On the Blog again

I nearly got this theatre review within 24 hours of seeing the play thus leaving some room for improvement next time.  Apart from theatre, some of the things I thought worthy of recording include: fitting into wedding suit; coming to grips with a chemo regime; Katie’s closeness on Skype; positivity lessons that keep on coming; and acceptance of what is out of your control.

Mother Courage Causes Consternation

Queensland Theatre Company’s production of “Mother Courage and her Children” provides a different theatre experience.   Bertolt Brecht wrote the play in 1939 in Europe with World War II in the air.    Welsey Enoch and Paula Nazarski translated this, with an indigenous take, to the future in an Australia where warring mining companies destroy the environment.   The play spans a few years and centres on the fortunes of an aboriginal mother who makes a living by traveling around  country selling whatever (including alcohol, food, boots and clothes) to whomever, mainly those involved in the war.

As is the Brecht style, everything is full on, leaving little to the imagination.   The audience is told what is going on all the way.   Song is added in sufficient doses to give cause to wonder if this is a musical while exposing some excellent singers and musicians amongst the cast.   Exaggerated randomness abounds.   As well as providing a commentary on war, standard life lessons are interspersed almost as add ons.   Frankness is front and centre.  Punches are left unpulled, be it in humour or violence, death or desire.   

The characters share the blunt intensity of the background in which they are set with the exception of Mother Courage.    She seems perfectly portrayed as someone who can be as hard or as soft as the situation demands snaring the only setting in which subtlety can be savoured.   

I was thankful to have attended this production.   I left amazed at the unlikeness to any previous show, touched by its moments of tenderness and jarred by its harsh depiction of a world to come.

Presumably the timing to coincide with AFL’s indigenous weekend of footy and wider indigenous awareness activities was no accident. As a person with limited exposure to Australian indigenous culture, I wondered how it would be taken in by the indigenous community.   While it seemed that all the key players, including the dozen actors, were indigenous, I was unable to ascertain whether it aimed at laughter, criticism, learning or simply reflecting their reality.  My superficial enjoyment would no doubt be replaced by other emotions in those more deeply affected.   

Made the fit

My self imposed waist reduction program to be able to fit into my wedding suit was a painless success.   One of the suit buttons only needed to be moved a little bit for me to be comfortable at my niece's wedding recently.  We might have to look for other occasions to get dressed up if I can maintain the shape.  Not a lot of exercising has been going on these days although making a conscious effort on the hospital stairs.   There is some talk around the family about taking in the  Bridge to Brissy for Lizzy this year - that might require some preparation.  I managed to get the full kilometer in on first of May but am expecting the water on the first of June to be a lot cooler with excuses waiting on my finger tips.

Chemo coping

We are now into week two of the second chemo cycle   Being on the sidelines ready to help can be a distraction from day to day living which easily provides excuses for not doing other things.   I like to think that I am practicing “being” instead of “doing” while torn between having a real go and looking to put more structure back into my time.   With another  four full cycles plus surgery to come, there will be lots of opportunity to find out. 

How unreal is Skype?

The other night we spoke to Katie in Italy on skype.  I am still getting over how close she looked.  It was hard to imagine that she is halfway around the world.  To remind me that she is indeed a long way away, I tidied her room to transform it into a potential “space for me”.   Still to move a computer up there to maximise the options.  No rush as a long way away from doing any meaningful mental activity.   Having had a bit of a cold a few days ago, it also served as a quarantine room to keep away from Jeff.

Positivity Lessons continuing

I always thought that I looked on the bright side of life.   My attitude is continuing to brighten as I witness  first hand what really being positive is all about. 

Acceptance of what is out of your control

We had a weekend away to be at my niece’s wedding at Tamborine.  We had a disturbed sleep the night before as Jeff was not particularly well.  On the basis that there was nothing we could do to help him and his assurance that he would be fine, we continued with Plan A.   We resisted any temptation to call home and enjoyed a very pleasant weekend break.  All was fine when we got home on Sunday.   it was only some time later that we realised that Saturday night was his worst night that would not have been any better if we had been there.   It was a timely reminder of the benefit of not worrying about what you cannot control.

Back after coming to grips with current situation

It has been a long time between posts.   Maybe just because it has been a long time between plays or maybe it has been a bit distracting dealing with chemo in the family.   Whatever, I have learnt a lot in that time including: a more efficient way to learn to keep calm; transitioning from cricket to footy seasons; what it feels like to pass my driving instructor test; how difficult it is to stop parenting grown ups; and why I prefer AFL to rugby.  I will start with a review of our latest play and see how the rest pans out.

Red resurrects reality

We attended the preview of John Logan’s “Red” at the Playhouse on Monday night.  Most times we attend the play briefings before the play and have found these very interesting and informative.  However, not this time and by opting for a hot chocolate instead of checking out the program, we sat blissfully unaware about the show.  Our departure from the norm was heightened by Wesley Enoch’s introduction explaining how previews worked, a first for us.

The play is a two-hander based on a famous american artist Mark Rothko (played  by Colin Fields).  Tom Barton plays Rothko’s assistant Ken during a time when Rothko had been commissioned to provide the murals for a very flash restaurant under construction by very wealthy owners.  

Much of the discussion between the actors gave me a glimpse into what an artist might go through in putting together a piece of work particularly the balance between the physical painting and in seeing what wants to be displayed and determining how best  to accomplish that vision while leaving feeling emanating from the picture thus making that picture a little piece of the artist.   

From the dialogue we get a reflection on life as well as the artist - a mixture of passion and order; lines and brightness and darkness; the “Red” of vitality coexists with the “black” of death with the end product reflecting the soul of the artist.  These contrasts were exacerbated by the actors with Rothko the embodiment of eccentricity and Ken a purely passive stooge - the script seemed to  dictate Ken’s blandness ( which Tom played excellently).  It was only in the active painting scene that both characters came together as one enjoying the excitement of splashing colour on canvas.

Apparently sometimes plays are adjusted significantly between their preview and opening night.   I wonder how much of the overt life commentary  will be subdued in favour of a purer entertainment piece?   Regardless, I enjoyed the philosophical reminders and glimpses into an artist’s world as well as feverish outbursts of frenzied energy.

Keeping calm

I have been reading a book, listening to a tape and trying as I might to be a calmer person.   Despite my best efforts, I found that my recent experience with Jeff stuck for a couple of hours in the traffic on the way to a workshop was the the most effective lesson to date.   It was a great reminder to me of the advantages of practical experience over theoretical swotting.

Cricket morphs into footy

Usually I find it difficult enough when the cricket season changes into the footy season - only being comfortable concentrating on one thing at a time.  This year has been different as I come to grips with my last season as a school cricket dad.  This has been accentuated by Andy not moving straight into footy.  I might have been lost if not for Jeff’s footy team giving something apart from the regular AFL to signal the change of seasons.

Successful stint as driving instructor

I was amazed at the relief that came when Andy got his licence recently - three out of three and likely to be awhile before my services as a driver instructor will be required.   Perhaps my nerves will be sufficiently recovered by then.  I thought that with time I would have got better at it but my experience has been the opposite - more close calls the more jumpy I got.  Luckily Andy was a more student.

How difficult is it to stop parenting grown ups?

I have been very grateful to have retired recently enabling me to spend time with Jeff on the numerous hospital visits.   Try as I might, it is very difficult to give up being a parent and sticking my nose in unnecessarily at the wrong times.  I am hoping to get better at keeping quiet in the upcoming months.

Rugby vs AFL

Recently I enjoyed a visit to Suncorp to watch the Reds have a good win over a very good other team.   While it was very close game that ended with the right result, I was struck by how less exciting it was than watching a Lions game even these days when their playing standard is much lower than most of the other AFL teams.  Looks like I have succumbed to the AFL addiction usually reserved for those in the southern states.