The Good Life: 29 Oct 2018

Hello Good Lifers,

You may recall that a couple of weeks ago Ander Louis shared with us an easy way of reading the classic novel War & Peace.. he has recorded a chapter daily on Podcast for the year of 2018 and listeners can access this! Author Goldie Alexander has also found a way of making the classics more accessible but she has chosen a literary solution by rewriting three Shakespearean classics in the modern idiom!

She reconstructed McBeth, Romeo & Juliet and The Tempest. Of course, although we regard his work as classics these days, Shakespeare was a popular “fiction writer” in his own era and wrote for the masses.

Reinterpreting his work is not new, of course… there have been many reconstructions over the years. Just to mention a few – there was West Side Story, our own Bell Shakespeare Company presentations and of course Kiss Me, Kate!

Originally published as three separate books.. and they are still available in this format… they are also now in a convenient anthology. The first is McBeth which is rewritten as ‘Gap Year Nanny ‘and tells of a young girl who finds a job in a household which equates with the McBeth setting. The second is transposed as ‘Changing History’ and tells a story which starts in the Berlin of 1928, then moves to Melbourne in 2017.

It is interesting to read references to Brexit, Donald Trump and of course is related to the Nazi dominance in Germany.

I read and enjoyed both those stories, but as The Tempest has become a fantasy and science fiction offering, I had to admit that I had skipped this one.. not being a reader of either genre!

It was interesting to speak with Goldie and of her background as a lecturer in English literature and her own study of Shakespeare. I think most of us studied his plays during our secondary education.. I well remember A Midsummer’s Night Dream and The Merchant of Venice in particular!

For an interesting read, check out Goldie’s Facebook page to learn how to access her books or go to any Readings Bookshop, which carries them.

SHAKESPEARE NOW! ANTHOLOGY – AUTHOR GOLDIE ALEXANDER – PUBLISHER – FIVE SENSES PUBLICATION ……………………………….

Listeners will know that I regularly visit Arvy’s Gallery in Olinda and always enjoy his exhibitions, which are changing constantly are are very varied. Two regular exhibitors are local Leonie Williams and Merran Berry, who are also involved in the annual creation of an excellent art journal titled Brushes With Life.

This year they have excelled themselves with a truly stunning journal titled In The Eye Of The Beholder, which features works by 16 different artists, including a number by both Leonie and Merran. It was a pleasure to be able to speak with Leonie and to hear more of the background to this book and of an exhibition which will open at Arvy’s Gallery on Sunday 11th November at
2.00 P.M.

The artwork in this exhibition is not that shown in the book, although a number of the artists will be represented. Copies of In The Eye Of the Beholder will be on sale during the exhibition. It would be a wonderful Christmas gift for anyone with even the slightest interest in the art world!

IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER – CREATED BY LEONIE WILLIAMS & MERRAN BERRY EXHIBITION OPENING @ 2.00 P.M. SUNDAY 11TH NOVEMBER ARVY’S GALLERY – MT DANDENONG TOURIST ROAD, OLINDA ………………………………

Well know local artist/musician Tracey Roberts found time in her busy schedule for a quick word about just a few of the activities with which she is involved! This weekend Tracey, with a number of other well known and highly regarded musicians, will present a memorial concert for the late Janette Geri, who died a few months ago.

This will be presented at the Maldon Folk Festival at 4.00 P.M. in the Troubadour Bar and entry is free.

She reminded us, too, that another Alive & Gigging concert will be presented by some of our talented and lively female musicians at Skylark Room on Saturday, 10th November. Always a popular event, so booking is recommended.

As well as her musical ability, Tracey is also an artist and with her two equally talented sisters (all in one family, not fair!!) she is sharing an exhibition at Eastland. It is located in The Arcade, between David Jones and Myer. It is a Gallery in the Three Rooms and the exhibition is titled 3 Sisters!

TRACEY ROBERTS…. MALDON FOLK FESTIVAL, ALIVE & GIGGING @ SKYLARK, and Exhibiting at 3 ROOMS in THE ARCADE at EASTLAND!
………………………….

There is also an interesting photographic exhibition at the recently renamed Kapi Art Space, 5-Ways, Mt Dandenong Tourist Road, Kalorama. New owner, artist Heather Bradbury, has transformed this beloved local gallery and it will be officially opened on 1st December.

THE BASIN THEATRE, DOONGALLA ROAD, is about to present a new season of theatre titled BOMBSHELLS, which features 6 women telling their personal stories on stage. Opening night is Thursday 9th NOVEMBER and I will have a double pass for a lucky listener!

1812 THEATRE is also about to present a new production.. a comedy titled THE RETURN OF THE PINK PANTHER. It will have a comparatively short season between 15th NOVEMBER and 8TH DECEMBER.

Our regular film reviewer, George Field, is incapacitated with an undiagnosed leg problem and is unable to drive, so no review this month.
However, I saw a marvellous documentary titled BACKTRACK BOYS, currently screening at CAMEO BELGRAVE. I can’t recommend it highly enough… take tissues! A ‘must see’ for dog lovers, as some of its principal characters are 20 beautiful dogs, who help rehabilitate kids who are at risk of falling foul of the law and beginning a life of crime. Really beautiful… And I was pleased to hear that a book is being written about the remarkable man behind this project, Bernie Shakeshaft, and some of the boys involved.

I also have to review a film which is part of the Jewish Film Festival, so more about that next week. Pheew!

Thanks to John Weeks for all he contributes to the program and to good friend TJ who looks after ensuring this waffle goes up on the internet.

I am hoping to have Andy Cowan as a studio guest next week and am so looking forward to that!

A P.S.! Yesterday I popped by the Food is Free stand at the Swansea Clinic, Swansea Road, Montrose and, sadly, it looks more like Old Mother Hubbard’s cupboard at the moment. If you can spare any fresh produce or groceries, please do share with those who are in need of a bit of help.

Best regards,
Ann
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Ann Creber
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