Day Of Rest
I was sitting in the park opposite the Bourke Street Bakery earlier today. It was nice just to sit in silence and watch the only place outside the former Soviet Union where people still queue for bread. It was just a wonderful moment of peace, a moment of quiet in an otherwise busy few days.
After the excitement of seeing Dave Mason at The Basement on Wednesday night, I had another night out on Thursday for the Australian premiere of the new Barry Humphries show. It was a star-studded night with celebrities galore. We were seated next to Ed Phillips (Temptation) and just behind Karll Stefanovic, Michael Willesee Junior and Tina Bursill. OK, so they weren’t big celebrities, and a few of them did leave at intermission…
That a few people left at intermission didn’t surprise me, as the first half featured Les Patterson and Sandy (the old bloke) whose black and morose humour is in stark contrast to that of Dame Edna, and was probably not what the majority of punters were there to see. Even at intermission, I didn’t really get the sense of a buzz from the audience.
That Barry Humphries received a standing ovation at the end was, I think more out of respect for a life-long career – he’s been doing Dame Edna for 50 years than in recognition of a great show. I mean, I’m a big fan, and have been to quite a few Barry Humphries shows in the past, but I was a little disappointed.
The following day at work I was discussing this with some people who had been there who enjoyed the show much more than I did. When I admitted I was disappointed with the same old jokes, a colleague reminded me that when you go and see a band you know incredibly well you get angry if they DON’T do the same old songs, a fairly spurious argument in my view.
At the end of the night, Graeme and I went for a drink at the nearby Irish bar which regularly changes its name. We then wandered along the street where I pointed out the location of the hairdresser from hell and noticed the anti-shooting up blue light at the entrance of a nearby backpacker hostel. Oh Sydney, you have changed.
And then last night, Colin and I went to Sydney Theatre for the final in the current season of Up Close & Musical. The lead act was Simon Burke who I thought was absolutely tremendous, basing his act around the children’s television series, “Play School” in which he regularly features. There were love songs to Jemima and Humpty Dumpty and he sang “I Don’t Know How To Love Him” to Big Ted… “and I’ve had so many bears before in very many ways, he’s just one more”. You couldn’t help but laugh.
I kept an eye out for Tyson who was apparently there but didn’t see him. Not all that surprising as UC&M was well attended last night. Hopefully, it will be just as popular, if not more so, when it resumes at the Theatre Royal when “Company” opens in July.
Indeed, UC&M was packed. Tony Sheldon, several of the Pippin cast, Ross Coleman and Gale Edwards were all spotted. And of course I was there! I was smiling the whole way home. It was interesting to hear a song from each of the Wild Partys. I think, at least for me, the LaChiusa one that Sophie Carter performed, “Black Is A Moocher” was a stand out number. What a talent! I was also blown away by Tyran Parke’s backup singers.
I thought Kookaburra’s Pippin was the best version I’ve ever seen. It just seemed to “get” the material and almost made it flow. Fantastic night.
Agree with you about Pippin. I was disappointed with the reviews.
There is one other bread line outside the former Soviet Union! It is at the Italian bread shop on Ramsey Street in Haberfield. On a Saturday morning the line snakes out onto the road despite the three matronly and very efficient serving ladies.
Ellen – Oooh sounds like my kind of bread shop! See you tomorrow.