Flinders Street station

Early morning at Flinders Street station, Melbourne

Bridge

Tonight, 50.67%, 5/9

Funny Girl

The musical 'Funny Girl' is one of those works that is inextricably linked with a specific artist. In this case Barbra Streisand. I have never seen a stage version of it previously and all my memories and images of the work are of the film version with Streisand's Academy Award winning (sharing, in fact) performance.

This was also the first time I have seen a show staged by 'The Production Company'. That company presents three musical works each year for limited performances (ten for each show, I believe) and I was interested to see the quality of their presentations.

Their productions are more than a concert version but not quite a full staging. Although the orchestra (of about twenty six musicians) remains on stage throughout the performance I was fully engrossed in what was as close as you could get to a fully staged show.

The three principals, Caroline O'Connor, David Hobson and the veteran Nancye Hayes were all superb in this story of the rise to stardom and personal life of Fanny Brice. The entire ensemble and the orchestra were as professional in standard as you could wish for.

I was very impressed, so much so that immediately after the performance I booked for the next production in August.

★★★★

Catching the High Riser

In Melbourne for a brief weekend visit I caught up with Andrew and his partner R for coffee (actually in my case, hot chocolate) at Riverland Bar and Cafe adjacent to Federation Square.

Riverland Bar and Cafe

The weather was rather cool although at that time sunny and thankfully not as dire as the forecast had promised. Hail had been a possibility.

I was on my way to see a performance of 'Funny Girl' just across the bridge visible in the photograph. It was, as always, a pleasure spending time with them.

A technician called to deal with my complaint of pixellation, frozen screens and jumped scenes in recordings through my subscription television service.

I kept several recordings online as examples. He conducted some tests and identified several problems. One being that my signal strength was low; he quoted a reading of 'minus 2'. The other problem in his view was that the original installation provide a 'five way splitter', when all I require is a 'three way splitter'. That is, I only require a signal to split three ways (one to each of the two subscription services I run and one for the internet connection itself.

He replaced the 'splitter' and did whatever it was that produced a signal strength of 'plus 7'.

Whilst he was investigating the problem I asked if he could cut the excess cabling I was left with from the installation. For three years I have had literally metres and metres of excess cabling on my lounge room floor from the miscalculation the installer made of how much cabling I needed. The technician initially declined firmly to touch the cabling at all which was a disappointment but then when he found the jungle of cables overwhelming him as he worked to replace the splitter he changed his mind and to my delight cut much of the excess cabling. I was delighted.

Initially it seemed the technician had solved the recording problems. The first couple of programs recorded perfectly. Unfortunately problems have returned but to nowhere near the extent previously. I suspect the set top box itself, which was not examined by the technician, is playing up.

Our Kind of Traitor

In 'Our Kind of Traitor' a British academic on holiday in Morocco is persuaded to assist a Russian money launderer approach British Intelligence sources for asylum in exchange for exposing the activities of powerful Russian Oligarchs and their foreign accomplices.

Based on a John le Carre novel the film has the scenic advantages of exotic locations and a contemporary tale of complex intrigue. The comparative ease with which the academic is drawn into the plot does not quite ring true what ensues seems artificial at times but the film moves at pace and develops as a thriller towards its end.

★★★

Bridge

Tonight, 44.29%, 9/13

Bridge

Tonight, 58.95%, 2/14

Ghostbusters

I never saw the original all male team of 'Ghostbusters' made 32 years ago which was a big success and left in its trace a catchy theme tune.

This time around the all female team of 'Ghostbusters' take on the task with the same catchy theme in tow. I can't say much for the plot which is minimal and apparently almost irrelevant. There is lots of noise and the special effects are reasonably impressive if rather repetitive. Each of the four women has a moment or two to shine without any of them leaving much of an impression. It is left to Chris Hemsworth to make the most of his participation in the gender stereotyping switch as a receptionist chosen for his looks rather than his skills (and his dance moves over the end credits).

Members of the original cast make cameo appearances for those with fond memories of the first movie.

Bland fun.

★★1/2

Resident Alien

Paul Capsis plays the eccentric Englishman Quentin Crisp in the one person play 'Resident Alien' currently in a short season at the Seymour Centre.

Capsis portrays a day in Crisp's life spent in his New York flat. According to the program notes the text is derived from Crisp's published work and anecdotes. Capsis is a highly regarded performer often portraying cross gender or gender ambiguous characters. Whilst appreciating his skills I haven't always warmed to his performances but I think Capsis is very good in this theatre piece.

If I have a criticism it is that the work is a little one dimensional lacking a degree of light and shade  in subject matter.

★★★

Not a valid response from Foxtel

I'm having a problem with my subscription television service, Foxtel. Specifically, my recorded programs are being compromised by the intrusion of pixellation, frozen moments and jumps through scenes. Live television service is not affected. I suspect there is a problem with the personal recording  unit.

I first reported this problem back in April and it appeared to be remedied at that time by a system reset.

However the same problems returned gradually a few weeks later and have increased in frequency ever since.

Today I called the technical support call centre which by the accent of the operator handling my call and the voices I could hear in the background is located in India. I wasn't happy with the service I received.

The operator asked for my account number and when I failed to provide it immediately - I was scanning my documentation to locate that information - she repeated 'account number, account number, account number' perhaps a dozen times without a moment's pause. Once I had provided the number she excused herself for a conversation with a colleague in a local language which I could hear before returning to my call and then asking - as though for the first time - for the number again.

This sent her into bursts of laughter which continued for about a minute. Then followed a number of questions one of which didn't seem relevant to me. When I queried the question the operator offered no explanation for it and just moved on to other questions.

By this time I lost patience and asked several times to be transferred to another operator. This request was ignored totally. I didn't bother asking for a supervisor as from previous experience I know the answer always is that there isn't one available.

This was one occasion when I held on for the follow up call asking me to rate the service. To each rating my response was 'not satisfied'. Each of these was met with the automated system informing me that mine was 'not a valid response'. (A number system of ratings is used.)

I did comply with the numbered ratings at each prompt but Foxtel, I can tell you your call centre service is not a valid response to customer expectations.

The Legend of Tarzan

Who knows how many films have been made about the mythical Tarzan, the son of an English aristocrat, brought up in the African jungle by Apes? I don't.

In 'The Legend of Tarzan' our hero is lured back to Africa to investigate corrupt behaviour by mining interests not knowing that his capture is the bargaining tool for those behind the corrupt activity. The plot also includes flashbacks to explain Tarzan's childhood and that of his wife Jane whose childhood was also spent in Africa.

Alexander Skarsgard makes for a handsome if somewhat reticent and uninteresting hero whilst Australian Margot Robbie as Jane is enchanting in yet another movie. The camera just loves her.

The best feature of the film are the images and camerawork which are captivating.

★★★

Bridge

Tonight, 38.23%, 15/15

Colonnade

At Circular Quay, Sydney

Bridge

Tonight, 48.41%, 4/8

Maggie's Plan

A 30s something single woman in New York City (Greta Gerwig) negotiates to receive the sperm of Pickle Entrepreneur friend in her quest to have a child when she meets a married academic to whom she becomes attracted.

'Maggie's Plan' is the type of film that Woody Allen would make and Gerwig is a young, white, Christian female equivalent of Allen.

I enjoy Allen in moderation and I enjoyed this Allen style movie. The scenes are conversational and filled with urban angst and self absorbed characters. The plot is minimal. The pacing is very slow. The outdoor New York City settings are wintery and, for me, thoroughly enticing.

For NYC and Allen aficionados. If that is not you then take a rain check.

★★★

Grubs up!

In my neighbourhood

Goldstone

A new Australian film, 'Goldstone', is set in the Outback and depicts a situation of corruption and criminal activity involving mining interests.

The film contains some spectacular photography which brilliantly illustrates the dry, dusty, vastness, remoteness and isolation of outback communities. The performances are fine however the plot is slow to unfold and contains few surprises. At times the dialogue is clunky.

Interesting overall despite the shortcomings.

★★★

Bridge

Tonight, 60.85%, 1/8

Frankly Malcolm, we didn't give a damn

Yesterday evening as counting of votes in Australia's Federal Election 2016 was getting underway Turner Classic Movies channel was screening (for the umpteenth time) 'Gone With The Wind'.

I wonder if Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull noticed the omen.



Oh, the irony. A majority dissipated and gone with the wind and we didn't give a damn.

The nation decides

A rather grand statement isn't it? 'The nation decides'. It is often used in relation to Australia's Federal Elections and today is election day.

A few nations have been deciding lately. The United Kingdom decided to leave the European Union much to everyone's surprise; not the least their own. Having made the decision, that nation appears in the process of a complete breakdown.

The United States is in the process of reaching a decision of its own and few of its citizens appear happy with the options. The rest of the world meanwhile is keeping our combined fingers crossed that the decision the USA makes is the 'right' one. In bridge playing terms we hope that a winning card isn't 'trumped'.

Returning to Australia our options appear uninspiring. The Prime Minister usurped his predecessor to take the position and so is looking to win the position by popular vote for the first time. Although most were relieved when he usurped the previous PM his performance since has been disappointing.

Malcolm Turnbull, Prime Minister

His opponent, the Leader of the Opposition is not averse to a spot of usurping himself having been involved in two such coups against two earlier PMs. To the surprise of many his performance in the election run up was more convincing than his earlier performance as the Opposition Leader although even that slipped in the late days of the campaign as both leaders resorted to negativity and mudslinging.

Bill Shorten, Leader of the Opposition

One of them may be the incoming PM by the time counting of the vote concludes for the night but if the neck and neck Polls beforehand prove accurate then we may not be certain for days.

One way or another one of the two will be PM in the next government. But will anything change?

Everybody Wants Some!!

'Everybody Wants Some!!' is set at a Texas University in 1980. The academic year is about to start and the baseball team is accommodated in two houses from which they are preparing to train ahead of their playing season.

And what is it that they want? Beer and women. In the event they are not available the team will settle for women and beer.

It is that sort of film.

Within a minute I was ruing my decision to see it. It is boring, gross and mostly pointless. Only in the  final quarter does the film lift and then only slightly once several of the characters start behaving remotely like adults.

★

Looks like winter, feels like winter

Centennial Park, Sydney

Bridge

Tonight, 39.51%, 13/13

Hunt For The Wilderpeople

In 'Hunt For The Wilderpeople' a troubled teenager is fostered out to a couple who live near New Zealand wilderness from where he enters a whole new world of troublesome activities.

This New Zealand film is based on a series of books which I understand are beloved in that country and so it has proved very popular there notwithstanding that the movie departs at some points from the books.

When I saw the trailer my reaction was that I wouldn't enjoy the somewhat parochial humour and I only went to see the film as a companion for a friend rather than through personal choice.

I'm glad I did. Despite my misgiving I enjoyed much of the humour and the film itself has some quite heartwarming aspects.

Besides that, the wilderness scenes are often breath taking.

An unexpected pleasure.

★★★1/2

Bridge

Tonight, 42.06%, 7/8

My lost timeline

A friend asked me recently why I hadn't acknowledged the birthday wishes she sent me.

'What birthday wishes?', I asked.

'The message I placed on your timeline', said she.

'My timeline? What timeline?', I asked.

'Your Facebook timeline' said she.

Facebook.

Ah yes.

I joined Facebook shortly after its launch. It seemed an interesting idea but it only took me a few months at best to tire of the countless friend requests from complete strangers around the world with whom I appeared to have little in common and what seemed like a mountain of emails pinging in my in tray all day long.

At the time it seemed there was no way to shut down an account so I took the next best steps and stopped using the service altogether not even as a curiosity for occasional enquiries or observation. That seemed to work. Apart from the occasional (annual?) email mentioning that I hadn't accessed my account in some time which offered help in restoring my password in case I had forgotten it, I was not bothered by the ubiquitous service again.

Until this week and the unrequited birthday wishes.

Fearing it was a dangerous thing to do, I accessed my account using a newly established password (for indeed I had forgotten my earlier password), found my timeline and the aforementioned wishes and I sent the desired acknowledgement.

Facebook is a more complex looking affair now. I have been conscious during my Facebook dormant era that others use it to keep loved ones informed of their travel and other celebrations and whilst I was never sorry about being inactive I did think occasionally how useful it could be in keeping those I want informed up to date about myself.

Inevitably I have been drawn back into the demon site. The effect has been immediate. Former work colleagues and friends have spotted me there and the friend requests are flowing. Someone I worked with in Beijing more than 35 years ago and with whom I have had not a single contact since and who now lives outside Washington DC spotted me after only two days.

I have tracked down some friends too, although without necessarily asking each of them to befriend me (again). Andrew is one I located on Facebook but as his site appears untouched since 2012 I decided to leave him be.

No doubt I will tire of Facebook yet again but for now, in the approximate dialogue from, I think, 'The Godfather' and with a New York criminal twang, I say that 'I keep trying to get myself out and they keep drawing me back in'.

Back At The Dojo

Belvoir Street Theatre

In 'Back At The Dojo' the playwright Lally Katz tells the story of how her father, after a misspent youth, met his future wife and her mother after he joined a karate club. The play tells the story in flashback with the present day set in a hospital where Katz's father sits vigil besides his comatose wife and their estranged transexual grand-daughter has come to visit.

Although a very personal tale - I'm not certain whether the transexual grand-daughter subtext is fictitious or also based on Katz's family history - I never really got into this play. The company performs the play well and the karate scenes with an actual Sensei leading the cast in karate moves are impressive. Unfortunately I didn't really develop an interest in any of the characters, apart from the Sensei herself.

★★

Old and new

An interesting upgrade of an old building with new extensions, part of the Liberty Place complex in Sydney's Central Business District.

I think it looks better in reality than in my photograph.

Independence Day: Resurgence

Twenty years ago 'Independence Day', the story of aliens attacking planet Earth, was a huge box office hit. Hollywood finds such success to be irresistible and so the anniversary is celebrated with 'Independence Day: Resurgence' which as the title suggests essentially tells the same story again, only updated by technology.

The United States is preparing to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of 'its' victory over the extra terrestrials when the aliens re-emerge stronger and more dangerous than ever.

Although set in this year, 2016, the images are not of this time but of some time in the future perhaps not to scare any young ones exposed to the mayhem unleashed in this sequel.

The plot of this sequel is so ridiculous and inconsistent as to be laughable so it is just as well that the film is leavened with humour much of it referencing the earlier movie. In any event, plot is not the point of this film. It is vision and sound that drives the movie and the audience is treated to plenty of both. Visually the film is quite interesting apart from the sense that much of the live action is obviously photographed in front of a green screen.

Predictably Hollywood cannot resist some moralising platitudes about the human spirit and the final scene is the most unsophisticated set up for another sequel that I can recall.

★1/2

Bridge

Last night, 41.15%, 9/10

67

Today I am

How the years fly. I am eight years older now than was my grandmother when she died in 1967. At that time it seemed to me that she was an old lady.

I don't feel nearly seventy. I don't consider myself as being old or elderly. I understand why my generation regards seventy as the 'new sixty'.

A Man With Five Children

Darlinghurst Theatre Company

'A Man With Five Children' takes the 'Up' documentary series as its inspiration and transposes it into an Australian environment with a journalist interviewing five children each year on our national day.

His original intention is to cover five years only but the project develops a life of its own.

I was a bit slow initially to get into this play with its mix of live action and videoed action displayed on the back stage. However I got into it as the drama unfolded. The performances are top notch.

✭✭✭✭

Me Before You

A high flying young professional is seriously and permanently injured in a street accident and despite a growing relationship with his carer is intent on pursuing euthanasia.

'Me Before You' is a rather bland film detailing a growing romance. It has drawn considerable critics for its euthanasia sub text and I can understand why. The film portrays a wealthy man with considerable support and advantages not withstanding his crippling condition and the supposed pain he is experiencing to justify his intentions is scarcely evident. The euthanasia debate is a very delicate one and whilst I am in favour subject to safeguards this film is unworthy of that issue.

✭1/2

Bridge

Tonight, 54.66%, 4/14

Vivid Sydney

Some images from Vivid Sydney: Light, Music and Ideas Festival 2016 as I wandered around Sydney city following the theatre last night. The annual light display continues to enchant.

Sydney Harbour Bridge with Luna Park in the distance

Sydney Opera House

Sydney Opera House

Sydney Opera House

Sydney Opera House

Sydney Opera House

Sydney Opera House

Sydney Opera House

Circular Quay

Museum of Contemporary Art

Customs House

Customs House

Martin Place

All My Sons

Sydney Theatre Company

Arthur Miller's 'All My Sons'. Post second world war, small town, USA. A couple who lost one son in the war are concerned when their surviving son reveals his love for his late brother's girlfriend. The relationship brings some buried family truths to light.

To what lengths will people go to preserve their self interest?

A wonderfully acted and staged production of this classic play.

✭✭✭✭

Feel like a drink?

We spent the day in Maleny an arts and crafts type village north of Brisbane.

This was on sale at one of the stores.

I'm not an alcohol drinker. I wonder how good it really tastes?

30

It's been a long time since I went to a thirtieth birthday party.

My own thirtieth was a milestone least wanted. I was happy to turn twenty-one, I was happy to turn forty, I was happy to turn fifty and I was happy to turn sixty. However, I remember that turning thirty was somehow an unwanted milestone. I was definitely no longer a teenager, of course, but I also was no longer in my twenties; an era which still seemed to mark me as being young. Turning thirty meant I was well and truly an adult. That meant I was old. That's how I felt then anyway.

Nowadays I wouldn't mind being thirty again, at least for a little while, as long as I have all my sixty-six years of accumulated wisdom (supposedly) and experience and financial stability. Not that I really think about it. I am happy to wake up every morning, realising I am in reasonable health and I have another day of life to live and enjoy.

Tonight we went to a thirtieth birthday party. The married daughter of good friends. She has a gorgeous husband, a lovely house they are paying off, a secure job and all those years ahead of them.

It was an enjoyable party which I spent mostly with other guests of my generation watching those 'youngsters' full of energy and verve (and who knows what substances).

Why on earth was I a reluctant thirty-something all those years ago?