You might remember a while ago this post I made http://dalesnewsblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/writing.html, well I have finished the plot outline, and have commenced the actual writing of my huge inter-connected fiction collection.
Refresher, this is a large project that brings together characters and themes from a wide range of my writings, which includes short stories, poems, films and plays, tying them all into a work of fiction that will be broad and offbeat at the same time.
For further information please send me an email.
Dale Stam
Saturday, October 22, 2011
COW up and mooving
Look at that smiling group, the COW is definitely on the Moove to making a dent in the Canberra theatre scene.
Since my last post the Canberra Opera Workshop had a lunch last week where they had a professional photographer come by and take a group photo, which includes me. Yeah I actually exist. They have added this photo onto their website and it has become a lot more interactive.
We are heading into the production schedule which will involve the actual stage craft, where we are under the esteemed direction of Cate Clelland, an active director and designer within the Canberra Theatre Scene for a while know. I look forward to digging my teeth into this section of the rehearsal in preparation for our performance in December.
One of the key developments of the website is the details for tickets are available.
Location: ANU ARTS THEATRE, UNIVERSITY AVENUE, ACTON, ACT
But Dale of the blog, with your News and Ideas thing I do not know where this is. Well I consulted with the mighty demi-god Google and they have blessed us with an answer to your query, as only Google can;
http://g.co/maps/33mc8
Dates: Evening: 8.00 pm Friday, 9 & Saturday, 10 December 2011.
Matinee: 2.00 pm Sunday, 11 December 2011
Ticket Prices
Adult
$38.50
Youth (under 26 years)*
$35.50
Child (under 17 years)*
$33.50
Pensioner/Senior*
$35.50
See below for the booking information.
http://www.canberraoperaworkshop.org.au/buy-tickets-now
Find out more about COW by looking at the Website;
http://www.canberraoperaworkshop.org.au/
Remember the COW is building a community and if you are interested in developing your singing skills, or if we have a Joan Sutherland, or Pavarotti out there, COW would be a group to start making connections with.
Also keep looking at the website so you can see more of me.
Feel free to leave a comment.
If you want to send me an message email dalestamathotmail.com
Dale Stam
While here look at some past posts.
Expect a new post in the near future.
Oh and a mention on the blog for those who can identify me from that photo. Happy hunting.
Did you miss previous updates in regards to COW? Find them below;
http://dalesnewsblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/cow.html
New to Canberra check out the following;
http://dalesnewsblog.blogspot.com/2011/05/garden-capital.html
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
So who’s presenting?
So who’s presenting?
5 Steps to present
By Dale Stam 12/10/11
Public speaking is a scary beast that can leap out of the crisp corridors of office life, and snatch up all the confidence you built since 9am. There are various methods for defence, some people tackle the monster first, others react after it has pounced, and there are still others who run away screaming.
I have given a few public presentations, felt the stares and the rapid heartbeat, but there are some tricks to help you overcome the beast.
1. Do not be paranoid.
Truth is all those people you stare out over, they actually want you to do well. They would rather be engaged then bored, and if you are able to make a good presentation, then they will associate you with somebody who they can not only understand, but whom they want to hear from.
2. Turn on the slow-mo.
It might go against everything in your body telling you to fly when giving a presentation, but one of the major factors in bad presentations is presenters who rush into things.
Take a breather, if anybody asks, you’re doing it for dramatic tension. Actors use it to grasp audiences, and teachers do it to hold the class. The speed of the presentation varies from person to person and from your pre-run timing to the actual presentation.
Remember that control like the actor and teachers comes from the pause, let them want more- it also gives you a moment to adjust to the stress.
3. Look to the horizon.
If all those eyes staring at you start to make you quake, then adjust your gaze to a higher plane, but not too high. Rest on the fringe, or the forehead, it appears you are looking at the audience but you gain less of the side effects from direct eye contact.
Hair does not stare, hair does not judge, and it is ready to be blown over by the power of your presentation.
4. Know your stuff.
If you know what you are presenting, then you are able to ad lib, and you gain a sense of confidence that comes with knowledge. Knowledge is power, as they say. This is often a saving grace of teachers, they take a breath as in number 2 above, taking in the scene, and decide whether to follow their lesson plan, or whether it is necessary to improvise to draw the class back in.
Impromptu presentations make this difficult, however try to grasp a handful of items and flesh them out, add a story, bring what you know.
5. You have got to speak to me.
One thing the audience does not want is monotonic reading, you have to present. Most universities and schools have students who will just read their work as their oral presentations. To shine you need to be different, you need to engage with the audience, make it stick. Use examples, stories, jokes, have props, diagrams, or audience interaction.
Some full time public speakers use a theme or metaphor that runs through their presentation. This allows them a path to come back to if they get lost, and can enable a through line for remembering the information and connecting with the audience. Using this method allows them to explore various techniques of engaging the audience and have fun, and so can you because you have a support structure to lean back on.
In conclusion, the audience wants you to do well, because they have been to so many bad presentations, they will be surprised by someone who is able to overcome this. Defeating your fear might seem difficult, but with practice and experience the fear subsides, and then you are the one who pounces.
5 Steps to present
By Dale Stam 12/10/11
Public speaking is a scary beast that can leap out of the crisp corridors of office life, and snatch up all the confidence you built since 9am. There are various methods for defence, some people tackle the monster first, others react after it has pounced, and there are still others who run away screaming.
I have given a few public presentations, felt the stares and the rapid heartbeat, but there are some tricks to help you overcome the beast.
1. Do not be paranoid.
Truth is all those people you stare out over, they actually want you to do well. They would rather be engaged then bored, and if you are able to make a good presentation, then they will associate you with somebody who they can not only understand, but whom they want to hear from.
2. Turn on the slow-mo.
It might go against everything in your body telling you to fly when giving a presentation, but one of the major factors in bad presentations is presenters who rush into things.
Take a breather, if anybody asks, you’re doing it for dramatic tension. Actors use it to grasp audiences, and teachers do it to hold the class. The speed of the presentation varies from person to person and from your pre-run timing to the actual presentation.
Remember that control like the actor and teachers comes from the pause, let them want more- it also gives you a moment to adjust to the stress.
3. Look to the horizon.
If all those eyes staring at you start to make you quake, then adjust your gaze to a higher plane, but not too high. Rest on the fringe, or the forehead, it appears you are looking at the audience but you gain less of the side effects from direct eye contact.
Hair does not stare, hair does not judge, and it is ready to be blown over by the power of your presentation.
4. Know your stuff.
If you know what you are presenting, then you are able to ad lib, and you gain a sense of confidence that comes with knowledge. Knowledge is power, as they say. This is often a saving grace of teachers, they take a breath as in number 2 above, taking in the scene, and decide whether to follow their lesson plan, or whether it is necessary to improvise to draw the class back in.
Impromptu presentations make this difficult, however try to grasp a handful of items and flesh them out, add a story, bring what you know.
5. You have got to speak to me.
One thing the audience does not want is monotonic reading, you have to present. Most universities and schools have students who will just read their work as their oral presentations. To shine you need to be different, you need to engage with the audience, make it stick. Use examples, stories, jokes, have props, diagrams, or audience interaction.
Some full time public speakers use a theme or metaphor that runs through their presentation. This allows them a path to come back to if they get lost, and can enable a through line for remembering the information and connecting with the audience. Using this method allows them to explore various techniques of engaging the audience and have fun, and so can you because you have a support structure to lean back on.
In conclusion, the audience wants you to do well, because they have been to so many bad presentations, they will be surprised by someone who is able to overcome this. Defeating your fear might seem difficult, but with practice and experience the fear subsides, and then you are the one who pounces.
Did you enjoy this article perhaps you might enjoy the following from within this blog;
Thursday, September 22, 2011
COW
Moo. Seriously moo. I do not need you to moo with me, just acknowledge it.
COW or Canberra Opera Workshop is a interesting little group that has come out of the woodwork in Australia's Capital territory to fill in a gap in the market. Sure there is musical theatre, which I have to admit is more my forte, and classical instrumental music, but lacking in the opera market.
David and Margot Reedy identified this gap and decided that they would throw their hat into the ring. Starting an opera group without Governmental art grants can be tricky, but they are pulling it off. Due in part to their different take on the auditioning process.
They advertised in local Canberra papers and the Canberra Community Theatre network website OftPrompt- congratulations to all who get that reference- Gold Star!. The advertisement stated that people were not required to audition. Shock, horror they must have been flooded with Talent Show contestents till their ears bled...well luckily not, and strangely the openess of this initial stage allowed for the group to allow for socialising and community forming, in contrast to the competitiveness I have witnessed elsewhere.
Their first performance will be the delightful comic opera The Elixir of Love by Donizetti. It will be held in the ANU Arts Centre Theatre in early December.
SPOILER! PLOT TASTE !
Little village, One slow man in love with an educated girl who enjoys the longing of the man.
She is going to marry a Sargent.
Along comes a salesman spruiking a product that will make women fall in love with him, and then let the comedy begin.
The music has a Gilbert and Sullivan like feel, and has some catchy tune with the casts voices sounding superb as they come to the end of their vocal rehearsals. You can feel the power of this company within the small church that they have been rehearsing in, and they all eagerly look forward to showing Canberra that Opera can still captivate.
Here is some information from their website.
The Canberra Opera Workshop (COW) has been formed to provide specialised training and opera performance experience for singers who are interested in opera.
Singers will follow the process from first reading, musical rehearsals, production stages, technical and dress rehearsals to the actual public performances. The workshop will also provide training work opportunities for conductors, musicians, costume and set design, construction, stage management, graphic design & publicity, stage crew and front of house.
Here is the bestest till lastest- the opera...is...(salivating yet)...in English. No more will you have to have a book of translation with you at the Opera just so you can understand what is going on. It is part of the immersive style that COW has implemented.
If you would like to find out some further information on the group, watch a rehearsal, interested in joining a future production, or want to know more about their upcoming show please use the following contacts:
Margot Reedy 0415 721 222 or e-mailing secretary@cow.org.au.
David Reedy on 62491831
Their website.
http://http://www.canberraoperaworkshop.org.au/
They are Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Canberra-Opera-Workshop/233211193361441?sk=wall
Dale Stam
COW or Canberra Opera Workshop is a interesting little group that has come out of the woodwork in Australia's Capital territory to fill in a gap in the market. Sure there is musical theatre, which I have to admit is more my forte, and classical instrumental music, but lacking in the opera market.
David and Margot Reedy identified this gap and decided that they would throw their hat into the ring. Starting an opera group without Governmental art grants can be tricky, but they are pulling it off. Due in part to their different take on the auditioning process.
They advertised in local Canberra papers and the Canberra Community Theatre network website OftPrompt- congratulations to all who get that reference- Gold Star!. The advertisement stated that people were not required to audition. Shock, horror they must have been flooded with Talent Show contestents till their ears bled...well luckily not, and strangely the openess of this initial stage allowed for the group to allow for socialising and community forming, in contrast to the competitiveness I have witnessed elsewhere.
Their first performance will be the delightful comic opera The Elixir of Love by Donizetti. It will be held in the ANU Arts Centre Theatre in early December.
SPOILER! PLOT TASTE !
Little village, One slow man in love with an educated girl who enjoys the longing of the man.
She is going to marry a Sargent.
Along comes a salesman spruiking a product that will make women fall in love with him, and then let the comedy begin.
The music has a Gilbert and Sullivan like feel, and has some catchy tune with the casts voices sounding superb as they come to the end of their vocal rehearsals. You can feel the power of this company within the small church that they have been rehearsing in, and they all eagerly look forward to showing Canberra that Opera can still captivate.
Here is some information from their website.
The Canberra Opera Workshop (COW) has been formed to provide specialised training and opera performance experience for singers who are interested in opera.
Singers will follow the process from first reading, musical rehearsals, production stages, technical and dress rehearsals to the actual public performances. The workshop will also provide training work opportunities for conductors, musicians, costume and set design, construction, stage management, graphic design & publicity, stage crew and front of house.
Here is the bestest till lastest- the opera...is...(salivating yet)...in English. No more will you have to have a book of translation with you at the Opera just so you can understand what is going on. It is part of the immersive style that COW has implemented.
If you would like to find out some further information on the group, watch a rehearsal, interested in joining a future production, or want to know more about their upcoming show please use the following contacts:
Margot Reedy 0415 721 222 or e-mailing secretary@cow.org.au.
David Reedy on 62491831
Their website.
http://http://www.canberraoperaworkshop.org.au/
They are Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Canberra-Opera-Workshop/233211193361441?sk=wall
Dale Stam
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark soundtrack review
$65 Million does not buy you what you used to. I am not going to go through the origin of Spider-Man, one because he is a pop-culture icon, and two that you would not need a huge amount of it to understand the soundtrack.
However I will give a little bit of background in regards to the show- as stated above the show is estimated to have cost roughly $65 million dollars now with an original budget of 50 million, with a production team of Julie Taymore (who you might remember as getting a lot of praise for her work in bringing Disney's Lion King's artistic direction- and who would ultimately leave the show- but retains the position of director), and first time musical composers- Bono and the Edge of U2.
The show is a mixture of musical, circus and studio experience. The musical comes through the songs, the circus through some of the quite beautiful acrobatics and stunts and the studio experience links to the interaction with the audience by having Spider-Man swing out over them, and fight a 'flying' Green Goblin. To undertake all of things within one show obviously makes this show quite different to Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson that I reviewed before, and explores the possibilities of stage shows.
The GFC has reduced the spending on luxuries in America- perhaps we should have a more theatre/musical creating centre in Australia, so each show that opens up there is usually tied into a recognisable or marketable commodity and are trying to deliver as much to audiences as possible. Spider-Man has also not been helped by the vast amount of injuries related to the cast members- mostly stunt people - which has added to the cost and delays to the show- but most big musicals have accidents- for instance a member of Lord of Rings had there leg caught in some moving aspects of the stage, and an actor playing Elphba from Wicked had an accident with the trapdoor during the melting scene, however Spider-Man's have taken a more public form.
Here is link to Niel Patrick Harris at the Tony's making jokes about mostly the accidents.
href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQIVxqSa4qQ&feature=related">
When I was looking and listening to this show and thinking how I could review it, I came up with two different comparisons that I kept coming back to. Comparing it to a show that had a similar mixture of elements in the stage version of 'The Lord of the Rings' (yes, you read that right), and the other was comparing the show to works from another rocker who has branched into musical theatre composition Elton John.
Lord of the Rings and Spider-Man
Both shows are spectacles- with a large visual aspect that is lost when the only way to connect to the show is the soundtrack. Each had circus like aspects where we have performers dangling from cloth and they are able to crawl up and slide down over the stage- similar to some aspects of Cirque du Soleil. Lord of the Rings had a stage that would move and change according to where they were in the show, Spider-man has the line-work (OK, a lot of line-work) and the interesting visual illusions and technology. The visual tricks and the same idea to make the show spectacles were one aspect that joined them together, and the other was the non-musical score.
Non-musical in the sense that they are not what you would expect from a musical. If you were to compare the score of these shows to the 'Golden Age' of Broadway shows such as Guys and Dolls and basically anything from Rogers and Hammerstein you would be left a little confused, and wondering why?
The Lord of the Rings was composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber's protege of sorts- A. R. Rahman with the help of Finnish band, Värttinä. Rahman worked with Webber on Bombay Dreams and won a Golden Globe and two Academy Awards for his score on the film Slumdog Millionaire. So in accordance with this background the film has sort of the big emotional film score type feeling.
It sounds like a feat of Celtic music with a spice of Indian mysticism (http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href="> for a peak), to which I felt aided in creating a unique score, with some extraordinary chorus numbers and hauntingly beautiful solos from Laura Michelle Kelly (who plaid Galadriel- you might remember her as the UK Mary Poppins, or as the Johnny Depp's wife in Sweeney Todd). There are lots of drums and usage of the Elvish language to create something unique, but however vastly different. The show had its critics and did not last in Toronto very long- there is actually an amusing clip with Nathan Lane trying to show how to make Lord of The Rings more like a normal Broadway show- href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPDoNJqJgTg">
It was rewritten and shortened before it went to London, where its cost and unusual style caused it to close after a year. However there are still fans on the Internet calling for it to be filmed for prosperity- but us theatre fans always say that.
Spider-Man has a similar unusual style- with rock songs that are interesting by themselves- but just like the first time I listened to Jonathan Larson's 'Tick Tick Boom', you cannot get the story of the show from listening to the musical, and for those who cannot see the show it does grate somewhat.
The music does have the feeling of U2 hinting at some of their great past works, and at other sections through the guitar solos linking two sections of songs to a little indulgence. Some of the more harsh critics have called the soundtrack the c'list of a U2 Album, but perhaps like me the music will grow after a few repeated sessions.
U2 And Elton John
Sometimes the songs in Spider-Man feel a little overproduced- and you know that compared to other albums that their voices have been altered, and this takes away some of the essential human/emotional connection that draws me to musical soundtracks because I know that this is what the person sounds like- there is less editing (this is probably wrong, but I like to think if someone can fill a theatre with their voice that they can sink into a microphone in a studio). This is not to say that some of the songs from Spider-Man do not have any emotional impact, some are just lost in 'loudness'- which a lot of rock is doing nowadays.
This is in comparison to Elton John's music which seem to be able to grasp emotionality a little easier. Elton's work on Billy Elliot, Lion King and Aida have all been successful and have been able to take the rock touches of his style and marriage them with the Broadway style of song. This is not to say that every show that Elton touches is an instant success- for example does anyone recall- Lestat? I liked some of the songs from this show, but I can see where it at times over-indulged in certain styles- namely opera.
Spider-Man might be better to see now, because we are currently in Version 2- I think. Which is the rewrite that had to occur after Taymore left the show, it is supposedly more clear now, but it is missing some of the boundary pushing of Taymore's original.
CAST
One of the first things you will notice from listening to Spider-Man is that Reeve Carney (Peter Parker/Spider-Man) sounds very similar to Bono- I'm not sure if this was a creative choice, but OK. He and his band the Carneys opened for a U2 show sometime in 2008 and I am assuming this lead to him being considered for the role.
- Also a plus; he does not sing with the mask- Nice call Taymore because that would have been unnecessary and made the audience laugh. He is not a name that I had heard of before- but he has a lot of songs, and is being used heavily in the marketing of the show- just type his name and find videos galore- some even with Bono and the Edge.
But the more interesting member of the show for me would be the talented Jennifer Damiano. Name should ring a bell for fans of the sleeper-hit Next to Normal, as she originated the role of the angsty daughter Natalie Goodman (a role for which she was nominated for a Tony), also for Glee fans she was an understudy for Lea Michele for the role of Wendla in Spring Awakening. She plays Mary Jane, and she brings a strong soft voice, to bring joy to her duets with Carney. She is sadly under utilised, and I find myself mostly listening to songs that feature her...in short I like Jennifer Damiano.
It does help that she looks like this and has a voice like that.
The Green Goblin, Patrick Page features in a limited amount of songs, and is heavily edited, which makes his song 'Freaks like me' very annoying to my ears. Which is a shame because according to other reviews he has been a highlight of the show, unfortunately it does not come through on the soundtrack.
It is also a shame that the album is so short, and that all the songs from the show are not included- I guess it is for the CD capacity or so that the twists of the show are not given away- but I felt that if they had included all the songs, that perhaps the listening experience- especially trying to understand the story would be easier. Maybe that will be a future release- a deluxe album.
So in conclusion the show, loses something without the visual umph, and quite a few people will not like it upon their first hearing. However after repeated sessions I have enjoyed some songs so much that I have placed them on my ever increasing mp3 player playlist. So in short- give it a chance if you are willing to experiment.
SONGS TO SUGGEST;
Rise Above 1 and 2, are probably the best songs on the CD, and capture the best elements of the show. I am actually quite glad that Rise Above 1 with Bono and the Edge has been the song performed on the TV Circuit, as it is engaging with a nice message that ties into the motto of Spider-Man- 'With Great Power, Comes Great Responsibility'. Rise Above 2, reminds me of Lothlorien from the Lord of the Rings Musical, that is more powerful than 1, because of the chorus- I like chorus numbers- the force of all the voice I guess.
No More, is a song that builds itself up and is probably the song that best explains our two romantic leads somewhat- by showcasing their troubled lives, and because of this as well as having the two leads causes the song to stand out.
DIY World has a simple melody, but it uses it very well, and with the excellent use of the cast it is able to build and drop, and then build again taking the listener on a journey. It explains the genetic engineering that ties into the fateful spider.
If you like one-sided love songs, there is the haunting 'If the World should end' sung by Jennifer. I like the song, however it is slower than the majority of the rest of the show, and since it is a solo it feels a little out of place on the album. Besides the benefits of the song, I concede that it probably was not the correct song to bring to this years Tony Awards. If you watch the Tony Presentation and the songs performed by the other shows- mostly group chorus numbers with a dance portion, you will see how a solo love ballad which takes place sitting that it highlights how different this musical is.
Honorary Mention
Pull the Trigger- when Osborn (The Goblin- keep up) starts to think that Spider-Man might have taken his research, and the Military starts to push him to accelerate his research. I like the development of Osborn in the song, and the music is some of the less jarring when the chorus is singing, however it does have a guitar solo aspect to it that just seems like filler to me. That is why it is not up there, however the last minute of the song is rather catchy.
SONGS THAT ARE NOT THAT GREAT
Freaks like me, I mostly do not like this song because of the editing they have done for the Goblin's voice.
Bouncing off the walls- Repetitive and loud,for a show that delves into creative areas this seems the most redundant and reminds me of songs from Vertigo.
Thanks for reading my review- please feel free to comment or suggest albums.
Here are some links to videos
"http://http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=75Buk7WGq9g&feature=related">
A brief taste of some of the songs.
http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=">
Tony Awards Jennifer Damiano and Reeve Carney
http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=">
Music video of Rise Above 1
http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=">
Rise Above 1 Featured on the still continuing American Idol (seriously that's still going?)
Oh and for last minutes comparison, I am not sure if Marvel did this on purpose but compare the hairstyles of Reeve Carney and Andrew Garfield (from The Social Network, and has taken Toby Maguire's place as Spider-Man in the upcoming reboot- the Amazing Spider-Man) and tell me it was the hair that got him the part wasn't it?
Andrew Garfield (or is it?)
Reeve Carney (or is it?)
If you enjoyed that article you might enjoy the following from this blog;
http://dalesnewsblog.blogspot.com/2011/07/bloody-jackson-review.html
http://dalesnewsblog.blogspot.com/2010/11/strange-bedfellow-new-review.html
http://dalesnewsblog.blogspot.com/2010/11/glee-vs-fame.html
http://dalesnewsblog.blogspot.com/2010/11/strange-bedfellows-in-harry-potters.html
http://dalesnewsblog.blogspot.com/2010/09/awtc-pirates-of-penzance.html
http://dalesnewsblog.blogspot.com/2011/03/livid-productions-presents-monty.html
Or Look into the Current COW updates
http://dalesnewsblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/cow.html
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Bloody, Jackson Review
Broadway is no longer just waltzy jazz or big band, in fact some of the more popular shows of recent years have been rock inspired. Shows such as Spring Awakening, Next to Normal and the Green Day scored 'American Idiot' have been attracting a more youthful audience, but the stories that are the core of these shows are still strong.
But this article is not about those shows, they might come latter if time permits. This article is dedicated to a little show that I just happened to stumble upon, and although the videos of it out there do it very little justice, the soundtrack instantly caught my attention and has just as quickly made it into my usual play list, a show called- 'Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson'.
It uses the style of emo rock music to satirise not only Andrew Jackson the 7th President of the United States of America, but also modern American society and ideology, with catchy (if not the best written lyrics) and bouncy music with good hooks.
First some context;
For quite a few Australians we only learn about the more modern Presidents- not through school (wait History covers some 'Modern', 40-60 years is still modern right- we still listen to 'Over there' right?) Washington, Nixon, Forde, FDR, Lincon, Bush 1 and 2, Obama, Clinton, Reagan, and then Stephen Sondheim's Assassins taught me about McKinley and Garfield but no Jackson.
Jackson was the 7th President of the United States and is something of a divisional figure, whose followers are credited to the modern Democratic Party- so Obama, in a way.
Jackson was a politician and an Army General who defeated both the British and the Native American Indians- pushing the later further west thus solidifing the hold of the United States. He also destroyed the national bank- a left over from British rule. The musical plays upon this as a passionate man seeking to improve the lives of the people, and not those rich new England f39-s. The themes of populism, the Indian removal and his relationship with his wife Rachael (why because you can't go wrong with a love story- even if it is a sub-plot).
Jackson was an orphan at the age of 14, and through his capture by the British he developed an intense hatred of the British. Jackson is said to have had an aggressive personality, allowing him to take on the British, the Indians, the Bank, the world and last of all his wife and beloved people. It could be said that his link to populism was a way of using the power of the people against the power of hierarchy or the crown of the British, and the musical takes the rapid anger of the common man and filters it through the medium of Jackson- a angst that does have clear links to modern teenage angst and the emo culture.
For example here is a sample of lyrics from the song - 'I'm so that guy'.
Sometimes you have to take the initiative
Sometimes your whole family dies of cholera
Sometimes you have to make your own story
Sometimes you have to shoot the story-teller in the neck
Sometimes you have to take back the country
Sometimes you have to kill everyone,
everyone, everyone, everyone, everyone, everyone
----
Life sucks,
and your Life is going to suck universally,
-------
I will make them all bleed.
Now seriously who cannot see the kid with the fringe bouncing along to that in his weirdly energetic melancholic mood. I find that it is a good pathway to relieve stress to sing along and put all your anger through the lyrics.
Jackson's anger against the bank is also a timely topic considering the GFC and the subsequent bail outs, if only modern leaders were as tough on banks as Jackson then things might be different. For instance Jackson thought the following of banks
It concentrated the nation's financial strength in a single institution.
It exposed the government to control by foreign interests.
It served mainly to make the rich richer.
It exercised too much control over members of Congress.
It favored northeastern states over southern and western states.
Banks are controlled by a few select families.
Banks have a long history of instigating wars between nations, forcing them to borrow funding to pay for them.
After some struggle Jackson was able to destroy the Second Bank of the United States.
One of the most unique (lullaby like) and controversial songs for the show is called 'Ten Little Indians' and describes how Jackson and his self made militia engaged in the removal of Indians from what he deemed 'US' territory, through both force and negotitation.
It also explores through the previously mentioned love story how someone who loves their country and its people so much can also love one person above all. The public life of presidency and the effect this has on those they love. But he is 'so that guy', and if those rich new Englanders are not going to drive out the rest of the whole world then it is up to him to take a Stand with populism, the power to the people not the elite.
The musical explores some difficult areas, such as the problems with populism. How often have we all heard from work colleagues or the media that if they were in power they would do so much, and that they know what the people want. Well governing people is difficult, as Jackson found out both in life and in the musical. Jackson early on was popular because he engaged with the public to gain their opinion on matters of state-to the ire of congress and the senate. However it can only work so long, because as one solution is made, more and more complex problems arise and then you start bringing out the ire in the people who resent having to be involved in complex and tough decisions. Which leads into a good little solo song where Jackson takes stock of all the things he has lost- his wife, his family and now the Amercian people's loves, and he decides that he has to once again take a stand and make the tough decisions with or without the blessing of the people.
Some lyrics from this great song are;
When it stops being fun
and your patience is done
and you see being president is hard
when this country before you
that cannot be governed
you find yourself powerless bloody and scared
And what is it for
the love of the people
who is it for
this nation we made
the guy who did everything his way
where has he gone
--------------------
So we'll ruin the bank
and we'll cripple the courts
and we'll take on the world
for America's sake
and we'll take all the land
and we'll take back the country
we'll take,and we'll take
and we'll take, and we'll take
And this country I'm making
cannot be divided
the will of the people
won't stand in my way
How can I tell you
how deeply I'll make them all bleed
The story comes through clearly and the themes are clearly spread throwout the show with enough hooks and catchy beats to keep the songs in ones head for long after. At times it does seem a little random, for instance the 'he said, they said' structure beat of 'The Corrupt Bargain'- do do do do do (Listen and you will get the reference).
The musical ends with the parallel views of Andrew Jackson as both one of the great American Presidents, and as an American Hitler. It is this complexity which gives this satire some necessary dramatic grounding so that the audience is carried along with the characters and not just waiting for the next reference.
It is a shame that the musical which received early critical praise and Tony buzz closed on Broadway after only 120 performances.
After looking for it on youtube I would implore readers to listen to the soundtrack before watching the movies- because it is a lot more effective with the music blaring, and it appears that it at times took on a concert like structure on the stage- on of the odd staging that some critics have suggested for the early closure.
So in conclusion the soundtrack although short -13 songs (but they fly by) that both satirise America succinctly but it works just a well as a rock album that has a little bit of a theme thrown in- like a concept album. The songs I like the best are the tongue in cheek opening number- 'Populism, Yeah Yeah', the hauntingly simple but complex 'Ten little Indians', the silly 'Corrupt Bargain', the rapid build up of 'Rock Star' and the aggrieved number of the 'Saddest Song'.
I would encourage people to check it out and send me your feedback. We probably won't get a big tour of it down here, but you can at least enjoy this little under appreciated Broadway treasure.
Coming soon, a review of Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark, composed by Bono and The Edge of U2 Fame.
Find below some links to Further information on Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson;
Here you should be able to listen to the cast album on the show's official website.
A preview from the demigod of the internet youtube.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
The Garden Capital
Hello Dear Readers,
You might have been wondering where I have been, well it has been a little touch and go over the past few weeks, relocating and setting up shop in a new line of work- of which I cannot speak much of- yeah I know...nice.
However I can tell you about the city that Oz refers to as its capital, and some of the stuff you can get up to here.
Ok for those who need to know, Canberra is roughly half way between the Capital of NSW (Sydney) and the Capital of VIC (Melbourne, but manages to combine the feeling of a city, with the sites and views of the country.
For those who end up moving here be warned since it is the Capital it is not necessarily cheap, but if you are smart and plan ahead, it is not necessarily expensive- this is all in relation to those other capitals of course.
One thing that people need to know is that many Canberra locals do not or have not seen many of the sites that those outside of the state are encouraged to see, they have become used to having sites such as the War Memorial, Parliament House and various Muesuems and theatres (including groups, but more on that later), and some even are annoyed of the amount of traffic certain sites cause.
Now if you were to ask a Canberra local about suburbs, like which are good to live in, most will refer to their suburb, the sourounds or a few others, this doesn't sound that different to you or me, however Canberra has a load of suburbs- some only lasting a few blocks. This has caused the Canberra system to develop the Town Centres method. Canberra Town Centres are focal points that a group of suburbs are clustered around, and are linked to the major shopping centres, bus stops and residental preceints.
Gunghalin is the most Northern Town Centre, and probably the fastest growing. It is an easy drive in to off of the Barton Highway from Albury, and is a quick freeway drive straight into the city. A lot of new residental properties are being built up in this area, the most high marketed are Crace and Forde. Since it is close to the major freeway, it has a relatively easy drive into the city, Belconnen or other centres. It has recently launched it own campus for the Canberra Institute of Technology.
Beloconnen is the next Town Centre down, it is a little older, but has a similar easy connection onto the freeway for easy access to the City. Near the centre it takes advantage of Lake Ginninderra, with surrounding dining, and entertaining options. It is the town centre that has its own campus for Canberra Institute of Technology and the University of Canberra. This town centre has a lot of buses comming through on the ACTION (https://www.action.act.gov.au/)Rapid service, with buses going straight into the city. It also has its own Westfield and markets on the weekends.
The Inner North includes the City, and is debateably the most expensive spot to rent/purchase in the city- however this is because a large proportion of population work here. It has all of the major bank centres, two bus stops, another CIT campus, ANU, the Canberra Centre (a large multiblock/building shopping centre- be sure to get a Canberra Centre card for discounts at some stores. Although it is the city centre, there is very easy access to a natural park.
The Inner South includes Parliament Circle, and what locals call the Parliamentary Triangle, and has a little bit of a rivalry with the North, and this means that instead of expensive city living, you have expensive harbour property or historical property- some of them million plus dollars. The roads are more spaced out than the North, and takes on the style of the Garden Capital most effectively. Quite a few landmarks are in this portion, however make sure you like roundabouts.
The next town centre is Wodon, with its own Westfield shopping centre. It is a little easier here, with a more relaxed atmosphere with various clubs and RSLs offering fine dining and entertainment for the population. It is popular with both families and the elderly. It has a large bus station connected to the shopping centre, and has buses going North and South, quite regularly. However it does get a little creepy at night, I think it is the lighting.
Weston Creek is like Wodon jr. It has the same sort of feel, but is tucked away to the side and has less traffic. This town centre however will have the joy of taking on some of the land that was devastated by the Canberra bushfires of yester year. It has easy access to the north, south, anywhere you want to go, while still having local shopping and dining.
Tuggeranong is the southern most town centre and like Gungahlin is open for expansion, in fact houses are being sold at Banks the most southern suburb of the ACT.It also has its own shopping centre, bus station and has taken on a cosmopolitan feel for its centre, whereas its suburbs have easy access to country like views.
One thing I have found in all town centres, besides North and South is the access to riding or running tracks or paths, thus giving people like me the option to engage in traditional exercise. However you quickly find that gyms and coffee stores make a killing, and nearly everyone has a connection to one or the other, if not both.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
If you are going to use public transport take a look at ACTION for bus timetables. Also if you will be catching a bus quite often I would definitely point you towards taking up the smart card travel option for Canberra- MYWay (http://www.transport.act.gov.au/myway/fares.html). If you register you card or pick up a $20 preloaded card from quite a few places in the city centre or various other stations, you will pay a roughly $2.52 for a single trip with a free 90min transfer, whereas if you paid in coin, it would cost you $4 each way. So you can potentially save more, also if you are a student of gain concession you will gain cheaper prices as well. They are also trying to push for online loading of your myway card- but you need to register it first and it takes a few days for it to go through, but you will gain a further 5% discount on trips.
PARKING
Compared to Sydney it is a lot cheaper. You should aim for parking in any of the shopping centres because they offer the best parking, location and are of a decent price. The Narllen Street park of The Canberra Centre has at various levels and you can park for $10 a day. You press at the barriers to receive a ticket, feed it into others, and feed it into the machine for it to be rendered paid (sorry you need to add money) and then you can get back out.
On the weekend various shopping centres will have either free or $2 a day. It depends to which one you end up going. Check the signage- don't get fined.
THEATRE
There are multiple groups in the ACT. Nearly each town centre has its own theatre or playhouse and there is a multitude of styles and levels of professional ability.
I would like to make note of the Canberra Opera Workshop, a really new group who are working to bring a unique opera group back into the Canberra region and they have a bit riding on the success of their show in December, but with the talent involved, we might see them for years to come, we can hope.
I hope this gives you a little taste of Canberra, or at least what I can tell you for now.
Check the link below to find the town centres.
http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=canberra&aq=&sll=-25.244696,135.703125&sspn=36.482237,78.837891&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Canberra+Australian+Capital+Territory&ll=-35.290469,149.124298&spn=0.521233,1.231842&z=10&iwloc=A
You might have been wondering where I have been, well it has been a little touch and go over the past few weeks, relocating and setting up shop in a new line of work- of which I cannot speak much of- yeah I know...nice.
However I can tell you about the city that Oz refers to as its capital, and some of the stuff you can get up to here.
Ok for those who need to know, Canberra is roughly half way between the Capital of NSW (Sydney) and the Capital of VIC (Melbourne, but manages to combine the feeling of a city, with the sites and views of the country.
For those who end up moving here be warned since it is the Capital it is not necessarily cheap, but if you are smart and plan ahead, it is not necessarily expensive- this is all in relation to those other capitals of course.
One thing that people need to know is that many Canberra locals do not or have not seen many of the sites that those outside of the state are encouraged to see, they have become used to having sites such as the War Memorial, Parliament House and various Muesuems and theatres (including groups, but more on that later), and some even are annoyed of the amount of traffic certain sites cause.
Now if you were to ask a Canberra local about suburbs, like which are good to live in, most will refer to their suburb, the sourounds or a few others, this doesn't sound that different to you or me, however Canberra has a load of suburbs- some only lasting a few blocks. This has caused the Canberra system to develop the Town Centres method. Canberra Town Centres are focal points that a group of suburbs are clustered around, and are linked to the major shopping centres, bus stops and residental preceints.
Gunghalin is the most Northern Town Centre, and probably the fastest growing. It is an easy drive in to off of the Barton Highway from Albury, and is a quick freeway drive straight into the city. A lot of new residental properties are being built up in this area, the most high marketed are Crace and Forde. Since it is close to the major freeway, it has a relatively easy drive into the city, Belconnen or other centres. It has recently launched it own campus for the Canberra Institute of Technology.
Beloconnen is the next Town Centre down, it is a little older, but has a similar easy connection onto the freeway for easy access to the City. Near the centre it takes advantage of Lake Ginninderra, with surrounding dining, and entertaining options. It is the town centre that has its own campus for Canberra Institute of Technology and the University of Canberra. This town centre has a lot of buses comming through on the ACTION (https://www.action.act.gov.au/)Rapid service, with buses going straight into the city. It also has its own Westfield and markets on the weekends.
The Inner North includes the City, and is debateably the most expensive spot to rent/purchase in the city- however this is because a large proportion of population work here. It has all of the major bank centres, two bus stops, another CIT campus, ANU, the Canberra Centre (a large multiblock/building shopping centre- be sure to get a Canberra Centre card for discounts at some stores. Although it is the city centre, there is very easy access to a natural park.
The Inner South includes Parliament Circle, and what locals call the Parliamentary Triangle, and has a little bit of a rivalry with the North, and this means that instead of expensive city living, you have expensive harbour property or historical property- some of them million plus dollars. The roads are more spaced out than the North, and takes on the style of the Garden Capital most effectively. Quite a few landmarks are in this portion, however make sure you like roundabouts.
The next town centre is Wodon, with its own Westfield shopping centre. It is a little easier here, with a more relaxed atmosphere with various clubs and RSLs offering fine dining and entertainment for the population. It is popular with both families and the elderly. It has a large bus station connected to the shopping centre, and has buses going North and South, quite regularly. However it does get a little creepy at night, I think it is the lighting.
Weston Creek is like Wodon jr. It has the same sort of feel, but is tucked away to the side and has less traffic. This town centre however will have the joy of taking on some of the land that was devastated by the Canberra bushfires of yester year. It has easy access to the north, south, anywhere you want to go, while still having local shopping and dining.
Tuggeranong is the southern most town centre and like Gungahlin is open for expansion, in fact houses are being sold at Banks the most southern suburb of the ACT.It also has its own shopping centre, bus station and has taken on a cosmopolitan feel for its centre, whereas its suburbs have easy access to country like views.
One thing I have found in all town centres, besides North and South is the access to riding or running tracks or paths, thus giving people like me the option to engage in traditional exercise. However you quickly find that gyms and coffee stores make a killing, and nearly everyone has a connection to one or the other, if not both.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
If you are going to use public transport take a look at ACTION for bus timetables. Also if you will be catching a bus quite often I would definitely point you towards taking up the smart card travel option for Canberra- MYWay (http://www.transport.act.gov.au/myway/fares.html). If you register you card or pick up a $20 preloaded card from quite a few places in the city centre or various other stations, you will pay a roughly $2.52 for a single trip with a free 90min transfer, whereas if you paid in coin, it would cost you $4 each way. So you can potentially save more, also if you are a student of gain concession you will gain cheaper prices as well. They are also trying to push for online loading of your myway card- but you need to register it first and it takes a few days for it to go through, but you will gain a further 5% discount on trips.
PARKING
Compared to Sydney it is a lot cheaper. You should aim for parking in any of the shopping centres because they offer the best parking, location and are of a decent price. The Narllen Street park of The Canberra Centre has at various levels and you can park for $10 a day. You press at the barriers to receive a ticket, feed it into others, and feed it into the machine for it to be rendered paid (sorry you need to add money) and then you can get back out.
On the weekend various shopping centres will have either free or $2 a day. It depends to which one you end up going. Check the signage- don't get fined.
THEATRE
There are multiple groups in the ACT. Nearly each town centre has its own theatre or playhouse and there is a multitude of styles and levels of professional ability.
I would like to make note of the Canberra Opera Workshop, a really new group who are working to bring a unique opera group back into the Canberra region and they have a bit riding on the success of their show in December, but with the talent involved, we might see them for years to come, we can hope.
I hope this gives you a little taste of Canberra, or at least what I can tell you for now.
Check the link below to find the town centres.
http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=canberra&aq=&sll=-25.244696,135.703125&sspn=36.482237,78.837891&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Canberra+Australian+Capital+Territory&ll=-35.290469,149.124298&spn=0.521233,1.231842&z=10&iwloc=A
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)