Keating the Musical 24 August, 2008
Posted by Gianni in Uncategorized.Tags: casey bennetto, keating, Keating the musical
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Something of a more humourous nature, I took mum to see the matinee of Keating on Saturday. This was the second time I have gone to see it ( I saw it in July 2007 last, and the show has evolved a bit since then too). I also saw it screened on ABC2 Wednesday night past.
It still is a brilliant piece of comedy and satire, a delightfully Australian laugh at ourselves and politics.
This particular occasion will be more memorable than the last. I hurriedly booked the tickets online and did not check the exact seating allocation. On my arrival at the Seymore centre, I discovered that I was in an aisle seat, more importantly, the aisle that the “feaky” Alexander D character uses to make his exit from the show. I knew instantly (from previous experience) that I was a marked man. There was nowhere to run or hide, I was going to be “tried on” by Alexander. Indeed, I was picked. Mum said later to me, that I was one of two males in that aisle, the other being an elderly man. I was definately going to be it. Also, In front of me, there were 3 seats vacant in a packed house, so I was sticking out like a sore thumb.
It was all good fun, proving how far I have come in recent years. I wouldn’t have taken to kindly to it all years ago.
There is a clip on youtube here:
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=3GwZtDrih3A
This has the “Arse end of the Earth” and “Freaky” numbers in the clip. The embaressing part starts at abour 8 minutes.
How many of you have seen it, or caught the broadcast on ABC2 on Wednesday night? What do you think?
Gianni
Catholic Church’s response to abuse victims 22 July, 2008
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I am a Catholic, so this criticism is not without some thought, but it never ceases to amaze me how cold the Church can be at times to its victims. Cardinal Pell’s media conference today smacked of a victory speech, as though somehow, today’s secret event clears the Church of wrong-doing or neglect. Having seen his news conferences on the Sky Channel in my morning coffee break and lunch hour, I have observed his whole demeanour in the unravelling of this story in the lead up to WYD as one of being inconvenienced by trivial matters.
Today’s media announcement was a very shallow act, a stunt designed to clear the air, and I only hope the four “hand-picked” victims got some healing out of the process.
Having watched the 7.30 Report and Lateline this week, I heard the story of Anthony Foster and felt quite sad for his family. His reaction today is not unjustified, having suffered the loss of one daughter earlier in the year to suicide, and the other daughter with severe disability after being hit by a car.
He feels the Church has not treated its victims with care or compassion, and I would have to say he is correct.
It seems of late, the Church does neglect the marginalised of society. More recently I was horrified to hear the Church deny a paraplegic couple marriage because the groom was impotent, and thus unable to complete the sexual act which is central to the sacrament of marriage. Infertile couples are not denied marriage, even though their marriage would be unproductive. It seems we are really getting so tied up in rules and regulations in a manner not so dissimilar to the Pharisees in Jesus’ time.
In the last few days, I also heard Cardinal Pell making a statement that the western world is not reproducing enough. That view is irresponsible, especially in light of the shortages the whole world is facing due to drought and climate change. The former Federal Government’s irresponsible spending spree, slapping couples faces with money to have babies is likewise in the same vein. How many babies were born, not because they were genuinely wanted, but because they paid for a new Plasma TV?
I have gone a bit off topic here with this rant. I will stop here. But I hope and pray that the Church will change the way it deals with the minorities in the world: the abused, the downtrodden, the marginalised and the lonely.
Malclom Turnbull supports 5c fuel excise cut…or not. 21 May, 2008
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Today’s cartoon comes from the talented Bill Leak of The Australian.
Well, yesterday and today, Malcolm Turnbull has had to come out in support of Brendan Nelson’s 5c Fuel Excise cut. This is not out of genuine belief for the policy, but more to save the face of the Liberal Party which has just imploded after their stunning loss in November last year. Today, they are just barely hanging together in the vacumm of John Howard’s departure.
At today’s Press Club speech, Turnbull was asked directly if he saw this as a policy that would be put to the electorate at the next election, his reply was less than convincing.
It is clear though, Brendan Nelson is a transitional leader.
In the beginning… 3 April, 2008
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The origin…
This is hopefully the first of many posts to come.
I would recommend to you the links in my blogroll.
I have a love of political satire, and I would highly recommend the excellent work of Peter Nicholson. Please check out his work here.
This site is a work in progress, with much to setup in the next few days, but I am up and running none the less.
I will leave you with the following Nicholson cartoon, commenting on the elections in Zimbabwe.
Cartoon by Nicholson from “The Australian” newspaper: www.nicholsoncartoons.com.au
