This Perth Life

Lord of the Flies

I studied this book in the 2nd year of high school and loved it. It was strangely compelling and addictive so I hope that the new Whiplash Theatre production of "Lord of the Flies" does it justice.

I haven't read it in many years but can still remember the horrifying breakdown of society's accepted rules and the fall into the darkest of human emotion.

Whiplash promise an "inventive retelling of Golding’s classic novel - the ultimate story of disorder and the beast within" and say to "expect blood, sweat and electric performances", sounds good!

You can see it from 24th June to 4th July 2009 at the Subiaco Arts Centre.
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Performance Schedule: Wed – Sat 7.30pm, Sat 27 June 1.00pm
Ticket prices: $20/$15 Concession
Bookings: BOCS Ticketing (08) 9484 1133 or www.bocsticketing.com.au

After the Circus has Gone

We went to Cirque Du Soleil's Dralion back in February as part of eldest son's Birthday celebrations and really enjoyed ourselves (although we thought that Varekai a couple of years ago was better) but before we went a friend who had already seen it emailed me to say "tell me if you feel cheated" but wouldn't say any more about it until we'd been.

Hence the reason for me writing this now. I'm safe because the show has left Perth so I won't be spilling the beans for anyone here.

I emailed said friend when we got home from the performance to say yes I did feel cheated. Did anyone else?

The "clowns" did a running gag all the way through where they kept picking on the same member of the audience to come up and do different things. Very clever act and very funny but at the end the audience member had to take his shirt off and was found to be remarkably muscled. Some people in the audience wolf whistled, others had more of a grumble as that's when they and I both clicked - the guy wasn't a member of the audience at all. And if you look in the programme he's there as cast member.

And that's when I felt cheated.

All the way along I'd been giggling away thinking poor guy and what a good sport he was etc etc and, to be honest, by the end I felt duped and made to feel a bit stupid that I hadn't caught on sooner.

And no-one likes to feel that and especially when the tickets aren't cheap.

To be honest I came away with a bit of a sour taste in my mouth and unfortunately I am thinking twice about going to another one the next time they come to Perth.

Which is a shame.

Anyone feel the same way?

Getting Wet at the Da Vinci Machines

Da Vinci Bicycle
Originally uploaded by mrgord.

Husband was out on Friday night and left his car in the city so yesterday morning we needed to go and pick it up and bring the poor thing home.

Whilst we were down there, we thought "why not go and see the Da Vinci machines exhibition"? So we did.

And it was fascinating, worth a visit although it only takes maximum of an hour to get around it and for $50 for a family, it's not cheap or as good value as say, Scitech.

But you don't get to see these things very often and it was amazing to see how prolific the man was or how many subjects he mastered and excelled at.

Of course yesterday was the entirely wrong day to go with regards to the weather! When we came out of the pavilion (on the Esplanade if you're thinking of going) it was actually hailstoning. This was the first time that I've seen hailstones in Perth and we've been here nearly 3 and a half years now, I'd almost forgotten what they look like!

So we hid inside the cafe area hoping that it would stop for a minute but then we had a storm directly overhead with thunder, torrential rain and lightening going on so ended up having to make the decision to just run for it. With the roads leading down from St Georges Terrace to the Esplanade like rivers we were absolutely soaked to the skin by the time we arrived at the car.

Needless to say as soon as we got onto the freeway to go home, the rain slowed! Why is that? Does it actually do that or is it your brain fooling you into thinking that the rain is stopping and therefore if only you had left it 20 minutes you would have been fine to venture out?

Sculpture By The Sea 2008

Sculpture By The Sea 2008
Uploaded by thisperthlife.

We visited Sculpture by the Sea this past weekend, took a picnic and generally had a great time but I did think that it wasn't quite as exciting as last years exhibition.

I'm not sure why. Maybe there were more exhibits that could be touched, poked and prodded last year or maybe it was that the sculptures just seemed to be bigger but I was a teensy bit disappointed.

That's the problem with things like this though isn't it? Each year you expect just a little bit bigger and better and it's just not going to happen.

I'd certainly recommend this event to you (it's on until 18 March), but next year I'm going to go with a more open mind and try to forget what was there the year before. That way I'm sure to enjoy myself to the fullest.

Sculpture By The Sea at Cottesloe Beach

Sculpture By The Sea at Cottesloe Beach
Originally uploaded by thisperthlife.

Sculpture by the Sea returns to Cottesloe Beach from Thursday 6 to Tuesday 18 March 2008.

Over 50 local, interstate and international artists will transform one of Perth's most popular beaches into a stunning sculpture park overlooking the Indian Ocean.

It's worth a look and the kids love it!

Free Concert by WASO

Perth Esplanade
By servant of the bones.

The West Australian Symphony Orchestra (WASO) will present "Symphony in the City" on Sunday 9 December at 7.30pm.

This is a free classical concert and will take place adjacent to the new Esplanade Train Station and Esplanade Busport.

Included in the programme are Puccini's Nessun Dorma, Beethoven's 5th and the evening will culminate with Tchaikovsky's superb 1812 Overture with The Swan Bells and 7 Field Battery of The Australian Army joining in!

For further details please visit the WASO website.

Moonlight Cinema is on it's Way Back

Western Power Parkland in Kings Park
Originally uploaded by thisperthlife.

The Nissan Moonlight Cinema is an open air cinema which screens the latest releases plus a mixture of contemporary, cult and classic movies on the lawns of the Synergy Parkland at Kings Park.

This year the Summer 2007/08 season runs from 11 December to 9 March. Gates open at 7pm and screenings start at sundown, approximately 8.30 pm.

To check out what's going to be screening in Perth, please click here.

Ideal for a group of friends or just the two of you, but don't forget your picnic!

Lake Ballard Sculptures to Stay

Lake Ballard
By Owl Cottage.

The major artwork "Inside Australia" which gained international recognition after being installed on a salt surface in the Goldfields has been given to the people of Western Australia by British sculptor Antony Gormley.

The series of stark, reduced human figures at Lake Ballard, near Menzies north of Kalgoorlie, will now remain a permanent fixture.

RENT!!

RENT!! the best musical!!
Originally uploaded by shinji.light.

Rent the Musical is coming to Bunbury and Perth in November.

It's the smash hit from Broadway about a group of impoverished young artists and musicians struggling to survive and creat in New York City's Bohemian East Village.

Accompanying the hugely talented Western Australian cast are Anthony Callea, Tim Campbell, Andrew Conaghan, Shane Jenek (Courtney Act) and Nikki Webster.

You can see Rent on November 1 in Bunbury and November 9 to 25 at the Regal Theatre in Perth. Click here for tickets.

The Queen Mum to ‘star’ in Haunting Play

Madame Tussauds - Queen Mother
Originally uploaded by DanieVDM.

A new play with music about a brief encounter HM Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother has with the ghost of her old friend, theatrical legend, Sir Noël Coward will have a world premiere at The Blue Room Studio in October 2007.

Overtaken by a “senior moment”, the Queen Mum witnesses the resurrection of her dear friend. Quaffing gin with this genial but grumpy apparition, she finds herself propelled backwards through time, compelled to relive a half-century of magical memories and musical moments in the company of her favourite drinking buddy.

It’s cocktails and laughter, banter and song until a faux pas unleashes a right royal bun fight between the greatest queens of England. Not for nothing did Hitler declare her “the most dangerous woman in Europe” while moving Coward to the very top of the Nazi death list.