Theatricals

It started mostly in the BW Theatre, at the dirty end of Biddlocombe Ave where I felt the inexplicabe magic of theatre come alive. Even after a last minute change of cast, of fear, of sheer terror really - where I ended up with a stunning Asian-American Robert Browning - and it came off. For three nights I was exactly where I wanted to be, and each night was different and sweet and in its own way, perfect.

Although while we're at the Geelong experience, I can't fail to mention the play at the Malthouse we went to with school - where Immaculata worked in the shop and her father appeared to her as a giant head of tuna from a can: "Immaculata! I will beat you with my stick"

Then it continued, with Lydia in London - with experimental shows that I couldn't have dreamt of, but enjoyed all the more. And not just the experimental stuff, but Albee at the Shaftesbury, and Shakespeare in the tiny room about the Oxford Arms. Weeping with Sah at Two, by Jim Cartwright, and quoting from it, to this day. Palomino.
All the incredible productions I saw with Claudia - a day every month to forget. To dream, to remember.
The one about the astronaut at the Donmar Warehouse. The terrible and terribly good Miller with the fat Val Kilmer. The dreamy first of Strindberg's plays. 

And through opera and all the absurd and wonderful things I have seen in Kolozsvar and Hungary, with the incredible Bogdan Zsolt who shines in all languages; sat stunned and a little frightened at the rendition of Macbeth where raw meat was flung at a perspex wall. Mercury Fur in London - out of place, soul displaced, still thinking about it.

And then Perth. Little, wonderful Perth and the Black Swan State Theatre Company.
I have said for as long as I've seen bsstc performances that they are world class.

Tonight, Shannon and I went to the 2015 campaign launch not knowing what to expect, and I was utterly transported. Reminded of why arts funding is vital.
There was a beautiful moment at the end, where all the spouses and children of the Black Swan 'family' were gathered on stage and there were streamers and confetti to thank them, for givin of their time and the time spent with loved ones, who are away from home to create to bring the community together.

It's an adventure always, and as Kate Cherry said, we won't always like it, but that does not and should not diminish its importance.
And that is the crux of my jeans argument.

One's sartorial appeareance is a recognition of occasion. We dress accordingly to where we are and why we are there.
Your jeans may well have cost you more than my car is worth but for all intents and purposes, they are casual wear. You wouldn't wear them in the board room, so you should accord a smidge of the same respect to the people who literally bear their soul to you in performances night after night.
Theatre is hard business, it can be thankless and it doesn't pay well. We had some good examples tonight of how much sponsors and patrons make a difference. If you can afford a $60 ticket, you can afford to not wear jeans.

I like to think I'm forward thinking in most things, but with the theatre I am definitely old school.

Tonight was such a solid reminder of why I love it so much.
Here's to a stellar 2015 season - wherever I happen to be.