Schubert

The Australian String Quartet

Tuesday 28th May. Again I attended another wonderful concert by this group of talented string players at the Queensland Conservatorium Theatre. We were first given the Haydn String Quartet in D major 'The Lark',  which was a lovely and lilting piece with a fun vibrant finale and beautifully played. Next the Bartok String Quartet No. 3 which I found astoundingly powerful. The depth of Bartok's sound is grand and stirring to my blood. Lead violin Kristian Winther is tall, thin and gorgeous and so wonderful to watch on stage. His recent thorough involvement with Bartok music showed in his total immersion into the piece. He was in a world all of his own and the joy burst out through his body and on his face time and time again. 

After interval they were joined by guest Cellist Timo-Veikko Valve from the Australian Chamber Orchestra and thus we were ready for the Schubert String Quintet in C major. I immediately recognised the music and realised it was once a favourite of mine that I played over and over with the CD by the LASALLE QUARTET with the addition of Lynn Harrell (extra cello). I am not a musically trained anything, but I do have large collections. This Schubert performance was stunning, passionate and familiar. Once again Kristian was the focus of my attention. His playing and stage aura are magnetic. Every player I met were singing his praises. Without prompting I found myself screaming bravo at the conclusion. A thoroughly satisfying evening. I left oi on such a high that kept me up for hours mulling over the joys of live performance and also genius playing.

At interval and then hanging around after the concert I was introduced to so many string players from The Queensland Symphony, Camarata of St John and also one of the stars of the night the viola player Stephen King from The Australian String Quartet. He generously encouraged my desire to become an ageing theatre and musical groupie as I seem to be these days. I have not come away from a performance of anything of late without meeting with or becoming friends with some of the cast or members as well as the audience.

Mother Courage

Bertolt Brecht's 
'Mother Courage and Her Children'

Saturday evening 25th May at the Playhouse at QPAC I was honoured to see a huge and brilliant performance of the German play reworked, rewritten and restaged for an all indigenous cast and set in a Queensland of war torn devastation controlled by mining. Artistic Director of The Queensland Theater Company and Director of this play also translated and adapted this along with Paula Nazarski. The set was vast and one could see the full extent of the stage, occasionally sectioned off by curtains of corrugated iron descending from above. There was also a complete view into the wings that gave the feeling of the expansive outback of Australia, the loneliness and the diminished size of  people set against troubled times. It was huge. Interspersed with musical numbers and set around the wagon (an old motorless ute)drawn about the stage by the actors, the characters lived and died, struggled and came and went with the effects of a dehumanising war from which the strong and adaptable Mother Courage managed to manipulate the attempted survival of herself and her children.

The cast was led by the truly awesome Ursula Yovich as Mother Courage. Her presence was captivating, acting spellbinding and her voice is stunning. She was described by the Australian as a powerhouse Mother Courage. Others have reviewed her performance as absolutely Mind-Blowing and her voice exquisite. I just ordered her CD 'Ursula Yovich Live'

As the Chaplain we were also blessed to have the multi award winning composer, singer and co founder of The Bangarra Dance Theatre the wonderful David Page (left above). His cheeky character and beautiful voice was also a joy of the night. I took a particular shine to the endearing Swiss Cheese played by Eliah Watego. The gentle, innocent and simple son of Mother courage was a stark contrast to the evils that beset him. I was distraught when he died at the end of Act one, but relieved to see the actor return as another character soon after interval. All the cast were impressive and for a long night they held me captive:- Mark, Atkins, George Bostock, Luke Carroll, Ghenoa Deemal, Dave Dow, Roxanne Mc Donald, Paula Nazarski, Robert Preston and Michael Tuahine.
The cast in costume on the wagon outside the theatre.

Our treasure Wesley Enoch and the fabulous Ursula Yovich

Check this link to see and hear Ursula singing on ABC
They won't let me embed the file.

See what I am talking about and click here for more simply amazing photos of the production taken by Rob Maccoll.

I have a copy of the beautiful CD 'Ursula Yovich Live'

Briefs: The Second Coming

Friday night the 24 th May at the Powerhouse and the boys of Briefs:The Second Coming had people enraptured. My Facebook comment the next morning began with "Dazzling sequins, bare butts, boys legs in lace, somersaults, comedy routines and that was just the audience."

Trapeze sensations, water over everyone, a penis hidden inside a knitted willy warmer, handsome nudity, feathers galore, a raffle winner licking salt off a gorgeous boys stomach and drinking Tequila, hoops, dancing, drag, circus and all round spectacular entertainment. You should see what a 99% naked boy can do with a Yo-Yo. Boy are they strong, beautiful, fun and generous.

Mark Winmill in Briefs
I was at a table with the amazing Mark Winmill's parents and dad is a performer through and through who still has tricks up his sleeve. They were so nice and the audience loved them as well. The cast made loving references to them throughout. I felt quite honoured to be at that table.
This is brilliant.

Briefs Second Coming from browndog on Vimeo.
Facebook page of BRIEFS All Male All Vaudeville All Trash Circus Cabaret

Starting in the back of a bookshop not far from where I live this grew into a now world travelling troupe  Apart from the original guys the full group only assembled five weeks ago and what a show they created. All professionals and all gorgeous and setting off to London soon.

Some assorted images of the boys.

After the show which ended in a cheering standing ovation, I hung around at the bar and met some of the guys who came out in their brief costumes to mingle before changing and I also met a heap of beautiful people. We partied and drank until we were all thrown out. Then off to a party with new friends until 2 am and met even more cast boys. I had a brilliant evening and gathered some permanent friends that night, thanks to the atmosphere created by the Boylesque boys.

We are at the bar with new friends.

 Poster for back to roots performance at West End Brisbane where I live. Also a London Poster.

My earlier post on Boylesque