Hi Ho (Leaving Carthage)
Destruction of Gomorrah in deep waters (Pieter Schoubroeck, c. 16C)
TVC is off to Gomorrah (well, Sydney) tomorrer to apply some cultural varnish to its faded monolithic charms. So we are doing a random stock-take. 1. MoMa is having a retrospective of the films of Wim Wenders – the time is apparently ripe. Wim deserves a walk in Paradise’s verdant lane at least once for Wings of Desire (1987). 2. Guy Maron’s AAA Building in Canberra and the Bicentennial Conservatory in the Adelaide Botanical Gardens have both been heritage listed. The Conservatory is an exciting modern work, which has been described as looking like a flying saucer that has landed…
Continue Reading →Perfect Murder Perfect Town
Jon Benét Ramsey's grave at Saint James Episcopal (by Taurusrus)
(2000) (Dir. Lawrence Schiller) Directed by Schiller as a tele-movie, originally a series, from his own book about the murder of 6 year old glamour-puss Jon Benét Ramsey on Christmas Day (or Boxing Day) 1996 in Boulder, Colorado, it violently divided critics and viewers alike as either partisan, too procedural or just plain icky. Young Jon Benét was found strangled in the family’s cellar after what was called “the ‘War and Peace’ of ransom notes” turned up. The parents became prime suspects; police and prosecutors clashed over the making of a prima facie case, and no one was ever charged….
Continue Reading →Eleanor’s Story
Hitler promised a chicken in every pot and a VW in every garage but failed to add that soon there would be no pots or garages...(Photo c/- German Federal Archives)
This review comes from our Guest Reviewers – thank you Denise and Margaret! Guest reviews are always welcome. “Eleanor’s Story: An American Girl in Hitler’s Germany”. (The Fringe, Rymill Park, Adelaide, 19 February 2015) Denise writes: A stellar performance by Ingrid Garner, adapted from her grandmother’s autobiography. Performed on a small set all but bare of props, and with some intermittent sound effects and voice-overs to enhance the sounds of conflict, this young actress drew us deeper and deeper into the daily business of survival in a foreign country at war. She showed us how a family unit can remain strong…
Continue Reading →Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg
Stage Design by Helmut Jurgens, Munich 1949
(Richard Wagner) (Met, N.Y., Dec. 2014) Whilst perhaps a German might find an opera of over 6 hours duration a droll concept, only Richard Wagner would turn that concept into reality. Yet in mirific fashion, he succeeds with his most human and entertaining work, a wonderful mix of romance and comedy that does not equate, thanks god, to a ‘romantic comedy’. From the Magisterial overture to the polyphonous redux of the Masters’ motto, we are enthralled and can even look past the score-settling with critics like Eduard Hanslick (the libretto originally had Beckmesser as ‘Hanslich’), with Jews such as Meyerbeer,…
Continue Reading →The February Teacosy
I decided against the subtle Victorian look – I just cannot stick to pales. So this second teacosy, is rather like the first – but even busier. The instructions are here and here. If I am to make one teacosy a month this year I need some new ideas, or I will have twelve all pretty much the same. Can anyone give me some inspiration? pp
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