Category: things I have seen

About last night

I forgot to say, if you live in Adelaide, and you haven’t been, you absolutely must go and see Tom Crean Antarctic Explorer. It’s got five stars in this review and in this one MB wrote “You will go to the end of the earth to find theatre this rewarding”. And I reckon that’s about right. Plus, it’s in the Bakehouse Theatre which I really like and which will be having less perfomances in coming times. This would be the point to insert a piece of informed political commentary about the South Australian arts sector and some recent funding decisions, but I’m nothing if not half-informed.

And last night, I got through the semi-finals and into the state grand final of the Raw stand up comedy competition.

When I registered, I had no idea how I would go. Being slightly older than most novice comics (you might not know, but I recently turned 38), I’m not really part of the scene, so I didn’t know who was around or what they were doing. But once I’d won my heat, my personal goal was to make the state finals. I wasn’t going to slash my wrists if I didn’t get through last night, but I would have been disappointed.

Now, much as I’d love to win the trip to Edinburgh (and I guess we’d make it work even if I did take an overseas trip by myself only a small part of which was work, and the mister has not) my realistic assessment of myself is that I am in the second tier of talent. And no, this isn’t just me doing self-preservation. This is me being realistic about where I am right now.I remember that I watched the national final on the tele last year, and even then I wasn’t saying to the mister ‘you know that’s something I’ve always wanted to do, I could do that, do you think I could do that, I should do that, do you think I should do that?’.

So, like I said to my dad and the mister last night ‘I’m happy’. They rolled their eyes and tried to get me to write that down which of course I didn’t. As if I’d commit to long- (or even medium-) term happiness.

Also, yes, the people who said either no or just a small one please to that nightcap were the smart ones.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to clean the car, because late yesterday I discovered that all of those spiderwebs in the mirrors and doors are actually the homes of redbacks.

Something to see

Thanks to the good nature of the man with whom I share the care of my children, at Adelaide Fringe time I do get out and about quite a bit. There are evenings I must stay at home – his tennis nights, for example, are not to be interfered with, conscious as we are of our advancing years and our need to keep exercise in our lives – but there are many outings.

A most excellent time is March with much to invigorate and inspire.

Last year, I did overdose a bit on one-person performances, but Guy Masterson‘s performance of Dylan Thomas‘ Under Milk Wood was a treat. And last night, I went – with my father and his partner excellent theatre companions both, but you can’t have my father as your companion because if he isn’t being my companion I need him to babysit, the mister can’t be expected to stay home every night – to see him (Guy Masterton) perform in Fern Hill. If you like words written with lyricism, profundity and wit; if you like words which sneak up but lose no clarity in doing so; if you like words performed with a great love and a passionate respect, then you should go. You should go. He’s doing Under Milk Wood again this year too, and if you didn’t go last year, go this.

Just be aware that in the Holden Street Theatres, there is an air conditioner on the right wall as you’re facing stage. Don’t sit under it. I think rows 3 and 4 would be the worst. In row 5 you will just get cold knees. This is better advice than you might think.