Friends doing it solo. Josh, Dash and Matthew

Josh RH Daveta

17th April

Powerhouse Visy Theatre

I have seen Josh in Boy & Girl twice, met him in foyers at his shows and others and he is a force of nature. Charismatic, talented and a star.

 Put a boy in a fluffy pink onesie, add oodles of stage presence, charm, a touch of naughty and a truly remarkable voice and you have the uber talented Josh R H Daveta. Last night his show Teenage Dreams was a celebration of the pop diva as channeled by Josh and his brilliant accompanist, friend and backup singer Luke Volker who can really play with that piano. There is more to do in that bed and doona than just dream. 

Great to see some surprise appearances which I will keep secret because I don't want to spoil the fun for those going to the final show tonight. Do rush along. Once again a fabulous show brought to us by Troy Armstrong. I seem to be going to them all.
 

I Might Take My Shirt Off

Dash Kruck

14 February 2015

Powerhouse Theatre

Melt Festival

 Dash has been extraordinary in so many productions I have seen and in this he let loose  his one man show.

From the promos: -

It’s Lionel’s first time. You won’t be too rough, will you?

From the mischievous mind of one of Queensland’s favourite actors, Dash Kruck (A Tribute of Sorts), this is the story of Lionel and the reluctant world-premiere of his debut cabaret show; a musical evening of sex, booze, boys and mythical beasts.

Matthew Mitcham

Twist and Turns

6th February 2015

Powerhouse Theatre 

Melt Festival

From  http://www.twistsandturns.com.au/

Matthew Mitcham's

Twists & Turns

On the 23 August 2008, a young Australian athlete made Olympic history. Coming from 30 points behind, and on his final dive, he scored 112.10 to shock himself and the diving world and rob the Chinese of a full sweep of Olympic diving gold medals. 

On that day Matthew Mitcham OAM became Australia's first male diving Olympic gold medallist since 1924, and the only diver ever in Olympic history, to produce a perfect 10 point score from all judges – winning the 2008 Beijing Olympics 10m platform title.

Grinning with pride from front pages around the world, there was no hint of the personal demons that had led this supremely talented young dynamo to quit diving less than two years before his famous win at Beijing.

Joyously out and proud as an openly gay man, Matthew was a role model for his courage both in and out of the pool. Yet the crippling self-doubt and shadow of depression that had plagued him all his life forced him into premature retirement, at one point reduced to circus diving to earn money. 

Even after Beijing and being ranked No 1 in the world, those closest to Matthew could not guess that beneath that cheeky, fun-loving, exterior he was painfully aware of how easily it could unravel.

Matthew has recently released his autobiography Twists and Turns, which reveals a life behind the international spotlight that has been plagued by low self-esteem, anxiety and depression, panic attacks and repeated self-harm as a teenager, leading on to drug abuse. He has also struggled with issues relating to his sexuality, being one of few Olympians to compete at the event as openly gay.

Based on his book of the same name, and told with the honesty and courage he is admired for, this live production of Twists and Turns is an inspiring story of a true champion – in and out of the pool.

Away from the diving pool Matthew is a talented singer and musician, who invites you to share the highs and lows of his incredible life through theatre and song, along with a few surprises, a bit of foot tapping and loads of inspiration, in his first solo show.

Commissioned and produced by the Melbourne Cabaret Festival and directed and co-created by Nigel Turner-Carroll, this extraordinary cabaret show has been scripted by multi-award winning London cabaret star Spanky under the musical direction of Jeremy Brennan (Jersey Boys).

After meeting Matt for the first time.

Music, Drama, Dance and Olympics

Some late updates of Theatre etc this year.
Guys and Dolls
Harvest Rain Theatre Company at The Concert Hall QPAC Thursday 20th March

 This was my first production by Harvest Rain and they have become so big over recent times. It was a thoroughly wonderful evening. Like a time capsule of the 50s musical as they were true to the original spirit. I doubt it could be done any other way. Some great voices and dancers.

 The chorus of exceptionally good male dancers/singers was impressive and a surprise. They were also very, very attractive.

 Costumes were a stand out in those vibrant colours. 

A great friend and outstanding actor with a very famous beginning Steven Tandy bought tears to my eyes with this beautiful solo.
Photos by http://nickmorrissey.com.au/ 
Matthew Mitcham
Wednesday 2nd April at The Powerhouse

We met, he signed my book and then he did a Q&A. It was so great to have a small chat to this darling man as he is good friends with another friend of mine who is a musician and actor. A Gold Medalist from the Beijing Olympic games and the only Out Gay Athlete at the Games. A charming guy and obviously so beautiful. Hope to see him later in the year when he brings his cabaret show to town after the Commonwealth Games.

Matthew received the highest score in Olympic history for his 10 M Dive in 2008.

Macbeth
Qld Theatre Company at The Playhouse QPAC Thursday 10th April

With visiting great director Michael Attenborough at the helm and the largest cast ever assembled for The Qld. Theatre company this awesome production got underway with a crashing lightning storm electrifying this giant set to the sound of giant rhythmic drums.

The battles and sword fights were choreographed my experts the blood really spurted and the acting was phenomenal.

Never have I sat through a Shakespeare with such easy understanding. One was hardly aware of the period of the language and the precise and sparkling diction revealed the clarity of every word. Such ease of  precision and rhythm lifted the beauty of the performance of this most poetic of the plays.

After the show in front of some of the season posters.

Dance Noir

Saturday 3rd May at The Judith Wtight Centre

It has been a year since I became aware of a beautiful local young dancer Kenny Johnson. I became friends over the internet and at long last I got to see him perform live. On Television he reduced everyone to tears with the depth of his soul which positively glows when he dances.

The photographic art of  http://www.alichoudhry.com/ 

Brian Lucas

Sporting Bodies

Yes there has been a long tradition of men showing off their physique for the pleasure of others and for their own ego. Self image has always been a motivator for the strong or those with leadership ambitions. The assumption is that if you look perfect in body you have somehow reached perfection as a person. This beauty of body and mind was a strongly held belief in ancient Greece as well as many cultures. 

This is not my resolution for the new year but there is a saying about a healthy body making a healthy mind. This may be so, but as in everything human there are limitations to any generalisation. The ideal  body, however is a concept subject to individual taste, sexual desire, cultural history, the weather and many things that impact just about every thought we have.Commercially we are told that what is known as beefcake is the ideal. It sells the most but is far from exclusively the only image admired. To some who want to do only things for the majority, it is the easiest way. It is after all the image of the strong, the protector, the warrior and the gene pool that will survive. 

Nevertheless aesthetically muscles are subject to many variations like a heavy wrestler or a sleek runner; both strong and both useful in different circumstances. There is however an alternative image of the  Androgynous boy that is increasingly popular. Post coming soon.

Some Memories and Prejudices of a Failed Sports Life.

Punching Others

I too learned to box when a child. I hated it, but I believe it was an effort of my mother's to toughen me up.  With a neighbour and at the Police Boys Club were where this indignity happened. It did not work and my aversion to either inflicting or receiving pain has remained with me for a lifetime. Today I abhor the sight of a fight with fists as much as with knives or guns etc. be if in the streets or in the ring. Why punch someone in the face? It is cruel, harmful and vicious.

Jumping High

Leaping into the air does show grace balance and the thrill of those few seconds of flight does spark the imagination of both the the athlete and the spectator. It harms no one, it is a vision to see and requires a skill. Jumping on a trampoline was fun for a few seconds until I realised my balance was not great. I did however know a world champion once as a dera friend. The other jumping failures were ;omg, high amd wooden horse jumping. It was so embarassing to make attempts in front of fellow human beings who engoyed or excelled in such activities. As usual I just did not seethe point.

Balancing

The ancient soldiers learned to dance to improve their coordination, balance and strength. Leaping across battlements, swinging into action an balancing with sword in hand on a cliff edge must have required talents. Perhaps the use of such a form to make a better killing machine has connotations that I dislike, but anything that involves grace, movement and control can not be criticised because of the end to which it may be used. An axe can chop wood for the hearth which is good, but can also crack a skull which is bad, but it is not the axe which is at fault. 

Conscience must guide everything. It guided me to try everything possible to avoid having to join the army when I was conscripted in the 60's. I managed to postpone it for many years until it was dropped. I believe I would have gone to gaol rather than be forced to go and kill Vietnamese youths. As for balance I have fallen over on a dance floor, but with great pain I found I could stand on point. I have no idea what use it was or why I even tried, but I could do it.

Throwing Things

We can throw a spear or throw a ball and both require that we throw them accurately. Once again it is skill, practice, coordination, balance and intent that makes it an action to be admired or not. The context is all.

Some images are from the great Bertil Nilsson Photography
Playing with Balls

I myself see little point in chasing a ball around a field, a pitch or court, but that is my own bias that I expect no one to accept or condemn me for it. For me it is an example of competition as are many sports and I do not have a competitive nature. My horror memories revolve around a time a teacher tried to make me captain of a football team. I think we played Rugby Union. I recall him yelling at me. 'You are the captain. Tell them what to do.' Defiant as always I stood mid field with my arms folded across my chest and yelled back. 'I WILL NOT!' Not so my cousins one of whom played for Queensland many years back and another who is currently one of the most famous footballers in Australia. I have no idea which code they play for.

 I see no necessity to be better than another in any form of physical activity.  Perhaps I do like the idea that a thought can be better than another, but a physical activity is irrelevant to me. Winning is not important unless it is an argument of reality and substance. I do not even get that thrill most receive from gambling. Winning is not a goal. I recall in my school-days I was compelled to participate in sports. On one occasion I was winning a foot race. I looked around and to my horror I was in front, so I stopped dead in my tracks. I did not want to win.

Nude Rowing for Charity

I have no rowing experience but I have sat by by the stream at Oxford where I believe rowing and if not at least punting takes place. I have rowed a boat and a canoe but never for competition. Much of this is like my photography and writing. I did it for pleasure, but once people suggested I make it for publication or turn it into a job, I lose interest. Private achievements are enough to satisfy my ego.

Even the game of Cricket is improved by nudity.

My Father and Grandfather both coached Cricket so I must have been a disappointment. So many of my Fathers family played sport and some internationally and nationally. My cricket memories involve trying to throw a ball while fielding once and it landing 15 feet behind me. Very inauspicious. Cricket today is ridiculously competitive, aggressive and commercial. It holds absolutely no interest to me. I can see and even admire the social ideal of a country or village cricket match accompanied by well dressed and elegant onlookers, umbrellas, a picnic and polite applause for a well taken wicket. A friendly match without abuse, sledging, illegal manoeuvres,  bribery and a constant barrage of product placements and excessive use of inappropriate adjectives.

Waterboys

Just over 71% of the surface of the earth is covered by water and about two thirds of the human body is made of water. It is our great resource and life can not exist without it, so our little blue planet is just about perfect and so are we.

To have plenty of water is a sign of health and happiness and to be naked is to be totally free. You can be born or die in water. but how many other things can you do naked in, on, around, near, under and with water? One of the first erotic images I saw when I was a child was a picture in an RAAF journal of a group of young Airmen skinny dipping in a jungle waterhole. They smiled they were relaxed and they were alive. To me it was beautiful. Jumping naked into the water be it a river, a pool or the sea is one of the most exhilarating experiences available to a free soul. The tingle of the water on your skin is magic. It not only cleanses, but invigorates, refreshes and excites the sensations. The enveloping water can be warm or cold, it can heal and it can relax. We come into existence in the fluids of or mother's womb and perhaps this is why we find comfort submerged once again. Of course life itself came from the sea as did our earliest ancestors, so it is perhaps a natural state for us to occasionally return to that all enveloping world of water. Let it touch your skin.

A top choice of water fantasies would be

 God of the sea,Poseidon/Neptune.

From NORMANOID on Youtube

Float under Water like David Pereira

Bertil Nilsson Photography Web Site

Stand in the Water

Approach the Waters Edge

Surf on Water

Polluted yes! But Water can still look Amazing.

Play Sports on Water

Go Skinny Dipping in Water

Jump and Dive into Water

Look At Water

Reflect in the Water

and die like the mythological beautiful Narcissus

Be enticed into the water like Hercules lover Hylas.

Bathe in Water

Art and Water

David Hockney and Peter master the Californian Pool

Preserve History in Water

From Waterboys the Movie Japan

From the Australian Film Newcastle

with Zavier Samuel (Twilight Eclipse, Anonymous, The Loved Ones etc.)

Den Eisai Dentro

βραχια from DEN EISAI DENTRO on Vimeo. and his blog http://deneisaidentro.blogspot.com.au/