the classic sparkling wine grape varieties of Pinot Noir (60 per cent), Chardonnay (30 per cent) and Pinot Meunier (10 per cent) harvested from across select of Yellowglen’s vineyards in Victoria and South Australia.

At $25 its prominent lemon zest and mineral flavours are coupled with grapefruit and nougat to make for a wonderfully elegant and memorable celebratory drop.

Pictured

■ Something of a legend, and one of the most highly-regarded of Aussie Shiraz.

■ Pearler of a bubbly for all-occasion celebrations.

■ The countless movie-costumed characters, topless “desnudas” and street performers who for years have made walking New York’s Times Square something of an obstacle course for its 39m annual visitors, have finally been corralled.

Because they can now only solicit for tips when performing or posing for photographs from within defined “Activity Zones.”

The City Council created the Zones after escalating complaints of overly-aggressive touting by not only many of the costumed performers, but by the busty, body-painted, hug-youfor-a-price “desnudas” who wear little more than a G-string, in this city where there are no laws against going topless.

Daily complaints have ranged from Batman grabbing $50 from the wallet of an Irish tourist and running off with it, to Elmo hurling anti-Semetic slurs at a Jewish visitor who wouldn’t come up with the coin, and the Cookie Monster groping a teen.

Spider-Man also found himself in trouble for punching a child who wouldn’t pay him $10 for a photo, and then assaulting a police officer who intervened, while Chewbacca was cautioned for “overt verbal aggression” over a tip.

Now everyone’s watching to see if the formal “Activity Zones” will sterilise the once-colour of Times Square, and reduce tourists’ interest in going there to be photographed with its cartoon and movie characters, and hugged by its topless “desnudas.”

■ There’s a horse in America that looks like any other except for one thing – she stands only about as high as, or even less than, many a family pet dog.

Thumbelina as she is named, is a dwarf off-spring of a couple of extreme miniature horses known as Falabellas, that themselves grow only to between 70 and 86 centimetres tall (20 to 34 inches.) And in her case she is half that at a mere 43cm high (17 inches) and weighs in at a very petite 26kg (57 pounds)… or about the size of an Aussie kelpie.

The Falabella was originally developed in Argentina from a rare species of horse discovered there in the mid-1800s, and introduced to America in the 1940s for their novelty value in hauling miniature stagecoaches in street parades and around wineries.

When Thumbelina was born, her owners on a farm in Missouri realised she was highly intelligent and trainable, and today after having put her through some specially-designed training programs, are able to take her to visit sick children in hospitals and clinics, and like a guide dog, to lead elderly locals on shopping and other outings.

And as she was born with foot defects, they have designed special shoes for her so that when not “working” with children and the elderly, Thumbelina can run and play with the other regular Falabella miniature horses on her Missouri farm.

- David Ellis

www.MelbourneObser ver.com.au

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, August 16, 2017 - Page 27

Observer Magazine

Photos from the past: Molesworth

● Molesworth Picnic. 1909.

● Molesworth Picnic. 1909.

● Goulburn River, Molesworth. 1912. Photo: Gilbert J. Ball.

● Molesworth Bridge. Circa 1910-30. Photo: Lindsay G. Cumming

● Molesworth Picnic. 1909.

● Molesworth: Mansfield train leaving. Circa 1914.

● Molesworth. Entrance to Railway Station. Circa 1914.

● ‘The Anglers Paradise’, Molesworth. Circa 1909.

Page 28 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Observer Victorian Sport Melbourne

In the Winx of an eye ■ The Moonee Valley Racing Club team is rubbing its hands with delight with the numbers of run and the class that have been nominated for their Cox Plate, noted as the best Weight for Age race in the world.

As we all know from August 1st all horses aged another year with the mighty mare, Winx, who has won the last Cox Plates in great fashion is out to emulate the deeds of another great galloper, in Kingston Town, who strung three together in 1980-81-82, in great style.

Probably the most interesting nomination is that of highly promising three-yearold, Royal Symphony, who has strung tother three impressive wins.

So much that bookies have him a short priced favourite to win the time honoured Caulfield Guineas at the Melbourne Racing Club's Cup Carnival in October.

Unfashionable bred, Royal Symphony, is by Domesday, who never set the world alight in his racing career, but his dam, Naturalist has better bloodlines.

One good judge is the wife of his jockey, Dwayne Dun, who fell in love with the young foal from the start, and hasn't budged, and it has proven that way, with the strongly built colt, winning easily at each outing.

One fact that you to have a look at is that his astute trainer, Tony Mc Evoy, one of the best in the business, felt early they would he develop into a nice Derby colt over the longer trip of 2500 metres.

The big thing about that is that he would be taking on his own age group not tackling the world's best horse on turf.

He can't run in both, my tip providing he wins the Caulfield Guineas he will take on the other three-year olds in the Victoria Derby Day on the first day of the VRC'S Melbourne Cup Carnival in November.

Of the others nominated from the Cox Plate, a week after the Caulfield Cup is the top international horse, Highland Reel, who has gone ahead in leaps and bounds since running third to Winx, in the Plate two years ago.

Hartnell, who has had his heart broken many times by the mighty mare, although nominated will be kept for other major races away from competing against Winx.

Humidor, from the powerful Darren Weir stable, a winner of theAustralian Cup is on the same line as the other two.

Whilst Royal Symphony, Scottish, second in the Caulfield Cup last year, and another from the Weir camp in former Japanese galloper, Tosen Stardom.

On the next line yet another with Weir, the very talented Black Heart Bart, who was beaten by the track conditions and Winx last year.

An interesting nomination is the dual Oaks winner, Egg Tart, with the powerful Chris Waller camp, a stablemate of Winx.

She is talented, but like the others has got a long way to catch the daughter of Street Cry. Some of the others impress especially the international galloper, Neorealism, who is good, while the New Zealand Derby and Sydney winner, Gingernuts, is tough.

Last but not least the four-year old mare, Yankee Rose, a good third to Winx in the Plate last year.

Spot on

■ Newly selected Victorian racecaller, Matt Hill, who took over from Greg Miles earlier this year is certainly taking all before him calling brilliantly, as if he has been there all the time.

Being an Altona Meadows boy, in the early stages I had the pleasure of meeting up Matthew and his mother when he about 14, when she brought him into the Greyhound Racing Board where I was producing their magazine.

Young Matt was keen to become a race caller, and I was able to get him a shot at calling at a couple of country tracks and then in town.

Afterwards he went onto to win a Sky Channel Callers Contest and won a scholarship, joined Sky later, and was made number one taking over from Ian Craig.

● Top Jumper Wells wins the Crisp in heavy conditions at Sandown.

Racing Photos This was a position he held for some five iation, where betting giant, Sportsbet, were layyears, with precision. ing the odds of who would replace Greg.

Prior to his taking the position he told me he Matt was being quoted at $31 as the mail wanted to return to Victoria, not only for calling, was that he wasn't interested. but to be close to Mum. I thought his a big chance for a dollar, I rang He wanted to call AFL football, after stints at Matt, and at that stage he wasn't interested. the Olympic Games.

I gave it to him when I rang him I assure you, When I queried him about taking up the Vic- but he is one of the nicest and best young guys in torian job when Greg gave it away about being racing and calling brilliantly. interested he said he was more looking at calling football.

Then the shocker, I was attending one of our lunches with the Victorian Racing Media Asso- ■ As Victoria goes through one of its coldest winter's ever have a thought for our racecallers as they battle the elements.

Not only do they have to worry about learning the colours, setting up the gear doing the totes, tips and form, they have to put up with varying conditions.

Then the worst one, they have to leave their broadcast box window open as windows fog up or end with up with rain streaks.

Having been there and done it, then there is a chance of your race book, which you keep handy, of getting wet, if you have to have an occasional glance at a runner you can't pick up and have a quick look down.

Then there is the bitterly cold weather like for instance at Flemington the other week.

Course Commentator, Matt Hill, was chatting on air before the first mentioning the conditions of the track, and the wind chill factor, which was around five.

Admittedly he did brag about the fact that he had his heater on full bore at 21 degrees.

However don't forget he still has to have his windows open for clarity of the runners.

Another minus is the wind, which can blow directly into the box and because you are up high it is much stronger.

Back to Flemington and the horses were one, running into the wind, and then they had a tailwind.

The same thig happened weeks on at Caulfield and Sandown.

If there is anything that horses hate, it is wind.

So next time you have a go at a racecaller, have a thought of what he goes through.

I remember talking to the late and great Bert Bryant one day, and he said it is marvellous you can call a thousand winners right in photo-finishes, but get one wrong, and you are the worst judge in the world.

Chilly Willy

Ted Ryan

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Wine ■ I've recently received two batches of wine which in different ways commemorate the role of John Riddoch in founding Coonawarra as a wine district in the 1890s, when he launched the Penola Fruit Colony, named after what has grown into the area's largest town.

I think he is the closest thing we have to an individual who can lay claim to having, off his own bat, founded an Australian wine region.

Both ranges are based on dry reds that retail for about $20 and hence come straight from the engine room of Australian winemaking - mid-priced wines that compete in perhaps the keenest sector of the market.

And both ranges stand up very well in the most important of tests - on the tasting bench - by offering genuine fullness of flavour, regional authenticity and value for money.

Riddoch was a visionary Scotsman who envisaged this district, in South Australia's extreme south-east, as one where a virtual cooperative of independent land owners could make a living through orcharding.

He was born into poverty but migrated to Australia and amassed a relative fortune as a shopkeeper and wine merchant on the Victorian goldfields, with the latter occupation no doubt influencing his decision to plant a vineyard on his property at Coonawarra.

The John Riddoch connection is obvious in the very name that Riddoch Coonawarra has chosen to label its wines with.

Riddoch winemaker Neil Doddridge has four decades of winemaking experience and works firmly on the basis that winemaking half science, half art.

I guess that's called craft, and it's obvious in his range of reds, which comprises shiraz, merlot and cabernet sauvignon at $20 a bottle and a Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon at $35.

The Katnook connection with John Riddoch isn't quite as obvious, but it's probably stronger.

It's the property where Riddoch planted his first vines and where he made the region's first wines, in the woolshed that now houses Katnook's barrel room.

Wayne Stehbens assumed winemaking duties Katnook in 1980 and has been central in preserving and promoting the Riddoch legacy.

Indeed he sees himself as the guardian of that legacy, and created the Founder's Block range in 2005, responding to demands for affordable yet regionally sound Coonawarra reds.

As well as the merlot reviewed below, the range also offers a cabernet sauvignon and a shiraz among its reds. All are worth checking out.

Visit www.riddochwine.com.au and www.katnookestate.com.au WINE REVIEWS Katnook 2015 Founder's Block Merlot ($20): I often don't like Australian merlots.

Too many, especially those from the large companies, have been sweetened up to satisfy the American market. That isn't a problem with this dry red, which has been matured in older French and American oak.

It's richly flavoured and I'm sure has the structure to mature for at least five years.

Enjoy with a meaty casserole.

Riddoch Coonawarra 2015 Shiraz ($20): Coonawarra is best known for its cabernet sauvignon but I reckon it also produces some classy, sumptuous shiraz. This is a bold wine, with plenty of plummy, dark-berry, spicy flavours. This is another red to drink over the next few months before the weather gets too warm, or squirrel it away for a few years.

It's the sort of red that would do justice to a fine steak or a rich mushroom casserole.

WINE OF THE WEEK Riddoch Coonawarra 2015 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon ($35): This is the red variety on which Coonawarra's reputation largely stands. This wine shows real concentration of flavour, with varietal cassis and regional mintiness to the fore. Its fine tannins make it great drinking already but will see it mature for at least the medium term. As ever, I'm a great fan of matching good cabernet with lamb.

- John Rozentals

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Melbourne Obser ver - Wednesday, August 16, 2017 - Page 29 e urn lbo Me

Every Week in the Melbourne Observer

ver N ser O Ob TI C SE 3

Observer Showbiz

Radio: Muriel makes comeback on RPP .............. Page 30 Theatre: Seen and Heard ................................................... Page 31 Country Music: New album for Gary Ellis .................... Page 30 Jim and Aaron: John Wick ........................................................ Page 32 Cheryl Threadgold: Local theatre shows, auditions ........... Page 33 OVATT”S MEGA CRO PL US THE LLO PLUS CROSSSWORD

LOCAL SUPERHEROES The Club

● Bob Tyers (Jock) and Jennifer Mettner (Gerri) rehearse for The Club. Photo: David Belton ■ Heidelberg Theatre Company presents David Williamson’s The Club from September 8-12 at 36 Turnham Ave, Rosanna.

Directed by Gavin Williams, The Club is set in the social room of a famous football club; one with a rich tradition and history of success.

However times have changed. The Club is in its longest ever premiership drought; 19 years and counting.

Embattled coach Laurie Holden has had enough of incoming president Ted Parker and his constant meddling in everything from team selection to game day strategy, and has publicly resigned, blasting Ted in the media in the process.

Laurie is also upset that the club paid a small fortune to recruit Geoff Hayward without consulting him, especially as it turns out, that arrogant Geoff is not playing anywhere near well enough to justify the money.

This purchase has also upset many long term players on significantly less money, leading to captain Danny Rowe threatening to strike if Laurie's resignation is accepted.

With all these issues and ego's floating around, Club administrator Gerri Cooper takes on the responsibility of mediating for Laurie and Ted with the goal of presenting a united front to the media.

The situation complicates when the egomaniacal club legend (and the club's last premiership coach), Jock Riley, imposes himself on the situation as saviour.

Both Gerri’s mediation of Laurie and Ted (and her future plans for the club) and Laurie’s management of his players, are thrown into chaos by his input, much to the chagrin of both Gerri and Laurie.

Performance Details: September 8-23 at 8pm, Sun. September 10, 17 and Saturday September 23 at 2pm Venue: Heidelberg Theatre, 36 Turnham Ave., Rosanna Tickets: $27 Adults, $24 Concession, Seniors Card Holder and Members, Group of 10+ $22 per ticket Booking details: www.htc.org.au or call 9457 4117.

- Cheryl Threadgold

Media Flashes

■ Farrah Tomazin, who has been State Political Editor at The Sunday Age since 2011, has changed roles and joined The Age’s Investigations team as an Investigative Reporter.

■ Kate Halfpenny starts in a new role this week as Chief of Staff at The New Daily.

■ The ABC’s Head of Arts Mandy Chang has announced she will be leaving the broadcaster to join the BBC in London as Commissioning Editor of its documentary series, Storyville.

■ Annabel Brady-Brown has been appointed Film Editor at The Big Issue.

- Telum Australia

● Laura Sharrock (left), Ky Bennett, Millie Heydon, Alice Davine, Laura Dioguardi and Emily Meehan rehearse for Track Youth Theatre’s Superheroes. Photo:Sophie Jevons ■ Track Youth presents Superheroes, an original musical set in Melbourne which follows the story of a professor who invents a machine to transform ordinary citizens into superheroes.

And the team of baddies out to use the machine for evil instead of good.

Written by Peter Sala and directed by Sophie Jevons, this ■ ■ The NGV in partnership with MECCA Brands, has show features a cast of 40 youngsters between the ages of nine announce the winner of the inaugural MECCA M-Power and 16 years. grant program for emerging female visual artists or deTrack Youth Theatre has been teaching the art of stagecraft signer, Melbourne-based photographic artist AtongAtem. to young people for over 30 years.

Designed to empower and engage local female talent, The group aims to help children, not just with the developthe MECCA M-Power program is a 12 month experience ment of theatrical skills, but with more valuable life skills such that includes a $20.000 cash grant. as self-esteem, respect for others, and self-confidence in front Tailored mentoring from both NGV and MECCA Brands of groups. resources, professional networking opportunities and onChildren are not auditioned. Anyone is eligible to join regardgoing learning opportunities with industry experts. less of ability. Most performers in Track Youth Theatre come Born in Africa to South Sudanese parents, Atong's work from the City of Boroondara. draws on traditions of African studio portraiture, exploring Performance Details: September 1 and 2 at 7.30pm and Seppostcolonial practices in the diaspora. tember 2 at 2pm By hand-colouring ethnographic photographs taken Venue: Renaissance Theatre, 826 High St, East Kew. around Africa, Atong's visually stimulating work shifts the Tickets: $20/$12.50 narrative of colonial history.

Bookings: www.trybooking.com/QJDK - Peter Kemp - Cheryl Threadgold

$20,000 grant

Channels Festival launched

■ The full program for the third edition of the Channels Festival 2017: Futures has just been announced.

Over 10 days from September 1, the festival presents some of the best new contemporary moving image from over 90 Australian and international artists in 14 events - including four new commissioned artworks by Australian women artists.

Highlights include: the Australian premiere of Future Clown

by LA-based artist Rachel Mason, an alternative viewing of the inauguration of the 45th president of the United States, Donald Trump.

Sydney-based artist Caroline Garcia’s Flygirl, a solo dance installation that reimagines herself with forgotten hip-hop routines from the 1990s; the Australian premiere of A Mountain Close Up is Only Rock forms a passage though the digital footprint of architect Jørn Utzon by UK artists, Kihlberg and Henry.

New commissions include: Umma’s Tongue-molten at 6000° an intense exploration of the dystopia of modern society by Wakka Wakka and Yargel artist Hannah Brontë; Melbournebased South Sudanese artist Atong Atem, continuing her ongoing interest into migrant narratives, post-colonial practices and the exploration of self and identity.

A new Augmented Reality commission by artist Kate Geck will lead audiences around the Newport’s retail precinct with a series of therapeutic mindfulness mantras triggered by interac-

tive totems. Apparatus and Technique for Location-based Realtime Tracking and Analysis is a new work by Antoinette J. Citizen which explores her interest using data to access and predict patterns of behaviour.

Channels Festival is the only festival in Australia dedicated to presenting video art and culture in a dynamic and inclusive festival of free exhibitions, screenings, workshops and international and online programs.

In 2017, Channels looks to the future in response to recent world events. This year's theme ‘futures of’ invites video artists and collaborators to explore future selves, ideas, movements, perceptions, politics and technologies through their works using experimental and innovative mediums.

Artistic Director, Alicia Renew has a diverse creative and professional practice as a curator, producer and artistic director. Alicia joined Channels Festival as Artistic Director in 2016, she was on the 2014 -15 Curatorial Committee for Channels Festival and Creative Producer-Exhibitions 2015. She is the Program Manager at Monash University Museum of Art and was previously Curator at MADA Gallery, where she curated over 80 exhibitions including Live in Your Head 2012 and The Social Live of Things 2012. She’s written and edited publications for National Gallery of Victoria, NGV Gallery Magazine, MADA Gallery, Craft Victoria and Trocadero.

Page 30 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, August 16, 2017

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Observer Showbiz

Country Music, Radio, Theatre, Almanac Country Crossroads

Muriel makes comeback

By Rob Foenander info@countrycrossroads.com.au

New for Gary

■ Gary Ellis has released his new album, This One's Just For You, to an excited local and international list of fans.

The Narre Warren singer was this year inducted into the Australian Country Music Hands of Fame in a ceremony conducted in Tamworth. The overdue and well deserved award adds to the numerous well documented achievements Gary has added to his career that has spanned over six decades.

More info: contact Gary, 9705 7555.

Sounds like Donnie

■ Australian music legend Donnie Sutherland will be one of a number of special guests in Melbourne next month to help celebrate 50 years in the life and times of Alston Koch.

Also confirmed for the September extravaganza will be renowned singer Frank Ifield who along with the other guests will meet and greet the public at the dinner and show.

Alston will also be in town for the world premiere of his movie According to Matthew.

Tickets and information for both events at the Grand Receptions, Mulgrave.

Collegians on fire ■ Melbourne rockers Collegians are taking on the world with their unique brand of bitter sweet alt rock.

The highly experienced outfit boasts a talented line up of renowned musicians who are currently in the studio recording their new album. www.collegiansmusic.com - Rob Foenander

Rob Foenander ● Muriel Cooper is welcomed by Judy Banks Phillips to the RPP microphones.

As one of the few shows selected for The ■ Muriel Cooper interviews Mal Walden on the second of her weekly shows on Mornington Butterfly Club's curated Spring Program, Lucy Peninsula community radio station RRP today shares stories about eating paper, songs about crying in public, and a super fun activity to unite (Wednesday).

Her first program last week (Aug. 12) won the audience.

Lucy has previously had many sell-out seamuch praise from listeners, as well as radio insons in Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and the dustry friends.

Barossa Valley with her past shows, Decadent, Dorothy Parker's Sweet Release of Death, Tell Me About Yourself, Funny Face and Radelaide..

Accompanied by Stacey-Louise Camilleri, Lucy brings her brand new show to The Butterfly Club for six shows only.

Bookings highly recommended Dates: September 12 – 17 (Tues – Sun) Time: 8.30pm. (Running 55 min approx.)

Venue: The Butterfly Club. 5 Carson Place, Melbourne Cost: $25-$32 Bookings: www.thebutterflyclub.com - Cheryl Threadgold

Lucy Gransbury

● Lucy Gransbury ■ The Butterfly Club presents I’m Fine, written and performed by Lucy Gransbury from September 12 – 17.

I’m Fine aims to be a show for everyone hanging on to sanity by the tips of their fingernails, and is all about the upside to being down.

There will be breathing exercises, singing and a crowd-sourced erotic fiction about a billionaire Big Foot monster impregnating his werewolf sister ... BYO Valium.

Lucy Gransbury is a seasoned performer and a nervous nut-job.

With 'anxiety' being the new celebrity buzzword, Lucy and her mental health issues have never been more in fashion.

r Obser vbeiz On This Day Show

Wednesday Thursday August 17 August 16

■ American actor Robert Culp was born in 1930. Died aged 79 in 2010.

Singer Eydie Gorme was born in New York in 1934.

Actress Julie Newman was born in California in 1935 (82).

Australian film director Bruce Beresford is 77.

■ US actress Mae West was born in 1892.

She died aged 88 in 1980.

Irish actress Maureen O’Hara was born in 1920.

US actor Robert de Niro was born in New York in 1943 (74).

Noni Hazelhurst was born in Melbourne in 1954 (63). Her work includes Play School.

Radio Briefs ■ The funeral service for the late David Small was replayed on his community station 96.5 Inner FM on Sunday morning (Aug. 13), in the timeslot where he had regularly boradcast his Worship On The Wireless and Small Talk programs.

■ Nick Le Souef, Melbourne Observer columnist and former 3AW Overnighters contributor, is on the sick list. Nick was hospitalised late last week. Nick is best remembered for his ‘Outback Legend’ spots with Keith McGowan, until Keith’s retirement from 3AW in 2011.

■ ABC-TV’s Q&A will headline the radio industry’s annual national conference in Melbourne on October 13.

Life After George ● Susan Rundle and Damian Jones in Life After George.

Photo: Nick Hellwig.

■ Old school, radical history professor, Peter George, has died in a light plane crash along with a mysterious young woman.

At his funeral, his grieving wives, daughter and best friend reminisce on his life and their part in it.

A decade or so on from its debut, Hannie Rayson’s award-winning play, Life After George, feels a little dated in parts: the stereotypical female characters seem stuck in a first, second and third wives’ club of bitterness and jealousy, each of the current and ex- Ms George’s framed by a stereotype.

There’s the self-sacrificing first wife, the ruthless and emotionless corporate ball-breaking second wife who has denied her femininity for her career, and the young, flighty, golddigging third wife.

These long-suffering women forgiving a ‘lovable rogue’s’ many infidelities seem a bit old-hat.

However, the big questions it poses are very relevant. With inequality on the rise, the corporatisation of the university showing no signs of slowing and a divisive same-sex marriage battle underway, Paris 1968 doesn’t seem as far removed from 2017 than it used to.

The structure of the play is difficult – multiple short scenes add to the play’s length which runs to three hours.

However, the inclusion of great visual projections provides a distraction. Directed by David Lawson-Smith, the ensemble cast all pull together to create an accomplished production.

Damian Jones is more than believable as the larger-than-life, George. His three wives, Marianne Collopy as Bea, Susan Rundle as Lindsay and Summer Bowen as Poppy all create dimensional characters from stereotypes.

Tamar Collier as George’s daughter Ana and Chris Grant as George’s best friend Duffy are also very good.

Performance Season: Until August 26 Venue: Unicorn Theatre, Lechte Rd., Mt Waverley.

Bookings: 9808 0770.

- Review by Kathryn Keeble Melbourne

Observer

Friday August 18

Saturday August 19

■ Real estate agent Leslie Joseph Tingyou (L J Hooker) was born in Sydney in 1903. He died aged 73 in 1976.

US actress Shelley Winters was born in 1922. She died aged 83 in 2006.

TV producer Gerald Stone is 84 (1933).

Actor Robert Redford is 80 (1937).

■ Victorian entrepreneur Pedro Grenovich was born on this day.

He is 61.

English singer Billy J Kramer (William Ashton) was born in Liverpool in 1943 (74).

Bill Clinton, former US President was born in 1946 (71).

He is yet to inhale the candles.

Sunday August 20 ■ American country signer Jim Reeves was born in 1924. He died aged 35 in 1964.

American singer Isaac Hayes was born in 1942. He died aged 65 in 2008.

US TV weather-man Al Roker is 63.

English actress Yooth Joyce, born in 1927, died in 1990

Monday August 21

■ US jazz musician ‘Count’ Basie was born in 1904.

He died in 1984 (79).

Princess Margaret was born in Scotland in 1930.

She died aged 71 in 2002.

Kenny Rogers, American singer, was born in Houston, Texas, in 1938.

He is 79 today.

Tuesday August 22 ■ American actress Valerie Harper, who first starred in The Mary Tyler Moore Show, is 77.

Cindy Williams, American actress, star of American Graffiti, is 7-.

Tennis champion Mats Wilander was born in Sweden in 1964 (53).

Thanks to GREG NEWMAN of Jocks Journal for assistance with birthday and anniversary dates.

Jocks Journal is Australia’s longest running radio industry publication.

■ Melbourne Find out more at www.jocksjournal.com

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, August 16, 2017 - Page 31

Observer Showbiz

TV, Radio, Theatre

Twigs That Never Took ■ Writer and performer Donna De Palma presents Twigs That Never Took at The Butterfly Club between September 12 – 17.

In a world where older women are constantly overlooked by society, casting agents and constituents alike, Donna De Palma has carved out a unique place on the theatrical stage with Twigs That Never Took. She looks at the personal loneliness, professional retrenchment and social apathy that women can be faced with, and turns it into a thought-provoking one-act work of comedy, tragedy, truth and fantasy.

Perhaps it is her wedding day. Perhaps it is her second wedding day. Perhaps it is a day of remembrance and reflection. Regardless of marriages past, present or future, in Twigs That Never Took, we see a woman clawing at the world to stay visible, to not disappear and to find happiness.

From striking cuttings and historical anecdotes to shadow puppetry and bridal fashion, this production is thought provoking and upliftingly optimistic in its delivery.

Donna De Palma, has worked extensively in theatre, Theatre in Education and touring comedy shows. She has also worked in film, television, voice overs and puppetry. However, as roles begin to dwindle, her passion for performing along with her refusal to be satisfied with fewer substantial roles, has inspired her to create her own solo show.

Premiering at The Melbourne Fringe Festival 2017, Twigs that Never Took plays for six consecutive nights. Bookings are highly recommended.

Dates: September 12 – 17 at 5.30pm Venue: The Butterfly Club, 5 Carson Place, Melbourne Cost: $25-32 Tickets: thebutterflyclub.com - Cheryl Threadgold

Hooting, Howling

■ Award-winning Phil Spencer (Story Club, Griffin Theatre Company, ABC Radiotonic) and banjo picking songstress Julia Johnson (Julia and the Deep Sea Sirens) will take audiences for a comedic journey through life, death and the Great Unknowable in Hooting and Howling, being presented from September 20 – 25 at The Butterfly Club.

Mixing storytelling, stand-up and live music, Hooting and Howling is a real-life tale of ghost hunting, telling of one man’s induction into the realm of the supernatural and his desperate efforts to resist being an atheist ‘know it all’, as a group of eccentric hobbyists attempt to make contact with the unknown, armed only with torches and a packet of ginger snaps.

Performance Details: September 20 – 25 at 7pm Venue: The Butterfly Club, Melbourne Tickets: $32/$28 Bookings: thebutterflyclub.com - Cheryl Threadgold

Seen and Heard ■ Stars of Melbourne’s thriving all-cabaret scene will unite to tell their stories in a variety show with a personal twist in Seen and Heard , being presented at The Butterfly Club from September 25 to October 1.

This showcase of song, circus, dance, striptease and vaudeville combined with storytelling. is hosted by burlesque queen and storyteller, Becky Lou, who has trawled the glittery underbelly of the international Fringe Festival circuit, queer parties, comedy clubs, circus spaces and burlesque bars to bring the show together.

Seen and Heard cabaret’s line-up will include (on selected evenings throughout the season) internationally acclaimed circus artist Anna Lumb (The Burlesque Hour, La Soiree), showgirl and pleasure activist Frankie Valentine (Baby Got Back), dance cult director Liz Cahalan (Bey Dance), powerhouse chanteuse Jessamae St James (Not Another Indie Cabaret), gender transcendent diva MamaAlto (The Rapture, Glory Box), label-defying performance artist Jessica McKerlie (Gender Spanner) and award winning comedian Kirsty Webeck (Queers of Comedy).

Show Details: September 25-October 1 at 10pm. Venue: The Butterfly Club, 5 Carson Place, Melbourne. Cost: $25-$32. Ticket bookings: www.thebutterflyclub.com - Cheryl Threadgold

● Becky-Lou hosts Seen and Heard at The Butterfly Club.

Photo: 42nd Photography.

Memphis The Musical ■ StageArt has announced the cast for the Australasian premiere of the award-winning Memphis the Musical, which will play at Prahran’s Chapel off Chapel from October 6.

Memphis is about a white radio DJ who wants to change the world and a black club singer who is ready for her big break.

It is an incredible journey to the ends of the airwaves – filled with laughter, soaring emotion and roof-raising rock ‘n’ roll.

This racially explosive story transports audiences back to Memphis in the 1950s, when rock ‘n’ roll was about to take over the world, when people were screaming for social progress, and when falling in forbidden love was not just frowned upon, it was a crime.

Making his directional debut is Dean Drieberg, musical direction will come from Nathan Firmin (The Full Monty) and choreography by Kirra Sibel.

Executive Producers are StageArt co-founders Katherine Armstrong and Robbie Carmellotti.

Attracting diverse performers from Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, StageArt announces the Memphis cast: James Elmer (ABC 3 and MTV host) leads as ambitious young DJ Huey Calhoun, who is passionate about African-American rock ‘n’ roll music and is determined to bring it to a mainstream audience.

He starts to fall for the incredibly talented and beautiful star on the rise, Felicia, played by Elandrah Eramiha-Feo (In the Heights).

Felicia’s protective older brother Delray, owner of an underground black rock ‘n’ roll bar, is played by Iopu Auva’a (The Color Purple, Dreamgirls). Mandi Lodge (Shirley Valentine, Always… Patsy Cline) will star as ‘Mama’ Gladys Calhoun, Huey’s tough and hard-working mother.

Isaac Lindley (Rent, Our Country’s Good) will play Gator, a very attentive (but mute) bartender at Delray’s Beale Street Club and Nik Murillo will play Bobby, who frequents the club and works as a janitor during the day.

Greg Pascoe (Les Miserables, Into the Woods) will play Mr Simmons, the owner of radio station WHDZ, who begrudgingly gives Huey his big break.

The ensemble comprises Lucas Biondo, Wem Etuknwa, Lachlan Nash, Callum Warrender, Tanisha Buhanec, Agnes Fifita, Jason Yang-Westland, Tsungirai Wachenuka, Bianca Bruce, Laura Greenhalgh and Stephanie Marion Wood.

Memphis is a 2009 Broadway musical with music and lyrics by David Bryan (the keyboardist of Bon Jovi) and lyrics and book by Joe DiPietro.

It is loosely based on the story of Memphis disc jockey Dewey Phillips, one of the first white DJs to play black music in the 1950s.

The production won four 2010 Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

From October 6. Chapel off Chapel, 12 Little Chapel St, Prahran. Ticket prices: $49-$69 www.stageart.com.au, phone 8290 7000

Around Town Metamorphoses

■ The National Theatre Drama School delved deep in to Ovid’s (Publius Ovidius Naso 43 BC – 17 AD) collection of poems written from 8 BC. While best known for three major works of erotic poetry, his Metamorphoses, a mythological hexameter poem, illustrated the Gods exerting their influence on the mortal world by dramatically interfering with the lives of humans.

Traditionally performed within a pool of water, this performance was no exception by the graduating students in their final year of their Advanced Diploma of Acting.

While based on an original 1998 direction

by Mary Zimmerman, Director Trent Baker had the cast stamp their own interpretation upon their performance.

The pool surrounded all sides by decking with a raised stairway at the rear provided great flexibility for the performance.

The myths embraced in Metamorphoses, take place in antiquity but many have relevance to today and that was well to the fore with this production.

Water can provide a calming effect, it can also be treacherous as we experienced concern, mystery and yet happiness.

The cast playing multiple roles showed little trouble getting wet, walking, running or being submerged as was the want of the Gods.

The ensemble of 10 worked outstandingly together and highlights were aplenty.

With King Midas played by James Martin discovering that everything he touched turned to gold, Hunger played by Sara Bolch, writhing around the stage executing a binge eating curse while certainly bringing us back to the future was the performance of Harvey Zielinski as Phaeton, son of Helios the sun god.

While lazing in the pool on a lilo Phaeton asks his father for the “keys to his car” and amid many humorous exchanges father finally relents with Phaeton almost destroying the world.

Metamorphoses showed us why myths retain their importance and relevance today for their timeless perspective on life, arrogance, love and redemption as demonstrated by this impressive production.

- Review by Graeme McCoubrie

Mosaic Choir Concert

■ The Mosaic Community Choir presents Jump Into Spring on Sunday, August 27 at 2.30pm at St Andrew’s Church, 228 New St Brighton.

This delightful afternoon of music and song will also include the Windjammer Brass Quintet.

Afternoon tea will be provided.

Tickets: $20/$15, Children under 12 Free.

Bookings: www.trybooking.com/QDTV - Cheryl Threadgold

LOCAL THEATRE

Carletta The Great

■ Carletta the Great presents A Showgirl Deconstructed from September 18-24 at The Butterfly Club.

This one-hour, one-woman show tells of a neo burlesque showgirl, performance artist, and theatre designer, Carletta The Great, as she dissects and lays out her glittery world for audiences to put the pieces back together again.

A Showgirl Deconstructed takes a new look at the life behind the showgirl mask, exploring the often-overlooked art form of burlesque.

Created by Carletta herself and reigning Miss Burlesque Australia, Willow J Conway, the artists say they will mix their feminist flair with an abundance of creative power and serve it up to the world of burlesque and performance art.

Performance Details: September 18-24

Venue:The Butterfly Club, 5 Carson Place, Melbourne Tickets: $26-$32 Bookings: www.thebutterflyclub.com

Birds and Beats ■ Grant Busé presents, as a part of the 2017 Melbourne Fringe Festival , The Birds and The Beats from September 19 – 24 at the Wonderland Spiegeltent at Docklands.

Written and performed by Grant Busé, this one hour show discusses Sex Education as school teacher Mr. Busé takes audiences on a sexploration of all the things they should have been told about in Sex Ed. From condoms to commitment, The Birds and The Beats delves into the minefield that is being a sexually active adult, complete with original songs such as Where Do I Come From,

Discovery Channel and I’m Bringing Sexy Sack (The Condom Song).

A trained teacher, Busé was teaching music to children while initially writing The Birds and The Beats and after his first successful run of the show was actually offered the role of Sexual Education Teacher. He says he is now officially “life imitating art”.

Creator and performer Busé says: "I’ve always been a fan of sex and body positivity - my last show was really a celebration of those two things. I’ve also worked with children for years as a music teacher and I wanted to explore the idea of how my two worlds could meet.

"What really spurred me on to write the show was seeing a friend and fellow comedian’s show about her sexual assault. It made me think about my Sex Education as a man and I realised I never once was taught about consent in school.

Turn To Page 33

Page 32 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Observer Showbiz

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Movies, DVDs with Jim Sherlock, Aaron Rourke What’s Hot and What’s Not in Blu-Rays and DVDs

● Timothy Spall, Rachel Weisz and Tom Wilkinson star in the burden-of-proof court-room drama, Denial.

FILM: DENIAL: Genre: Drama/True Story.

Cast: Rachel Weisz, Tom Wilkinson, Timothy Spall, Alex Jennings.

Year: 2016.

Rating: M. Length: 109 Minutes.

Stars: ***½ Verdict: Compelling and thought provoking burden-of-proof courtroom drama based on the true story of acclaimed writer and historian Deborah E. Lipstadt and her battle for historical truth to prove the Holocaust actually occurred when David Irving, a renowned denier, sues her for libel. In the 1996 David Irving v Penguin Books and Deborah Lipstadt law suit British author David Irving asserted that Lipstadt had libeled him in her book Denying the Holocaust.

Superbly and richly written for the screen by David Hare (The Hours/ The Reader), from the book "History on Trial: My Day in Court with a Holocaust Denier" by Deborah E. Lipstadt, and tautly and respectfully directed by Mick Jackson (Threads/The Bodyguard/LA Story).

Along with the stellar cast that all excel in their respective roles, Rachel Weisz as the steadfast and combative Deborah E. Lipstadt, Timothy Spall as Holocaust denier David Irving, Tom Wilkinson as her libel lawyer, and Alex Jennings as the Mr. Justice Sir Charles Gray. This is a gripping, highly emotional, haunting and unforgettable experience, made all the more moving as it was actually filmed in part at the notorious Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp in Poland.

FILM: GOING IN STYLE: Genre: Crime/Comedy.

Cast: Alan Arkin, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Ann-Margret, Matt Dillon.

Year: 2017.

Rating: M .

Length: 96 Minutes.

Stars: **½ Verdict: With pensions cancelled, ill health and mounting problems, three desperate senior citizens [retirees] and lifelong friends decide to rob a bank, but not all goes to plan. Predictably formulaic, safe and fairly amiable 'connect-the-dots' reboot of the far superior 1979 comedy-drama of the same name directed by Martin Brest (Midnight Run) and starring George Burns, Art Carney and Lee Strasberg. All that made the original a charming, poignant, funny, bittersweet and heartfelt experience and memorable social commentary on growing old and the circumstances of what we could be driven to, is missing here. The chemistry between Alan Arkin, Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman keep it afloat which, unlike in the original, they deliver exactly what you expect of them, and again, unlike the original, they lose reality along the way through lame comedy and cliché. Trying to appeal to all audience age groups, the real crime of this heist-comedy 'over-the-hill-gang' crime-caper remake is the waste of originality, emotion, conviction, talent and time, but the real bonus here is there is a warm hearted 1979 gem out there just waiting to be experienced.

FILM: A MAN CALLED OVE: Genre: Comedy/Drama/Swedish.

Cast: Rolf Lassgard, Bahar Pars, Filip Berg.

Year: 2015.

Rating: M. Length: 116 Minutes.

Stars: ***½ Verdict: Delightfully bittersweet journey of an ill-tempered, isolated grumpy man retiree who several years earlier was deposed as president of the condominium association, but he could not give a damn about being deposed and therefore keeps looking over the neighbourhood with an iron fist. Spending his spare time visiting his wife's grave, Ove has finally given up on life, just as an unlikely friendship develops with his boisterous new neighbours.Nominated for Best Foreign Film, this is a delightful comedy-drama about unexpected friendship, love and the importance of surrounding yourself with the proper tools. Highly reflective of 2014's "St. Vincent" starring Bill Murray, Melissa McCarthy and Naomi Watts, "A Man Called Ove" supplies far more depth of character and a compelling "back-story," through flashbacks from childhood to his present day, as to how he became exactly what he is. Direction and performances from the diverse cast (most notably Rolf Lassgard as Ove), all combine to create a darkly funny, sweet, tragic, heart-warming, poignant, lyrically haunting and beautifully balanced journey on the life of a lonely but extraordinary human being, a journey you will not regret going on.

Rourke’s Reviews: John Wick

● Keanu Reeves and Laurence Fishburne re-unite for the ultra-stylish, action-packed sequel, John Wick Chapter 2, out now on Blu-Ray and DVD. ■ (MA). 101 minutes. Now availWith the sequel now available able on Blu-Ray and DVD. on Blu-Ray and DVD, this killer acWhat initially looked like just an- tion double is a must-have for the other generic action film from the home collection.

Hollywood assembly line, turned RATING - **** into the surprise hit of 2014, delivering the kind of old-school mayhem that has been missing from many big screen outings in recent years.

Keanu Reeves plays the title (MA). 122 minutes. Available on character, a renowned hitman who 4K, Blu-Ray and DVD on August was able to retire from the busi- 16.

The intimidating John Wick is ness when he found love with Helen back in this critically acclaimed (Bridget Moynahan).

Tragically Helen is struck down box-office hit, and this elaborate with cancer, and passes away soon follow-up doesn't just equal the original, it surpasses it. after.

This time Wick (Keanu Reeves) Afterwards, a secret letter arrives on Wick's doorstep from has to travel to Rome in order to Helen, telling him to move on with fulfil a blood pact he made with Italthe help of a new addition to the ian gangster Santino D'Antonio household; an adorable puppy. (Ricardo Scamarcio) years before, While refuelling at a local petrol a pact that allowed the hitman to station one day, Wick encounters retire from the violent world to settle Iosef Tarasov (Alfie Allen), who down with Helen (Bridget offers to buy his classic '69 Mus- Moynahan).

Preparing for his mission, Wick tang.

When Wick declines, Tarasov has to visit Winston (Ian and his cronies visit his house that McShane) once more, this time at night, beating Wick unconscious, the group's Italian branch.

But the dangerous assassin soon taking his vehicle, and killing his finds out that nothing will go dog.

When the battered ex-hitman smoothly.

John Wick Chapter 2 oozes with comes to and sees what has happened, he goes on the warpath, style and confidence, with returneven when he finds out that Iosef is ing director Chad Stahelski referthe son of ruthless Russian gang- encing a number of action films, ster Viggo (Michael Nyqvist), who especially those from Europe duris fully aware of Wick's terrifying ing the 1970s.

There is a level of detail, colour, reputation.

John Wick goes back to basics, and composition that is extraordistripping its story down to the bare nary to watch, and along with Derek essentials, never bogging down with Kolstad's cleverly expanded unnecessary sub-plots or charac- screenplay, shows that this is no quick, lazy cash-in. ters.

Even the tribute to Buster Highly influenced by the films of Walter Hill (The Driver, 48 Hrs, Keaton and his peers at the beginSouthern Comfort), this is stylish, ning indicates the level of wild exciting stuff, never wasting a sec- mayhem which will follow, staging ond as it hurtles towards its action- action and stunts that will leave packed finale (there is even an ap- audiences breathless and exhilapearance by Hill regular David rated.

The cast all acquit themselves Patrick Kelly).

Reeves is a perfect fit for the role, well, with the exception of Ruby and his actual martial arts training Rose, who is sorely miscast as a allows scenes to be staged and ex- rival assassin, never once coming ecuted with the actor openly in- across as menacing or threatening.

John Wick Chapter 2, like its prevolved in many of the brutal setdecessor, is a welcome surprise, pieces.

Directors Chad Stahelski and and its wonderfully open-ended fiDavid Leitch take Derek Kolstad's nale has one already looking forknowing script and bring it to excit- ward to the next adventure of Mr. ing, exuberant life, producing the Wick.

RATING - ****½ kind of film action fans have been - Aaron Rourke craving for.

John Wick Chapter 2

Top 10 Lists AUGUST 13 to AUGUST 19 THE AUSTRALIAN BOX OFFICE TOP TEN: 1. DUNKIRK. 2. WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES. 3. ATOMIC BLONDE. 4. THE BIG SICK. 5. BABY DRIVER. 6. SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING. 7. WOLF WARRIOR 2.

8. DESPICABLE ME 3.

9. JAB HARRY MET SEAJAL. 10. THE TRIP TO SPAIN. NEW RELEASES AND COMING SOON TO CINEMAS AROUND AUSTRALIA: AUGUST 10: AN INCONVENIENT SEQUEL: TRUTH TO POWER, ANNABELLE: CREATION, THE TIME OF THEIR LIVES, THE WALL, VALERIAN AND THE CITY OF A THOUSAND PLANETS, WIND RIVER. AUGUST 17: GINTAMA, HAMPSTEAD, LOGAN LUCKY, MADAME, POLINA, THE CIRCLE, THE DARK TOWER. THE DVD AND BLU-RAY TOP RENTALS & SALES: 1. GET OUT [Mystery/Thriller/Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Bradley Whitford].

2. SNATCHED [Comedy/Amy Schumer, Goldie Hawn].

3. FATE OF THE FURIOUS [Action/Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson, Kurt Russell].

4. A DOG'S PURPOSE [Family/Josh Gad, Dennis Quaid, Peggy Lipton].

5. THE ZOOKEEPER'S WIFE [Drama/History/ Jessica Chastain, Daniel Bruhl, Johan Heldenbergh].

6. BERLIN SYNDROME [Thriller/Teresa Palmer, Max Riemelt, Lucie Aron].

7.. GOING IN STYLE [Crime/Comedy/ Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Alan Arkin, Ann-Margret].

8. GHOST IN THE SHELL [Sci-Fi/Action/Fantasy/Scarlett Johansson].

9. KONG: SKULL ISLAND [Action/Adventure/ Tom Hiddleston, Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson].

Also: T2: TRAINSPOTTING, LIFE, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, RESIDENT EVIL: VENDETT A, BOSS BABY, SHIN GODZILLA, U.S.S. INDIANAPOLIS: MEN OF COURAGE, THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE, ALONE IN BERLIN, CHIPS. NEW RELEASE HIGHLIGHTS ON DVD THIS WEEK: ALIEN COVENANT [Action/Thriller/Sci-Fi/ Michael Fassbender, Katherine Waterston].

KING ARTHUR: LEGEND OF THE SWORD [Charlie Hunnam, Eric Bana, Jude Law].

McLAREN [Feature Documentary].

THE BELKO EXPERIMENT [Horror/Thriller/ Adria Arjona, Tony Goldwyn].

NEW RELEASE HIGHLIGHTS ON BLU-RAY THIS WEEK: ALIEN COVENANT [Action/Thriller/Sci-Fi/ Michael Fassbender, Katherine Waterston].

KING ARTHUR: LEGEND OF THE SWORD [Charlie Hunnam, Eric Bana, Jude Law].

DOWNTON ABBEY: Seasons 1 - 6 - Gold Boxset.

THE GRADUATE: 50th Anniversary Edition [Anne Bancroft, Dustin Hoffman].

ALIEN: Six Film Collection [Sci-Fi/Horror/ Thriller/Action]: Includes: Alien, Aliens, Alien 3, Alien Resurrection, Prometheus, Alien Covenant.

NEW & RE-RELEASE AND CLASSIC MOVIES ON DVD HIGHLIGHTS: THE GRADUATE: 50th Anniversary Edition [Anne Bancroft, Dustin Hoffman].

ALIEN: Six Film Collection [Sci-Fi/Horror/ Thriller/Action]: Alien, Aliens, Alien 3, Alien Resurrection, Prometheus, Alien Covenant.

NEW RELEASE TELEVISION, DOCUMENTARY AND MUSIC DVD HIGHLIGHTS: LOVE CHILD: Season 4.

ORPHAN BLACK: Series 5.

ORPHAN BLACK: The Complete Collection.

DOWNTON ABBEY: Seasons 1 - 6 - Gold Boxset.

THE BLACKLIST: Season 4.

THE GOLDBERGS: Season 3.

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, August 16, 2017 - Page 33

Observer Showbiz

Local Theatre with Cheryl Threadgold and team Elizabeth

● Lisa Crawley.

■ Elizabeth: a new collaboration between indie-pop singer/songwriter Lisa Crawley and Edinburgh Fringe First Award Winners Bullet Heart Club premieres at Melbourne Fringe Festival from September 18-24 at The Butterfly Club.

Set over a single evening, Elizabeth features original indie-pop songs and real stories drawn from late night stints playing piano in Melbourne’s hidden hotel bars.

Adirty wink from a pervert, a Rod Stewart look alike that won’t leave you alone and some drunk chick who yells “we love what you’re doing darl, but do you mind turning it down a bit?”

Lisa Crawley has opened for the likes of John Mayer, Jools Holland, Simply Red, Paul Weller, and has played alongside music legends Tim Finn and Pete Murray.

However, she says none of that is half as intimidating as opening up to audiences about what’s really going on inside her head when playing for tips.

Edinburgh Fringe First Awardwinning theatre makers Bullet Heart Club (Daffodils) have taken Lisa Crawley’s personal writings and original pop songs as the inspiration for this new cabaret, which will be directed by Kitan Petkovski in his Melbourne debut.

Playwright Rochelle Bright is working alongside Crawley to unpick what hides behind this enigmatic showgirl’s ‘smile’.

Elizabeth premieres on September 18 and runs for a strictly limited seven-night season. Please note, capacity is limited to 40 seats per night. Early bookings are highly recommended.

Dates: September 18 – 24 Time: 8.30pm Venue: The Butterfly Club, 5 Carson Place, Melbourne Bookings: www.thebutterflyclub.com - Cheryl Threadgold

Last of the Summer Wine SHOWS

SHOWS

■ The 1812 Theatre: Last of the Summer Wine (by Roy Clarke), Until August 26 at 3-5 Rose St., Upper Ferntree Gully. Director: Pip Le Blond. Bookings: 9758 3964 or www.1812theatre.com.au ■ Skin of Our Teeth Productions: A Room with a View (by Emma Louise Watson adapted from novel by E.M. Forster) Until August 26, at the Shenton Theatre, Cnr. Ryrie and Garden Sts., Geelong. Director: Christine Davey. Bookings: chriskppd@westnet.com.au ■ Peridot Theatre: Life After George (by Hannie Rayson) Until August 26 at the Unicorn Theatre, Lechte Rd., Mt Waverley. Director: David Lawson-Smith. Bookings:9808 0770.

■ The Basin Theatre Group: A Happy and Holy Occasion (by John O'Donoghue), Until September 2 at The Basin Theatre, Doongalla Rd., The Basin. Director: Loretta Bishop. Bookings: 1300 784 668 (7.00pm - 9.00pm only) ■ Beaumaris Theatre: August Osage County August 18 - September 2 at Beaumaris Theatre, 82 Wells Rd.., Beaumaris. Director: Fred Pezzimenti. Bookings: www.beaumaris theatre.com.au ■ PEP Productions: Caravan (by Donald McDonald) August 17 - 26 at Doncaster Playhouse, 679 Doncaster Rd., Doncaster. Director: Lorraine Millar. Bookings: pep.productions 06@gmail.com : https://www.trybooking.com/ QMNR ■ Wyndham Theatre Company: The Vicar of Dibley August 17 - 26 at the CrossRoads Theatre, cnr Synnot St. and Duncans Rd., Werribee.

Director: George Benca. Bookings: www.trybooking.com ■ Queenscliffe Lighthouse Theatre Group: Secret Bridesmaids' Business (by Elizabeth Coleman), August 11 - 19 at Queenscliff Uniting Church all, 83 - 89 Hesse St., Queenscliff.

Director: Debbie Fraser. Bookings: www.qltg.org.au/p/buy-tickets ■ Strathmore Theatrical Arts Group (STAG): The Female of the Species (by Joanna MurraySmith), August 17 - 27 at the Strathmore Community Theatre, Cnr Loeman and Napier Sts., Strathmore. Director: Mark Stratford. Bookings: www.stagtheatre.org ■ Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre Company: High Society (by Cole Porter from the book by Arthur Kopit) August 17 - September 2 at the Athenaeum Theatre, 39 - 41 Castella St., Lilydale. Director: Alan Burrows. Bookings: 9735 1777.

■ Brighton Theatre Company: The Garden of Granddaughters (by Stephen Sewell) August 17 - Sept. 2 at the Bayside Cultural Centre, Cnr Wilson and Carpenter Sts., Brighton. Director: Andrew Ferguson. Bookings: 1300 752 126.

■ The Mount Players: The Full Monty August 18 - September 10 at the Mountview Theatre,

56 Smith St., Macedon. Director: Leo Vandervalk. Bookings: 5426 1892.

■ OCPAC (Old Carey PerformingArts Club): Sweet Charity September 1 - 23 at MGH, Carey Boys Grammar School, Bakers Rd., Kew. Tickets: $35/$30. Bookings: https://chook.as/ocpac/ sweet-charity www.ocpac.com.au ■ Track Youth Theatre: Superheroes September 1 at 7.30pm, September 2 at 2.00pm and 7.30pm at the Renaissance Theatre, 826 High St., East Kew. Tickets: $20/$12.50. Bookings: www.trybooking.com/QJDK ■ Melbourne French Theatre: Every Trick in the Book (by Georges Feydeau) September 7 16 at the Pop-up Theatre, 203-205 Canning St., Carlton. Director: Alec Gilbert. Booking details: www.melbournefrenchtheatre.org.ai ■ Phoenix Theatre Company: Rock of Ages September 8- 16 at Doncaster Playhouse. Bookings: www.phoenixtheatrecompany.org S ■ Heidelberg Theatre Company: The Club (by David Williamson) September 8 - 23 at 36 Turnham Ave.., Rosanna. Director: Gavin Williams. Bookings: 9457 4117 www.htc.org.au ■ Williamstown Little Theatre: The Seafarer (by Conor McPherson) September 7 - 23 at 2-4 Albert St., Williamstown. Director: Bruce Akers.

Bookings: 9885 9678 www.wlt.org.au ■ SLAMS Musical Theatre: Little Shop of Horrors September 15 - 23 at Knox Community Arts Centre, Mountain Highway, Bayswater. Director: Will Sayer; Musical Director: Ryland Sack; Choreographer: Steph Clare-Cover. Bookings:: 9720 3205.

AUDITIONS ■ Strathmore Theatrical Arts Group (STAG): Charitable Intent/Face to Face (by David Williamson). August 20 at 6.30pm, August 21 at 7.30p, at the Strathmore Community Theatre, Cnr Loeman and Napier Sts., Strathmore. Director: Roderick Chappell. Audition bookings: 9718 0486.

■ Encore Theatre: Cactus Flower (byAbe Burrows)August 13 at 2.00pm, August 14 at 7.00pm at 31 Highland Ave., Oakleigh East. Director: Ewen Crockett. Audition bookings: 0414 991 141.

■ Williamstown Little Theatre: The 39 Steps (by Patrick Barlow) September 3 at 2.00pm and September 4 at 7.00pm at 2 Albert St., Williamstown. Director: Barbara Hughes. Audition bookings: 0458 134 469.

■ Essendon Theatre Company: Unnecessary Farce (by Paul Slade Smith) September 19 at 7.30pm and September 24 at 2pm at the Bradshaw St. Community Hall, Bradshaw St., West Essendon. Director: George Benca. Audition bookings: georgebenca@gmail.com 0419 591 517.

PURPLE REFLECTION: REMEMBERING PRINCE

● Tanya Di Vella in Purple Reflection: Remembering Prince Photo: Kieran McNamara.

■ Tanya Di Vella presents Purple Reflection: Remembering Prince from September 25 to October 1 at 7pm at The Butterfly Club.

This tribute “to keep the purple legacy alive”, will honour the man who introduced Kiss, Purple Rain, Raspberry Beret and 37 studio albums.

Tanya Di Vella will explore the vaults of Prince’s catalogue of hits as she sings and shares anecdotes from the life and legacy of her icon.

Back from a personal pilgrimage to Paisley Park for Celebration 2017, Tanya invites all Purple People to celebrate Prince.

The man, the music, the visionary, the love.

“Let’s unite and keep the legacy of our Purple Prince alive,” says Tanya.

It is now more than a year since the world lost Prince, and Tanya believes with Prince so dedicated to community, it’s endearing to watch his purple family continue to unite and connect in his honour.

Tanya says Prince has been the soundtrack of her life. The news of his passing meant for the first time his music brought tears.

To turn that around it took all the courage she could muster to embark on this cathartic tribute in honour of her greatest musical influence.

Music lovers are encouraged to wear a touch of purple to remember and celebrate Prince, in Purple Reflection: Remembering Prince.

Performance Details: September 25 – October 1 at 7pm Venue: The Butterfly Club, 5 Carson Place, Melbourne Tickets: $26 / Groups [6+] $25 Bookings: www.melbournefringe. com.au or call 9660 9666

LOCAL THEATRE

From Page 31 While the show is a lot of cheeky fun, I also try and tackle some of these big social issues around sex, sexuality, and consent.

“I like to think of the show as Sing-ALong Sex Ed for adults. I like discussing taboo subjects in a fun and unique way that leaves audiences laughing while learning. For music fans, I loop, beatbox, play instruments, sing and rap. I never know what’s going to happen most nights and that keeps me on my toes. Some of the stories I’ve heard from the crowds I could write another whole comedy show on.”

Performance Details: September 19 – 24 Tues – Sun at 6.45pm Venue: Wonderland Spiegeltent, 699 La Trobe St., Docklands Tickets: $27 Adult, $24 Concession, $22 Tuesday, Grps 6+ and Melbourne Fringe Members, $20 Early Bird Bookings: Bookings: 9660 9666 and online at www.grantbuse.com and www.melbournefringe.com.au

The Elephant Man

■ The stark simplicity of the set (Marg Horwell) defines three specific periods in Joseph Merrick’s (Daniel Monks) life in this Malthouse production of Tom Wright’s The Real and Imagined

History of The Elephant Man. We have the bleak industrial early years, the stark confines of the hospital and the final snow-scape of his liberation.

This backdrop provides the foundation for a discussion of what society sees as ugly and how it defines beauty. The unsightly Merrick, superbly played by Monks whose natural disability adds piquancy to the role, is pitted against the industrial wasteland of Victorian England and the social restrictions of a hospital whose good intentions have robbed Merrick of his freedom.

Initially abandoned, used for voyeuristic sensationalism and then ‘caged’ by a well meaning hospital, Merrick finally discovers his voice. He opens up to a nurse who discovers his repulsive

smell is caused by the fact that no one has ever washed him rather than it being attributable to his deformity.

The ensemble cast (Paula Arundell, Julie Forsyth, Emma J. Hawkins, Sophie Ross) playing Monk’s parents, nurses and acquaintances provide a counterpoint demonstrating the cruelty of a society that traps and restricts people through expectations, demands, assumptions and even kindness.

Merrick’s dignity, discovered in the face of such adversity, fills the stage. The dimension of the Malthouse Theatre illustrates just how profound this challenge is.

There are also stunning moments in the script, particularly the word association scene which serves as a form of liberation allowing Merrick to finally express the pain, anguish, sorrow and joy of his life. The directorial touches (Matthew Lutton) are grand and poetic; the rising curtain of the freak show inviting us in to gawk, the finale of falling snow being both bleak and beautiful.

This is theatre of exceptional quality. The scale and integration of ensemble, direction, staging, lighting and sound (Paul Jackson, Jethro Woodward) all combine to make for a memorable, entertaining and thought provoking evening.

Malthouse Theatre. Until August 27.

- Review by David McLean

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Page 34 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, August 16, 2017 Melbourne

Observer

Lovatts Crossword No 32 Across

2. Supervisory (position) 7. Pays brief visit (5,2) 11. Rule 17. Yacht pole 18. Untruth 19. Spanish cheer 20. Ellipse 21. Hangover symptom 22. Decreased 23. Woeful 26. Unfilled space 28. Citizen soldiers 29. Adolescent 31. Existence 34. World computer link 36. Archfiend 39. Female equines 41. Roused 43. Suspension of workers (3-3) 46. Morocco's capital 47. Writer, Emily ...

49. Frolicked 51. Pharaohs' tombs 52. Repaints (car) 53. Short-sighted 54. Lieu 55. Flip in air 56. Ill-treatment 61. Featured musicians 64. Nautical speed unit 65. Fellows 66. Extending 67. ... or nay 69. Possessor 71. US coins 74. Not apparent 76. Penny-pincher 78. Elderly horse 79. Phlegm condition 81. Anti-terrorist squad (1,1,1) 83. Wigwam 84. Aunt's husband 86. Scented purple flower 89. Desert illusions 90. Humility 93. Roll (dice) 94. Sailor's yes (3,3) 97. Made (wage) 100. From India or China 101. Saviour 103. Subway 106. Long letter 108. Short-circuited 109. Mistake (4-2) 110. Untied 111. Islamic governors 112. Renowned 113. Power group 115. Salon worker (4,7) 118. Minor roads (4,7) 121. Be without 124. Early harps 128. Hickory tree nut 129. Aimed 130. Cosmos scientists 134. Brings up (child) 135. Excessively fat 136. Overshadow 137. Fragrance 138. Existing

Across 139. Abandon 140. Alluring 143. Natural disaster, ... wave 144. Vote in 147. Film 150. Extinct bird 151. White flower (7,4) 155. Not justified 157. Chime 158. Smell 159. Concur 162. Snapshots 164. Harrowing trial 167. Doctor 168. Rid of lice 169. Comfy seat (4,5) 172. Journalists' credits (2-5) 173. Polite 174. Unassuming 177. Deprive of food 180. Islands 181. Flight from reality 183. Reconstructed 184. Notorious gangster (2,6) 186. Potato variety 187. In vain, to no ...

188. Fulfilled (demand) 191. Actress, ... Diaz 195. See next page (1,1,1) 197. Megastars 198. Earphones 200. Idiocy 202. Middle-distance runner 203. Weeding implement 205. Protrudes (6,3) 206. ... de Cologne 208. Pleasant 209. Fireproof material 212. Funeral guests 215. US Mormon state 217. Feeble 220. Capital of Iowa, Des ...

222. Hiding game 224. Close watch (5,3) 226. Fries lightly 228. Wife, the ...

229. Bake (meat) 230. Crazier 232. Check 235. La Scala city 236. Dallas is there 238. Well-meaning person (2-6) 241. Spot 242. Admonish 243. Gain through will 244. Singer, ... Horne 246. Require 252. Mental stress 253. Renounce throne 254. Eyelid swelling 255. Focal point 256. Rug 257. East European 258. Opposition 259. Shipping route (3,4) 260. School project

Down

Down

1. Right on target (4-2) 2. Dr Jekyll's alter ego (2,4) 3. Ark builder 4. Moves (towards) 5. Recognise 6. Peru beasts 7. Battery segment 8. Grass 9. Weary sound 10. Xmas 11. Responds 12. Contraptions 13. Crocodile relatives 14. Taverns 15. Small lump 16. Wine jug 24. Trophies 25. Addressed crowd 26. Shaking motion 27. Listing articles 28. Actors Gibson or Brooks 30. Lamb's mother 32. Lack of aptitude 33. Instructors 35. Lament 37. Defence force 38. Beastliest 39. Raider 40. Glimpse 42. Map guide 44. Chooses 45. Thrifty 47. Long-snouted monkey 48. Ice-free Norwegian port 50. Rounded roof 53. Ponder 57. Freedom from guilt 58. Bare 59. Rocket ship crew 60. Talks keenly 62. Mountaineer's tool (3,3) 63. Oppress 65. Judi Dench stars in ... Henderson Presents 68. Aviator, ... Johnson 70. Vigilantly 72. Admission 73. Old photo colour 74. Open sore 75. Dessert, ... caramel 77. Kenya & Tanzania region (4,6) 80. Letter jumbles 82. Italian city 85. Come together 87. Daunted 88. Prince Edward, ... of Wessex 91. Biblical garden 92. Auction 95. Containing nothing 96. Upwardly mobile young people 98. Ripped apart, torn ...

99. Naked models 102. Group loyalty (6,2,5) 104. Nimble-fingered 105. Helps 107. Piercingly 113. Flowered 114. Requested from menu 116. US cotton state 117. Betrayal crime 119. Cavalryman 120. Codswallop 122. Accomplish 123. US motorbike stuntman, Evel ...

125. Extract (metal) 126. In the Arctic Circle 127. Specifically (2,3) 128. Sacred song 130. Astern

131. Weight unit 132. Record label (1,1,1) 133. Droop 141. Pseudonyms 142. US Rhode Island resort 145. Lengthy (4-6) 146. Droll plays 148. Totally preoccupies 149. Unable to read and write 152. Behaved 153. Louts 154. Finish 155. Great Bear constellation, ... Major 156. Jockey 160. Congers or morays 161. Native American tribespeople 163. Stitched garment edges 165. Cain & ...

166. Vending machine 167. Hitler book, ... Kampf 170. Vile act 171. Largest Turkish city 175. Leaves out 176. Praise highly 178. Panic 179. Current (permit) 182. Prison occupant 185. Progressed (4,2) 188. Names used wrongly 189. Most easily offended 190. Cigar dust 192. Almond biscuit 193. Most corroded 194. Flightless bird 195. Trite remark 196. Band 199. Induces 201. Made amends 204. Rowing aids 207. In present condition (2,2) 210. Companies 211. Samples (wine) 213. Coral bank 214. Safari 216. Large yacht 217. Scavenge 218. Tardiest 219. Your school, ... mater 221. Slip up 223. German or Greek 225. Eastern veils 227. In the past, long ...

228. Russian space station 231. Putrefy 233. Four score 234. Toughen (steel) 235. Liqueur, crème de ...

237. Afternoon nap 239. Most senior 240. Enfold 245. Urges on, ... up 247. Junior Scouts 248. Epic tale 249. Notion 250. Highest point

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, August 16, 2017 - Page 35

Solution on Page 15

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Page 36 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, August 16, 2017

What’s New

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, August 16, 2017 - Page 37

DINDI SAWMILL Supplying Quality Hardwood Timber • STOCKYARD RAILS • BRIDGE TIMBER • FENCING MATERIAL • BUILDING MATERIALS • SPECIALTY BIG END TIMBERS, UP TO 8 METRES

5797 8349 Myles Road, Murrindindi Vic 3717 Fax: 5797 8499

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Page 38 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Alexandra

Rare Opportunity to purchase this unique commercial freehold:• Chinese Restaurant seating up to 150 • Full commercial Kitchen with stainless steel benches and splashbacks • 4 bedroom double brick residence with • Dual street frontage 900sqm approx $450,000

Merton

Lifestyle living with Impressive views • 20 Acres of flat and rising hill country • Home offering 3 double bedrooms • Combustion wood heater & central ducted heating and cooling • Double lock up garage, established gardens and dam $495,000

Alexandra

Alexandra

‘Leatham Estate’ • Planning Permit for 21 Lot Subdivision • Approx 4.22 acres of cleared land.

• Zoned Residential 1 - with lots from 639sq.m to 780sq.m.

Eildon

• All services available (Excluding Natural Gas) with underground power.

• Lovely balance flat to elevated land with northerly aspect $580,000 Plus GST

For Rent

NEW

‘Perfect Court Location’ • 4 bedroom brick home • Ducted vacuum system, floor heating, split system • Master bedroom with ensuite and walk in robe

• Double garage with separate workshop and rear access • Quiet court location and beautiful established gardens $525,000

Sales Specialists I Belinda Hocking 0418 115 574 Sales and Property Services I Jessica Bates 0437 533 236 Property Management I Sarah Brockhus 0457 537 222

Room for the boat! :• 3 Bedrooms plus study or fourth bedroom • Renovated Kitchen and Bathroom • Large corner block • Currently leased for $260 PW • Great holiday home of investment $250,000

Landmark Harcourts Alexandra 56 Grant Street, Alexandra I 5772 3444

Yea

Renovated Period Home in the Heart of Town

This exquisite Period Cottage has been tastefully renovated, is located in a picturesque part of town. It is in the heart of Yea and is currently a Bed and Breakfast.

An inspection would reveal the charm of a bygone era with all modern facilities.

There are two generous sized bedrooms, family bathroom and open plan living encompassing kitchen with modern appliances and stunning vaulted ceiling, dining space behind an exposed chimney and living with fireplace, Nectre wood heater and rev cycle air-conditioner.

There are Baltic Floor boards, High Ceilings and doors to match the period.

Outside is a wonderful “Chardonnay” deck to watch the world go by, trees, mature planting and off street parking space.

Location Location Location!

Downsizer?-Investor? –First homebuyerthen this one will suit.

Landmark Harcourts Yea 56 High Street, Yea I 5797 2799

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, August 16, 2017 - Page 39

Page 40 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, August 16, 2017

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au