Mdina, Malta

Information about Mdina here.

Some photos from our visit.

The Accountant

A young boy who is on the Autism spectrum is pushed by his military father to toughen up for adulthood. Gifted with numbers, the boy grows up to become an accountant with a sideline in criminal associations.

'The Accountant' is a fast paced action thriller featuring a convoluted plot that I never quite got to grips with. Mostly interesting, frequently violent and in the end somewhat perplexing.

A Robin Hood accountant? Perhaps but I'm still not sure.

★★1/2

Bridge

Tonight, 43.52%, 11/13

The Light in the Piazza

Life Like Company

The Life Like Company staged a short season in Melbourne of 'The Light in the Piazza' a musical based on the movie which itself was based on a novel by Elizabeth Spencer.

In the post World War 2 era, a mother takes her young daughter on a holiday to Florence where she meets and falls in love with a young Italian.

The musical was originally staged on Broadway in 2005 and won 6 Tony awards from 11 nominations but it seems that the work has not been widely staged otherwise.

There are some lovely moments in this musical which at times borders on operatic. This production is quite simple but effective and the local cast is outstanding.

★★★1/2

Bridge

Tonight, 50.15%, 5/8

A Flea in Her Ear

Sydney Theatre Company

French farces are a dicey prospect. They are silly by nature and they rely on spilt second timing from performers and a general suspension of belief from audiences.

The Sydney Theatre Company is staging 'A Flea in Her Ear'. The work is more than a century old but this adaptation, whilst retaining its period, is peppered with 21st century language to deliver a contemporary sense of comedy.

Two women of society set a trap for the husband of one of them to elicit proof of their belief that he is having an affair.

The first act sets up the situation and establishes the various characters. The second act provides the farce with mistaken identities, mistaken understandings and general foolishness.

The second act felt a little drawn out to me but otherwise this piece of froth provided plenty of laughs.

Faith Healer

Belvoir Street Theatre

'Faith Healer' is essentially a performance piece rather than a narrative play. There are three performers. Each appears solo on stage and between them they perform four monologues; three of which are about half an hour in length.

The three characters are an Irish faith healer, his wife/girlfriend and their manager. They speak about the faith healer's days presenting his healing performance, the couple's relationship and the relationships between the three of them.

I usually find such solo performances trying; my concentration simply doesn't hold but in this instance the performances are superb. The manager's monologue (performer Pip Miller) is particularly memorable.

★★★1/2

The Girl on the Train

A woman travelling to and from work by train every day fantasises about the lives of residents in the houses she passes. When she observes what looks to be an abduction and possible murder she sets out to discover what happened but her recollections appear unreliable, even self incriminatory.

If, like me, you read the book on which 'The Girl on the Train' is based before seeing the film then any element of surprise about the explanations for what transpires is gone. What is left is a rather grey, dour movie minus much of the personal detail about the lives of the main protagonists. Emily Blunt doesn't really match the book's description of Rachel, the principal character, but despite that disadvantage makes a fair attempt at the character reinforcing my favourable impressions of her acting capacity.

★★★

St Julian's Bay

Malta reminded me somewhat of Sydney with pride in its harbour and life centred around its glittering sun drenched bays.

This one is St Julian's Bay.

Bridge

Tonight, 38.07%, 14/15

Wilted spinach

There is a news item today that scientist have 'invented' spinach that can be used as a bomb detection device. The spinach wilts when in proximity to bomb devices.

And it is not even 1 April!

Trick? Treat?

Halloween seems to be a thing now; at least in Sydney's eastern suburbs where I live. Ghoulish house decorations are increasingly the go and parents/guardians are taking to the streets before sunset with their little darlings in tow each holding a bucket for all those treats they hope to collect. I gather that is the aim.

I don't know why parents would feel that extorting loads of lollies from neighbours and strangers is a desirable activity for their children but there you go. Commercialism and marketing trump sense.

Here is one of my neighbourhood residences dressed to kill for the evening.

My Fair Lady

Opera Australia is currently staging 'My Fair Lady' celebrating the musical's 60th anniversary. The production is directed by Dame Julie Andrews.

I saw OA's previous production (about ten years ago?) which was very good and wasn't intending to see this one until friends told me how much they enjoyed it.

I agree with them.

This is a magnificent production. The staging, the sets, the costumes, the performances, indeed every aspect of this production shines. Alex Jennings (Professor Higgins), Reg Livermore (Alfred Doolittle) and Robin Nevin (Mrs Higgins) are outstanding in the ensemble cast.

★★★★★

Valletta streets

More images from Malta's capital.

Somewhere.....

....just now

In front of my apartment

Keeping Up With The Joneses

A sleepy suburban community is dewy eyed at the arrival of the Joneses, a couple too perfect to be true. Their neighbour (Australia's Isla Fisher) smells a rat and sets out to discover the truth.

Fisher is the most interesting performer in 'Keeping Up With The Joneses'; a comedy with occasional laughs that misses the mark more often than not.

★★

St John's Co-Cathedral Valletta

Information about the Cathedral here.

Snowden

'Snowden' relates the background and events leading to Edward Snowden's release of thousands of classified documents from the United States' National Security Agency.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt is quite brilliant in the title role, an assessment confirmed by the appearance of the real Snowden at the end of the film. Although the subject matter feels a little dry at times, with so much technical dialogue employed, the film remains interesting throughout.

Quite thought provoking.

★★★★

Bridge

Tonight, 39.43%, 12/14

Valletta

Information about Valletta, the capital city of Malta, here. Some photos from our visit.

The entrance to the old city under restoration

Municipal buildings designed by Renzo Piano

Old buildings, new uses

Republic Street

President's Square (I think)

Narrow, hilly streets