Climax is worth the wait
By Rama Gaind

THE latest Bollywood film to be screened in Canberra is titled ‘Billu Barber’.
Set in a north Indian village, it tells the story of a village barber, a man of principles, living a simple life and struggling to make ends meet.
He is not prepared to give up his proud values even though it means that his two children can no longer go to school or that his livelihood is being threatened.
As Billu struggles to make ends meet, a film unit comes to the village of Budbuda to shoot a futuristic film. Enter its superstar Sahir Khan – who is Bollywood’s real megastar – Billu’s childhood buddy.
Once the news spreads, the villagers begin to look on Billu with respect. When the locals coax him to arrange a meeting with Sahir, he reluctantly tries to contact the star, but fails.
Director Priyadarshan and writer Mushtaq Sheikh heavily emphasise the stardom and importance of Sahir which is already established. As a result, the characters are not deeply etched and we do not get a concise picture of Billu, his family or the villagers who are responsible for disrupting his life.
‘Billu Barber’ is oddly stolid and lacks passion with everyone simply going through the motions of acting. The film pays homage to Shah Rukh Khan.
In the lead role as Billu is Irrfan Khan and his dutiful wife is played by Lara Dutta.
Irrfan is the real star of this film: his role as a humble and penniless barber wins you over.
The second half gathers momentum and the climax, when the two friends finally meet, is worth the long wait.
In the meantime, sit back and enjoy the colourful musical extravaganza with Sahir displaying some toe-tapping dance moves in three item songs with such glamorous stars as Kareena Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra and Deepika Padukone.
This one is for die-hard Shah Rukh Khan fans only!
 

Late last week Calwell High School students responded well above their numbers by raising nearly $1000 through holding a ‘mufti’ day and throwing wet sponges at their teachers.

Most of the school was involved during lunchtime with students being invited the day before to come to school with at least a gold coin donation and then they were given permission to have a uniform free day.

In a twist that saw 3 teachers get soaked to raise money to support those affected by the Victorian bushfires, if students brought $5 or more, they got a sponge which they could soak with icy cold water and throw it at a teacher behind a wooden barrier with a hole cut out for their head.

Claire Reimann, one of the two Fusion Chaplains at Calwell High, funded by Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations under the National School Chaplaincy Program since the end of 2007 said the idea only came the day before.

“I was talking with the schools pastoral care coordinator and suggested that we invite the students to respond to the victims of the Victorian bushfires with a uniform free day. They checked with the Vice Principal who straightaway said yes, and then said lets do it tomorrow!”

“The idea to invite students to give $5 so they could throw a dripping wet sponge came from another teacher who had heard how successful it had been done before. We thought it would add some excitement to the day, and help build fun between teachers and students.”

And it sure did that. Over 200 of the 500 students in the school came out to the oval at lunchtime to be part of the sponge throwing or witness it.

“I was very proud of the generosity and response of the students. Our young people care more deeply than we often give them credit. The bushfires are a tragedy and our young people feel the pain and loss as well. They wanted to do their bit to support their Victorian mates.”

The funds raised will go to help the work amongst communities in fire ravaged Victoria and will be donated via the Commonwealth Bank appeal.

Fusion is an Australian grown international Christian youth and community organisation with centres in every state and territory and now over 10 other countries. They have Chaplains in 2 high schools in Canberra and have been supporting the Canberra community for over 30 years.
 

Absorbing crime drama
By Rama Gaind

‘Changeling’ is an absorbing crime drama about an amazing real-life case from 1920s Los Angeles.
Angelina Jolie’s performance as a distraught mother Christine Collins who pursues justice is the mainstay of this film which has been directed by Clint Eastwood. Jolie is superb.
This is a retelling of the incredible tale of a single mother who returns home from work in 1928 and finds that her son has disappeared.
After the besieged LA Police Department find a boy, Collins’ declares that he is not her son. This stand incites contempt, threats and a demeaning campaign which aims at making a concerned mother appear negligent and crazy.
This story of corruption, accusation and loss is a touching one.
IN a Golden Globe-winning performance, Kate Winslet teams up (again) with Leonardo DiCaprio in ‘Revolutionary Road’.
Based on a novel by Richard Yates about an unhappy marriage, the film has been directed by Sam Mendes (‘American Beauty’)
Both Winslet and DiCaprio excel in their roles as Frank and April Wheeler.
DIRECTED sensitively by Stephen Daldry, ‘The Reader’ is based on the 1995 novel by German law professor Bernhard Schlink about innocence that’s lost in post-war Germany
It explores the difficulties of subsequent generations to comprehend the Holocaust by using an affair in the 1950s between a former concentration camp guard and a teenager half her ago.
Superbly acted by Kate Winslet, Kavid Kross and Ralph Fiennes.

Fascination with shopping malls
By Rama Gaind

Residents in New Delhi, the capital of India, have a fascination for shopping malls.
With a population of almost 14 million, this is one city that is not only buzzing with life and vigour, but it is also a city of opportunities. The property business is booming and newly-constructed world-class accommodation is available in satellite townships.
Delhiites have a natural passion for shopping. There are shopping malls, shopping complexes and markets in almost all areas of Delhi and the region. While complexes in Noida, Gurgaon and Faridabad – both for shopping and entertainment – have to be seen to be believed for modern conveniences, there are numerous multiplexes that will meet your every need.
Shopping malls dot the capital’s landscape. They have given a new dimension to the whole idea of shopping in and around Delhi. These one-stop malls are the window to the latest trends in fashion, food and other retail spheres.
CTC Mall in central Delhi is one example of an enjoyable shopping experience. Spread over three levels, you will be bemused for choice from heavily embellished saris, salwar kameez, lehengas and sherwanis best suited for bridal wear to ready-to-wear fashion tops, shawls, jewellery and other accessories for both men and women.
There are supermarkets and central stores to purchase grocery and home utility items. Food Bazaar is one such supermarket. Fresh dairy products can be purchased from the state-owned Mother Dairy. It has outlets in all residential areas. Imported furniture showrooms are abundant in south Delhi near the historic Qutab Minar. Other showrooms can be found in Noida, near Connaught Place in Panchkuian Road and in west Delhi at Kirti Nagar.
Home linen and furnishings can be bought from shopping malls or home furnishing retail outlets. Curtains can be bought as fabric or readymade. Brand-name clothes are as popular as sarees and salwaar kameez. While western outfits are commonplace, well-known labels are freely available, along with fabrics and readymade garments. Most of the stores have tailors and drapers so made-to-measure clothes can be whipped up in next to no time.
Markets are in abundance: there’s Chandni Chowk in Old Delhi, South Extension I and II, Connaught Place, Karol Bagh, Kamla and Khan Markets. Many have a preference for clothes at Janpath and Sarojini Nagar markets. Visiting emporiums for that extra special gift from various parts of India is also an enlightening experience.
Whether you indulge in impulsive buying, go on a fanatical shopping spree or are just a passive participant – just content with window shopping – the experience will be an exhilarating, though exhaustive, one!
 

The Burlesque Hour
Street Theatre
February 10-14
 

There was a different kind of heat in Canberra city last night. The Burlesque Hour at the Street Theatre certainly pushed the envelope with its mix of saucy, sleazy and bizarre titbits (pardon the pun).

It seems that Canberrans have a thirst for a deviation from the humdrum. Young Goths sat alongside mature housewives and elderly couples were peppered throughout the audience. There was a distinct sense of anticipation—and while the start was a little slow (and late), the energy built consistently to an up-beat finish.

Transformed into a voyeur’s paradise with small tables packed together on the stage plus a full house in the auditorium, Street 1’s setup created the desired cabaret effect. While the stage tables offered an intimate aspect, the auditorium seats offered an uninterrupted view of the entire show.

The acts were varied: most were provocative and some aesthetically pleasing.

Each artiste brought her own unique energy to the show. Azaria Universe oozed feminine sensuality—with her elegant Butterfly Dance a nice relief from the more overt performances. Her costume for her Total Eclipse of the Heart gave a whole new meaning to the term ‘Pearl Necklace’.

Yumi Umiumare’s performances were invigorating and had the desired shock effect, particularly Mouth Piece, which showed a high degree of body mastery while at the same time triggering a slight level of repulsion. Her Kiss of the Serpent Warrior striptease was done with such precision and focus to be mesmerising.

Maude Davey’s Dairy Queen and Strawberry Trick certainly tested the boundaries.

Moira Finucane is the mistress of her domain, however. Two elements set her apart from her counterparts: her absolute familiarity with every inch (inside and out) of herself, which shows in the way she manipulates her body to exaggerated effect, and her enigmatic face, which can simultaneously appear classical and grotesque on cue.

It was wonderful to see REAL female forms, resplendent in all their bits and bumps, cellulite and sags that we ‘normal’ girls try to hide from the world. And not a Brazilian in sight—just as Mother Nature intended.

The stage crew must be mentioned—their fine attention to detail meant the transitions went smoothly (there was a lot of cleaning up required).

The Burlesque Hour was a wild and woolly ride driven along by a high energy soundtrack and enhanced by vibrant costumes. It drew the expected response, from bemusement to joy to unease—but no major shocks, no audience members leaving in indignation—in fact the audience ate it all up joyfully.

The token male Paul Cordeiro’s performance was the only let down. While his striptease was sensuous and fun, he stopped short of a full strip, which was disappointing. It wasn’t that I was out for a peek at some stranger’s manhood, but I felt that as the women didn’t hold back during their performances—I can certainly tell you what they had for breakfast—it seemed out of place that the only male performer wouldn’t do the same.

Nonetheless, the Burlesque Hour is engrossing to say the least, and something to talk about for some time to come.

Films carry strong storylines 

By Rama Gaind

MARKING his first film role since his Academy Award-winning ‘Million Dollar Baby’, Clint Eastwood directs and stars in ‘Gran Torino’ and again comes out a winner.
As a recently widowed Korean War veteran, Walt Kowalski is an unyielding, unapologetic racist who is (eventually) forced to confront his prejudices by new immigrant neighbours.
Kowalski is not shy when it comes to pulling out his Colt .45 or Army-issue M-1 Garand when the need arises. Eventually, his actions become more humane.
‘Gran Torino’ is about two things: nurturing a man’s better nature and accepting other nationalities in the community.
It can’t be helped, but Kowalski is drawn into the life of his neighbours, particularly Thao (Bee Vang), a teenage boy who is pressured to steal the prized Ford Gran Torino by a local Hmong gang.
He also likes Thao’s sister Sue (Ahney Her) who is not afraid to stand up for herself.
The film begins slowly, but when it picks up it is reminiscent of a Dirty Harry action film (in very slow motion) mingled with some ‘Unforgiven’-style of dialogue.
Clint proves that at 78, age is no barrier to achieving excellence.
ANOTHER movie worth watching is ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’.
Adapted by director David Fincher from a 1922 short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Brad Pitt in the title role is seen ageing in reverse.
Button is an osteophytic infant, an orphan, born 80 years old who grows younger instead of older.
If you get a sense of ‘Forrest Gump’ déjà vu don’t be alarmed. It’s not surprising as Eric Roth – who wrote the screenplay for that film – co-wrote Button’s adaptation.
Fincher (‘Se7en’) paints a creative, flourishing picture where together with Pitt, even Cate Blanchett gives a strong performance as Button’s life-long love interest.
 

In Cold Light
By Duncan Ley
Everyman Theatre
 

In Cold Light is a sharp production that hits hard. I went thinking I would watch a murder mystery where we would all gasp at the end when we discovered who actually committed the crime; I came away with the compulsion to reassess the basic premises that are the foundation of my own life.

This very clever script spits out one moral dilemma after another at lightning speed and forces the audience to explore and question its own morals, ethics, religiosity, and capability for forgiveness and faith.

Ley has used the one act play format to good effect. With no interval to allow the mounting tension to escape, the audience is taken on a 1 hour 25 minute journey that demands resolution.

Ley’s writing has a temerity about it that yields a powerful response. And it certainly helps that the calibre of the acting drives his points home.

With only a fleeting glimpse of Hannah Ley as Maria at the very end, the burden of keeping the audience engaged is left to just two actors.

Brilliant casting with Jarrad West as Father Christian Lamori. West’s skill as an actor pulls us in as we are witness to the unravelling of this at first, self-assured dignatory, hiding behind a tenuous bravado. The risks he takes as an actor pay off, so much so that we can feel compassion for this man who we think has done the unthinkable.

Ley’s laconic Inspector is the perfect counterpoint for West’s priest and his propensity for brutality throws us off the scent. The two actors are evenly matched and fit comfortably together, particularly in the more physical scenes.

It says much about a script when it can stand on its own without distractions, and director Duncan Driver’s stark set and economic use of lighting add to the intentionally claustrophobic feel of the play. The lighting transition in the last scene is particularly powerful.

This play is currently in development to be made into a feature film and its easy to see why, as it works on so many levels. It is refreshing to see a well-crafted, provocative work produced to such a high standard by a local, fledgling theatre company.

Congrats to Stephen Pike at the Q for starting off its season with such a bang!

Cosmic Ordering For Beginners
Barbel Mohr and Clemens Maria Mohr
ISBN: 9781401917982

RRP: $29.95

Remember the old adage ‘The rich get rich and the poor get poorer’? Is it just luck that some people seem to have it all while others wish they did too?

According to German authors Barbel Mohr and Clemens Maria Mohr, it has less to do with luck and more to do with simply asking for what you want.

Author of several best-selling books, Barbel Mohr has become a household name in Germany. Clemens Maria Mohr (no relation to Barbel) is one of the top business and sports coaches in Germany.

Their book Cosmic Ordering for Beginners outlines the key ideas and principles that the Mohrs say govern the cosmos and illustrate ways of changing your subconscious to positively shape your life.

The book shows you how to tune in to the Universe and order all those things that you truly desire, whether it be more love, more money, better health or a slimmer body.

From the very basics of listening to your inner voice and writing down what you want to wish for to how to collectively wish with others, this practical guide is presented in simple terms easy that everyone can understand.

Written in a lively, energetic style with plenty of fantastic hints, tips, and techniques, Cosmic Ordering for Beginners also includes an exclusive free CD, where Barbel relates the very best meditations and exercises to help make your dreams a reality.

Cosmic Ordering for Beginners (Hay House, RRP $29.95) is available at all leading retailers. Visit www.hayhouse.com.au for more information.

“A crash curve carnival of Bearded Ladies, Japanese Serpent Warriors, Italian Stallions, spike covered Showgirls with sharp teeth, trembling Victorian spinsters, Bodice Ripping Adventuresses, Apocalyptic Beasts in shredded fishnets and towering stilts.”

If you like your theatre to be packed in a neat little box with a predictable beginning, middle and end, don’t venture out for this one.

However, if you like to be shocked, confused, titillated and outraged simultaneously, then you won’t want to miss the Street Theatre’s seaon of The Burlesque Hour commencing on February 10.

Burlesque is described as a humorous theatrical entertainment involving parody and sometimes grotesque exaggeration-and this show pushes the genre’s envelope to its extremes.

Described as part circus and sideshow, showgirl and showstopper, striptease and cartoon strip, boho and butoh, music hall, gothic spectacle and mayhem all set to an electric eclectic soundtrack from hardcore industrial to kitschy Jap-pop, it’s highly likely you’ve never seen anything like this before.

Starring internationally acclaimed Queen of Cabaret Bizarre, Moira Finucane; Japanese butoh dancer and shock cabaret artiste Yumi Umiumare; Circus and burlesque star Azaria Universe, elegant iconoclast Maude Davey with her infamous and fabled Strawberry Act, the Burlesque Hour packed the Sydney Opera House.

If you like your theatre to be packed in a neat little box with a predictable beginning, middle and end, don’t go to see The Burlesque Hour.

If you are fascinated by the extremes to which theatre performance can bend itself and don’t mind nudity and striptease, book early, because this internationally acclaimed show is selling fast!

On at the Street Theatre Tuesday 10 February–Thursday 12th February, Tickets $32/$29; Friday 13th— Saturday 14th all tickets $35 (shows at 7pm and 9pm on Saturday) Bookings essential phone 02 6247 1519 or go tot www.thestreet.org.au.

Recommended: 16+ age restriction for this event; it contains nudity and partial nudity.

Canberra’s doyen of theatre Coralie Wood was farewelled by Mary Porter AM MLA yesterday as she was shipped off to Sydney on the back of a truck. Well, at least her portrait was.
    Regional artist Dr Ian Henderson DCA approached Ms Wood after she was awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in June 2008 and asked her to sit for him.
    He felt that Coralie and her colourful life were the perfect subject for a portrait to be entered in the 2009 Archibald Prize.

   Dr Henderson DCA is the author of ‘Visual Design: a collection of essays concerning the visual nature of landscape–essays for paintings’. He recently held an exhibition of his paintings at his studio in Nimmitabel.
    His entry in the Archibald Prize for 2008 was a portrait of journalist Ian Leslie.

    The painting, titled Coralie Central combines incorporates various aspects of Coralie’s life and history.
    The crimson bouffant, the larger than life lashes and the Star of David that represents the publicist’s strong link to her Jewish heritage are the central focus of the portrait.
    At the launch the artist said Ms Wood was a wonderful subject to paint, and thanked Henry Hann from That Framing Place in Braddon for framing the portrait.
    Ms Wood said she would be delighted if she were hung at the NSW Art Gallery with old friend Jon English, who is also a portrait subject for this year’s Archibald’s.

Canberra Youth Theatre and Fringe 09 present SIX BILLION LOVE

a butoh inspired live art work
Created and Directed by Cheneoh Miller
Costume Design: Danielle Killick
Lighting Design: Anthony Arblaster
Cast: Canberra Youth Theatre
The number 6,677,563,921 ticks forwards and backwards everyday with births and deaths on the planet occurring even as you read this. We are 1 of the Six Billion and something people – your presence is noted on the world population counter but what makes you so special? What can you give? SIX BILLION LOVE is intimate physical theatre performed by members of Canberra Youth Theatre.
When: 7,8 & 9 February 2009
Where: The Courtyard Studio, Canberra Theatre Centre, National Multicultural Fringe Festival
Cost: $15 tickets 

BOOK NOW: Tickets available at Canberra Ticketing 6275 2700