Melbourne Observer. 120222C. February 22, 2012. Part C. Pages 41-64

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, February 22, 2012 - Page 41

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Observer Showbiz Every Week in the Melbourne Observer

Radio Confidential: 3AW celebrates ........... Page 42 Veritas: My Kitchen Rules, it does! .................. Page 43 The Spoiler: Next week’s ‘soaps’ plotlines ............ Page 43 Jim and Aaron: Best DVD-film selections ................. Page 54 Cheryl Threadgold: Community Theatre - it’s a wrap ...... Page 51 PLUS THE LOVATT”S MEGA CROSSWORD

GREEN ROOM AWARDS 10th anniversary celebrations for fortyfivedownstairs

● Melbourne’s fortyfivedownstairs celebrates its tenth anniversary on February 25.

■ On a hot summer evening, 10 years ago, fortyfivedownstairs was officially launched as Melbourne’s newest arts venue.

It was a gallery by day and theatre by night, situated on one floor of a 19th Century rag trade building in Flinders Lane’s gallery precinct.

Hundreds of exhibitions, musical recitals, theatrical performances, readings, debates and other entertaining events later, fortyfivedownstairs has grown in size and reputation, establishing itself as one of Melbourne’s most renowned and multi-faceted venues, supporting independent, experimental and thought-provoking art forms. fortyfivedownstairs is a not-for-profit and unfunded operation and its survival has been due to the dedication of its staff and volunteers, its Board (including Chair and cofounder, arts philanthropist Julian Burnside QC) as well as the committed support of a small number of private donors.

Artistic Director and co-founder, Mary Lou Jelbart is proud of fortyfivedownstairs’ philosophy, supporting innovative and upcoming artists as if they are part of the family.

“We do our utmost for all artists who produce work in the space – we want to make every success for them, not make money from them.”

In celebration of 10 marvellous years, fortyfivedownstairs presents the fortyfivedownstairs Anniversary Showcase.

This performance party will include many of the early musical performers, including Fiona Roake (performer), Faye Bendrups and Guillermo Anad (tango musicians), Michael Dalley (performer), Benn Bennett (cabaret performer), Henry Manetta (singer), the inimitable Moira Finucane (The Burlesque Hour)… and more.

The fortyfivedownstairs Anniversary Showcase will be a memorable night of revelry. Proceeds from the event will go to the performers.

Venue: fortyfivedownstairs, 45 Flinders Lane, Melbourne Date: Saturday, February 25 Time: 7:30pm (duration 180 minutes) Tickets: $45 (includes complimentary drink on arrival) Bookings: 9662 9966 or online at fortyfivedownstairs.com - Cheryl Theadgold

● Mary Lou Jelbart

■ Nominations for the 2012 Green Room Awards Association were announced yesterday (Tues.), as the Observer went to press.

The Green Room Awards Association recognises the worldclass cabaret, dance, musical theatre, opera and theatre productions that grace Melbourne’s stages every year, and awards outstanding work in these industries at its annual awards ceremony.

Association Awards NEWWRITING FOR THEAUSTRALIAN STAGE Angus Cerini, Save For Crying (La Mama) Patricia Cornelius, Taxi (D & Associates / Big West Festival) Raimondo Cortese, The Dream Life of Butterflies (Melbourne Theatre Company) Lally Katz, A Golem Story (Malthouse Theatre) Paige Rattray, Dan Giovannoni & Amelia Evans, Cut Snake (Arthur / Melbourne Fringe) Alternative & Hybrid Performance OUTSTANDINGPRODUCTION Aviary (BalletLab / Melbourne Festival) Cantina (Cantina Company / Strut & Fret / Arts Centre Melbourne) Taxi (D & Associates / Big West Festival) Who’s The Best? (post / STC / Arts House) CONCEPTUALREALISATION At The Sans Hotel (Nicola Gunn / La Mama Theatre) Room 328 (Daniel Santangeli & Genevieve Trace / Melbourne Fringe Festival) This Is It (Team Mess / Arts House) Thousands (Matthew Day / Dance Massive) Who’s The Best? (post / STC / Arts House) ENSEMBLEPERFORMANCE Cantina (Cantina Company / Strut & Fret / Arts Centre Melbourne) Ganesh Versus The Third Reich (Back to Back Theatre / Malthouse Theatre) Room 328 (Daniel Santangeli & Genevieve Trace / Melbourne Fringe Festival) Taxi (D & Associates / Big West Festival) Who’s The Best? (post / STC / Arts House) DESIGN INTEGRATION Connected (Chunky Move / Malthouse Theatre / Dance Massive) Small Odysseys (Rawcus / Arts House) Special (The Rabble / La Mama) MISE-EN-SCENE Cantina (Cantina Company / Strut & Fret / Arts Centre Melbourne) Room 328 (Daniel Santangeli & Genevieve Trace / Melbourne Fringe Festival) Taxi (D & Associates / Big West Festival) The Blind Date Project (Brendan O'Connell / Big One Little One Projects) Thrashing Without Looking (Martyn Coutts, Elizabeth Dunn, Tristan Meecham, Lara Thoms & Willoh S. Weiland / Thea Baumann / Aphids) Turn To Page 53

Been and Seen

● Entertainer Deborah Conway and producer Laura Waters were pictured at the opening of Bakini Restaurant in St Kilda Rd. this week

Step back to a world of elegance, Cheek to Chic

● Hilary Henshaw in Cheek To Chic ■ Fancy a fine martini, elegant company and an era when café society meant style, panache and a great night out?

Then Cheek to Chic is going to hit the spot for you.

Featuring the work of those two masters of music and elegance, Noel Coward and Cole Porter, singer Hilary Henshaw is teaming up with master of the keys, Peter Hurley, in a tribute to these iconic 20th century musical names.

I am a long-time devotee of both Coward and Porter, and love a good tune and witty lyrics.

Happening on Thursday and Friday, March 1-2, at 8pm at cabaret venue Downstairs At Alma's, Cheek To Chic will feature timeless favourites, including Coward's I'll See You Again, Mrs Worthington and A Room With A View, together with Porter's Let's Do It, Night And Day and some lesser-known surprises that the audience will enjoy.

Hilary is thrilled to be doing the premiere performances of the new show before it goes on tour later in the year.

"The unique genius of Noel and Cole is as irresistible to audiences today as it was when their work first delighted an adoring public from the 1920s onwards,' Hilary said.

Hilary's own career has had plenty of highlights, as she has worked with most of Australia's major theatrical organisations, as well as in television and in the recording studio.

Peter Hurley is a highly respected pianist and theatre organist and has worked with the ABC, the State Orchestra of Victoria and even had his own show in the Melbourne Comedy Festival.

With these two theatrical mates combining their considerable talents, an entertaining night is assured.

Bookings: Downstairs at Alma's, 1 Wilks St, North Caulfield. www.downstairsatalmas.com or 0467 903 345 - Julie Houghton

Page 42 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Observer Showbiz

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Radio Confidential News from stations from around Victoria

3AW CELEBRATES 80 YEARS

Country Crossroads

BIG ANNIVERSARY FOR TOP TALK STATION

info@country crossroads.com.au ● Big Breakfast Show.

Southern FM 88.3.

Tues. 6am-9am. ● Country Crossroads.

Casey Radio 97.7.

Wed. 10pm-12 Midnight

Some of the women on 3AW over the years have included Yvonne Lawrence, Cecile Blackman, Nola Day, Billie Karen, Muriel Cooper, Margaret Fletcher, Caroline Wilson, Martha Gardener, Louise Kashonier Carnegie, Jane Holmes, Vi Greehalf, Mickie de Stoop, Lois Lathlean and Corinne Kirby.

Rob Foenander

JAYCO DONATES $10,000

■ Gerry Ryan, Managing Director of Jayco Caravans Australia, has donated $10,000 to the Australian Academy of Country Music.

The donation was partly raised ($6000) from gold coin donations from the Jayco Thong Giveaways at Jayco Place during the Tamworth Country Music Festival. Jayco rounded the figure up to $10,000 for the Academy.

Jayco have had a long partnership with Australian Country Music and been major sponsors of the annual Tamworth Festival.

JETTY ROAD, BIG WINNERS

■ Victorian band Jetty Road took home five awards at this years Whittlesea Country Music Festival held on February 11.

The Victorian and National awards are a major feature of the annual festival and their win comes on the back of their Golden Guitar Award from this year’s Tamworth Festival.

Other Victorian winners at Whittlesea included Carter & Carter and the Davidson Brothers whilst Adam Toms was awarded the prestigious male Vvcalist of the year title.

BRONZE STATUE FOR REG

■ A series of fund raising concerts are planned to help raise $75,000 needed to erect a life sized bronze statue of the late country music star Reg Lindsay.

The statue of the well remembered and loved entertainer will be built and situated in Cessnock.

Reg had many achievements including his1969 hit song Armstrong. He hosted the Reg Lindsay Country Hour TV show in 1964 which screened for eight years, followed by Country Homestead, which ran for four years and earned him four Logie awards.

EDGE OF THE WORLD

■ Cooper West is yet another up and coming Victoria country music artist certainly attracting a lot of interest.

His new five track CD Edge Of The World is described as songs factual to life, ranging from broken hearts, to people who have affected him emotionally and vividly.

The self-written CD includes styles ranging from rockabilly to country and country rock More info at www.cooperwest.com.au - Rob Foenander

r Observbei z Show

Wednesday, February 22 ■ 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.

● Fred Tupper ■ Melbourne radio names from the past will be remembered today (Wed.) as 3AW celebrates the 80th anniversary of its first transmission.

An opening ceremony was held at Her Majesty’s Theatre on February 22, 1932. The studios of the radio station were situated at the theatre, owned by one of the partners, J C Williamsons.

Other partners in the enterprise were Allans music company and The Age. Their initials contributed to the AW callsign.

Famous names over the years have included ‘Nicky’ (Clifford Whitta), Fred Tupper, Nancy Lee, Brother Tom, Norman Banks, Ormsby Wilkins, Claudia Wright, Geoff Manion, Peter James and Mary Hardy.

● Claudia Wright

Hundreds remembered

● Norman Banks moved to 3AW in 1952 In more recent years, the 3AW line-up included presenters including Mark Day, Murray Nicol, John Blackman, Graham Evans, Ralphe Rickman, Ray Lawrence, John Worthy, Doug Aiton, the Rev. Alex Kenworthy, Hal Todd, Keith McGowan, Ernie Sigley, Denise Drysdale, Patrick Tennison and Kris Pickering.

At ABC Reunion

Rollcall of radio stars ■ Big 3AW names of the past included Bob Dyer, Jack Davey, Harry Beitzel, Rex Hunt, Terry Dear, John Masters, Joyce and Gwen Varley, Happy Hammond, Bob Horsfall, Tony Charlton, Judy Willing, Ray Chapman, David McGee,Arthur Lyster and Mal Verco.

■ Others to grace the 3AW studios in Latrobe St, Bank St in South Melbourne, or Docklands, have included Ray Taylor, Evan Green and Yolanta Novak, Niall Brennan, Paul Barber, Graeme Walton, Ross Campbell, Kate Baillieu, Gary Meadows, Annette Allison, Sam Lipski, Dean Matters, Leveda Lynch and Paul Jennings.

Most of the 2012 line-up have long connections with the station: Ross Stevenson, who first partnered with Denis Donoghue, then Dean Banks, prior to John Burns; Neil Mitchell (who joined 3AW from The Herald wth Steve Price); Denis Walter; Derryn Hinch; Gerard Healy and Dwayne Russell; Bruce Mansfield and Philip Brady; Andrew McLaren and Mark Petkovic.

■ A special anniversary edition of Remember When was broadcast on Sunday to trace the history of 3AW.

● Andrew McLaren in his early days at 3AW

Latest ratings ● Bill Passick and Cheryl Threadgold were at the ABC Reunion Club at Caulfield on Friday. Bill worked for ABC News on radio and television in Melbourne.

Cheryl worked with ABC Publicity for more than 20 years.

■ The first radio ratings survey results for 2012 will be released tomorrow (Thurs.).

As well as market leaders, there will close scrutiny on figures for the new line-ups at Gold 104.3 and Mix 101.1.

Melbourne

Observer

On This Day Thursday, February 23

Friday, February 24

Saturday, February 25

Sunday, February 26

Monday, February 27

Tuesday, February 28

■ 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 (71).

English actress Emily Blunt was born in London in 1981 (29). 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 (67).

English actor Dennis Waterman was born in 1948 (64). 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 (72).

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 (84).

■ Singer Guy Mitchell (Al Cernik) was born in Yugoslavia in 1927. He died aged 72 in 1999.

Actress Joanne Woodward was born in 1920 (82). She is the widow of Paul Newman.

Dame Elizabeth Taylor was born in London in 1932. She died last year.

Singer Peter Andrew was born in 1973 (39).

■ US actress Gavin MacLeod was born as Alan See in 1931 (81).

Racing driver Mario Andretti was born in Italy in 1940 (72).

Politician Mark Latham is 51.

Film director Vincente Minnelli was born in 1910. He died aged 76 in 1986. He married Judy Garland.

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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ShowBiz!

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, February 22, 2012 - Page 43

Observer Showbiz

Distance is no barrier to learning

● Melbourne Youth Strings ■ Ten-year-old string player Olivia Di Cocco is hot stuff on her violin.

Olivia, of Caroline Springs, is the first winner of an Invergowrie Scholarship, which will cover her expenses so the talented young musician can be part of the year-long prestigious Melbourne Youth Music program.

The scholarships are financed by the Invergowrie Foundation, a charitable trust that advances the education of girls and women in Victoria, and are for girls from 7-25 years who live in Melbourne's outer suburbs or regional centres.

Winners like Olivia will receive free tuition in a 32-week program of regular rehearsals and tutorials, specialist workshops and public performances, plus an individual lesson from a female player from the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.

Talented musicians living within easy reach of the CBD have opportunities that are often just not affordable to girls living a long way from the city, and Melbourne Youth Music aims to redress this.

The scholarships are open to girls who play orchestral string instruments, bassoon, horn or a low brass instrument.

Young Olivia is a great example of a determined young lady - she began violin lessons more than four years ago when she was five, by fronting up to the school office and asking for the form to enrol for music tuition!

And where might this opportunity take Olivia and other girls like her? Olivia had the answer to that, when mother Raelene put the question to her.

"I would like to teach violin and travel the world with my violin, Mum!" So if you have a daughter, granddaughter, niece, or young neighbour who might be a star in the making, tell them to apply to Melbourne Youth Music for a scholarship application by ringing 9376 8988.

Melbourne Youth Music also has current vacancies for both boys and girls who play stringed instruments, in its fine ensembles Melbourne Youth Strings and Melbourne Youth Junior Strings.

MYM general manager Chris Clark says that studies have shown that music increases the intellectual abilities of children, as well as developing social and team working skills.

Both MYM string ensembles place great emphasis on young players having a great social experience, as well as developing their musical skills.

For further information call Melbourne Youth Music on 9376 8988.

- Julie Houghton

Talk with Mary Theatre Companies: Advertise your show and auditions across Victoria.

Contact Mary Richardson at the Melbourne Observer.

1-800 231 311

TV, Radio, Theatre Latest Melbourne show business news - without fear or favour

THIRD GOLDEN GUITAR

■ Congratulations to the Davidson Brothers who were announced as winners of the 2012 Australian Country Music Award for Instrumental of the Year at a ceremony held during the Tamworth Country Music Festival.

Known as the Golden Guitar awards, this is the highest accolade presented in Australian country music.

The Davidson Brothers also won this section in 2009 and 2010 and this third win evens their tally with Keith Urban in this category.

A panel of industry judges chooses the top five finalists, from which the Country Music Association of Australia professional members then vote on the top five tracks to determine the winner.

The Davidson Brothers' winning track is an instrumental titled OMFG, from their popular 2011 album release, Here To Stay.

As a special treat for fans, the Davidson Brothers, Hamish and Lachlan, will be playing a free Sunday residency at The Retreat Hotel, 280 Sydney Rd., Brunswick on Sunday (Feb. 26) from 4pm, before heading to the Port Fairy Folk Festival in March.

- Cheryl Threadgold

Showbiz Italian style

The Spoiler For Those Who Have Lost The Plot

Home and Away

● The Davidson Brothers, Hamish (left) and Lachlan, winners of the Instrumental of the Year section in the 2012 Australian Country Music Awards.

Nominations for the Green Room Awards are traditionally announced on the third Tuesday of February, proclaimed as Theatre Day by the then Lord Mayor, Winsome McCaughey, in 1987.

After hosting a number of Green Room Awards ceremonies, the Association says that it is thrilled to announce that Julia Zemiro will come on as Patron of the Awards.

Zemiro said "The Green Room Awards is my favourite night in the Melbourne theatre calendar - the performing arts community all in one room celebrating the work we make for Melbourne's stages. “

■ 7.00pm. Weeknights. Channel 7.

■ Monday, February 27. John tries to retrieve some of the money he lost back from Dennis, Harvey makes Roo reapply for the position she quit, and Tyler causes more trouble for Casey.

■ Tuesday, February 28. Brax warns Tyler not to bring down Casey with his reckless behaviour. April is forced to think about the sacrifices she makes for Heath and Gina and John's future is unclear.

■ Wednesday, February 29. April and Heath make an official decision about their relationship, Liam helps Irene with her music, and Ruby catches Brax in the arms of another woman.

■ Thursday, March 1. The Walker house is searched

by Police, Romeo's past comes back to haunt him and Ruby tries to forgive Brax after seeing him with another woman.

■ Friday, March 2. Roo prepares her pitch, only to find out Harvey lied and Romeo decides to join the Surf Comp circuit. Sasha is finding it hard to deal with the drama her family is being put through.

Media Flashes ■ The Nine Network’s head of news and current affairs, Mark Calvert, has resigned. He is being replaced by Darren Wick.

■ Channel Seven won the first week of ratings.

■ Rupert Murdoch is to launch a Sunday Sun newspaper, replacing News Of The World.

■ What’s with the Seven Wardrobe Dept? What was with Jennifer Keyte’s red dress on Sunday, and Peter Mitchell’s yellow ties?

Observer Special Reader Offer

CD: Matthew Field ‘Love Story’ $20 including postage and handling

● Melbourne’s showbiz crowd have flocked to the new Bakini Restaurant and Cafe in St Kilda Rd. Enjoying the Italian style were Tony Bertucchio and Silvie Paladino

Green Room list ■ The Green Room Awards Association yesterday (Tues.) announced the nominations for their 2011 Awards for excellence on the Melbourne stage for the period January 1 through to December 31.

The list starts on Page 41 and continues on Page 53 in this week’s Melbourne Observer.

Awards recipients will be announced a ceremony to be held on a date and at a venue (to be advised) next month.

Tim Stitz, newly appointed President of the Association, stated: “The Green Room Awards stand for excellence on Melbourne's stages.

“Since 1982 they have been at the heart of the Melbourne's theatre community and we continue to celebrate the diversity, creativity and outstanding range of work on offer in Melbourne.

“The Green Room Awards are Australia's premier, peer-assessed arts awards".

Melbourne pianist Matthew Field has released his latest CD, Love Story. The CD includes 13 great tracks: Lady Di Columbine Dance Medley - Souvenirs D’Enfance and Marriage D’Amour Easy Winners Rondo Alla Turca Medley - Jardins Secret and Coleur Tendresse Moonllight Sonata Tenderly The Man I Love Les Roses De Sable Ballad Pour Adeline Somewhere In Time Medley - Murmures & Love Story You can obtain this CD for $20, including postage and handling

Simply send the form below. All orders will be despatched promptly after cheque/ money order clearance.

Please PRINT CLEARLY your name/address/ phone number, and mail with cheque or money order to The Sheet Music Department P/L

To: The Sheet Music Department P/L PO Box 1023, Research 3095

5 Marconi Ct, Research 3095

Yes! Please send me a copy of Matthew Field’s CD, Love Story. I enclose my Cheque/Money Order for $20.

Name: .....................................................................................

Address: ................................................................................ ...................................... Phone: ............................................

Page 44 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, February 22, 2012

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Showbiz People

● Josie Maxian reminisces with retired TV set designer, Paul Cleveland

ABC Reunion Club Annual General Meeting Photos: Malcolm Threadgold

● ABC Reunion Club Secretary, Carol Simpson-Bull, catches up with Bill Armstrong and new Vice Chairman, Ken Simpson-Bull.

● Former TV directors Margaret Greenwell, Robin Wischusen and Doug Sharp welcome new member, Sandra Kay

● Dick Rowlands (left), Yvonne Stent and Bern Dempsey share almost 100 years of ABC service between them.

● Norma and Syd Guthrie at the ABC Reunion Club AGM.

● Margaret Hiscock (left), retiring Vice Chairman, Cliff Peel, Kaye Wood and Helen Hiscock.

● Graeme McKenzie (left), Bob Ness and Bryan Cox, with Shah Goldrich, centre front.

● Chairman Allan Hiscock and retired TV director Michael Vance

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Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, February 22, 2012 - Page 45

Things To Do

Page 46 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, February 22, 2012

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Places To Go

Special offer for Melbourne Observer readers - complimentary champagne on arrival

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Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, February 22, 2012 - Page 47

Travel - Places To Go

Page 48 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Melbourne Observer

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Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, February 22, 2012 - Page 49

Outdoors

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Page 50 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Outdoors

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Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, February 22, 2012 - Page 51

Observer Showbiz THEATRE WORKS

Community Theatre With Cheryl Threadgold

PASSION PLAY VACANCIES SHOWS

● Kaitlyn Clare from Hose, playing at Theatre Works from February 22 – March 3.

Photo: Sarah Walker ■ MKA Theatre of New Writing, in association with Theatre Works, presents Hose by Bridget Mackey and Tinkertown

by Nathaniel Moncrieff on February 22 (preview) and a performance season from February 23 to March 3 at Theatre Works, 14 Acland St., St Kilda.

The suburban/magic realism drama Hose will be presented at 8.00pm, directed by Alister Smith. The story tells of condemned woman Isabelle seeking sanctuary in a beauty salon deep within the shopping malls of suburbia, where her superficial layers are peeled away and the details of a brutal revenge crime she has committed are revealed.

The Australian gothic play Tinkertown can be seen at 9pm, directed by MKA artistic director Tobias MandersonGalvin.

On his first day out of prison in 10 years, Chester decides to visit his teenage daughter. When he accidently shoots dead his ex-wife, the visit turns into a kidnapping and he and his daughter race across the outback to get to know each other, and to escape the cops.

Warning: This program contains adult themes, drug references, nudity, coarse language, the smoking of herbal substitute cigarettes, sexual references.

Tickets: $25 Full price single show/$40 double; Concession $20 single show/$35 double; Preview $15 single show/ $30 double. Bookings: Mka.org.au

AUDITIONS ■ Moreland Theatre Company Inc: Twelfth Night (by William Shakespeare) February 23, 7.00pm - 10.00pm at St Ambrose Hall, Dawson St., Brunswick (opp. the Brunswick Baths). Director: Sam Browne. Audition bookings and enquiries: 0438 804 042.

■ Altona City Theatre: The Boy From Oz February 23, 7.00pm - 10.00pm, February 25, 10.00am-3.00pm at the Hobson Bay Community Workshop Facility, 280 Queen st., Altona (former EPA vehicle testing site, opposite Kooringil Golf Course. Compulsory dance call: February 26, 10.00am1.00pm at the MDX Studios, 2/1 Akuna Drive, Williamstown.

Co-directors/choreographers: Narelle Bonnici and Sam Heskett; Musical director; Dan Heskett. Audition bookings: 9398 5508 (please follow the prompts).

■ Phoenix Theatre Company: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, February 22 from 7.00pm, February 26 at 1.00pm (dance audition). Audition venue: Phoenix Headquarters, Leeds St., East Doncaster. Director/choreographer: Renee Maloney; Musical director: Katie Packer. Audition bookings: 9012 5897 or email auditions@phoenix theatrecompany.org ■ Eltham Little Theatre: The Pirates of Penzance Jr. (Youth Auditions) (written by WS Gilbert and A Sullivan) March 16, 7.00pm-10.00pm, March 17, 18 from 9.00am-12.00noon.

Please email audelt@hotmail.com . Closing date: March 2.

Melbourne

Observer

■ 16th Annual Melbourne Passion Play: Vacancies exist for performers and back stage crew for the 16th Annual Melbourne Passion Play, 2012. If interested, please attend rehearsals on Sunday, commencing at midday, at Ruffey Lake Park, Doncaster.

There will be five rehearsals, culminating in performances on April 1 and 6. Please call the director, Robert Durai, for further details on 0422 130 014. www.passionplay.com ■ The Basin Theatre Group: Tuesdays With Morrie (by Mitch Albom and Jeffrey Hatcher) Until March 10 at The Basin Theatre, Doongalla Rd., The Basin. Director: Christine Grant. Tickets: $22. Bookings: 1300 784 668. www.thebasintheatre.org.au ■ Malvern Theatre Company: Man Alive (by John Dighton) Until March 3 at 8.15pm Tues-Sat, 2.00pm February 26 at 29a Burke Rd., Malvern. Director: Deborah Fabbro. Tickets: $20/no concession. $18 groups 10 plus. Bookings: 1300 131 552. www.malverntheatre.com.au ■ Williamstown Little Theatre: Moonlight and Magnolias Until February 25, Tues-Sat at 8.15pm, Sundays 5.00pm, final Saturday matinee 2.00pm at 2-4 Albert St., Williamstown. Bookings: 9885 9678 www.wlt.org.au ■ Brighton Theatre Company: Albert Nobbs February 23 March 10, Tues-Sat at 8.00pm, Sunday matinees at 2.15pm at the Brighton Arts and Cultural Centre, Wilson St., Brighton. Director: Eric Heyes. Tickets: $20/$18. Bookings: 9589 0005. www.brightontheatreco.com ■ Sherbrooke Theatre Company Inc: Play in a Day (various authors and directors) Performances: Saturday, February 25 at 7.30pm. Tickets: $15. Bookings: 1300 650 209. www.sherbrooketc.org.au ■ Strathmore Theatrical Arts Group (STAG): The Mousetrap March 1 - 10 at 8.00pm. 2.00pm matinee March 4 at the Strathmore Community Centre Theatre, Cnr. Loeman and Napier Sts., Strathmore. Director: Drew Mason. Tickets: $20/$15. Bookings: 9382 6284 or www.stagtheatre.org/reservations ■ Frankston Theatre Group: Wait Until Dark (by Frederick Knott) March 2 - 10, 8 pm performances, 2pm matinee on March 10 at the George Jenkins Theatre, Monash Campus, McMahons Rd., Frankston. Director: David McCall. Tickets: $26.50, Conc. $24.50. Bookings: 9905 1111 www.frankstontheatregroup.org.au ■ Gemco Players: Wait Until Dark (by Frederick Knott) March 2 - 17 at 19 Kilvington Drive, Emerald. 2.30pm matinees on March 4, 11 and 17. Director: Barry O'Neill. Tickets: $22/$20. www.gemcoplayers.org ■ Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre: Glorious March 7 - 24 at 8.30pm, 2.30pm matinee on March 28 at 39-41 Castella St., Lilydale. Bookings: 9735 1777. www.lilydaletc.com ■ 1812 Theatre: Round and Round the Garden (a comedy from Alan Ayckbourn's Norman Conquests trilogy) March 8 - 31 at The Bakery, 3 Rose St., Upper Ferntree Gully. Bookings: 9758 3964 or 0406 752067. www.1812theatre.com.au

AUDITIONS ■ Heidelberg Theatre Company: An Inspector Calls (by J.B. Priestley) February 26 at 6.30pm and February 27 at 7.00pm.

Director: John Jenkins. Enquiries: johnthegonz@gmail.com ■ Strathmore Theatrical Arts Group (STAG): Scrubbers (written and directed by Cenarth Fox) March 4 and 5. For full details refer to website www.stagtheatre.org

Jeremy Woodhouse

● The next performance of the Jeremy Woolhouse Trio will be on Sunday, February 25 at 5.00pm at Open Studio, 204 High St., Northcote. Jeremy Woolhouse (pictured) will perform on keyboard with Georgia Weber (bass) and Dan Nilsson (guitar). Entry by donation.

The Lion In Winter

● The cast of Heidelberg Theatre Company’s The Lion In Winter rehearses for opening night on February 23. Pictured from left is John Murphy (Prince John), Kieran Tracey (King Phillip of France), Julia Christensen (Alais) and Tom Stammers (Richard Lionheart).

Photo: Patricia Tyler ■ Heidelberg Theatre Company commences its 60th anniversary year by presenting The Lion In Winter from February 23 – March 10 at 8.00pm, Thursday to Saturday, plus Wednesday of the last week, with 2.00pm matinees on February 26 and March 4 at 36 Turnham Avenue, Rosanna.

This witty story of a dysfunctional royal family has been written by James Goldman and is directed by Karen Wakeham.

Tickets: Adults $25, Concession card $22, (not Seniors Card), Groups of 10 or more $20 per ticket. To book tickets online visit htc.org.au or call 9457 4117.

AUDITIONS ■ ARC Theatre Company: Jekyll and Hyde February 25, 26 from 10.00am, February 28 from 7.00pm, movement audition February 29 at the Banyule Theatre, Heidelberg. Director: Jason Vikse; Musical Director: Simon D'Aquino. Audition bookings: ■ Players Theatre Company: Urinetown March 11, 9.00am6.00pm, March 12, 7.00pm - 10.00pm, Dance audition March 14 at Fleigner Hall, Highland Ave, Oakleigh. Director: Carl Whiteside; Musical Director: Rebecca Dupuy-Purcell; Choreographer: Hayley Wood. For character descriptions and audition information, please visit www.playerstc.net Audition bookings: 0403 581 380 or email playerstheatre@hotmail.com

THE FALLEN TREE: GUEST REVIEWER RITA CRISPIN

■ Christine Croyden’s play The Fallen Tree premiered at La Mama Theatre on February 15.

Inspired by the events of Black Saturday 2009, the story reveals the raw emotions of residents of a small bushfire ravaged community trying to make sense of the devastating tragedy.

The action revolves around three characters, Hannah, her stepfather John and a neighbour, Claire.

In a series of flashbacks, a brief episode in the life of each character prior to the fire is revealed, leading to a brutal penultimate scene between Hannah and John.

This scene displays the desperation of one character’s way of dealing with trauma. In the final scene, Claire and Hannah continue to work their way through the trauma and explore new beginnings.

The scenes are smoothly linked by a children’s playground nursery rhyme. The mental confusion of loss, grief, blame and guilt and the search for renewal is well portrayed with sustained tension by Libby Gott, Bridgette Burton and Jonathon Dyer.

Alice Bishop’s minimal set is appropriately stark and Lindon Blakely’s lighting/sound with moonlight and then intense sun, birdsong and sound of returning rosellas, completes the atmosphere of the play’s message of devastation, regeneration of the natural world and survival.

The concise use of language by Melbourne based playwright Croyden and firm direction by Pearn contains a huge subject within a seventy minute performance time.

Performances: Until March 4. Wednesday and Sunday 6.30pm, Thursday, Friday, Saturday 7.30pm.

Venue: La Mama Theatre, 205 Faraday Street, Carlton. Tickets: $25/$15.

Bookings: 9347 6142 or online at www.lamama.com.au - Rita Crispin

Page 52 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, February 22, 2012

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Things To Do

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Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, February 22, 2012 - Page 53

Observer Showbiz

Theatre Extra Melbourne’s Best Coverage

GREEN ROOM AWARDS NOMINATIONS

From Page 41

Cabaret BEST PRODUCTION Little Match Girl (Malthouse Theatre in association with Meow Meow Revolution) Liza On An E (Jarrod Carland Enterprises / Adam Lowe Group) Pirate Rhapsody, Mermaid Requiem (Tommy Bradson) Smoke And Mirrors (Lunar Hare Productions) You’re The Voice: Songs For The Ordinary By An Anthemaniac (Geraldine Quinn) ARTISTE Trevor Ashley, Liza on an E (Jarrod Carland Enterprises / Adam Lowe Group) iOTA, Smoke & Mirrors (Lunar Hare Productions) Meow Meow, Little Match Girl (Malthouse Theatre in association with Meow Meow Revolution) Eddie Perfect, Misanthropology Geraldine Quinn, You’re the Voice: Songs for the Ordinary by an Anthemaniac & The Last Gig in Melbourne (Geraldine Quinn) MUSICAL DIRECTION Daniel Edmonds, Liza on an E (Jarrod Carland Enterprises / Adam Lowe Group) Iain Grandage, Little Match Girl (Malthouse Theatre in association with Meow Meow Revolution) Tina Harris, Smoke & Mirrors (Lunar Hare Productions) John Shawcross, When I Fall in Love – The Nat King Cole Story John Thorn, Pirate Rhapsody, Mermaid Requiem ORIGINAL SONGS Luke Escombe, Chronic iOTA, Smoke & Mirrors (Lunar Hare Productions) Eddie Perfect, Misanthropology Geraldine Quinn, You’re the Voice: Songs for the Ordinary by an Anthemaniac & The Last Gig in Melbourne (Geraldine Quinn) Tommy Bradson & John Thorn, Pirate Rhapsody, Mermaid Requiem DIRECTOR Hayley Butcher, Mercedes Benz ... Awkwardly Craig Ilott, Smoke and Mirrors (Lunar Hare Productions) Marion Potts, Little Match Girl (Malthouse Theatre in association with Meow Meow Revolution) CONTRIBUTION TO CABARET Finucane & Smith Dance BETTYPOUNDERAWARD FOR CHOREOGRAPHY Jo Lloyd, Future Perfect (Jo Lloyd) Gideon Obarzanek, Assembly (Chunky Move / Victorian Opera, presented by Melbourne Festival in association with Sydney Festival & Brisbane Festival) DESIGN Benjamin Cisterne (Lighting) and Byron Perry in collaboration with Ben Cobham (Bluebottle 3) (Set), Double Think (Byron Perry / Arts House / Force Majeure in association with Melbourne Festival) Adam Gardnir (Set), Happy as Larry (Arts House / Shaun Parker & Company) Reuben Margolin (Kinetic Sculpture), Connected (Chunky Move / Malthouse Theatre) Toni Maticevski (Costumes), Richard Nylon (Millinery), Matthew Bird (Nest Design & Backdrop), Gavin Brown (Curtain Design) & Benjamin Cisterne (Lighting), Aviary (Phillip Adams BalletLab in association with Melbourne Festival) Jacob Nash (Set), Belong (Bangarra Dance Theatre) SOUNDAND MUSIC COMPOSITIONAND/ ORPERFORMANCE Cast of Assembly (Live Performance), Assembly (Chunky Move / Victoria Opera presented

by Melbourne Festival in association with Sydney Festival & Brisbane Festival) Robin Fox & Oren Ambarchi (Composition), Connected (Chunky Move / Malthouse Theatre) J. David Franzke & Geoffrey Hales (Composition) & Phillip Adams (Live Performance), Avi-

ary (Phillip Adams BalletLab in association with Melbourne Festival) Duane Morrison (Composition), Future Perfect (Jo Lloyd) Soloists and Victorian Opera Chorus & Orchestra Victoria (Live Performance), Requiem (The Australian Ballet) MALEDANCER Albert David, Reliquary (Soo Yeun You / Gina Rings) Luke George, Body of Work (Luke George / Jo Lloyd / Phillip Adams BalletLab in association with Melbourne Festival) Chengwu Guo , Body of Work (The Australian Ballet) Timothy Ohl, Look Right Through Me (KAGE / Malthouse Theatre) FEMALEDANCER Fiona Cameron, Look Right Through Me (KAGE / Malthouse Theatre) Kristina Chan, In Glass (Narelle Benjamin / Malthouse Theatre) Madeleine Eastoe, Romeo and Juliet (The Australian Ballet) Kirsty Martin, The Merry Widow (The Australian Ballet) Lily Paskas, Drift (Antony Hamilton Projects in association with Arts House) ENSEMBLE Aviary (Phillip Adams BalletLab in association with Melbourne Festival) Becky, Jodi & John (Becky Hilton, Jodi Melnick & John Jasperse / John Jasperse Company and Dancehouse) Belong (Bangarra Dance Theatre) Concerto (The Australian Ballet) Future Perfect (Jo Lloyd) CONCEPTAND REALISATION Assembly (Chunky Move / Victorian Opera presented by Melbourne Festival in association with Sydney Festival & Brisbane Festival) Aviary (Phillip Adams BalletLab in association with Melbourne Festival) Becky, Jodi & John (Becky Hilton, Jodi Melnick & John Jasperse / Jasperse Company and Dancehouse) I Could Pretend the Sky is Water (Trevor Patrick in association with Arts House) Music Theatre DIRECTION Dean Bryant, Prodigal Kristin Hanggi, Rock of Ages Simon Phillips, Love Never Dies DESIGN James Browne (Set), Turns Nick Eltis (Technical Director), Dr Zhivago Gregory Gale (Costumes), Rock of Ages Michael Scott-Mitchell (Set), Dr Zhivago Gabriela Tylesova (Costumes & Set), Love Never Dies LIGHTING Trudy Dalgleish, Turns Jason Lyons, Rock of Ages Nick Schlieper , Love Never Dies SOUND Peter Hylenski , Rock of Ages Terry McKibbin, Next to Normal Mick Potter, Love Never Dies System Sound, Grey Gardens CHOREOGRAPHY Kelly Devine, Rock of Ages MUSICAL DIRECTION Stephen Gray, Xanadu Mark Jones, Prodigal Guy Simpson, Love Never Dies Dave Skelton, Rock of Ages Sophie Thomas, Flower Children FEMALEARTIST LEADINGROLE Nancye Hayes, Turns Amy Lehpamer, Rock of Ages Anna O’Byrne, Love Never Dies Pamela Rabe, Grey Gardens MALEARTIST LEADING ROLE Brent Hill, Rock of Ages Reg Livermore, Turns ENSEMBLE OR FULL ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE Emma J Hawkins, Paul Tabone & Dean Vince, Love Never Dies The Cast of Flower Children The Ensemble, Rock of Ages

MALEARTIST FEATURED ROLE Lincoln Hall, Rock of Ages Matt Hetherington, Next to Normal Michael Falzon, Rock of Ages Gareth Keegan, Next to Normal Wayne Scott Kermond, Anything Goes FEMALEARTISTFEATURED ROLE Francine Cain, Rock of Ages Emma Jones, The Hatpin Sharon Millerchip, Love Never Dies Cherine Peck, Xanadu Chelsea Plumley, Kismet Opera DIRECTION Bruce Beresford, Of Mice and Men (Opera Australia) Roger Hodgman, Baroque Triple Bill (Victorian Opera) PRODUCTION Baroque Triple Bill (Victorian Opera) Of Mice and Men (Opera Australia) CONDUCTOR Christian Badea , La Boheme (Opera Australia) Simon Hewett, Macbeth (Opera Australia) Dr. David Kram, The Merry Widow (Melbourne Opera) Marko Letonja, La Traviata (Opera Australia) Tom Woods, Of Mice and Men (Opera Australia) PRINCIPALMALE Mitchell Butell, Mikado (Opera Australia) Anthony Dean Griffey (Lennie Small), Of Mice and Men, (Opera Australia) Barry Ryan (George Milton), Of Mice and Men (Opera Australia) Aldo di Toro (Alfredo), La Traviata (Opera Australia) PRINCIPALFEMALE Jacqueline Dark (Donna Elvira), Don Giovanni (Opera Australia) Elvira Fatykhova (Violetta), La Traviata (Opera Australia) Melissa Langton (Angel), How to Kill Your Husband (Victorian Opera) Takesha Meshe Kizart (Mimi), La Boheme (Opera Australia) Janet Todd (Coffee Canata), Baroque Triple Bill (Victorian Opera) SUPPORTING MALE Jud Arthur (Candy), Of Mice and Men (Opera Australia) Stephen Bennett (Leporella), Don Giovanni (Opera Australia) David Corcoran (Carlson), Of Mice and Men (Opera Australia) Bradley Daley (Curley), Of Mice and Men (Opera Australia) Michael Lewis (Germont), La Traviata (Opera Australia) SUPPORTING FEMALE Lee Abrahmsen, The Merry Widow (Melbourne Opera) Suzanne Johnston (Mrs Herring), Albert Herring (Victorian Opera) Dominica Matthews (Flora), La Traviata (Opera Australia) Theatre - Companies LIGHTING Paul Jackson, Julius Caesar (Bell Shakespeare Company) Paul Jackson, Meow Meow’s Little Match Girl (Malthouse Theatre) Teegan Lee, The End (Malthouse Theatre) Andrew Livingston, Ganesh Versus The Third Reich (Malthouse Theatre) Nick Schlieper, Baal (Malthouse Theatre) SET/COSTUME DESIGN Anna Cordingley, Body of Work Adam Gardnir (Set & Costume), Die Winterreise (Malthouse Theatre) Bruce Gladwin (Design), Mark Cuthbertson (Design Construction), Rhian Hinkley (Design & Animation, Shio Otani (Costume), Sam Jinks & Paul Smits (Mask Design), Ganesh Versus The Third Reich (Malthouse Theatre) Tracy Grant Lord (Set & Costume), The Vibrator Play (Melbourne Theatre Company) Nick Schlieper (Set), Baal (Malthouse Theatre)

SOUND/COMPOSITION Iain Grandage, Body of Work Andrée Greenwell (Original Music) and Jethro Woodward (Sound Designer), ‘Tis Pity She’s A Whore (Malthouse Theatre) Johan Johansson (Composition), Ganesh Versus the Third Reich (Malthouse Theatre) Mark Jones (Musical Director & Vocal Arrangement), A Golem Story (Malthouse Theatre) FEMALEACTOR Emily Barclay (Cecily Cardew), The Importance of Being Ernest (Melbourne Theatre Company) Jacqueline McKenzie, The Vibrator Play (Melbourne Theatre Company) Zahra Newman (Performer), Random (Melbourne Theatre Company) Eryn-Jean Norvill (Ophelia), Hamlet (Melbourne Theatre Company) Yael Stone, The Golem Story (Malthouse Theatre) MALEACTOR Trevor Jamieson (Performer), Namatjira (Big hART production / Malthouse Theatre) Robert Menzies (Performer), The End (Malthouse Theatre) Geoffrey Rush (Lady Bracknell), The Importance of Being Ernest (Melbourne Theatre Company) Toby Schmitz, Body of Work Greg Stone (Russ / Dan), Clybourne Park (Melbourne Theatre Company) DIRECTION Leticia Caceres, Random (Melbourne Theatre Company) Peter Evans, Clybourne Park (Melbourne Theatre Company) Peter Evans, Julius Caesar (Bell Shakespeare Company) Bruce Gladwin, Ganesh Versus the Third Reich (Malthouse Theatre) Pamela Rabe, The Vibrator Play (Melbourne Theatre Company) PRODUCTION Clybourne Park (Melbourne Theatre Company) Ganesh Versus the Third Reich (Malthouse Theatre) Namatjira (Big hART / Malthouse Theatre) Random (Melbourne Theatre Company) The Vibrator Play (Melbourne Theatre Company) Theatre – Independent MALEPERFORMER Ben Grant (Alfie), Save for Crying (La Mama) Blessing Mokgohloa (Patrice), Bad Blood Blues (Manilla Street Productions / Chapel off Chapel) David Quirk (Performer), Bunny (Melbourne Fringe / The Tuxedo Cat) FEMALEPERFORMER Anneli Bjorasen (Elina), Sarajevo Suite (La Mama) Peta Brady (Luv), Save for Crying (La Mama) Emily Goddard (Performer), The Walls (Attic Erratic / Studio 246) Marta Kaczmarek (Masha), Café Scheherazade (fortyfivedownstairs) Glenda Linscott (Clare), Bad Blood Blues (Manilla Street Productions / Chapel off Chapel) ENSEMBLE After all this (Elbow Room / Melbourne Fringe – Dear Patti Smith) Cut Snake (Arthur / Melbourne Fringe) Six characters in search of an author… (La Mama) Strands (La Mama) The Economist (MKA) DESIGN Luc Favre (Set), Christina, A Story With Music (Attic Erratic) Esther Marie Hayes (Costume), Delectable Shelter (Hayloft Project / Theatre Works) Sebastian Peters Lazaro & Ellen Strasser (Set Design & Construction), Undine (Four Larks) Dayna Morrissey (Set / Costume), Divine (Peepshow Inc. / Abbotsford Convent) Bridie O’Leary (Costume Design), The Walls (Attic Erratic / Studio 246) ● Turn To Page 59

Page 54 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Observer Showbiz DVD & Blu-Ray Releases of the Week

FILM: LADY AND THE TRAMP: Genre: Animated/Family/Classic.

Cast: Voices of Peggy Lee, Barbara Luddy, Stan Freberg, Alan Reed.

Year: 1955.

Rating: G. Running Time: 75 Minutes.

Format: DVD and BLU-RAY. Stars: ***** Verdict: From the 1937 movie milestone Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to the 1967 all-time classic The Jungle Book, the legendary Walt Disney created a series of unforgettable and groundbreaking animated masterpieces, and this tale of a sheltered uptown Cocker Spaniel dog named Lady and a streetwise downtown mutt named Tramp is one of them. In this, Walt Disney's 15th animated family feature, the animation are masterstrokes of colour and realization with the songs, music, adventure, drama and comedy all coming together in a seamless and enlightening flow of joy, wonder and enchantment, and voiced beautifully by such legends as Peggy Lee, Stan Freberg and Alan Reed. Made back in 1955, Walt Disney took the then unprecedented gamble of making it in the new widescreen process of Cinemascope, and the results are spectacular. Lady and the Tramp is a Disney classic that no one should be without, but be warned, it is only available for a short time before it disappears into the Disney vault for seven years. Followed

by Lady and the Tramp II: Scamps Adventure, also available on DVD and Blu-Ray. FILM: WARRIOR: Genre: Drama.

Cast: Tom Hardy, Joel Edgerton, Nick Nolte.

Year: 2011.

Rating: M. Running Time: 140 Minutes.

Format: DVD and BLU-RAY. Stars: **1/2 Verdict: As far as boxing movies go, or in this case mixed boxing and martial arts, Warrior is not a bad addition, but far from the greatest either, a worthy couple of hours, a definite for Nick Nolte's Oscar nominated performance as the emotionally tortured father, but otherwise, a variation on nothing we really have not experienced before, with the exception of the fight rules themselves. In Warrior, the youngest son of an alcoholic former boxer returns home, where he's trained by his estranged father for competition in a mixed martial arts tournament, a path that puts the fighter on a collision corner with his older brother. The film moves seamlessly between the personal battles and those in the ring, and stars Tom Hardy and aussie actor Joel Edgerton do extremely well, but it somehow lacks the cinematic edge and bite that made so many others great classics, most notably Somebody Up There Likes Me with Paul Newman and Rocky with Sylvester Stallone, though they are purely boxing only. So if you get a kick [no pun intended] out of watching people beat the living daylights out of each other, then this should be a good solid shot in satisfying your adrenalin related requirements.

FILM: PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE: Cast: Vampira, Bela Lugosi, Tor Johnson, Lyle Talbot.

Genre: Cult/Science Fiction.

Year: 1959.

Rating: PG. Running Time: 79 Minutes.

Format: DVD. Stars: BOMB. Verdict: When it comes to movies there are simple "Guilty Pleasures" and there are not so simple "Guilty Pleasures," and Ed Wood's Plan 9 from Outer Space goes light years beyond the latter. Generally considered worldwide as "the worst movie ever made," it is so bad it's actually worth watching, a hysterically funny experience, and as a result has reached an unprecedented cult status globally. In this masterpiece of spellbinding bottom of the barrel cinematic awfulness, under the barrel would be more fitting, a group of outrageously funny Aliens visit planet earth to exterminate the population by resurrecting corpses from a cemetery with not so clever detectives and a bumbling airline pilot proving too much for the visiting aliens. Horror legend Bela Lugosi died three years prior, but not before filming a few brief minutes of test footage and was replaced by someone almost a foot taller and much younger, and combined with the worst director and wackiest cast in cinema, including the sultry Vampira, Criswell the psychic and overweight wrestler Tor Johnson, Plan 9 from Outer Space continues to hold its place in history for all the wrongfully right reasons. Should you decide to experience Plan 9 from Outer Space I highly recommend that you watch Tim Burton's Ed Wood biopic Ed Wood beforehand.

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Movies, DVDs

With James Sherlock

Reviews by Aaron Rourke

OSCARS 2012

â– The 2012 Academy Awards are almost upon us (screening on Channel 9 on Monday (Feb. 27), so here are my reviews for the nine films nominated for Best Film.

1) The Tree Of Life (PG). 139 minutes. ***** (Available now on DVD / Blu-Ray).

It is truly wonderful to see director Terrence Malick's towering cinematic achievement nominated for the top award, but its genuinely challenging nature will unfortunately see it overlooked. This is what I'd love to see win Best Film.

2) The Artist (PG). 100 minutes. ****1/2 (Now showing in cinemas).

Beautifully crafted love letter to the true magic of cinema, this exquisite film rekindles that spark of why we love movies so much. Writer/director Michel Hazanavicius doesn't make the mistake of using the black-andwhite/silent film scenario as a mere gimmick, and imbues the characters and story with such life, care, and energy, drawing us into this intoxicating world. Star Jean Dujardin is extraordinary, as is Berenice Bejo as rising actress Peppy Miller. A great supporting cast includes John Goodman, James Cromwell, Malcolm McDowell, and Ed Lauter. For another great film from the same director and star, please watch OSS117 : Nest Of Spies (available on DVD).

This is what I believe will win Best Film.

3) The Descendants (M). 115 minutes. ****1/2 (Still showing in cinemas).

Skilfull blend of drama and humour from director Alexander Payne, who gave us Election, About Schmidt, and Sideways. The downbeat subject matter is treated in both a realistic and sophisticated manner, and every character seems like a real, flawed human being. Performances are outstanding, and the film offers hope without resorting to lazy sentiment.

4) Extremely Loud And Incredibly Close (M). 129 minutes. Have not seen (Opens in cinemas soon).

5) The Help (M). 146 minutes. ** (Available now on DVD / Blu-Ray).

Toothless adaptation of Kathryn Stockett's best-selling novel manages to take fascinating, searing subject matter and make something completely bland and forgettable. Softcentred and superficial, there is never a sense of danger and bravery in what these courageous people did during such a dark period of American history. TV-style caricatures dominate, with mostly one-note performances to match (Bryce Dallas Howard is again embarrassingly bad). The one thread of genuine emotion comes from Viola Davis, in a performance that is reminiscent of the great, under-rated actress Alfre Woodard. Without Davis, the film would completely collapse in a simplistic, sentimental heap. Great to see veteran actress Cicely Tyson make an appearance, but is is sadly underused.

6) Hugo 3D (PG). 126 minutes. ****1/2 (Last days in cinemas).

Along with The Artist, director Martin Scorsese's nostalgic look at the early days of cinema is an absolute treat, and is his most entertaining film in years. Hugo (Elijah Wood lookalike Asa Butterfield) is a young boy who lives at a Paris train station after the death of his father (Jude Law). It's here he forges a friendship with enig-

â—? Shailene Woodley matic toyshop owner George Melies (a masterful Ben Kingsley). A superb cast also includes Emily Mortimer, Christopher Lee, Michael Stuhlberg, Ray Winstone, and Richard Griffiths (the one misstep is annoying British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen). A feast of sight and sound, with brilliant, eye-popping use of 3D. 7) Midnight In Paris (PG). 90 minutes. **1/2 (Last days in cinemas).

Surprisingly enjoyable film from Woody Allen manages to rise above the routine because it isn't filled with stilted, mechanical Woody creations.

When the film focuses on Gil (Owen Wilson) mingling with famous writers, painters, and poets from 1920s Paris, it is pleasant and fun. When it concentrates on Gil dealing with his fiance, her parents and friends, the film is typical Woody twaddle. Film is also hindered by Allen's limitations as a director, with an overly familiar look, feel, and sound. Wilson is quite likeable, not overly shackled by Woody's normally mannered and offputting persona (another surprise).

8) Moneyball (M). 133 minutes. ***1/2. (Coming soon to DVD).

Solid, entertaining drama that allows us inside the world of American baseball, particularly the financial politics that go on behind closed doors.

Refreshingly low-key and restrained, with intelligent direction by Bennett Miller and a strong script by Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin. Brad Pitt is perfectly cast. Would make a good double with the Aussie film The Club (1980).

9) War Horse (M). 147 minutes. * (Last days in cinemas).

A perfect example of what can happen when an adaptation is too faithful when taken from one medium to another. What worked in the book by Michael Morpurgo and on the UK stage just does not work on film. Whole scenes play out that could have been condensed or dropped, and its fairy tale approach to horrific subject matter also falls flat. Despite its lengthy running time, characterisations are thin, core performances dull, and Steven Spielberg's heavy-handed direction (not helped by John Williams' awful, intrusive music score) drowns the human message in sloppy sentiment. Good actors such Peter Mullan, Emily Watson, David Thewlis, Eddie Marsan, Liam Cunningham, and Philippe Nahon are completely wasted. Can't hold a candle to classic WWI films such as All Quiet On The Western Front (1930) and Gallipoli (1981).

- Aaron Rourke

Melbourne

Observer

Top 10 Lists THE AUSTRALIAN BOX OFFICE TOP TEN: 1. THE VOW. 2. SAFE HOUSE. 3. STAR WARS: EPISODE I - THE PHANTOM MENACE. 4. CHRONICLE. 5. THE DESCENDANTS. 6. ANY QUESTIONS FOR BEN. 7. A FEW BEST MEN. 8. UNDERWORLD: AWAKENING. 9. HUGO. 10. TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY. NEW RELEASES AND COMING SOON TO CINEMAS AROUND AUSTRALIA: FEB 16: THIS MEANS WAR, BUCK, MY WEEK WITH MARILYN, ONE FOR THE MONEY, THE GREY. FEB 23: 6 PLOTS, CONTRABAND, EXTREMELY LOUD AND INCREDIBLY CLOSE, GONE, KILLER ELITE, LATE BLOOMERS, TYRANNOSAUR. THE DVD TOP SELLERS: 1. THE HELP [Drama/Viola Davis, Jessica Chastain, Sissy Spacek, Octavia Spencer].

2. PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 3 [Thriller/Lauren Bittner, Katie Featherstone].

3. CRAZY STUPID LOVE [Comedy/ Romance/Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Julianne Moore].

4. TRESPASS [Thriller/Nicolas Cage, Nicole Kidman].

5. THE THING [Horror/Science Fiction/Joel Edgerton, Mary Elizabeth Winstead].

6. TREE OF LIFE [Drama/Brad Pitt, Sean Penn].

7. THE HUNTER [Drama/Willem Dafoe, Sam Neill].

8. LOVE AND OTHER DRUGS [Comedy/Romance/Jake Gyllenhaal, Anne Hathaway].

9. FOOTLOOSE [Drama/Dennis Quaid, Andie MacDowell, Julianne Hough].

10. RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES [Sci-Fi/Action/James Franco, Andy Serkis, John Lithgow].

Also: FRIGHT NIGHT, THE HANGOVER: Part II, FINAL DESTINATION 5, ZOOKEEPER, CAPTAIN AMERICA: The First Avenger, BOARDWALK EMPIRE: S1, RED DOG, THE ONE, THE GUARD, BRIDESMAIDS. NEW RELEASE HIGHLIGHTS ON DVD THIS WEEK: WARRIOR [Drama/Tom Hardy, Joel Edgerton, Nick Nolte].

THE THREE MUSKETEERS [2011/ Action/Adventure/Orlando Bloom, Milla Jovovich].

STATEN ISLAND [Crime/Drama/ Vincent D'Onofrio, Ethan Hawke].

THE SORCERER AND THE WHITE SNAKE [Fantasy/Action/Martial Arts/Jet Li].

CITY OF LIFE AND DEATH [Drama/War/Ye Liu, Yuanyuan Gao].

THE BOMBER [War/Nikita Efremov].

DEAD HEADS [Horror/Comedy/ Brett Pierce, Drew T. Pierce].

NEW & RE-RELEASE CLASSICS ON DVD HIGHLIGHTS: PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE [1959/Cult/Science Fiction/Bela Lugosi, Vampira, Lyle Talbot].

NEW RELEASE TELEVISION, DOCUMENTARY AND MUSIC DVD HIGHLIGHTS: PSYCHOVILLE: Series Two. CHARIOTS OF THE GODS [Documentary].

TAYLOR SWIFT: JOURNEY TO FEARLESS [Music].

Turn To Page 59

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Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, February 22, 2012 - Page 55

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Page 56 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, February 22, 2012 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

g

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, February 22, 2012 - Page 57

Solution on Page 39

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Page 58 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Antiques and Collectables

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, February 22, 2012 - Page 59

Melbourne

Observer Victorian Sport

Showbiz Extra ■ From Page 53

BLUE DIAMOND: I AM READY

■ After the running of the Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Preludes recently, the Mick Price trainedSamaready stands out as the one to beat this Saturday for the big prizemoney and the Diamond.

Well named by More Than Ready from Somar, the brown or black filly dominated the scene at Caulfield running the quicker of the two Blue Diamond Preludes.

After drawing out wide and running the trip out wide, she blitzed them in the run home.

The outstanding filly made everybody sit up and take notice, when at her first start at Flemington she wasn't wanted in the betting and the stable felt she was underdone, but she still won easily.

This put the writing on the wall for Samaready, and she showed her class at Caulfield.

It would be a welcome change of luck for trainer Mick Price this Saturday if she can salute.

Only a few years back he won the Blue Diamond with his charge Rodean, raced in partnership by Collingwood premiership player, Michael Christian, only to lose the race when an irregularity showed up in her system.

This shattered connections and really knocked Mick at the time, one of the nicest blokes in racing.

Let's hope Samaready can atone for the big disappointment with Rodean.

She will go around a short priced favorite after the way she won.

On the second line of favoritism is the Tony McEvoy trained- Jimando who was a brilliant winner at his first outing at Caulfield, but I thought he was disappointing next start.

On the third line of betting is the promising, The Travelling Man who we haven't seen for a while.

Alongside him in the market is the David Hayes trained Mama's Choice who was impressive coming from last at the turn and the extra distance up to 1200 metres will suit her right down to the ground.

Ted Ryan

Observer Racing

● Blue Diamond Prelude (2YO C&G)_Samaready Photo by SLICKPIX, phone 9354 5754 good when you conA very enjoyable Gowing, as part of the sider that 15,000 at- meeting.

Kevin Dennis Motor tended on a day of 33 Group. degrees.

He would go out of The car parks filled quickly and racing his way many times to was very keen with ■ I was saddened to help his friends, and punters having mixed learn of the death of a luck on the ten event good friend of mine for helped many on his many years and a way with his knowlcard.

The Club deserves great racing man in edge, myself ina big pat on the back Kevin Heffernan.

Kevin passed away cluded. for their organisation I felt an obituary by after not being well for on the day, where he top trainer, Mark had plenty of enter- sometime.

Over many years Riley, was well said: tainment for the families as well as many Kevin was a Commit- Kevin was a great man refreshment areas in a tee man of the in every way.

Victoria Amateur delightful setting.

From all of us at the The Club also Turf Club, now the organised a free bus Melbourne Racing Melbourne Observer; for punters back to the Club, and raced many our deepest sympathy horses in his time.

Frankston station. to his daughter Carole All named with the All round the Club and family. through their hard prefix, Gold.

We have lost one of He was also well working team under Angela Cleland did a known through his part- the very best. nership with Denis great job.

- Ted Ryan

Sad loss

Another of David Hayes runners, Captain Rippa, had to grind it out to win the colts and geldings division, but his rider, Damien Oliver, said after the race he still has a bit to learn, but has raw talent.

Also don't forget David Hayes knows what the Blue Diamond is all about, having won four of them.

I'm sticking with Samaready, from Mama's Choice and Travelling Man. The other main event on the day will be the Futurity Stakes, with at the time of going to press connections were waiting to see if the mighty mare, Black Caviar will run.

There is plenty happening on Blue Diamond Stakes day with a big Young Members function in the Blue Diamond Bar catering for those 18 to 40.

Those into fashion will be well catered for, with up to $40,000

in prizes in the Blue Diamond Fashions stakes competition.

Registrations will be open from 11am through until 1pm for ages 13-17.

Following that section, 18 years and over, and the fashion duo's category.

Heats will get underway at 1pm.

Top day ■ Mornington Racing Club officials were over the moon with the crowd that attended their Cup meeting last week.

I worked at the main gate on the P.A. and they started streaming in from 10am onwards after we opened the gates.

Around 15,000 attended, and racegoers were on their best behavior.

I was having a chat to a member of the Police force after the last and he said there were only about 13 evictions, which is very

INTERDOMINION LATEST ● From Len Baker in Perth

■ The action on track was expected to be hot and the temperature during the day was in excess of 35 degrees, as the second round heats of the Inter Dominion Series got under way at Gloucester Park Perth on Monday..

● Mornington Cup: Norsqui Photo by SLICKPIX, phone 9354 5754

HEAT 5 New Zealander Raglan made amends for a most unlucky sixth in the opening round last Friday when hopelessly held up behind Crombie, by winning the first heat in a rate of 1-55.5 - the last mile in 29.4, 30.5, 28.5 and 27.8.

Driven with aggression by Anthony Butt for brother Tim who is yet to arrive in WA, Raglan from gate two made an usuccessful bid for the front running, however Chis Lewis aboard the pole maker Lombo Pocket Watch denied the challenge leaving Raglan in the open.

Second elect Washakie (gate three) possied beautifully one/one for John McCarthy appearing to be a big threat, with

Cromac Johnny (gate four) angling to trail the leader.

In a surprise move by McCarthy, Washakie was eased three wide mid-race in an effort to race in the open, with Anthony Butt kicking up to take over, with Washakie now occupying his favourite spot outside the favourite.

Leading on turning, Raglan just lasted from the fast finishing Lombo Navigator (four wide on turning), with Lombo Pocket Watch third, Cromac Johnny fourth and the rank outsider Hi Royale fifth, the margins being a head x 5 metres x 2 metres.

‘Ants’ copped a lot of flack for his drive on Friday, but was the hero on this occasion. ● First day report, Page 60

Green Room Awards LIGHTING DESIGN Rachel Burke, Save for Crying (La Mama) Shane Grant, The Tempest (Inotrope Productions / St Kilda Uniting Care Drop in Centre / Theatre Works) Kimberly Kwa, The Dollhouse (fortyfive-downstairs) Katie Sfetkidis, These are the isolate (Mutation Theatre / Theatre Works) Richard Vabre, Small Odysseys (Rawcus / Arts House) SOUND/COMPOSITION Benjamin Cittadini (Sound), Bunny (Melbourne Fringe / The Tuxedo Cat) Mat Diafos Sweeney (Music Composition & Direction), Undine (Four Larks) Kelly Ryall (Composer), Save for Crying (La Mama) Claudio Tocco (Sound Design), I Know There’s A Lot Of Noise Outside But You Have To Close Your Eyes (I’m Trying To Kiss You / Melbourne Fringe) Jethro Woodward (Composer/Sound Designer), Small Odysseys (Rawcus / Arts House) DIRECTION Van Badham (Director & Dramaturge), The Economist (MKA) Marcel Dorney (Director), After all this (Elbow Room / Melbourne Fringe / Dear Patti Smith) Chris Parker (Director), Bad Blood Blues (Manilla Street Productions / Chapel off Chapel) Laurence Strangio (Director), Six characters in search of an author… (La Mama) Kate Sulan (Director), Small Odysseys (Rawcus / Arts House) PRODUCTION After all this (Elbow Room / Melbourne Fringe / Dear Patti Smith) Bad Blood Blues (Manilla Street Productions / Chapel off Chapel) Save for Crying (La Mama) Six characters in search of an author… (La Mama) Small Odysseys (Rawcus / Arts House) ■ From Page 54

Top 10 Lists TOP BLU-RAY SELLERS: 1. THE HELP [Drama/Viola Davis, Jessica Chastain, Sissy Spacek, Octavia Spencer].

2. CRAZY STUPID LOVE [Comedy/Romance/ Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Julianne Moore].

3. PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 3 [Thriller/Lauren Bittner, Katie Featherstone].

4. THE THING [Horror/Science Fiction/Joel Edgerton, Mary Elizabeth Winstead].

5. TRESPASS [Thriller/Nicolas Cage, Nicole Kidman].

6. LOVE AND OTHER DRUGS [Comedy/Romance/Jake Gyllenhaal, Anne Hathaway].

7. THE HUNTER [Drama/Willem Dafoe, Sam Neill].

8. TREE OF LIFE [Drama/Brad Pitt, Sean Penn].

9. RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES [SciFi/Action/James Franco, Andy Serkis, John Lithgow].

10. FOOTLOOSE [Drama/Dennis Quaid, Andie MacDowell, Julianne Hough].

Also: The Hangover: Part II, Fright Night, Zookeeper, Spy Kids 4, Boardwalk Empire S1, Captain America: The First Avenger, Red Dog, Final Destination 5, The Guard, Bridesmaids.

NEW RELEASE HIGHLIGHTS ON BLU-RAY THIS WEEK: WARRIOR [Drama/Tom Hardy, Joel Edgerton, Nick Nolte].

THE THREE MUSKETEERS [2011/Action/Adventure/Orlando Bloom, Milla Jovovich].

THE THREE MUSKETEERS in 3D [2011/Action/Adventure/Orlando Bloom, Milla Jovovich].

STATEN ISLAND [Crime/Drama/Vincent D'Onofrio, Ethan Hawke].

THE SORCERER AND THE WHITE SNAKE [Fantasy/Action/Martial Arts/Jet Li].

CITY OF LIFE AND DEATH [Drama/War/Ye Liu, Yuanyuan Gao].

DEAD HEADS [Horror/Comedy/Brett Pierce, Drew T. Pierce].

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Page 60 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Melbourne

Observer Victorian Sport Racing Briefs

Drivers ranks depleted ■ Victoria's driving ranks took a further battering when both Peter Salathiel and Nigel Milne were injured in a fall at the Bendigo trials last week.

Easy winner at Ballarat ■ Bathurst Gold Tiara winner Shake It Mama second up since August, was an easy winner of the brandnewjobs.com.au 3-Y-0 Pace over 1710 metres at Bray Raceway Ballarat on Tuesday February 14 for local trainer Emma Stewart and leading reinsman Chris Alford.

Bred and raced by Heathcote's David Sheppard a former manager of the Kilmore Trackside Tabaret, Shake It Mama a daughter of Mach Three and Gold Sarn from outside the front row led for the majority of the trip in accounting for a game Paintball (first up since August) which raced in the open for the final circuit, with Smiles And Kisses (one/one) third.

The mile rate 1-58.3.

10th victory, 112 outings ■ Popular Little River co-trainers Danny and Gill Norris snared the Creswick Pharmacy Trotters Handicap for T1 or better class over 2200 metres at Ballarat with 9-Y-0 Sundon/Alabama Salute gelding Alabamadon, giving Chris Alford a treble for the evening.

Bouncing straight to the front from the pole, Alabamadon was never headed, defeating Imatrotnovsky which trailed in a rate of 2-04.9 to chalk up his 10th victory in 112 outings. Strapperama (four back the markers) finished third 4.5 metres away.

Began race with zest ■ Koyuga owner/breeder/trainer/driver Colin Height relived the old days when he was a regular in the winners stall, guiding It Is I/Miss Clare colt Fanagalo to victory in the Walkabout Security 3-Y0 Pace over 2160 metres.

Beginning with zest from gate three, Fanagalo led throughout in accounting for Alltheriversrun which trailed him from the bell after racing in the open from the outset, with the last start Kilmore winner Fulsome (one/one) third. The mile rate 2-03.9.

Masterly race to win ■ Youthful Tasmanian junior reinsman Alex Ashwood on loan to Andy Gath in Long Forest, drove a masterly race to capture the GDP Transport Pace for C1 class over 1710 metres aboard 4-Y-0 Art Major/Leading Lady gelding Silent Prowl at the Ballarat meeting.

Despite having to race in the open outside Keayang Genius after both worked extremely hard from gates four and six, Silent Prowl showed plenty of staying prowess by overpowering the leader in the shadows of the post, then defying a challenge from Shake Em Buster (one/one) to score by 1.2 metres in 1-58.1, with Keayang Genuis a metre back in third place.

Alex's dad Rodney Ashwood was injured in a horrific fall at Hobart on Monday February 6 and is still in hospital.

This Week’s Meetings ■ Wednesday - Shepparton/Mildura, ■ Thursday - Cranbourne/Bendigo, ■ Friday - Kilmore/Melton/I-D 3rd round heats in Perth, ■ Saturday - Ballarat, ■ Sunday - Charlton, ■ Monday - Cobram, ■ Tuesday - Terang.

Horses To Follow ■ Invasion Day, Red Hot Chilli, Mosquito Spur, Paintball, Shakatomic, Meetthenewboss, Cruisin Fella, Astra Storm.

INTER-DOMINION BEGINS ■ Friday (Feb. 17) saw the opening heats of the time honoured Inter Dominion Pacing Championships get under way at glorious Gloucester Park in Perth, Western Australia, where it all began back in 1936.

This year's series have reverted back to the original format consisting of three heats and a Grand Final, whereas in recent times there has only been two heats prior to the Grand Final.

With all races over the sprint trip of 1700 metres in was anticipated that the action would be on from the outset and that it was in heat one sponsored by Rentravision, with Washakie (gate two) leading out and being given no peace by the roughie Sneakyn Down Under (gate six), with the much travelled Auckland Reactor (gate three) poised beautifully one/one.

Easing three wide on the final bend, Auckland Reactor (Mach Three/ Atomic Lass) raced to the front over closing stages to score in a mile rate 153.7 (last half mile 56.7 quarter 29.1) from a game Washakie much to the delight of Harnesslink's John Curtain and partners, with Wrongly Accused third from three back in the moving line in advance of Sneakyn Down Under and Alzona which trailed the leader.

Trained in Christchurch by Mark Purdon who wasn't in attendance and driven by Anthony Butt, Auckland Reactor registered his 30th victory in 43 outings.

Anthony Butt was full of praise for Auckland Reactor, saying that he travelled beautifully throughout the race and ran to the wire strongly.

Latched ■ The SEW-Eurodrive sponsored heat two went the way of Byford (WA) trainer Peter Tilbrook's 5Y-0 Life Sign/Medea Me entire Crombie in a rate of 1-55.9 (last half 56.4 quarter 28.3).

Bred in Victoria by Shepparton's Ian Chambers and partners, Crombie driven by local hero Chris Lewis who is no stranger to Inter Dominion success (Carclew and Village Kid), Crombie from outside the front row had no option but to go back at the start, with the pole marker Rocket Reign easily retaining the front running.

When Mysta Magical Mac (gate seven) commenced a forward move from four back in the moving line racing for the bell, Crombie immediately

Baker’s Delight

Harness Racing

Rated to perfection

IN PERTH Melbourne

Observer

len-baker@ bigpond.com

with Len Baker

latched to his back for a three wide trail home.

Taken to the centre of the track on straightening, Crombie charged home to score from the fast finishing Can Return Fire down the outside fence after settling three back in the running line, with Rocket Reign third after looking the winner on the home turn.

Heavily supported Mr Feelgood (gate 8) finished fourth after facing the breeze, with Mysta Magical Mac a game fifth.

The favourite Raglan (one/one from gate 5) never saw daylight at any stage, going to the wire hard held and will now be in search of much needed points to qualify for the final.

Favourite ■ Champion Victorian 9-Y-0 Tinted Cloud/ Carnlough Bay gelding Smoken Up trained at Melton by Lance Justice and driven by brother John started a prohibitive odds-on favourite in the third heat sponsored by Yes Loans and didn't let his supporters down, recording a 1-53.8 victory.

Beginning swiftly from gate seven, Smoken Up had little difficulty in parking outside the anticipated pole line leader Saucy Legend, with Justice putting the foot down to lead for the final circuit.

Running his last half in 57.2 - quarter 28.2, Smoken Up toyed with his rivals to score by 1.6 metres in advance of Dasher VC (one/three three wide last lap) and Saucy Legend. Hesa Buzzin was a creditable fourth after being one/one with a circuit to travel and slightly held up approaching the home turn, with Cromac Johnny (three back the markers at bell) fifth.

Lance gave a stern warning after the race that there was plenty of improvement in the horse who will be cherry ripe for the Final.

For John Justice it was like ‘Shakamaker’ revisited who was so prominent during the Sydney Inters of 2002, going down narrowly to Smooth Satin.

Obliterated ■ The pride of Western Australia - Im Themightyquinn started a long odds-on favourite in the fourth and final heat presented by Schweppes and he had nothing more than a ‘stroll in the park’ to obliterate his rivals in a rate of 1-56.5.

Trained by Gary Hall at Hazelmere and driven by son Gary (Jnr), Im Themightyquinn from gate four possied one/one trailing Lombo Navigator inside him, with the second elect Has The Answers easily retaining the front running.

With quarters of 30.4, 30.8, for the first half of the mile after a lead time of 5.9 seconds, they were always going to run home at an electric rate and they did in quarters of 28.5 and 26.8.

Easing three wide in the last lap, Im The Mightyquinn picked up Has The Answers in a stride on straightening to score by an untouched 5.4 metres, with Son Of Fergie third after trailing the pacemaker. Little Sonny Bill (three back the markers) and Artorius (four back) finished fourth and fifth.

A 7-Y-0 gelded son of Washington Vc and Love Sign, Im Themightyquinn did his early racing under the care of Peter Bagrie in Christchurch before crossing the Tasman to join the Hall camp and has been a revelation since, chalking up 36 wins and 27 placings from 81 race appearances.

Further heats continued on Monday (Feb. 20) as the Observer went to press.

- Len Baker, in Perth

■ Exciting 4-Y-0 Christian Cullen/Inasafeplace gelding Keayang Cullen first up since May last year, was a strong victor of the Deflecta Pace for C3 & C4 class over 2200 metres at Bray Raceway Ballarat on Tuesday February 14 for Terang trainer Marg Lee and nephew reinsman Glen Craven.

Working hard from gate four to cross the favourite Mister Onetwo inside him, Keayang Cullen once at the head of affairs was rated to perfection, keeping the favoured runner in a tight pocket until the shadows of the post when he kicked clear to score by 3.8 metres in 1-59.3, with Meetthenewboss third after racing in the open.

Marg Lee had earlier in the night combined with son Jason (one of Victoria's most promising junior reinspeople) to land The Brackenbury Pace for C2 class over 2200 metres in a rate of 2-00.6.

Driven with aggression from the pole to hold out the almost unbackable favourite National Gallery (gate three), young Jason never panicked at any stage, even after National Gallery had joined him on the home turn.

Sitting cool, calm and collected on straightening, Major Day ran to the wire a half neck in advance of National Gallery, with Wor Jackie a further 19 metres away in third place from three back in the moving line.

Vigourous drive ■ At Monday's Horsham fixture, Wallacedale trainer Julie Parsons snared the Moore Bulk Haulage Pace for C0 class over 2200 metres with 4-Y-0 Shakamaker/Savory mare Turnamile.

Driven by Ararat's Mick Bellman, Turnamile from gate two enjoyed the run of the race trailing the pacemaker Temcam Theory inside her, before being taken away from the markers on turning.

Vigorously driven in the straight, Turnamile at Supertab odds of $78.20 prevailed by a head in 202.5 over Temcam Theory, with The Left Arm Quick (one/four - three wide last lap) third.

Restrained from inside ■ Heywood's Kevin Brough, a regular at Horsham meetings for a long period of time, landed the quinella in the Congratulations Kevin Lane Distinguised Service Medal Pace Final for R0 class which qualified in the heats held at Mt Gambier on February 5, with smart 4-Y-0 Armbro Operatve/ Mama Tembu mare I Wantano defeating Rosharni in the $5,000 feature over the sprint trip of 1700 metres.

Driven by Hamilton based Rod Barker, I Wantano was restrained at the start from inside the second line to possie at the rear of the field, before setting sail forward entering the back straight on the final occasion.

Sustaining a long run, I Wantano ran home strongly on straightening to round up her stablemate Rosharni who faced the breeze from the bell, scoring by 3.8 metres in 2-00 even, with George The Gambler (one/two) running on late to just miss second by a nose.

Led throughout ■ Further heats of the Decron Hoof Care Tontine Pacers Series were held at Horsham on Monday, the winners being Tentolife (trainer - Danny Thackeray (Euroa) - driver Nathan Jack) and Cullen Bromac (Keith Cotchin (Elmore) - Jodi Quinlan).

Tentolife (Life Sign/Paulas Sister) led throughout from gate four, just lasting to score from a game Washmepockets which raced outside him in 2-00.2, with Saint Flash (one/two - three wide last lap) close up in third place.

Cullen Bromac (Christian Cullen/Classic Blue Jeans) is obviously enjoying life in Elmore and after working from gate four to assume control from the pole marker Next Dawn, scored easily in 1-58.2 from Next Dawn and Ezee Duzit Lombo (three back the markers).

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Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, February 22, 2012 - Page 61

Page 62 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, February 22, 2012

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Melbourne

Observer Victorian Sport

FLYING START FOR 2012 NAB CUP

■ The season got off to a flying start last Friday night with Eddie McGuire’s slick and professional launch of the Foxtel dedicated footy Channel 504.

It is AFL football 24/7.

The action was non-stop with each of the three competing teams, Hawthorn, Richmond and North Melbourne all winning four points with surprise finishes at Etihad Stadium.

The expectation was Hawthorn would win both its games but all three games were average standard, close scores, fast and furious with mistakes ensuring the NAB Cup Foxtel and the AFL had an exciting opening to Season 2012.

The surprise of the nine games played over the weekend was the performance of debutants GWS Giants who unbelievably could have won both its games against Western Bulldogs and Collingwood.

In summary the ‘wash-up’ was Collingwood and WCE 8pts; Hawthorn, Richmond, North Melbourne, W Bulldogs, Fremantle 4pts; GWS and Essendon 0pts.

The best performance by a big margin was WCE who dominated while Essendon was a disappointment.

This Friday night Geelong, Swans and St Kilda clash at Etihad; Saturday night at Metricon it’s GCSuns, Brisbane and Melbourne’ and on Sunday at AAMI Stadium in Adelaide it will be Adelaide, Port Adelaide and Carlton.

GWS lost its opening game by five points when an intended, unselfish handball eight metres from an open goal to an unmarked team-mate went badly astray and the ball was rushed over the boundary line.

With only seconds left on the clock the Bulldogs survived by 5 pts. Interestingly the technical, over the top zealous umpiring cost GWS possibly three goals with missed frees for in the back late in the game plus the extra goal for a ruling the GWS full back unnecessarily punched the ball back into the playing arena.

This second goal was paid, I suspect, for wilful wasting time, cost Giants the win.

The law regarding a secondary free kick only applies after the field umpire’s call of ‘all clear’ to the goal umpire.

This incident occurred when the ball cleared the goal line and the GWS full back, caught behind the goal line, punched it while it was in the air back into the playing arena.

Without this goal GWS wins the game. The scoreboard at the time read Bulldogs 35 Points to GWS 17 with six minutes to play.

What a fight back from the kids to still have their chance to win.

Ironically in the final match the umpiring went the way of GWS and Collingwood fell in by 3 points when again the young Giant goal-sneak should have either ‘soccered’ the ball off the ground into the open goal or after he scooped it up instead of trying to pass it to his team-mate taken the shot on goal himself.

I haven’t mentioned the youngsters’ names as they will have been told and will learn from the experience.

Collingwood was without 13 of the 2011 Grand Final line-up which seemed to me to be disrespectful to the NAB Cup competition and the young GWS Giants.

I don’t like the last touch boundary

Harry Beitzel www.squidoo.com/harrybeitzel line free-kick. The 9 points goals from outside 50m is exciting and should be used in the premiership season matches.

The separated Interchange Gates must be retained and the 3m distance between ruckmen contesting ‘ballups’ and boundary throw-ins will be great when umpires enforce it more strictly.

I thought the best football was played in Perth with WCE the standout. Essendon was outclassed in both its games.

AFL’s $23.6m trading loss ■ The headline, as all headlines are intended to do, screams ‘disaster’.

But take time and study the media release which follows in full.

It explains all the strategic ‘KPIs’ have not only been achieved but overwhelmingly surpassed even the biggest knockers and pessimists of the AFL. It is a miracle it is ONLY $23.6m.

Consider the AFL’s part funding, with governments, of ground developments in Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne and now Sydney, the CBA with the Players Association and the mammoth, establishment funding of GCSuns and GWS, which is cleverly not spelt out in full detail.

A brilliant achievement!

Andrew D’s salary drop ■ You don’t have to be a genius to know this news was welcomed by the many pessimists and envious ‘non achievers’.

But footy fans and administrators be warned “we must NOT lose Demetriou to the commercial ‘headhunters’ at this critical time.”

He says he is happy and privileged to be in the job. He also says he doesn’t know what the going rate is for other CEOs. Andrew, that’s got to be a ‘porky’ as everyone knows what the ‘bankbandits’ and associated money marketers, mining magnates and the like are paid 10 times more than you.

I have written before you are worth $4m minimum for what he achieves for our game and fortunately he is loyal and committed to the job.

Thanks to his family upbringing money and greed ‘is not his god’.

Combined $40m+ loss ■ In an exclusive interview with the Herald Sun’s Shane Crawford, Andrew Demetriou expressed his ‘grave’ concern of the many AFL clubs’ mounting debts and their apparent inability to tackle the problem.

Again the AFL Executive will step in with ‘governance policies’ to control, reduce, eliminate these debts and ‘stop the rot’.

Of course the three or four rich clubs have upped the bar on specialist staff numbers, the purchase of the latest technology, the overseas medical specialists and ‘training camps’ in high altitude.

It is a worry as the article and especially the concerned look on Andrew D’s face explains all.

I’m pleased the AFL has again stepped in – the weakest link in a chain can bring down the whole structure.

The un-financial clubs must ‘cut their cloth’ to suit the budget or go under.

Maybe the principles of ‘the Draft’ and ‘Salary Cap’ may have to be introduced by the AFL to control the number and costs of specialist staff, assistant coaches and technologists in clubs.

Challenge to footy media ■ It was inevitable the AFL’s latest venture into its News Media Department, to take on the established media, would create angst and questions as to what clubs, their players can communicate to the accepted media prior to advising the AFL Media News department.

This is another problem for Andrew D to meet the established media, discuss their fears and problems and come up with clearly defined policies which apply to its new department.

If it becomes ‘first in wins’ then it could come down to ‘war’ – do we really need this after a century of tremendous coverage and promotion by the media?

What the AFL announced ■ Here is the AFL’s media release, as announced this past week:

AFL Commission Chairman Mike Fitzpatrick today said the AFL, in conjunction with many key stakeholders, had achieved a number of generational outcomes in the past year to drive the long term growth of the AFL competition and the ongoing development of Australian Football in the community.

The AFL Commission has forwarded the game’s official financial figures, which will appear in the 2011 Annual Report, to the AFL Club Presidents in the lead-up to the AFL annual general meeting, to be held on Thursday March 22.

Key points of the AFL’s financial performance in 2011 included:Record Revenue of $343 million in 2011, increasing by 2 per cent on the 2010 figure of $336 million.

The Operating Surplus, before grants and distributions, was a record $234 million (from $230 million).

The AFL provided total funding to AFL Clubs of $159 million. This included annual special distributions, strategic partnership funding, facility development funding and marketing support for fan development and membership activities.

Total payments to clubs in 2011 were $142 million.As a result of extraordinary distributions related predominantly to the bringing forward of the competition expansion strategy, the AFL recorded a net loss of $23.6 million – the first loss in 10 years.

Mr Fitzpatrick said the AFL had worked closely in 2011 with Clubs, players, corporate and broadcast partners as well as governments at all levels to either finalise or progress vital elements of the AFL Commission’s strategic agenda.

These included the landmark fiveyear broadcast rights agreements, the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with players, the introduction of the Gold Coast Suns, along with preparations for the Greater Western Sydney Giants to complete the 18team AFL competition in 2012, agreements to play six AFL games in Tasmania and initiatives to enhance stadia facilities in Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne and Sydney.

“Our strategic focus on the long term future of Australian Football, coupled with co-operative and constructive working relationships with key stakeholders, has positioned the AFL strongly for the next five years and beyond,” Mr Fitzpatrick said.

“Finalising new television and digital media rights agreements was a critical outcome in 2011 as it will provide supporters of the 18 AFL clubs in particular and the game in general with an unprecedented level of coverage across more platforms than ever before.

“These agreements will underpin the finances of the game from 20122016 and allowed the AFL Commission to adopt a financial strategy for 2011-2016 which includes allocating more than $1 billion to AFL clubs un-

der new equalisation and revenuesharing arrangements.”

Mr Fitzpatrick said the extraordinary distributions which resulted in the AFL recording a net loss included funding to the Gold Coast Suns FC as part of its transition to the AFL competition and establishment funding for the Greater Western Sydney Giants FC of around $22 million, including $10 million towards the redevelopment of Skoda Stadium.

“The AFL Commission is aiming to recoup the net loss during the next five years by generating profits of at least this amount.”

Mr Fitzpatrick said the completion of a new CBA with the AFL Players’ Association provided a level of certainty for the code and would deliver payments and other benefits totalling $1.1 billion to players from 2012-2016.

“By 2016 AFL players will each earn an average salary of $300,000, thereby making Australian Football a compelling career choice for Australia’s best young athletes,” Mr Fitzpatrick said.

“The game itself is another core responsibility for the AFL Commission and in 2011 we continued to see the benefit of recent changes to the laws of the game while also reinforcing the importance of maintaining and enhancing the integrity of the AFL competition.

“We are determined to ensure the AFL competition remains a fantastic sporting spectacle every week through competitive matches across the country played with the highest integrity by first class athletes in world-class venues.”

Mr Fitzpatrick said the AFL had been central to negotiations with Federal, State and local governments around much-needed investment in playing and spectator facilities across the country.

These outcomes included: the South Australian Parliament giving the $535 million redevelopment of Adelaide Oval the go ahead which from 2014 will become the home game venue for the Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide Football Clubs.

The Premier of Western Australia, Colin Barnett announcing that a new $700 million Perth Stadium will be built on the Burswood Peninsula and become the new home game venue for the Fremantle and West Coast Eagles Football Clubs.

The first stage in the redevelopment of the Great Southern Stand at the MCGConstruction of Skoda Stadium at the RAS Showgrounds in Sydney which will be the primary home game venue for the Greater Western Sydney Giants.

Ongoing redevelopment phases for the Sydney Cricket Ground and Simonds Stadium in Geelong.

Completion of Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast.

“To the best of our knowledge, the AFL is the only national sporting body to directly contribute to these major infrastructure projects.

They are consistent with our strategy to ensure the AFL competition continues to provide world class facilities for supporters and members, AFL clubs, players and corporate and broadcast partners,” Mr Fitzpatrick said.

“When this national stadium footprint is completed, our game at the highest level will be played in some of the best stadia in the world.”

- Harry Beitzel

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, February 22, 2012 - Page 63

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

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