Melbourne Observer. April 11, 2018

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2018

VICTORIA’S INDEPENDENT WEEKLY NEWSPAPER

49TH YEAR OF PUBLICATION $2.95

S TATE EDITION Vol 50 No 1697 SERVING VICTORIA SINCE 1969

BUSH-WHACKED including GST

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● Kate Finkelstein celebrates 40 years of Kate Bush.

CENTRE STATE DRILLING

Dust off your red dress, embrace your inner Kate Bush and sing-a-long to hit after hit as This Woman’s Work: The Songs of Kate Bush is presented at The Butterfly Club from April 30 – May 5.

Kate Finkelstein, a self-professed Kate Bush enthusiast, celebrates 40 years of her idol’s work as she leads audiences through a night of singing, dancing and ‘Cloudbusting’.

Finkelstein will also explore decades of ‘wuthering hits’ to discover a deeper understanding of the artist shrouded in intrigue.

This Woman’s Work embraces the mystery

that is Kate Bush, including her hit songs Wuthering Heights, The Man With the Child in His Eye, Cloudbusting, Running Up That Hill, Love and Anger and many more Optional interpretative dancing will be encouraged.

Performance Season: April 30 – May 5 Time: 7pm Cost: $25-32 Venue: The Butterfly Club, 5 Carson Place, Melbourne Tickets: thebutterflyclub.com - Cheryl Threadgold

Victorian Selective Entry High Schools

Camberwell Sewing Centre

Applications to sit the Yea 9 entrance exam for 2019 are no open.

● See advert, back page

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Showbiz News

It’s All About You!

Melbourne

Beyond the Beehive Observer

● Carol Whitfield

■ To celebrate the talents of Amy Winehouse, Carol Whitfield will take audiences on a musical journey through her music, influences and legacy from May 15-19 at The Butterfly Club.

Ask most people what they know about Amy Winehouse, and they'll mention her addictions, over-the-top beehive and eyeliner, and early death.

But beyond the tabloid coverage, Amy Winehouse’s music drew on the rich history of jazz, Motown, 60s girl-groups, soul and hip hop, and influenced many who came after her.

How To Be Sexy

Backed by a four-piece band, Carol Whitfield sings the Winehouse repertoire in a tribute to her early influences, her masterpiece album Back to Black, classic covers, and of course her iconic look.

Carol says: “The tabloid coverage of Amy Winehouse's personal problems have largely overtaken her enormous musical legacy in the public mind.

“This show aims to redress the balance, giving audiences a healthy sample of her classic songs and covers.”

Dates: May 15-19 Cost: $27-34 Venue: The Butterfly Club, 5 Carson Place, Melbourne Tickets: thebutterflyclub.com - Cheryl Threadgold

Philip’s 60 years in show business

In This Edition

Melbourne Arts - Peter Kemp West Hollywood - Gavin Wood Local Theatre - Cheryl Threadgold Country Music - Rob Foenander Movies, DVDs - James Sherlock and Aaron Rourke Whatever Happened - Kevin Trask Cartoon - Matt Bissett-Johnson Observer Racing - Ted Ryan OK - John O’Keefe Sulky Snippets - Len Baker Local Theatre Country Music Movies, DVDs Mega X-Word

Observer Showbiz

Latest News AroundVictoria

Armed robbery

● From left: Mark Petkovic, Kevin Trask with Philip Brady ■ Philip Brady commenced his career in show business working at GTV Channel 9 on Easter Monday 1958.

To mark the occasion there was a special edition of Nightline on 3AW on Monday, April 2, devoted to discussing Philip's amazing career.

Simon Owens invited me to join him in interviewing Phil about his life and show business career.

It was wonderful experience and we all learnt a lot about one of the nicest men in Australian radio and television.

Tony Jones also recorded a great television segment which went to air on Peter Hitchner's news on Channel 9 the following night.

Phil has received many messages of congratulations from fans and colleagues in the entertainment industry.

The Melbourne Observer joins in the salute to Philip Brady.

You can listen to the podcast of the Nightline program at the 3AW website.

- Kevin Trask

● Jordan Barr ■ In the scorching heat of the lower recesses With Somebody, Barr imagines 20-something of hell, a young woman is giving a presenta- women suffering from Stockholm Syndrome.

Only a skilled comedian could manage to tion of her thesis on how to be sexy to the Devil. “In the words of our great prophet, turn this seemingly bleak content into uproariCher,” she says. “If I could turn back time .” ous comedy.

The jilted lover and the discarded wife both In a twist on Shakespeare’s Seven Stages of Man monologue, Raw Comedy finalist Jor- put in an appearance, along with admonishdan Barr takes her audience on a journey ments that it’s a woman’s duty to be soft and through the stages of womanhood. And it’s as supple and ‘to take time for you and everyone else who has to look at you’. confronting as it’s laugh-out-loud funny.

All that separates the genders is a With a soundtrack of 80s power ballads reconfiguring of skin and muscle, and yet, interspersing her monologue, Barr morphs into humans have made such a mountain of this a wide-eyed, ‘jolly hockey sticks’ schoolgirl relatively, negligible difference. imagining that the world awaits her.

This point is made hilariously by Barr in By the time she reaches her twenties, she’s the side-splittingly funny finale. playing the role of the WAG to an AFL rookie Performance Season: Until April 15 at 7pm “on the cusp of a great career in sport” whose Venue: The Butterfly Club, Carson Place, old school motto is anti-women. (off Little Collins St)., Melbourne Obligingly acquiescent and punctuated by Bookings: https://thebutterflyclub.com/ Cyndi Lauper’s Girls Just Want To Have show/how-to-besexy-2018 Fun, and Whitney Houston’s I Wanna Dance - Review by Kathryn Keeble

■ Police arrested two men following an armed robbery in Southbank. It is alleged a woman was walking along the Yarra River side near Whiteman St when she was approached by two men. The woman was threatened with an edged weapon and demands were made for her possessions, before she was assaulted. She was treated on scene by emergency services for minor injuries. A 23-year-old man, no fixed place of address, was charged with armed robbery. A 26-year-old Sunbury man was charged with theft-related offences.

Colac takes over

■ Associated Kiln Driers Softwoods has officially taken ownership of the Yarram Sawmill in Gippsland after finalising the purchase with Carter Holt Harvey Woodproducts, reports the Colac Herald.

$1.3bn sale OK

■ The $1.31 billion sale of Murray Goulburn to Canadian company Saputo has been approved by the majority of the dairy processor’s shareholders.

Murray Goulburn held an extraordinary general meeting on Thursday (Apr. 5), with shareholders voting in favour of all four resolutions. The sale remains subject to clearance from the Foreign Investment Review Board.

Forecast ■ ■ ■ ■

Today (Wed.). Mostly cloudy. 13°-22° Thurs. Showers. 12°-21° Fri. Partly cloudy. 15°-24 ° Sat. Showers. 13°-20°

Mike McColl Jones

Top 5

THE TTOP OP 5 MEMOR ABLE MEMORABLE MOMENT S FROM PHILIP BR AD Y’S MOMENTS BRAD ADY’S 60YEAR C AREER IN SHO WBIZ 60-YEAR CAREER SHOWBIZ 5. When he was “stand-in” for Gerry Gee. 4. Remembering the birthdays of every boss for whom he worked.

3. Giving new meaning tothe word “gall”.

2. Not becoming a Vet. (This was inserted by all members of the animal kingdom).

1. Congratulations Knucks.

I’m proud to have “sent you up”. You’re a good man!

Page 10 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, April 11, 2018

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Observer Dead Men Tell No Jokes inc orpor a ting the Melbourne A d vvertiser ertiser, incorpor orpora Ad Melbourne T ict orian Rur al Ne ws Trr ader ader,, V Vict ictorian Rural New and Melbourne Seniors News News..

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■ Ed Dolista (Comic Genius Productions) keeps on bringing slapstick comedy to the stage following his earlier success with You Only Laugh Twice and Live and Let Spy. His latest offering as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Dead Men Tell No Jokes performed to a packed house at The Butterfly Club continues in the same vein, this time as a family comedy.

That it was, a spoof take off of those wellknown Caribbean Pirates. All the ingredients you would expect on the high seas on the good ship SS Stutter.

With a cast of eight comedic actors and an abundance of props with just the right mix of elaborate and customary costumes all supported by video projection we were taken into battle with the evil Captain Saladbar and his fishy crew.

Having captured and holding fair maiden Jane, it was up to Captain Jake and his piratical crew to rescue her.

With puns aplenty, laughs aplenty all interspersed with sword fights, sea battles and with the help of Jack Spanner, Jane was rescued but not until their encounter with the Undead Pirates, Ethel Mermaid and Kraken the sea monster.

Without a defined cast character list, many played dual roles with quick costume and character changes, suffice to say all kept the momentum going, quick gags, slapstick lines and with some audience interaction there was never a dull moment.

It is certainly a family comedy, unlike many of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival shows, and Dead Men Tell No Jokes deserves to be seen more widely following its closure with MICF. - Review by Graeme McCoubrie

Your Stars with Kerry Kulkens ARIES: (March 21-April 20) Lucky Colour: Red Lucky Day: Thursday Racing Numbers: 1-4-2-7 Lotto Numbers: 10-11-27-30-3339 Many changes coming up for some. Many will feel that they are not in control of situations. Business and pleasure don't always mix well. Best not to lend any money or possessions.

TAURUS: (April 21- May 20) Lucky Colour: Purple Lucky Day: Friday Racing Numbers: 3-1-9-5 Lotto Numbers: 9-12-17-27-34-41 Don't overreact to situations, there is no need to be jealous or too possessive. Some may be offered job promotions that were available in the past. Some may have a lucky break in a lottery.

● Ian Nash-Gilchrist (Crimson pirate), Ed Dolista (Captain Jake) and Scott Popovic (Captain Saladbar) in Dead Men Tell No Jokes. mostly, entertains us and we NTs come away a little more aware of the world of those with Aspergers.

The preview night standing ovation was welldeserved.

Produced by Sophie Smyth, The Aspie Hour was presented as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

- Review by Sherryn Danaher

Completely Improvised Potter

GEMINI: (May 21- June 21) Lucky Colour: Green Lucky Day: Monday Racing Numbers: 3-1-7-2 Lotto Numbers: 7-13-14-29-35-42 This is a good period to take things easy and maybe go on holiday. Spend more time at home with loved ones.

There will be some romance coming your way.

CANCER: (June 22- July 22) Lucky Colour: Brown Lucky Day: Tuesday Racing Numbers: 3-1-2-5 Lotto Numbers: 7-13-14-21-34-42 Be very tactful with loved ones; they may be a bit unpredictable. Consult others when making decisions or otherwise people may assume that you are a bit on the "arrogant" side. Some financial luck may be coming your way.

LEO: (July 23-August 22) Lucky Colour: Blue Lucky Day: Wednesday Racing Numbers: 3-1-7-4 Lotto Numbers: 2-12-13-27-35-43 Many will feel a lot happier with their situation in life.

Now is the time to make good some of the "broken" friendships and let bygones be bygones.

VIRGO: (August 23- September 23) Lucky Colour: Pink Lucky Day: Thursday Racing Numbers: 3-1-5-7 Lotto Numbers: 1-3-17-25-34-45 A very good period for most. You will fee very much on top of the world and very satisfied with yourself. There may be some unexpected fortunes coming your way.

The Aspie Hour

LIBRA: (September 24- October 23) Lucky Colour: Rose Lucky Day: Monday Racing Numbers: 1-8-3-4 Lotto Numbers: 1-10-19-30-31-43 What you say around lovers could be misunderstood and bring a backlash, so be very careful and take care not to confide in gossips. In a gamble some could be a winner with a Virgo.

● Sophie Smyth and Ryan Smedley in The Aspie Hour.

■ The Butterfly Club presented The Aspie Hour, an original cabaret written and performed

by Sophie Smyth and Ryan Smedley and which premiered in 2017 at the Ballarat Cabaret Festival.

The pair met and connected at Federation University’sArts Academy in Ballarat where they started creating cabarets about being on the Autism spectrum based on their own experiences.

As is normal for Aspies, they have obsessions. They have exploited their shared obsession of musical theatre to bring us this moving, candid and, at times, hilarious performance.

Ryan narrates, sings and dances his story depicting how he took courage to board a plane for New York solo where he soaked up Broadway, found hot love out in the cold and wrote songs to alleviate his loneliness.

Sophie, who doesn’t share Ryan’s love for Broadway’s Merrily We Roll Along, performs dressed in a Dorothy costume denoting her passion for Wicked. She tells her personal story complemented by a broad repertoire of song and dance styles.

Sophie and Ryan weave a tale of misconceptions by neurotypicals (NT’s or those of us not on the spectrum) and of their own lives of misread social cues and awkward behaviours especially when it comes to dating.

The couple presented their stories both separately and together, concluding with a song and dance duet and all to the accompaniment of pianist and music director Rainer Pollard.

Whether you’ve known an Aspie or not, this slick, fresh production engages and informs but

● Jessica Greenall (left), Nikki Spunde, Ryan Patterson and Jasper Foley in Completely Improvised Potter.

■ Presented by Soothplayers, a Melbourne based improvisation group Completely Improvised Potter is 50 minutes of what could have been a year at Hogwarts.

The audience on the night I saw were hooked.

Laughing at all the ‘in jokes’ as well no doubt admiring the skill and talent of the seven actors.

All of whom were very talented and funny.

The theme of the night was Potter and Granger’s love affair - a suggestion by an audience member on the night.

They did of course only fall for each other with the help of magic, but anything could have happened as the show is as the name says completely improvised.

The actors were all great listeners, knew their characters, played well together as a team.

There was only a bare stage with a Hogwarts banner, but the performances created the environment, copying many of the mannerisms of the original movie actors.

There is little physical action and I believe a good knowledge of the films was needed to keep the interest for the whole time as it is not a story but various scenes with some narration.

For an audience of Harry Potter fans and improvisation, this is a show worth choosing from the great array on offer at the Melbourne Comedy festival.

Venue: Trades Hall - The Meeting Room Dates: Until April 22 (no Wednesdays) Time: 7pm (6pm Sundays) Tickets: $25 Bookings: www.improvisedpotter.com.au - Review by Elizabeth Semmel

SCORPIO: (October 24- November 22) Lucky Colour: Crimson Lucky Day: Tuesday Racing Numbers: 6-1-5-4 Lotto Numbers: 6-15-24-32-33-41 The wiser will stick with whom or what they know.

People you meet on a casual basis could bring trouble.

Most will be acting impulsively and bring a negative person or situation into their lives.

SAGITTARIUS: (November23- December20) Lucky Colour: Purple Lucky Day: Thursday Racing Numbers: 2-9-4-3 Lotto Numbers: 2-11-20-39-34-40 Most will have to tell friends and loved ones that they will not be ordered around. There could be a marriage or family extensions for many. There could be contracts to sign and a lucky punt. However don't overdo the celebrating.

CAPRICORN: (December 21- January 19) Lucky Colour: Cream Lucky Day: Saturday Racing Numbers: 3-3-5-2 Lotto Numbers: 3-12-21-30-35-41 A loved one could be feeling a little left out of your life and you should let them know how committed you are.

Those born early in January should be in for unexpected good luck. Those that can not control their temper will miss out.

AQUARIUS: (January 20- February 19) Lucky Colour: Mauve Lucky Day: Monday Racing Numbers: 1-8-4-4 Lotto Numbers: 1-3-11-21-28-37 In a career decision, make sure you know what you really want. Most will be more interested in loving rather than working and many could benefit through travel.

PISCES: (February 20- March 20) Lucky Colour: Silver Grey Lucky Day: Tuesday Racing Numbers: 2-1-5-7 Lotto Numbers: 7-14-21-22-28-35 You will have to control feelings of jealousy, or else you will spoil a good relationship. A close friend could show a side to them you didn't expect. More effort in a career venture to make it successful.

KERRY KULKENS PS YCHIC LINE 190 2 240 051 or 1800 727 727 CALL COST: $5.50 INC G.S.T. PER MIN. MOB/PAY EXTR A. VISIT KERR Y KULKENS MAGIC SHOP AT 1 693 BURW OOD HWY BELG RAVE PH/FAX (0 3) 9754 4587 W WW .KERRY KULKENS.C OM.AU Like us on Facebook

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Local Theatre Pirates of Penzance

● Belinda Dalton (Mabel) at left, Adelaide Greenaway (Edith), Beth Paterson (Major General), Esther Gresswell (Isabel), Jordan Auld (Kate) and Steve Carolane (Frederic) in Pirates of Penzance.

■ Gilbert and Sullivan’s wholesome and popular Pirates of Penzance got a provocative adult-only makeover for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, in BK Opera’s production at the Kindred Bar, Yarraville.

Sexual innuendo, erotic bondage-style costuming and barely dressed pirates transported this Victorian-era tale of duty and love to a rollicking orgy-like romp. Irrevrant it may be, but it was all in good fun.

The story centres around Frederic (Stephen Carolane), an apprentice pirate who at age 21 is no longer bound by duty to piracy (so he thinks).

He meets and falls in love with Mabel (Belinda Dalton), the daughter of Major-General Stanley.

He soon discovers that having been born on February 29, he is only 5 and a bit years old and duty binds him back to the pirates.

Mabel and her sisters narrowly escape the clutches of the pirates when the Major-General appears.

With just a slight plot modification, (one of the sisters played the Major-General), some adaptation to lyrics (for currency and comedy), and additional quirky dialogue (Paterson and Alicia Groves), the show was otherwise true to its creators’ intent, though they may just be turning in their graves.

Justice was certainly done to the music by a vocally talented cast. Popular melodic favourites such as the Pirate King anthem (Finn Gilheany), Modern Major-General (Beth Paterson) and Poor Wondering One (Belinda Dalton) were excellent.

Dalton, a lyric soprano who has performed with OperaAustralia and Victoria Opera, was a standout. She was well supported by the competent vocals of Carolane (Frederick), Gilheany (Pirate King) and Kate Bright (Ruth).

Costumes were a little inconsistent and/or eclectic with fabulously ornate Victorian style dresses complete with corset and bloomers, matched incongruously with 2018-styled stilettos and the afore-mentioned sex-worker come bondage gear, and pirates in sequenced or pink satin briefs.

Overall a good fun romp – and a Gilbert and Sullivan like no other.

- Review by Beth Klein

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, April 11, 2018 - Page 11 Melbourne

Observer

Showbiz News

Jeckyll, Hyde sequel

● Martin Dunlop in Jeckyll and Hyde: the Sequel ■ Martin Dunlop’s Melbourne International and debauched Hellfire club owner, and ParliaComedy Festival offering, Jekyll and Hyde: the mentarian (also Dunlop), for the purpose of sosequel, is a clever and hilarious romp that is re- liciting Hyde to murder Queen Victoria. ally a play about Victorian era morality, early The club, where depravity and immoral acts psychiatry and the battle between the good and are de rigueur, provides the setting for some bad in all of us. serious comedy fodder.

Dunlop’s story begins where Robert Louis Dunlop is suitably energetic and manic as Stevenson’s novella Strange Case of Dr Jekyll he battles with himself, transforming between and Mr Hyde ends. the good Dr Jekyll and the sinister Mr Hyde.

As the original story goes, Dr Jekyll, a reSupporting Dunlop in a variety of roles are spectable gentleman but with dark tendencies, Lauren Bok and James Ferris. Bok as the misconcocts a serum that transforms him into Mr chievous asylum nurse and later Queen Victoria Hyde in order conceal his identity so that he can flirts eagerly with the audience and has a great do unspeakable evil and violent deeds. comic sense.

Hyde becomes increasingly powerful, and Ferris is hilarious in his roles as the son of a taking control of Dr Jekyll even without the se- miner, asylum hand, sewer boy and butler. A rum. master of accents he too has a great comic presUnlike Stevenson’s original where Dr Jekyll ence. kills himself to avoid permanently becoming the Dunlop’s convoluted and twisted story murderous Mr Hyde, Dunlop’s Dr Jekyll is liv- serves up a great dose of comedy that had the ing out his days in Bedlam Asylum. audience at the Butterfly Club in hysterics.

Jekyll (Dunlop) is kidnapped by a notorious - Review by Beth Klein

Written during Franco’s rule ■ Heidelberg Theatre Company presents The House of Bernarda Alba from April 27 to May 12 at 36 Turnham Ave, Rosanna.

Written by Spanish playwright Federico Garcia Lorca, translated by David Hare and directed by Joan Moriarty, The House of Bernarda Alba was written during the rule of Franco in Spain in the 1930s and as a family drama, is a political metaphor for that period.

Melbourne Observations

with Matt Bissett-Johnson

● Catherine Christensen (left), Mel King, Llaaneath Poor, Venetia Makin, Erin Miller, Marianne Collopy (seated) and Morgan Thomas-Connor rehearse The House of Bernarda Alba.

Photo: David Belton.

Five daughters live together in a single household with a tyrannical mother.

When the father of all but the eldest girl dies, a cynical marriage is advanced. It will have tragic consequences for the whole family.

Performance Season: April 27 – May 12 Time: Evenings at 8pm, Matinees April 29, May 6 and 12 at 2pm.

Venue: Heidelberg Theatre, 36 Turnham Ave, Rosanna Tickets: Full price $27, Concession, Senior’s Card holders and members $24; Group of 10+ $22 per ticket.

Bookings: htc.org.au Box office 9457 4117.

- Cheryl Threadgold

What’s On Did We Just Become Best Friends?

● Simon Carter, Mimi Shaheen and Eli Landes ■ Three stand-up comedians walked into a bar – literally. It was the Loop Bar’s snug rear room where Mimi Shaheen, Simon Carter and Eli Landes each entertained with a 15-minute set.

It was a packed house with some 30 or so friends and guests delighting in the accounts of failed relationships and social misunderstandings.

Mimi captured the essence of her Syrian dilemma mocking the vocal and physical actions of potential paramours.

Eli’s quirky look at depressed whales beaching themselves and accounting for past lives with potential, preferably Jewish partners, was comically bleak.

Simon, ethnically disadvantaged being a white middle class male, took a stab at political correctness.

The Melbourne Comedy Festival has provided a forum for both international and local talent, for the celebrities and for those with a talent to amuse.

Mimi, Simon and Eli have collaborated to form a show and for a $15 ticket price, it is an entertaining interlude that can be included into an evening of wining and dining.

Amusing perspectives, alternative angles and human foibles are all exposed. We’d laugh at ourselves but for the fact that a good comedian takes the humiliation upon themselves to highlight the absurdities of our lives.

Make the effort to see a show during the festival even as a diversion. The cost of a ticket is worth the price of a smile.

UntilApril 21 Loop Bar, 23 Meyers Place.

- Review by David McLean

Spot the Difference

■ It was wonderfully hard work being an audience member as we were swept up into the odyssey that is the lives of identical twins, Benjamin and James Stevenson, in the Melbourne International Comedy Festival’sThe Stevenson Experience: Spot the Difference.

This show is all about similarities and differences. A willing audience was invited to state the obvious visual differences between the pair such as eyebrows, clothing and stature. Through these dissimilarities, the competitive nature of their twin-ship is exposed and pulled apart.

Lashing out and point-scoring comes at a hilarious frenetic pace. They revealed a bond unique to twins, especially those who are joined through writing, singing, dancing and joke-telling as an occupation. The result is this tight, polished performance with Ben on keyboard and James on guitar.

Ben and James related funny, endearing family stories including their parents’ unusual logic regarding day to day monetary realities: a bank transfer of $4.50 for an Easter egg with instructions to visit a Target where it was now reduced to half price. Ben told of his discovery of a ‘live’ but frozen bird placed in his mother’s freezer when it fluttered too much for her to paint it.

Whether tales of childhood pranks, passport identity swapping or preferences for burial over cremation and eulogies, their skill to bounce off one another without missing a beat had the audience gasping for air with laughter and struggling to keep up with their hyperactivity. I can’t promise that I kept up with the pace but I loved every minute of the workout.

Venue: The Victoria Hotel (Acacia Room), 215 Little Collins St., Melbourne. Season: Until 22 April. Times: 8:30pm (55mins duration; 7:30pm on Sundays). Tickets: Preview and Tuesday $20; Wed, Thu, Sun $25.00 (Conc and Groups 6+ $23); Friday, Sat all tickets $29. All bookings through www.comedyfestival.com.au - Review by Sherryn Danaher

Page 12 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, April 11, 2018

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Victorian History

Kinglake Hotel opened in 1895 ■ The first hotel on the site of today’s Kinglake Pub was built circa 1895, according to the Murrindindi Shire Heritage Study.

It started life as the Thomson family home Aurelia Villa in which they also ran a post office.

In 1907 Harry Thomson was granted a hotel licence and it was called the Kinglake Hotel.

Harry Thomson's son, Frank Harris Thomson, with his wifeAnnie née Power, took over the running of the hotel from his father in 1914.

The original building was destroyed during the 1926 bushfires.

Harry and his family first erected a tin shed until the larger three building complex of today was built from 1927 onwards.

Subsequent owners, Herb and Wilma Coller, took over the hotel in the 1960s and renamed it the National Park Hotel.

Originally part of the Eltham Shire, Kinglake (including Kinglake Central, Kinglake East and Kinglake West) were named after the British historian Alexander Kinglake(180991).

The name was chosen by John Lindsay Beale to honour the historian.

Educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge, Alexander Kinglake was called to the Bar in 1837.

Subsequently he devoted himself to politics, and wrote History of the War in the Crimea (1863-7) and Eothen (1844) in which he describes a journey made in 18343-5 through parts of the Ottoman Empire, the Holy Land and Egypt.

Beale, born in 1830, was the youngest son of MajorAnthony and Katherine Rose Beale, PaymasterGeneral for the East India Company on the island of St Helena.

The family sailed to Melbourne in 1839 and established a property on the Plenty River named St Helena after which the area of St Helena became known.

Beale first took up land in the Kinglake district in the County of Anglesey in 1873.

He was active in community affairs, was instrumental in the establishment of the school at Kinglake Central and is recognised as a pioneer of the district.

He was appointed a Justice of the Peace for the Kinglake district and was a member of the Eltham Shire Council from 1879-94, during which time he served two terms as Shire President.

Kinglake National Park, proclaimed in 1928, is one of Victoria's oldest national parks and the largest in the Melbourne area.

It includes forests, fern gullies, walking tracks and viewpoints.

The Kinglake area, which was part of the North Riding of the Eltham Shire, was annexed to the Shire of Yea in October 1972.

When Shire amalgamations were undertaken in 1994, Kinglake became part of the Murrindindi Shire.

Kinglake, Kinglake Central, Kinglake East and Kinglake West are located on the Great Dividing Range at an altitude of 1800 feet.

The original Kinglake Hotel building was destroyed during the 1926 bushfires.

Harry and his family first erected a tin shed until the larger three-part complex of today was built from 1927 onwards.

LICENSING CASES

KINGLAKE HOTEL RAIDED On Tuesday, Augustus Dundee O1iver, licensee of the Kinglake Hotel, was charged at the Whittlesea Court with having allowed persons other than bona fide travellers on his premises on a Sunday.

A further charge of having unlaw fully disposed of liquor on Sunday was also preferred.

Several men found on the premises also appeared.

Police Raid A member of the licensing branch of the police gave evidence that on Sunday, September 29, he in company with other police, visited the Kinglake Hotel.

When they entered they found several men on the premises, either drinking or holding glasses of ale.

The men, who were fined £1 each with 3/7 costs, were William Exton, Kinglake; Maurice Ryan, Kinglake; John Michael Flynn; Norman Arthur Lewis, Kinglake, and ,James Joseph Tooey, also of Kinglake.

Oliver was fined £2 on the disposal charge, while the remaining charge was withdrawn.

The barman was. in charge of the hotel at the time of the police visit.

- The Advertiser November 29, 1935

● Several people standing in front of the Kinglake Hotel, possibly early 1900s.

Photo: Yarra Plenty Regional Library Service The Heritage Study continues: “It retains the timber verandah posts “The National Park Hotel, built in in their original form.

1927, is a complex of three buildings “Originally, the main hotel buildon a corner site. ing and the restaurant building were “The main building, the hotel it- clad in strapped fibro sheeting, with self, is at the centre, with two build- a weatherboardlook pressed metal ings set back on either side of it. dado. Both were reclad in narrow “On the right-hand side is a former vertical cedar boards around 1960. accommodation building and on the “The third building housed hotel left is a restaurant building (Lawson's rooms. It is clad in the original Retreat). pressed metal dado with fibro-con“All three have gable-front with crete sheeting above. verandahs that wrap around across “The front gable is fibro-clad with the facades, and corrugated-iron the same Japanese-inspired vent in clad roofs. the gable. The east side elevation is “There is a mature cypress tree set under the verandah (with simple next to the main building, and other timber posts) and has a weatherboard mature exotic species around the dado below strapped fibro cladding, restaurant building. with multiple French doors into the ● Kinglake Hotel “The hotel building is dominated individual rooms. ad from 1927 by the very wide front gable. A rect“An unsympathetic flat-roofed In addition to the main bar and angular louvered vent in the gable brick extension was made to the right lounges, the new Kinglake Hotel had has a Japanese inspired frame. side of the hotel, at the front. It blocks “Double entrance doors are at the the view of the accommodation a separate wing for the dining room and kitchen and another for 10 guest centre of the facade, with banks of building behind it. multi-paned windows on either side.

“The hotel and restaurant buildbedrooms.

“The verandah is supported on ings originally had similar cladding It became a popular place to stay simple timber posts with brick pier to the accommodation block, but for weekends and holidays.

Harry and Anne later sold the ho- bases - the piers were added c1960. were reclad in cedar boards c1960.

“The restaurant building, on the “There is a mature cypress in front tel and moved their house to the genleft-hand side, also has a broad front of the bottle shop, and mature deeral store across the road.

The Collers took over the hotel in gable and Japanese-inspired gable ciduous trees in front of the restaurant.” the 1960s. They regraded the front vent. car park to include steps up to the front door, and replaced the bottoms of the timber verandah columns of the main building with low brick piers.

They also began to use the name 'National Park Hotel' with a view to encouraging tourism.

In the 1980s the fibro cladding with a pressed metal dado of the main hotel and restaurant buildings was replaced with vertical cedar weatherboards.

The original cladding is still visible on the east elevation of the accommodation building.

The hotel has been the location of many gatherings and celebrations for the township and has hosted Christmas dinners, cricket club presentations, Fire Brigade meetings and other local social events.

It was the departure point for the 'King of the Mountain' potato race and the 'Mountain Man' competition was held in the back paddocks.

The Kinglake Park tennis team once used the sand court behind the kitchen and there was once a swim● Kinglake Hotel, approx. 1950 ming pool on the site as well - both Photo: www.VictorianPlaces.com.au of which are now gone.

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, April 11, 2018 - Page 13

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Page 14 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, April 11, 2018

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Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, April 11, 2018 - Page 15

Quantity Surveyors Property depreciation services Just Depreciation is always going the extra mile to help all our clients whenever we can. We have decided to answer some of our frequently asked questions to help give you some advice and get a better understanding of our services to save you time and money.

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Our reports have 10 years of detailed information and enough detail for your accountant to expand on the individual items after this date so you won't have to arrange for a another report unless you carry out major renovations or improvements.

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Page 16 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, April 11, 2018

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au MARKETING FEATURE

Melbourne Observer Observer -- Wednesday, Wednesday, April 11, 2018 2018 -- Page Page 17 17

Observer Magazine

Stateside with Gavin Wood in West Hollywood

Street talk comes to LA

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

Chappaquiddick Opens ■ It's been nearly 50 years since Ted Kennedy drove his car off a bridge in the tiny New England island of Chappaquiddick, in the process killing his female companion Mary Jo Kopechne and yet a number of pressing questions remain.

Was Kennedy drunk when he got behind the wheel? Was he having an affair with Mary Jo, one of the "Boiler Room Girls" who'd previously worked on his brother Bobby's presidential campaign?

How did Kennedy escape the submerged vehicle, and did he know at the time that Mary Jo might still be alive in the car, courtesy of a pocket of oxygen?

Why did he wait 10 hours before reporting the accident to authorities, and then recount stories littered with contradictions and inaccuracies?

And, moreover, did he ever truly feel regret over his actions? Chappaquiddick, John Curran's new film about the scandal, has few definitive answers.

On the one hand, that failure to satisfactorily solve the mystery of that fateful summer night renders Curran's latest something of an invariable disappointment.

Stitching together facts and speculation to provide something like a basic timeline of the disaster, the drama which first premiered at last year's Toronto International Film Festival, and arrived in theatres last week feels like a hollow bit of conjecture.

Unsure of precisely what caused Kennedy to lose control of his car and subsequently act in the bizarre ways that he did, it proceeds forward in the same sort of haze that engulfs its protagonist in the hours and days immediately following the crash. I guess you have to make up your own mind.

Sam Newman hits WeHo

■ Two stars from the Channel 9 Footy Show arrived in West Hollywood for a series of interviews before going to Atlanta for the Master's Golf Tournament.

Shane Crawford took Sam Newman down to Muscle Beach at the Venice Beach boardwalk for a series of funny weightlifting exercises and Shane also interviewed Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, no relation to Alan Johnson, Managing Director of the Ramada Hotel and Suites where the boys stayed while they were here.

Shane’s new best mate ■ Shane Crawford's best new mate, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson has opened up about his secret battle with his mental health after suffering from depression for decades.

The 45-year-old actor has become known as one of the biggest action heroes in showbiz, but has opened up for the first time about his inner struggles.

He confessed that the bouts of low mood started when he was living in poverty as a child and witnessed his mother, Ata, attempt suicide when he was just 15 years old.

Out and About

■ Out on a dinner date, Denzel Washington and his wife, Paulette Pearson were spotted at Primola on the Upper East Side in NYC. George and Amal Clooney were seen having a quiet and intimate dinner at Indochine in New York City.

Know when to fold ‘em

■ Kenny Rogers has been advised by a doctor to cancel the remaining performances of his 2018 farewell tour due to "a series of health challenges," a statement said.

Several of the singer's performances on "The Gambler's Last Deal" tour were cancelled recently, including a scheduled May 26 show at Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort in North Carolina.

Spielberg on top again ● Pictured at the Ramada Plaza Hotel and Suites entrance is Sam Newman with Ramada General Manager, William Karpiak.

The King is back

■ A new television documentary about Elvis Presley takes advantage of the vast collection of footage, pictures, documents and music from his estate to give a behind-the-scenes look at the king of rock 'n' roll. "Elvis Presley: The Searcher," a two-part, three-hour documentary, will premiere April 14 on HBO. Director Thom Zimny, who worked on several Bruce Springsteen documentaries, had full access to Graceland's vault and made ample use of it to unearth little-seen footage.

David Crsoby solo

■ Cameron Crowe has signed on to produce BMG's documentary about David Crosby, the moustachioed one-third of the great, Crosby, Stills & Nash classic rock trio. A.J. Eaton will direct the film. "It's just such a compelling story," said Crowe. "David Crosby has been near the forefront of music and social change for the last four decades. Now 76, he's forging a new path by seeking out younger musicians and trying to make a mark in a world now so different from the generation he came to define in the '60s."

■ Andy Warhol has become such an icon that a photo of his medicine cabinet is expected to fetch at least $6,000 on April 10 at Sotheby's. The photo and another showing Warhol's wig, glasses and Longines watch was taken by David Gamble, who spent eight days shooting in Warhol's East 66th Street townhouse in 1987 before it was sold.

Speak with Joanna

■ If you are considering a move to Los Angeles or just coming over for a holiday 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

■ Steven Spielberg's 'Ready Player One' opened to an estimated $53 million on Easter weekend, defying expectations to steal the No.1 spot in theaters.

The VR-fantasy flick, set in dystopian 2045 and peppered with 1980s pop culture references, follows one man's quest to find a digital Easter egg in the virtual world of the Oasis.

Starring Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke, Lena Waithe, and Australian Ben Mendelsohn, the film is adapted from Ernest Cline's popular sci-fi novel of the same name. 'Ready Player One' had the advantage of a Thursday release, giving it a leg up over Tyler Perry's 'Acrimony,' which claimed second place with an estimated $17 million. Disney and Marvel's 'Black Panther,' which dominated theaters for five straight weeks, came in third in its seventh weekend with an estimated $11 million.

Steven Spielberg thinks action legend Indiana Jones is finally ready for the ultimate adventure to be played by a woman.

The director knows he would risk fan fury by casting an actress in the role made famous by Harrison Ford, 75, but he believes it is time the explorer took "a different form”.

‘420’ launch

GavinWood

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

Travel destinations ■ Alaska is the most popular state for flying in the U.S. One of every 58 Alaskans is a registered pilot, and one out of 59 owns an airplane. Lake Hood in Anchorage is the largest and busiest seaplane base in the world, averaging 234 landings and take-offs per day.

Utah's Great Salt Lake is about four times saltier than any of the world's oceans. If a person boiled 1 quart of water from the saltiest part of the lake, a half-cup of salt would remain. It is so salty because as the ancient Lake Bonneville dried up, salt and other minerals were left behind. Because the shrinking lake had no stream out to sea, the salt deposits became concentrated in the lake.

www.gavinwood.us

■ A flagship pot palace unofficially touted as the "Barneys of Weed" is set to open on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan.

LA cannabis brand MedMen will launch a 10,000-squarefoot medical marijuana dispensary on, when else?

April 20. (For the uninitiated, "420" is code for lighting up.)

It will be located at 433 Fifth Ave., near Bryant Park.

Kept in the family ■ Kris Jenner is now guiding the careers of two of the rap world's hottest artists Kanye West and Travis Scott.

The Kardashian clan momager is behind her son-in-law West parting ways with his longtime manager Izvor "Izzy" Zivkovic, as well as Scott leaving his own management team.

Submarine turns 50 ■ The Beatles' Yellow Submarine will return to movie theatres across North America this summer to mark its 50th anniversary.

The film is set to start screening July 8, though a complete list of participating theatres has yet to be announced. Tickets and screening information will be available soon on the Yellow Submarine website.

- Gavin Wood

Page 18 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, April 11, 2018

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Local Media’s 50 Years. Part 3.

Beitzel’s ‘Footy Week’ and Sunday papers

50 YEARS

Local Media Pty Ltd, publisher of the Melbourne Observer and The Local Paper, traces its origins to September 1969. Our 50-year anniversary will be held in September 2019. Over the 18 months from March 2018, we present a series of feature articles looking at our history over the past half-century.

■ Part One of this series examined Local Media’s boss Ash Long’s start in September 1969 when Gordon Barton founded the Melbourne Sunday Observer newspaper.

Part Two looked at his work for Dern Langlands’s Regal Press, then publisher of Postscript Weekender and All Sport Weekly.

Barton published his last Observer in March 1971, after accumulating $1½-million in losses.

Circulation had fallen to an alltime low of 80,000 copies, from a high of 120,000 copies.

(Another publisher, Maxwell Newton, commenced publishing the differently-named Melbourne Observer two weeks later, but that story will be told in another chapter.)

But Barton’s IPEC Transport group continued in the publishing business from its Fishermans Bend headquarters in Melbourne.

Barton had started the Sunday Review newspaper in October, 1970, and the Long family was involved in its distribution to independent milk bars across Melbourne.

Each week, the Longs also handled some of the interstate freight of the Review via Essendon Aerodrome (for Tasmanian sales), and the newly opened Tullamarine ‘Jetport’ (for other states and PapuaNew Guinea).

Ash Long was still at secondary school during the day, and working on newspapers at night. His father, Jim Long, had a job as an accountant during the day.

Experience widened as other publishers wanted to use the distribution network to sell their newspapers.

Sporting identity Harry Beitzel published Footy Week during the winter Victorian Football League season, originally using Spotless Dry Cleaners, then Caltex Service Stations for his distribution network.

Each Saturday night, the Long family would go to Stockland Press at North Melbourne, and deliver Footy Week copies across the suburbs.

Beitzel changed the title of his paper to Sunday Sport, and then Sunday News. The venture lasted only 26 issues, and lost more than $200,000.

Beitzel had previously been involved with preparing the sports section for Maxwell Newton’s Observer, but the association had collapsed amid acrimony.

This was still an era of all VFL matches being played on Saturday

● Harry Beitzel during his days as a Victorian Football League umpire afternoons, and trots (harness racing) being staged at the Melbourne Showgrounds on a Saturday night.

Henry John Beitzel was born on April 6, 1927, coming to prominence umpiring 182 VFL matches between 1948–1960.

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 writing for the Herald Sun, Truth, The Sunday Telegraph and The Australian.

His early work on television was on the ABC, pioneering broadcasting with innovations included the introduction of statistics during broadcasts of matches, as well as comprehensive previews and reviews of games, a format which is still popular.

He drew inspiration from watching the 1966 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final on television, and in 1967 sent an Australian side – ‘The Galahs’ – to play the game against an Irish side.

Beitzel followed this up the next year with the Australian Football World Tour, a six-match 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. ● Harry Beitzel’s Sunday News lasted only 26 weeks Beitzel had started Footy Week from about 1965. day night edition of The Herald, and The final edition of the newspaGeoff Slattery’s The Stats Revo- the Saturday night edition of the per using the Footy Week name was lution acknowledges Beitzel and his Sporting Globe.

20 pages “published by Harry Beitzel business partner Ray Young as pioBeitzel recognised Melbourne & Associates Pty Ltd, P.R. Consultneering the use of match statistics people’s insatiable appetite for all ants, 183 Clarendon St, South The Victorian edition of Footy things sport.

Melbourne, phone 699 1033”.

Week was like the around-thegrounds He had announced in the July 18, Writers included Tom Lahiff, coverage that Beitzel and his col- 1971, edition of Footy Week that his Arthur Oliver, Roy Wright, Doug leagues pioneered on Melbourne newspaper would carry a new name Bigelow, Jack Currie, Jonathon Isle; radio. and identity the following week. with soccer coverage from Len Not long after their ‘partnership’ “Now called Sunday Sport, it is a Stone; racing by ‘Peeping Pete’ commenced in March 1971, New- bigger and better paper, combining (Harry Beitzel’s brother, Vic), Frank ton and Beitzel fell out. all the Footy Week features with a O’Brien; greyhounds with Peter With the help of Sir Frank host of other information, pictures Pearson; and trotting with Peter Packer’sAustralian Consolidated and highlights.”

Wharton.

Press, the Observer was delivered to Beitzel announced a new turf secMuch of the typesetting was comnewsagency sub-agents for the first tion with “furlong and finish pictures pleted by Shirley Forbes on an IBM time. of each Melbourne race, all the de- golfball machine. Long later worked Until that time the sub-agents had tails of Saturday night’s Show- with Shirley on the Farrago newsonly sold Sydney Sunday papers, grounds trotting with bell-lap and paper at the University of Melbourne trucked overnight from New South finish pictures of each event”. in 1975-77.

Wales to Victoria.

The new Sunday Sport included Advertisements appeared for raThe local Melbourne weekend a guide for Monday’s country trot- dio stations 3UZ, 3XY (Jack Dyer) newspaper diet included the Satur- ting. and 3KZ; and the ABV-2 football

show hosted by Harry Beitzel. Many creditors were left unpaid after the 26-week run of Sunday News.

Fairly early in its short life, Beitzel sacked the Nation Review distributors from distributing Sunday News.

Beitzel’s newspaper did not come up to the standard set by Newton’s Melbourne Observer.

Priced at 12 cents, the mono (black-and-white) newspaper included reports by Maureen Gilchrist, Colin Talbot, Michael Cahill.

Michael Foulkes, Basil Silcove, Peter Janson and a soccer writer ‘Martin Aston’.

In edition number two, Harry Beitzel appealed for newsboys aged over 12: “I can personally assure all parents, and the boys themselves, that they will be given an honest deal and will be helping to build a decent family newspaper for Melbourne.”

Beitzel’s distribution arragements meant poor retail sales, and advertising revenue was meagre.

Footy Week, Sunday Sport and Sunday News were pioneers of VFL media. Harry Beitzel’s contribution was recognised with his entry into the Australian Football League’s Hall of Fame in 2006.

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

In the early 2000s, Local Media boss Ash Long, as Melbourne Observer Editor-Publisher, contacted Harry Beitzel, who agreed to provide a weekly football column at no charge.

The page continued for some years. Beitzel was ill since 2014, after losing sight in one eye and suffering a fall, he also had heart problems.

He died on August 13, 2017, aged 90. ★ There were a number of other publications introduced to the Sunday Review (later The Review, later Nation Review) distribution network.

In January, 1972, Phillip Frazer introduced a fortnightly Australian edition of Rolling Stone.

Later, on alternate fortnights, counter-culture broadsheet The Digger began. Run by a collective, some of its members were Bruce Hanford, Helen Garner, Ponch Hawkes, Colin Talbot and Garrie Hutchinson. Terry Cleary looked after the business side.

Frazer, born in Melbourne, had been an Editor at the Monash University student newspaper, Lot’s Wife, and was a founder of the teen pop newspaper, Go-Set It was published weekly until 1974, introducing Australia's first national pop record charts and featuring many notable contributors including Tony Schauble and Ian ‘Molly Meldrum.

Some other publications distributed by the Long family through the Review network were Lumiere, Labor 72, and Rats (by Piotr Olszewski, also known as J.J. McRoach). It was a fast and liberal education in publishing.

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, April 11, 2018 - Page 19

You can obtain your Melbourne Observer at hundreds of newsagencies across Victoria

Copies of the Melbourne Observer can be purchased through a network of hundreds of friendly newsagencies, and their subagencies, across Victoria. The Melbourne Observer is on sale each Wednesday for $2.95 per copy. For a modest extra fee, most newsagencies will cheerfully arrange home delivery to your letterbox.

To ensure that you don’t miss an issue of the Melbourne Observer Observer,, place a firm order with your newsagent. Ask to use their 'put-away' service. Any of the newsagencies listed can receive copies of the Melbourne Observer through their wholesaler, All Day Distribution, phone 9482 1145. mail@alldaydistribution.com.au PLEASE NOTE: Shelf copies of the Melbourne Observer sell quickly. Make sure you don't miss out, place a firm order. Not all the newsagencies listed have 'casual' copies automatically on sale. Ask your newsagent to 'put-away' your own copy of the Melbourne Observer. It's easy to arrange, simply hand this coupon to your newsagent to arrange your weekly copy.

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BRIGHT. Bright Newsagency. 28 Ireland St. BRIGHTON. Middle Brighton Newsagency. 75-77 Church St. BRIGHTON NORTH. North Brighton Authorised Newsagency. 324 Bay St. BULLEEN. Thompsons Road Newsagency.

123A Thompsons Rd. BUNDOORA. Bundoora Centre Newsagency. Shop 3, 39 Plenty Rd. BURNLEY. Burnley Newsagency. 375 Burnley St. BURWOOD EAST. East Burwood Newsagency. 16 Burwood Hwy. CAMBERWELL. Burwood Newsagency.

1394 Toorak Rd. CAMBERWELL. Camberwell Centre Newsagency. 628 Burke Rd. CAMBERWELL. Camberwell Market Newsagency. 513 Riversdale Rd. CAMBERWELL. Through Road Newsagency. 18 Through Rd. CANTERBURY. Canterbury Newsagency.

104 Maling Rd. CARLTON. Lygon Authorised Newsagency. 260 Lygon St CARLTON NORTH. Rathdowne Newsagency. 410 Rathdowne St. CARRUM. Carrum Newsagency. 514 Station St. CASTLEMAINE. Castlemaine Newsagency. Shop 1, 45 Mostyn St. CAULFIELD EAST. Caulfield Newsagency. 14 Derby Rd. CAULFIELD NORTH. Junction Newsagency. 71 Hawthorn Rd. CHADSTONE. Supanews Chadstone. Shop 261, Chadstone Shopping Centre.

CHARLTON. Charlton Newsagency. 69 High St. CHELSEA. Chelsea Newsagency. 403 Nepean Hwy. CHELTENHAM. Cheltenham Newsagency. 332 Charman Rd. CLAYTON. Clayton Newsagency. 345 Clayton Rd. CLIFTON HILL. Clifton Hill Newsagency.

Queens Pde. COBURG. Coburg Newsagency. 481-483 Sydney Rd. COLAC. Blanes Newsagency. 164 Murray St. COWES. Cowes Newsagency. 44-46 Thompson Ave. CRAIGIEBURN. The Lucky Charm.

Craigieburn Central. 340 Craigieburn Rd CRANBOURNE. Cranbourne Newsagency. 105 High St. CROYDON. Burnt Bridge Newsagency. 434 Maroondah Hwy. CROYDON. Croydon Newsagency. 166 Main St. CROYDON NORTH. Croydon North Newsagency. 5 Exeter Rd. CROYDON SOUTH. Eastfield Newsagency. 7 The Mall.

DANDENONG. Lonsdale Newsagency.

216 Sunnyside Ave. DAYLESFORD. Daylesford Newsagency.

45 Vincent St. DELACOMBE. Ballarat Authorised Newsagency. 1 Laidlaw Drive.

DENILIQUIN. Deniliquin Newsagency and Bookstore. 14 Napier St. DIAMOND CREEK. Diamond Creek Newsagency. 62A Hurstbridge Rd. DINGLEY. Dingley Newsagency. Shop 2, Dingley Village.

DOVETON. Doveton News & Lotto. 37 Autumn Place.

DROMANA. Dromana Newsagency. 177 Point Nepean Hwy. DROUIN. MVH News. 93 Princes Way. DRYSDALE. Drysdale Newsagency. 14 High St. EAGLEMONT. Eaglemont Lucky Lotto News and Post. 60 Silverdale Rd. EDITHVALE. Edithvale Newsagency. 253 Nepean Hwy. ELSTERNWICK. Elsternwick News & Lotto. 444 Glenhuntly Rd. ELTHAM. Eltham Newsagency and Toyworld. Shop 2, 963 Main Rd. EMERALD. Emerald Newsagency. Main St. ESSENDON. Essendon Newsagency. 15a Rose St. ESSENDON . Roundabout Newsagency. 85 Fletcher St. ESSENDON NORTH. North Essendon Newsagency. 1085 Mt Alexander Rd. FAIRFIELD. Fairfield Newsagency. 99 Station St. FAWKNER. Fawkner Newsagency. 54 Bonwick St. FAWKNER NORTH. Moomba Park Newsagency. 89 Anderson Rd. FITZROY. Fitzroy Newsaagency. Cnr Brunswick and Johnston Sts. FOREST HILL. Brentford Square Newsagency. 29-31 Brentford Square.

FOREST HILL. Forest Hill Newsagency.

Shop 215, Forest Hill Chase.

GARDENVALE. Gardenvale Newsagency.

168 Martin St. GEELONG.. Geelong Newsagency and Lotto. 140 Moorabool St. GEELONG WEST. Murphy's Newsagency.

198 Pakington St.

GISBORNE. Gisborne Newsagency. Shop 20, Village Shopping Centre.

GLENFERRIE. Glenferrie Newsagency.

660 Glenferrie Rd GLEN WAVERLEY. Kingsway Newsagency. Shop 4, 39 Kingsway.

GLEN WAVERLEY. Syndal Newsagency.

238 Blackburn Rd. GLEN WAVERLEY. The Glen Newsagency. Shop 2, 065 The Glen Shopping Centre.

GLENROY. Glenroy Newsagency. 773 Pascoe Vale Rd. GRANTVILLE. Grantville Newsagency.

1509 Bass Hwy. GREENSBOROUGH. Plaza News. Shop 4/5, Greensborough Plaza.

GREYTHORN. Greythorn Newsagency.

272 Doncaster Rd. HADFIELD. Hadfield Newsagency. 120 West St HAMPTON. Hampton Newsagency. 345347 Hampton St. HAMPTON EAST. Hampton East Newsagency. 412 Bluff Rd. HAMPTON PARK. Hampton Park Newsagency. Shop 3, Shopping Centre HAWTHORN. Glenferrie South Newsagency. 546 Glenferried Rd HAWTHORN. Hawthorn News & Lotto. 89 Burwood Rd. HAWTHORN EAST. Auburn Newsagency.

119 Auburn Rd. HAWTHORN EAST. Auburn South Newsagency. 289 Auburn Rd. HEIDELBERG. Heidelberg Heights Newsagency. 35 Southern Rd. HEIDELBERG. Heidelberg Newsagency.

124 Burgundy St. HEIDELBERG WEST. The Mall Newsagency. Shop 18 The Mall.

HOLMESGLEN. Holmesglen Newsagency. 637 Warrigal Rd. HUNTINGDALE. Huntingdale Newsagency. 290 Huntingdale Rd. INDENTED HEADS. Intended Heads Newsagency. 13 The Esplanade.

KEILOR. Keilor Newsagency. 700 Old Calder Hwy. KEW. Cotham Newsagency. 97 Cotham Rd. KEW. Kew Newsagency. 175 High St. KEW NORTH. North Kew Newsagency. 93 Willsmere St. KINGSVILLE. Kingsville Newsagency.

339 Somerville Rd. KNOX CITY. Knox City Newsagency, Wantirna South.

KNOXFIELD. Knoxfield Newsagency.

1597 Ferntree Gully Rd. KOOYONG. Kooyong Newsagency. 483 Glenferrie Rd. KYABRAM. Kyabram Newsagency. 117 Allan St. KYNETON. Collins Newsagency. 95 Mollison St. LANGWARRIN SOUTH. Langwarrin South Newsagency. 1/143-149 Warrandyte Rd LARA. Lara Newsagency. 44 The Centreway.

LILYDALE. Lilydale Newsagency. 237 Main St. LOWER PLENTY. Lower Plenty Newsagency. 95 Main Rd. MALVERN. Lucky Malvern Lotto. 167 Glenferrie Rd. MALVERN. Malvern Newsagency. 114 Glenferrie Rd. MALVERN. Malvern Village Newsagency.

1352 Malvern Rd. MALVERN EAST. Central Park Newsagency. 393 Wattletree Rd. MALVERN EAST NEWSAGENCY. Waverley Road Newsagency. 336 Waverley Rd. McKINNON. McKinnon Newsagency. 163 McKinnon Rd MELBOURNE. Domain Newsagency.

Shop 6, 401 St Kilda Rd. MELBOURNE. Flinders Street Newsagency. 65 Flinders St. MELTON. Newsxpress Melton.

MENTONE. Mentone Newsagency. 24 Como Pde. MERLYNSTON. Merlynston Newsagency.

17 Merlyn St. MIDDLE PARK. Middle Park Newsagency. 16 Armstrong St. MILDURA. Klemm's Mildura Newsagency.

53 Langtree Mall.

MILDURA. Mildura Newsagency and Lotto. 71 Langtree Ave. MILL PARK. Mill Park Newsagency. 4 Stables Shopping Centre.

MITCHAM. Mitcham Newsagency. 503 Whitehorse Rd. MITCHAM NORTH. Mitcham North Newsagency. 228 Mitcham Rd MOOROOPNA. Mooroopna Newsagency.

84 McLennan St. MORDIALLOC. Warren Village Newsagency. 87 Warren Rd. MORNINGTON. Mornington Newsagency. 97 Main St. MORWELL. Morwell Newsagency. 176 Commercial Rd. MOUNT ELIZA. Mount Eliza Newsagency.

102 Mount Eliza Way.

MOUNT GAMBIER. Posters Newsagency.

79 Commercial St East.

MOUNT MARTHA. Mount Martha Newsagency. 2 Lochiel Ave. MOUNT WAVERLEY. Pinewood Newsagency. Shop 59, Centreway Shopping Centre.

MOUNTAIN GATE. Mountain Gate Newsagency. Shop 9B, Mountain Gate Shopping Centre.

MULGRAVE. Northvale Newsagency. 901 Springvale Rd. MULGRAVE. Waverley Gardens Newsagency. Shop 44, Waverley Gardens.

MURRUMBEENA. Murrumbeena Newsagency. 456 Neerim Rd. NARRE WARREN. Narre Warren Newsagency. Shop 1, Narre Warren.

NEWBOROUGH. Newborough Newsagency. 30 Rutherglen St. NEWMARKET. Newmarket Newsagency.

292 Racecourse Rd NOBLE PARK. Noble Park Newsagency.

422 Douglas St. NORTHCOTE. Newsplaza Newsagency, Northcote Plaza.

NORTHCOTE. Northcote Newsagency.

335 High St. NORTH MELBOURNE. Ledermans Newsagency. 234-244 Macauley Rd. NUNAWADING. Mountainview Newsagency. 293A Springfield Rd. PARKDALE. Parkdale Newsagency. 238 Como Pde. West.

PASCOE VALE SOUTH. Coonans Hill Newsagency. 67 Coonans Rd. PASCOE VALE SOUTH. Paper N Post.

372-380 Bell St. PRESTON. Preston N’agency. 377 High St. PRESTON. Preston Town Hall Newsagency. 247-249 Murray Rd. PRINCES HILL. Princes Hill Newsagency.

607 Lygon St RESERVOIR. Broadway Newsagency.

279 Broadway.

RICHMOND. Swan St Newsagency. 108 Swan St. RICHMOND. Vernons Newsagency. 308A Bridge Rd. RINGWOOD EAST. Ringwood East Newsagency. 52 Railway Ave. RINGWOOD NORTH. North Ringwood Newsagency. 182 Warrandyte Rd. ROBINVALE. Robinvale Newsagency. 67 Perrin St. ROSANNA. Rosanna Newsagency. 135 Lower Plenty Rd. ROSEBUD. Rosebud Newsagency. 1083 Point Nepean Rd. RYE. Rye Newsagency. 2371 Pt Nepean Rd. SALE. Sale Newsagency. 310 Raymond St. SANDRINGHAM. Sandringham Newsagency. Shop 5, 18-34 Station St. SCORESBY. Scoresby Newsagency. 14 Darryl St. SEAFORD. Seaford Newsagency. 124 Nepean Hwy. SEBASTOPOL. Sebastopol Newsagency.

Shop 3, 'Safeway Complex'.

SHEPPARTON. Goulburn Valley Newsagency. 314 Wyndham St. SHEPPARTON. Lovell Newsagency. 246 Wyndham St. SOMERVILLE. Somerville Newsagency.

Shop 24, Plaza, Eramosa Rd. SOUTH MELBOURNE. Clarendon Newsagency. 9 Thistlewaite St. SPRINGVALE. Springvale Newsagency.

321 Springvale Rd. STRATHFIELDSAYE. Strathfieldsaye News and Lotto. Shop 5, 939 Wellington St. TARWIN LOWER. Tarwin Lower Newsagency. 45 River Drive.

TATURA. Tatura N’agency. 138 Hogan St. TEMPLESTOWE. Macedon News and Lotto.

THORNBURY. Normanby News and Lotto. 25 Macedon Rd TOORADIN. Tooradin Newsagency. 92 South Gippsland Hwy. TOORAK. Toorak Village Newsagency.

479 Toorak Rd. TORQUAY. Torquay Newsagency. 20 Gilbert St. TRARALGON. Seymour Street Newsagency. 83 Seymour St. TRARALGON. Traralgon News and Lotto.

51-53 Franklin St. TULLAMARINE. Tullamarine Newsagency. 2/191 Melrose Dr. VERMONT. Vermont Authorised Newsagency. 600 Canterbury Rd. VERMONT SOUTH. Vermont South Newsagency. Shop 14, 495 Burwood Hwy. WANTIRNA SOUTH. Wantirna South Newsagency. 223 Stud Rd. WARRAGUL. Warragul Newsagency. 43 Victoria St. WARRNAMBOOL. Reinheimers Newsagency. 145 Koroit St. WATSONIA. Watsonia Newsagency.

Watsonia Rd. WHEELERS HILL. Wheelers Hill Newsagency.

WODONGA. Mahon's Newsagency. 168 High St. YARRAVILLE. Yarraville Newsagency. 59 Anderson St.

Page 20 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, April 11, 2018

Observer Magazine

■ Ivan Hutchinson described himself as the "definitive, reluctant TV star". Yet he worked in the entertainment industry and was popular as a musician, film critic, journalist, television host and musical director.

Ivan Joseph Hutchinson was born in Melbourne in 1928.

His father was an ANZAC who had been wounded in World War I and continued in the Army until his retirement in the late 1950s.

Ivan Hutchinson began studying piano at an early age. He grew up in Fitzroy and attended St Bridget's Primary School, St. Thomas's and completed his education at Parade College, East Melbourne.

Ivan developed an interest in jazz and began playing in bands at the Malvern Town Hall in his teenage years.

He married Grace O'Connor in 1953 and they raised four children.

In 1960 Ivan began working in television for HSV Channel 7 as a pianist with the station's orchestra in variety shows which included Sunnyside Up, The Bob Crosby Show and The Happy Show.

In those days the resident musical director was Jimmy Allen, who was married to ‘Panda’ Lisner.

In 1964 Ivan replaced JimmyAllen as Musical Director at Channel 7. He worked on the afternoon variety series Time for Terry.

The show was compered by English come-

Whatever Happened To ...

Ivan Hutchinson

By Kevin Trask of 3AW and 96.5 Inner FM

dian Terry O'Neill and regulars included Vi Greenhalf, Joe Hudson, Brian Naylor and Olivia Newton-John.

In 1971 Ivan teamed with Jim Murphy from Listener In to present Two on The Aisle.

The show came about as a result of discussions between Jim and Ivan and the program director Gordon French giving the ‘green light’ to the idea of two reviewers sitting in theatre seats and chatting about the latest films.

Two on the Aisle was only shown in Melbourne, it was popular and ran for three years.

Ivan was musical director for many years on various shows including The Penthouse Club. (everything stopped when the harness races began and they crossed to the Showgrounds).

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Ivan worked on albums with many artists but only recorded one album of his own - Honky Tonk Party Favourites in 1973.

When colour television began in 1975 he hosted Ivan's Midday Movie. Ivan was able to present some of the old Hollywood films in glorious technicolor to those who were lucky enough to have colour TV sets.

I was too poor at the time to buy a colour TV set, so we rented one and enjoyed this new miracle in our lounge room.

I can still remember the joy of seeing The Wizard of Oz in colour and it was the first time I had seen the film. Over the years Ivan interviewed many famous Hollywood stars.

I used to look forward to watching Ivan's Christmas Guide to the Movies where he talked about the upcoming Christmas films and what would be coming into the cinemas during the new year. Ivan played himself in the 1993 Australian comedy film Hercules Returns.

Sadly, Ivan Hutchinson passed away from cancer in 1995 at the age of 67. Jim Murphy described him as "an exceptional human being".

- Kevin Trask Kevin can be heard on radio ● Ivan Hutchinson Kevin can be heard on 3AW He also worked on arrangements and played on many successful recordings for Fable The Time Tunnel - on Remember When - Sundays at 9.10pm Records. He is actually one of the vocalists on And on 96.5 FM the ‘VFL football anthems’ recordings perThat's Entertainment formed by the Fable Singers and released in Sundays at 12 Noon 1972.

Reindeers are a favourite with tourists ■ If you’re already shuddering at the prospects of winter just around the corner, spare a thought for the 500 folk who live in the tiny village of Oymyakon in Russian Siberia – in winter up there, the mercury drops to a teeth-chattering minus 50C or colder.

So cold that saliva in peoples’ mouths can freeze into needles that prick their lips, where car engines are left running outside owner’s homes all night so they won’t freeze and need to be thawed with a blow-torch to start next morning, and where school is cancelled only when the temperature falls below -55C. And where when somebody dies, a bonfire has to be lit over their potential burial-site to thaw the ground so that the grave-diggers can do their job.

Oymyakon is officially the coldest permanently-inhabited place on earth, with its coldest day ever a body-numbing -67C … consider that by compari● Reindeer that were hunted for their meat and fur in son, the inside of your refrigerator averages 4C and your freezer a mere Oymyakon’s early history, are now a favourite with tourists and used in hunting-down good photo opportunities.

-20C. Visitors to Oymyakon are re1992 it’s only resident bought what was warded with complimentary “Pole of left – a convenience store and gas staCold” certificates from the town’s oftion, circa-1905 schoolhouse, a 1900’s ficial Guardian of the Cold … and last cabin and later era 3-bedroom home, January a brand new electronic thera parking lot, and a bank of Post Ofmometer installed in a public square fice boxes for “locals” scattered as a tourist attraction, shattered when through the surrounding mountains. the temperature dropped to -62C. Twenty years later in 2012 that The little 500-person village, that’s owner put the whole town to auction 6½-hours flying time from Moscow, again, two Vietnamese businessmen was founded next to a thermal spring this time bidding a successful $900,000 by reindeer herders who watered their against other hopefuls from an amazanimals there in the 1920s and 30s; ing 46 countries who all had one thing today it has a small but growing tourin mind: they wanted to own their own ism industry with attractions includtown. ing reindeer tracking, ice fishing, playThe Vietnamese duo spruced up the ing in the thermal springs … and exgeneral store, started importing Vietperiencing that bizarre winter cold. namese coffee, and not only created a And while winter days get a mere highly successful coffee-stop for Inthree hours of daylight, in summer terstate 80 drivers, but actually rethere’s 21 hours daily and temperanamed the town PhinDeli Town tures can reach a very warm 30C. Buford after their coffee’s brand. with David Ellis For more information drop their Today neither owner lives there, tourist office a line on This seeming conundrum is their one-man trading post being run contact@visityakutia.com Buford that sits 2400m high (8000 on their behalf and selling coffee, feet) in the mountains between snack and convenience items, and Laramie and Cheyenne in Wyoming, fuel to some 1000 motorists a day in and which in the late 1800s and early summer, and a hundred or so a day in ■ It has a population of one, has a 1900s was rail-company-owned with the cooler (read freezing) climes of State-erected sign leading into town a population of over 2000 during build- winter. to prove it, and officially it’s the small- ing of America’s first Transcontinen- ■ For information about wonderfully est town in America – yet it has a gen- tal Railway. picturesque Wyoming and its many eral store that can deal with crowds But when no new rail work was other must-visit attractions: reaching a thousand or more a day. required the town slowly died, and in www.travelwyoming.com

Struth

One man town

OK. With John O’Keefe End of innings for Pete

■ After 47 years of broadcasting, Pete Graham has hung up his microphone following change of format on Macquarie’s Talking Lifestyle to an all sport station.

Pete is a living legend in the rock industry, and of recent date compered his six-hour Saturday Night Live, heard on stations coast to coast.

His program was a really entertaining show with interviews by newsmakers in the musical industry – his show is too good to be mothballed and hopefully Pete will be added to the on-air personalities of another network .

Philip’s days at the BBC

■ Much has been said about the 60th anniversary of legendary multimedia personality Philip Brady.

One fascinating story was his voice - over work for the BBC when holidaying in the UK. Philip had a connection with the BBC through his mother, who wrote quiz questions in Australia, and Philip delivered them to the London media.

Never backwards in coming forward and full of youthful bravado Phil made his talents known to the BBC and they engaged him on a casual basis as a booth announcer.

The pay helped as pocket money as Phil moved around the scenic highlights of the UK.

Eurogliders back in Melb.

■ Originally from Perth, the Eurogliders went on to become one of Australia’s hottest musical groups around the world.

The talents of Grace Knight and Bernie Lynch saw them chart ten Top 10 singles and albums, including entertaining 65 million people worldwide via MTV’s New Years Eve party recorded in NYC. Eurogliders are back in Melbourne on Saturday, July 16 at Memo Music Hall, bookings 9534 3556.

Beatles comeback

■ To coincide with the 50 th anniversary of the first release of the Beatles inspired Yellow Submarine, a remastered cinema version is to make a comeback .

Originally released in 1968 there is no date as to when the latest version will debut in Australia.

More on ball tampering

■ Just when you hoped the SouthAfrican ball tampering affair was done and dusted, it appears we could be in for another bout of controversial media coverage.

Fuelling the rumour is David and Candice Warner’s flying visit to Melbourne. The visit is said to have been to plan for a tell-all interview for a weekend current affairs TV program.

The Warners have appointed a media negotiator – not the usual Max Markson - but someone closer to Nine Network.

Coinciding with the TV expose there’s a book, and all the PR blurb that goes with these international issues.

- John O’Keefe

Melbourne Obser ver - Wednesday, April 11, 2018 - Page 21

Observer Classic Books

Hard Times - by Charles Dickens

But, all the bodies agreed that they were never to wonder.

There was a library in Coketown, to which general access was easy. Mr. Gradgrind greatly tormented his mind about what the people read in this library: a point whereon little rivers of tabular statements periodically flowed into the howling ocean of tabular statements, which no diver ever got to any depth in and came up sane. It was a disheartening circumstance, but a melancholy fact, that even these readers persisted in wondering. They wondered about human nature, human passions, human hopes and fears, the struggles, triumphs and defeats, the cares and joys and sorrows, the lives and deaths of common men and women! They sometimes, after fifteen hours’ work, sat down to read mere fables about men and women, more or less like themselves, and about children, more or less like their own. They took De Foe to their bosoms, instead of Euclid, and seemed to be on the whole more comforted by Goldsmith than

by Cocker. Mr. Gradgrind was for ever working, in print and out of print, at this eccentric sum, and he never could make out how it yielded this unaccountable product.

‘I am sick of my life, Loo. I, hate it altogether, and I hate everybody except you,’ said the unnatural young Thomas Gradgrind in the haircutting chamber at twilight.

‘You don’t hate Sissy, Tom?’ ‘I hate to be obliged to call her Jupe. And she hates me,’ said Tom, moodily.

‘No, she does not, Tom, I am sure!’

‘She must,’ said Tom. ‘She must just hate and detest the whole set-out of us. They’ll bother her head off, I think, before they have done with her. Already she’s getting as pale as wax, and as heavy as — I am.’

Young Thomas expressed these sentiments sitting astride of a chair before the fire, with his arms on the back, and his sulky face on his arms.

His sister sat in the darker corner by the fireside, now looking at him, now looking at the bright sparks as they dropped upon the hearth.

‘As to me,’ said Tom, tumbling his hair all manner of ways with his sulky hands, ‘I am a Donkey, that’s what I am. I am as obstinate as one, I am more stupid than one, I get as much pleasure as one, and I should like to kick like one.’

‘Not me, I hope, Tom?’ ‘No, Loo; I wouldn’t hurt you. I made an exception of you at first. I don’t know what this — jolly old — Jaundiced Jail,’Tom had paused to find a sufficiently complimentary and expressive name for the parental roof, and seemed to relieve his mind for a moment by the strong alliteration of this one, ‘would be without you.’

‘Indeed, Tom? Do you really and truly say so?’

‘Why, of course I do. What’s the use of talking about it!’ returned Tom, chafing his face on his coat-sleeve, as if to mortify his flesh, and have it in unison with his spirit.

‘Because, Tom,’ said his sister, after silently watching the sparks awhile, ‘as I get older, and nearer growing up, I often sit wondering here, and think how unfortunate it is for me that I can’t reconcile you to home better than I am able to do. I don’t know what other girls know. I can’t play to you, or sing to you. I can’t talk to you so as to lighten your mind, for I never see any amusing sights or read any amusing books that it would be a pleasure or a relief to you to talk about, when you are tired.’

‘Well, no more do I. I am as bad as you in that respect; and I am a Mule too, which you’re not.

If father was determined to make me either a Prig or a Mule, and I am not a Prig, why, it stands to reason, I must be a Mule. And so I am,’ said Tom, desperately.

‘It’s a great pity,’ said Louisa, after another pause, and speaking thoughtfully out of her dark corner: ‘it’s a great pity, Tom. It’s very unfortunate for both of us.’

‘Oh! You,’ said Tom; ‘you are a girl, Loo, and a girl comes out of it better than a boy does. I don’t miss anything in you. You are the only pleasure I have — you can brighten even this place — and you can always lead me as you like.’

‘You are a dear brother, Tom; and while you think I can do such things, I don’t so much mind knowing better. Though I do know better, Tom,

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since I have been looking at it, I have been wondering about you and me, grown up.’

‘Wondering again!’ said Tom. ‘I have such unmanageable thoughts,’ returned his sister, ‘that they will wonder.’

‘Then I beg of you, Louisa,’ said Mrs. Gradgrind, who had opened the door without being heard, ‘to do nothing of that description, for goodness’ sake, you inconsiderate girl, or I shall never hear the last of it from your father. And, Thomas, it is really shameful, with my poor head continually wearing me out, that a boy brought up as you have been, and whose education has cost what yours has, should be found encouraging his sister to wonder, when he knows his father has expressly said that she is not to do it.’

Louisa denied Tom’s participation in the offence; but her mother stopped her with the conclusive answer, ‘Louisa, don’t tell me, in my state of health; for unless you had been encouraged, it is morally and physically impossible that you could have done it.’

‘I was encouraged by nothing, mother, but by looking at the red sparks dropping out of the fire, and whitening and dying. It made me think, after all, how short my life would be, and how little I could hope to do in it.’

‘Nonsense!’ said Mrs. Gradgrind, rendered almost energetic. ‘Nonsense! Don’t stand there and tell me such stuff, Louisa, to my face, when you know very well that if it was ever to reach your father’s ears I should never hear the last of it. After all the trouble that has been taken with you! After the lectures you have attended, and the experiments you have seen! After I have heard you myself, when the whole of my right side has been benumbed, going on with your master about combustion, and calcination, and calorification, and I may say every kind of ation that could drive a poor invalid distracted, to hear you talking in this absurd way about sparks and ashes! I wish,’ whimpered Mrs. Gradgrind, taking a chair, and discharging her strongest point before succumbing under these mere shadows of facts, ‘yes, I really do wish that I had never had a family, and then you would have known what it was to do without me!’

Chapter IX - Sissy’s Progress SISSY JUPE had not an easy time of it, between Mr. M’Choakumchild and Mrs. Gradgrind, and was not without strong impulses, in the first months of her probation, to run away.

It hailed facts all day long so very hard, and life Charles Dickens in general was opened to her as such a closely and am very sorry for it.’ She came and kissed this.” That’ll bring him about, or nothing will.’ ruled ciphering-book, that assuredly she would him, and went back into her corner again.

After waiting for some answering remark, and have run away, but for only one restraint.

‘I wish I could collect all the Facts we hear so getting none, Tom wearily relapsed into the It is lamentable to think of; but this restraint was much about,’ said Tom, spitefully setting his present time, and twined himself yawning round the result of no arithmetical process, was selfteeth, ‘and all the Figures, and all the people and about the rails of his chair, and rumpled his imposed in defiance of all calculation, and went who found them out: and I wish I could put a head more and more, until he suddenly looked dead against any table of probabilities that any thousand barrels of gunpowder under them, and up, and asked: Actuary would have drawn up from the preblow them all up together! However, when I go ‘Have you gone to sleep, Loo?’ mises. The girl believed that her father had not to live with old Bounderby, I’ll have my re- ‘No, Tom. I am looking at the fire.’ deserted her; she lived in the hope that he would venge.’

‘You seem to find more to look at in it than ever come back, and in the faith that he would be ‘Your revenge, Tom?’ I could find,’ said Tom. ‘Another of the advan- made the happier by her remaining where she ‘I mean, I’ll enjoy myself a little, and go about tages, I suppose, of being a girl.’ was. and see something, and hear something. I’ll rec- ‘Tom,’ enquired his sister, slowly, and in a curi- The wretched ignorance with which Jupe clung ompense myself for the way in which I have ous tone, as if she were reading what she asked to this consolation, rejecting the superior combeen brought up.’ in the fire, and it was not quite plainly written fort of knowing, on a sound arithmetical basis, ‘But don’t disappoint yourself beforehand, Tom. there, ‘do you look forward with any satisfac- that her father was an unnatural vagabond, filled Mr. Bounderby thinks as father thinks, and is a tion to this change to Mr. Bounderby’s?’

Mr. Gradgrind with pity. Yet, what was to be great deal rougher, and not half so kind.’

‘Why, there’s one thing to be said of it,’ returned done? M’Choakumchild reported that she had a ‘Oh!’ said Tom, laughing; ‘I don’t mind that. I Tom, pushing his chair from him, and standing very dense head for figures; that, once possessed shall very well know how to manage and smooth up; ‘it will be getting away from home.’ with a general idea of the globe, she took the old Bounderby!’

‘There is one thing to be said of it,’ Louisa re- smallest conceivable interest in its exact meaTheir shadows were defined upon the wall, but peated in her former curious tone; ‘it will be surements; that she was extremely slow in the those of the high presses in the room were all getting away from home. Yes.’ acquisition of dates, unless some pitiful incident blended together on the wall and on the ceiling, ‘Not but what I shall be very unwilling, both to happened to be connected therewith; that she as if the brother and sister were overhung by a leave you, Loo, and to leave you here. But I would burst into tears on being required (by the dark cavern. Or, a fanciful imagination — if must go, you know, whether I like it or not; and mental process) immediately to name the cost such treason could have been there — might I had better go where I can take with me some of two hundred and forty-seven muslin caps at have made it out to be the shadow of their sub- advantage of your influence, than where I should fourteen-pence halfpenny; that she was as low ject, and of its lowering association with their lose it altogether. Don’t you see?’ down, in the school, as low could be; that after future.

‘Yes, Tom.’ eight weeks of induction into the elements of ‘What is your great mode of smoothing and The answer was so long in coming, though there Political Economy, she had only yesterday been managing, Tom? Is it a secret?’ was no indecision in it, that Tom went and leaned set right by a prattler three feet high, for return‘Oh!’ said Tom, ‘if it is a secret, it’s not far off. on the back of her chair, to contemplate the fire ing to the question, ‘What is the first principle of It’s you. You are his little pet, you are his which so engrossed her, from her point of view, this science?’ the absurd answer, ‘To do unto favourite; he’ll do anything for you. When he and see what he could make of it. others as I would that they should do unto me.’ says to me what I don’t like, I shall say to him, ‘Except that it is a fire,’ said Tom, ‘it looks to me Mr. Gradgrind observed, shaking his head, that “My sister Loo will be hurt and disappointed, as stupid and blank as everything else looks. all this was very bad; that it showed the necesMr. Bounderby. She always used to tell me she What do you see in it? Not a circus?’ sity of infinite grinding at the mill of knowledge, was sure you would be easier with me than ‘I don’t see anything in it, Tom, particularly. But Continued on Page 22

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Observer Classic Books From Page 21 as per system, schedule, blue book, report, and tabular statements A to Z; and that Jupe ‘must be kept to it.’ So Jupe was kept to it, and became low-spirited, but no wiser.

‘It would be a fine thing to be you, Miss Louisa!’ she said, one night, when Louisa had endeavoured to make her perplexities for next day something clearer to her.

‘Do you think so?’

‘I should know so much, Miss Louisa. All that is difficult to me now, would be so easy then.’

‘You might not be the better for it, Sissy.’

Sissy submitted, after a little hesitation, ‘I should not be the worse, Miss Louisa.’ To which Miss Louisa answered, ‘I don’t know that.’

There had been so little communication between these two — both because life at Stone Lodge went monotonously round like a piece of machinery which discouraged human interference, and because of the prohibition relative to Sissy’s past career — that they were still almost strangers. Sissy, with her dark eyes wonderingly directed to Louisa’s face, was uncertain whether to say more or to remain silent.

‘You are more useful to my mother, and more pleasant with her than I can ever be,’ Louisa resumed. ‘You are pleasanter to yourself, than I am to myself.’

‘But, if you please, Miss Louisa,’ Sissy pleaded, ‘I am — O so stupid!’

Louisa, with a brighter laugh than usual, told her she would be wiser by-and-by.

‘You don’t know,’ said Sissy, half crying, ‘what a stupid girl I am. All through school hours I make mistakes. Mr. and Mrs. M’Choakumchild call me up, over and over again, regularly to make mistakes. I can’t help them. They seem to come natural to me.’

‘Mr. and Mrs. M’Choakumchild never make any mistakes themselves, I suppose, Sissy?’

‘O no!’ she eagerly returned. ‘They know everything.’

‘Tell me some of your mistakes.’

‘I am almost ashamed,’ said Sissy, with reluctance. ‘But to-day, for instance, Mr. M’Choakumchild was explaining to us about Natural Prosperity.’

‘National, I think it must have been,’ observed Louisa.

‘Yes, it was. — But isn’t it the same?’ she timidly asked.

‘You had better say, National, as he said so,’ returned Louisa, with her dry reserve.

‘National Prosperity. And he said, Now, this schoolroom is a Nation. And in this nation, there are fifty millions of money. Isn’t this a prosperous nation? Girl number twenty, isn’t this a prosperous nation, and a’n’t you in a thriving state?’

‘What did you say?’ asked Louisa.

‘Miss Louisa, I said I didn’t know. I thought I couldn’t know whether it was a prosperous nation or not, and whether I was in a thriving state or not, unless I knew who had got the money, and whether any of it was mine. But that had nothing to do with it. It was not in the figures at all,’ said Sissy, wiping her eyes.

‘That was a great mistake of yours,’ observed Louisa.

‘Yes, Miss Louisa, I know it was, now. Then Mr. M’Choakumchild said he would try me again. And he said, This schoolroom is an immense town, and in it there are a million of inhabitants, and only five-and-twenty are starved to death in the streets, in the course of a year.

What is your remark on that proportion? And my remark was — for I couldn’t think of a better one — that I thought it must be just as hard upon those who were starved, whether the others were a million, or a million million. And that was wrong, too.’

‘Of course it was.’

‘Then Mr. M’Choakumchild said he would try me once more. And he said, Here are the stutterings — ’ ‘Statistics,’ said Louisa.

‘Yes, Miss Louisa — they always remind me of stutterings, and that’s another of my mistakes — of accidents upon the sea. And I find (Mr. M’Choakumchild said) that in a given time a hundred thousand persons went to sea on long voyages, and only five hundred of them were drowned or burnt to death. What is the percentage? And I said, Miss;’ here Sissy fairly sobbed as confessing with extreme contrition to her greatest error; ‘I said it was nothing.’

‘Nothing, Sissy?’

‘Nothing, Miss — to the relations and friends of the people who were killed. I shall never learn,’ said Sissy. ‘And the worst of all is, that although

although I am so anxious to learn, because he wished me to, I am afraid I don’t like it.’

Louisa stood looking at the pretty modest head, as it drooped abashed before her, until it was raised again to glance at her face. Then she asked: ‘Did your father know so much himself, that he wished you to be well taught too, Sissy?’

Sissy hesitated before replying, and so plainly showed her sense that they were entering on forbidden ground, that Louisa added, ‘No one hears us; and if any one did, I am sure no harm could be found in such an innocent question.’

‘No, Miss Louisa,’ answered Sissy, upon this encouragement, shaking her head; ‘father knows very little indeed. It’s as much as he can do to write; and it’s more than people in general can do to read his writing. Though it’s plain to me.’

‘Your mother!’

‘Father says she was quite a scholar. She died when I was born. She was;’ Sissy made the terrible communication nervously; ‘she was a dancer.’

‘Did your father love her?’ Louisa asked these questions with a strong, wild, wandering interest peculiar to her; an interest gone astray like a banished creature, and hiding in solitary places.

‘O yes! As dearly as he loves me. Father loved me, first, for her sake. He carried me about with him when I was quite a baby. We have never been asunder from that time.’

‘Yet he leaves you now, Sissy?’

‘Only for my good. Nobody understands him as I do; nobody knows him as I do. When he left me for my good — he never would have left me for his own — I know he was almost brokenhearted with the trial. He will not be happy for a single minute, till he comes back.’

‘Tell me more about him,’ said Louisa, ‘I will never ask you again. Where did you live?’

‘We travelled about the country, and had no fixed place to live in. Father’s a;’ Sissy whispered the awful word, ‘a clown.’

‘To make the people laugh?’ said Louisa, with a nod of intelligence.

‘Yes. But they wouldn’t laugh sometimes, and then father cried. Lately, they very often wouldn’t laugh, and he used to come home despairing.

Father’s not like most. Those who didn’t know him as well as I do, and didn’t love him as dearly as I do, might believe he was not quite right.

Sometimes they played tricks upon him; but they never knew how he felt them, and shrunk up, when he was alone with me. He was far, far timider than they thought!’

‘And you were his comfort through everything?’

She nodded, with the tears rolling down her face.

‘I hope so, and father said I was. It was because he grew so scared and trembling, and because he felt himself to be a poor, weak, ignorant, helpless man (those used to be his words), that he wanted me so much to know a great deal, and be different from him. I used to read to him to cheer his courage, and he was very fond of that.

They were wrong books — I am never to speak of them here — but we didn’t know there was any harm in them.’

‘And he liked them?’ said Louisa, with a searching gaze on Sissy all this time.

‘O very much! They kept him, many times, from what did him real harm. And often and often of a night, he used to forget all his troubles in wondering whether the Sultan would let the lady go on with the story, or would have her head cut off before it was finished.’

‘And your father was always kind? To the last?’ asked Louisa contravening the great principle, and wondering very much.

‘Always, always!’ returned Sissy, clasping her hands. ‘Kinder and kinder than I can tell. He was angry only one night, and that was not to me, but Merrylegs. Merrylegs;’ she whispered the awful fact; ‘is his performing dog.’

‘Why was he angry with the dog?’ Louisa demanded.

‘Father, soon after they came home from performing, told Merrylegs to jump up on the backs of the two chairs and stand across them — which is one of his tricks. He looked at father, and didn’t do it at once. Everything of father’s had gone wrong that night, and he hadn’t pleased the public at all. He cried out that the very dog knew he was failing, and had no compassion on him. Then he beat the dog, and I was frightened, and said, “Father, father! Pray don’t hurt the creature who is so fond of you! O Heaven forgive you, father, stop!” And he stopped, and the dog was bloody, and father lay down crying on the floor with the dog in his arms, and the dog licked his face.’

Louisa saw that she was sobbing; and going to her, kissed her, took her hand, and sat down beside her.

‘Finish by telling me how your father left you, Sissy. Now that I have asked you so much, tell me the end. The blame, if there is any blame, is mine, not yours.’

‘Dear Miss Louisa,’ said Sissy, covering her eyes, and sobbing yet; ‘I came home from the school that afternoon, and found poor father just come home too, from the booth. And he sat rocking himself over the fire, as if he was in pain. And I said, “Have you hurt yourself, father?” (as he did sometimes, like they all did), and he said, “A little, my darling.” And when I came to stoop down and look up at his face, I saw that he was crying. The more I spoke to him, the more he hid his face; and at first he shook all over, and said nothing but “My darling;” and “My love!”’

Here Tom came lounging in, and stared at the two with a coolness not particularly savouring of interest in anything but himself, and not much of that at present.

‘I am asking Sissy a few questions, Tom,’ observed his sister. ‘You have no occasion to go away; but don’t interrupt us for a moment, Tom dear.’

‘Oh! very well!’ returned Tom. ‘Only father has brought old Bounderby home, and I want you to come into the drawing-room. Because if you come, there’s a good chance of old Bounderby’s asking me to dinner; and if you don’t, there’s none.’

‘I’ll come directly.’

‘I’ll wait for you,’ said Tom, ‘to make sure.’

Sissy resumed in a lower voice. ‘At last poor father said that he had given no satisfaction again, and never did give any satisfaction now, and that he was a shame and disgrace, and I should have done better without him all along. I said all the affectionate things to him that came into my heart, and presently he was quiet and I sat down by him, and told him all about the school and everything that had been said and done there. When I had no more left to tell, he put his arms round my neck, and kissed me a great many times. Then he asked me to fetch some of the stuff he used, for the little hurt he had had, and to get it at the best place, which was at the other end of town from there; and then, after kissing me again, he let me go. When I had gone down-stairs, I turned back that I might be a little bit more company to him yet, and looked in at the door, and said, “Father dear, shall I take Merrylegs?” Father shook his head and said, “No, Sissy, no; take nothing that’s known to be mine, my darling;” and I left him sitting by the fire. Then the thought must have come upon him, poor, poor father! of going away to try something for my sake; for when I came back, he was gone.’

‘I say! Look sharp for old Bounderby, Loo!’Tom remonstrated.

‘There’s no more to tell, Miss Louisa. I keep the nine oils ready for him, and I know he will come back. Every letter that I see in Mr. Gradgrind’s hand takes my breath away and blinds my eyes, for I think it comes from father, or from Mr. Sleary about father. Mr. Sleary promised to write as soon as ever father should be heard of, and I trust to him to keep his word.’

‘Do look sharp for old Bounderby, Loo!’ said Tom, with an impatient whistle. ‘He’ll be off if you don’t look sharp!’

After this, whenever Sissy dropped a curtsey to Mr. Gradgrind in the presence of his family, and said in a faltering way, ‘I beg your pardon, sir, for being troublesome — but — have you had any letter yet about me?’ Louisa would suspend the occupation of the moment, whatever it was, and look for the reply as earnestly as Sissy did.

And when Mr. Gradgrind regularly answered, ‘No, Jupe, nothing of the sort,’ the trembling of Sissy’s lip would be repeated in Louisa’s face, and her eyes would follow Sissy with compassion to the door. Mr. Gradgrind usually improved these occasions by remarking, when she was gone, that if Jupe had been properly trained from an early age she would have remonstrated to herself on sound principles the baselessness of these fantastic hopes. Yet it did seem (though not to him, for he saw nothing of it) as if fantastic hope could take as strong a hold as Fact.

This observation must be limited exclusively to his daughter. As to Tom, he was becoming that not unprecedented triumph of calculation which is usually at work on number one. As to Mrs. Gradgrind, if she said anything on the subject, she would come a little way out of her wrappers, like a feminine dormouse, and say:

‘Good gracious bless me, how my poor head is vexed and worried by that girl Jupe’s so perseveringly asking, over and over again, about her tiresome letters! Upon my word and honour I seem to be fated, and destined, and ordained, to live in the midst of things that I am never to hear the last of. It really is a most extraordinary circumstance that it appears as if I never was to hear the last of anything!’

At about this point, Mr. Gradgrind’s eye would fall upon her; and under the influence of that wintry piece of fact, she would become torpid again.

Chapter X— Stephen Blackpool I ENTERTAIN a weak idea that the English people are as hard-worked as any people upon whom the sun shines. I acknowledge to this ridiculous idiosyncrasy, as a reason why I would give them a little more play.

In the hardest working part of Coketown; in the innermost fortifications of that ugly citadel, where Nature was as strongly bricked out as killing airs and gases were bricked in; at the heart of the labyrinth of narrow courts upon courts, and close streets upon streets, which had come into existence piecemeal, every piece in a violent hurry for some one man’s purpose, and the whole an unnatural family, shouldering, and trampling, and pressing one another to death; in the last close nook of this great exhausted receiver, where the chimneys, for want of air to make a draught, were built in an immense variety of stunted and crooked shapes, as though every house put out a sign of the kind of people who might be expected to be born in it; among the multitude of Coketown, generically called ‘the Hands,’ — a race who would have found more favour with some people, if Providence had seen fit to make them only hands, or, like the lower creatures of the seashore, only hands and stomachs — lived a certain Stephen Blackpool, forty years of age.

Stephen looked older, but he had had a hard life.

It is said that every life has its roses and thorns; there seemed, however, to have been a misadventure or mistake in Stephen’s case, whereby somebody else had become possessed of his roses, and he had become possessed of the same somebody else’s thorns in addition to his own.

He had known, to use his words, a peck of trouble. He was usually called Old Stephen, in a kind of rough homage to the fact.

A rather stooping man, with a knitted brow, a pondering expression of face, and a hard-looking head sufficiently capacious, on which his iron-grey hair lay long and thin, Old Stephen might have passed for a particularly intelligent man in his condition. Yet he was not. He took no place among those remarkable ‘Hands,’ who, piecing together their broken intervals of leisure through many years, had mastered difficult sciences, and acquired a knowledge of most unlikely things. He held no station among the Hands who could make speeches and carry on debates. Thousands of his compeers could talk much better than he, at any time. He was a good power-loom weaver, and a man of perfect integrity. What more he was, or what else he had in him, if anything, let him show for himself.

The lights in the great factories, which looked, when they were illuminated, like Fairy palaces — or the travellers by express-train said so — were all extinguished; and the bells had rung for knocking off for the night, and had ceased again; and the Hands, men and women, boy and girl, were clattering home. Old Stephen was standing in the street, with the old sensation upon him which the stoppage of the machinery always produced — the sensation of its having worked and stopped in his own head.

‘Yet I don’t see Rachael, still!’ said he.

It was a wet night, and many groups of young women passed him, with their shawls drawn over their bare heads and held close under their chins to keep the rain out. He knew Rachael well, for a glance at any one of these groups was sufficient to show him that she was not there.

At last, there were no more to come; and then he turned away, saying in a tone of disappointment, ‘Why, then, ha’ missed her!’

But, he had not gone the length of three streets, when he saw another of the shawled figures in advance of him, at which he looked so keenly that perhaps its mere shadow indistinctly reflected on the wet pavement — if he could have seen it without the figure itself moving along from lamp to lamp, brightening and fading as it went — would have been enough to tell him who was there.

To Be Continued Next Issue

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Homemaker

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Port Melbourne

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Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, March 28, 2018 - Page 33

FAMILY OPERATED VILLAGE

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Best Places

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Maeburn Cottages 33 Mairburn Rd, Metung VIC 3904 Phone: (03) 5156 2736 www.maeburncottages.com.au

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Best Places

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Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, April 11, 2018 - Page 39

Observer Crossword Solution No 28 J U V E N I O Y E E U C A L Y A O R S A L I N E L L E I M P L O R A W I I N V I T E A L S S C U L P T S A W E V E N T F D R D I N C L I N S A O H E R E T I R M T O N S P E C I T H R E T Y P E E E A S I D E A S N T H C H E Y D A Y X H E S P R A I N E B A E L L I P S X E R P L A C E B A R V N O N F A T D E I S H R I L L O N E I M P E A C E X H B R O A D E U C R U N I T E S N N V M A D W O M E I K T R A P E Z

L I P S

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A G P P B E A A R U D A I B L I E C

I L V A P E P O W R T P I O A N E D D O O

P D R E I B B L L E G R O A M G M L L Y

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

N G A T S S A Y S E S X U L A L E N E R A N G E E D L A S T E D A I D D S Y U D Y A N G R L E A R S E E S N D S L E D S S M O E S S A Y

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Observer Victorian Sport Melbourne

Convincing winner at Melton ■ Outstanding 4Y0 Kiwi mare Partyon presently on loan to Lara trainer Dean Braun, was a convincing winner of thetrots.com.au Pace for M0 & M1 class at Tabcorp Park Melton on Saturday.

The daughter of Bettors Delight and Beach Parade scored her 20th victory in easy fashion despite racing exposed for most of the 2240 metre journey.

Driven by Nathan Jack, Partyon dashed to the front on the home turn to register a untouched 6.8 metre margin over Bettor Downunder in a slick mile rate of 1-53.3 giving the prolific winning stallion the quinella. Rank outsider Last Flight In was third 2.5 metres back.

Partyon will shortly head back to New Zealand to contest the rich Harness Jewels meeting at Cambridge in the North Island along with stablemate Stars Align who was also successful on the program, taking out the TAB Multiplier Pace for M1 & M2 class over 2240 metres, leading throughout from the pole after taking a concession for Kima Frenning in 1-56.

Cups galore

■ The Easter weekend saw the continuation of Victoria's Country Cup circuit, with Ararat holding the (Group 3) Renown Silverware Ararat Pacing Cup for M0 or better class over the short trip of 2195 metres on Saturday March 31 and Warragul the (Group 3) Downtowner 60th Warragul Pacing Bowl Warragul Pacing Cup over the longer 2627 metre trip held on Sunday. ★ Terang trainer Marg Lee combined with nephew Glen Craven to snare the feature event for the season at Ararat with beautifully bred Rock N Roll Heaven-Keppel Bay 4Y0 entire Jilliby Bandit much to the delight of family syndicate members the Levarg Group who race him under that banner. Starting from the pole, Jilliby Bandit was given a cosy passage trailing the pacemaker Rule Of Thumb which drew next to him, with Kerryn Manning's Motu Meteor coming away from the markers to race exposed after starting inside the second line. making full use of the sprint lane, Jilliby Bandit finished too well for Rule Of Thumb who fought on courageously to go down by 1.2 metres, with Motu Meteor a head away in third place.

In quarters of 31.4, 31.5, 28.7 and 28.4. Jilliby Bandit returned a mile rate of 1-58.4. ★ The $12,000 Yabby Dam Farms Ararat Trotters Cup for T5 or better class (Discretionary Handicapped) over 2570 metres saw a thrilling finish, with Bolinda trainer Brent Lilley's 6Y0 Skyvalley-Cashel Dagha gelding Kyvalley Boomerang winning by a narrow margin.

With Gavin Lang in the sulky, Kyvalley Boomerang was given an easy time after beginning swiftly from barrier three trailing the polemarker Belts which had little difficulty in leading.

Using the sprint lane, Kyvalley Boomerang took an eternity to wear down the leader, prevailing by a half head on the wire, with the hot favourite Father Christmas 8.8 metres away in third place after moving to race in the open from a 20 metre backmark. The mile rate 2-05. ★ Long odds-on favourite Cruz Bromac ($1.50) captured the $30,000 Warragul Pacing Bowl Cup for M0 or better class for underrated Lara mentor Dean Braun and Shepparton reinsman Nathan Jack. Lobbing one/one from gate five after being three wide as the start was effected, Jack vacated the prime spot with Cruz Bromac to park outside Rockstar Angel which began swiftly from gate four to cross poleline stablemate Im The Boss.

In what was merely a procession, Cruz Bromac proved that he was no April fool by waring down the leader in the shadows of the post to score by 1.4 metres ahead of Im The Boss which used the sprint lane to momentarily look the winner, with Rockstar Angel a head back in third place. With quarters of 30.7, 30.9, 27.6 and 27.4 for the last mile, Cruz Bromac rated 1-58.5 for the journey giving prolific new share holder Danny Zavitsanos and partners a first up victory.

Harness Racing

Melbourne

Observer

len-baker@ bigpond.com

with Len Baker

No trouble

■ The $7,000 Inglewood Mitre 10 Calder Pacing Cup for C2 & C3 class over 1750 metres at Wedderburn on Monday was taken out by the Grant Innes (Inglewood) trained 4Y0 Four Starzzz Shark-Firetail mare Erico with Greg Sugars in the sulky.

Beginning brilliantly from gate two, Erico had no trouble leading from the favourite Fleshing on her inside.

Allowed to bowl along without a worry in the world, Erico left her rivals standing on the home turn to record a 2.7 metre victory in advance of the free legger Forever And A Day three back the markers in a track record mile rate of 156.9. Braghetta ran on late out wide from midfield to finish third 1.4 metres away.

Settled on the back

■ Melton trainer John (Blue) McHugh's Bettors Delight-Karamea Amour 7Y0 gelding Just Call Me Mac snared the C4 to C6 class Kevin & Elsie White Memorial Pace over 2150 metres at Wedderburn. B etter known as a leader, Just Call Me Mac with in-form concessional reinsman Ryan Duffy holding the reins settled on the back of the poleline leader Miss Meteor which was given no peace at the head of affairs.

Using the sprint lane, Just Call Me Mac finished best to gain the day by a neck from Manassa Sky which trailed him all of the way, with Im Lonely (three wide last lap from near last) 4.4 metres back in third place. The mile rate 2-00.1.

8th victory ■ Tuesday's Mildura meeting saw consistent Kiwi bred Art Major-Kennys Kid 6Y0 gelding Fat Kennys Drop successful in the C3 to C5 class Darren Clarke Mallee Foods Pace for local owners Peter & Avis Argiro.

Trained and driven by Merbein South's Luke Watson, Fat Kennys Drop led throughout from gate three, accounting for Charlie Knew which trailed by 1.7 metres.

Fortitudo a stablemate of the winner was third 1.9 metres away after racing wide in the last lap. The mile rate 1-58.1. It was the eighth time that Fat Kennys Drop has greeted the judge in 46 outings, seven in Australia.

Champ goes forward

■ Local champ Murranji Track trained at Sunnycliffst by Colin Rogers, chalked up his 22nd victory in 70 outings when victorious in the Cowards Cakes & Pies Are The Best Pace for C6 or better class over 2190 metres.

Driven by Bendigo based Haydon Grey, Murranji Track went forward from outside the front line to assume control from stablemate Shadow Spar shortly after the start and after an easy time, defied all challengers to score by 6.4 metres from Shadow Spar in a rate of 1-58.7.

Solarsonic (one/two - three wide last lap) was third 2.2 metres away.

● Pictured: Party On

Easy winner

■ At Bray Raceway Ballarat on Wednesday, Daylesford trainer/driver Anne-Maree Conroy's ultra consistent 4Y0 Bacardi Lindy-Lady Pepperell mare Margaret Ruth was an easy victor of the Ferndale Confectionery Trotters Handicap for T2 or better class over 2200 metres - her sixth for the season and ninth overall. Bred and raced by mother Pat, Margaret Ruth stepped slowly but safely from a 20 metre equal backmark to settle at the tail of the field as lone frontmarker Trottn The Catwalk led.

When both Athenry and Saxon Rose broke up in the first lap, Margaret Ruth was able to settle four back the markers, moving to be perfectly poised one/one with a circuit to travel. Going forward three wide approaching the final bend, Margaret Ruth dashed to the front on the home turn as Trottn The Catwalk galloped under pressure to win in a breeze by 14.3 metres from Zoomas Legend which raced exposed for the last lap, with Jaden Gil (three back the markers) third 8.2 metres away in third place. The mile rate 2-04.7. ★ Brother Glenn Conroy from nearby Musk Vale celebrated his 60th birthday in style snaring the Laser Electrical Trotters Mobile for T0 & T1 class over 2200 metres with ever reliable 5Y0 Skyvalley-Aldebaran Maori mare Fear Not. Raced by Glenn in partnership with daughter Lyndal and J Gunnell, Fear Not was slowly out from the pole, settling four back the markers as the raging hot favourite Amour De Frere led from gate two.

Easing away from the inside to lead up the outside division mid-race, Fear Not had luck go her way on the home turn when the leader galloped allowing her to shoot clear. Holding a margin to the wire, Fear Not scored by 4.2 metres from the roughie Lilymaystorm (three back the markers) and My Darling Beware which followed the runner up most of the way. The mile rate 2-04.3.

Much improved

■ Popular Meltonian Ken Tippet has has much improved 4Y0 Rocknroll Hanover-Into The Fire gelding Prothesis airborne at present, bringing up four wins in a row by taking the Trotters @ Mildura 12 April Vicbred Trotters Mobile for T1 & T2 class over 2190 metres at Maryborough on Thursday.

Starting from the extreme draw, Prosthesis settling mid-field in the moving line, before going forward thgree wide mid-race to assume

Sulky Snippets This Week

■ Wednesday - Geelong, Thursday Bendigo/Mildura, Friday - Hamilton/Melton.

Saturday - Mildura (Cup), Sunday - Kyabram @ Shepparton, Monday - Charlton, Tuesday - Kilmore.

Horses to follow

■ Majestic Pride, Tiber, Bettor Back Betty, Saint Davids Field, Wantalinga Dream, Madazalways, Braghetta, Shadow Spar, Manassa Sky, Australian Bite, Fast Is Bettor.

Bee Gees Bandit.

control prior to the bell.Always travelling sweetly Prosthesis easily by 6.3 metres from the favourite Next Thru (one/two - three wide last lap) and the unbeaten Bank On Betty who was a neck away after leading out, before taking a trail on the winner. The mile rate 2-02.6.

Cosy trips

■ At Shepparton on Friday two of this season's Oaks winners scored in their respective races as short priced favourites. Tasmanian Oaks victor Ghadastar a Art Major-Arkabar filly trained at Sunbury by Ahmed Taiba and driven by Troy McDonald, blitzed her rivals in the C1 & C2 class 2190 metre Egmont Park Pace. Given a cosy one/one trip from gate five, Ghadastar ($1.40) sprinted like a gazelle when required to register a runaway 17.7 metre margin in advance ofArtistic Fella (three back the markers) and Major Powers which followed the weakening pacemaker Indiana Angel. ★ NSW Oaks winner Shez All Rock (Rock N Roll Heaven-Just Irish Loch) trained and driven

by Shepparton's Mark Pitt, led throughout from gate three at prohibitive odds of $1.10 in the C1 class Elders Insurance Pace over 2190 metres in 2-00.2, easily accounting for Crookwell Jake (three back the markers) by 16.2 metres, with Mango Stride a neck away third after following the winner.

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Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, April 11, 2018 - Page 41 e urn lbo Me

Every Week in the Melbourne Observer

ver N ser O Ob TI C SE 3

Observer Showbiz

Theatre: Polyglot’s 40th anniversary .................. Page 43 Arts: Rah rah for Hoo Haa ................................................. Page 42 Country Music: Man In Black .............................................. Page 42 Jim and Aar on: Movies, DVDs, Top 10 lists ......................... P age 44 Aaron: Cheryl Threadgold: Local theatre shows, auditions ........... Page 49 PL US THE LLO OVATT”S MEGA CRO PLUS CROSSSWORD

KOSHER BACON Replica premieres

Archie at Hamer Hall

● Archie Roach ■ Award-winning Australian trio Tiddas will reform to join singer-songwriter Archie Roach for a national tour in May and June, performing in Melbourne at Hamer Hall on Sunday, May 6 at 5pm.

The Tiddas trio - Amy Saunders, Lou Bennett and Sally Dastey - are coming back on stage to support the unearthing of Roach's legendary Dancing With My Spirit - recorded over two decades ago by producer Jen Anderson.

The demo disappeared into the annals of time and only now are these songs emerging into the world. The demo features the sublime and bold vocal harmonies of Tiddas, tracks on the album include A Child Was Born Here, Dancing Shoes and the title track Dancing With My Spirit, all capturing Archie’s voice at its best.

The album’s musical lineup features Bruce Haymes (keyboards), Dave Steel (guitars), the late Stuart Speed (bass) and Archie Cuthbertson on drums.

Musicians Bruce Haymes and Archie Cuthbertson will join Archie Roach and Tiddas on stage during the national tour.

"The combination of these three women and Archie singing together created a magic that’s rare and precious and I consider myself extremely fortunate to have witnessed this creation," says Jen Anderson.

"I suppose it’s just that Dancing With My Spirit has been waiting for the right time to reveal itself to the public.

That time has now come, heralded by Tiddas’ announcement that they are reforming especially to sing with Archie once more, and to showcase the songs from the album via a series of performances around Australia. Some things are truly worth waiting for."

Archie Roach says: “I have always loved Tiddas, their music and harmonies. When Amy, Lou and Sally added their voices to these songs recorded over 25 years ago, it just gave it what was needed.

“It’s like the songs were there and it needed something else. If the girls weren’t on this recording it would be unfinished; Tiddas completed it. I am very grateful and humbled that Tiddas have reunited for the Dancing With My Spirit album tour.”

Event date: Sunday, May 6 at 5pm Venue: Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne Bookings: artscentremelbourne.com.au or 1300 182 183 - Cheryl Threadgold

● Michael Shafar ■ Michael Shafar’s new stand-up show for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Kosher Bacon, is genuinely funny, drawing material from a variety of everyday experiences.

Highlights focus on the contradictions that surround us - large corporation slogans (can’t mention them here), and what he terms food contradictions.

Food contradictions, according to Shafar, who is a writer for The Project on Channel 10, are things people invent to help them feel better about their food choices.

Examples include Kosher bacon, an invention by one of his ‘Jewish’ friends who believes bacon eaten outside his home is kosher because God only watches what you eat inside the house.

So too the ridiculous claim by his local café that they only use eggs from ‘happy chickens’. Phew, we can all feel good about people eating those eggs.

Happy chickens? Kosher bacon? Just the tip of the social, religious and cultural landscape Shafar comments on with uncanny honesty and discerning insights.

His advice on how to stop millennials taking drugs, his take on the schmeckle shot and why banning plastic bags is different from banning the burka are luminous and funny.

He also has a lot to say about relationships (his in particular), marriage (his is pending), and family - his weird mother, onejoke dad and his racist grandmother.

Shafar’s art is being able to articulate the humour in any situation. But comedy is also largely measured by the telling and while Shafar is comfortable on the stage, he could be a little bigger, perhaps a little more energised.

Shafar is a clever writer and his comedy is relatable, even to a gentile. Kosher Bacon is genuinely laugh-out-loud funny.

Performance season: Until Sunday, April 22.

Venue: Trades Hall, Music Room Tickets: $20 - $25 Bookings: www.comedyfestival.com.au/2018/shows/kosherbacon - Review by Beth Klein

● Stephanie Lake ■ Darebin Arts Speakeasy and the Stephanie Lake Company in association with Culturelink (Singapore) present the premiere of Replica, from April 25-May 5 at the Northcote Town Hall.

Choreographed by Stephanie Lake, two figures emerge from the darkness and enter visceral world of split-second timing and melting fluidity, intricately tangled.

The award-winning Stephanie Lake Company brings together international dancers Christina Chan (Singapore) and Aymeric Bichon (France) alongside Australian creatives Robin Fox (music), Paula Levis (costume designer) and Bosco Shaw (lighting) for this new dance work.

Replica is a non-narrative story about two people travelling a winding road together.

In this study of similarity and difference, the audience bears witness to the fascinating intersection of two dancers who need each other to create the work, but also rail against their intimate interdependence.

Along the way they navigate friction, aggression, tenderness and complicity.

Dates: April 25 – May 5 (Preview April 25 at 8pm) Time: Thurs. – Sat. at 8pm, Sun. 5pm, Sat. May 5 at 2pm Location: Northcote Town Hall Duration: 60 minutes Tickets: Full $33, Conc/student $28, Preview $25 Bookings: www.darebinarts.com.au/replica - Cheryl Threadgold

Page 42 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, April 11, 2018

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Observer Showbiz

Country Music, Radio, Theatre, Almanac Country Crossroads

By Rob Foenander info@countrycrossroads.com.au

New from Destiny ■ Latrobe Valley band Destiny has another new single to add to itsvast collection of original compositions.

Lay Me Down is a beautiful duet sung by husband and wife team Thomas and Tessa Libreri and is sure to be well received by both country music radio and their ever increasing fan base.

The band will also be supporting Sri Lankan superstar Janaka who will tour Australia in September.

More details to follow.

The Don in Melb.

■ Australian music legend Don Walkerwill perform at the Memo Music Hall, St Kilda, on Friday (Apr. 13).

The former Cold Chisel band member is also releasing his new work, Catfish, plus his entire catalogue of recordings on vinyl.

Man in Black ■ Fans of the late Man In Black, Johnny Cash, will rejoice in the news that a new album Forever Words is being released.

Taken from Johnny's unknown poetry, lyrics and letters, the 16 songs have been set to music by an array of the biggest contemporary artists in music history, Kris Kristofferson and Willie Nelson to name a few.

- Rob Foenander

Rah rah for Hoo Haa ■ With rhyme I shall begin this review as that is what these performers do. They take an idea then one at a time create a sentence that will rhyme.

Masterfully rhyming suggestions from the audience is not the only thing these six spontaneous comedians do.

All are able to think quickly with humour, facial expressions, mannerisms whilst not taking themselves too seriously.

This is a fun show with a visible camaraderie and familiarity amongst the troupe.

The big Hoo-Haa is performed in a theatre sport style with two teams the hearts and bones ‘playing’ various theatre improvisational games for points.

The audience are very much a part, cheering, voting for the best team as well as providing all the suggestions such as accents, locations, plot points.

The show I saw was MC’d by David Massing-ham whose deep vocal ability complemented the evening, along with both a cleverly composed live guitar soundtrack and backing music from the likes of Seinfeld.

With only a bare stage with two backdrops (one of which did not want to stay on the wall) this show relies on the actor’s skill which varied from great singers to extremely intelligent creators.

There was much to marvel at whilst escaping from the issues of real life. A fun, clever entertaining end to an evening.

Venue: Melbourne Town Hall Dates: Until April 21 Ticket Prices: $20-25 Times: Mondays 8:30pm, Fridays and Saturdays 11pm (55 minutes) Bookings: www.comedyfestival.com.au/ 2018/shows/the-big-hoo-haa-melbourne or phone 1300 660 013 Website: www.hoohaamelbourne.com.au - Review by Elizabeth Semmel

■ Australian orchestra leader Tommy Tycho was born in 1928 Ethel Kennedy, widow of the late Senator Robert Kennedy, was born in 1928.

Joel Grey, star of Cabaret, was born in 1932.

Jeremy Clarkson, was born in Yorkshire in 1960 (58).

Melbourne Arts Schreiber, Linda Well, Ivana Pinaffo, Julie Stephens, Marina Villani, Amanda Hyatt, Lynette Orxlowski, Jim Van Geet, Helen Cottle, Richard Chamerski, Pamela Conder, Nelson and others.

Images of many works are online and added to frequently. All work is available for collection at the time of purchase and the show will be added to from time to time by the same artists.

The exhibition opens Sunday April 29 and continues through May and June.

- Peter Kemp

Seymour Gallery ■ The Old Post Office Seymour Fine Art Gallery was officially opened in April 1993 by Graeme Stoney MP. The restaurant in the same building opened earlier. Many of the artists exhibited at Kinglake and Eltham with Louise Barling from the 1980s.

This exhibition showcases many of the award winning artists, many international; acknowledged and exhibited that have shown over more than 25 years.

The exhibition will feature works by the following awarded artists: John Orlando Birt, Fiona Anderson, Paul Magocsy, Nafine Dudek, Janette Doyle, Agnes Szetey, Grace Paleg, Pat McKenzie, Vraig Penny, Jane Pittard, Malcolm Beattie, Kate Jenvey, Ross Peterson, Sue

r Obser vbeiz On This Day Show

Wednesday Thursday April 12 April 11

● Sophie Kneebone, Corey Glamuzina, Matt Saraceni, Natalie Holwood, and Louisa Fitzhardinge in The Big Hoo-Haa! Photo: Mark Gambino

■ Former Victorian Governor John Landy was born in 1930.

American singer Tony Tim (Herbert Khaury) was born in New York in 1932. He died aged 64 in 1996.

TV presenter Terry Willesee is 73.

US host David Letterman was born in 1947 (71).

At Northcote

■ Darebin Arts Speakeasy and Stephanie Lake Company in association with Culturelink (Singapore) present the premiere of Replica.

Two figures emerge from the darkness and enter a heart-pounding, visceral world of splitsecond timing and melting fluidity. They are intricately tangled.

Defined by whip-smart unison and wild animalistic choreography, Replica is the non-narrative story of two people travelling a winding road together.

Season: April 25 - May 5. Thursday - Saturday 8pm. Sunday 5pm. Saturday May 5. 2pm.

Bookings: www.darebinarts.com.au/replica 189 High St, Northcote

Fleabag

● Maddie Rice in Fleabag.

Photo: Richard Davenport.

■ Fleabag runs a guinea pig-themed café that’s about to go under. Her boyfriend just left her (again), she drinks too much and is obsessed with sex.

Her best friend and business partner just died tragically and she’s trying to convince her sister to lend her money. But things are looking hopeful as she just hooked up with a rodent-like guy she met on the Tube.

Fleabag is a tragicomedy. Fleabag, the character, is a millennial negotiating life as a singleton in London. Fleabag narrates her life without a filter: a next-generation Bridget Jones or a clumsier, would-be Samantha from Sex in the City but with a dark secret and not so happy-go-lucky.

She makes light of tragedies in order not to deal with them. She’s charming and brutally honest. She’s also dysfunctional and so is her family.

“I have a horrible feeling that I am a greedy, perverted, selfish, apathetic, cynical, depraved, morally-bankrupt woman who can’t even call herself a feminist”’ she confesses to her father.

“You get all that from your mother,” he replies and promptly calls her a cab.

Written by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Maddie Rice is excellent as the charming, and wideeyed Fleabag in this superbly written play.

Why it works is a mystery? A 70-minute monologue delivered from a stool centre stage, packs in the laughs so fast that you barely notice the desperation and sadness undergirding the comic banter until the moment of denouement and revelation hits.

A hit when it debuted at the Edinburgh Festival in 2013, Waller-Bridge has adapted the play into a successful sitcom for the BBC. Performance Season: UntilApril 22 Venue: Malthouse Theatre, Southbank Bookings: www.malthousetheatre. com.au Review by Kathryn Keeble Melbourne

Observer

Friday April 13

Saturday April 14

■ US actor Howard Keel was born in 1917.

He died aged 87 in 2004.

Ventriloquist Ron Blaskett was born in Brunswick in 1922 (96).

Don Adams was born as Donald Yarmy in 1923. He died aged 82 in 2005. He played Maxwell Smart.

■ Actor Rod Steiger was born in New York in 1925. He died aged 77 in 2002.

Gerry Anderson, who created the action series Thunderbirds, with wife Sylvia, (1929).

Loretta Lynn (Loretta Webb), American country singer, was born in Butcher Hollow, Jentucky in 1934.

Sunday April 15 ■ Joyce Jacobs, Australian actress in A Country Practice, was born in England in 1922.

Comedian Kym Gyngell was born in Melbourne in 1952 (66).

Country singer Lee Kernaghan was born in Corryong in 1964 (54).

Monday April 16

■ Silent film star Charlie Chaplin was born in London in 1889. He died aged 88 in 1977.

British actor screenwriter and playwright Sir Peter Ustinov was born in London in 1921. He died aged 82 in 2004.

Orchestra leader Henry Mancini was born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1924.

He died in 1994.

Tuesday April 17 ■ American actor William Holden was born in Illinois in 1918. He died aged 63 in 1981.

Australian TV and radio host Greg Evans was born in Melbourne in 1953 (65).

TV presenter ‘Ajay Rochester’ was born in Sydney in 1969 (49).

Her real name is Leigh Towler.

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

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

Find out more at www.jocksjournal.com

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Melbourne Obser ver - Wednesday, April 11, 2018 - Page 43

Observer Showbiz

TV, Radio, Theatre

Arkfest winners ● Congratulations to the major prizewinners in the Arkfest Short Play Festival held in Lilydale: Aimme Short (Best Actress Award in Corpse Candles by Deborah Sheldon); the People’s Choice Award, Rosaline, presented by the Hartwell Players (pictured is director Andrew Tomazos); Tamara Dahmen (playwright of the People’s Choice Award Rosaline and playwright/director of Best Production Anak, both presented by The Hartwell Players); Dexter Bourke (Best Director Award for Next in Line by Chris Hodson, presented by The 1812 Theatre); and Phillip Stevenson (Best Actor Award in Close Enough by Louise Woodward, presented by The Misfits).

Photo: Malcolm Threadgold

Selby and Friends

■ For the first time in five years, two master Finnish musicians reunite with Kathryn Selby to perform chamber music with Selby and Friends in an Australian tour titled Alchemy, performing in Melbourne on May 2 at 7.30pm at the Tatoulis Auditorium, Methodist Ladies’ College, Kew. Vesa-Matti Leppänen, Concertmaster of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, joins ACO principal cellist Timo-Veikko Valve and pianist Selby for a six-concert Alchemy tour, with music by Robert Schumann, Johannes Brahms and AntonArensky.

Bold melodic lines and innovative musical layering are the calling cards of this program, embracing classical works.

Robert Schumann’s original keyboard studies in the form of canon (Sechs Stücke in kanonischer Form) were the basis for this piano trio version by his friend Theodor Kirchner.

Unmistakably a product of Schumann’s creativity, the rich melodic fabric was given a second life in Kirchner’s reworking – with Schumann’s blessing.

Anton Arensky’s Piano Trio No. 2 weaves many musical thoughts into one. Lilting waltz tempos, rustic dance rhythms, theme and variations, canon, and a string duet not unlike those heard in turn-of-the-century Russian salons.

The Brahms String Sextet in B-flat major, Op. 18, published in 1862, made its way into 20th-century popular culture as soundtrack music in big- and small-screen features ranging from Louis Malle’s The Lovers to Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Says Selby: “I’m thrilled to be welcoming back two of my favourite colleagues with this special program. Witty, knowledgeable and charming, my two Finnish friends are brilliant artists whose infectious artistry always makes for a stunning tour.”

Melbourne performance: May 2 – 7:30pm, Tatoulis Auditorium, Methodist Ladies’ College, Kew, Melbourne Tickets: www.selbyandfriends.com.au or by calling 1300 511 099.

- Cheryl Threadgold

Sports Radio ■ New sports radio network Macquarie Sports Radio has launched, replacing Talking Lifestyle stations. Melbourne breakfast is headed by Tony Leonard, Tony Shaw and Jimmy Bartel. Former SEN radio hosts David Schwartz and Mark Allen will lead national drive.

Pleasure Enthusiast

■ Sydney comedian James Smith returns to the Melbourne Comedy Festival with his new stand-up show, Pleasure Enthusiast ,at the Trades Hall from April 16 - 22.

Personally selected by Chris Rock to be a special guest on his Total Blackout Tour (Australia and NZ), Smith is only one of four Australian comedians to appear on the US TV show Conan with Conan O’Brien.

His TV credits include HBO’s Flight of the Conchords, Just for Laughs Australia and Just For Laughs Montreal and Live at Gotham. Smith has also written jokes for Comedy Central’s Roast of Justin Bieber and Rob Lowe.

No stranger in working with celebrities, James has opened for Louis CK, John Mayer, Bob Saget and Arj Barker. Movie star Gerard Butler personally hired Smith to roast him at his birthday party bash in New York City and he is a regular performer at New York’s Comedy Cellar.

A former banking and finance lawyer and Australian public speaking champion, James Smith was twice selected to compete at the World Debating Championships at Princetown University.

Performance Season: April 16 – 17 and 19 – 21 at 9.30pm and April 22 at 8.30pm Venue: Trades Hall, The Meeting room, 54 Victoria St, Carlton.

Tickets: $25-$34.90 Bookings and further information: comedyfestival.com.au/2018 - Cheryl Threadgold

● James Smith

Polyglot’s 40th anniversary ■ Australia’s Polyglot Theatre has two big announcements to make.

First, its move this May to a new home at Melbourne’s Abbotsford Convent, and secondly, the commemoration of 40 years of presenting contemporary children’s theatre and participatory art works.

To celebrate, Polyglot Theatre, together with Abbotsford Convent, presents four special performances of the installation Tangle on Friday (Apr. 13) and Saturday (Apr. 14) in the courtyard of the beautifully-restored Sacred Heart building at the Convent - Australia's largest multi-arts precinct.

Tangle is a giant weaving event in which children and their families use coloured elastic to create a vibrant, live interactive sculpture, an enchanting landscape in which to play, explore and bounce about.

Featuring live music, Tangle allows children to take the lead, building and contributing to a public artwork that was hailed as “a masterpiece in art making for young people” at Sydney Festival, having already wowed audiences from the US, Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong and England.

Over 40 years, Polyglot Theatre has grown from a twomember puppet troupe to house 12 permanent staff whose work is galvanised by frequent international and intercultural collaborations.

In 2017 alone, Polyglot Theatre staged 263 performances and held 172 workshops, reaching audiences of 44,940 people.

In the preceding five years, Polyglot created 11 new works, gave 1226 performances, delivered 16 community engagement projects, undertook six international collaborations, delivered 767 workshops for 15,884 children, engaged more than 1000 artists, sharing their vision with a global audience of more than 351,000 people.

Highlights for Polyglot this year include its fourth visit to Japan earlier this month, where the touring team conducted workshops at the new Asian International Festival of Theatre forYoung Audiences in Tokyo as well as in five schools in Minami Sanriku, a small town devastated by the 2011 tsunami.

On the seventh anniversary of the tragedy, Polyglot delivered its work Paper Planet in collaboration with Acchi Cocchi, a music organisation with deep connections in the Tohoku region.

This month, the company embarks on an Indonesian tour of Cerita Anak (Child’s Story), an immersive adventure on the high seas for children aged 2-7 and their adults that combines puppetry, song and shadow imagery in a collaboration with Indonesia’s Papermoon Puppet Theatre.

Polyglot will also be touring in China and the USA later in 2018, with details to be announced soon.

Since it was founded by Naomi Tippett in 1978, Polyglot Theatre has been creating unique works of children’s

theatre. Under the direction of Sue Giles since 2000, Polyglot Theatre’s award-winning works have been seen in 18 countries across five continents.

Presented at the world’s leading venues and festivals, Polyglot has consistently met with professional acclaim and recognition around the world, making it truly one of Australia’s most exciting and celebrated arts companies.

Polyglot Theatre – 40th Birthday Celebrations: Friday April 13 and Saturday, April 14, 10 am-12 Noon, 1.30pm3.30pm: Tangle at Sacred Heart courtyard, Abbotsford Convent, Melbourne.

Free but bookings essential via: www.polyglot.org.au/calendar/tangle-abbotsford-convent - Cheryl Threadgold

Back at Nine

■ Mark Llewellyn has returned to the Nine Network as Creative Director of News and Current Affairs, effective immediately.

Mark joins from the Seven Network, where he had been Executive Producer of Investigations and the founding Executive Producer of Sunday Night before that. Prior to Seven, Mark was Nine’s Network Director of News and Current Affairs and was also previously Managing Director at 60 Minutes and Executive Producer at A Current Affair.

SHHHits, Giggles

● Britni Leslie ■ All her life Britni wanted to be a grownup, but what happens when we actually grow up? Maybe it's not like all those fairy-tales read when we were younger.

Britni Leslie stars in a new cabaret about the mid-highs and extreme lows of growing up, being presented at The Butterfly Club from April 14 to May 19.

SHHHits and Giggles will uncover unglamorous truths about getting older, in a show that aims to have audiences giggling long after you leave the theatre. If that's not enough, her pianist Tim Verdon’s twinkling fingers aim to have people smiling all night long.

Whether you love a good show tune, an embarrassing story, or a night full of laughter, you can’t help but get caught up in this production about the reality of Ageing.

Britni is thrilled to be back performing in Melbourne again. Originally from Mobile, Alabama, she has worked in Orlando, Florida, professionally for more than six years where she performed with Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, The Orlando Repertory Theatre, Orlando Shakespeare Theatre and Sea World.

She then began a new adventure in New York City where she performed in many productions and cabarets throughout the city before moving to Australia.

Dates: April 14 – May 19 Time: 8.30pm Monday- Saturday Cost: $27-$34 Venue: The Butterfly Club, 5 Carson Place, Melbourne Ticket link: thebutterflyclub.com - Cheryl Threadgold

Media Flashes ■ Stephen Bartholomeusz has been announced as a new Senior Business Columnist at The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. Stephen had most recently been at The Australian as an Associate Editor and Senior Columnist, according to the TelumAustralia newsletter.

Coulthart departs

■ After almost three years as an Investigative Reporter at 60 Minutes, Ross Coulthart has departed the Nine Network.

Prior to joining 60 Minutes, Ross held a similar role at Seven’s Sunday Night and was a reporter at Nine before that, reports Telum Australia.

Page 44 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, April 11, 2018

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 FILM: THOR - RAGNAROK: Genre: Action/Sci-Fi/Adventure.

Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Cate Blanchett, Tom Hiddleston, Idris Elba, Anthony Hopkins, Jeff Goldblum, Karl Urban, Benedict Cumberbatch.

Year: 2017.

Rating: M .

Length: 130 Minutes.

Stars: ***½ Verdict: Thor is imprisoned on the other side of the universe and finds himself in a race against time to get back to Asgard to stop Ragnarok, the destruction of his home-world and the end of Asgardian civilization, at the hands of an all-powerful new threat, his sister, the ruthless Hela.

Delightfully engaging and fun romp is a big leap up on the previous two Thor Marvel incarnations, "Thor" (2011) and "Thor: The Dark World" (2013)," opting for a more comedic approach, and it works a treat, especially as our beefcake hero Thor is more reflective in parts of "Inspector Clouseau" than super-hero saviour, which his heroic elements are kept very well intact during and between the laughs.

Laid-back and brimming with an '80s retro feel and the humour, as expected, along with the action, everything from the special effects to the music score is top shelf.

The stellar cast including Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Mark Ruffalo (Bruce Banner/The Hulk), Tom Hiddleston (Loki), Idris Elba (Heimdall), Anthony Hopkins (Odin), Karl Urban (Skurge), Benedict Cumberbatch (Dr. Strange) and Tessa Thompson as Valkyrie are all at the top of their game and having great fun, but the stand-outs are Cate Blanchett as Hela, and Jeff Goldblum in an almost self-parody as The Grandmaster.

New Zealand Director Tamika Waititi, who gave us the delightful "Hunt For The Wilderpeople" in 2016, knows exactly what he wants and achieves in delivering a enthusiastically goofy, self mocking, outrageous and boldly entertaining super-hero spectacle which in any other form could have easily been the swan-song, but this much needed, welcome and inviting all-new fresh approach has now assured otherwise.

FILM: TULIP FEVER: Genre: Romance/Drama.

Cast: Alicia Vikander, Tom Hollander, Christoph Waltz, Dame Judi Dench, Zach Galifianakis.

Year: 2017.

Rating: PG. Length: 107 Minutes.

Stars: ***½ Verdict: 17th Century romp set in Amsterdam, of an orphaned girl who is forcibly married to a wealthy merchant that saves her from poverty, and after her husband commissions a portrait, she begins a passionate affair with the painter, a struggling young artist, and the lovers risk everything by entering into the frenzied tulip bulb market, with the hope that the right bulb will make their fortune.

Director Justin Chadwick, whose previous credits include "The Other Boleyn Girl" (2008) and "Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom" (2013) has crafted an intriguing and entertaining romantic-drama with a stellar cast, all in top form, most notably Christoph Waltz as the unsuspecting and kindly husband, and Tom Hollander as the nearby doctor who offers his services in more ways than one.

Superbly crafted with excellent production design, costume design and period detail, the only minor flaws are the lack of explanation concerning the Tulip Fever Frenzy of the period and lacking spark, nonetheless, this is for most part a bawdy, funny, intriguing and poignant tale, even if the tulips begin to wilt by journey's end.

Written for the screen by Tom Stoppard, whose previous credits include Empire of the Sun, Brazil, Shakespeare in Love, and Deborah Moggach with credits such as The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and Pride & Prejudice, with all the hopping between the sheets of the husband and his wife, the painter and the wife, and the maid and her boyfriend, it would be more appropriate if this were titled "Bottoms Up!" or "Carry On Around The Tulips." A fun romp!

FILM: ERIC CLAPTON - LIFE IN 12 BARS: Genre: Music/Documentary.

Cast: Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Patti Boyd, BB King.

Year: 2017.

Rating: MA15+ Length: 135 Minutes.

Stars: **** Verdict: A uniquely gripping and revealing no-holds-barred wartsand-all look at the life and work of legendary singer, songwriter and guitarist Eric Clapton, told in his own words, and told by those who have known him best, including his surviving family, friends and relationships (including Patti Boyd), and other such greats as BB King, Jimi Hendrix, Steve Winwood and George Harrison, to name a few.

With the exception of Eric Clapton, no on camera interview footage, purely audio, and filled with never-before-seen material including personal family images.

With powerful inspirations as Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson and The Blues! the classic songs behind him such as Layla, Wonderful Tonight, White Room, Tears in Heaven, I Shot The Sheriff, Sunshine of Your Love. and the T.V. and movie soundtracks including Edge of Darkness and the Lethal Weapon series, there's much to relish.

Directed by Oscar winning Producer Lili Fini Zanuck (Driving Miss Daisy-1990), this is an honest, compelling, fascinating, unforgiving, poignant, thought provoking and overwhelmingly heartbreaking, this is a "must-see" - it's only problem being, at two-and-aquarter hours, it's not long enough.

Top 10 Lists

● A first-class cast excel in Sally Potter's potent comedy/ drama The Party, which opens in cinemas on April 12. broken over the disappearance of her father (Chris Pine) four years ■ (M). 71 minutes. Opens in se- ago. lected cinemas April 12.

A renowned scientist, he and his A dysfunctional Britain is dis- wife (Gugu Mbatha-Raw)had raditilled within the walls of a well-fur- cal ideas about using the mind to nished house in Sally Potter's sharp perform multi-dimensional travel, comedy/drama, one that contains theories dismissed by their peers. a potent undercurrent throughout its Bullied at school, Meg's only brief but memorable running time. friend is her ultra-smart six yearKristin Scott Thomas plays old brother Charles Wallace (Deric Janet, who has organised a small McCabe), who isn't above speakparty with friends after being pro- ing his mind to his teachers. moted to the position of Shadow When someone by the name of Minister for Health.

Mrs. Whatsit (Reese Witherspoon) While Jane alternates between arrives on the family's doorstep, an traditional and progressive gender introduction that will lead to the two roles, the party guests slowly lower youngsters meeting Mrs. Hughes their guards to reveal various se- (Mindy Kaling) and Mrs. Which crets and annoyances that will see (Oprah Winfrey), they will be taken the festivities spiral out of control. on an incredible journey across Writer/director Sally Potter (Or- time and space, in an attempt to see lando, The Tango Lesson, Ginger if their dad is still alive. & Rosa) is in top form here, and Coming across like a mixture of with a top-shelf cast that also in- Roald Dahl, Dr. Seuss, Labyrinth, cludes Patricia Clarkson, Timothy The NeverEnding Story and What Spall, Emily Mortimer, Bruno Dreams May Come, the film's epic, Ganz, Cherry Jones and Cillian fantastical elements are never conMurphy, ensures that this party is vincing, while its important meswell worth attending. sages of self-confidence and diverRATING - **** sity acceptance are unsubtle to say the least, making the whole endeavour at times feel like a self-help video.

■ (M). 109 minutes. Now streamRATING - ** ing on Netflix.

This ingenious thriller has quietly surfaced locally on Netflix, after a well-received theatrical run ■ Uprising (M). 111 minutes. Now in its home country of South Ko- showing in cinemas. rea.

After Guillermo del Toro's 2013 A family of four have moved original proved to be tremendously into a new house, confident the entertaining, we now belatedly get change will have a positive effect the sequel, but with the Oscar-winon their lives. ning director not onboard this time, However, not long after, the el- all the heart, imagination, and fun dest son Yoo-seok (Kim Mu-yeol) is unfortunately missing, leaving a is kidnapped, leaving the family hollow, by-the numbers effort that stunned and terrified, especially feels more akin to the terrible TransJin-seok (Ha-neul Kang), who suf- formers movies. fers from hypersensitivity.

Set10 years after the events of After Yoo-seok is returned 19 the first film, the story focuses on days later, unable to remember any- Jake Pentecost (John Boyega), who thing that has happened to him, Jin- is the son of the late Stacker (Idris seok begins to notice changes in Elba), who lead the rebellion against his sibling's behaviour, and it's a the kaiju years before. mystery he is determined to solve. on the wrong side of the Writer/director Jang Hang-jun law,Now the disillusioned ex-soldier is offers up a cleverly constructed eventually caught when has a tale, one that fans of the genre will run-in with fellow scavengerhe Amara have immense fun trying to figure (Cailee Spaeny). out.

Forced to re-join the Jaeger RATING - **** force as an instructor, a position that sees him lock horns with former colleague Nate Lambert (Scott Eastwood, son of Clint), Jake will have to become a team player and ■ (PG). 109 minutes. Now show- help destroy a new breed of Kaiju, who want to open the breach that ing in cinemas.

Despite sincere intentions, was closed off a decade earlier.

Pacific Rim was del Toro's lovDisney's big budget adaptation of Madeleine L'Engle's 1962 novel is ing homage to Japanese monster almost a total misfire, crushed by a movies, with a look and design that clunky, heavy-handed approach was superb, but the sequel, directed that undercuts all the positive mes- by Steven S. DeKnight, is totally sages it tries to impart upon its devoid of that much-needed sense youthful audience. of purpose and conviction, and as The story centres on 13- year- such, is utterly redundant. old Meg Murry (Storm Reid), a RATING - ** once happy child who is still heart - Aaron Rourke

The Party

Forgotten

Pacific Rim

A Wrinkle In Time

APRIL 8-14 THE AUSTRALIAN BOX OFFICE TOP TEN: 1. READY PLAYER ONE. 2. PETER RABBIT. 3. BLOCKERS. 4. LOVE, SIMON. 5. PACIFIC RIM: UPRISING. 6. A WRINKLE IN TIME. 7. BLACK PANTHER. 8. TOMB RAIDER. 9. THE DEATH OF STALIN. 10. RED SPARROW. NEW RELEASES AND COMING SOON TO CINEMAS AROUND AUSTRALIA: APRIL 5: A QUIET PLACE, HAVE YOU SEEN THE LISTERS?, SHERLOCK GNOMES, WALKING OUT. APRIL 12: ISLE OF DOGS, RAMPAGE, THE PARTY, TRUTH OR DARE. THE DVD AND BLU-RAY TOP RENTALS & SALES: 1. STAR WARS: The Last Jedi [Action/Fantasy/Adventure/Daisy Ridley, Carrie Fisher].

2. COCO [Animated/Adventure/Music/Comedy/Anthony Gonzalez, Benjamin Bratt].

3. PADDINGTON 2 [Family/Comedy/Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Hugh Grant].

4. THE DISASTER ARTIST [Biography/Comedy/James Franco, Dave Franco, Seth Rogen].

5. WONDER WHEEL [Comedy/Drama/Kate Winslet, Jim Belushi, Justin Timberlake].

6. MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS [Mystery/Drama/Kenneth Branagh, Penelope Cruz].

7. THE MAN WHO INVENTED CHRISTMAS [Biography/Comedy/Drama/Christopher Plummer].

8. FERDINAND [Animated/Adventure/Comedy/Raul Esparza].

9. JUSTICE LEAGUE [Action/Fantasy/Gal Gadot, Ben Affleck, Jason Momoa].

Also: SWEET VIRGINIA, ONLY THE BRAVE, TULIP FEVER, WONDER, DADDY'S HOME 2, THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER, GOODBYE CHRISTOPHER ROBIN, JUNGLE, PROFESSOR MARSTON AND THE WONDER WOMEN, BLADE RUNNER 2049.

NEW HOME ENTERTAINMENT RELEASE HIGHLIGHTS THIS WEEK: CALL ME BY YOUR NAME [Drama/Timothee Chalamet, Armie Hammer, Michael Stuhlbarg].

DOWNSIZING [Comedy/Fantasy/Drama/ Matt Damon, Cristoph Waltz, Hong Chau].

ACTS OF VIOLENCE [Action/Drama/Bruce Willis, Cole Hauser, Ashton Holmes].

ROMAN J. ISRAEL, ESQ [Crime/Drama/ Denzel Washington, Colin Farrell].

JUMANJI: WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE [Adventure/Fantasy/Dwayne Johnson].

JUMANJI: WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE 3D + Blu-Ray [Adventure/Fantasy/Dwayne Johnson].

JUMANJI: WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE 4K [Adventure/Fantasy/Dwayne Johnson].

NEW & RE-RELEASE CLASSIC MOVIES ON DVD HIGHLIGHTS: TO SIR WITH LOVE + TO SIR WITH LOVE 2 [Drama/Sidney Poitier, Lulu, Judy Geeson].

AUDREY HEPBURN PACK: Breakfast at Tiffany's, Roman Holiday, My Fair Lady.

NEW RELEASE TELEVISION, DOCUMENTARY AND MUSIC DVD HIGHLIGHTS: THE CORONATION. CITY OF GHOSTS. ATTACK ON TITAN: Season 2.

SAILOR MOON R: Season 2.

FAIRY TAIL ZERO: Complete Series.

VICE PRINCIPLES: Season 2.

CALL THE MIDWIFE: Series 7.

EARTH: One Amazing Day. THE GUARDIAN: Complete Collection.

- James Sherlock

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Melbourne Obser ver - Wednesday, April 11, 2018 - Page 45

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Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, April 11, 2018 - Page 49

Observer Showbiz

Local Theatre with Cheryl Threadgold and team THE JUNIOR MIGHTY LITTLE PUPPET SHOW

● Scott McAteer (left) with Yellow Rita, Jaklene Vukasinovic with Green Rita and Amanda Knights with Colonel Rita in The Junior Mighty Little Puppet Show.

■ The Melbourne Comedy Festival offers a huge smorgasbord, but one does have to choose carefully sometimes; there’s a fair amount that is definitely not for the family.

But with The Junior Mighty Little Puppet Show child or adult is in for a theatrical family treat. This is a genuinely imaginative journey for all ages who enter into the spirit of “an audience really makes a show.”

From The Mighty Littles, hosted by a skillfully amusing Rob Lloyd, five differently coloured anonymous puppets (The Ritas) are given facial features and names by young audience volunteers, who select from two brilliantly eye and nose decorated boards .

The ownership idea works a treat and now puppeteers Ryan Patterson, Scott McAteer, Jaime G Cerda, Petra Elliott and Jaklene Vukasinovic have the chance to improvise story lines, again suggested by the audience.

It’s a great theatre game really, complete with mine Host amusingly steering where necessary to keep attention , fun and tension high as each story is stopped on a “cliff hanger” so that we can choose which will continue to the end.

“Offers” are made by the various puppeteers, taken up by others and always the kids get to select, and some selections are quite hilarious, with Lloyd taking all selections on board with a wit and humour that absolutely includes we “oldies” as well.

Audience involvement dictates that each show will be quite different, so you can even go back next day …

Forget about How to be Whatever on TV. Take the family along to this show to admire the skills, be part of a lot of fun and you’ll be a genuine winner.

Venue: Melbourne Town Hall until April 15 Shows: Tues- Suns 12.30pm Tix $34/ $18 Fam $64 Bookings: www.comedyfestival.com.au - Review by Maggie Morrison

FROM HERE TO INFIRMITY ■ Patrons chatted outdoors at La Mama Courthouse, eagerly awaiting opening night of Sue Ingleton’s Melbourne International Comedy Festival show, From Here to Infirmity.

Then Bill Rawlings strolled out, looking smart in sports jacket, tie, slacks, hat and with boutique beer bottle in hand. Having no problems using the ‘F’ word, Bill advised it had been a rough day and tech. problems had caused a delay. Three projectors and three cables later … things could only get better.

Ushering us inside the theatre, Bill confided he is depressed, lives in a caravan so looks forward to going into a home, and was the world’s first pregnant man.

Projected images enhanced Bill’s amusing banter, then 88-year-old Edith Wise arrived to help Bill change with admirable skill.

Bedecked in red coat and maroon beret, Edith endeared herself to patrons when hilariously describing difficulty in opening food packaging, pacemakers, and using the mobile phone for Seniors’ speed dating.

Turn To Page 52

Comic Conjurers ■ Personable magicians Josh Staley and Lawson Reeves brought award-winning, pedigree magic credentials to team up for their collaborative show The Comic Conjurers – Despicable, for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

Josh is a former national champion of magic and has performed internationally, and Lawson became the ‘Big Brother Magician’ while a housemate entrant in the TV series, performing weekly for many hundreds of thousands of viewers.

Together, the two magicians have also helped set a record for the ‘world’s longest magic show’, achieving a performance for 85 hours and creating a Guinness world record.

Their opening night show at The Butterfly Club played to a full-house appreciative audience, which augured well for recruiting volunteers to assist with the magical tricks.

Audience participation in shows is becoming all too common, and in some cases patrons can be seen cringing to avoid selection.

A top performer recently told her audience pre-show that they had no fears of being recruited to participate because “I have content”.

Josh and Lawson certainly did have content in their show, but chose to regularly interact with audience participants.

It would be terrific to see them showcase their magical skills and showmanship by presenting some tricks directly to the audience, without the distraction of volunteers.

These well-spoken, likeable young men, billed as ‘a dysfunctional comedy magic duo’ are intelligent, clever magicians presenting ‘how on earth did they do that?’ tricks and illusions.

Combined with their delightful laid-back comic banter, improvisation ability and engaging presence, these magical entertainers conjured up an entertaining and enjoyable show.

If you enjoy magic shows, keep an eye out for the Comic Conjurers, Josh Staley and Lawson Reeves.

- Cheryl Threadgold

● Josh Staley and Lawson Reeves in The Comic Conjurers – Despicable.

Importance of Being Earnest

■ Artefact Theatre Company’s production of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, performed at St Martin’s Youth Theatre, was superbly staged, marvellously energetic and quite hilarious.

The play needs little introduction – mistaken identities, duplicity, secrets and love entanglements, all played out in the conservative, moralistic and society-driven Victorian era.

Wilde’s genius is never more pronounced than in this much loved and frequently performed play so the addition of a bit of slapstick grated.

Not for the quality or skill of the stick (Thomas Jones), it was done well, but because it distracted from Wilde’s brilliantly trivial dialogue, and the stunning performances from Olivia Solomons (Gwendolyn) and Cazz Bainbridge (Cecily).

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Latest shows, auditions SHOWS

SHOWS

■ The 1812 Theatre: Constellations (by Nick Payne) until April 28 at 7.30pm at 3-5 Rose St., Upper Ferntree Gully. Director: Justin Stephenson. Bookings: 9758 3964.

■ Williamstown Little Theatre: Stones in his Pockets (by Marie Jones), April 19 - May 5 at 2 Albert St., Williamstown. Director: Trevor Handcock. Bookings: 0447 340 665 www.wlt.org.au ■ Frankston Theatre Group: The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen's Guild Dramatic Society Murder Mystery (by David McGillivray and Walter Zetlin Jr.) April 20 - 29 at Mt Eliza Community Centre, Canadian Bay Rd., Mt Eliza. Director:Annie Laureson. Bookings: 1300 665 377.

■ Mordialloc Theatre Company: All Things Considered (by Ben Brown) April 20 - May 5 at Shirley Burke Theatre, 64 Parkers Rd., Parkdale.

Director: Deborah Fabbro. Bookings: 9587 5141.

■ Malvern Theatre Company: Our Town (by Thornton Wilder) April 20 - May 5 at 29a Burke Rd., East Malvern. Director: Peter Newling.

Bookings: 1300 131 552.

■ Encore Theatre: Away (by Michael Gow) April 20 - May 5 at Clayton Community Centre, Cooke St., Clayton. Director: Tim Scott. Bookings: www.encoretheatre.com.au ■ Geelong Repertory Theatre Company: The Resistable Rise of Arturo ui (by Bertolt Brecht, adapted by George Tabori). April 20 - May 5 at 15 Coronation St., Geelong. Director: Greg Shawcross. Bookings: GPAC 5225 1200.

■ Peridot Theatre: Three One Act Plays April 26 - 29 at Unicorn Theatre, Mt Waverley Sec-

ondary College, Lechte Rd., Mt Waverley. Play 1: English Made Simple (by David Ives), Director Emma Barber. Play 2: On the Edge (by Kylie Rackham), Director Stephanie King; Play 3: A Little Box of Oblivion (by Stephen Bean), Director George Benca. Bookings: 9808 0770.

■ Bright Alpine Players: It's My Party (And I'll Die if I Want to) (by Elizabeth Coleman) April 26 - May 5 at Bright Courthouse, Park St., Bright. Director: Phyl Swindley. Bookings: trybooking.com ■ FosterArts Music and Drama Association (FAMDA): The Web (by Kate Mulvany) at 79 Main St., Foster. Director: Sue Lindsay. Bookings: 5682 2077.

■ Heidelberg Theatre Company: The House of Bernarda Alba (by Federico Garcia Lorca) April 27 - May 12 at 36 Turnhan Ave., Rosanna.

Director: Joan Moriarty. Bookings: www.htc.org.au ■ Melbourne French Theatre: Le Pere Noel est une Ordure May 2 - 5 at Library on the Dock, 107 Victoria Harbour Promenade, Docklands; Director: Bruce Cochrane, Bookings: 9349 2250.

AUDITIONS

■ Hartwell Players Inc: Lobster Man (by Jonathan Cook) April 15 at 2.00pm at BDC Dance Studio, Yertchuk Ave., Ashwood. Director: Kellie Tweeddale. Enquiries: 0418 118241.

■ Williamstown Little Theatre Inc: Under Milk Wood (by Dylan Thomas) 22 and 23 April at 7.30pm at 2 Albert St., Williamstown. Director: Sandy Green. Enquiries: sandramary green22@gmail.com

78-STOREY TREEHOUSE

● Samuel Welsh (Andy) and Teale Howie (Terry) in The 78-Storey Treehouse. Photo: Heidrun Lohr.

■ In 2011, Australian children’s authorAndy Griffiths and illustrator Terry Denton collaborated on their book The 13-Storey Treehouse, inviting readers to visit their whacky treehouse with imagination-rich amenities such as a bowling alley, see-through swimming pool, tank full of man-eating sharks, secret underground laboratory and more.

Fast forward to 2018 with a best-selling, award-winning Treehouse series comprising The 13, 26, 52, 78 and 91-Storey Treehouse books published in 30 countries, and theatrical adaptations bringing the characters alive onstage.

The latest rollicking stage treat, The 78Storey Treehouse, adapted by Richard Tulloch and presented by CDPKids Productions, is playing at Arts Centre Melbourne until April 22.

New levels added to this fast-growing house in a tree include a Scribbletorium, a high security potato chip storage facility, a Combining Machine and an open-air movie theatre.

Andy (Samuel Welsh) and Terry (Teale Howie) are thrilled the famous Hollywood director Mr Big Shot (Tim Carroll) is arriving to make a movie about their Treehouse, but Andy is dismayed he will be replaced by a monkey, a gibbon named … Mel Gibbon.

They are joined by their galactically connected animal-friendly neighbour Jill (Freya Pragt), while the mysterious Spy Cow antagonists have their own naughty agenda.

Children in the full-capacity audience loved seeing their story-book characters onstage. “It’s the spy cows!” was heard rippling in delighted whispers around the theatre, as grown-ups cottoned on.

Samuel Welsh, Teale Howie, Tim Carroll and Freya Pragt are versatile performers who totally engage their audience.

After about 45 minutes I felt the script’s action drifted a little, but renewed for the strong, happy ending.

Particularly impressive were explanations to youngsters of ‘narrator’ and ‘autobiography’, and how we can create our own special place to play by using imagination.

The foyer Scribbletorium tops off a fun experience for youngsters. They can scribble anywhere - even on the courageous supervisors!

The 78-Storey Treehouse is imaginative, entertaining holiday entertainment. My companions aged four and six had a great time.

Season Details: Until April 22 Venue: Arts Centre Melbourne, Playhouse Bookings: artscentremelbourne.com.au or 1300 182 183 Recommended for ages 6+ • Relaxed Performance – Friday April 13 at 11am • Auslan Interpreted Performance – Saturday April 14, 12pm • Relaxed Performances are for anyone who will benefit from a more ‘relaxed environment’, especially audience members with disability.

•AUSLAN Interpreted Performances are suitable for people who are deaf and communicate using Australian Sign Language (AUSLAN) - Review by Cheryl Threadgold

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Page 50 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, April 11, 2018 g y, , Melbourne

Observer

Lovatts Crossword No 28 Across

Across

Down

1. Adolescent 6. US lawmen 11. Rearranges card pack 15. Wearing by friction 20. No ... or buts 21. Eyrie dweller 22. City's chief mail centre (1,1,1) 23. Gumtree 24. Relented (5,3) 25. Took possession of 27. Makes believe (4-4) 28. Hurried 29. Lure 31. Illegally help 32. Salt solution 36. Guacamole ingredient 37. Open-air 38. Amiss 41. English racing town 44. More disgusting 45. Irritating complainers 48. Plead with 49. Liqueur, crème de ...

52. Heron-like birds 56. Local people 57. Kindle 58. Exotic blooms 61. In flight 62. Requests 63. Cat cry 64. Coronet 65. Melodic 66. Having more foliage 67. Stone-carving artists 71. Matter of concern 73. Inlaid piece 75. Way of living 80. Sitcom, My Name Is ...

82. Straighten again 83. Distribute, ... out 85. Full of incidents 86. Sacred songs 88. Our Man In Havana writer, Graham ...

90. Pipe 91. Chops down 93. Tilt 94. Goes in again (2-6) 95. Injection devices 96. Confining, ... in 97. Note well, ... bene 99. Stack 100. Religious deviant 104. Numskull 105. Excavated (minerals) 106. The Panel's ... Cilauro 107. Grounded (appliance) 111. Camp shelters 113. Scamp 114. Small European deer 115. Sports fields 117. As a gamble (2,4) 118. Urge (3,2) 121. Potato type 122. Synthetic fabric 125. Shopping squares 126. Mound 127. Swollen heads, big ...

129. Buddy 131. Fencing blade 132. Rewrite on keyboard 135. Egyptian cobras 136. Speak softly 139. RisquĂŠ 140. Summoned 144. Apart (from) 145. Decrees 146. Brainwaves 147. Salad herb

148. Health setbacks 149. Tartan 150. Bronze medal position 152. Ski slope 154. Time of great success 157. Plane part 158. President ... Lincoln 162. The A of AM 163. Anxious 166. Repeat 167. Jazz legend, ... Fitzgerald 169. Twirl 171. Soon 172. Wrench (ankle) 173. Stupid 175. ... & crannies 176. Bravery award 179. No-one 180. Utterly exhausted (3,2) 182. Deity 183. Sphere 184. Befuddle 186. Egg shape 189. Vietnam war leader, ... Minh (2,3) 190. Fossilised resin 191. Construe 192. Evading (capture) 196. Spy, ... Hari 197. Blunder 198. Dummy pill 199. Conferred (on) 201. So-so 202. Nonsense 203. Stunned 204. Not deadly (3-5) 205. Flog 208. Snow shelters 210. Horseback bullfighters 211. Thailand & Korea are there 212. Enthusiastic applause 213. Regretted 215. Most high-pitched 219. Appeals 221. ... or famine 223. Slips backwards 227. Sweet bun 228. Accuse (president) 230. Red-yellow pigment 231. Batman & ...

232. Loots 233. Contained within this 234. Cowboy's hat 238. Window canopies 239. Wider 240. Sheathe 243. Computer phone links 246. Disabled (racehorse) 247. Mention, ... to 250. Guru 251. Started 253. Brings together 256. Greasiest 257. Youthful 258. Cruelty 262. Paw roughly 263. Embezzlement 266. Ark builder 268. Insane lady 269. Literary conclusion 270. Worms for fishing (4,4) 271. Sewer coverings 272. Digital read-out (1,1,1) 273. TV tycoon, media ...

274. Greenwich Mean Time (1,1,1) 275. Circus swings 276. Pollen allergy (3,5) 277. Fragile china, ... porcelain 278. January 1st, New ... (4'1,3)

1. Scoffs 2. Outspoken 3. Stockings fibre 4. My ... are sealed 5. Electronic payment for goods 7. Renovate 8. Water outlet 9. Surplus 10. Protected 11. Pour carelessly 12. Bullied verbally 13. Small wager 14. Neatly arranged (4,3) 15. Seem 16. Lightning flash 17. Deep chasm 18. Lay oneself open to 19. Fizzy 24. Dutch cheese 26. Mend (sock) 30. Soil-enriching mixture 33. Yearbook of forecasts 34. Malice (3,4) 35. Strangest 38. Normally (2,1,4) 39. Cut into three 40. Without gender 42. Laundry clips 43. Become rusty 46. Able to be heard 47. Hand-make (jumper) 49. Published recollections 50. Comes towards 51. Glaring mistakes 53. Skimpy bikini bottom (1-6) 54. Knowledge tests 55. Spruce (up) 59. Party mime game 60. Words' first letters 67. From Stockholm 68. Second-hand vehicle (4,3) 69. Loyal citizen 70. Affluence 72. Salivating 74. Crisis 76. Machine's heavy rotating disc 77. Weight-watcher 78. European Jewish language 79. Livid 81. Assess (value) 84. Stirring utensil 87. Undergoing change 89. Implant once more 91. Dowdy 92. Set of symptoms 98. Chronicles 101. Golfer, ... Els 102. Vacant 103. Needs scratching 108. Outlook 109. Fish commercially 110. Greatly please 112. Primitive human, ... man 116. Allotted 119. Pregnancy 120. Female hormone 123. Aircraft 124. Band 128. Point scored for opposing team (3,4)

Down 130. Powerful light (3,4) 132. Hitler's Third ...

133. Minuscule 134. Spaghetti or lasagne 137. Intimate (thoughts) 138. Western Australian capital 141. Colorado ski resort 142. Jungle vine 143. Father 151. Dog-like predators 153. Underground passage 155. Throw out of school 156. Sheikhdom, Abu ...

159. Dressed (wound) 160. Single-celled organism 161. Mixed 164. Lodge deeply 165. North African land 168. Prisoner's shackles (3,5) 170. Partaking of liquor 173. Resides in 174. Of forebears 177. Political deserters 178. Generosity 181. Effervescent soft drink 185. Football position (4,4) 186. Extends 187. Trainee 188. Win 193. Unconscious (of fact) 194. Within house 195. Lubricates 200. Information bank 201. Acapulco natives 206. Part of pelvis 207. Party-giver 208. Large fire 209. Excursions 211. Track competitor 214. Trickle 216. Baseball score (4,3) 217. Imprecise 218. Lewd men 220. Moral 222. Saunter 224. Thinks logically 225. Pierced with dagger 226. Inexhaustible 229. ... & now 232. List of meals 235. IVF infant, ... baby (4-4) 236. Locate 237. Skipping 241. Make legally void 242. Tentacled creature, sea ...

244. Increases in depth 245. Cleaver 248. Former French currency units 249. Function 251. Stooped 252. US music award 253. Unfulfilled 254. Pakistan's neighbour 255. Inspire 259. Detest 260. Lazed 261. Green (of stone) 262. Masculine 264. Be informed 265. Frozen floating mass 267. Loathe

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, April 11, 2018 - Page 51

Solution on Page 39

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Page 52 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, April 11, 2018

Observer Victorian Sport Melbourne

Winx for equal record

■ Champion galloper Winx is set to equal the record of the mighty fellow mare, Black Caviar, when she contests the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick over 2000 metres this Saturday.

Although having the chance to win her 25th on end equalling the record of Black Caviar, it is a shade different.

Black Caviar won every one of her starts she had in a race, whilst Winx failed to win at her first three starts.

Another difference is that Black Caviar stuck to sprinting races from 1000 metres through to 1400 metres, while Winx has won up to and including 2040, the distance of her three Cox Plate wins.

Winx recently passed Black Caviar's record stake winnings, and also took the title of the most Group One wins ever.

She eclipsed American champion John Henry, who had strung together 16 Group One wins.

Racegoers have been blessed over recent years with great mares such as Sunline, Makybe Diva, a winner of three successive Melbourne Cups, something I don't think we will ever see again.

Then along came Black Caviar, and now Winx. In the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Winx will again clash with Doncaster winner, Happy Clapper.

Humidor, from the Darren Weir camp, who ran a great second to Winx in last year's Cox Plate will go around, along with import, Gailo Chop, who will better suited by the 2000 metre trip.

Others out to beat the great mare are Endless Drama, Ambitious from the Freedman camp, Almandin, the 2016 Melbourne Cup winner, and the good mare Single Gaze.

Let's hope Winx can win as the racing industry needs a shot in the arm at the moment.

Racing into 2018-19

■ Racing Victoria has released itsschedule meetings and changes for the 2018-19 racing season.

These incorporate important scheduling arrangements that aim to maximise customer engagement with the sport and solidify Victoria's status as the place to race.

Victoria will host 557 meetings, the same number as this season over 350 days.

The most significant change which take in the period from August 1 through to July 30 , 2019, is the launch of synthetic racing at Ballarat, with the first of 11 meetings set down for Friday, May 17, 2019.

Ballarat and Racing.Com Park (Pakenham) were announced in February as the industry's preferred locations to conduct synthetic racing over the next decade, meaning that it will cease at Geelong in September this year.

The three tracks will collectively host 37 synthetic race meetings next season- or 6.6 per cent of the State's total calendar- with 20 scheduled at Racing.Com Park, 11 at Ballarat, and six at Geelong.

With the introduction of synthetic racing, Ballarat has increased its total allocation of race meetings across turf and synthetic tracks from 27 to 30.

To accommodate the construction of their synthetic track and to undertake works on their turf track, Ballarat will take a 15-week break from racing following their Saturday November 24 Cup meeting, before resuming on the Labour Day public holiday on Monday March 11, 2019.

The other most notable feature of the 201819 race dates is the expansion of the trial of race-free Mondays, and double header Wednesdays into the Christmas period.

It will now commence in December and be conducted over a third of the racing season.

The trial which has delivered above wagering growth in the first quarter of 2018, will resume on December 3 this year and feature 13 race-free Mondays and 12 double header Wednesdays between then and March 27 next year.

Each Wednesday over the four-month pe-

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Wine Column Fine Burgundy

■ France's Burgundy is obviously a large, diverse and highly picturesque, both for its natural and human-created features.

Its cuisine is legendary, and one of its major centre, Dijon, is home to probably the world's greatest mustard.

With this surfeit of beauty and culinary excellence it's hardly surprising that the district is a favourite one for tourists, including those on its famous river barges.

Winewise, Burgundy's fame rests on two grape varieties - chardonnay and pinot noir.

Some of the vineyards are tiny - limited at extreme to just a few hundred vines - and the wines they produce exist in a rare atmosphere of price and quality.

WINE REVIEWS Madfish 2017 Pinot Noir ($18): This wine comes from a couple of vineyards in the isolated Great Southern area of Western Australia, and the label is dominated by a gorgeous turtle illustration by Aboriginal artist Maxine Fumagali. It was an unseasonally cool vintage that shows in a pretty lean wine - but it's a wine with vibrant flavours that will go well with Asian-style duck.

- John Rozentals

Local Theatre ● Continued from Page 49

Being Earnest

● Winx. Racing Photos riod will feature a twilight meeting with the ex- ■ Kilmore: Kilmore will only race at its Noception of Boxing Day, and January 2, which vember 25 meeting, Cup meeting this year, with are in the peak holiday period, when more a major track renovation then scheduled. racegoers can engage during the afternoon As a result, eight meetings from December timeslot.

2018 to August 2019, have been allocated to Others major changes include: other tracks.

■ Flemington- An increase in the number of ■ Country Cups: The following race meetmeetings programmed at Flemington from 23 ings have been transferred to accommodate a to 25 with a re-allocation pf two Saturday meet- new timeslot for the Club's Cup meeting. ings in December, which were removed this The Echuca Cup meeting has been returned year to allow for a seven-week track mainte- to Sunday March 10, 2019, to maximise engagenance program, following the Melbourne Cup ment across the popular Labour Day long weekCarnival. end.

The meetings have been scheduled for DeThe Horsham Cup has been moved to Suncember 15th and 22nd this year. day October 21, this year following changes to ■ Sandown: The Australian Hurdle and the allocation of public holidays.

Steeplechase meeting at Sandown has been The Hamilton Cup has been moved to Satmoved from the last Saturday in May to the last urday October 13, and now coincides with Sunday on May 26, 2019.

Caulfield Guineas day.

Ted Ryan

Top apointment

■ One of the most knowledgeable men in racing has been appointed to the new position of Executive General Manager of Racing, with the Victoria Racing Club.

The gentleman appointed, Leigh Jordon, formerly Racing Victoria's International Recruitment Officer, responsible for attracting international business to our shores such as the Melbourne Cup. Greg Carpenter, RV'SExecutive Manager, Greg Carpenter, made the announcement, saying that Leigh had done a great job in bring some of the cream of international horses to Australia here, especially in the Melbourne Cup. Mr. Carpenter said: "Leigh has managed the recruitment of international horses to come to Australia since 2006, when the Japanese galloper, Delta Blues, took out the coveted event.

“In that time we celebrated not only the first Japanese horse to win our Cup; many others followed the likes of him, and welcomed our 200th internationally trained horse to Melbourne in 2016.

On top of this an Irish trained galloper won the Cox Plate, the Caulfield Cup, and a German trained horse Protectionist won the Melbourne Cup in 2014.

One of the nicest people in racing, Leigh deserves the chance in this challenging position especially with all the changes going on building wise at Flemington.

Greg Carpenter noted that Racing Victoria is now taking the opportunity to review its International racing structure before determining how it will service the key responsibility of recruitment into the future.

- Ted Ryan

■ That aside, director Matthew Cox extracted high energy performances from his cast with a production that delivered on many levels - stunning characterisations, gorgeous costumes (Jacqui Day) and effective set (Mark Koveliov) and lighting (Giancarlo Salamaca).

The quality and authenticity of Day’s costumes raised the bar on this production, which was pretty high from the get-go. The opening silhouetted piano scene was a clever touch introducing the physical comedy that permeated throughout the show, granted to varied effect.

Mark Yeates as Algernon was gorgeously smug and Rosco Dwyer as Jack/Earnest reaches an unparalleled hysteria of passion and outrage.

Lady Bracknell, played by James Cutler, was aptly gorgonesque, but in a most delightful way.

Solomon’s Gwendolyn reached orgasmic heights and Bainbridge’s Cecily captured her shallow and trivial character beautifully.

Despite its irritations, the slapstick of Thomas Jones as Merriman was well received by the audience.

Highly recommended, this production of The Importance of Being Earnest was a highly entertaining treat.

- Review by Beth Klein

Here To Infirmity

■ Next came glamorous red bandana wearer, Gemma Hatchback. Once again, no topic was taboo for discussion, and Gemma’s entertaining anecdotes included a cosmetic tour to Bangkok, and perplexity over writers’ festivals while she wrote off a car.

It had been a long, tough day and Bill and Edith occasionally experienced blank moments. Crew member Annabel helped out, but after Gemma arrived, the stories rocked along famously.

Perhaps things fell flat when Annabel was asked if it was time to stop the show, but by now she was integral to the performance.

The shining light was Bill, Edith and Gemma’s alter ego Sue Ingleton showcasing her masterly talents in comedy, versatility, acting and characterisation, as well as writing, direction and design.

No doubt Sue’s professionalism would ensure a strong performance season from then on.

From Here to Infirmity was promoted as Sue’s last show. Hope not.

It would be great to see this clever comedian return in her own right to share her talents with audiences. No need for any additional technology.

- Review by Cheryl Threadgold

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

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