This week I
have hot off the press a review of “End of the Rainbow”, more “Instant Calm”,
thinning Plan A, Catholicism clarified and keeping connected.
QTC and QPAC combine for production of gold
“End of the
Rainbow” written by Peter Quilter was put on as a joint production by the
Queensland Theatre Company and the Queensland Performing Arts Centre. It is centred a performance of Judy Garland
(played by Christen O’Leary) in London six months before she died. In demonstrating the trials of a stage
superstar afflicted by drink and drug dependency, it included Judy’s soon to be
fifth husband, Micky Deane (Anthony Standish) and a long time piano player
Anthony (Hayden Spencer) with scenes flitting between her very posh hotel room
and the stage of the last performance.
This show
started as a play and ended as a musical in keeping with the summary
description given at the play briefing for “End of the Rainbow”. Christen O’Leary as Judy Garland was
magnificent. Christen impressed in the
one woman show “Bombshells” put on by QTC last season. In this joint production with QPAC, she
cemented her brilliance with the portrayal of a superstar at the end of her
career. Essentially, it was again a one
woman show with three able accessories to bring out her best.
I was taken
for a ride including mild amusement, raucous laughter, welling tears,
wonderment, sadness, anger, tenderness and resignation. How can a person switch so seamlessly from a
babbling nervous wreck to a confident, clear-voiced singer?
While the
actress and her antics were the centrepiece of the show, the stagecraft was
more than impressive in giving credibility to the background and setting – from
the use of period film clips to open the show, to weather through the
window. The live band provided an authentic
concert hall atmosphere. Both supporting
actors provided excellent foils for the actress to extract emotional tumult
from the audience as well as leave us pondering – “Must the show always go on?” or “Where is the line between tough love and
accepting reality?”
In the full
house that shared the experience with me there was a spattering of standing
ovations confirming the common enjoyment of a remarkable production that
exceeded expectations.
Calm is coming
As I work
my way slowly through “Instant Calm”, the main residue sticking to me is the
importance of breathing – in and out and being aware of so doing. This comes as a neat correlation with the
“formless consciousness” reminders easing out of the cd in the car. No doubt I will get good at it with practice.
Thinning Plan A
Apart from
the mental challenge of this blog, I have set myself a couple of physical
challenges ostensibly to do with fitness.
First challenge to swim a kilometre on the first day of each month this
year ( a step up from a previous target of one klm each year). So far so good. Challenge No 2 emerged from my wanting to fit
into my wedding suit for my niece’s wedding in May. After 25 years I expect the fabric has shrunk
a bit as while I was able to get into it and do up the buttons when I breathe
in, movement was severely limited. I
figured by showing minor restraint with diet and getting some running in, it
would be easy to move and groove as appropriate by the target date. So far diet modifications include – beers
only on special occasions, nearly
eliminate bread, perhaps smaller serves of rice/pasta/potatoes, and reduce
sweets. Success or otherwise will
determine the need for vegies, wine and water only in the weeks leading up to
the due date. Unfortunately, I must
have misjudged the tension in my leg muscles when following up my March 1 swim
with a run the next day. A twinge in the
right calf meant I had to resort to ice packing and watching cricket for a
couple of days. Nearly ready to try
again soon.
Catholicism clarified
My newer
world view as mentioned last post was beginning to cause me consternation regarding
potential conflict with my Catholic faith.
Thankfully, the sermon at Mass last Sunday set me at ease. Its essence was the need to change as you
grow in faith. I am now happy to forth
in peace maintaining my practice as a Catholic without accepting every single
element of the doctrine put forth by the Church.
Keeping in touch
I have been
keeping regular contact with long time public service friends at a monthly
breakfast. This has been keeping me in
tune for future public service work while enjoying excellent company.
I am not
really au fait with the intricacies of blogging so was hoping that if anyone
found pieces within my diatribe worthy of further discussion that they would
point that out and we could go from there.
