Film: Made in Dagenham

The very fabulous Amanda emailed me about another SeeFilmFirst release, but unfortunately I couldn't re-use her activation code. So imagine my surprise earlier this week to suddenly receive an email from them with an invitation. Yay!

DH wanted to know what the film was before he committed to attending, but as per my usual policy I preferred to know as little as possible before seeing it. Nothing ruins the viewing of a film more than preconceptions of what it's about, or expecting something particular to happen.

So I didn't know that this was a British film, that it was about women's rights, and that it was going to be a light yet serious feel-good movie. I was excited to see Rosamund Pike's name in the opening credits. She is simply fabulous in every way, so would liven up even the dullest film. Fortunately that wasn't necessary, as this film can stand on it's own two feet.

The film was a little slow in places, but had enough entertaining moments to keep us interesting. And overall, it's hard not to feel the tug at your heartstrings at how marginalised these women were, in our very recent history. There's suddenly the sense that we've come a very, very long way in a very short period of time.

The theatre was only 80% full or so. But boy were they passionate! There were a number of women in the 40-60 age bracket who could not contain their excitement, breaking into spontaneous applause and cheers at various intervals. I guess they know what it's like to have a husband who expects the wife to work outside the home but still do all the cooking and cleaning...!

I found myself angry at the unions. Shouldn't they be about grass-roots passion, run by the workers for the workers? Too frequently they have their own agenda, with union officials having a conflict of interest. After all, if they were good at their job they'd be out of a job. You'll see what I mean when you see the film. A union should be a for a specific purpose or goal, not just generally to impede the employment process.

Verdict: See this film. It's important not to forget about things like this, and the film itself is entertaining enough that you won't be frustrated. It's not a preachy history lesson, more of a funny British flick.

7/10.

Village People!

Ever since I was a little girl, I've loved the Village People. Let's face it, they really should be a children's show - the costumes, the fun yet simple dance moves, the catchy jingles.

So I was thrilled to attend their performance at the Enmore Theatre on 16th October. There are 3 original members in the group, so it's still an authentic VP experience despite the decades that have passed since YMCA first hit our playlists.

The vibe was fantastic - very relaxed, and quite a few audience members in costume. We went with disco hats and funky sunglasses to get our groove on, and there were several cowboys and police officers making an appearance. Although you can get good seats at the Enmore, we went with standing tickets, which are located behind the seating right at the back of the theatre. However, as the Enmore is a really small venue you still get a great view. The area is also elevated slightly, so even when the seated audience got into the groove and started dancing we could still see over their heads without any difficulty. Also, the area is conveniently located right near the bar, from where you could also see the stage. So getting drinks was quick, easy and not disruptive to the experience - BONUS!

The show was great fun, they clearly love what they're doing. The guys have great vocals, and still pull off the dance moves with flair. A good balance was strike between the big hits and the lesser known songs, and they gave us a YMCA dance tutorial before performing it as the finale. This meant the entire audience knew the moves correctly and performed in synch, which was an awesome experience.

Great night out, and I wouldn't hesitate to go again next time they head over this way!


What: The Village People concert
Where: Enmore Theatre
When: 16th October, 2010

http://www.officialvillagepeople.com

Wicked!

When I first went to see Wicked the Musical, I pulled out my notebook and wrote a review during intermission. I have no idea what I did with that notebook, but I know I enjoyed the experience.

I remain extremely glad that I experienced Wicked when the show first moved to Sydney and the original cast was intact. It's given me a great base to compare the subsequent changes and evolution since then. The production has been polished up considerably as of my last visit, presumably in preparation for the move to Brisbane. The dancers have new costumes, the set has been spruced up, and there is a renewed energy in the performances. From the moment the map starts to glisten and the dragon roars, the production springs into life and I was mesmerized.

This was without a doubt the best overall experience. The audience were fantastic - nobody arrived late, there was not a single noise or word out of place, and everybody clapped and laughed heartily at the appropriate points. We were all in this together and hanging off every moment.

Our reward came at the end of curtain call when Lucy Durack signaled for the orchestra to stop, and Bert Newton addressed the audience. He thanked us all and relayed that they had commented backstage that we were the best audience they have had so far. He also took the opportunity to speak about the Rob Guest foundation and ask for donations.

As I headed across the street amongst the crowd I heard a girl saying to her parents "But do they say that everytime?" I couldn't resist setting her straight. "I've been three times, and this is the first time they've ever said anything." “Oh! Do they always say that it’s the best audience?” “Nope, just this time.” She seemed pretty happy about that.

So, after my 3 trips to Wicked, here's the verdict:

Best Elphaba: Amanda Harrison. Jemma Rix does an admirable job but doesn’t quite nail the characterisation. Amanda got laughs out of some of the throwaway lines which Jemma missed, and she had a great rapport with Rob Mills.

Pippa Grandiose played a very different Elphaba, more of the loner geek than the prickly witch, but while interesting it just wasn’t as effective. I’m sure there’s a reason why her contract wasn’t renewed and she was just a “temp” after Amanda left.

Best Fiyero: Rob Mills. I know, I know, Australia Idol wannabe who hooked up with Paris Hilton, I'm as surprised as you are. While I believe Tim Campbell is the superior performer, he just wasn't right for this role. For one thing, he’s too tall and towers over all of his costars. He is also a little bit older and doesn’t pull off the transition from high-school student to adult. Having said that, both were great and got the cheekiness and charm down pat.

Highlights: The clever social commentary woven into a visually spectacular and humorous story based on the Wizard of Oz. What's not to love?

Lowlights: Bert Newton. Seriously, that guy sucks, and the Australians *adore* him. They cheer whenever they see him. Honestly, it's ridiculous. I found his role irritating, and not sure if it's just him or if it's the character itself. But I'm sure the Wizard can't be that annoying in every production of this show. I think it's the way he delivers his lines and his general inability to act.

This show: 10/10

This production: 9/10 (they lose a point for Bert Newton, but fortunately his scenes are limited).

See it if you can!!!

Sidenote:

A massive thank you to Ticketmaster NZ, Ticketmaster Australia, Capitol Theatre and the Wicked production team for being so accommodating. My ticket was for Wednesday 22nd, but I was unexpectedly in New Zealand for my grandmother's funeral. On the Tuesday I flicked a quick email to the NZ customer service address as I couldn't find any contact details for Australia. I honestly didn't think of it any further, being somewhat preoccuped. But they contacted customer service in Australia who contacted the theatre. When I got back to Australia I had an email saying that if I wanted to show up at the theatre that night there would be a ticket waiting for me. Not only was it a ticket, it was the best seat in the house, dead centre. I was impressed by the service and very happy that I was able to see the production one final time before they moved on.

http://www.wickedthemusical.com/

Swan Lake on Ice

Several years back, when we saw Swan Lake on Ice in Auckland, we were in the front row at the Civic and it was a truly magical experience. Skaters performed remarkable feats to the magnificent Tchaikovsky, we saw skates flying above our heads, ice landed in our laps. I've said many times that it was one of my favourite shows of all time. It's worth noting that I received free tickets to their production of Cinderella on Ice the following year, and although enjoyable and amazing it simply didn't compare.

So when I saw the show advertised in Sydney my heart leaped... they were back with my favourite all time performance!! At first I didn't consider going, because I'd already been. But it took just a couple of drinks one night after payday for me to relent and purchase tickets online. I also told DH he had to come again, just as he had in Auckland. After all, it was at the casino, and he'd get to have buffet dinner first. (He's a big fan).

In my previous encounters with the Imperial Ice Stars, Vadim Yarkov has always performed the role of tall dark & handsome prince. There's been a bit of a cast reshuffle with some performers retiring, and in Swan Lake he is now playing the dark, evil and sinister Count von Rothbart. He adjusts to this role well, and I would say comparing his performances that he has come into his own in this role. He was always strong, but the "bad guy" role brings out a great deal of expression that was previously repressed. This, of course, leaves the starring role vacant. Consequently the shorter, blonde and utterly adorable Andrei Penkine is now playing the prince.

Lest you think I disagree with this casting, let me assure you that Andrei deserves this role and performs it admirably. He is exceptionally talented. However, having seen him in his previous role in this story, it's hard not to miss him in that capacity. Andrei played the role of Benno (the Prince's best friend) so exquisitely. He had the cheekiness, the sweet naivety and slight cockiness with the ladies that made his attempts to charm the Prince out of his lethargy quite appealing. He owned the role. So although he's a very talented skater and certainly performs Prince Siegfreid impressively, both Shane and I missed him in his previous role. The new Benno is taller (which just looks weird - the sidekick should always be taller than the Prince!) and doesn't have that cuteness about him.

In summary: Good Guy (Prince) is now the Bad Guy (Sorcerer), Sidekick (Benno) is now the Good Guy (Prince). Got it?

But that wasn't the only difference that we noted. The cast is older, they've been touring for many years now. I did feel that in some ways the production was somewhat tired. The performers spun around to the pre-recorded soundtrack, and it gave me a sense of tragedy, that they had lost the glamour that they deserved and sold their souls to commercialism. The costumes and sets throughout the show are beautiful and stunning, but they are the same sets and costumes as 5 years ago. The female skaters are still in the same roles, and still utterly brilliant. Their athleticism is astounding. It seems sad that they're touring the world year after year in the same roles. They are extremely talented, but it feels wasted on us, as though there should be something more for them after all of this time.

One of the most notable differences between the Russian skaters and basically *any* Australian production I've been to is the encore. The best part of the show is actually after it finishes, where they bow again and again, and then perform jumps and tricks while the crowd grows increasingly excited. This was the same as ever. It's the moment that they come into their own, and looking at them you cannot doubt that this is their life, their passion. They thrive on applause, and connect with the audience on a unique level. Their enthusiasm is contagious as the energy increases and they show off every jump and acrobatic trick in their repertoire.


If you ever have the chance to see the Imperial Ice Stars I thoroughly recommend you take the opportunity. They are passionate, talented performers who clearly love what they do.


Highlights:
I still adore Andrei Penkine. :-) And he DOES always smile at me. Then again, Shane refers to him as "smiley guy" so his smiles certainly aren't exclusive.

Lowlights:
Shane was disappointed that the skater on 6ft stilts was no longer part of the cast. The "tall guy" was part of the Count's evil posse and added an extra bit of drama. They still had the ring of fire where they light the stage up and other awesome moments, but the stilt guy was pretty cool!


What: Swan Lake on Ice
When: 1st September, 2010
Where: Lyric Theatre, SkyCity

http://www.imperialicestars.com

Film: Boy

If I'm looking a little teary-eyed today, put it down to nostalgia.

I enjoyed a preview of the film "Boy", which is an immediate kiwi classic for it's constant references to popsicles if for nothing else. (Seriously, popsicles were the awesome 50c dairy treat of all of our childhood...).

Apparently it's a smash hit in New Zealand, which didn't surprise me much seeing New Zealand typically produces one mainstream film per year, if that. Not a lot of competition going on. But the bright side of that is that when they do make a big movie they can capture plenty of raw, untapped and genuine talent. So Boy is actually good, well-written and meaningful viewing. There's drama, humour, sex, violence, innocence, family dynamics and basically anything else you could look for in a film. There's even a taste of glamour and wealth thanks to the very active imagination of our protagonist.

This film is a true kiwi film from A to Z. My very Aussie friend, Amanda, admitted that it wasn't until at least halfway through before she finally realised they were calling each other "eggs" because the accent was a little hard to understand. I had no problem with the accent, but when I first heard "egg" it was a moment before the word registered for me. And then it came flooding back - egg!! You're such an egg. And that word conveyed such meaning. That's what we used to say, before we learnt the F-word or other dirty words, or at least before we had the guts to use them. So this film absolutely hit home with me in a silly way. And it was fun - if for nothing else, the Maori version of Thriller performed during the closing credits makes this movie absolutely worth watching.

My only concern with this film is the perception it creates on the world stage. Yes, the film is funny and very realistic. But it's funny because we relate to it as the way our society was, not the way it is now. I would hate for anybody to believe that we haven't made progress in the past 25 years in terms of domestic violence, caring for children, and general quality of life. This is almost an in-joke. It's the life that we all relate to on some level, but it's not a modern depiction of New Zealand today. That's not to say the modern NZ is a sugar-coated paradise, but it's advanced further both for the good and for the bad. The issues we face now are deeper and more serious. Likewise, the good has increased, there have been improvements in many areas. That may seem ridiculously obvious, but my interactions with people from across the world consistently tell me that their exposure to us is minimal, and therefore they do take whatever they see rather seriously. So let's hope they see this for what it is - a clever indie classic, not a picture of the life of every Kiwi kid.

When: 18th August, 2010

Where: Event Cinemas, George St

Verdict: Entertaining.

Thanks to SeeFilmFirst for the free tickets!

West Side Story - Lyric Theatre

My theatrical outing on the night of August 4th was exceptional for one reason - I was accompanied by my lovely husband. This show was on at the casino and therefore a slightly further and more interesting excursion than usual. So it seemed appropriate to go together and make an evening of it. Sadly, there was nothing else particularly exceptional about the evening. It was enjoyable, but nothing to write home about.

To be fair, our West Side Story experience was nearly a disaster before it began. At approximately 11am I popped onto my email to double-check the show's start time as I couldn't remember whether it was 8pm or 8:30. To my horror I discovered that I had mistakenly purchased matinee tickets, with the show commencing at noon, and proceeded to have a minor freakout in the office. It took 30min on the phone to ticketmaster, a portion of that on hold while they spoke to the production manager, but they very kindly resolved it for me. Instead of front row and centre we were 20 rows back on the side, but better than nothing. So that evening after a tram ride and a quick feed at the casino buffet we headed down to the theatre. It was a full house (possibly due to the short run of the production) and started promptly.

A coworker of mine had complained that the set was too sparse. While this is true, it's hard to do anything elaborate with sets and costumes when the story is set in a harsh, poverty stricken environment. I do believe the backdrop and lighting could have been used more effectively, as it was very minimalistic and didn't have the impact I would expect. One day I will hopefully be able to compare to a Broadway rendition and find out whether this is a production fault or actually the way the play is supposed to be presented.

The vocal performances were acceptable, although the augmented fourths were a little dicey even to a poor musical ear such as mine. The dancing was a pleasure to watch, but honestly this was due more to the fabulous choreography than to any standout effort from the cast.

Overall, while there was nothing particular to fault about the production, neither was there anything to write home about. Usually when I see a show there'll be at least one performer who stands out, where I'll find myself wondering about their past and future work - checking out their wikipedia page the following day - and knowing that this is a name to watch out for. Nobody in this production had that impact. It was a pleasant evening, but I didn't feel the level of emotional tug that this story should

So, how do I rate West Side Story?

The show:

8/10. The story is a classic, and the score is fantastic. One Hand, One Heart just tears at my heartstrings and has me wringing all two of my hands with glee at the beauty of it.

This production:

6/10. They did ok. It didn't quite have the impact I would hope, and the overall feel of the production was sparse and rushed.

The crowd:

Fairly good. The ladies next to me whispered for awhile but a few carefully timed glares shut them up. There was a group at the front who missed the lock-out and were let in after a couple of scenes, which was particularly disruptive as there were nearly a dozen of them. Rude people!! Get your act together and show some respect. If you can't arrive punctually, then don't come at all.

Highlights:

• Officer Krupke. The boys did a good job, and performed this song in the hilarious and ironic way it should be presented. It's back on top of my playlist again. :-)
• During the very emotional, dramatic ballet scene a slight "oops" occurred. Specifically, one of the female performer's top came entirely undone and fell down, exposing her bra. She handled it very professionally, managing to finish the scene while acting as nonchalant as possible, and waiting to exit in a graceful and deliberate manner once the rest of the cast had returned to the stage and she could do so with subtly.

Lowlights:

The crowd. Certain members of the audience tittered like a football crowd when the aforementioned incident occurred. Seriously people, her undergarments were a full built-in section of the dress, there was nothing titillating or inappropriate. And it's seriously uncool to mock somebody just because things haven't gone as planned. Grow up.

Reality show exit lines

Best exit comments from a reality show ever:

"My king-sized bed! I'm gonna romp around in there. I've missed it so much, I think I'll just hang out there for days."

Those were (roughly) the final words from Australian Masterchef contestant Alvin who left us tonight.

Most contestants tell us how grateful they are for the opportunity, how happy they'll be to see their family or friends, how much they've learnt and what they'll be taking away with them. Blah, blah, blah.

This is the truth that we want to hear! Who doesn't long for the comforts of home when in a strange situation? Sharing a dorm-room with a stranger, tv cameras shoved in your face 24/7. Of course you miss your bed. Good for you Alvin!