I TELL YOU WHAT I THINK
First on Entertainment

First up, an admission. My job in the wake of the Port Arthur massacre on 28 th April, 1996, in which 35 people were murdered and 20 wounded, was to try to come up with strategies to restore tourism to the area.   I had visited the UNESCO world heritage listed site – Australia’s largest and most intact convict settlement – before the tragedy to learn about its history.   Beyond the Neck, which refers to the narrow strip of land with water on both sides that connects the m

A pathological hatred and disdain for women is brought into sharp focus in a searing production from Vixen Theatre Company.   Frankly, what is depicted on screen behind the actors disgusted me.   And what makes it more appalling is that every word of it is true.  Photos by Steven Mitchell Wright Welcome to the domain of incels (involuntary celibates) and “manosphere” influencers with millions upon millions of followers.   All the wording shown in the show has been sourced fro

The force of nature that was the late, great Chrissy Amphlett is alive and well in the form of Sheridan Harbridge (who wrote, performs in and co-created this show).   No, she isn’t and could never be Amphlett (25 th October, 1959 – 21 st April, 2013).   But she pays her the ultimate tribute in this masterful narrative concert that brings back the power and passion of the artist extraordinaire, who didn’t run with the pack.  Photos by Brett Boardman The pout, the fringe, the

F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic 1925 novel is reimagined for the stage in a fusion of ballet, tap and jazz.   BIG Live is a welcome new voice in the performing arts – a ballet company where tradition meets innovation.   Photos by Sam Tabone Alongside narration of the tragic Gatsby storyline is a stunning score, bold choreography, striking sets and costuming, and some seriously strong dancing.   The cast features alumni of the Mariinsky Theatre from St Petersburg, English Nation

How to create a compelling world premiere program with life sustaining plants at its epicentre. That was the challenge.   Combining the supreme talents of The Australian Ballet and Bangarra Dance Theatre for a fourth time was a masterstroke … for the result is astounding.  Photos by Kate Longley The creative excellence is next level. The surprises jaw dropping. The execution sublime.   FLORA is powerful, thrilling and energising.   This is modern ballet and dance at its fines

It happened more than 55 years ago – on 15 th October, 1970 – and was Australia’s worst industrial accident.   I speak of the West Gate Bridge collapse.   Thirty-five workers died and 18 were injured.   In fact, due to several issues before the bridge fell – identified in the findings of the subsequent Royal Commission – it was an accident waiting to happen.  Photos by Pia Johnson The human toll – on the families of those who perished or were hurt, on the injured themselves,

A chick flick, Reminders of Him pulls at the emotions to present a story arc that heads down a predictable path.   Still, for fans of this genre, I dare say they will be satisfied they get the ending they desired.   Kenna Rowan (Maika Monroe) was deeply in love with Scotty Landry (Rudy Pankow) and he with her, when a tragic accident occurred on his birthday, and he died.   Kenna was convicted of vehicular manslaughter and sentenced to seven years jail. Now, having been releas

The expression Hail Mary refers to a last-ditch attempt at an unlikely outcome.   And so it is that Project Hail Mary is about a desperate effort to save planet Earth from a destructive force.   The sun is dying and with it half the world’s population is expected to be wiped out within 30 years.   The cause is a powerful organism named Petrova, which has made a beeline from Venus to the sun.   In fact, it has already infected many planets and the world’s greatest scientific m

Strap yourselves in for a wild ride in this darkly comedic science-fiction zombie movie.   The set up comes in the wake of Skylab (America’s first space station) falling out of orbit in 1979.   Most debris on board burnt up upon re-entering Earth’s atmosphere, but some did not, notably a tank containing a parasitic fungus.   It crashed into the remote Western Australian outback, where it remained intact until 18 years ago.   Then, microscopic cracks enabled the hazardous orga