Express Myself

This will surely be a test of how many people actually read this blog (i have this horrible feeling it's just me).

I found myself quite frustrated in the last couple of days as I was struggling to find 'inspiration' whilst playing my guitar. I think this is partly due to the fact that I have been very creative and productive this last month, and I'm simply not happy that I'm having a slow week(!).
When I was very, very young (this will give you an idea of just how sad I am) a bored young but musically gifted Rhys would take old letters written by grandparents and compose melodies to the words - whatever they were ('my corns are getting woooorse'.)
In my teens I actually helped a couple of friends by turning their lines of poetry or lyrics into a song. I always found working with another persons words or ideas very helpful in leading me in new directions. Here, finally, is the point of this entry -
If you are interested in having your poetry or lyrics turned into a song by Rhys - please feel free to email them to rhysauteri [at] hotmail [dot] com. It doesn't have to be a poem, it could be a short story or true life experience you would like me to try and adapt. I'll pick the best two or three (or none if no one is interested) and make a song, and try and record it for this page (or alternatively perform it at an upcoming gig.

I hope this doesn't sound too much like me trying to get others to write lyrics for me! I actually think it's pretty cool that two people can collaborate on a song without meeting or possibly not even knowing each other. Anyway, let me know...

Thoughts on Don's Party

I attended this revisiting of one of David Williamson's earlier (and considered by many to be one of his best) about a week ago - primarily to understand the seemingly immense popularity of this playwright. The play has aged fairly well, considering, and much of the coarse language surprisingly retains its startling quality ('cunt features' was my personal favourite). It follows the events of the night of the 1969 election, where everything is looking up for Don and his fellow Labor Party would-be revolutionaries - until the inevitable happens and their spirits tumble. It is a revealing examination of the male psyche, the political mindset of those on both the left and right, as well as the subtle ways the 'big picture' can effect everyday people (and vice versa). In many ways it is still a relevant play, and a piece that deserves new examination.

That said, I am unsure as to what the MTC was hoping to achieve with this production. Peter Evans thwarted almost every opportunity to breathe life into this piece. The set was bright and colourful - almost stereotypically '70s. In any case, the layout was wasted as it sprawled out across the vacuous Playhouse stage - sucking the energy out of every exchange. Indeed, the pacing was laboriously slow and most of the comedy seemed to be focused on the paraphenalia, customs and fashions popular in the era - a move which unnecessarily devalued the human stories (and made the more cathartic moments in the second act seem awkward).

The performances were solid, particularly Mandy McElhinney - but were still often the presented as the broad characters Williamson has done to death in the past (it was as if each actor/character felt they needed their own particular 'quirk'). In this and many other ways it almost had the feeling of farce - but it should have been more than that (and it made for a pretty poorly paced farce at that).

From the knowing laughs, 'oohs' and 'aahs' of the audience (I shit you not) i got the feeling this was a production for everyone who fondly remembered the original to revisit it in a fairly accomodating form. This is a philosophy which does not serve the MTC well. In short: I was pretty bored.

The 2006 List

Hi everybody and happy new year!

I've been exceptionally lazy with this blog lately, but I've been busy rehearsing for a couple of gigs and getting excited about playing music again.

Anyway, I've been meaning to post a list of my favourite shows for '06 - so here goes. I was pretty busy this year finishing my honours in Performing Arts, as well as putting on my own show Towards Omelas, so there were many shows I missed that many others highly recommended. In particular, I didn't see anything from the VCA this year (a shame as I have really enjoyed their work over the last couple of years), and missed The Skriker which both Alison Croggin and Vlad Mijic adored. This is not a 'wrap' or commentary on the year - though I may do one next year, depending how much I am able to see.

Over all I had some great theatre experiences last year (although I must say I thought 2005 was an exceptionally rich year for Melbourne theatre.

Anyway - my top six plays for Oh Six:
1: Pichet Klunchun and Myself - Jerome Bel & Pichet Klunchun
(this was one of the best theatre experiences I've ever had - a beautifully engaging piece filled with humour and a quest for understanding)

2: Tragedia Endogonidia: BR.#04 Brussels - Societas Raffaello Sanzio

3: The Importance of Being Earnest / How To Be Funny - Ridiculusmus

4: Peepshow - Marie Brassard

5: Delicacy - Dir. Wesley Enoch

6: Mantalk - Neil Thomas & David Wells

Other shows I loved: Structure and Sadness (Lucy Guerin), Objects For Meditation (William Yang), Timepieces (Circa), La Douleur (Laurence Strangio), A Mile In Her Shadow (Store Room), Translations (Malthouse), The Telling (Masters students from Monash Uni), Headlock (Malthouse), Honour Bound (Malthouse).

Well, there you go. Feel free to agree/disagree/add your own thoughts. For a more complete wrap of the year's work, visit Theatre Notes or Chris Boyd's site (or Vlad's site - he is promising such a post!).

Here's to another great year of theatre.

Ember Lounge this Thursday

Take a moment to admire the grace and style of my small promotional image for my next gig. Photoshop. Ten minutes. That baby has never looked better (nor has he or she ever said anything so important).

To those around Melbourne - come along to the Ember Lounge this Thursday 4th at 8pm for my first solo set for the year - satisfaction guaranteed!

Christmas Music

Hi Kids.
I hope everyone is enjoying the Christmas break, catching up with friends and family, and recuperating from the hectic year that was.
This is just a short post to let you know of a couple of gig dates I have coming up for those inclined to listen to music of the highest standards.

Thurs, Jan 4th (next week!) - solo set at about 9pm
Thurs, Jan 11th - Baby Drivers (me & monica) after 9pm

More info on exact times to follow. Both sets are at the Ember Lounge & Tapas (I guess they also sell tapas) which is at 111 High St, Northcote (Vic). Any queries or to subscribe to the Baby Drivers mailing list for upcoming dates email: babydrivers [at] gmail [dot] com.

Post Modern

Just so you know, StopPanicking was not my first choice for this blog's name. My other considered addresses were:

1. bloodymess (a great show by Forced Entertainment, also the name of a song I wrote)

2. emotionalcripple (my medical condition, also the name of a song I wrote)

3. masterofnone (a favourite phrase, also the name of a play I am trying to write)

4. tothedogs (a show by Lone Twin, also I like dogs)

Alas, all of these were taken. It all made me feel pretty unoriginal. I finally settled on 'StopPanicking' (my favourite piece of advice [as a giver not a taker], also [rather predictable now ain't it?] the name of a song I wrote).

Anyway, just after I've set everything up, I think of a blog name that would have perfectly summed me and my brief blog experience up - and it wasn't taken!
www.rhysfails.blogspot.com
Rhys fails again.
Stop panicking.

Thoughts on Volver

As the theatre season is winding to a halt over Christmas, it looks like my first 'review' will be of a film. Actually, I'm not sure about using the word 'review' for so many reasons (Cowboy Mouth & I have had many conversations about the difference between a 'reviewer' and a 'critic', with me at one point suggesting that a 'critic' is merely a 'reviewer' who is doing their job correctly). Well then, this is not a 'review' nor a 'critique'. In this case just my personal impressions before I fall asleep and turn off the computer (probably in that order).

Ever since I saw All About My Mother (1999), I have relished getting to know Pedro Almodóvar's colourful, stylish and touching work. However, Volver (and its predecessor, Bad Education (2004)) were both enjoyable yet somehow underwhelming. Volver brought to mind Hitchcock in many of its imaginative shots and themes (think The Trouble With Harry or Spellbound) and even the score. The story concerns the mother of two sisters returning as a ghost and helping sort out the problems she left unfinished in her life. Unlike Hitchcock, the problem with this story was in the telling. There are a few plot turns and developments that are telegraphed to you pretty early on, and so I lost a lot of interest early on (not that this film is a mystery or thriller by any means). It's hard to fault a film with fine performances (Cruz is very good, as is Carmen Maura as the mother), good direction - it's all there. Missing, perhaps, is Almodóvar's cheeky sense of fun found in his earlier films. Still, pretty enjoyable overall, I'm just holding Pedro to a higher standard.

Again, just some random thoughts there - mainly for Vlad who I know is dying to see it.