Author Archive: Guest Reviewer
Myth, Propaganda and Disaster in Nazi Germany and Contemporary America
Adelaide University Theatre Guild, 5 – 6, 9 -12 & 16 -19 May 2018 Stephen Sewell’s award-winning commentary on the War on Terror premièred in 2003. Fifteen years later, its anger and its resonance are undiminished, in that the eternal tension between individual liberty and social cohesion has become more acute in the post 911 world and the new theocratic age. The play asks “What does happen when the ‘Land of the Free’, with its neuroses about security and its desire for control says “You’re either with us or against us?” The Varnished Culture will no doubt seethe and gnash its collective…
Continue Reading →The Greeks Win, Hands Down
Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Art Institute Chicago, April 2018 We are on record as denoting classical Greek sculpture as the ne plus ultra of the medium, and for us this was confirmed by a recent visit to the relevant wing of that massive treasure trove, the Met. The sheer artistry, clean classical lines and noble artisanship carry ancient Greek plastic art far above anything since, and this superiority is even reflected, through a glass darkly, in the later Roman imitations. Sophocles turned-up to send us some thoughts from the shades (of Chicago): Beware of imitations…this Roman knock-off to celebrate its…
Continue Reading →Cuba
By David Astin [Our thanks to David for this comprehensive article. He is an ‘old Cuba hand’ and knows more about that fascinating island than any travel agent (or ‘Smart Traveller.’). The Varnished Culture has had its reservations about Castro and his legacy, although there’s no denying that he had genuine passion and guts, but we still mean to go to Cuba, and David’s piece is an invaluable source for those who do.] I am not going to go into the Cuban political situation, much as I disagree with it. That is not what this article is about. This…
Continue Reading →Africola
4 East Terrace, Adelaide, (8223 3885) February 2018 The Old Continent meets the Dark Continent in this funky, uber-trendy gourmet kitchen which is crowded, noisy, but full of interest, including pretty and witty decor. The staff shoot from the hip, but at least they are hip when they shoot, and they know (and love) the bill of fare. The trick is to sample the full flavour of the veldt without over-ordering. Over a dry champagne, we plumped for a starter of crispy eggplant with chilli and shallot sauce. This arrived under a duvet of what appeared to be dessicated coconut…
Continue Reading →O Glorious Jeremiad
"The Nightingale is Singing" by Mikhail Nesterov
The Varnished Culture’s collection of Sad Songs As Elton sang, ‘sad songs say so much,’ and they serve a number of purposes – soothing the soul, topping-up our empathy tanks, putting a spring in our step because we’re not expiring near a roll of chicken wire. “Sad” in this context can mean melancholy, mournful or even wryly funny. Our preferred lamentations, in alphabetical order (key performer only credited), are: All By Myself (Eric Carmen) [He never needed anyone before but he does now.] All of These Things (Ed Kuepper) Allentown (Billy Joel) [Ode to a dying town.] Alone Again (Naturally) (Gilbert…
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