Thanks to Brian of brianeberly.com who posted this beautiful video on his blog. It’s a Greek short film made in 2007.
I’m not a big fan of clowns. To be honest I don’t see the attraction …. yet there’s something about Slava’s Snowshow that may just change my mind.
I took James to the opening night of Slava’s Snowshow at the Regal Theatre last night. They say that Snowshow is to clowning what Cirque du Soleil is to Circus.
On the Snowshow website is a warning.
Weather warning! The forecast is for smoke and fog effects, occasional loud music, brief showers, high winds and plenty of snow. Skies will be clear at first with clowns increasing, becoming more mischievous later in the show. Conditions are not recommended for children under 8. Please note that children under the age of 2 are not permitted in the theatre.
It’s no joke. The show at times is incredibly subtle and at other times is extremely intense. If you’re going to the show, and I recommend that you do, be prepared for a show like no other.
Slava’s Snowshow is unlike anything you have seen on stage before, combining hilarity and poignancy with stunning spectacle and breathtaking images. The ensemble cast of clowns creates a world of wonder in which a bed becomes a boat, a web of cotton envelops the audience and one tiny piece of paper begins an exhilarating snowstorm which engulfs the entire theatre.
I’m feeling a little torn at the moment. I so much want to tell you about the magic of the show. I want to describe the excitement of the various elements which make up the show but I don’t want to spoil the surprises for anyone who may go to the show.
You may have been to shows before that let a few audience members interact with the cast. This show isn’t like that. When you go to Slava’s Snowshow everyone will have opportunity to be part of the show in one way or another.
I don’t think James will stop talking about the show for a long time. It was a lot of excitement for a ten year old. Once we got home he started telling Pauline about what we’d experienced. He still had plenty to tell this morning as he remembered more and more spectacular moments.
Slava’s Snowshow is on in Perth until the 20th of September. If it ever comes to a theatre near you … don’t miss it.
English actress and now film maker, Rachel Ward, says that young actresses should get their gear off if they want to be successful.
Breasts are sexy. I want to see them and audiences want to see them. I’ve certainly had to do my fair share of it. If you’re going to be an actress or a model, it’s usually part of the package.
She says that men’s private parts are ugly and we don’t want to see them, but that the girls are prudish if they don’t strip off in front of the camera.
Men don’t have to worry about the issue though because, well, their privates don’t make pleasant viewing.
So it would seem that she’s not only happy to see Hollywood’s double standard continue, she thinks that nudity isn’t a big deal. She believes that for the sake of entertainment, and to get backsides on seats at the cinema, young women should be prepared to bare all.
You’re in a movie because you’re appealing and because you represent the aspiration, the fantasy, the ideal. I resisted that but, when you’re in the business, when you’re making a film, one doesn’t have to take it all too seriously. We’re not curing cancer . . . it’s entertainment. We want to get people into theatres.
I’m sorry Rachel, but I’m not buying it.
According to an article at News.com.au, Rachel resisted calls to appear in films completely naked, but now she wishes that she had.
Yes, you’re more likely to get longer queues at the cinema if the latest hot celebrity is on a massive screen naked, but that doesn’t make it the right thing to do. Are we really that shallow that we just do whatever it takes to draw a crowd? Is modesty completely irrelevant?
I don’t care how ‘artistically’ a nude scene is shot, guys aren’t sitting there cheering at a cinematic and artistic triumph; they’re simply getting an eyeful of a naked woman. I won’t go into the full details of what may be going through a guys mind at that point but let’s get serious, it’s not about the beauty of the human form, it’s about sexual fantasy.
Yes Rachel, breasts are sexy and we do want to see them, but that doesn’t mean that it’s right and it doesn’t mean that we should. I purposely avoid watching television and movies that contain nudity and sex scenes, not because I wouldn’t enjoy seeing that kind of stuff, but because it’s not good for me. Does that make me prudish? Fine. I’m happy to wear that badge. I may be old school but I believe that if a film maker is good at their craft they won’t need to throw in a few naked bodies to sell more tickets.
In an over sexualised world I’m trying to keep the vows I made many years ago to “forsake all other women” and remain faithful to my wife. That doesn’t just mean physically and emotionally, it involves my thought life too. I don’t want my thought life to be taken captive by some naked, airbrushed 18 year old. I’m not prepared to throw away the serious promises I made to my wife for the sake of entertainment.
I know that means that I’m marching to the beat of a very different drum to most, but that’s what I will keep trying to do. It’s not always easy and I’m not always successful, but it’s the right thing to do.
The world doesn’t need more naked celebrities and actresses. The world needs more women to stand up and say, “My body is not just a tool to be used by lazy film makers to line their pockets with cash.”
Much loved Australian actor Charles “Bud” Tingwell passed away from complications with prostate cancer this morning. He was in a Melbourne hospital with his son and daughter by his side. He was 86.
His death is a sad loss to the Australian entertainment industry.
From serious film roles dating back to the mid 40s to his work in a number of television and movie comedies, he was a well known face both in Australia and around the world.
In the later 1960s, he performed various minor voice roles for the Gerry Anderson shows Thunderbirds and Captain Scarlet as well as appearing in the first series of cult television show Catweazle.
Among credits too numerous to mention Bud appeared in over 100 films. He was well known as Inspector Reg Lawson on the long running Australian television series Homicide. After Homicide he took on a number of small roles in major Australian films, such as Breaker Morant, Puberty Blues and All The Rivers Run.
He will be missed by several generations of Australians.
A 71 year old shouldn’t be able to do that.
I took my 11 year old daughter Emily to see Glen Campbell
I’ve never really been a big Glen Campbell fan but many of his songs have helped fill out the soundtrack of my life. I was asked by WASO if I’d like the opportunity to interview Glen’s daughter Debby on 98five Sonshine FM just before Christmas. Debby travels and sings with her dad on some of his tours.
I enjoyed chatting to Debby (You can hear the interview by using the audio player at the bottom of this post.) and when I was asked if I’d like to go to the show I was more than happy to accept.
Having WASO involved always meant that it would be a spectacular show but it was even more impressive than I could have hoped.
Glen Campbell took to the stage and opened with Gentle On My Mind then Galveston and then continued to roll out hit after hit. His voice was in fine form but his guitar playing is extraordinary. Seeing him play the William Tell Overture on his 12 string electric guitar was breath taking. When he perched the guitar on top of his head and continued playing at lightning speed I just thought to myself that a guy of his age really shouldn’t be able to do that. The guy is 71 years of age but apparently no one has told his fingers that.
When Debby was introduced I was ready for a change of pace and possibly some good vocals. She blew me away. She has a magnificent voice and it amazes me that she isn’t recording and performing full time. As well as doing a few songs on her own she joined her father for a number of duets. Brilliant.
The song I was really wanting to hear was the first one after intermission. As soon as the orchestra started playing I knew that Witcheta Lineman was on the way. It’s a song I love and the performance didn’t dissapoint.
Towards the end of the evening Glen Campbell walked on with some bagpipes which he says are the most temperamental instrument he’s ever tried to master. He used the bagpipes to great effect during a moving rendition of Amazing Grace.
The evening was completed with a fantastic version of McArthur Park. It’s an incredible piece of music and the orchestra really got the opportunity to show just how good they are by performing faultlessly.
Oh … and about me saying that I’ve never really been a big Glen Campbell fan … I sure am now. I’ll be grabbing a greatest hits CD as soon as I can.