Vivid Sydney

It is that time of year again with the Vivid Light, Music and Ideas Festival being staged in Sydney. For those who can attend it concludes this Queen's Birthday holiday Monday evening.

I had a bit of a look last weekend following dinner with Fs who visited from Canberra for the Festival. The crowds are as heavy as ever, especially in sections around Circular Quay. Of the light displays in that sector I thought the lighting of the Customs House building is best. The lighting of the Museum of Contemporary Art is similar to past years. The Opera House effects whilst still clever are not as brilliant to the eye as last year's.

Although I lugged my Canon SLR around with me I ended up only using my iPhone for photos unfortunately with rather limited success.

Here are a few - click on photos to enhance size;

The Opera House viewed from the Overseas Passenger Terminal

Opera House

Customs House

Customs House

Customs House

Customs House

AMP Building (left) Customs House (lower right)

Opera House from the concourse

Opera Bar (below left) and Circular Quay

Bridge

Tonight, 39.40%, 12/12

Woman in Gold

A holocaust survivor sues the Government of Austria for the return of a renowned family portrait which the Nazi wartime occupiers had appropriated.

Knowing that 'Woman in Gold' is based on actual events gives this well trodden tale of a David and Goliath battle for justice some fresh interest. The film is not expectational but the performances are reliable; especially from the ever watchable Helen Mirren.

An indirect Australian reference in the film gave a hoary old joke a moment of gleeful new life.
★★★1/2

Bridge

Tonight, 39.90%, 8/8

Spy

Melissa McCarthy is a kind of CIA spy handler who steps up as a spy when the operative she is handling is murdered in the field.

'Spy' is obviously modelled on the James Bond franchise from its prelude scene through its opening and closing credits. It's success as a comedy is partly that the performances are played straight rather than deliberately for the laughs although the film does occasionally drift into the current fad for gross-out humour.

Very entertaining.
★★★1/2

The not so beautiful game

In light of Mr Blatter's re-election as the head of the world's football body FIFA the following table - widely circulated - provides startling, indeed shocking, information. It says something about Mr Blatter that as his organisation's President he didn't have the decency to accept responsibility, even if it was only symbolic, for its abysmal activities. It is also a sad commentary on those many national Federations who stand by this failed executive, evidently preferring the benefits of corrupt largesse to being a member of an honest, reputable structure.

Dogfight

(Hayes Theatre)

The tiny Hayes Theatre Company continues to stage musicals to a standard that belies its size and I would assume very limited resources.

The latest staging 'Dogfight' continues the company's growing reputation.

Based on a 1991 film of the same name the musical tells of three marines, on the eve of being shipped out to Vietnam, who have a bet on which one can bring the ugliest ('dog') woman to a party. Notwithstanding this distasteful premise, the musical has some fine points and was enthusiastically received by a largely female audience when we attended.

A pretty classy production, the one drawback being an ongoing issue for this small auditorium of poor sound balance, mostly during the big productions numbers. The cast - all unknown to us - delivered strong, impressive performances.
★★★★

A million miles from care

'Seven miles from the city, a million miles from care.' The famous motto boasted by the Manly Ferries which day after day, steam the 35 minutes trip between the CBD's Circular Quay and Manly's harbourside cove punctually every 20 minutes (peak) or every half hour (off peak). The motto is well based. The trip alone induces a sense of calm no matter the weather or harbour conditions.

The motto was relevant for us today. Four of us spent the day at Manly partly in recognition of Ae's birthday yesterday. It was a carefree day even if Ae and Je were in a subtle bitchy mood with each other.

Why wouldn't you feel carefree in late Autumn conditions like these?

Manly Beach

Shelly Beach Park looking back towards to Manly

Promenade between Manly and Shelly Beaches

Bridge

Tonight, 54.60%, 5/15

Capitol, my boy, capitol

When we saw Les Miserables last week I was somewhat taken aback when the usher scanned my home printed tickets and informed us that we were in possession of Capitol Class tickets. The musical is being staged in Sydney's Capitol Theatre.

The usher explained we were entitled to 'complimentary' programs, chocolates, an ice cream and a beverage each. Presumably I paid a surcharge for this 'privilege' when purchasing our tickets online but I have no recollection of doing so. More to the point I would not have selected that option had I known that was what I was being offered.

Anyway, my companion Mt asked whether she might substitute a souvenir fridge magnet, to which she had taken her fancy, rather than accept an ice cream but any variation to our entitlement was firmly refused.

'How much is the magnet?' enquired Mt innocently. '$10' replied the Capitol Class Counter functionary. There was no way Mt would pay $10 for a simple fridge magnet, no matter the ongoing fond memories of her favourite musical its presence on her refrigerator might bring.

I'll make sure we are back to the Hoi Polloi Class next time.

Bridge

Tonight, 47.40%, 7/12

Going home

The Festival over for another year

Going home

Festival-going

For the Sydney Writers Festival session with Asne Seierstad regarding her book 'One of Us' about the Norwegian mass murderer Anders Breivik I positioned myself near a television screen in order to have a better view of proceedings given that all the seats nearer the stage were occupied.

The screen shows the moderator and author being 'miked up' for the discussion. I'm seated behind an attractive woman wearing a striking top with a Freda Karhlo motif.

Don't rain on my festival

The only session I booked for today at the Sydney Writers Festival was Michael Frayn: On Fiction; a discussion with the playwright and author about his novels.

Taking our seats in the Roslyn Packer Theatre

It was a late afternoon session and very entertaining it was too.

Ending at 5.30pm I had thirty minutes before the nearby bus stops would be closed for the opening night of Vivid Light, Music and Ideas Festival commencing at 6pm. If I missed that cut off time I faced a long walk up town (or is it down town?) to the temporary bus terminals.

I reached the bus stop at 5.55pm just as the heavens opened with heavy rain. The last buses before the cut off were queued and in grid lock as the special road clearways and closures for Vivid came into effect.

The journey home was more than three times the usual duration. The combination of special event arrangements and rain combining to frustrate everyone.

Vivid is a terrific Festival but its impact on movement through and around the CBD is profound.

@SWF

Today at the Sydney Writers Festival 2015.

Andrew Ford (extreme right) speaking about Elvis' Hips

Afternoon sun breaks through

Evening sessions

Evening jazz session

Bridge

Tonight, 35.20%, 13/13

Les Miserables

The third Australian season of 'Les Miserables' is playing in Sydney. This box office champion of a musical is still weaving its magic given that this season is now into its second year. The two earlier Australian seasons also ran for multiple years.

I had read that this reimagined staging of the musical is significantly different from the original stagings in particular through its use of screen projections. I was sceptical about meddling with a proven successful formula but now realise I underestimated the extent to which film is used to create imaginative atmosphere.

The projected images have been used brilliantly to support the live action and to suggest location and environment. I think this production with the projected images enhancing the physical settings is visually superior to the original which to my mind now seems quite minimalist by comparison.

Crucially in this production the performances of Simon Gleeson (Valjean) and Hayden Tee (Javert) are powerful. Both sing their roles strongly. Of the supporting soloists Kerrie Ann Greenland (Eponine) impressed me the most. The other soloists, to be honest, don't match the stellar performances of their counterparts in the previous Australian productions but they contribute effectively nonetheless. There are some impressive voices amongst the ensemble cast.

As a fan of this musical I didn't really expect this, at least fifth, viewing to be a fresh experience but to my delight that is how it felt this time around.
★★★★

Bridge

Tonight, 48.40%, 5/8

Mad Max: Fury Road

This is one idea of the planet of the future, Earth reduced to rock and sand. Those in control of water, women's breast milk and human blood dominate the rest who are subservient to them.

'Mad Max: Fury Road' is a two hours long road chase. For three quarters of its length a small group of escapees are pursued by the dominants and then they turn around to chase each back over the same route for the final quarter. Dialogue is minimal. The action is loud, long and relentless interspersed by the occasional moment of supreme stillness which comes as a blessed, if brief, relief.

This film has received rave reviews from seemingly everyone. It is not my type of film yet I have to concede it is constructed very well, it is visually fascinating and it held my interest throughout which is more than I can say for others of its genre.

My ears rang for hours afterwards.
★★★★

Lincoln Place

Updating construction of Lincoln Place the new apartment complex next door.

10 February 2015

Today