Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, February 15, 2012 - Page 37
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F-bombs galore in premiere play at La Mama ■ La Mama presents the Australian premiere of Huzir Sulaiman's Cogito until February 19 at the La Mama Courthouse, 349 Drummond St., Carlton. Skilfully staged in the round by director Suzie Hardgrave, the venue acoustics risk causing some inaudibility when actors turn away to deliver dialogue. Huzir Sulaiman's intense dialogue invites the audience to hinge on every word. The narrative tells of Katherine Lee having read in a newspaper of the assassination of her husband Tony Szeto, a highly prized Singaporean biomedical scientist. She also discovers she is not Tony's only wife and arranges to meet the other woman, Katherine Two. We discover there are three Katherine Lees, two in physical form, plus Katherine One's voice as the subconscious, who all intriguingly know about each other's lives. Glenda Linscott articulately portrays Katherine One and Kristin Keam presents a delightfully down-to-earth Katherine Two. Newly arrived Katherine Three is played with stylish elegance by Suzy Cato-Gashler and Frank Handrum believably depicts lawyer Lex. Linda Harper's costume detail for Katherines Two and Three is superb. Unfortunately, while there is always a place for effective use of the ‘F word’, there is unnecessary overuse in Katherine Three's dialogue, detracting from the impact of an otherwise powerful script. The play finishes with two Katherine Lees and you will need to see Cogito yourself to reach a conclusion. Lex points out, “The mind and body is one, thoughts are bodies, bodies are thoughts.” So, are there three, two ... or only one? Performances: Until February 19 Times: Wednesday, Friday, Sunday at 6.30pm, Saturday at 8.30pm Venue: La Mama Courthouse, 349 Drummond St., Carlton. Tickets: $25 Full, $15 Concession Duration: 60 minutes Bookings: www.lamama.com.au or 9347 6142 ★★★ La Mama also presents Schism until February 19 at La Mama Courthouse, 349 Drummond Street, Carlton. Written by Western Australian playwright Melanie Bainbridge and performed as a solo performer theatre piece by her sister, Pippa, Schism is presented in the round under the directorial expertise of Suzie Hardgrave. The story tells of twins separated at an early age as a result of a diagnosed disorder, who experience a schism of conscience. One twin has an overactive conscience and cares so passionately for the environment that she wants to destroy living life to allow the world to regenerate. The other twin did not receive a conscience at all, and craves power and wealth. Both twins are scientists and we realise the paradox of one wanting to kill humanity to save the world, while the other researches cancer to save human life. Pippa Bainbridge does great work depicting the two twins, instantly transforming into the contrasting characters and working solidly onstage for almost an hour. Melanie Bainbridge's terrific script informs, entertains and offers food for thought (without resorting to using one ‘F word’!). Casey-Scott Corless has designed the clever minimalistic set surrounded by laboratory streak plates, with first-class lighting and sound by Rebecca Etchell and Skye Klein respectively. Congratulations to the Bainbridge sisters on devising and presenting Schism and all good wishes for future collaborative projects. Performance season: Until February 19 Times: Wednesday, Friday, Sunday at 6.30pm, Thursday and Saturday at 8.30pm Venue: La Mama Courthouse, 349 Drummond St., Carlton. Duration: 60 minutes Tickets: $25 full, $15 concession. Bookings: www.lamama.com.au or 9347 6142 - Reviews by Cheryl Threadgold
Radio Confidential: The latest radio news .... Page 36 Veritas: More strife at MTR 1377 .................... Page 37 The Spoiler: Next week’s ‘soaps’ plotlines ............ Page 39 Jim and Aaron: Best DVD-film selections ................. Page 40 Cheryl Threadgold: Community Theatre - it’s a wrap ...... Page 41 PLUS THE LOVATT”S MEGA CROSSWORD
GYPSY MUSIC!
● Karavana Flamenco rehearses for the Karavan International Gypsy Music Festival on February 25 at The Corner Hotel, Richmond. ■ Musiktrafik presents the biggest gypsy party in the Southern Hemisphere - Karavan! International Gypsy Music Festival, 2012. on Saturday, February 25 at The Corner Hotel, 57 Swan St., Richmond. Rolling into town for its third season this year, Karavan! will bring with it the most exciting and diverse line up yet. The line up in Melbourne features Baro Banda from Istanbul, DJ Click (France) and The Crooked Fiddle Band from Sydney. Melbourne favourites include The Band Who Knew Too Much, Vardos, Systa BB, Karavana Flamenco and Byzantine Blues. Tickets: $40 (plus $3 booking fee) Door $50 Full $45 Conc (if available) Bookings: cornerhotel.com 9427 9198. - Cheryl Threadgold
The Mousetrap ● By Julie Houghton ■ One of my most treasured possessions from a brief trip to London a couple of years ago is a black T-shirt, emblazoned in red with The Mousetrap. I joined the thousands of people over the past then-58 years who had made the trek to London's West End to see Agatha Christie's record-breaking mystery play, The Mousetrap. Initially, I was sceptical about whether this was simply a lurk to get the tourists in, but it wasn't long before I was caught in the trap, mesmerized by this gripping play, full of red herrings but with the usual surprise Agatha Christie ending. So I'm delighted that in order to see it again, I don't have to make the trek back to the Old Dart, because to celebrate its Diamond Anniversary it's coming to Melbourne at the lovely old Comedy Theatre from August 30 until October 7. It seems it's the year for Diamond Anniversaries, another high profile English identity has also celebrated one recently ... but I digress. Turn To Page 47
ABC wins at Kidscreen awards ■ ABC TV this week took home two 2012 Kidscreen Awards from New York - and received more nominations than any other broadcaster in the awards across all categories. ABC3’s landmark drama series My Place, series 2, won the Best Non-Animated or Mixed Series award and ABC4Kids popular Giggle and Hoot hosts, Jimmy Giggle and Hoot, won the Best On-Air Host or Hosting Team Award. The Kidscreen Awards are among the most prestigious awards for the international children’s television industry and are part of its annual summit, attended by 1600 executives and producers from 42 different countries. Tim Brooke-Hunt, Controller of ABC Children’s Television, said: “These awards confirm the high regard in which the Australian children's TV industry is held internationally, and reflect great credit on Matchbox Pictures and other producers.” In addition to these two awards, ABC TV and its commissioned productions were nominated in the following categories: ■ Best Companion Website – Bananas in Pyjamas (ABC TV) ■ Best Non-Animated or Mixed Series – Dance Academy (Werner Film Productions) ■ Best Channel Design – ABC4Kids· ■ Best Channel Website – ABC4Kids (www.abc.net.au/ abc4kids)