Melbourne Observer. 130220C. February 20, 2013. Part C. Pages 67-80

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, February 20, 2013 - Page 67

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Observer Showbiz Every Week in the Melbourne Observer

Radio Confidential: Changing Face Of Radio ...... Page 68 Veritas: Video vault opens online ................... Page 69 The Spoiler: Neighbours, Home and Away ............ Page 69 Jim and Aaron: Best movies, DVDs ......................... Page 70 Cheryl Threadgold: Local theatre shows, auditions ........ Page 71 PLUS THE LOVATT”S MEGA CROSSWORD

GREEN ROOM NOMINATIONS Beethoven marathon at 3MBS 103.5 FM

● Amir Farid ■ The countdown is now on to one of the most intriguing classical music events of the year that happens to be an Australian first.

Melbourne's fine music station, 3MBS, is staging the 3MBS Beethoven Marathon over nearly 14 hours on Sunday March 3 at BMW Edge in the City.

The marathon will be staged in seven two-hour sessions of four-five sonatas each, and the whole marathon will be broadcast live by 3MBS, relayed to the Fine Music network of radio stations across Australia, and will be available worldwide online.

That means 32 sonatas playing by 28 pianists over one day.

As a 3MBS announcer, I'm delighted that the Beethoven marathon has attracted such pre-eminent pianists as Michael Kieran Harvey, Ian Munro, Elyane Laussade, Kathryn Selby, Caroline Almonte, Anna Goldsworthy, Amir Farid, Stefan Cassomenos, Stephen Emmerson, Timothy Young, Kristian Chong, and winner of the 2012 Australian National Piano Award, Daniel de Borah.

Artists will perform on a nine-foot Shigeru concert grand provided by Kawai.

3MBS honorary patron Richard Divall is urging Melbourne music lovers to support the station in this historic event.

"3MBS is a vital voice and support for Melbourne and Australia's performing artists, and I am delighted that so many artists of such calibre have stepped up to donate their talent to keep our important station on air".

The Beethoven Marathon starts at 9am on March 3 and continues until 10 30 pm at BMW Edge, Federation Square. Tickets for the whole marathon or single sessions can be booked at artscentremelbourne.com.au or 1300 182 183.

- Julie Houghton

● Kristian Chong

30th Annual Awards on May 6 ■ The Green Room Awards Association has announce nominations for the Awards for excellence on the Melbourne stage.

Award winners will be announced at a ceremony to be held at the Comedy Theatre, Melbourne, at 7pm on Monday, May 6.

Alternative & Hybrid Performance Outstanding Performance 100% Melbourne - Rimini Protokoll (City of Melbourne) The River Eats - Justin Shoulder (Next Wave Festival) Shifting Ground - Zoe Scoglia (Arts House) The Box - Chamber Made Innovation and Excellence in Circus Blindscape - Skye Gellmann (Next Wave Festival) Dos and Duos 'Deux' - Stuart Christie and Kane Peterson (Melbourne Fringe Festival) One Night Stand - Mitchell Jones (Melbourne Fringe Festival) Carousel - One Trick Pony (Melbourne Fringe Festival) Outstanding Production - Creative Agency for Audiences Flyway - Elizabeth Dunn (Next Wave Festival) The Stream/The Boat/The Shore - Dan Koop (Next Wave Festival) Bingo Unit - Team Mess (Next Wave Festival) The Appointment with J Dark - Triage Live Arts Collective Fugue State - Jason Maling ★★★ Cabaret Production A Hip Hikers Guide to the Galaxy - Backwards Anorak Candice McQueen: Nasty! - Melbourne Cabaret Festival Tina C: Sorry Seems To Be the Hardest Word - Malthouse Theatre, Christopher Green, Julia Holt and the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Musical Direction James Baker - A Hip Hikers Guide to the Galaxy John Thorn - The Men My Mother Loved Tyson Legg - Showfolk Spanky and Robert Tripolino - Candice McQueen: Nasty!

Artiste Bob Downe - 20 Golden Greats Christine Johnston - RRAMP - the Collector, the Archivist & the Electrocrat Emilia Rusciano - Emilia Rusciano: The Musical Spanky - Candice McQueen: Nasty!

Yon - Mandaddy Innovation Aphrodite's Bordello Bild Lilly RRAMP DasShoku Shake Writing Michelle Brasier and Vince Milesi - A Hip Hikers Guide to the Jenny Wynter - An Unexpected Variety Show Spanky - Candice McQueen: Nasty!

Tommy Bradson - The Men My Mother Loved ★★★ Dance Betty Pounder Award for Choreography Frances Rings - Terrain (Bangarra Dance Theatre) Antony Hamilton - Black Project 1 and Keep Everything (Antony Hamilton & Chunky Move) Rafael Bonachela - 2 One Another (Sydney Dance Company) Female Dancer Lauren Langlois - Keep Everything (Chunky Move) Lilian Steiner - Supertone (Rennie McDougall) Atlanta Eke - Monster Body (Atlanta Eke) Vivienna Wong - Warumuk - In The Dark Night (The Australian Ballet) Natalie Allen - 2 One Another (Sydney Dance Company) Male Dancer Alistair Macindoe - Year's Work (Lucy Guerin Inc & Chunky Move) Andrew Killian - Year's Work (The Australian Ballet) Kaine Sultan-Babij - Terrain (Bangarra Dance Theatre) Jhuny-Boy Borja - Terrain (Bangarra Dance Theatre) James O'Hara - There's Definitely A Prince Involved (The Australian Ballet) Ensemble Chunky Move - An Act of Now Cast of Briwyant - Vicki Van Hout Bangarra Dance Theatre - Terrain Sydney Dance Company - 2 One Another ● Turn To Page 74

‘In The Middle Of The Night’

● Alex Pinder can be seen in La Mama Theatre’s In The Middle Of The Night until March 3.

■ Over many years the iconic La Mama Theatre in Carlton has been instrumental in introducing audiences to cultural and stylistic theatrical variations.

In The Middle Of The Night, based on work by the legendary Bengali poet-writer-musician Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941) continues that trend.

Using Indian and Pakistani fascination with ghosts, director Polash Larsen visits the often ignored art of simple story telling, weaving conscience, grief, taboos, ghosts , humour and those great attributes, love and loss, into a beautifully intimate evening of story telling.

Proudly defying the endless jokes about weather, Melbourne offers an unbeatable array of outside venue theatre during summer, and on this superb evening La Mama’s courtyard could not have been more romantic for this insightful ‘peep’ into Indian society’s attitudes towards women with a voice.

Competing at times with local café noises drifting over the fence, actor Alex Pinder managed to draw us into the world of Bengali customs .

In a typical Bengali suit he made a lovely picture under the overhang of courtyard leaves, and the coloured lights around the courtyard added to the personal feel and intimacy of this storytelling.

Pinder appeared a little under prepared during In The Middle Of The Night, but settled more easily into the second story, The Living And The Dead.

Larsen and Pinder’s adaptation of story to dramatic story telling suits the poetic style of Tagore’s original, and whimsically reflects on the human mind at work. The humour could not better be remembered than through some final words along the lines of “it took for her to die to realise that she had been alive….”

Season: Until March 3 at La Mama Courtyard, 205 Faraday Street, Carlton.

Times: Tue 7pm. Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat 10pm. Sun 4pm Tickets: $25 full/$15 concession Bookings: 9347 6142 www.lamama.com.au - Review by Maggie Morrison

Page 68 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Observer Showbiz

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Radio Confidential News from stations from around Victoria

CHANGING FACE OF RADIO

Country Crossroads

FOX’S MATT TILLEY SHAPES UP FOR 2013

info@country crossroads.com.au ● Big Breakfast Show. Southern FM 88.3.

Tues. 6am-9am.

Ratings due Rob Foenander

NEW EP FOR ADAM

■ The Adam Eckersley Band has release a four-track EP titled Should've Known Better.

The five-piece country rock outfit is described as having a musical palette of blues, rock, and gospel and have a healthy disregard for musical genre distinctions, it is said.

Adam is the husband of country music star Brooke McClymont and father of two-month-old Tiggy.

● Matt Tilley and Jo Stanley of Fox 101.9 ■ TV commercials featuring Fox 101.9 breakfast show pair Matt Tilley and Jo Stanley show a much changed male co-host.

Matt, 43, father-of-three, has lost a considerable amount of weight. He is a keen runner.

Matt has raised more than $500,000 for charity through his comedy CDs.

■ Final radio ratings data is being collected until Saturday (Feb. 23) for the first 2013 survey, which is due to be released on Tuesday, March 5.

There are eight surveys this year. Other release dates are April 9, May 21, July 2, August 20, September 24, November 4 and December 10.

Nice piece

McCLYMONTS IN VIC.

■ The McClymont sisters Brooke, Sam and Molly will commence a Victorian tour in April.

Billed as the Acoustic Harmony tour, the Aria Award winners will perform at York On Lilydale, Shoppingtown Hotel Doncaster, Hallam Hotel,and the Mathew Flinders Hotel.

More info at themcclymonts.net.au/tours/

BUNYIP FESTIVAL INDOORS

■ The 24th annual Bunyip Country Music Festival, on Sunday (Feb. 24), will be an indoor event this year.

Drainage work that is being done on the main oval at the recreation reserve has necessitated the move to the auditorium for only the third time since its inception.

Adam Harvey heads the list of local and interstate artists who will perform on the day.

● Matt Tilley, long ago

● Ross Stevenson and John Burns ■ 3AW breakfast hosts Ross Stevenson and John Burns were interviewed by Noel McMahon for The Age. The Fairfax newspaper did a nice job of promoting the Fairfax radio station.

ASH WEDNESDAY MEMORIES

VERANDAH MUSIC

r Observbei z Show

On WYN-FM

■ Ryan Egan has announced on social media that tormer 3RRR-FM Breakfaster Chris Hatzis will return to Melbourne to be the community station's new Program Manager. ● Observer Editor Ash Long was thumbing through his 1983 photo archives, and found the picture he took 30 years ago when the 3AW team visited the Macedon Hotel after the Ash Wednesday fires. From left: Ron Parker, David Mann, Ray Taylor, David McGee, station technician, Neville Wragg, Bruce Mansfield and Derryn Hinch behind the local publicans, John Blackman, Brian White, Denis O’Kane, Helen Jackson, Graham Walton, the Rev. Alex Kenworthy and musician Nigel Ross

Observer boys on the air

■ Observer movies-DVD specialist Jim Sherlock has added another radio station to his appearances, in addition to 3AW. Jim appears with Ron Bourke on the Get Up And Go Show at 8.30am Wednesdays on 3NRG 99.3FM Sunbury.

Editor Ash Long follows at 8.45am.

Harness racing expert Len Baker gives his tips at 1.30pm every Saturday on Melton station 97.9 FM, which can be ● Brett Chenoweth ■ There have been board-rom heard on 979fm.com.au divisions about the performance of Brett Chenoweth, CEO of the parent company of the Australian Radio Network, which operates Melbourne stations Mix 101.1 and Gold 104.3.

ARN's parent company APN late last week requested a trading halt, due to be lifted yesterday (Tues.) as the Observer went to press.

Major shareholder Independent News and Media was reported to have lost confidence in Chenoweth, and sought his removal. INM holds about 29 per cent of APN shares.

RRReturning

■ Country, bluegrass and folk music supporters can enjoy a relaxed afternoon of these styles being performed by local musicians and artists at the Dromana Community Hall.

Verandah Music, as it is billed, is held on the third Saturday of each month.

The event starts at 1pm and continues until until 5pm. For more info, contact Jack, 59835922 - Rob Foenander ■ Former Today Tonight Executive Producer Craig McPherson could be snapped up by the Nine or Ten networks within months, speculates Nick Tabakoff, Media Editor of The Australian. McPherson left the Seven Network quietly late last year.

No confidence

Vale Haydn ■ Former Brisbane radio announcer Haydn Sargent passed away on Thursday at the age of 77 after a long illness. Sargent became a household name in Brisbane through his talkback program on 4BC and 1970s TV career.

● Rob Richardson ■ Observer reader Rob Richardson is commencing his own weekly radio program on Werribee station WYN-FM 88.9.

Rob will host a 3pm-5pm show commencing on Monday (Feb. 25).

The station is streamed at wynfm.org.au - although it is not the easiest website to navigate.

Rob has previously assisted Observer colmunist Yvonne Lawrence with her Monday afternoon program on Whitehorse-Boroondara community station, 3WBC 94.1 FM. Melbourne

Observer

On This Day

Wednesday, Thursday, February 20 February 21

Friday, February 22

Saturday, February 23

Sunday, February 24

Monday, February 25

Tuesday, February 26

■ Fashion designer Gloria Vanderbilt was born in New York in 1934 (89).

Actor Sir Sidney Pottier was born in Miami, Florida, in 1927 (86).

Football commentator Neil Kerley was born in South Australia in 1934.

Actress Lisa Hemsley was born in 1968.

■ Lord Baden-Powell, founder of Scouts, was born in 1857. He died aged 83 in 1941.

Australian director and producer Ken G Hall was born in 1901.

He died aged 92.

US actor Robert Young (Father Knows Best) was born in 1907. He died aged 91 in 1998.

■ Former Australian Prime Minister Sir William McMahon was born in Sydney in 1908. He died aged 80 in 1988.

Actor Peter Fonda was born in New York in 1939 (72).

English actress Emily Blunt was born in London in 1981 (30). Her work includes Devil Wears Prada and Young Victoria.

■ US actor James Farentino was born in New York in 1938. He died aged 71 in 2012.

Australian actor, director and producer Phil Avalon (Philip Holbrow) was born in Newcastle in 1945 (68).

English actor Dennis Waterman was born in 1948 (65). He acted in Minder as Terry.

■ Happy birthday YOU! Actor Zeppo (Hebert) Marx was born in New York in 1901. He died aged 78 in 1979.

Ian ‘Pee Wee’ Wilson, one of the Delltones, was born in Sydney in 1940 (73).

George Harrison, one of The Beatles, was born in Liverpool in 1941. He died aged 58 in 2001.

■ Actor Jackie Gleason was born in New York in 1916. He died aged 71 in 1987.

Actor Tony Randall was born as Leonard Rosenberg in 1920.

US actress Betty Hutton was born in 1921. She died at 86.

Singer Fats Domino was born in New Orleans in 1928 (85).

■ Actor Kelsey Grammer was born in the Virgin Islands in 1955 (58).

American actor Christopher Atkins was born in New York in 1961 (52).

US actor William Baldwin, younger brother of Alec, was born in New York in 1963 (50).

Singer Nina Simone was born in 1933 in Tryon, North Carolina.

Thanks to GREG NEWMAN of the Birthday Bulletin for assistance with birthday and anniversary dates.

Find out more at www.birthdaybulletin.com.au

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, February 20, 2013 - Page 69

Observer TV, Radio, Theatre Showbiz Latest Melbourne show business news - without fear or favour The Spoiler VIDEO VAULT OPENS The Masters

ShowBiz!

For Those Who Have Lost The Plot

Neighbours ■ 6.30pm. Weeknights. Eleven.

■ Monday, February 25. Priya hopes the harassment she was suffering is over; Callum makes a play to win the affections of Rani; and Mason Turner's return home reuslts in turmoil.

■ Tuesday, February 26. Exhausted by Angie's constant meddling and undermining, Sonya decides to throw her out of the house. Mason does a favour for Chris and makes it clear to Matt that all is not forgiven.

■ Wednesday, February 27. Chris gets his licence back but avoids talk about cars or driving; Susan comes to realise why her marriage with Karl failed and how it can be saved, but has her realisation come too late?

■ Thursday, February 28. Susan is desperate to track Karl down and stop him filing divorce papers while Andrew is hurt when Paul refuses to consider him for a vital new role at Lassiters.

■ Friday, March 1. Just as Priya and Ajay are becoming closer, Paul drops a bombshell. Karl and Susan are happily reunited but what convinced Susan to change her mind about divorcing Karl?

Home and Away ■ 7.00pm. Weeknights. Channel 7.

■ Monday, February 25. Natalie and Zac begin a romantic relationship, Brax has to fix the mess Heath has made of Angelo's in his absence and Jamie is intimidated into beating up Casey. Celia stays strong and leaves ■ Tuesday, February 26. Brax promises to help Heath win back visitation with Darcy, Indi and Romeo prove to themselves they can own their own business and Brax is furious with Zac for letting Casey be beaten up. Liam steals money from the till, and Kyle catches him ■ Wednesday, February 27. Liam continues lifting money from the till. Romeo gives Casey a job at the gym. April worries she's pushed Dex into going back to uni too soon. Dex is angry that April doesn't believe in him.

■ Thursday, February 28. Dex and April take a break. Jett can't physically defend himself against Tilda because she is a girl. Spencer and Maddy are reunited and decide to stay in Summer Bay with Roo and Harvey. Spencer's dad arrives looking for him in the Bay. ■ Friday, March 1. Spencer and Maddy decide to stay in the Bay, Jett reveals he feels he deserves to be bullied and Rosie is starting to smother Sasha.

Green Room at a glance Arts Centre Melbourne 3 Arts House North Melbourne 3 The Australian Ballet 6 Bangarra Dance Theatre 4 Bell Shakespeare 3 Black Lung Theatre 2 Chamber Made 1 Chunky Move 7 fortyfivedownstairs 5 Four Larks 2 La Mama 1 Lucy Geurin Inc. 2 Malthouse 7 Malthouse & Belvoir Street 2 Malthouse & Int. Comedy Festival 1 Malthouse & Perth Theatre Co. 7 Malthouse & The Rabble 1 Malthouse & Windmill/State Theatre SA 1 Melbourne Cabaret Festival 1 Melbourne Fringe Festival 6 Melbourne Opera 3 Melbourne Theatre Company 17 MKA 7 MKA & La Mama 3 Next Wave Festival 5 Opera Australia 20 Red Stitch 2 Sydney Dance Company 3 Theatre Works 1 Theatre Works & Fraught Outfit 5 Victorian Opera 12

● Bruce Mansfield, Bert Newton and Ash Long on the set of Good Morning Australia, 1998.

■ A valuable snapshot of Melbourne and its people in the late 20th Century has been caught on video, and is now available free, online.

Observer Editor Ash Melbourne’s Best TV-Radio Critic Long has uploaded a number of episodes of the Further episodes are The 30-minute epiMansfield’s Melbourne being progressively up- sodes began on Optus TV program to his per- loaded, using You Tube. Channel 50 at 6pm weeksonal website:www.long.

The available episodes nights, about the time of com.au (click on TV) include interviews with the introduction of cable The TV section of the TV-radio pioneer Dan TV in Melbourne. website contains 18 whole Webb, radio legend Geoff The six-night-a-week programs, of the 550, that Manion, theatrical entre- episodes later transferred went to air in 1997-1999 preneur Kenn Brodziak, to Channel 31. on Optus Local Vision collector Rick Milne, soAlso uploaded are a and Channel 31. ciety hairdresser Edward number of Good Morning Long produced the Beale, 3AW partner Philip Australia segments in show, which was hosted Brady, comedian Mal which Mansfield and by 3AW Nightline host Meikle and organist Gor- Long appeared with TV Bruce Mansfield. don McKenzie. legend Bert Newton.

Veritas

INDEPENDENT THEATRE ■ Last year, new theatre company Mockingbird Theatre launched with the highly regarded The Laramie Project, at Chapel Off Chapel.

The company opens this year with the multi-award winning hit comedy/drama Blue/Orange, written by Joe Penhall and directed by Chris Baldock.

The narrative asks “who’s mad and who’s sane?” Two psychiatrists – one new and inexperienced, the other his well-established mentor – battle over the diagnosis and treatment of a young black man who claims to be the son of African dictator Idi Amin.

Race, mental illness and 21st century British life are issues tackled with insight and wit.

Performance season: February 28, March 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 at 8pm; March 3 at 5pm and March 9 at 2pm Venue: Broken Mirror Studios, 2C Staley Street, Brunswick.

Tickets: $40 full, $35 concession and Groups of 10+. All tix $25 on Tuesday, March 5.

Bookings: trybooking.com/39925 or email bookings@mockingbirdtheatre. com.au www.mockingbirdtheatre.com.au - Cheryl Threadgold

● Penny Baron in The Masters at La Mama Courthouse until February 24.

Photo: Andrew Wuttke ■ Glynis Angell, Penny Baron, Clare Bartholomew and Kate Kantor make up an award-winning group called The Business.

They have been performing since 1997, nationally and internationally, and have obviously gathered a group of appreciative followers.

Their latest work, a comedy called The Masters, depicts a group of four older male athletes on their way to the Budapest Masters Games to represent Australia.

Following a car accident they end up in the hospital emergency department instead.

The situation and story is depicted largely nonverbally and using physical comedy/clowning.

The program does not specify which of the actors plays which character but all four are accomplished physical artists who are given the opportunity to feature at different times – they all take full advantage of their opportunities.

The Masters is directed by Merophie Carr and the physical comedy direction by Neill Gladwin, both of whom have done a fine job.

There were a couple of opening night glitches, but the obviously talented and well-rehearsed ensemble did not let those glitches throw them at all.

The pace and timing of this piece were good and improved as the story unfolded which did make for more entertaining viewing.

The ‘sight gags’ just kept coming, with every opportunity taken to create another visual joke.

A particular favourite, without giving too much away, was the emergency surgery scene, which combined well-thought-out sound effects (Kelly Ryall design), mime, visual gags, illusion, running jokes and just plain absurdity.

Lighting also plays a role in moving the piece forward (Richard Vabre design).Glenda Roberts operates both sound and lighting with finesse.

The occasional interactions between her sound effects and the actors, add to the audience’s engagement in the show.

It was obvious from the frequent and loud laughter that the audience did enjoy this production. Because of the style of theatre it will not appeal to everyone.

However this is a production that is well worth seeing, with a guarantee that you will leave with a smile on your face.

Performance Season: Until February 24 at La Mama Courthouse, Drummond St Carlton Time: Tue – Sat 8pm. Sun 5pm Price: $25 Full | $15 Concession Bookings: Tickets available online www.lamama.com.au or 9347 6142 - Reviewed by Janine Chugg

Star Bursts

★ ★

● Christian Heath, Kane Felsinger, Richard Edge in Mockingbird Theatre’s production of Blue/Orange, opening on February 28 in Brunswick.

Photo: Justin Stephens, Love Actually Photography

International violinist André Riey has released his latest DVD/Blu-Ray, Happy Birthday, a 25year celebration of his Johann Strauss Orchestra A media call was held on Monday (Feb. 18) at Stephen Hennessy Art & Design , Prahran, for interviews with Brazilian visual artist Laura Lima, about her collaboration with Melbourne based Ranters Theatre. Artistic Director, Adriano Cortese, company member Paul Lum, lighting designer Stephen Hennessy and sound designer David Franzke of the work.

Page 70 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Observer Showbiz What’s Hot and What’s Not in Blu-Rays and DVDs

● Judy Davis and Woody Allen in To Rome With Love FILM: TO ROME WITH LOVE: Cast: Alec Baldwin, Penelope Cruz, Woody Allen, Judy Davis, Roberto Benigni.

Genre: Comedy.

Year: 2012.

Rating: M. Running Time: 112 Minutes.

Format: DVD and BLU-RAY. Stars: *** Verdict: Don't expect Woody Allen's To Rome With Love to do what he did for Paris in the magical Midnight In Paris. This romantic comedy follows four different predicaments of family, love and travel all set around the Eternal City. Surprisingly, it misses the breathtaking openness that Rome has to offer, and possibly tells one story too many. But it is filled with many wonderful Wood Allen trademark comic vignettes and performances, most notably Alec Baldwin, Penelope Cruz, and Roberto Benigni being famous for being famous, as well as Woody Allen himself in a welcome return pairing to the big screen with Judy Davis.

FILM: LAWLESS: Cast: Tom Hardy, Shia LaBeouf, Guy Pearce, Jessica Chastain.

Genre: Crime/Drama.

Year: 2012.

Rating: MA15+.

Running Time: 116 Minutes.

Format: DVD and BLU-RAY. Stars: ***1/2 Verdict: Set in 1931 Depression-era Virginia, a bootlegging family is threatened by a new deputy and other authorities who want a cut of their profits. Tom Hardy is a standout as the head of the gang trying to protect the family business, but things go from bad to worse when they go up against the corrupt and brutal newly appointed deputy, portrayed with chilling menace by Guy Pearce. Australian director John Hillcoat and Australian writer-composer Nick Cave [there previous work includes the outstanding 2005 Australian western-drama The Proposition] deliver strong results in this dark, moody and gritty crime drama.

FILM: KILLING THEM SOFTLY: Cast: Brad Pitt, James Gandolfini, Ray Liotta, Ben Mendelsohn.

Genre: Crime/Drama.

Year: 2012.

Rating: MA15+.

Running Time: 97 Minutes.

Format: DVD and BLU-RAY. Stars: **1/2 Verdict: Brad Pitt stars as an enforcer who is hired to restore order after three dumb guys rob a Mob protected card game, but things don't quite go to plan. Too much talk dominates this slow moving exercise in low life filled with unlikable characters and even more plodding pace, Brad Pitt does well under the circumstances, as does Australia's Ben Mendelsohn. But even at its too few peak moments, the dark low key approach, and obvious low budget, ultimately concludes in an unevenly emotional result when all is said and done.

FILM: ROSEMARY'S BABY: Cast: Mia Farrow, John Cassavetes, Ruth Gordon.

Genre: Horror/Thriller.

Year: 1968.

Rating: M. Running Time: 136 Minutes.

Format: DVD and BLU-RAY. Stars: ***** Verdict: Director Roman Polanski's delivered chilling results with landmark thriller of a young couple who move into a new apartment, only to be surrounded by peculiar neighbours and strange occurrences, and when the wife becomes mysteriously pregnant paranoia over the safety of her unborn child begins controlling her life. This groundbreaking mind-bending psychological shocker that delves into the occult will leave you off balance for days afterwards. Mia Farrow and John Cassavetes as the couple are right on the mark, but it is Ruth Gordon's Oscar winning performance is a pure delight. Filmed at the spectacular, and now infamous, Dakota building where John Lennon was murdered in 1980

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Movies, DVDs With Jim Sherlock and Aaron Rourke

ACADEMY AWARDS ■ This year sees another group of Oscar hopefuls, and for the first time in quite a while it seems like a rather even playing field, where a number of films could take home the top prize.

Lincoln leads the charge with 12 nominations, closely followed by Life Of Pi with 11.

Also garnering a number of nominations are Silver Linings Playbook (8), Les Miserables (8), Argo (7), Django Unchained (5), and Zero Dark Thirty (5).

Of course there were a number of omissions, most notably Kathryn Bigelow, Ben Affleck, A.J. Bayona, and Paul Thomas Anderson for Best Director; Ewan McGregor (The Impossible), Christopher Walken (Seven Psychopaths), and Leonardo DiCaprio (Django Unchained) for Best Supporting Actor; and the sheer lack of nominations for The Impossible and The Master.

Here are my reviews for the nine films nominated for Best Film. The Oscars will screen on Monday (Feb. 25).

Amour (M). 127 minutes. ****½.

Opens in selected cinemas on February 21.

Extraordinary drama from Michael Haneke (Hidden / Funny Games), who again challenges his audience.

Heartrending performance from veteran actress Emmanuelle Riva (Hiroshima, Mon Amour).

Would make an excellent, if emotionally draining, companion piece with Maurice Pialat's outstanding The Mouth Agape (1974).

Will win Best Foreign Film, although Kon-Tiki is an enthralling big screen experience.

Argo (M). 120 minutes. ****.Available on DVD and Blu-Ray on February 27.

Ben Affleck scores a bullseye again with his third directorial effort (after Gone, Baby Gone and The Town), based on an incredible true story.

Supremely well-crafted and cast to perfection. I wouldn't be surprised if we see a Director's Cut later on down the track.

Beasts Of The Southern Wild (M).

90 minutes. ***½. Now Available on DVD and Blu-Ray. Atmospheric drama set down South has first-rate location work, and a star-making turn by young Quvenzhane Wallis.

The film is a little uneven, as director Benh Zeitlin's overuse of shaky-cam diminishes the power of some scenes.

An intriguing blend of Terrence Malick's Days Of Heaven and the southern flavour of writer/director John Sayles (Matewan / Passionfish).

Django Unchained (MA). 165 minutes. ****½. Now Showing in Cinemas.

Quentin Tarantino's loving ode to the Spaghetti Western, as well as his personal affection for films like Mandingo and Drum, is an intoxicating, cinematic treat.

Unfairly criticised for its violence and use of a particular word, this is more confronting in its view of slavery than Steven Spielberg's spineless Lincoln, which sugarcoats genu-

inely upsetting subject matter.

I would love to see Christoph Waltz win his second Oscar for his invigorating performance.

Les Miserables (M). 158 minutes. *. Now Showing in Cinemas.

Torturous adaptation of the famous musical, which seems to go on, and on, and on.

Too many songs, no soul, and makes the fatal mistake of shooting the story as if you were watching a stage musical, making the whole endeavour feel completely redundant.

Both Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe are solid.

Life Of Pi 3D (PG). 127 minutes. ****. Now Showing in Cinemas.

Director Ang Lee brings Yann Martel's best-selling novel to vivid, eye-popping life, weaving fantasy and drama to unforgettable effect.

This, like Hugo, should win a number of technical awards, and is a definite front-runner for Best Film. Has to be seen in 3D. Lincoln (M). 150 minutes. **. Now Showing in Cinemas.

Soft-centred, sentimental look at one of the most important moments in U.S political history; the abolition of slavery.

Despite Daniel Day Lewis's best efforts, we never see Lincoln as a living, breathing character, instead more like a museum exhibit, posing and speechifying at any given moment. Important material like this shouldn't feel so bland.

Silver Linings Playbook (M). 122 minutes. ****. Now Showing in Cinemas.

A cinematic rarity; a romantic comedy with substance. Screenwriter/director David O. Russell (The Fighter / Three Kings) adapts the popular novel with confidence, intelligence, and heart.

The entire cast shines, with a career-best performance from Bradley Cooper, and offers Robert De Niro's best work in years. Jennifer Lawrence's performance is certainly Oscar-worthy.

Zero Dark Thirty (M). 157 minutes. ****½. Now Showing in Cinemas.

Utterly absorbing look at the hunt for Osama Bin Laden, and how it obsessed one person for almost 10 years.

Jessica Chastain is marvellous, Mark Boal's screenplay is intricately structured, and the whole thing is executed with maximum conviction, including the tense and convincing finale.

Comparable to David Fincher's exceptional Zodiac (2007). It is a crime that director Kathryn Bigelow was not nominated, as her work here is nothing short of brilliant.

My Tips : Best Film - Argo. Best Director - Ang Lee. Best Actor - Daniel Day Lewis. Best Actress - Jennifer Lawrence. Best Supporting Actor Tommy Lee Jones. Best Supporting Actress - Anne Hathaway. Best Foreign Film - Amour. Best Animated Film - Frankenweenie. Best Original Screenplay - Django Unchained. Best Adapted Screenplay - Argo. Best Visual Effects - Life Of Pi. Best Cinematography - Life Of Pi. - Aaron Rourke

Top 10 Lists THE AUSTRALIAN BOX OFFICE TOP TEN: 1. HANSEL & GRETEL: WITCH HUNTERS. 2. THE SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK. 3. DJANGO UNCHAINED. 4. LINCOLN. 5. FLIGHT. 6. ZERO DARK THIRTY. 7. MOVIE 43.

8. LIFE OF PI. 9.LES MISERABLES. 10. THE IMPOSSIBLE. NEW RELEASES AND COMING SOON TO CINEMAS AROUND AUSTRALIA: FEBRUARY 14: ANNA KARENINA, SAFE HAVEN, THE SWEENEY, WEST OF MEMPHIS. FEBRUARY 21: AMOUR, BEAUTIFUL CREATURES, CIRQUE DU SOLEIL: WORLDS AWAY, PLAYING FOR KEEPS, ROMAN POLANSKI: A FILM MEMOIR, THE COLLECTION, THE LAST STAND, KAI PO CHE. THE DVD TOP RENTAL & SELLERS: 1. KILLING THEM SOFTLY [Crime/ Drama/Brad Pitt, Ray Liotta, James Gandolfini].

2. BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD [Drama/Dwight Henry, Quvenzhane Wallis].

3. LOOPER [Action/Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Bruce Willis, Emily Blunt].

4. LAWLESS [Drama/Tom Hardy, Shia LaBeouf, Jessica Chastain, Guy Pearce].

5. THE EXPENDABLES 2 [Action/ Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Bruce Willis].

6. TED: Extended Edition [Comedy/Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, Seth MacFarlane].

7. HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA [Animated/Comedy].

8. THE DARK KNIGHT RISES [Action/Crime/Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Tom Hardy].

9. ICE AGE 4: CONTINENTIAL DRIFT [Animated/Comedy/Ray Romano, Denis Leary].

10. MADAGASCAR 3: Europe's Most Wanted [Family/Animated].

Also: BRAVE, THE WORDS, THE MENTAL, THE POSSESSION, THE WATCH, RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION, LOCKOUT, TOTAL RECALL, SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN, MOONRISE KINGDOM. NEW RELEASE HIGHLIGHTS ON DVD THIS WEEK: ON THE ROAD [Drama/Garrett Hedlund, Sam Riley, Kristen Stewart].

TO ROME WITH LOVE [Comedy/ Romance/Woody Allen, Judy Davis, Alec Baldwin].

STRUCK BY LIGHTNING [Comedy/ Rebel Wilson, Dermot Mulroney].

THE STORY OF FILM [Documentary/15 Part/15 Hour Epic MiniSeries].

THERE BE DRAGONS: Blood and Country [Drama/Wes Bentley, Dougray Scott].

THE LAST SUPPER [Drama/Jennifer Beals/Gil Bellows].

HUNKY DORY [Drama/Minnie Friver, Robert pugh].

NEW & RE-RELEASE CLASSICS ON DVD HIGHLIGHTS: WHAT WOMEN WANT [Comedy/ Mel Gibson, Helen Hunt].

Turn To Page 75

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, February 20, 2013 - Page 71

Observer Showbiz AUDITIONS ■ Moreland Theatre Company: Arsenic and Old Lace (by Joseph Kesseling) February 21 at St Ambrose Hall, Dawson Street, Brunswick. Director: Rick Barry. Audition bookings: 0422 489 409 or email rickbarry@hotmail.com ■ Strathmore Theatrical Arts Group (STAG): The Merry Widows (by Cenarth Fox), February 25, 26 at 7.30pm. Director: Mel de Bono. Bookings: 9467 1502. Read the script at www.foxplays.com under Preview Scripts.

■ Heidelberg Theatre Company: August: Osage County (by Tracy Lotts) February 24, 25 at 36 Turnham Avenue, Rosanna.

Director: Joan Moriarty. Audition bookings: 9459 3495.

■ ARC Theatre: Singin' in the Rain, February 28 at 7.15pm, March 2 at 10.25an, Dance audition March 3, at the Banyule Theatre, Buckingham Drive, Heidelberg. Enquiries: 0410 742 942.

■ Brighton Theatre Company: Picasso at the Lapin Agile (by Steve Martin) March 3 at 6.00pm, March 4 at 7.30pm at Brighton Theatre Company, Corner Wilson and Carpenter Streets, Brighton. Director: Jeff Saliba. Audition Bookings: 0407 851 714.

■ Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre Company Inc.: Laughter on the 23rd Floor, March 11, 12 at 7.30pm at the Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre, 39 Castella Street, Lilydale. Director: Kevin Trask. Audition Bookings: 0417 517 210.

■ Peridot Theatre Inc: One Act Play Season - Play 1, Leap Year, (by Allan Curtis) March 15 at 7.00pm at the Unicorn Theatre, Mt Waverley Secondary College, Lechte Street, Mt Waverley. Director: Robyn Kelly. Audition bookings: 9898 6316.

■ Altona City Theatre: Spring Awakening March 18, 19, 20.

More information on www.altonacitytheatre.com.au ■ Dionysus Theatre: Lysistrata (by Aristophanes) April 20, 21 at McLelland College Performing Arts Centre, Belar Avenue, Karingal. Director: Emma Sproule. Enquiries: 9786 8839.

Local Theatre With Cheryl Threadgold

Melbourne

Observer

‘TALKING HEADS’ AT W’TOWN SHOWS

SHOWS

■ Williamstown Little Theatre: Talking Heads (by Alan Bennett.

Until February 23 at 2 Albert Street, Williamstown. Evening performances 8.15pm, Tues to Sat, 5.00pm Sun. Director: Shirley Sydenham. Tickets: $25/$22. Bookings: 9885 9678.

■ Brighton Theatre Company: The Female of the Species (by Joanna Murray-Smith), February 21 - March 9 at the Clocktower Theatre, Corner Wilson and Carpenter Streets, Brighton. Director: Deborah Fabbro. Tickets: $20/$18. Bookings: 1300 752 126.

Email: enquiries@brightontheatre.com.au ■ Peridot Theatre: Busybody Until February 23 at the Unicorn Theatre, Lechte Road,Mt Waverley. Bookings: www.peridottheatre.com.au ■ The Basin Theatre Company: Murdered to Death (by Peter Gordon) Until March 9 (Thursdays to Saturdays at 8.15pm, Sundays at 2.15pm) at The Basin Theatre, Doongalla Road, The Basin. Director: Don Harwood. Tickets: $25 (incl. complimentary parking, program, pre-show sherries, tea/coffee at interval, wine/fruit juice/supper with cast after the show. Bookings: 1300n784 886 (between 7pm and 9pm) or www.thebasintheatre.org.au ■ Eltham Little Theatre: Katerina (by Paula J Armstrong) Until March 2 at 8.00pm at 2.00pm at the Eltham Performing Arts Centre, 1603 Main Road, Research. Director: Sam Chappel. Tickets: $22.50 full price, $17.50 concession. Bookings: 9437 1574 www.elthamlittletheatre.org.au ■ Malvern Theatre Company: Death and the Maiden (by Ariel Dorfman) February 22 - March 9 at 29 Burke Road, East Malvern.

Director: Kris Weber. Tickets: $20/$18. Bookings: 1300 131552 www.malverntheatre.com.au ■ Heidelberg Theatre Company: The Dresser (by Ronald Harwood) February 21 - March 9 at 36 Turnham Avenue, Rosanna. Matinees February 24 and March 3 at 2.00pm. Director: Karen Wakeham. Tickets: $25/$22. Bookings: 9457 4117 www.htc.org.au

■ Pep Productions: The Boys (by Gordon Graham) Until February 23 at 8.00pm at the Doncaster Playhouse, 679 Doncaster Road, Doncaster. Tickets: $22. Bookings: http:// www.trybooking.com/CFFW Email: pep.productions06@gmail.com Warning: This production contains adult themes and offensive language.

■ The 1812 Theatre: The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen's Guild Dramatic Society Murder Mystery February 28 - March 23 at 3-5 Rose Street, Upper Ferntree Gully.

Tickets: $25. Bookings: 9758 3964 www.1812theatre.com.au ■ Waterdale Players: The Witches of Eastwick March 1 - 9 at the Rivergum Theatre, Parade College, 1436 Plenty Road, Bundoora. Director: James Terry; Musical Director: Rachel Edwards; Choreeeographer: Gaynor Borlas. Tickets: $24/$20.

Bookings: www.waterdale.org.au/woe ■ Beaumaris Theatre: The Odd Couple (by Neil Simon) March 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23 at 8.00pm and March 17 at 5.00pm at Beaumaris Theatre, 82 Wells Road, Beaumaris. Director: Peter Newling.

Tickets: $25/$22.

Bookings: www.beaumaristheatre.com.au or 9583 6896.

- Cheryl Threadgold

Education program launched ■ Arts Centre Melbourne this week released the nation’s largest education program for performing arts, music technology and new media.

“Arts Centre Melbourne is in its fifth year of a strategic partnership with the Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development to promote and encourage community partnerships that support student awareness of civics and citizenship,” said Minister for Education Martin Dixon.

More than 50,000 students are engaged in the programs each year.

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Page 72 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, February 20, 2013 Melbourne

Observer

y,

,

Lovatts Crossword No 3 Across

1. Beaten convincingly 6. Mischief-makers 11. Residing 15. War memorial 20. Uncooked 21. Yellow pigment 22. Cremation vase 23. Heater 24. South Africa's capital 25. Consecrated as priest 27. Coat-of-arms study 28. Window ledge 29. Take shot from cover 31. Light beams 32. Bouffant or beehive 36. Opening 37. Struggle 38. Rise 41. Strength 44. Capital of Japan 45. Unwanted plants 48. Toronto's province 49. View 52. Trendiest 56. Dangers 57. Deadened 58. Divert (4,3) 61. Make beloved 62. Arctic people 63. Addis ..., Ethiopia 64. More uncivil 65. Shockingly 66. Pasta dumpling dish 67. Utilised (resources) 71. Bathroom floor & wall specialist 73. Welsh dog 75. Enter uninvited 80. Citizen of Glasgow or Edinburgh 82. Movie hero, ... Jones 83. Singer, ... Redding 85. House 86. Source 88. Italian seaport 90. Body preserver 91. Derogatory 93. Up to date, ... of 94. Penetrating 95. Operation, ... procedure 96. Innocence 97. Synthetic fertiliser ingredient 99. Plant, ... vera 100. Gave therapy to 104. Refurbish with weapons 105. Baby grand 106. Lose feathers 107. Greets 111. Brawl 113. Mr & ...

114. Filled pastry 115. Live 117. Transfix 118. Authority (3-2) 121. Evade decision 122. Snouts 125. Vehicle's wheel cover 126. Assents with head 127. In contact with 129. Raise stakes, up the ...

131. Jane Austen novel 132. Staffed 135. Muslim leader 136. Energy 139. False 140. XC 144. Animal welfare group (1,1,1,1,1) 145. Spurs 146. Ruined Inca city, ... Picchu 147. Amaze

Across 148. Polluted shower (4,4) 149. Peru beast 150. Cambodia's ... Penh 152. Poisonous tree-snake 154. Midday sleep 157. Minor quarrel 158. Young frog 162. Soccer net 163. Saunters 166. Bright (future) 167. Soviet states (1,1,1,1) 169. Tennis great, Arthur ...

171. Home stereo (2-2) 172. Turkey's capital 173. Kingdom 175. Frenzied 176. Below 179. Travelling stagehand 180. Fashion sense 182. Anticipated arrival (1,1,1) 183. Universal age 184. Great sea 186. Supposition 189. Holy city 190. Distance runner 191. West African land 192. Guided (to seat) 196. Female horse 197. Spine part 198. Misbehaves (5,2) 199. Assignments 201. Picketing workers 202. Flat bun 203. The ... Tenors 204. Lesson 205. Sufficient 208. Large indefinite number 210. Flute category 211. ..., taut & terrific 212. Constantly busy (2,3,2) 213. Musical symbol 215. Chroniclers 219. Donkeys 221. Dot/dash code 223. Repainted (car) 227. Ape or monkey 228. Bestows (knowledge) 230. Elsewhere excuse 231. Nocturnal hours 232. Dealt with 233. More sacred 234. Least frank 238. Yeast 239. Hoped (to) 240. Complied, ... by the rules 243. Off correct path 246. Reporter 247. Moroccan port 250. Angry & flustered (3,2) 251. Refute 253. Unites 256. Alexander's ... Band 257. Frisks (about) 258. Rationally 262. ... & papa 263. Duchess of York 266. Calf flesh 268. Fine particles 269. Keep up 270. Tonic (4-2-2) 271. Unorthodox person 272. Football arbiter 273. River creature 274. Just a minute, wait a ...

275. Sang alpine-style 276. Prisoner's shackles (3,5) 277. Thaws 278. Poured

Down 1. Portable lamp 2. Half-diameters 3. Steam burn 4. Cupid 5. Bold 7. Adversaries 8. Glorify 9. Boneless lamb cut 10. Peruse quickly 11. Lower 12. Man/beast 13. Slimmest 14. Sets alight 15. Dr Jekyll's alter ego (2,4) 16. ... & twos 17. Russian mountains 18. Actor, ... Murphy 19. Trifled 24. Conspire 26. Tied 30. Vexed 33. Loss of memory 34. Straighten again 35. Foreboding 38. Normally (2,1,4) 39. Wilder (of scheme) 40. Small lumps 42. Promissory notes (1,1,2) 43. Genetic mixes 46. Conclusions 47. Indian pulse dish 49. Plug converter 50. June birthstone 51. Mortification 53. From Mali or Kenya 54. Downy duck 55. Wood-eating insect 59. Keeping clear of 60. Fruit farms 67. Water outlet 68. Regret 69. Bewitch 70. Seclusion 72. Schedule 74. Irons or putters (4,5) 76. Meekness 77. Of the skull 78. Side of sofa 79. Wasp relatives 81. Likens 84. Cuts off 87. Mutually held (2,6) 89. Row 91. Informal photo 92. Austrian or Czech 98. Double bike 101. Cuban dance 102. Anew 103. Edits (text) 108. Within reach (2,4) 109. Built-up (zone) 110. Praise highly 112. Ridiculously 116. Give permanent fame to 119. Agreement to end hostilities 120. Doleful 123. Female hormone 124. Wipe out 128. Cotton tops (1-6)

Down 132. Gestures without words 133. Rock face recess 134. Explode 137. Longed (for) 138. Potato variety 141. Koran religion 142. Internet message 143. Long time 151. Hassle 153. Scottish children 155. Internal 156. Group of bees 159. Tank's weaponry 160. Boards 161. Tear jaggedly 164. Find fault with 165. Select band 168. Smudging 170. Ravenously 173. Recall 174. Familiarises 177. Insulin takers 178. Edge of highway 181. Stencil 185. Bidding sales 186. Teen idol (3,4) 187. Stretchy tape 188. Underwriter 193. Secret collector 194. Willingly 195. Feared greatly 200. Closing 201. System of drainage 206. Romantic US falls 207. Home for terminally-ill 208. Tiny amounts of time 209. Vigilantly 211. Tsar's wife 214. Naval escort ship 216. As a group (2,5) 217. Speaking publicly 218. Falters 220. Space film genre (3-2) 222. Radio acknowledgment 224. Mercury & Pluto 225. Born Free author, Joy ...

226. Optic orb 229. Cleaning agent, caustic ...

232. Meals list 235. Sticking quality 236. Bury (corpse) 237. Blue gem 241. Annoying 242. Aimless person 244. Game hunter 245. Bowmen 248. Bigoted 249. Light-rail car 251. Please reply (1,1,1,1) 252. Smiled brightly 253. Humid 254. Writer, ... Dahl 255. On a par 259. Rink 260. Decree 261. Coupled 262. Inconsiderable 264. Colony insects 265. Copied 267. Frilly fabric

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Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, February 9, 2011 - Page 73

Solution on Page 63

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Page 74 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Observer Showbiz

● From Page 67 Design Niklas Pajanti - An Act of Now (Lighting), Chunky Move Robin Fox - Keep Everything (Audio Visual), Chunky Move Benjamin Cisterne - Year's Work - Sweedeedee (Lighting/Set), The Australian Ballet; Keep Everything (Lighting), Chunky Move; 2 One Another (Lighting), Sydney Dance Company Olaf Meyer - Black Project 1 (Video Projection), Anthony Hamilton Damien Cooper - The Narrative of Nothing (Lighting), The Australian Ballet Sound and Music Oren Ambarchi - Weather (Composition), Lucy Guerin Inc. Ria Soemardjo - Opal Vapour (Composition and Performance), Jade Dewi Tyas Tungall Helen Mountford and Ria Soemardjo - Tower Suites (Composition and Performance), Ros Warby Brett Dean - The Narrative of Nothing (Composition), The Australian Ballet Concept and Realisation Hiatus - Fiona Bryant Black Project 1 - Antony Hamilton An Act of Now - Chunky Move There's Definitely a Prince Involved – The Australian Ballet ★★★ Music Theatre Actress In A Leading Role Lisa McCune - South Pacific Silvie Paladino - Chess Anita Louise Combe - A Chorus Line Fem Belling - From Genesis to Broadway Actor in a Leading Role Geoffrey Rush - A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum Wayne Scott-Kermond - The Producers Matt Hetherington - Promises, Promises Simon Gleeson - Chess Martin Crewes - Chess Actor in a Supporting Role Rohan Brown - A Chorus Line Todd McKenney - Annie Mitchel Butel - A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum Hugh Sheridan - A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum Actress in a Supporting Role Julie Lea Goodwin - Annie Christie Whelan - A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum Chelsea Plumley - Promises, Promises Alinta Chidzey - Chess Choreography Andrew Hallsworth - The Producers Andrew Hallsworth - A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum Tony Bartuccio - Chess Michael Bennet and Bob Avian - A Chorus Line Design - Lighting and/or Sound Michael Waters - A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum (sound) System Sound - Chess (sound) System Sound - The Producers (sound) Simon Gregory - A Chorus Line (sound) Paul Jackson & Robert Cuddon - Chess (Lighting) Design - Set and/or Costume Krystal Giddings - Chess (Costume) Shaun Gurton - Chess (Set Design) Kenneth Poy - Annie (Set Design) Direction Dean Bryant andAndrew Hallsworth - The Producers Simon Phillips - A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum Gale Edwards - Chess Musical Direction Peter Casey - Annie Andrew Greene - South Pacific Vanessa Scammell - The Producers David Piper – Chess Outstanding Musical Production The Producers – The Production Company A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum – John Frost with Power Arts, Elizabeth Williams, Two Left Feet Productions, Latitude Link, Anita Waxman/Tom Dokton, Jane Bergeré, The Dodgers Chess - The Production Company A Chorus Line – Tim Lawson by special arrangement with John Breglio

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Green Room Nominations Monday, May 6. At the Comedy Theatre, Melbourne.

Nominations at a glance Annie 4 Chess 12 Chorus Line 5 From Genesis to Broadway 1 A Funny Thing Happened

on the way to the Forum 8 The Producers 6 Promises, Promises 2 South Pacific 2

A number of individual achievement awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award will be made on the night. ★★★ Opera Direction Cameron Menzies - Contact! (Arts Centre Melbourne) Gale Edwards - Salome (Opera Australia) Suzanne Chaundy - Cosi Fan Tutte (Melbourne Opera) John Bell - The Rake's Progress (Victorian Opera) Nicki Wendt - Midnight Son (Victorian Opera) Production Contact! - Arts Centre Melbourne Midnight Son - Victorian Opera Lucia di Lammermoor - Opera Australia Salome - Opera Australia Design Julie Lynch (Costumes), Brian Thomson (Set) and John Rayment (Lighting) - Salome (Opera Australia) George Tyspin (Set) and Julie Taymor (Costume) - The Magic Flute (Opera Australia) Christina Logan-Bell (Set & Costumes) - Cosi Fan Tutte (Melbourne Opera) Leon Krasenstein (Set & Costumes) and Matt Scott (Lighting) - The Rake's Progress (Victorian Opera) Conductor Simon Hewitt - Salome (Opera Australia) Giovanni Reggioli - Madama Butterfly (Opera Australia) Andrea Licata - Turandot (Opera Australia) Richard Gill - The Rake's Progress (Victorian Opera) Female Principal Emma Matthews (Lucia) - Lucia di Lammermoor (Opera Australia) Sian Pendry (Rosina) - The Barber of Seville (Opera Australia) Hiromi Omura (Cio-Cio-San) - Madama Butterfly (Opera Australia) Cheryl Barker (Salome) - Salome (Opera Australia) Jessica Aszodi (Rose) - What Next? (Victorian Opera) Male Principal Giorgio Caoduro (Enrico) - Lucia di Lammermoor (Opera Australia) Andrew Jones (Papageno) - The Magic Flute (Opera Australia) Andrew Collis (Nick Shadow) - The Rake's Progress (Victorian Opera) Byron Watson (Ray Clarke) - Midnight Son (Victorian Opera) Jose Carbo (Figaro) - The Barber of Seville (Opera Australia) Female Support Sian Pendry (Suzuki) - Madama Butterfly (Opera Australia) Dimity Shepherd (Cherubino) - The Marriage of Figaro (Victorian Opera) Nicole Car (Valencienne) - The Merry Widow (Opera Australia) Roxanne Hislop (Baba the Turk) - The Rake's Progress (Victorian Opera) Male Support David Corcoran (Narraboth) - Salome (Opera Australia) Phillip Calcagno (Marcello) - La Boheme (Melbourne Opera) Jonathon Bode (Mother Goose) - The Rake's Progress (Victorian Opera) Kanen Breen (Monostatos) - The Magic Flute (Opera Australia) Thomas Hall (Jokanaan) - Salome (Opera Australia) NewAustralian Opera Contact! - Angus Grant (Composer & Librettist) with Kate Schmitt (Librettist)

Midnight Son - Gordon Kerry (Composer) and Louis Nowra (Librettist) ★★★ Theatre - Companies FemaleActor Alison Bell (Sylvia) - Tribes (MTC) Helen Thompson (Pearl) - Summer of the Seventeenth Doll (MTC) Erin Jean Norvill (Waitress/Angie) - Top Girls (MTC) Ruth Sancho Hurerga (Servant) - Blood Wedding (Malthouse) Natasha Herbert (Performer) - On The Misconception of Oedipus (Malthouse & Perth Theatre Co.) MaleActor Colin Friels (Mark Rothko) - Red (MTC) Darren Gilshennin (Elling) - Elling (MTC) Ewen Leslie (Performer) - The Wild Duck (Malthouse) Anthony Phelan (Performer) - The Wild Duck (Malthouse) Richard Pyros (Performer) - On The Misconception of Oedipus (Malthouse & Perth Theatre Co.) Lighting Design Damien Cooper - Summer of the Seventeenth Doll (MTC) Damien Cooper - Macbeth (Bell Shakespeare) Richard Vabre - Beyond the Neck (Red Stitch Actors Theatre) Geoff Cobham (Lighting Design) & Chris More (Video Design) Pinocchio (Malthouse, Windmill & State SA Theatre Co.) Matt Scott - Red (MTC) Set and/or Costume Design Dale Ferguson (Set & Costume) - Top Girls (MTC) Christina Smith (Set) - Elling (MTC) Andrew Bailey - Years Work - On The Production of Monsters (Set); The Golden Dragon (Set & Costume) and Happy Ending (Set) Zoë Atkinson (Set & Costume) - On The Misconception of Oedipus (Malthouse & Perth Theatre Co.) Anna Cordingley (Set & Costume Design) Macbeth (Bell Shakespeare) Sound/Composition Paul Charlier (Sound) & Alan John (Composition) - Summer of the Seventeenth Doll (MTC) Elizabeth Drake (Composition & Sound Design) - Top Girls (MTC) Kelly Ryall (Composition & Sound Design) On The Misconception of Oedipus (Malthouse & Perth Theatre Co.) David Franzke (Composition & Sound Design) - Pompeii L.A. (Malthouse) Kelly Ryall (Composition & Sound Design) Macbeth (Bell Shakespeare) Direction Jenny Kemp - Top Girls (MTC) Neil Armfield - Summer of the Seventeenth Doll (MTC) Simon Stone - The Wild Duck (Malthouse, A Belvoir Production) Zoë Atkinson, Matthew Lutton and Tom Wright - Devising On The Misconception of Oedipus Pamela Rabe - Elling (MTC) Production Top Girls by Caryl Churchill - MTC Summer of the Seventeenth Doll by Ray Lawler - MTC On The Misconception of Oedipus devised by Zoë Atkinson, Matthew Lutton and Tom Wright – Malthouse & Perth Theatre Co. Pompeii L.A. by Declan Greene - Malthouse The Wild Duck after Ibsen, written by Simon Stone with Chris Ryan - Malthouse

Ensemble Cast of On The Misconception of Oedipus Malthouse & Perth Theatre Co. Cast of The Golden Dragon - MTC Lawler Studio Cast of The Wild Duck - Malthouse Theatre, A Belvoir Production Cast of Pompeii L.A. - Malthouse Theatre Cast of The Pride - Red Stitch Actors Theatre ★★★ Theatre - Independent Male Performer Richard Bligh (performer) - The McNeil Project (fortyfivedownstairs) Stuart Bowden (performer) - The Beast (Melbourne Fringe, Tuxedo Cat) Tom Considine (Falstaff) - Henry IV Part 1 (fortyfivedownstairs) Charles Purcell (performer) - Show Me Yours I'll Show You Mine (Melbourne Fringe, Rehearsal Room, North Melbourne Town Hall) Cain Thompson (performer) - The McNeil Project (fortyfivedownstairs) Female Performer Whitney Boyd (performer) - sex.violence. blood. gore. (MKA North Melbourne Season) Georgina Capper (performer) - The Unspoken Word Is Joe (MKA/ La Mama) Nikki Shiels (performer) - The Unspoken Word Is Joe (MKA/La Mama) Karen Sibbing (Alma) - Persona (Fraught Outfit and Theatre Works) Janine Watson (performer) - Triangle (MKA North Melbourne Season) Set and/or Costume Design Chloe Greaves (Costume) – The Pineapple Sorrows (La Mama) Suitcase Royale (Set & Costume) - Zombatland (Artshouse North Melbourne Town Hall) Dayna Morrissey (Set & Costume) - Persona (Fraught Outfit and Theatre Works) Eugyeene Teh (Set) - Triangle (MKA North Melbourne Season) Zoe Rouse (Set & Costume) - I Am The Wind (Turtle Lab and Public Front at Collingwood Underground Arts Park) Lighting Design Danny Pettingill - Persona (Fraught Outfit and Theatre Works) Rob Sowinski - Triangle (MKA North Melbourne Season) Govin Ruben - Doku Rai (The Black Lung Theatre and Whaling Firm, Liurai Fo'er & Galaxy at Arts House) Matthew Adey - I Am The Wind (Turtle Lab and Public Front at Collingwood Underground Arts Park) Tom Willis - The Temptation of St Antony (Four Larks) Sound/Music Claudio Tocco (Sound Design) - sex. violence. blood. gore. (MKA North Melbourne Season) Russell Goldsmith (Sound Design) - The Rule of Three (Melbourne Fringe, Elbow Room) Emma Valente (Sound Design) - Orlando (The Rabble, Malthouse Helium Season) Suitcase Royale (Music Composition and Performance) - Zombatland (Arts House, North Melbourne Town Hall) Ellen Warkentine and Mat Sweeney (Music Composition) - The Temptation of St Antony (Four Larks) Direction Rob Conkie - Henry IV Part 1 (fortyfive-downstairs) Adena Jacobs - Persona (Fraught Outfit and Theatre Works) Declan Greene - The Unspoken Word is Joe (MKA/ La Mama) Tania Dickson - Triangle (MKA North Melbourne Season) Production Henry IV Part 1 - fortyfivedownstairs Persona - Fraught Outfit and Theatre Works Triangle - MKA North Melbourne Season Doku Rai - The Black Lung Theatre and Whaling Firm, Liurai Fo'er & Galaxy at Arts House Hullo My Name Is - Theatre Works Writing Stuart Bowden - The Beast Glyn Roberts - Triangle Tim Spencer - Show Me Yours, I'll Show You Mine

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Showbiz Extra ■ From Page 70

Top 10 Lists THE CRIMSON PIRATE [Action/Adventure/ Burt Lancaster, Eva Bartok].

BUCK ROGERS [1939/Serial/Buster Crabbe].

NEW RELEASE TELEVISION, DOCUMENTARY AND MUSIC DVD HIGHLIGHTS: KING: Season Two. ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS: The Complete Seventh Season.

BERGERAC: Season Six. THIS IS ROLLER DERBY. JOAN RIVERS: Don't Start With Me. NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC: Doomsday Preppers - The Final Countdown.

HORIZON IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE: Season One. IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF TITTIN [Documentary].

LORD PETER IMSEY: Series Two. TOP BLU-RAY RENTAL & SELLERS: 1. BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD [Drama/Dwight Henry, Quvenzhane Wallis].

2. KILLING THEM SOFTLY [Crime/Drama/ Brad Pitt, Ray Liotta, James Gandolfini].

3. THE EXPENDABLES 2 [Action/Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Bruce Willis].

4. LAWLESS [Drama/Tom Hardy, Shia LaBeouf, Jessica Chastain, Guy Pearce].

5. THE DARK KNIGHT RISES [Action/Crime/ Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Tom Hardy].

6. LOOPER [Action/Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Bruce Willis, Emily Blunt].

7. TED: Extended Edition [Comedy/Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, Seth MacFarlane].

8. HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 3D + 2D Blu Ray [Animated/Comedy].

9. ICE AGE 4: CONTINENTIAL DRIFT 3D [Animated/Comedy/Ray Romano, Denis Leary].

10. MADAGASCAR 3: Europe's Most Wanted [Family/Animated].

Also: The Words, Brave, Mental, The Possession, The Watch, Resident Evil: Retribution 3D + 2D, Lockout, Moonrise Kingdom, Avatar 3D+DVD, Finding Nemo 3D. NEW RELEASE HIGHLIGHTS ON BLU-RAY THIS WEEK: ON THE ROAD [Drama/Garrett Hedlund, Sam Riley, Kristen Stewart].

TO ROME WITH LOVE [Comedy/Romance/ Woody Allen, Judy Davis, Alec Baldwin].

WHAT WOMEN WANT [Comedy/Mel Gibson, Helen Hunt].

STRUCK BY LIGHTNING [Comedy/Rebel Wilson, Dermot Mulroney].

THERE BE DRAGONS: Blood and Country [Drama/Wes Bentley, Dougray Scott].

- James Sherlock

Nicole Denton ■ Our Melbourne Observer report (Feb. 6) incorrectly named 3AW Deputy Content Director Nicole Denton as Nicole Bland. Our apologies for this error made in production.

A Murder Is Announced ■ Another of Agatha Christie’s ‘whodunits’, A Murder Is Announced, will tour Melbourne later this year.

This follows the success of the 60th Anniversary tour of The Mousetrap The show will be presented by Michael Coppel, Louise Withers and Linda Bewick in association with Mousetrap Productions Ltd, London.

The show will be presented at The Comedy Theatre from October 30-December 4.

Tickets go on sale in May. Casting will commence in May with the announcement of the full company and creative team will follow, says publicist J P Bolton.

A Murder Is Announced was the fourth of 12 novels to feature the character of Miss Marple and the first of Christie’s works featuring the “sensibly heeled” sleuth on stage or screen.

This 1977 adaptation is by Leslie Darbon who also adapted Christie’s Cards On The Table for the stage.

- Terry Radford

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, February 20, 2013 - Page 75

Melbourne

Observer Victorian Sport

BLUE DIAMOND TUSSLE

■ The money has come for the two favourites over the past week in Saturday's Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield.

The flying filly from South Australia, Miracles of Life, is just favourite in front of the big filly from the Peter Snowden camp, Guelph.

The name Guelph certainly got to me, to the extent that I bailed up Paul Snowden, Peter's son, near the scales at Caulfield and asked him what the name meant.

He explained a lady is employed by the Darley Camp to name their horses and they like to keep them to one name.

Would you believe Guelph is a place in Canada?

When I queried him why a place in Canada, he just shrugged his shoulders.

If your are at Caulfield this Saturday for the Blue Diamond, have a look at Guelph in the mounting yard; she is a big rangy filly.

Then have a look at Miracles of Life, who is a midget with great speed and a big heart.

There is nothing between them in the betting with the stablemate of Guelph, Metastasio, on the third line of betting.

All have been impressive in their wins.

Miracles Of Life, ran a second quicker than the colt's when she scored over1000 metres in her Diamond Preview win, prior to that she had won her two previous starts by a total of 15 lengths.

On top of this if Miracles of Life can win the Classic it will be the first time that a

Ted Ryan

female rider has booted home the winner.

Lauren Stokovic has been on her in all her wins, and the owners and trainer have stuck with the two fillies to get the chocolates.

It is one of the first times I can recall where the fillies have dominated the betting on the Blue Diamond.

They all appear to be the ones to beat come Saturday.

My query about Miracles of Life is like most of them she hasn't won over more than 1050 metres, and I feel the stronger runners may get her in the final 150 metres.

As I mentioned earlier, Guelph is a bit strong filly and she won over 1100 metres at Caulfield and impresses me greatly.

Also she is the top tip of the Darley horses participating.

Of the colts Thermal Current from the Moody camp, ran a great third in his Preview when he nearly fell at the turn, while

Crack A Roadie is strong and will have no trouble with the 1200metres.

I am going to stick with Guelph; she was most impressive and is getting stronger.

Mornington Cup tops ■ The Mornington Racing Club was certainly on a winner when a good crowd of racegoers and families attended their Centrebet Cup meeting.

Although the attendance figures weren't the greatest, I am sure that the Club would be very happy with the day.

I hosted on the day and there didn't appear to be any trouble of any nature and everyone, especially families, enjoyed the day soaked in brilliant sunshine and first class racing.

The Club was thrilled to have the big betting agency, Centrebet, sponsor their Cup.

Observer Racing

As each patron entered they were given the option of picking up a free Centrebet stubby holder, which was a nice thought.

I recall at the last Geelong Cup back in October, the Centrebet people did a similar thing in all the marquees.

Someone mentioned to me, that it cost the betting agency something like $30,000 for the gesture.

The racing was keen with the jumper, come top flat performer, Tuscan Fire , ridden brilliantly by the Cups king Glen Boss, continuing on his merry way.

From his past six runs, he has won three and been placed second on two occasions.

Ballarat trainer Dan O'Sullivan, has done a marvellous job with the six year-old.

Over the jumps, he has had six starts for two wins and two thirds and with the

● Guelph Photo by SLICKPIX, phone 9354 5754 Cup win took his stake cost of $ 2.8 million. earnings to over $½The synthetic surmillion. face contains particles Mornington's next each molecularly meeting will be on bonded with a wax Easter Sunday March coating; the track af31, which is always a fords trainers at big day.

Caulfield the ability to For the first time on work horses on a cliCup Day I tried the mate-tolerant surface new freeway and all I that's mimics turf, can say it is a beauty, courtesy of its unique it only took me 45- root structure and verminutess when I got tical drainage system.

Polytrack differs onto the Eastlink at Ringwood, before I greatly from synthetic got off at Bungower tracks previously laid Rd, even quicker in Australia through its composition and coming back.

One thing though, drainage system, you get zapped a few making it the first actimes with the tolls tual climate-tolerant, along Eastlink until turf mimicking suryou hit the Peninsula face.

Although this is the Freeway turn-off which is, Thank God, first Polytrack to be installed in Australia, free.

But try it, it is mag- the company has more than 30 years' nificent. experience in the synthetic surface industry and has used every bit of that experience in producing a suitable ■ Caulfield has be- training surface which come the first Austra- is consistent, safe and lian racecourse to in- sympathetic to the stall a Polytrack at a working racehorse.

Caulfield’s polytrack

● Tuscan Fire Photo by SLICKPIX, phone 9354 5754

Hall of Fame at the Grand Hyatt ● Thermal Current Photo by SLICKPIX, phone 9354 5754

■ The Australian Racing Hall of Fame 2013 induction ceremony will be held at Melbourne’s Grand Hyatt tomorrow night (Thurs., Feb. 21). A capacity crowd will attend the dinner, and it will be broadcast live on Sky Racing World. The one-hour coverage on Channel 520 will span the announcement of the inductees from 8.30pm.

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Melbourne

Observer Victorian Sport

THE TOP FOOTY NEWS STORIES

■ What are the “news stories” since December?

We can eliminate the stupid misdemeanours of the idiot players who cannot hold their drink, turn loudmouth and aggressive and embarrass themselves, their families, clubs and our great game.

And what we used to term ‘the March champions’.

If you believe the club reports we are in for the biggest competitive season ever with clubs thrilled with the fitness, improvement, strength of old and newcomers and at least 15 clubs believe they will make the finals!

It would be remiss not to mention the horrific injuries to players in the pre-season training mishaps including 22 years Anthony Morabito who has had a knee reconstruction and now ‘Lars’ surgery but could still be back for Fremantle before season end.

I’m concerned with three major issues the players drug testing ‘three strikes and you’re out’ policy.

The never-ending alleged ‘tanking’

by Melbourne FC back in 2009, and the AFL pay explosion to players, coaches, umpires and its effect on the future of the struggling AFL Senior Clubs, the Draft and the $ explosion to the Salary Cap and the equalisation format.

In particular the cost effect to outer metropolitan and country leagues and their clubs.

(What you are about to read in the next paragraph was written to be sent last Thursday before the “sensational statements by Federal Justice Minister Jason Clare and Minister for Sport Kate Lundy who both stated “today is (what they both called) The Blackest Day in Australian sport” as they presented the 12 months investigation, 40-page report, into the use of Illegal Drugs in our sports.

Melbourne

Observer

Harry Beitzel www.squidoo.com/harrybeitzel It was presented by the Australian Crime Commission and the Australian Sports Anti Doping Authority (ASADA).

It dominated every media outlet as the ‘front page lead story’.

As I listened and watched, it boiled down to the two real culprits were the NRL and our game the AFL, I got angry.

Twelve months investigation and all there was to show for it seemed to be a rushed, 40 pages scrambled report, not 2000 pages – which contained little substance, No names of guilty clubs or players, all innuendo pointing the bone at our indigenous game. I was in Melbourne for the weekend so I decided to hold off.)

(Quote: “The Players/Club Drug Testings – First warning with penalties to prove “a clean, free of drugs, health” test before playing his next

Showbiz Extra

game. Second test failure player automatically disqualified for two years.

Must prove a drug free body before re-instatement. Another strike out for life.

All ‘Health/Strength/Fitness Supplements’ to be approved by the AFL Drug squad before being administered by an “individual or club”.

Penalty for breach if found guilty, even though the ‘supplement’ may have passed the drug testing, 12 months out of game.

I’m informed the Lactaway Supplement, which was first reported as the “illegal banned substance” has UK approval and was used by the British cyclists in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and passed all tests.”) My penalties are now out dated as “Sports Blackest Day” took over.

Last Thursday’s deliberately planned commotion has slowly run out of legs.

Now administrators and respected journalists are demanding facts and figures from both the ASADA and ACC. The respected voice of the former NSW Premier John Fahey who heads up the WorldAnti-DopingAgency has told his counterparts in Australia to urgently produce the facts. The AFL will be hoping nothing sinister pops up.

‘TANKING’. The AFL has painted itself into a corner over this outdated “tanking” issue. It appears it cannot win in a legal battle so the best way out of the dilemma is to immediately drop the issue, clean the slate with a warning to all clubs, severe future penalties will apply.

‘FINANCIALPAYEXPLOSION’ – it could bankrupt future AFL plans to develop our game nationally and Internationally. The AFL MUST include ALL football departments salaries, especially coaches, and expenditure as part of the Salary Cap. If we don’t move quickly we shall never realise a genuine competitive competition because ‘the rich clubs will get richer” and the poor clubs will never win the Gold Edge Premiership Cup. The 18 Clubs must, as near as practicable, all contest on a ‘level

If you believe the club reports we are in for the biggest competitive season ever with clubs thrilled with the fitness, improvement, strength of old and newcomers and at least 15 clubs believe they will make the finals! playing field’. This situation has changed dramatically in the past three seasons from one or two player millionaires to eight in 2012.

Further with Ross Lyon’s alleged $1.6mil four seasons contract with Fremantle has elevated coaches salaries and probably Carlton’s Mick Malthouse, Hawks Alastair Clarkson, Magpies Nathan Buckley, Essendon’s James Hird would be touching the Million $s while Swans’ John Longmire, WCE’s John Worsfold and Brisbane’s Michael Voss would be thanking Lyon for gifting them a $2-3 hundred thousand increase.

Most important is the financing of Auskick and the minor leagues and competitions in the metropolitan and country areas.

The AFL must shoulder this responsibility as generational, famous clubs drop out because of the costs.

- “I’m Harry Beitzel and That’s My Say!”

by James Sherlock

THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK

■ I was moved when I read Di Rolle's column last week and the extraordinary effect and impression Anne Frank's book had on Di, as it has done so with millions around the world since its first publication in 1947.

One of the reasons Audrey Hepburn refused the title role in the film version of the book was because of the affect it on her, but would become an active supporter of the Anne Frank Foundation.

Shelley Winters would donate her Academy Award for her performance in The Diary of Anne Frank to the Anne Frank house, where it sits on display, and Ben Kingsley carried a photo of Anne Frank in his pocket at all times during the filming of Schindler's List, often looking at it and saying: 'this is for you, Anne.'

Back in the mid 1960s when I was a young boy in Tally-Ho Boy's Home my Mother came to visit me one weekend, and it was during this visit that she gave me a slightly battered paperback book called The Diary of Anne Frank, and implored me to read it.

The book sat in my clothes locker for a number of weeks until one day when one of the cottage parents of where I was housed spotted it and

asked where I got it from. After explaining, I was then asked if I had read it, and when I replied 'no,' it was followed by a very sharp and resounding 'well, you better get to it.'

A few days later I sat under a large tree in the garden and began to read, and I would subsequently read at least two more times.

I was eventually able to visit the Anne Frank house, and two decades after first reading the book I found myself living and working at the notorious extermination facility of Auschwitz-Birkenau in Poland.

Soon after settling in to my accommodation at Auschwitz 1, one of the first questions I asked my permanent assistant and interpreter, Roman, was where Anne Frank was housed at Auschwitz II: Birkenau, the extermination camp.

It was here at Auschwitz-Birkenau that Anne Frank and her sister were interned in 1944 before being shipped off to Bergen-Belsen where they died in 1945.

The next day before starting work I drove over to Birkenau and went to the compound where Anne and her sister were housed.

It was snowing heavily outside and 20+ degrees below zero, and as I sat there for at least and hour or more, I

could only wonder about the horrific situation that Anne and her sister, along with so many others, were in.

That afternoon I drove into Krakow and purchased three large sheathes of flowers, which was no easy task because I couldn't speak a word of Polish, and immediately upon my return to Auschwitz-Birkenau I placed two of them in the barracks for her and her sister, and the third for all the others who had to endure such horror.

I also placed a stone next to each sheathe.

I would visit the hut many times during my lengthy time at AuschwitzBirkenau, it was not an easy time and became a life changing experience, but one thing that gave me the encouragement and drive to continue, were the haunting and unforgettable words in a small paperback book written by an extraordinary little girl who had found a well deserved place in my heart two decades before.

And like my Mother, I implore anyone to read The Diary of Anne Frank if they have not done so, and to visit the Anne Frank Exhibition at the Jewish Holocaust Centre in Elsternwick.

Thank you Di for telling your story.

- Jim Sherlock

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

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