Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, July 3, 2013 - Page 95
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Observer Showbiz Every Week in the Melbourne Observer
Radio: Latest Melbourne ratings results ........... Page 96 Theatre People: Ella Caldwell appointed ............. Page 97 The Spoiler: Neighbours, Home and Away ............... Page 97 Jim and Aaron: The Top 10 List, Movies, DVDs ............. Page 98 Cheryl Threadgold: Local theatre shows, auditions ............ Page 99 PLUS THE LOVATT”S MEGA CROSSWORD
CABARET FESTIVAL LAUNCHES The Crucible holds audience for 3 hours
● Anita Hegh and David Wenham. Photo: Jeff Busby ■ Spending nearly three hours in a theatre can sometimes seem a long time, but in the case of Melbourne Theatre Company's latest production at the Sumner Theatre, The Crucible, the time simply flies. Take a play written more than 50 years ago, set more than three centuries in the past and performed by a dedicated and charismatic group of modern actors and you have a winner. Playwright Arthur Miller (Mr Marilyn Monroe if the name rings a bell….) wrote The Crucible as a response to 'the climate of fear created by McCarthyist ‘red- baiting’. The playwright had been called to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee and was sentenced to a year's jail, overturned on appeal, for refusing to name names. It was indeed a climate of fear. As was America in Massachusetts in the 17th century, the era of the Salem Witchcraft trials. The Crucible is the story of good people accused of Satanic activities by a group of young women covering up their own wanton behaviour (or so it would have been regarded at the time, when even dancing was frowned upon.) What we witness during The Crucible is how goodness and honesty can be manipulated by outbreaks of hysteria that tend to draw otherwise sensible people into their web. Trying to withstand the tide in The Crucible are salt of the earth people John and Elizabeth Proctor (David Wenham and Anita Hegh), Rebecca Nurse (Julia Blake) and Giles Corey (John McTernan). Proctor is no angel, but a good man who has his own secrets which prove the undoing of him in the hands of an hysterical and manipulative young woman, Abigail Williams (Elizabeth Nabben) and her cohorts. Add in the grand inquisitor Deputy Governor Danforth (Brian Lipson) and his supporters, as we watch the agonising miscarriage of justice start to occur, and there is nothing that can be done. While this may sound rather gloomy, The Crucible reminded me of the best of Shakespeare's tragedies, where the tragic ending is inevitable but there is a nobility of thought in the final scene that saves it from being depressing. The drama of The Crucible is finely executed by a uniformly strong cast - I found myself on the edge of my seat and gasping occasionally at the twists and turns of the plot. In the lead male role David Wenham proves that his screen magnetism transfers to the stage seamlessly. The finely wrought tension of his performance is mesmerising, and his stage presence is magical. Turn To Page 97
By JULIE HOUGHTON
● Fem Belling ■ The Melbourne Cabaret Festival is in full swing, which means that Chapel St's Globe Café is one busy place. By day it is a typical groovy Prahran café, but at night it transforms itself into showrooms for a huge variety of cabaret performers, complete with fine food for some performances. The idea for the Globe to become a cabaret venue is something of a family affair - Mum Ella Levy has been producing events around Melbourne for years, while her performer son Josh has been writing for music theatre performers and is a dab hand at jazz piano too. So when the Globe came up for sale, Josh and Ella saw a way to introduce something new to the popular Chapel St strip. The Globe was the venue for many events in the popular Stonnington Jazz Festival. Multi- talented Josh is responsible for the running of the venue, and it also gives him a chance to showcase his own remarkable talents. Coming up this weekend, on Saturday (July 6) and Sunday (July 7), Josh will team with jazz singer and music theatre performer Fem Belling, in a show called Another Day - The Songs Of Josh Levy. Fem will be familiar to music theatre audiences from her knock out portrayal of Liza Minnelli in the Boys From Oz, while jazz afficionados know her from her fine jazz singing around the traps. And thankfully the Globe will continue as a cabaret venue after the Melbourne Cabaret Festival finishes, as its new upstairs room, Globe Live, will be a permanent home for cabaret. Details of the delights on offer in the last weeks of the Melbourne Cabaret Festival at www.melbournecabaret. com and www.globecafe.com.au
School holiday theatre in Melb. ■ When you are in the middle of a Melbourne winter and it is school holidays, parents have to become creative to keep the ankle biters amused. Which is a perfect reason to introduce them to the delights of theatre and opera, and there are two very interesting shows on offer over the next 10 days. On right now at the National Theatre in St Kilda is Room On The Broom, a musical adaptation of a much loved book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. With lines like 'How the cat purred and how the witch grinned, As they sat on their broomstick and few through the wind…' it should be a great show for adults and children alike. The story follows the witch and her cat who are flying happily together on their broomstick until a stormy wind blows away the witch's hat, bow and wand. Help is forthcoming from a dog, bird and frog who find the witch's lost things and then join Witch and Cat on the broomstick … but disaster strikes and the broomstick breaks! Of course it will all end happily but you will have to go along and see the show to see how it all pans out, and it's on until Saturday July 6. For tickets for Room On The Broom ring 136 100 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.au ★ The second week of the school holidays sees the Opera Studio Melbourne staging Massenet's opera Cinderella at Her Majesty's Theatre on July 12, 13, 15 and 17. Described as a hip, quirky, retro steampunk feel combined with the timeless charm of Massenet's music, this certainly won't be a boring opera. It's performed in English and all the action happens in just one act, making it an excellent romantic opera for newcomers to opera as well as those who love the art form. Perhaps a wonderful show for an opera-loving parent or grandparent to bring the little ones to? The cast features New Zealand Opera emerging artist Bianca Andrew as Cinderella, with impressive Opera Studio tenor Blake Bowden as Prince Charming. This is a young man worth seeing, and after Cinderella Blake joins Opera Australia as Lieutenant Cable in the Sydney and Perth seasons of South Pacific. A chamber orchestra is led by Berlin-based Australianborn conductor Rebecca Hicks and it is directed by awardwinning Melbourne opera director Cameron Menzies. Tickets for Cinderella are available from www. ticketek.com.au and more information is available at www.gertrudeopera.com.au - Julie Houghton
Special award for Kylie ■ Pop music icon Kylie Minogue and arts philanthropist David Blenkinsop have been named as corecipients of the 2013 JC Williamson Award. In awarding the JC Williamson Award, Live Performance Australia recognises individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the Australian live entertainment and performing arts industry and shaped the future of the industry for the better.
● Blake Bowden as Prince Charming and Bianca Andrew as Lucette (Cinderella)
Page 96 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Observer Showbiz
3AW wins radio ratings
www.MelbourneObserver.com.au
Radio Confidential News from stations from around Victoria
TOM ELLIOTT RETURNS TO RRR 3AW ‘DRIVE’ HOST BACK ON COMMUNITY STATION will contest the case when it comes up in the Supreme Court on July 16. The Court action, said to have been actioned by Supreme Court Judge Geoffrey Nettle, allege that Hinch breached suppression orders regarding convicted murderer Adrian Bayley.
● Red Symons (774 ABC), Ross Stevenson (3AW) ■ The battle for listeners’ ears in the Melbourne breakfast radio time-slot intensified yesterday (Tues.) with the release of the latest radio ratings. 3AW (Ross Stevenson and John Burns) scored 18.4 per cent in the 5.30am-9am timeslot, closely followed by 774 ABC (Red Symons) on 15.5 per cent. The followed: MMM, 9.5. Fox, 9.2. Nova, 6.9. Gold, 6.4. Mix, 5.0. SEN, 4.8.JJJ, 4.3. Smooth, 4.0. Magic, 3.1. Radio National, 2.5. ABC FM, 2.1. Newsradio, 1.5. It was one of the best results for Eddie McGuire’s Hot Breakfast, with the MMM show attracting 9.5 per cent. Overall, in the ratings measured of all people, aged 10 and over, Monday-Sunday, 5.30am-Midnight, 3AW (12.8) were just slightly ahead of 774 ABC (12.5). Then followed: Fox, 10.0. MMM, 8.1. Gold, 7.9. Nova, 7.1. Mix, 6.1. Smooth, 5.5. JJJ, 5.4. SEN, 4.9. Magic, 4.0. ABC FM, 2.5. Radio National, 2.4. Newsradio, 1.5. Jon Faine (774 ABC) triumphed over 3AW morning presenter Neil Mitchell, 15.1 per cent to 13.8, to win the 9amNoon timeslot. Other morning results included: MMM, 8.9. Fox, 8.6. Craig Huggins, Gold, 8.2. Smooth, 6.5. JJJ, 6.0. Nova, 6.0. Mix, 5.2. Kevin Bartlett, SEN, 4.4. Magic, 3.6. ABC FM, 2.5. Radio National, 1.7. Newsradio, 1.0. Denis Walter (3AW) recorded another minor drop in the ratings, down to 9.4 per cent. He was beaten by Gold (10.9) and Fox (10.5), and followed closely by MMM (9.3).Richard Stubbs (774 ) was the only ABC presenter to return single figure survey results (8.9). In the drive slot, FOX FM (Jules Lund and Fifi Box) was winner with 12.2. 3AW’s Tom Elliott recovered one percentage point (to 11.0), just ahead of Raf Epstein, 774 (10.5). 3AW’s Nightline program continued to drop. Ratings, measured 7pm-Midnight, which include the final hour of Sports Today, produced a 11.5 per cent result for Bruce Mansfield and Philip Brady. They were beaten by Lindy Burns opf 774 ABC (14.2), and just ahead of Fox FM (11.0). 774 ABC won the weekend ratings, with 11.3 per cent, ahead of 3AW’s 11.1. This could lead to a mid-year shake-up in 3AW’s football presentation led by Brian Taylor. The AW footy broadcasts are high-cost with AFL rights, and are pivotal to advertising sales. Other footy stations were SEN (5.0) and MMM (6.1).
r Observbei z Show
Wednesday, July 3 ■ Australian singer Kevin Johnson was born in Rockhampton in 1942 (71). Judith Durham (Judith Cock) was born in Melbourne in 1943 (70). Michael Cole, American actor and Logies star, was born in Wisconsin in 1945. He is 68 today.
● Tom Elliott ■ At a time when radio listeners would expect 3AW Drive presenter Tom Elliott to be expending every possible energy on his battling 3pm-6pm weekday show, Tom returned to community broadcaster RRR-FM last weekend. Elliott appeared as a guest on the two-hour Party Show, midnight-2am Sunday, hosted by ‘Headley Gritter’ (David Teitelbaum). Elliott appeared alongside expert-on-everything Cr Stephen Mayne, and his father John Elliott’s mate, pollster Gary Morgan. “This sends out all the wrong messages,” said a Melbourne media buyer. “Appearing overnight on a community radio station discounts the investment that 3AW have made in Elliott as an A-grade personality.”
● Derryn Hinch
Mix listeners win LA trips
■ The That’s Entertainment program hosted by Observer columnist Kevin Trask will not be heard on Sunday (July 6) on 96.5 Inner FM, because of the station’s commitments to broadcast VAFA footy. Trask will be attending the Oz Comic Con festival at the Exhibition Buildings on Saturday, and hopes to meet actor William Shatner of Star Trek.
● Ellen Degeneres ■ Mix 101.1 Melbourne has this week launched a comp on Monday that will see them send listeners to L.A. to see Ellen Degeneres live. One winner will be drawn each week for six weeks. Australian Radio Network is running an outdoor campaign to support the promotion.
New book for Bert, Patti?
‘He’s everywhere’
Derryn served with writ ■ Former 3AW Drive show host Derryn Hinch was last week served with a writ alleging contempt of court. “"The charges cover material from April 5 through April 9 and the papers I was served outside the St Kilda Police Station totalled 201 pages. Call that a writ!" he said in a statement on his website. "I fervently believe I am not guilty of contempt of court and
Footy takes show spot
● Dick Orkin, the voice of Chickenman ■ Dick Orkin, the voice of Chickenman (still broadcast on 3AW’s Remember When), is still working at age 78. The radio veteran is running the Famous Radio Ranch at Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, which also works with video puppet technology. True to his familiar cry, Dick is still busy: “he’s everywhere, he’s everywhere”.
● Patti Newton ■ In 3AW’s Nightline program on Monday night, Patti Newton canvassed the idea of she and husband Bert perhaps assembling a fresh book on their lives. Patti said it was important that someone close to the glory days of the couple, and their colleagues, be involved to keep the legendary story true. She suggested that their daughter Lauren NewtonWelsh would be ideal. ■ Patti also said that she is still be being plagued with hate mail at her home. Police have been informed. Melbourne
Observer
On This Day Thursday, July 4
Friday, July 5
Saturday, July 6
Sunday, July 7
Monday, July 8
Tuesday, July 9
■ American conductor and record producer Mitch Miller was born in New York in 1911. He died aged 99 in 2010. Actress Eva Saint Marie was born in 1924 (88) In New Jersey. Italian actress Gina Lollobrigida was born in 1927 (86). She starred in Falcon Crest.
■ Circus owner P T Barnum was born in 1810. He died aged 81 in 1891. Australia’s first world boxing champion Jimmy Carruthers was born in Sydney in 1929. He died aged 61 in 1990. American singer Hue Lewis was born in New York in 1950 (63) as Hugh Gregg III.
■ American former First Lady Nancy Reagan is 92 (1921). She was born as Anne Robbins. Bill Haley, American singer and guitarist, was born in 1925. He died aged 55 in 1981. The late Ruth Cracknell, actress, was born in 1975. She died aged 76 in 2002.
■ English actor Jon Pertwee was born in 1919. He died aged 76 in 1996. He played Dr Who for four years. Australian country music star Reg Lindsay was born in 1929. He died aged 79 in 2008. UK musician Ringo Starr (Richard Starkey) was born in Liverpool in 1940 (73).
■ English comic and scriptwriter Marty Feldman was born in London in 1933. He died aged 49 in 1982. American signer Steve Lawrence was born in New York in 1935 (78). Australian actor Paul Cronin was born in Jamestown, SA, in 1938 (75).
■ US singer and actor Ed Ames was born as Edmund Urick in 1929 (84). O J Simpson, US footballer, was born in San Francisco in 1947 (66). Amerrican actor Tom Hanks was born in 1956 (57). Singer Courtney Love is 49 (1964).
Thanks to GREG NEWMAN of the Birthday Bulletin for assistance with birthday and anniversary dates. Find out more at www.birthdaybulletin.com.au
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Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, July 3, 2013 - Page 97
Observer TV, Radio, Theatre Showbiz Latest Melbourne show business news - without fear or favour The Spoiler ELLA JOINS RED STITCH Media Flashes
ShowBiz!
For Those Who Have Lost The Plot
Neighbours ■ 6.30pm. Weeknights. Eleven ■ Monday, July 8. Imogen's impulse to purchase a car leads to an interesting arrangement with Mason, much to Kate's annoyance; Chris discovers Hudson's dangerous secret; the Willis family struggle with Don's betrayal. ■ Tuesday, July 9. Walter sinks to a new low when he fronts an A.A meeting with Sonya and then steals from the nursery till; Brad's job offer forces a decision about coaching Josh; Josh learns of Hudson's drug-taking. ■ Wednesday, July 10. Sonya learns the truth about Walter; Josh misses the boat with Amber; Lucas and Vanessa contemplate a big move. ■ Thursday, July 11. Vulnerable Sonya seeks out a healthy addiction at the gym; Imogen lets Amber think Joshua is interested in another girl; Ajay learns that granny Kapoor is dying. ■ Friday, July 12. With a sick family member, Rani and Ajay rush back to India; fustrated with his job, Mason gets a surprise offer from Paul; Georgia and Karl's Right Prescription gig goes well.
Home and Away ■ Monday, July 8. April's life hangs in the balance after a venomous snake bite. Dex realises his slow response cost April precious time. Zac wants to help Natalie resolve her mother issues. Heath and Connie butt heads over her custody arrangement. ■ Tuesday, July 9. Brax and Ricky can't agree on their future. Bianca and Dex pray that April recovers from her snake bite. Natalie questions whether she should leave the Bay and find her mother. Holly shows up at Zac and Leah's, clearly out for revenge. ■ Wednesday, July 10. Zac is angry that he has to once again clear his name. Leah tries to get to the heart of Holly's behaviour. Tamara faces a tough decision when her parents arrive in the Bay. Casey struggles to deal with Brax and Ricky's relationship. ■ Thursday, July 11. Tamara has a big decision to make. Indi tries to help Casey and Rosie's going away party gets awkward when Maddy arrives. Maddy warns Sasha that Spencer will never sleep with her. Sasha talks to Spencer about intimacy and the two grow closer. John looks for ways to escape his mounting debt.
■ Red Stitch Theatre has announced the appointment of Ella Caldwell as its new Artistic Director, to take effect this month. Ella succeeds David Whiteley, who has decided to stand down after almost nine years. Red Stitch Chairman Anthony Adair said: “Ella’s appointment marks a seamless generational change in the leadership of the company. “David was a founding member of the ensemble and has been instrumental in guiding and shaping the company to its established position in the Melbourne theatre scene. “The Board looks forward to working with Ella, the ensemble and staff to take Red Stitch through the next stage of its growth and development.” Ella Caldwell is an established performer and founding member of Red Stitch and has appeared in numerous productions. She paid tribute to David Whiteley, saying he has been a wonderful advocate for the company and led the ensemble with great skill and vision. “Red Stitch’s current position is due in no small part to his dedication and foresight,” she said. Caldwell expressed her delight at being ap-
Day-after Bastille Day
● Ella Caldwell pointed as the new Artistic robust combination of new Director of Red Stitch. and long-term company “The current ensemble members, full of energy is an exceptional group, a and ideas.”
In the chair, on the air
● Former Wheel Of Fortune TV show host Rob Elliott has been presenting shifts for the new Melbourne online radio station, J-Air. Jewish Australia Internet Radio is designed to serve the Jewish and broader community. www.j-air.com.au
Yours Truly
Review: The Crucible
● From Page 95 ■ Anita Hegh is a fine foil as his wrongly accused wife, who condemns him while trying to defend his goodness - the scenes between them were full of dramatic intensity. Elizabeth Nabben as the scheming young Abigail Williams is a presence to be reckoned with - her performance made my skin crawl, so effective is her portray of evil and hysteria. A fine young actor worth watching in the future. Julia Blake brings her excellent ability to inhabit a character to the full as Rebecca Nurse, while Brian Lipson is a magnetic and despicable Danforth. Special mention should also go to young Grant Cartwright as the well-meaning earnest Reverend John Hale, and John McTernan's Giles Cory is totally convincing as a good but simple man fighting for his wife. Director Sam Strong can be extremely proud of his fine cast, whose diction and projection is first rate, so I heard every word in this dialogue-heavy play that took me back to 17th century Salem at 8pm and captured me there till nearly 11 pm, when I reluctantly returned to the present day. - Julie Houghton
■ Collaboration The Project presents the wartime inspired love story Yours Truly, from July 10-13 at Theatre Works, St Kilda. On September 3, 1939, Prime Minister Robert Gordon Menzies announced on every national and commercial radio station in Australia. the beginning of Australia's involvement in the Second World War. It was this announcement that would change the lives of more than on million Australians who served in World War II, including the millions of families and friends they left behind. Men and woman were torn away from their loved ones to fight for the greater good of the world as they knew it.
Created by renowned Australian choreographers Paul Malek and Kim Adam, Yours Truly tells of those who left, and those who were left behind. Directed and Choreographed by Paul Malek and Kim Adam Produced by Collaboration The Project - Chris Curran Cast: Lauree Malek, Ashleigh Kiven, Lucy Doherty, Jayden Hicks, Andrew Liu, James Smart Date: July 10-July 13 Time: Wed-Sat 8pm and Sat 2pm matinee Price: $35 full, $30 conc , $25 groups 10+ [plus booking fee] Theatre Works, 14 Acland St, St Kilda - Cheryl Threadgold
● Gabriel Gate ■ TV chef Gabriel Gate will celebrate Bastille Day with a day-after function to help launch his book, A Cook’s Tour of France. Theillustrated book gathers together classic recipes from the regions of France, one of the world's great destinations for food lovers. “The popular Chicken Casserole Valle d'Auge from Normandy, the colourful Ratatouille with Lemon and Olive Chantilly from Provence and, of course, lovely desserts, as only the French can do, like the luscious Strawberry Tart from the Loire Valley are just some of the tasteful recipes you will discover,” says Eltham Bokshop owner Meera Govil. Date: July 15. Time: 7pm. Venue: Elemeent Restaurant 410 Main Rd, Lower Plenty. Cost: Single: $75; Couple: $115 includes a sparkling welcome drink, dinner featuring Gabriel’s favourite dishes, an illustrated talk by Gabriel Gate, and a copy of the book. Bookings: 9439 8700, eltham bookshop@bigpond. com ● From Page 9
The Collector ■ The Collector is the mesmerising and startling examination of a lonely clerk who collects butterflies, and the beautiful young art student who is his ultimate quarry. Withdrawn, uneducated and unloved, Frederick collects butterflies. A chance lottery win enables him to make his ultimate dream a reality, and he captures what he considers to be one of nature’s greatest rarities: Miranda Grey. He hopes that she will come to understand him. With time, she will understand. Formed in 2009, The Artisan Collective is an independent company passionate about producing new and exciting collaborative theatre. They work to explore the truth of human experience and spirit through the examination and presentation of dramatic work. The Collector will be their sixth production. Performance Season: July 24-August 3 at 7.30pm Venue: Collingwood Underground Arts Park, 44 Harmsworth St, Collingwood Tickets: $25 Bookings: online via www.trybooking.com.au and at the door (subject to availability) www.theartisancollective.com
Homicide: 3rd DVD set ■ The third DVD, containing another 26 episodes of the 1960s TV series, Homicide, has been released. Available for $59.95, plus $5 postage and handling, this set contains seven DVDs. It features Leonard Teale and Jack Fegan. The series is not available in stores. It can only be ordered online: www.crawfordsdvd. com.au
Page 98 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, July 3, 2013
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Movies, DVDs With Jim Sherlock and Aaron Rourke
What’s Hot and What’s Not in Blu-Rays and DVDs
● Screen great and Oscar winner Denzel Washington gives another compelling performance as the troubled Captain on a doomed passenger plane in the compelling drama Flight, this is one flight definitely worth taking. FILM: FLIGHT: Genre: Drama. Cast: Denzel Washington, Kelly Reilly, Nadine Velazquez, John Goodman. Year: 2012. Rating: MA15+. Running Time: 138 Minutes. Format: DVD and BLU-RAY. Stars: ***½ Verdict: Denzel Washington is superb as an airline pilot who saves a flight from total disaster, and becomes a media hero as a result, but an investigation into the malfunctions of the flight reveals something troubling. Inspired by an actual event, great performances dominate all round as the search for the truth is slowly revealed, and the subsequent results revealed. Uninhibited and graphic, though marginally flawed, even overlong and unevenly repetitious, it still packs a wallop and is a flight well worth catching. FILM: AMOUR: Genre: Drama. Cast: Jean-Louis Trintignant, Emmanuelle Riva, Isabelle Huppert. Year: 2012. Rating: M. Running Time: 127 Minutes. Format: DVD and BLU-RAY. Stars: **** Verdict: Jean-Louis Trintignant, Emmanuelle Riva, Isabella Huppert. Deservedly Oscar nominated film for Best Picture, Best Foreign Film and Best Actress, this is the poignant and moving story of a retired couple in their eighties in Paris, two music teachers whose life and love to each other has been one of total commitment, but before long illness strikes and what follows is a series of events that must be left you to discover yourself. This is sometimes an uneasy film to watch, and even though old age can be difficult to confront, its emotional honesty and compassion are forces here that make it and undeniably uncompromising, unflinching and totally unmissable experience. FILM: WESTWORLD: Genre: Science Fiction/Thriller. Cast: Yul Brynner, Richard Benjamin, James Brolin. Year: 1973. Rating: PG. Running Time: 88 Minutes. Format: DVD and BLU-RAY. Stars: *** Verdict: An entertaining enough Saturday matinee sci-fi romp of a robot malfunction that creates havoc and terror for unsuspecting vacationers at a futuristic adult-themed amusement park. If it sounds familiar, it should. This is the genesis of what director and writer Michael Crichton would revisit and reinvent for his world in the form of Jurassic Park 20 years later by replacing the robot idea with hungry dinosaurs. It is interesting to note that the robot that Yul Brynner portrays is an homage of his character Chris from the 1960 western classic The Magnificent Seven, right down to the same costume. Good fun! FILM: THE GAZEBO: Genre: Comedy/Crime. Cast: Glenn Ford, Debbie Reynolds, Carl Reiner. Year: 1959. Rating: G. Running Time: 100 Minutes. Format: DVD. Stars: ***½ Verdict: Delightful and hilariously engaging dark comedy of a TV writer who end up all sorts unexpected strife and ends up having to bury a blackmailer under the new gazebo in his suburban backyard, but due to a series of further mishaps, the nervous writer can't let the body rest there. Brimming with plot twists and one comic gem after another, especially as everything goes wrong so he queries Alfred Hitchcock on the phone for some what do I do with a dead body advice. Screen veterans Glenn Ford and Debbie Reynolds are in top form, as are John McGiver and comic great Carl Reiner adding to the macabre merriment. This botched perfect crime mystery is a joy, a corpus delicti of laughs from beginning to end!
BEST SO FAR THIS YEAR
● Matthew Goode and Nicole Kidman in the dark psychological thriller Stoker. ■ It's hard to believe we are already Tabu (MA). 118 minutes. Comhalf-way through 2013, and it has cer- ing soon to DVD. ****½. tainly been a mixed bag movie-wise, Enchanting film about a passionate, with Hollywood continuing to spend secret affair, presented mostly as a vinbig for very little reward, seemingly tage, silent film. Beautifully made, toscared to try anything original or chal- tally intoxicating cinema. Rust And Bone (MA). 123 minlenging, instead giving us an unhealthy diet of sequels, prequels, remakes, and utes. Out on DVD and Blu-Ray on August 21. ****½. reboots. Searing drama about two emotionDespite all the self-inflicted Hollywood gloom, there have still been a ally disconnected people who, through number of great films released this a series of hardships, manage to disyear, nearly all outside the studio cover a genuine love for one another. First-class direction and writing, along sytsem. With some highly anticipated mov- with two towering performances from ies still due out (Guillermo Del the two leads makes this must-see Toro's Pacific Rim, Terrence viewing. Wrong (MA). 95 minutes. ComMalick's To The Wonder, Nicholas Winding Refn's Only God Forgives, ing soon to DVD. ****½. From the director of Rubber comes Bong Joon-Ho's Snowpiercer, the Coen Brother's Inside Llewyn Davis, another one-of-a-kind experience, beElysium with Matt Damon and Jodie ginning with a plot strand of a man losFoster, Martin Scorsese's The Wolf ing his pet dog. Confidently explores Of Wall Street), here are the films that people's fear of loneliness, self-worth, have impressed me so far this year (in and faith, whether it be at home or in the work place. Visually stunning. no particular order). Samsara (PG). Out now on The Impossible (M). 114 minutes. DVD and Blu-Ray. ****½. Out now on DVD and Blu-Ray. An enveloping feast for the senses ****½. from the director of Baraka. More Powerful, highly emotional film downbeat in of the human race, based on an incredible true story. Di- but balanceditsbyview its jaw-dropping rector J.A Bayona (The Orphanage) at mother nature. If possible, thislook has never falls into TV melodrama, and the to be seen on a big screen. entire cast shines. The tsunami seStoker (MA). 99 minutes. Opens quences are terrifying and completely in cinemas On August 29. ****½. convincing. Brooding, slow-burning thriller Django Unchained (MA). 165 marks a successful english language minutes. Out now on DVD and debut for renowned South Korean diBlu-Ray. ****½. rector Park Chan-Wook (Old Boy). Quentin Tarantino's love letter Dazzling, meticulously-structured to 60s-70s spaghetti westerns is an ab- (and highly symbolic) composition and solute delight, a must for fans of pure colour palette, accompanied by pitchcinema. Christoph Waltz is superb perfect performances makes for a film in his Oscar-winning role. that is absorbing, unsettling, and darkly Zero Dark Thirty (M). 157 min- humourous. Stars Nicole Kidman, utes. Out on DVD and Blu-Ray on Matthew Goode, Mia WasiJuly 10. ****½. kowska and Jacki Weaver. Intense and involving, this look at Other Quality Films Worth the 10-year search for Osama Bin Your Attention. Laden by the US government should Silver Linings Playbook (out now); have been the film to win Best Picture Kon-Tiki (coming soon to DVD); Life at this year's Academy Awards. Bril- Of Pi (out now); Argo (out now); Cloud liantly directed by Oscar winner Atlas (out now); Seven Psychopaths Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker (out now); Nameless Gangster (com/ Near Dark). ing soon); Alps (coming soon); AntiviAmour (M). 127 minutes. Out ral (coming to DVD inAugust); Trouble now on DVD and Blu-Ray. ****½. With The Curve (out now); The Tower Heartwrending film about a couple (coming to DVD in August); Warm dealing with old age, made in typically Bodies (coming soon to DVD); The Bay challenging fashion by director (out now); Compliance (out now); Michael Haneke (Funny Games). Michael (coming soon); Umizaru : Oscar winner for Best Foreign Film. Brave Hearts (coming soon); Lords Of The Hunt (MA). 111 minutes. Out Salem (coming soon); Happy People on DVD and Blu-Ray on Septem- (coming soon); Roman Polanski : A Film Memoir (coming soon to DVD). ber 4. ****½. - Aaron Rourke Intelligently handled drama about an innocent man accused of a sickening DVDs and Blu-Rays kindly supplied crime, and the townsfolk that turn on by Video Vision, 177-179 Carlisle St, Balaclava. For information or him before the facts can be properly investigated. Mads Mikkelsen bookings on all available titles please call 9531 2544. (Valhalla Rising) is outstanding.
Top 10 Lists THE AUSTRALIAN BOX OFFICE TOP TEN: 1. FAST AND FURIOUS 6. 2. THE GREAT GATSBY. 3. THE HANGOVER PART III. 4. STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS. 5. IRON MAN 3. 6. THE PLACE BEYOND THE PINES. 7. YEH JAWAANI HAI DEEWANI. 8. NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE: THIS HOUSE. 9. THE RELUCTANT FUNDAMENTALIST. 10. HAPPINESS NEVER COMES ALONE. NEW RELEASES AND COMING SOON TO CINEMAS AROUND AUSTRALIA: JUNE 13: A LADY IN PARIS, AFTER EARTH, THE INTERNSHIP, YOU AIN'T SEEN NOTHIN' YET. JUNE 20: DESPICABLE ME 2, ERRORS OF THE HUMAN BODY, EVERYBODY HAS A PLAN, MONSTERS UNIVERSITY, SATELLITE BOY, WORLD WAR Z. THE DVD TOP RENTAL & SELLERS: 1. LINCOLN [Drama/Historical/ Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, Tommy Lee Jones]. 2. SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK [Drama/Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper, Jackie Weaver]. 3. ANNA KARENINA [Drama/Keira Knightley, Jude Law]. 4. DJANGO UNCHAINED [Western/ Drama/Christoph Waltz, Jamie Foxx, Leonardo DiCaprio]. 5. HANSEL AND GRETEL: WITCH HUNTERS [Action/Horror/Jeremy Renner]. 6. LIFE OF PI [Drama/Adventure/ Irfan Khan, Suraj Sharma]. 7. THE SWEENEY [Action/Ray Winstone, Damian Lewis, Hayley Atwell]. 8. THE HOBBIT: An Unexpected Journey [Fantasy/Adventure/Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen]. 9. JACK REACHER [Action/Tom Cruise, Rosamund Pike]. 10. THE IMPOSSIBLE [Drama/ Naomi Watts, Ewan Mc Gregor, Tom Holland]. Also: SKYFALL, MOVIE 43, STOLEN, YOU WILL MEET A TALL DARK STRANGER, GANGSTER SQUAD, QUARTET, ARGO, LES MISERABLES, HITCHCOCK, GUILT TRIP. NEW RELEASE HIGHLIGHTS ON DVD THIS WEEK: AMOUR [Drama/Jean-Louis Trintignant, Emmanuelle Riva]. FLIGHT [Drama/Denzel Washington, Bruce Greenwood, Kelly Reilly]. SAFE HAVEN [Drama/Julianne Hough, Josh Duhamel, Dir: Lasse Hallstrm]. MAFIA [Crime/Drama/Ving Rhames, Pam Grier, Robert Patrick]. HIGH ROAD [Comedy/Ed Helms, Kathryn Burns, Michael Coleman]. KNIFE FIGHT [Drama/Rob Lowe, Julie Bowen]. NEW & RE-RELEASE CLASSICS ON DVD HIGHLIGHTS: THE PUBLIC ENEMY [1931/Crime/ Drama/James Cagney, Jean Harlow]. WESTWORLD [1973/Sci-Fi/Yul Brynner, Richard Benjamin, James Brolin]. BEDROOM MAZURKA - UNCUT [R18+/1970/Annie Birgit Garde]. MAGIC [Family/Drama/Robert Davi, Christopher Lloyd]. SPARKLE [1976/Drama/Music/ Irene Cara, Lonette McKee, Philip Michael Thomas]. Turn To P103
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Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, July 3, 2013 - Page 99
Observer Showbiz REVIEW: CHIASMUS ■ In the back streets of Collingwood in an underground carpark, Chiasmus (presented by Four Letter Word Theatre) explores the dark hostility of three individuals’ intertwined relationships through a creation, destruction and recreation of realities. The play begins with a conversation over breakfast about abortion between Eva (Eleanor Bally), a young girl easily persuaded by love, and her girlfriend Hannah (Eva Torkkola), an alcoholic and controlling “bitch” whose blunt honesty becomes one of the more appealing things about this play. Eva’s ex-boyfriend and sperm donor Otto (James GandHunt) plays a central role, as does The Man (Sean PaisleyCollins), whose true purpose in the whole scenario is uncertain, if only to be an observer and a ‘conscience’ type character hell bent on disrupting the status quo. The first half was fairly standard in its delivery and really didn’t make use of the space surrounding the actors and the audience. The action really takes hold of itself in the second half; the fragility of the characters are exposed and the volatile climax that concludes the piece is intriguing to see unfold, but misses its mark slightly in not allowing the characters to resolve their internal and external conflicts. Written and directed by Angus Cameron (first time playwright), Chiasmus succeeds at delivering a piece of theatre that exposes some raw truths between individuals, explores themes of love, loss and conflict, and delves into some of the more harsh realities of life. The space itself, although incredible in its scope, was somewhat unnecessary and didn’t really serve a purpose or support the story that was unfolding. The acoustics were terrible at times which meant lots of lost dialogue. The actors however should be congratulated on their interpretation and delivery and for the solid relationships they portrayed. More information: www.fourletterwordtheatre.com - Review by Stephen Leeden
LYNCH CONCERT
Local Theatre With Cheryl Threadgold
PHANTOM OF THE OPERA SHOWS ■ Windmill Theatre Company: The Phantom of the Opera Until July 4 at the Drum Theatre, Dandenong. Director: Chris Hughes: Musical Director: Julia Buchanan; Choreographer: Robert Mulholland. Tickets: $39.60/$35.20. Bookings: www.phantomoftheopera.net.au ■ Malvern Theatre Company: What the Butler Saw (by Joe Orton) Until July 6 at 29 Burke Road, Malvern. Director: Michael Coe. Tickets: $20 no concession. Bookings: 1300 131 552. ■ Williamstown Little Theatre: The Beauty Queen of Leenane (by Martin McDonagh) Until July 13 at 2 Albert Street, Williamstown. Director: Ellis Ebell. Tickets: $25/$22. Bookings: 9885 9678 www.wlt.org.au ■ Sunshine Community Theatre: Boston Marriage (by David Mamet), Until July 6 at the Dempster Park Hall, 82 Phoenix Street, North Sunshine. Director: Lee Cook. Tickets: $15/$12. Bookings: 0407 802165 www.sunshinecommunitytheatre.com ■ Hartwell Players: Fractured Fairy Tales, A Trio of One Act Plays, July 6 at 2pm and 7pm at Hughesdale Community Centre, Cnr. Poath and Kangaroo Roads, Hughesdale. Tickets: $12. Bookings: 9513 9581 or bookings@hartwellplayers.org.au ■ Altona City Theatre: Spring Awakening: A New Musical July 5 - 20 at the Altona Theatre, 115 Civic Parade, Altona. Bookings: www.altonacitytheatre.com.au or 0425 705 550. ■ The Fabulous Nobodys: That Awkward Moment (by Hannah Bird) July 9 - 12 at Vermont Secondary College, 27-63 Morack Road, Vermont. Director: Tony Bird. Tickets: $20. Bookings: 0400 039215 or fabulousnobodys@gmail.com ■ Peridot Theatre Inc: The Wisdom of Eve August 9 - 24 at 8.00pm, August 11, 17 at 2.15pm and August 18 at 4.00pm at the Unicorn Theatre, Lechte Road, Mount Waverley. Director: Annette deBoer. Tickets: $23/$20. Bookings: 1300 138 645 or email peridotboxoffice@yahoo.com.au ■ The Basin Theatre Group: Kid Stakes (by Ray Lawler) August 16 - September 8 at The Basin Theatre, Doongalla Road, The Basin. Director: Christine Grant. Tickets: $25 all performances. Book online at www.thebasintheatre.org.au or call 1300 784 668.
AUDITIONS
● Stuart Lynch will perform at La Mama Courthouse in Lynch Concert on July 16. ■ Lynch Concert is a beautifully crafted solo work for body and voice by one of Denmark’s leading experimental dance and performance artists. Created as a recital, the work represents an investigation spanning over two decades, into the union between the voice, the body and live art. Mixing existential issues with artistic and emotional themes, Lynch Concert is both serious, touching and at times, very funny. Stuart Lynch is a theatre director, choreographer and teacher based in Copenhagen. He is currently the leader of Holberg Film and Theatre School, the largest independent theatre school in Scandinavia, and one of Denmark’s leading experimental directors and performance artists. His Lynch Company is one of the most progressive, respected and critically acclaimed in the Danish arts scene. Originally trained as a painter and sculptor Lynch began an intensive study of Min Tanaka’s dance and movement system Bodyweather in the late 1980s, which culminated in his traveling to Japan and joining Tanaka’s Bodyweather studio and his Mai-Juku Dance Company in 1990. He has a psychology and coaching education and his interest is in the combination between psychology, the word and performance within the genre of Post Dramatic Theatre. Date: Tuesday July 16 at 7:30pm Running time: 60 minutes Venue: La Mama Courthouse, 349 Drummond St, Carlton Tickets: $15 Full ;$10 Concession Bookings: www.lamama.com.au or 9347 6142 - Cheryl Threadgold
Melbourne
Observer
■ Brighton Theatre Company: Dusk Rings a Bell (by Stephen Belbar) July 7 at 2.00pm and July 8 at 7.30pm at Brighton Theatre, Corner Wilson and Carpenter Streets, Brighton. Director: Helen Ellis. Audition bookings: ellisproductions@me.com . ■ MLOC Productions: The Producers Information Evening July 4 at 7.30pm at the Parkdale Church of Christ hall, 174 Como Pde., Parkdale. Auditions: July 9, 11, 13. Dance Audition July 14. Director: Jane Court; Musical Director: Ian Nesbit; Choreographer: Keir Jasper. Audition bookings: www.mloc.org.au or 9589 4912. ■ Williamstown Musical Theatre Company: Urinetown the Musical July 10 - 15 at the Williamstown Mechanics Institute, Corner Melbourne Road and Electra Street, Williamstown. Director: Anna Marinelli; Musical Director: Malcolm Fawcett; Choreographer: Carla White. Audition bookings: 1300 881 545. ■ Strathmore Theatrical Amateur Group (STAG): Funny Money (by Ray Cooney) August 18 at 5.30pm, August 19 at 7.30pm at the Strathmore Community Theatre. Director: Jonne Finnemore. Audition bookings: jonne2@optusnet.com.au ■ Williamstown Little Theatre: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum August 24, 25. Director: Barbara Hughes; Musical Director: Janet Provan; Choreographer: Jenny VincentGreen. Audition bookings: 9397 3054.
HAIRSPRAY
● Phil Lam (Link Larkin) and Ashleigh Kreveld (Tracy Turnblad) in Aspect Theatre's Hairspray, opening in Parkdale on July 12. Photo: Jason Stringer ■ Aspect Theatre Company presents Hairspray from July 12 - 20 at the Shirley Burke Theatre, 64 Parkers Rd, Parkdale. The show is directed by Lyn Laister, musical director is Emma McGeorge and choreography is by Kim Annette. Bookings: www.aspecttheatre.com Enquiries: 9580 8415.
Singin’ In The Rain
● Liam Kilgour (Don Lockwood), Erin Gill (Kathy Selden) and Benjamin Stokes (Cosmo Brown) will star in ARC Theatre's production of Singin' in the Rain, opening on July 5 in Heidelberg. ■ Melbourne Youth Theatre Company, ARC Theatre, presents its 2013 musical production Singin' in the Rain , to be performed at the Banyule Theatre, Heidelberg from July 5-13. The show has an energetic, musical score and gives a comical insight into the struggles of a silent film studio in their attempts to overcome adversity by adapting successfully to the age of talking film. Directed by Rowena Brown, the show's musical director is Rebecca Dupuy-Purcell and choreographer is Lisa Maree David. Performances: July 5 (Gala - cocktail attire event), July 6, 10, 11, 12, 13 at 8 pm and July 13 at 2 pm. Venue: Banyule Theatre, 10 Buckingham Drive, Heidelberg. Tickets: $35 Gala night incl. food and drinks; $32/$29 other evening performances; $29 all matinee tix. Bookings: tickets@arc-theatre.com or www.arctheatre.com or 0435 062 087.
MUSCYCLE ■ As part of the 2013 Leaps and Bounds Yarra Music Festival, Muscycle will be held at St Ali North on the border of North Carlton, Brunswick and on Sunday, July 14 from 12 Noon – 5pm. Muscycle is a pedal powered concert – love child of the thriving live music scene, the bike obsessed and sustainability conscious community that is the City of Yarra. This free event will feature the pick of Melbourne’s music makers, including Vika and Linda Bull , Brian Ritchie (Violent Femmes/curator Mona Foma), The Alan Ladds, The Black Jesus Experience, Wang Zhen Ting, Cyclic Sound System DJ’s and the Broken BMX Jam Bandits. At Muscycle, the PA is pedal powered by the audience, so the event is totally carbon neutral. Peddlers will be rewarded with bicycle related prizes from Velo Cycle and from Jamis Bicycles, and two exceptional peddlers will win a bike. The electricity required to run the St Ali North Café for the day will be offset by pedalling on bike generators housed at Melbourne Girls College. Muscycle is a day of community, fun, sustainability, great food from St Ali North, valet bike parking and tuning from Velo and the music. Event details: Sunday, July 14 from 12 noon-5pm at 815 Nicholson St (corner of Nicholson St and Park St), North Carlton.
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Page 100 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, July 3, 2013 Melbourne
Observer
Lovatts Crossword No 38 Across
1. Supporting structure 6. Discreetly 11. Discontent 15. Enlisting (7,2) 20. Verve 21. Circle (planet) 22. Aria-nominated singer, ... Murray 23. Soiled 25. Reflector 26. Nastier 27. Of kidneys 29. Debar (4,3) 32. Close 34. Go berserk, run ... 36. Self-centredness 39. Acute remorse 41. Tree, copper ... 43. Merits 46. Fatigued 48. Blunder 49. Swerve 51. Stone god 52. Revenge 55. June 6, 1944 (1-3) 56. Louts 59. Confuse 61. Whisky & ... 62. Tennis ace, Steffi ... 63. Condition 64. Verb modifiers 67. Many-sided figure 68. Pacify 70. Earth's environment, Mother ... 71. Stern 72. Cricket side 73. Anxious (2,4) 74. Polite form of address 75. Italian rice dish 77. Lead-in 78. Radiate 79. Measly 82. German war vessels (1-5) 86. Madden 87. Russian leader 89. Alpine flower 92. Truck's unloaded weight 94. Country, Sri ... 96. Catch sight of 98. Negative votes 100. Cure (fish) 101. Feel the loss of 103. Old Testament son of Isaac 105. French cap 106. Murder (2,2) 108. In charge, at the ... 111. Domestic servant 112. Bread grillers 114. Light classical musical 116. Early guitar 119. Authentic 120. Hasten 121. Typist's ailment (1,1,1) 123. Arguable 124. Engrave 125. Wipe out 126. Revenge 127. Constantly busy (2,3,2) 130. City's chief mail centre (1,1,1) 131. Thin-petalled flowers 135. Tartan skirts 138. Leonardo da Vinci's ... Lisa 139. Genuine thing, the ... McCoy 141. Barbie toys 144. Chew like rat 146. Sergeant or corporal (1,1,1) 147. At that time 148. Hawaiian garland 149. Female horse 150. Nautical yes 151. Cut (timber) 152. Amounted to (4,2) 153. Wine, ... spumante 155. Happily ... after 157. Garden tool 158. Volleyball court dividers 160. Requirements 161. Elevate 162. Progress chart 163. Mirth 165. Light purple 166. Uncle Sam (1,1,1) 167. Anger 168. Official decree 169. Europe/US defence pact 171. Pale beer
Across 172. Board 175. Jottings 176. Per, for ... 179. Swelled 180. Lessen 182. Tennis great, Arthur ... 184. Prompting (actor) 185. Uprising 186. Achieve 188. Drag with effort 189. Drilling platform 190. Soviet Union (1,1,1,1) 191. Utilise 193. Perfumed powder 194. Community spirit 196. Father 197. Covers 198. Overfills 200. Furtiveness 205. Definite article 207. Climbs 210. Intoxicate 211. Chatty 212. Suffer pain 213. Saint's ring 214. Mayday signal (1,1,1) 216. Zodiac crustacean 218. Wickedness 219. Eastern European 220. Dining table protector (5,3) 224. Dreamer 227. Pint-size 229. Jeans maker, ... Strauss 230. Black soft drink 231. Bounders 232. Front of leg 233. Concept 235. Durable fabric 237. Performs 239. Hitler's ... Kampf 241. The Devil 244. Dancer, ... Pavlova 246. Coiffure 249. Eye lustfully 252. Gives birth to pups 254. Make untidy (4,2) 256. Charmingly unusual 258. Pill 259. Hostile frown 260. Primped 263. Cowardly informer 264. Minor details 265. Interfere 267. Sand granules 270. Threat 271. Imperial ruler 272. Marine mollusc 273. Ancient Arabic tribesman 274. Partners 277. Yuletide 279. Sudden invasion 281. Fires (from job) 284. Famed lioness 286. High temperature 288. Died before 292. Additional 294. Encounter 295. Half-diameters 298. Cook in oven 300. Come up 301. Screened (film) again 303. Marten fur 306. Racing car's protective frame 308. Single thing 309. Embraces 311. Paltry sum of money 314. Internet message 315. Cease operating (3,3) 316. Gradually implant (ideas) 317. Dinners or lunches 318. Meadows (poetic) 319. Supplementary 320. Fiddling emperor 321. Tough circumstances 322. Nipped with beak 323. Sat lazily 324. Freedom fighter
Down 1. Load completely 2. Actor, ... Baldwin 3. Encourage (3,2) 4. Skips 5. Lock openers 6. Movie star, ... L Jackson 7. Join 8. Set fire to 9. Big Apple resident, New ... 10. Engross 11. Maximum 12. Estate agent 13. Lance 14. Expressed as 15. Yank 16. Personal 17. Eskimo shelter 18. Mongolian desert 19. Rhyme 24. Picnic blankets 28. Taj Mahal city 30. Had to repay 31. Philosopher, ... Marx 33. Atomic devices (1-5) 35. Most likely to win (4-2) 37. Brisk pace 38. Filter 40. Natives of Lhasa 42. Hag 44. Church corridors 45. Gold ore lump 47. Foolish 48. Cosmetic pencil 49. Most conceited 50. Opinion column 53. Narrowed 54. Volcanic (rock) 57. African anteaters 58. Dissolved (ties) 60. Tag for future use 63. Similar-meaning word 65. ... Sea Scrolls 66. Golfer, ... Ballesteros 68. Edible flesh 69. Front 76. Forth 79. Woman's title 80. Yawning gulf 81. Satirical play 83. Pop song's flip (1-4) 84. Sharpshooter, ... Oakley 85. Pig's home 88. Of beauty 90. Wanes 91. Interested in 93. Sheepishly 95. Amongst 97. Medieval farm labourer 99. Actor, ... Banderas 100. Indecent material 102. US Rockies state 104. Loft 107. Request from menu 109. Composer, Andrew ... Webber 110. Broad smile 111. Engage (with) 113. Thinks logically 115. Author's alias (3,4) 117. Snake-like fish 118. Point of perfection 121. Splendid clothes 122. Play piano, tinkle the ... 127. Liver or spleen 128. Stretch (of land) 129. Family-tree specialist 132. Varieties 133. Altogether (2,3) 134. Burn (hair) 135. Enlightenment 136. Gandhi's garment 137. ... & weaknesses 138. Fulfil expectations (7,2) 140. Bulkiness 141. Crystal brandy bottles 142. Verbally attacks (6,3) 143. Items of stage scenery (3,6)
Down
145. Rinse (4,3) 151. Section 154. Snares 156. Yashmaks 159. Historical period 164. And so on 169. Standards 170. Steak cut (1-4) 173. Makes fizzy 174. Young eagles 177. Anew 178. Pawns 181. US cotton state 183. Crowded together 187. From Addis Ababa 192. Picking 195. Be melodramatic 199. Idiotic 201. Mite 202. Primates 203. Pull strenuously 204. Brutal 206. Prince Andrew's ex 207. Diminish 208. Covet 209. Quacking bird 213. ... & hearty 215. Supervise 217. Bigotry 221. Fees 222. Ruined Inca city, ... Picchu 223. Siamese 224. Child's guessing game (1,3) 225. East England county 226. Restrict 228. Vagrants 234. Frivolous time-wasting 236. Caravan nomads 238. Wheel-shaft projection 240. Olympic Games body (1,1,1) 242. Rouses 243. Be unfaithful to (3-4) 245. India's capital (3,5) 247. Satisfy 248. Accounts books 250. Connections 251. Non-believer 253. Swindle 255. Jug 257. Charged atoms 258. Docile 261. Rubber 262. Gallows loops 265. Composer, Wolfgang Amadeus ... 266. Gets rid of 268. Stage whisper 269. Malay garment 275. Singing pitch 276. Tea, ... Grey 278. Paintings & drawings 280. Spray can 282. Prayer ending 283. Conserved 285. Cricketer, ... Gilchrist 287. Shoe reinforcement 289. Moved swiftly 290. Musky cats 291. TV reception pole 292. Manhandled 293. Explorer, ... Tasman 296. Aids in crime 297. Baghdad native 299. Tickle 302. White wine, ... Riesling 304. Quickly 305. High-quality printer type 306. Hurry 307. Suggestive look 308. Troubles 310. Urban haze 312. Russia's ... Mountains 313. Two-seater lounge
Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, July 3, 2013 - Page 101
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Page 102 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, July 3, 2013
www.MelbourneObserver.com.au
Melbourne
Observer Victorian Sport Racing Briefs
Along the sprint lane ■ My Cottrell based Tony Pullicino's 4-Y-0 The Prowler/Kayla Joe gelding Public Persuasion was a tough victor of the John Wilkins Thank You Pace for C1 class over 1785 metres at the Gippsland venue. Staring from the extreme draw, Public Persuasion was sent forward to park outside the poleline pacemaker Peace Of Magic at the bell which had been kept honest from the outset. Taking a slender lead on the home turn, Public Persuasion defied a late challenge by Mister Rufus along the sprint lane off the back of the leader to score by 2.7 metres in 1-59.6, with Peace Of Magic holding down third.
Upset double at Ararat ■ At Ararat on Sunday June 23, Melton trainer Robbie O'Connell provided an upset double in the first two races - Falcons Icon/Alkaliner gelding Jialiner ($14.30) taking the Joe Collins 3-Y-0 Pace over 1790 metres and 4-Y-0 Nuke Of Earl/Kamwood Lena mare Spur On Magpie ($16.70) the Choice Hotels Pace for C0 class over the same journey. Both horses were driven by stable "apprentice" Zac Phillips who was also successful aboard Safari/Living Angel gelding Another Safari ($14.60 on protest) in the Joel Hooper 2-Y-0 Pace over 2195 metres for Melton's Charlie DeBono. A two dollar all-up investment on the three winners would have returned a dividend of $6973.50.
Gained an inside run ■ Dunnstown trainer/driver Nathan Cahir enjoyed a "night of nights" at Kilmore on Tuesday June 25 after winning the TAB Daily Double with stablemates Pas Mate and The Rogue Trader. Four year old Armbro Operative/Szarbo gelding Pas Mate was given a cosy passage three back the markers from inside the second row in the Barry Alford Memorial Pace for C1 class over 2180 metres, following both Elsbest which led and Wealthy Warrior which trailed him. When the leader shifted ground approaching the home turn, Weatlthy Warrior joined him after gaining an inside run, with Pas Mate following to immediately move three wide on straightening. Finishing full of running, Pas Mate registered a 1.4 metre victory over Wealthy Warrior in a rate of 2-04, with Chesire Cat flashing home late from mid-field to snatch third. The Rogue Trader a lightly raced 8-Y-0 gelded son of Pass The Mustard and Shemida Francis raced by wife Maria, was sent forward from gate three on the second line immediately the starter despatched the field to park outside the short priced favourite Fantastic Arden which flew the gate from barrier six. Applying the pressure a long way from home, The Rogue Trader scored impressively by 5.2 metres in a rate of 2-01 over Rivieria Kiss which used the sprint lane after trailing the pacemaker, with Fantastic Arden weakening to finish third.
Fine finish to the week ■ Hopetoun Park's Ross and Greg Sugars had a fine finish to the week with 3-Y-0 Bettors Delight/Forest Glory gelding Forest Fury taking the Stawell Farm Supplies Pace for C0 class over 1780 metres at Stawell on Thursday and Blissful Hall/Janbob gelding Youranut the 1st Semi-Final of the Empire Stallions Vicbred Super Series for 4-Y-0 Entires & Geldings over 2240 metres at Tabcorp Park Melton on Friday. Forest Fury bred and raced by Jack and Nola Munnerley raced in the open from gate five before outstaying his rivals in defeating the pacemaker Mayorofshinetown and Kurraca Knight (one/one) in 2-01.6, while former NSW performer Youranut led throughout from the pole to bring up eight wins in succession (seven for the Sugars camp), easily accounting for Teo Enteo which trailed and a death-seating Keayang Steamer in a slick 1-56.7. - Len Baker
MILES MAGIC AT MELTON
■ Monegeetta co-trainers Lisa and David Miles snared both Semi-Finals of the rich Empire Stallions Vicbred Super Series for Two Year Old Fillies at Tabcorp Park Melton on Friday with Manellira and Mindarie Priddy - the best of their age group. Manellira (Art Major/ Amarillen) raced by son Alfie, a half sister to Chariots Of Fire winner Villagem (Village Jasper) with Lisa in the sulky, was given the run of the race from the pole trailing the heavily supported Sandy Kay from the Adam Kelly/Gavin Lang team which exploded away from gate five to lead easily. Using the sprint lane, Mannellira put the race beyond doubt over the concluding stages to register a 3.6 metre victory over Tallulah Bay and Sandy Kay in a mile rate of 2-02 (last half mile 57.7 - quarter 28.4). Unbeaten Mindarie Priddy (Artistic Fella/ Kellyarmbro) raced by Michael Pridmore and Geoff Stewart who lives in WA, was trapped wide from outside the front row, with David letting rip shortly after the start to assume control from the well performed Riverina hope Distant Memory and that was virtually the end of the race, with Mindarie Priddy coasting to the wire 4.1 metres in advance of Distant Memory along the sprint lane and Quick Draft in a rate of 2-01.1 (last half 57.9 - quarter 28.6). Both fillies look like repeating their APG quinella feat in this Saturday's $100,000 Final.
Extreme run ■ Pearcedale reinswoman Simone Walker was responsible for the "Drive Of The Night" at Tabcorp Park on Friday after winning the 2nd Semi-Final of the Empire Stallions Vicbred Super Series for 2-Y-0 Colts & Geldings aboard Dream Away/Sheer Finesse colt Hectorjayjay. Trained by father Bill, Hectorjayjay raced by Matthew McLellan from the extreme draw was sent forward immediately the start was effected to take over on the first turn, before being restrained to take a trail on the hot favourite Messini from the Christchurch barn of Mark Purdon. Using the sprint lane to perfection, Hectorjayjay ran home strongly to tip out Messini by a head in a rate of 1-58.3, with Tezz Khora (three back the markers) third.
Confident ■ Former Sydneysider
Baker’s Delight
Harness Racing
This Week’s Meetings ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Melbourne
Observer
len-baker@ bigpond.com
with Len Baker
The Pear Of Paris scored a well deserved victory for trotting devotee Peter Hornsby in the Harness Breeders (Vic) Trotters Handicap for T0 or better class (mares) over 2150 metres at Kilmore on Tuesday June 25. A Kiwi bred 6-Y-0 by Earl from Paris Metro, The Pearl Of Paris has had her foot on the till since arriving at Hornsby's Kialla (Shepparton) stable and driven with confidence by Stacey Towers, possied outside the pacemaker Shea Keystone after starting from the 10 metre mark. Dashing to the front prior to the home turn, The Pearl Of Paris held a margin all the way up the running to defeat Eurasian Hanover (three back the markers) which followed the winner home after being extricated into the clear approaching the final bend, with the hot favourite Sundons Promise running on late from a mile back to finish third after missing away badly from the 30 metre mark. The mile rate a comfortable 2-07.
Good stayer ■ Rochester's Garry Coghill snared the J.P. McKay Memorial 3-Y-0 Pace over 2180 metres at Kilmore with Mach Three/ Christa filly Cool Machrista in a rate of 200.6. In what was an outstanding staying performance, Cool Machrista (gate five) spent the entire race parked outside the well supported Luke Hobbs (gate four), before drawing clear over the concluding stages to score from Crazy Dave along the sprint lane after trailing the leader, with Luke Hobbs weakening to finish third.
Special run ■ Astute MeltonTrainer/ driver Mario Azzopardi may have unearthed something special in Dream Vacation/Sundons Tiavon gelding Tiavons Dream
which landed the Two Year Old Colts & Geldings division of the Empire Stallions Vicbred Super Series for Trotters over 2180 metres at Kilmore on Tuesday June 25. A first up second to Four Lillies at Ballarat on June 6 put the writing on the wall for an early victory and after being given time to find his feet from gate two, Tiavons Dream produced a brilliant turn of speed hitting the back straight on the first occasion to stride clear. Always travelling beautifully, Tiavons Dream although inclined to race greenly in the straight, safely defied all challengers to score from Coimadai Lodge which trailed after leading out from gate four, with Chris Lang's Sammy Charles an eye catching third on debut after following the pair. The mile rate 2-05.1.
Bided time ■ Veteran Melton trainer Graeme Lang produced 5Y-0 Art Major/Left A Dream gelding Lucky Twenty Three to score a first up victory in the Kingston Trophies Trotters Handicap for T0 or better class over 2205 metres at Warragul on Monday. Having his first outing since February, driver Gavin Lang bided his time four back in the moving line after starting from a 40 metre equal backmark, with Zoes Dream assuming control shortly after the start. Trailing both Keystone Blues and King Croesus three wide in the last lap, Lucky Twenty Three although four wide on the final bend, motored to the wire to defeat Zoes Dream by a half head on the wire, with Arcupandgo third after racing in the open. The mile rate 2-05.6.
On radio ■ Listen to Len Baker’s Harness Review on 979 FM on Monday nights, 8pm-10pm.
Wednesday - Hamilton/Kilmore, Thursday - Maryborough/Geelong, Friday - Mildura/Melton, Saturday - Melton, Sunday - Shepparton, Monday - Yarra Valley, Tuesday - Terang.
Something special ... ■ The Kilmore HRC fixture on Tuesday June 25 featured two heats of the Empire Stallions Vicbred Super Series over 2180 metres for Two Year Old Trotters, one for each sex. Astute MeltonTrainer/driver Mario Azzopardi may have unearthed something special in Dream Vacation/Sundons Tiavon gelding Tiavons Dream which took the Colts & Geldings division. A first up second to Four Lillies at Ballarat on June 6 put the writing on the wall for an early victory and after being given time to find his feet from gate two, Tiavons Dream produced a brilliant turn of speed hitting the back straight on the first occasion to stride clear. Always travelling beautifully, Tiavons Dream although inclined to race greenly in the straight, safely defied all challengers to score from Coimadai Lodge which trailed after leading out from gate four, with Chris Lang's Sammy Charles an eye catching third on debut after following the pair. The mile rate 205.1. Sydney visitor Verbier also by Dream Vacation from the Andover Hall mare Lets Be Happy snared the fillies division in 2-08.5. Trained at Cawdor by Blake Fitzpatrick and driven by stable assistant David White, Verbier coming off some good form in her home state was given a sweet passage from gate three trailing the well supported leader Illawong Moonshine inside her. Not bothering with the sprint lane, Verbier was eased around the pacemaker on the home turn before coasting to the wire 7.4 metres in advance of Illawong Moonshine, with Lindy Vale third from three back in the moving line.
Indulgent sent forward
■ Genuine 4-Y-0 Real Desire/Calories gelding Indulgent chalked up his 7th success in 29 outings when successful in the Stawell Times News Pace for C4 to C6 class over 2175 metres at Stawell on Thursday, much to the delight of owner/breeder John Dorrington racing under the banner of Dorro Nominees Pty Ltd. Trained at Great Western by Peter Manning and driven by Matt Craven, Indulgent was sent forward from gate five to obtain the lead from Run Ripalong shortly after the start and rated to perfection, defied all challengers to win virtually untouched over Run Ripalong along the sprint lane, with the in-form Peaces Of You (three back the markers) third. The mile rate 1-59.8.
Another win at Stawell
■ Woorndoo trainer Bob Mahncke was another Stawell winner, when 5-Y-0 Falcon Seelster/Sokys Rage gelding Kiwi Rage greeted the judge in the Hygain Feeds Pace for C1 class over 2175 metres in a rate of 2-01.7. Taking a concession for Terang's Jason Lee, Kiwi Rage from gate two on the second line was off and running shortly after the start to park outside the poleline pacemaker Tell Me Lucy, with young Lee controlling the tempo of the race. Surging to the front prior to the home turn, Kiwi Rage was far too strong for his rivals to register a 5.7 metres victory over Valentino Rustler which trailed the leader, with Tres Hombres a stablemate of the winner third.
Driving double for Jason– ■ Jason Lee was to bring up a driving double at Stawell when the Shannon Edwards (Heywood) trained 4-Y-0 Art Major/Frosty Mattina gelding Amajorfrost scored in the Ray Martin Memorial Pace
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Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, July 3, 2013 - Page 103
Melbourne
Observer Victorian Sport
STAR FILLY SHORTENS FOR CUP ■ Top Sydney filly Royal Descent has tightened right in betting on the Caulfield Cup to be run on October 19. Prepared by leading trainer, Chris Waller, she recently blitzed them in the Oaks in Sydney, and was spelled soon after to prepare her for the rich spring plums. The daughter of top sire, Redoute's Choice, she is the ideal type for a race like the Caulfield Cup on the pace or lead if necessary, a pre-requisite for the tough 2400 metres of the Cup. After a great win in the Adrian Knox Stakes she went onto to win the Oaks, as mentioned in great style. When betting opened for the Caulfield Cup, she was quoted at $18, but has now firmed right in to $10. It is possible Nash Rawiller will ride in the Cup, but if he is required for the Gai Waterhouse stable if they have an entry, there will a big queue of leading jocks lining up for the ride. Royal Descent all along has been my tip for the Caulfield Cup. The favourite at the moment is another rising four year-old with all the credentials. I refer to It's A Dundeel, who won the Australian Derby in sensational fashion. Prepared by Murray Baker in New Zealand, he is a very good colt, but as I have mentioned in my column before I feel that he goes better the clockwise way, a la Sydney. He is being quoted at $8, with Puissance De Lune, the ruling Melbourne Cup favourite on the next line at $ 9. Puissance De Lune is working along nicely after having bone chips removed and is spot on for the big Spring races like the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and his main target, the Melbourne Cup, where he is the favorite at $7. The classy Q u e e n s l a n d e r, Beaten Up, is on the next line at $11. An interesting runner is the well performed Japanese gal-
Ted Ryan
● Black Caviar Photo by SLICKPIX, phone 9354 5754
loper, Admire Rakti, who is on $ 13, with Dandino, from the UK. After them comes the Victoria Derby winner, Fiveandahalfstar, the good filly Gondokoro and Jetaway all on $15.
Not to be missed
■ If you would like to see some of the memorabilia of the mighty mare, Black Caviar, up close and personal this is your chance. The National Sports Museum along with the Australian Racing Museum at the MCG, have joined forces to display some of the articles connected with the mare with her 25 consecutive wins retiring undefeated. It is labelled; The Glow of Legacy; Black Caviar's Perfect Record. Black Caviar's achievements have earned her national and international acclaim, especially her great win in the Queen's Jubilee, when not 100 per cent.
Throughout her career, she received many accolades including the Australian Champion Sprinter and Australian Horse of the Year, in both 2011 ansd 2012, and this year was inducted into the Hall of Fame. On top of this she was recently rated the best galloper in the world. Her owners pulled the pin on her career ion April, and from her 25 straight wins, she collected a record breaking 15 Group One victories eclipsing another great galloper of yesteryear: Kingston Town. The exhibition is on at the present moment and will go through until January next year. The display features feature trophies, from her great career, including the snuff box presented to her owners after her win in the Queen's Jubilee, last year. The trophies include the saddle used by her regular rider, Luke Nolen, when he won the 2011, T.J.Smith Stakes in 2011.
● Queen Elizabeth Stakes: Pussiance de Lune Photo by SLICKPIX, phone 9354 5754 She had her last run Cost of entry is in- man Bleja, is Polish, this year, once again cluded in the standard and wouldn't know taking out the coveted Museum entry. what end of a horse event. It is on at the Na- kicks loves racing and Also on display are tional Sports Mu- is keen to race a the colours worn by her seum, Gate 3, at the youngster, along with a jockey Luke Nolen in MCG, Yarra Park, good friend of mine, all her victories. Gaby, who just opened Jolimont. Luke was on her 23 The Museum is the Beer and Burger of her 25 victories, the open from 10am each Restaurant in my old other two riders were day. stamping grounds in Jarrod Noskie who For further informa- Richmond. rode her when she her Roman dabbles in first race and Ben tion visit, visit, international business Melham was aboard nsm.org.au and properties on the when Luke was susbroking side. pended. I am looking at sires The colours of like Fastnet Rock, salmon with black Exceed and Excel, spots; was thought up by young Shannon ■ I am yet again be- Northern Meteor, Wilkie, whose par- ing approached by a More Than Ready, couple of my good and Sebring. ents are part-owners. As the old saying The theme of the friends to go into a salmon and black also racehorse with them. goes. Here we go One of them Ro- again. related to Black Caviar's dam's mother, Scandinavia, where the main supply of Caviar comes from.
● Royal Descent Photo by SLICKPIX, phone 9354 5754
Here we go again
Comedy Of Errors
● The Comedy of Errors ■ A first-time collaboration between Bell Shakespeare and State Theatre Company of South Australia, brings to life one of Shakespeare’s earliest plays, The Comedy Of Errors, directed by rising star Imara Savage. The irreverent, surreal and deliciously convoluted farce premieres in Adelaide, then embarks on an extensive six month tour to 31 locations, including Melbourne (August 2131).
Showbiz Extra ■ From Page 98
Top 10 Lists NEW RELEASE TELEVISION, DOCUMENTARY AND MUSIC DVD HIGHLIGHTS: THE WOMEN OF SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE. DEXTER: The Complete Seventh Season. McCLOUD: The Complete Sixth Season. McCLOUD: The Complete Seventh Season + The Return of Sam McCloud. HALO 4: Forward Unto Dawn. CIRQUE DU SOLEIL: World Away. FALLING SKIES: The Complete Second Season. TRANSFORMERS PRIME: Season One. WARREN MILLER'S: Like There's No Tomorrow. BERGERAC: The Complete Seventh Series. EXPERIENCE MONTREUX: Quincy Jones & Herbie Hancock. STATE OF ORIGIN: NRL/The Ultimate Collection. SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS: Sweet and Sour Squidward. TOP BLU-RAY RENTAL & SELLERS: 1. LINCOLN [Drama/Historical/Daniel DayLewis, Sally Field, Tommy Lee Jones]. 2. SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK [Drama/Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper, Jackie Weaver]. 3. ANNA KARENINA [Drama/Keira Knightley, Jude Law]. 4. DJANGO UNCHAINED [Western/Drama/ Christoph Waltz, Jamie Foxx, Leonardo DiCaprio]. 5. HANSEL AND GRETEL: WITCH HUNTERS 3D + Blu-Ray [Action/Horror/Jeremy Renner]. 6. JURASSIC PARK 3D [2013/Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Richard Attenborough, Jeff Goldblum]. 7. LIFE OF PI - 3D + Blu-Ray [Drama/Adventure/Irrfan Khan, Suraj Sharma]. 8. THE SWEENEY [Action/Ray Winstone, Damian Lewis, Hayley Atwell]. 9. JACK REACHER [Action/Tom Cruise, Rosamund Pike]. 10. THE HOBBIT: An Unexpected Journey 3D + Blu-Ray [Fantasy/Adventure/Martin Freeman]. Also: The Impossible, Skyfall, You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger, Stolen, Movie 43, Hitchcock, Gangster Squad, Quartet, Argo, Les Miserables. NEW RELEASE HIGHLIGHTS ON BLU-RAY THIS WEEK: AMOUR [Drama/Jean-Louis Trintignant, Emmanuelle Riva]. FLIGHT [Drama/Denzel Washington, Bruce Greenwood, Kelly Reilly]. SAFE HAVEN [Drama/Julianne Hough, Josh Duhamel, Dir: Lasse Hallstrm]. WESTWORLD [1973/Sci-Fi/Yul Brynner, Richard Benjamin, James Brolin]. BEDROOM MAZURKA - UNCUT [R18+/1970/ Annie Birgit Garde]. KNIFE FIGHT [Drama/Rob Lowe, Julie Bowen]. SPARKLE [1976/Drama/Music/Irene Cara, Lonette McKee, Philip Michael Thomas]. DEXTER: The Complete Seventh Season. HALO 4: Forward Unto Dawn. CIRQUE DU SOLEIL: World Away - Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray. FALLING SKIES: The Complete Second Season. - James Sherlock
Flemington Finals ■ Saturday marks the centrepiece of Victoria's winter flat program with nominations in for Flemington's Finals Daym which is fast becoming a highlight of Melbourne’s winter racing program and the nominations for Saturday’s meeting point to another quality card. The eight events at Flemington on Saturday will see the culmination of a series of races run throughout Victoria during the winter months. Of the eight “finals”, each worth at least $100,000, they range from a series for sprinters to the middle distance Winter Championship tradition and a colder weather crown for stayers. First run in 1980, the Listed TROA/Luxbet Winter Championship Final (1600m) has provided a rich off season alternative for trainers and connections. This edition sees the Michael O’Leary-trained Glaneuse return for an attempt at a third straight win in the $150,000 race. Interestingly this race has provided the seven-year-old gelding’s only two victories in as many years. The third black-type event of the day, the Listed Taj Rossi Final for two-year-olds sees the Brideoake/Feek training combination shoot for four wins-on-the-trot with Lady Lakshmi.
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Horses
Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, July 3, 2013 - Page 105
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Racing
Page 106 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, July 3, 2013
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Melbourne
Observer Victorian Sport
HONEST LEADERSHIP WELCOME
■ This past week in Australia has been about leadership. From Canberra’s political playing field with a restored and regurgitated Prime Minister to Perth’s Paterson Stadium with Jobe Watson’s inspired captaincy leading Essendon to a massive seven points win over West Coast Eagles. There has been a thousand sports stories told down the years of individual champions and teams getting up off the canvas and with sheer mental strength lifting themselves to victory. Against the odds we witnessed such a win last week. Down by 28 points and written off in the third quarter the Bombers blasted back to be in touch on three occasions in a thrilling last quarter. No doubt coach James Hird had called upon his players at the threequarter time break to give their all in a final desperate effort. Jobe Watson exemplified what leadership can achieve. Jobe personally took responsibility and turned on the power. With his sheer will, inspired himself and his teammates to lift to another level. Such is the power of the mind. Already tired and dragging worn bodies Watson won the ball and goaled. His mates reacted with an adrenalin rush. They captured a one point lead – lost it – the scores were tied – they won back the one point and a goal on the siren wrapped up the seven points win. But this is only part of the Jobe Watson story. There was an avalanche of media reactive comments after Jobe’s honest comments last Monday night on the On The Couch program. To date he is the only one to publicly admit he followed the Club’s medicos advice to take the ‘injection’ program of a substance he was assured was approved by ASADA. Jobe Watson is admired, respected and an ornament to our AFL game. Parents would be proud to call him ‘Son’. After all the publicity I was shocked at the treatment by the Eagles fans. Watson was hooted unmercifully every time he went near the ball. As a former umpire of course I’m well aware of the fanatical barracking and hooting of poor sportsmanship on the field and ‘doubtful’ umpire decisions. This ‘one-eyed’ hooting was unAustralian to Jobe Watson who is universally accepted as an ornament to our game. Further, most AFL fans were sympathetic to Eagles players Ben Cousins and Chris Mainwaring in their troubled times. The final siren had the TV cameras panning in on Jobe. He was absolutely drained, exhausted to the point of collapse. His game was a statement of total commitment, Inspirational and what ‘power of the mind’ can achieve. He was ‘spent’, Mentally, physically and spiritually. He and his club had won. And the fans “hoots” helped. There have been a number of articles related to Jobe Watson’s honest and open comments to questions posed to him last week on Foxtel’s popular On The Couch program. In the main the comments condemn Jobe for his honesty and for simply telling the truth. He is accused of ‘naivety’ in that he should have either refused to answer the question(s) or lied. The fact he answered truthfully he was administered the drug, AOD-9604
Harry Beitzel www.squidoo.com/harrybeitzel on the advice and assurance by his highly qualified Essendon Club medicos that at the time it was not on ASADA’s banned substances list. Is there no longer ‘a place for the truth’? Now we are being inundated by ‘experts’ saying Jobe Watson is a ‘cheat’ and should be stripped of his Brownlow Medal. Legends John Kennedy, Ron Barassi, David Parkin, Kevin Sheedy and others I’m sure would be proud of Jobe’s honesty.
Should have blown the whistle ■ “Cometh the moment-cometh the man.” So starteth the lesson. The “moment” was before the opening bounce of the recent Fremantle v North Melbourne game. Freo’s ‘tagger’ Ryan Crowley sidled up to veteran Roo Brent Harvey, 35 years, 353 games and engaged him. Players gathered and a ‘pretend’ melee followed with the usual creampuff push and shoves. But Crowley had set the scene. The ‘man’ was umpire Jacob Mollison who was on the spot. He ignored his chance to “cometh the man”. He should have ‘blown his whistle’, signalled to the timekeepers he had started the match, paid a free-kick to Harvey and if Crowley disputed the decision applied a 50m penalty. Now umpire Mollison would have set the scene. For those of you who are debating the point the game had NOT officially started as the umpire had not signalled to the timekeepers nor had they sounded the siren then the Laws of the Game clearly define the game is “under the control of the umpires from the moment they are joined on the ground by the competing teams.” Incidentally the conduct of players after the final siren extends to the precincts of the ground and to the controlling body and its officials. I had a theory on “reporting players”. I always thought I was partly to blame as the reported player had obviously lost respect for me as an umpire to control the situation and therefore had to take the law into his own hands. Jacob Mollison could have established himself as a potential Grand Final like his two colleagues for the match, Brett Rosebury (26 Finals, 5 G/
know that a NSW girl Courtney Gum was the player of the carnival. “The umpiring was brilliant. It was predictable consistent and no fuss. “Former AFL Grand Final umpire Matt James is the Director up here. He has done an excellent job. “The umpires up here are second to none in Australia . With a NEAFL comp coming out of here next year let's hope some of these guys get on the AFL list. “As a footnote there was a boundary umpire who umpired in a cap. He put it onto the ground before throwing in each time. He then threw it in 30 metres each time! He was super fit also. “The wonderful Cazaly's Club is also at the ground. It features the Barassi Bistro and the Aylett Room. “On July 13 Gold Coast play Richmond here. Maybe it will finish with a Karmichael Hunt goal like last time. “By the way if Sydney people don't want GWS send them up here. Noel” ■ Thanks mate-keep sending me the AFL news, “H”.
Demons start to make changes F) and Matt Stevic (14 F, 1 G/F). In the event all Brett Rosbury did as the senior official was to join the group and try to placate the angry players. Two other points come to mind. These days with the non-stop TV replays and media reporting it is impossible not to know who the problem players are on the field. With three umpires surely ALL snide tactics and incidents should be nipped in the bud. This would quickly eliminate much of the MRP’s work and make the umpires more responsible for reporting incidents instead of standing around like statues. One little tip for Brett Rosebury – he whistled a defender for “going over the line” when kicking the ball in after a behind had been scored. He has such a good rapport with the players I would have preferred he had a quiet word of warning to the player at earlier ‘kick-ins’ that he was getting too close to the line. “So endeth the lesson.”
News from Cairns ■ My nephew Noel Beitzel has his taxi/hire car business in Cairns and keeps me informed on what’s happening with AFL up in the far north. He emailed me re the the Womens Carnival. “Harry, as you know I have lived in Cairns for many years and am a fanatical AFL follower. This past week I attended the National Women's Carnival at the beautiful and aptly named Cazaly Oval. “Teams assembled from every state and Territory in Australia as well as a combined team from FNQ and New Guinea. “The standard of play was extremely good with several of the girls being recently drafted to play on the Saturday for Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs in the first AFL women's teams at the MCG. “I know you would be interested to
■ The Melbourne Football Club advises the following changes to the Club's Football Department. As part of Peter Jackson's ongoing review of the Club's operations, it has been determined that the Football Department will be headed up by a new role called General Manager Football Operations (GMFO) that will report to the CEO. All department heads within the Football Department will report to this GMFO. This will take effect immediately. CEO Peter Jackson will conduct the search to fill the new GMFO role. Josh Mahoney will fill the role in acting capacity until the position is filled, and Josh himself is a legitimate candidate for the position. As a result of the changes to the structure of the football area, the current role of General Manager List Management, filled by Tim Harrington, has become redundant. Tim's employment with the Club has ceased. Jackson said, "Tim's departure is not performance related. It reflects the need to reduce the overall cost of the structure. “Tim has worked diligently in his role for more than four years at the Club, and I'm certain he will find another productive role in the AFL industry. I would like to thank Tim for his contribution during his time at the Melbourne Football Club."
Free agent move ■ Ashley Browne of afl.com.au says that while the compensation picks for clubs that lose players to free agency will remain in place for this year, a change is on the cards for 2014. Browne quoted AFL.com.au's Access All Areas with the League's general manager of football operations Mark Evans flagging the possibility of scrapping compensation picks for unrestricted free agents. "There has been a strong suggestion that you don’t need to provide free agency compensation for players who are unrestricted free agents," he said. "I think that's worthwhile looking at."
ROUND 15 Friday, July 5 Carlton vs. Collingwood (MCG) (N) Saturday, July 6 GWS Giants vs. Western Bulldogs (MO) North Melbourne vs. Richmond (ES) Brisbane Lions vs. Gold Coast Suns (G) (T) Geelong Cats vs. Hawthorn (MCG) (N) Adelaide Crows vs. West Coast Eagles (AS) (N) Sunday, July 7 Melbourne vs. Sydney Swans (MCG) (E) Fremantle vs. St Kilda (PS) Essendon vs. Port Adelaide (ES) (T)
Browne’s report said: “Evans has met with all clubs since joining the AFL in April, with free agency a hot topic. “The League recently confirmed that compensation picks will remain in place for all departing free agents – restricted and unrestricted – at the end of this year. “Unrestricted free agents are classified as those who have played eight years at the same club and whose salary sits outside the top 25 per cent at their club, or all players who have given 10 years of service to their club. “Some of the possible unrestricted free agents at the end of 2014 include Jarrad Waite, Dane Swan, Luke McPharlin, Leigh Montagna, Ryan O'Keefe, Adam Goodes, Matthew Pavlich and Aaron Sandilands.”
Match Reviews
■ The AFL advises the Match Review Panel has reviewed the weekend’s matches. The following charges were laid: Zac Dawson, Fremantle, has been charged with a Level One striking offence (80 demerit points, reprimand) for striking Matthew Stokes, Geelong Cats, during the first quarter of the Round 14 match between Fremantle and the Geelong Cats, played at Simonds Stadium on Saturday June 29. In summary, he can accept a reprimand and 60 points towards his future record with an early plea. ★ Joel Corey, Geelong Cats, has been charged with a Level One tripping offence (80 demerit points, reprimand) for tripping Danyle Pearce, Fremantle, during the second quarter of the Round 14 match between the Geelong Cats and Fremantle, played at Simonds Stadium on Saturday June 29. In summary, he can accept a reprimand and 60 points towards his future record with an early plea. ★ Lindsay Thomas, North Melbourne, has been charged with a Level Three misconduct offence (250 demerit points, two-match sanction) for misconduct in that he headbutted Jacob Townsend, GWS Giants, during the fourth quarter of the Round 14 match between North Melbourne and the GWS Giants, played at Etihad Stadium on Sunday June 30. In summary, due to his previous poor record, his two-match sanction must remain at two matches, even with an early plea.
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Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, July 3, 2013 - Page 107
Page 108 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, July 3, 2013
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