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Guides clean out City2surfpage 3

Sydney warms up to walk for changeBy Simon BlackChippendale resident, Michael Mobbs will join an estimated 15 to 30 thousand people taking part in this Sunday’s Walk Against Warming in Sydney.

The creator of Sydney’s first self-sufficient house and author of ‘Sustainable House’ said community actions such as Sunday’s event help to secure government support for the fight against global warming.

“A change is clearly happening among ordinary people like us but the politicians just don’t hear it,” he said “they only hear the people that have the money to lobby them.

“But I think bit by bit there’s a really strong voice being given now to people who are doing this.”

Created by the Nature Conservation Council, the event will see hundreds of thousands of people across the country walk to raise awareness about carbon pollution.

Sydneysiders will trek from the CBD’s Belmore Park up Elizabeth Street to Bathurst Street then to Castlereagh Street and back to Belmore Park.

An estimated 15 to 20 thousand Sydney residents joined up to 90 thousand participants Australia-wide last year and the NCC hopes to see about 30 thousand this year.

NCC Chief Executive Officer, Pepe Clarke, said the event puts government members on notice to develop a plan of action to reduce carbon pollution and address climate change.

“Less than a week out from the Federal election, the community will send a clear message that although many households and individuals have made the changes needed to reduce their emissions, they now want more effective government action to reduce carbon pollution,” he said.

“The majority of the community are sick of waiting for national climate policy.”

The City of Sydney continued a four-year long tradition with a $5000 cash grant to the NCC in support of the event.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said in a statement the event closely mirrored the “ambitious greenhouse gas emission reductions targets” outlined as part of Sustainable Sydney 2030. “The City is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, cutting energy consumption and reducing our carbon footprint,” said Ms Moore.

“We are proud to help other organisations do the same.”Mobbs said the results he has achieved in his sustainable house are

within the reach of most Sydney residents. “If I turn this on now, you only know because I’m telling you it’s

coming from the sun,” he said.“There were a lot of people who said I couldn’t do the things I’ve done

here but fourteen years on here we are.“You don’t have to change to do this...the best thing about the house is

that it looks and feels like an ordinary terrace.

‘On ya bike alan’page 4

sydney’s most comprehensive weekly what’s On guidepage 19

auGust 12, 2010

LAYING LOCAL

Michael Mobbs

by Michael GorMlyFaced with a storm of public protest after awarding management of all Council tennis courts to a single operator, along with claims that the tender process had been compromised, Council has re-opened tenders, asserting they have a new community focus.

But critics say a myriad of hidden conditions in the 500 pages of specifications mean the end result will be the same - a single operator - and Council will have micro-control of all courts down to deciding the design of badges staff wear on their shirts and what kind of tables and chairs must be used in associated cafés.

Last week Councillors unanimously voted for the new tender criteria which require, in the words of a media release, “submissions to be evaluated against criteria including experience managing tennis centres, knowledge of the industry, community tennis programs, coaching ability, marketing and promotion and understanding of local social and recreational needs”.

“The report also notes the appointment of a six-person tender review committee including two independent external tennis experts overseen by a probity auditor.”

But the staff report presented to Councillors was still weighted towards a single operator for all the courts, beginning with this: “Council is seeking to procure an operator for its Community Tennis Courts...”

An amendment from Cr Harris changing the words to “an operator or operators” was unanimously supported.

A single operator for all courts means one of the long-term operators of either

Rushcutters Bay or Prince Alfred Park courts would be sacked, and this is what is upsetting Rushcutters Bay residents who support their local operator, Rory Miles.

But former Councillor Dixie Coulton, who lives in Elizabeth Bay and supports Mr Miles, says the new criteria are worse than the old ones.

“Obviously the Council has been working on it for months to make it almost impossible for any contractor or suitable private enterprise operator to tender,” she said. “The community will be the loser. It’s a crippling mix of council employee and contractor designed to stop any criticism of the Council or Lord Mayor.”

Ms Coulton listed several problems she believes apply to the new criteria:

It’s no longer a lease but a ‘management agreement’ answerable to a contract manager on every aspect of the business. The previous lease term of 5 x 5 years has been reduced to three, ‘unless terminated earlier’.

The operator cannot hire

new staff unless approved by Council’s contract manager, who can also decide what size, colour and finish the tables and chairs are. No signage or branding will be allowed, and the operator must install online booking systems.

The operator cannot even decide the names of kiosks, a right reserved for Council bureaucrats. Council would also decree the court hire fees. Despite this, the operator must set out a 3-year business plan estimating actual income, controllable expenses, management fees and a guaranteed net profit payment to Council.

Coaches have to become members of Tennis Australia, creating a conflict of interest as the probity committee overseeing the tender process will include two members of Tennis Australia

“This is not a run-your-own business, said Ms Coulton. “The operator is effectively an employee of council. Rushcutters Bay Tennis courts did not operate like this. Indeed no privately run

New tennis tenders ‘worse than the old ones’

august 12, 2010 3

tennis centre could operate or function like this.”

“The new rules deprive contractors of all initiative and creativity, ensuring our tennis

centres will have no personal touch or ambience,” she said.

Asked for comment on the possible probity conflict, Council’s media unit

referred the City News back to Councillors. However time and space constraints dictate that we must invite any responses for next week.

Published weekly and distributed to residents in the CBD, Pyrmont, Ultimo, Surry Hills, Woolloomooloo, Darlinghurst, East Sydney, Potts Point, Elizabeth Bay, Rushcutters Bay, Chippendale and Glebe. Copies are also distributed to serviced apartments, hotels, convenience stores and newsagents throughout the city. Distribution enquiries call 9212 5677. Published by the Alternative Media Group of Australia. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy of content, The News takes no responsibility for inadvertent errors or omissions. ABN 48 135 222 169

Design: Gadfly Media Cover Photo: Edwin Monk

Group Publisher: Lawrence GibbonsGroup Manager: Chris PekenNews Editors: Lawrence Bull, Simon BlackEditor-at-large: Michael GormlyArts Editor: Angela BennettsWhat’s On editor: Komi SellathuraiDining Editor: Jackie McMillanAdvertising Managers: David Sullivan, Donna King, Steve LopezPublisher’s Assistant: Genevieve ReynoldsEmail: citynews@alternativemediagroup.com Advertising: sales@alternativemediagroup.com Contact: PO Box 843 Broadway 2007Ph: 9212 5677 Fax: 9212 5633

Former Deputy Lord Mayor Dixie

Coulton

by sophie cousinsGirl Guides are hoping this year’s discarded clothing will exceed previous efforts at Sydney’s annual City2Surf.

As runners threw off their excess garments, approximately 160 Girl Guides, aged between 5 and 14 hastily collected the items, scouring Hyde Park and its surrounds, which will be donated to The Smith Family.

Last year they collected over 6 tonnes of jumpers and pants, and with a record number of over 80,000 people partaking in the

event, NSW Girl Guides PR Events Coordinator, Margaret Wood holds high hopes for this year’s outcome.

“We love helping The Smith Family by getting all the clothing we can get” she said.

The selling of the donated clothing will help disadvantaged families and their children by providing continuing support for their Learning for Life Programs.

“It is a really good cause,” said The Smith Family contract driver, Les Toth.

The Girl Guides showed

enthusiasm, with some going to such lengths as climbing trees and poles to grab any items left behind.

Numerous involved parents said they were proud of the organisation’s ongoing commitment to the community.

“I think having a really cold morning makes you realise there are some people that don’t have warm clothes and that spend the night in the cold”, mum, Alison Stein said.

Many people in need will be grateful for their efforts and continuing support.

Girl guides aim for record clean-up

History of the tennis court sagaby Michael GorMlyThe tender process came unstuck when Council awarded the contract for all the city’s courts to one operator, effectively evicting Rory Miles who has run the Rushcutters Bay courts for 26 years.

The move enraged the Rushcutters Bay community, who packed the gallery at three Council meetings with protesters while the Clover Moore councillors dug their heels in, insisting that the process and decision was

the best way to serve the community.

But Clover’s team eventually backtracked after a legal opinion tabled by Crs Chris Harris (Greens) and Meredith Burgmann (Labor) said the tender process had been irregular because of communications from three of the tenderers to Councillors.

The heart of the problem appears to be Council’s preference for one operator to manage all 18 courts, which are spread out from

Beaconsfield and across the inner-city suburbs. Only two of the court complexes are understood to be commercially viable: Rushcutters Bay and Prince Alfred Park. The remainder are two-court sites with little infrastructure or income potential.

If Council follows community opinion and awards management of the two larger sites to their existing operators, it could be left with the smaller, ‘nuisance’ sites.

But these smaller courts would be best run by Council as a public service, says former Deputy Lord Mayor Dixie Coulton, whose children learned the game at Rushcutters Bay.

“These courts are essential to people’s health and fitness,” she said. “If the smaller courts are not financially viable, Council should continue to run them as a public service instead of acting like a private corporation, rationalising everything in sight.”

4

Bike battle fizzlesby Michael GorMlyFears of a clash between pro- and anti-cycleway demonstrators fizzled when no-one turned up to a protest rally reportedly spruiked by 2GB announcer Alan Jones at Town Hall last Tuesday evening.But about 200 cycleway supporters, with horns tooting and flashing lights reflecting off flouro vests, did ride in to St Andrew’s Square.

Senior police said they had been worried about a clash between the two groups, pointing out that it would be the anti-cycleway people who were more likely to be aggressive. They spoke to the cyclists, seeking reassurance that the rally would not be embarking on a Critical Mass-style impromptu ride.

The rally sang an adaptation of Queen’s Bicycle Race and cheered Lord Mayor Clover Moore who arrived unannounced, moonlighting from the Barangaroo rally being held at the same time inside Town Hall.

Ms Moore gave an impromptu thank-you speech highlighting her current message: that you can’t judge the under-used network until the parts are linked up to create useful routes. She posed with a T-shirt the cyclists had brought which read: ‘On ya bike Alan Jones’.

Bike Sydney secretary Chris Virtue

rigged up a mobile PA and spoke about a future Sydney that would not be dominated by cars.

He said peak hour now lasted for eight hours a day and he enjoyed listening to Paul Latta’s tales of chaos during his morning traffic reports on radio.

While economists were very concerned with productivity, he questioned the productivity of so many drivers spending two hours a day stuck in gridlock.

Although Alan Jones’ supporters were not in evidence, a lone cyclist carried a banner criticising the Kings Street Cycleway.

Bill Holliday rides to work every day from Lilyfield to Broadway and is not happy with the cycleway design on King Street in the city.

“This cycleway seems to be an attempt to cater for a much more timid, slower kind of cyclist, perhaps mum,dad and the kids,” he said. “But in doing so, the designers have removed the really attractive aspects of cycling: speed and ease of access everywhere in spite of traffic jams, and compounded the danger level at intersections, without introducing any real benefit.”

“If the City Council really wanted to do something cost effective for cyclists then they should append ‘cyclists exempted’

signs to all the one-way signs on the city’s one-way streets, to ‘No Left Turn’ and to ‘No Right Turn’ signs. Cyclists are the perfect traffic for narrow lane ways and also should not be impeded in the city’s attempts to curb the rat-running motorist.”

Lone protester Bill Holliday stands out from the crowd

Clover Moore with a T-shirt made by the cyclists

The two-wheeled crowd in St Andrew’s Square listens to Chris Virtue

By dana mccauleyMonthly meetings of a church group led by gay conversion advocate Toby Neal will continue in the Surry Hills Neighborhood Centre unless a successful claim is made against it under the Anti-Discrimination Act.

Three months after a City of Sydney Council meeting erupted over the use of its premises by the Anglican group, Lord Mayor Clover Moore has announced no action will be taken unless it is found to be breaking the law.

Ms Moore said it would take a test case in the Administrative Decisions Tribunal to decide the issue, a response labeled “passing the buck” by UTS legal academic Professor Jenni Millbank.

Ms Moore said while she shared the concern of medical and health professionals over the potential harms of gay conversion therapy, it was unclear whether promoting it would breach the Anti-Discrimination Act.

But Professor Millbank said

the council had the power “to draw up their own guidelines about who gets to use their space, and whether or not those groups have to comply with... anti-discrimination ideals or goals.”

She was critical of the system in New South Wales of developing discrimination law through test cases.

“It puts the onus on the victimized group to have someone who’s got the time and inclination to bring a complaint, instead of saying ‘this appears to be a general issue and let’s investigate it’”, she said, pointing to countries like Sweden where such investigations are the responsibility of a specialist Ombudsman.

City News spoke to Simon Rice, a judge on the Administrative Decisions Tribunal, who said a claim against the church group would be unlikely to succeed unless the group was vilifying or “refusing to provide a service” to gay people, as religious instruction enjoys a general exemption from the Anti-Discrimination Act.

But, he said, there was nothing to stop the council from “imposing guidelines based on current community standards” when deciding which groups could use the space.

Councillors expressed concerns that evicting the church group could leave the Council open to allegations of discrimination on the grounds of religion.

But Rice said such fears were unfounded as religious conviction is not a legal ground for discrimination in New South Wales.

Guidelines for the use of the Neighbourhood Centre are “completely at the Council’s discretion”, he said.

“If they’re going to allow everything that’s not illegal... Well, that’s a very broad category.”

Prof Millbank said: “I think it’s worth asking whether they would let a white power group use that space and would it be race discrimination to prevent such a group from using it?”

Mr Neal said he was happy the matter had been “cleared up” with Council and he felt there

had been a “misunderstanding”.He told this reporter in May

he would recommend the services of Liberty Christian Ministries, an Anglican support organization for people with “unwanted same-sex attractions”, to converts suffering confliction between their sexual orientations and his religious teachings.

Neal has since made a number of changes to a key document on his website, removing references to the conflict between Anglican and secular attitudes to homosexuality as a “watershed issue”.

City News has obtained a copy of Neal’s original Church Planting Prospectus. In the document, Neil identified “God’s condemnation of the homosexual lifestyle” as one of the key challenges to recruiting 100 young inner-city dwellers to the congregation of his new church in Surry Hills, which he referred to as “one of the darkest suburbs in Sydney”.

His solution was, through social interaction with locals, to “deconstruct” the contemporary worldview that

affirms homosexual identity and promote an alternative identity based upon the gospel teachings.

In a post on his personal blog, Neal summed up his views, writing that Jesus “loves gays more than gays love gays. He loves gays more than gays love being gay.”

After talk arose in May of the council forcing the group’s eviction from the neighbourhood centre, a new version of the Prospectus appeared on Neal’s website.

The section about gay people had been removed and the Surry Hills Community Centre appeared to have been dropped as the venue of choice in favour of “a pub somewhere between the City and Bondi”.

Neal has since uploaded a third version of the document, reinstating the mission of planting a church in Surry Hills but leaving out all references to homosexuality.

“We’re not looking at different locations,” Neil told City News, “But we’re not really a church yet, so we’re just seeing what happens.”

6

‘Gay conversion’ meetings to continue

Surry Hills Neighbourhood Centre

By Simon BlackCity of Sydney Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, has come under fire both inside and outside of Council over the Barangaroo development on Sydney’s harbour foreshore.

Speaking at Council on Tuesday Greens Councillor, Shayne Mallard asked if there was transparent enough governance surrounding the development and how Council dealt with potential conflicts of interest.

“Staff must feel torn,” he said “because on one hand we have the Lord Mayor who is on the Barangaroo authority and on the other hand Council’s got a very strong position about it.”

He expressed concern that the developers were “hell bent” on going as fast as possible and questioned what it meant for the City.

“In two years time when there is potentially an inappropriate development, the City’s going to be viewed as a compliant partner in that process,” he said.

But City of Sydney Chief Executive Officer, Monica Barone, defended the process and told Council the City was doing

everything it could to protect its interests.

“We don’t actually have a conflict at all,” she said.

“We go there and represent what you have told us to do... we are in there every single day trying to get those results you have asked us to get.”

The Mayor was also criticised at a protest meeting held last Tuesday by Barangaroo protection groups angered by various aspects of the development.

More than 600 people gathered at Town Hall to ask questions of a panel including Ms Moore and the Chairman of the

Barangaroo Delivery Authority, Michael Collins.

While the crowd reserved the measure of their scorn for Mr Collins, who was booed repeatedly while answering questions and laughed at by the crowd when he mentioned former Prime Minister Paul Keating would be present on the design review committee, they also gave the Lord Mayor a chilly reception with audience members telling City News they felt she had “sold out”.

Speaking at the rally, NSW Shadow Minister for Planning, Brad Hazzard called for more community transparency around the development.

“We are not convinced ... that there has been sufficient emphasis on public domain,” he said.

“We would therefore like to see much improved public consultation, an end to behind closed doors decision making and some serious public debate.”

The meeting finished with a motion to request an urgent Upper House inquiry into donations received by the Government and all discussions surrounding the project.

Clover takes heat over BarangarooBy Tamara SmallhornCommunity broadcasters fear being permanently switched off alongside the disconnection of the analogue signal if they don’t receive government support to upgrade their technology.

The community broadcasting sector met last week to lobby the major parties, ahead of the Federal election, for more support.

Campaign spokesperson Georgia Webster of the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia said the Federal Government’s investment in the sector has effectively decreased in the last fifteen years even though the number of services has swelled.

“There’s been a huge increase in the number of services Australia-wide; they’ve doubled since around 1996,” Ms Webster said.

“What we’re seeking is a core baseline commitment from the Federal Government to ensure that we can remain part of the broadcasting landscape of Australia,” she said.

In Paddington, East Side Radio’s Frederick Malouf, who hosts the station’s Sustainable Synergy program, says the value of community broadcasting can’t be over-stated.

“It’s invaluable; it’s the most independent form of radio anywhere,” he said.

“Our news is not about sensationalism; it’s there to be instructive and informative. It’s not money-driven like the commercial stations.”

Mr Malouf’s 30-minute program provides in-depth insights into the sustainability efforts being made by some influential Australians. Malcolm Turnbull spoke on his show earlier this week, and

Cate Blanchett will drop by next month.“We need funding to upgrade our equipment and

to enable us to broadcast digitally,” Mr Malouf said.“Eventually there won’t be any support for

analogue technology, and if the Government won’t provide funding for us to upgrade to digital technology, we won’t be able to provide an alternative voice to the mainstream media.”

Nation-wide the community broadcasting sector boasts around 500 services, a radio audience of over nine million and a television audience of around three-and-a-half million.

Government funding accounts for about 13 per cent of its income, while the rest comes from sponsorship or subscriptions.

Through its campaign, which is the cooperative venture of six national representative community broadcasting bodies, the sector is seeking an additional $195 million over five years to increase community-generated content, upgrade necessary infrastructure, improve coordination, and train volunteers.

Georgia Webster says community broadcasting has a significant social impact, particularly for marginal groups.

“There’s a large discrepancy between the funding that the sector gets compared with the mainstream commercial media.

“For example we have at least 60 per cent of the reach of the ABC, but we receive about three per cent of their funding.

“We just want about six per cent,” she said.“In relative terms it’s still a small amount; but our

audiences could really benefit from that.”

Community broadcasting up in the air

8

Planning Shadow Minister Brad Hazzard

12

By Lawrence BuLL A new web-based toolkit is available to help sufferers of squalor and hoarding.

Launched last week, the Catholic Community Services initiative provides a directory of relevant organisations and a step-by-step intervention guide called ‘Pathway through the Maze’.

Senior Coordinator Susan Graham says squalor and hoarding are significant issues in Sydney City, which sees the largest percentage of referrals.

“We estimate probably between two and four per cent of the population actually experience squalor or actually are affected by a hoarding disorder, which can be chronic and life-long.

“They’re a whole group in society that have gone unrecognised and not had any specialist service provision,” she said.

“We have found that it occurs across all regions, across all socio-economic groups, all age ranges. It frequently starts at an early age in life and

progressively becomes worse if strategies and treatment are not provided.”

The toolkit guides the user through a path of questions based on previous answers such as: “Are the utilities functioning? Is there open sewerage within the property?”

Answers offer advice and recommend referral to relevant agencies.

Ms Graham says the service is not about imposing values on others, but assisting those in chronically disadvantaged situations with needs ranging from psychological, physical, and emotional health, to legal, financial and property issues.

“They’re not people that are collectors that are admiring their collections, showing off their collections. They’re people who, as a consequence of this, their life is actually disintegrating.

“They often have numerous council complaints, they’ve often been in and out of the Land and Environment Court, there are health consequences, there are

safety consequences, there are fire risk consequences – they are not people who are actively functioning in life,” she said.

Catholic Community Services have seen over 300 people in the last 18 months suffering from squalor and/or hoarding, with many taking as long to recover.

“My service undertakes the long, hard work with people that have a hoarding disorder of assisting them to reduce the volume that they have in their house and actually do the sorting, and for those people that is the hardest part of the intervention because of their attachments with the items inside the house and their inability to discard items,” Graham said.

The toolkit is part of the Adequate Accommodation Advocacy Project, funded by Council for more than $29,000 in 2008, which also included a resource bank, education campaigns, and a National Squalor Conference in November last year.

Tools for squalor and hoarding news brief

Boat people, not bridge peopleA group calling themselves the Anti-Deportation Alliance hung a banner reading ‘We are boat people’ from a Sydney ferry as it entered Circular Quay after 1pm Saturday. The aim was to “highlight the ‘illegal’ nature of all arrivals to Australia’s shore from the First Fleet onwards, and the falsity in claiming asylum seekers arriving by boat are somehow

different ‘illegal arrivals’. The group initially announced it would hang a banner on the Harbour Bridge, but later claimed this was a diversion.

Rail fare concessionsThe rail union is planning another fare-free day for CityRail trains on Monday and a 24-hour strike action later in the week. This is despite calling off a four-hour Thursday stop work meeting

while union delegates consider a pay offer from the State Government.

Coke smugglers come downSurry Hills police arrested a 34-year-old Redfern man and 55-year-old Eastlakes man on Tuesday for allegedly trafficking cocaine from Sydney to Brisbane. Nine ounces of cocaine were confiscated, with an estimated street value of $80,000. The arrests were the result of a two-month investigation known as Strike Force Leanne.

New carbon free 'Australia Zero'A host of political personas and environmental energy experts will launch the Zero Carbon Australia Stationary Energy Plan at Town Hall today. The event will assert that political will is the only obstacle to achieving zero emissions within ten years, with affordable technology already available. Speakers include MP for Wentworth Malcolm Turnbull, Former NSW Premier Bob Carr and WA Greens Senator Scott Ludlam.

by Michael GorMlyA third public meeting about Council’s planned rebuild of Fitzroy Gardens, home of the famous El Alamein fountain, is to be held on Wednesday August 18.

A flyer letterboxed to all residents refers to “extensive consultation” on the project, but many locals just want the heritage-significant site left alone apart from minor maintenance and improvements.

Unfortunately these views are excluded from the consultation, as Council had decided on the scope and budget of the project,

and appointed designers, before the first public meeting.

The second meeting presented three design options for comment, all involving a complete makeover. Several people walked out when they realised their preference to leave the park as is, had been ignored.

Council’s report on the meeting’s outcome stated: “Participants who responded positively to this approach appeared to like the design of the park and the position of trees and playground staying more or less the same. It was a positive response therefore,

to retain the status quo, with a ‘clean up’.”

The primary justification for the $6 million, 12-month rebuild was a few “cracked and broken pavers” which Council had been neglecting, but has long since been repaired.

Feedback from the meetings showed the biggest gripe was the ubiquitous ibis poo that rains from the trees above. But the trees they roost in were also very popular with locals and one design option proposing relocation of the giant fig tree in the centre of the park was howled down. To date there are no plans to remove the ibis, and critics say that any new paving would be just as stained within weeks.

The original plans provided no alternative site for the popular weekend markets. Now, after City News raised questions about the markets, the new flyer has Lord Mayor Clover Moore talking about “making room for the markets”. It is unclear whether this means keeping them going during construction work or re-distributing stalls in a

new garden layout. The design options mostly have the market stalls spread out in a rectangle around the perimeter, with a large grassed area in the centre.

While the latest flyer invites us to “view the plans and comment online”, searches of the City’s website reveal only the same 2008 plans.

“Council should publish its plans before the consultation meeting. People can’t give feedback on a plan they haven’t seen,” said local resident Sacha Blumen.

Jo Holder from Darlinghurst Residents’ Action Group thinks the present layout of the park has heritage value.

“I think heritage argument is very strong,” she said. “The fountain has just been nominated to State Heritage. There is therefore an argument the park should be as well kept in keeping with the period.”

“The consultation is a sham with a pre-determined outcome,” she said.

The meeting will be in the Rex Centre next to the Gardens, 6pm Wednesday August 18.

14

Beautiful Fitzroy Gardens: does it need any rebuild at all?

letters to the editor

Kiosks in demandPeak demand for power in the Sydney City region is expected to grow by about 11 per cent over the next five years to 2014. It’s been driven by population growth and increased by the use of appliances.

This means that new electrical infrastructure is needed to provide a safe and reliable power supply to the eastern suburbs, including Darlinghurst.

Local kiosk substations help meet that demand. There are more than 13,000 kiosks across our network area which help deliver electricity to residents and businesses. EnergyAustralia is proposing to install a new small kiosk substation on the corner of Hardie and Darlinghurst Roads, Darlinghurst to help supply the area. It’s a relatively small piece of equipment that is 2.7m in length, 1.5m wide and 1.6m high.

We’ve been talking with Sydney City Council, delivered more than 150 letters to the community and met with

residents on-site to address their concerns. EnergyAustralia recognises the importance of community and council feedback when deciding where kiosks can be placed.

We understand concerns about the impact on heritage around St Johns Anglican Church and we’re investigating two alternate locations.

It’s our job to make sure there is a reliable electricity supply, but we always try to reduce any impact on the amenity of the neighbourhood.David Twigg Regional Manager Sydney City and East EnergyAustralia

Right to cycleThe new bike lanes are fantastic! As a young gay man, people yelled “faggot” at me and tried to run me off the road when I was cycling to school.

Now I couldn’t be happier as I have my own bicycle lanes and rights too!Stuart Baanstra Mascot

Fitzroy Gardens rebuild back on, like it or not

Make Baba in BondiIn an effort to pare back spending at the supermarket, expensive snack items like dips have been struck from my shopping list. One way to save money and have your baba ghannoush too is to take a Lebanese cooking class with Norma Dakhoul. You’ll also learn how to make fattoush, kafta and a great spicy potato appetiser called batata harre, before moving onto sweets like baglawa. All classes end with a sit-down meal too! As an extra incentive, Norma’s offering a thirty percent discount if you bring along a friend to her last winter class on Saturday 28th August.www.normaslebanesefoods.com.au

Barbecue BreakthroughSpeaking of supermarkets, if you’re anything like me, you’re also spending a fair bit of time in those aisles reading the labels to see what’s in the products you’re buying. Bar-B Skews™ are a new and natural way to marinate meat, seafood and vegetables from the inside out while avoiding nasties like artificial colours, preservatives and flavours. Co-creator Vic Cherikoff explains: “They are also zero fat and sugar, unlike the black goo that goes onto supermarket chicken skewers. A

distributor of the marinades once told me that he’d never eat his

own product – he knew what goes into it. Now that’s frightening. I use my product every day.” I’ve been road testing them in my own kitchen (until it’s barbeque weather) and I’m impressed with the intensity and clarity of flavour! It particularly suits the high quality organic meat I favour because it enhances rather than dominates the meat’s natural flavour. Just watch

out for the highly aromatic Hot Chilli indoors! You can get them online for under six bucks a packet in a bunch of flavours including Crushed Garlic, Paperbark Smoke, Fresh Coconut and Spanish Rosemary.www.cherikoff.net

Ethically Tempting TeaI also try to use the Ethical Consumer

Guide www.ethical.org.au when I’m making purchases. I was a little lost when it came to one of my favourite beverages, iced tea, because most of the common brands have strikes against them. Nestea comes from Nestle who have had their old boycott for irresponsible marketing leading to infant deaths in developing countries reinstated due to them a perception that are not complying with World Health Organisation Code regulations. Tetley’s is manufactured offshore and

owned by the Tata Group, named on the Burma ‘Dirty List’ of companies reported to be aiding the brutal military dictatorship. Lipton’s owned by Unilever who have been criticised for animal testing. So discovering Stolen Recipe Iced Teas was a bit of a relief! They’re made from real brewed tea without any nasties, like added sugar, preservatives and artificial colour. I reckon they taste better than the other brands too! Perhaps it’s because their

recipes come from the tried and true favourites of ordinary Aussies? Felicity’s Quench Blend made from peppermint and chamomile tea with lemon balm and fennel, is my current favourite for its refreshing and subtly minty taste.www.stolenrecipe.com.au

Master PastaBarilla is one company that receives a tick in the Ethical Food Guide, and they make good pasta too. They’re gearing up to host Australia’s largest cooking program ever with 10,000 lucky Barilla buyers getting a free master class from a stellar line-up of professional Italian chefs! You just need to purchase two of their pastas and two of their sauces, and register online at:www.barillaaus.com.au

Yes, Even The Wine…After all this talk of avoiding hidden nasties, I thought I would leave you with a heads up about the

2010 Australia and New Zealand Organic Wine Show. It’s a part of the Organic Expo & Green Show at the Sydney

Convention & Exhibition Centre from the 20th-22nd August. Head on down to get the lowdown on local wines made from grapes grown without the use of potentially harmful chemical sprays, with strict limits on the use of preservatives too. I’ll be there myself finding out more about the organic labels popping up on wine lists all over town – with 150 wines entered this year, I’m sure to be tipsy!www.organicexpo.com.au

EAT & DRINK By Jackie McMillan jackie@alternativemediagroup.com

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EAT & DRINK By Jackie McMillan dine@alternativemediagroup.com

Foodies’ diary: avoid Hidden nasties

Norma Dakhoul

Organic wines

Pricing:$ - mains less than $15$$ - mains between $15-$22$$$ - mains between $22-$30$$$$ - mains over $30

ROCKS & CBD

Capital Grill Head Chef Zac Sykes started cooking at fifteen; and he’s cooked alongside Stephen Hodges and Neil Perry. Two textbook entrees - a beautifully balanced Kingfish Carpaccio with Pomegranate, Salmon Roe and Watermelon Vinaigrette ($22); and Scallops with Sweet Corn, Trompette Mushrooms and Onions ($22); then a challenging Bouillabaisse ($36). Hang in there - Zac cooks seafood as it’s meant to be cooked. His Scotch Fillet ($49) with onion puree, King Brown mushrooms and red wine jus is even better. June’s Leaves ($7) are treated with verjuice and great respect in

an avant-garde setting with well-constructed wine and cocktail lists. Try Brad Cox’s Pine and Apple Grilltini ($17)!The Gateway, 1 Macquarie Place, Sydney (02) 9247 4445 www.capitalgrill.com.auSteak/Seafood $$$$

GREATER SYDNEY

New Shanghai Chinese Restaurant Dine in the moody streetscape of 1930s Shanghai. Watch white-clad women in clinical masks pleat signature Pan Fried Pork Buns ($9.20/8 pieces) which land with golden pan-crisped bottoms and moist, tender filling. Braised Beef with Cold Noodle ($9) come with “one of the all time favourite sauces in Shanghai” made from nut butter and vinegar. It’s also on the popular Shepherd’s Purse and Pork Wontons ($9.80/10 pieces). Stir Fried Spinach With Garlic ($9.80) provides welcome relief from a salty, filling plate of Deep Fried Prawns in Salted Egg Yolk

($22.80) that also suit Tsing Tao Beer ($7). Challenging food for the Western palate, but the brave are rewarded!Lower Ground, Chatswood Chase, 345 Victoria Avenue, Chatswood (02) 9412 3358Chinese $$

Abhi’s Indian Restaurant Biting into the crisp Pappadums ($2.80) with Side Dish Platter ($6.80/3), I knew I was in for a treat. This restaurant’s survived – nay thrived – for twenty years, and it’s packed on a Monday! Well-presented Alu Tikki ($10.80) with lightly spiced potato patties on flavoursome chickpea masala show why. Vegetarian dishes like creamy eggplant Ennai Kathrikai ($17.80) are jammed with flavour and require a flaky Parantha Lacchadar ($3.50) to mop up every drop. Robust Patiala Goat Curry ($19.80) matches the 2006 Cloudy Bay Gewurtztraminer ($68/bottle) perfectly. I end on a tangy South Indian Beef Ambotik ($19.80) because I’m too full

for dessert – next time!163 Concord Road, North Strathfield 02) 9743 3061 www.abhisindian.com.auIndian $$-$$$

DARLO, KINGS X & SURRY HILLS

LotForty Experience Sydney’s small bar revolution at this tucked-away gem offering quaffable cocktails like the caramel and passionfruit Swedish Passion ($15) and lovely wines like the 2008 Christmont Chardonnay, King Valley ($9/glass). Chef Kelly Pakdeewaa’s Thai blood and Italian technique shines best in Zucchini Flowers ($12), Twice Roasted Pork Belly ($12) and the tasty Oven Baked Duck Crepe ($12) with plum sauce and eschalots. The more straight-up Braised De-boned Lamb Shanks with Peas and Potato Puree ($12) is full of flavour. Order a five dish Chef’s Selection ($35/person), but leave room for the organic Banana and Caramel

Tart ($8) too, because it’s really… yummy!40 Kings Lane, Darlinghurst (02) 9380 2728 www.lotforty.comTapas $$

EASTERN SUBURBS & BEACHES

Tiger Mottle This great little café-by-day now does dinner by Wednesday-to-Friday night. There’s no wine list, but you’re encouraged to BYO with $2/person corkage. Entrees like Prawn Satay Skewers with Vietnamese Salad ($9.50) and Grilled Haloumi ($9.50) are simple and reasonably priced. Follow with a generous, well-cooked serve of Eye Fillet with Garlic Mash and Red Wine Jus ($21); or a Rustic Pork Pie ($17.50) topped with sliced apple and stewed pear, and ringed by sautéed cabbage. End with a classic Apple and Rhubarb Crumble ($8.50) and a mouth-tingling Maple Mottle ($3) double ristretto of excellent Golden Cobra Coffee against

maple syrup, chilli and cream.248 Glenmore Road, Paddington (0401) 225 269Café/Modern Australian $-$$

Nielsen Park Kiosk Café Mosey on down for a weekend brunch and make the most of the glistening winter sun and abundant parking. Very few tourists find this picturesque spot; locals are treated to generous portions and unpretentious cooking. Bacon Chorizo, Portobello Mushroom and Scrambled Eggs on Turkish Toast ($19.25) is stellar produce, well handled – the bacon is smoky, the eggs are fluffy. An Angus Beef Burger ($18.15) has the perfect ratio of beef to bun, tarted up by a good beetroot relish. Drink a pleasing 2008 Thorn Clark Chardonnay ($8.50/glass) or a robust Flat White ($3.50). Finish with five flavours of Home-made Ice Cream ($9.50).Nielsen Park, Graycliffe Avenue, Vaucluse (02) 9337 7333 www.nieslenpark.com.auCafé $$

Olio Mediterranean Brasserie *NEW* Nestled in the gastronomic desert of Oporto, the arches and Indian Tucker, this warm brown part-bistro, part-trattoria is well placed for folk exiting St. Leonards Station. Their wine list really kicks goals, with a Central Otago Mt. Difficulty Riesling ($10/glass) impressing the most. A generous bowl of Cauliflower, Leek and Prosciutto Soup ($15) is an antidote to the cold; it’s accompanied by thick, grill-kissed sourdough and dominated slightly by truffle oil. Even better is the Crispy Pork Hock ($13.50), which sets a trio of tasty, salty, fatty squares of pig against shaved fennel, radicchio, ruby grapefruit and seared scallops. A well priced main of House-Made Potato Gnocchi ($19) with sautéed exotic mushrooms, spinach and Grana Padano was favoursome but spent a moment too long in the pot. An impressive-looking bowl of Olio Mediterranean Seafood Stew ($29) with Silver Dory, prawn, scallop, mussels and calamari made me long for amped heat – I like punishment though. Walnuts shone in a welcome salad of Rocket, Pear and Walnut ($7), but the real lure here is the rare Kopi Luwak ($9) coffee. It’s made from beans extracted from Asian Palm Civet droppings, and is very lightly roasted. It’s a smooth brew with a long and satisfying palate length. The Forum, 201-205 Pacific Hwy, St. Leonards (02) 9439 8988 www.olio.com.auMediterranean $$-$$$

Mizuya *NEW* Good food and good fun have finally sprung up on George Street in the subterranean spaces formerly occupied by Bar Ace and Maloney’s. This is Australia’s largest izakaya (pretty much the Japanese equivalent of a gastro-pub) with 1200 square metres and a $3.5 million dollar refit! Wander through 24 private dining rooms all with karaoke facilities past illuminated cherry trees, into a labyrinth of comfortable dining booths with touch-screen ordering. Browse 200 menu items (all thankfully with photos) - house specialities kushiyaki and kushiage (grilled/ crumbed skewers) are perfect if you have a microphone in your hand! Slurp a Pacific Oyster with Ponzu Mousse ($9.80/ 3) before trying the moist and flavourful Drunken Chicken ($8.80) cooked in sake sous vide at sixty degrees. Sample the ‘deadliest catch’ Grilled Alaskan King Crab Leg ($16.80) or a wide selection of sushi/sashimi before mains like tender Premium Wagyu Beef Fillet ($22.80); tasty Teppanyaki Chicken ($10.80) and a Seafood Hotpot ($33.80/large) that shows off spanner crab, pipis, salmon, fish balls, prawns and scallops with great clarity. Stylin’ young Asian clientele already look at home in the space; but my eyes were still full of wonder as I spooned up my Green Tea Shiratama ($4.50) sundae with red bean paste and glutinous rice balls.Basement, 614 George Street, Sydney (02) 9266 0866 www.mizuya.com.auJapanese $$-$$$

La Pesa Trattoria *NEW* Warmth and charm emanate from the husband and wife running this Northern Italian gem with walls laden with wine, and decorated by beautiful black and white shots of 1960s Milan. They were a wedding gift from a photographer patron of the Milanese sister restaurant, La Pesa. Chef Marco De Vecchi is a son of Milan himself, and has cooked at both venues. His rustic offerings are a joy to behold! Settle in with a board of Milanese Antipasto ($19) accompanied by golden pillows of gnocco fritto (hand-made bread) while you explore Michael Dackiw’s list of thematically appropriate central and Northern Italian wines. It’s tough to choose between beautifully handled house-made pasta like Gli Gnocchi di Patate con Funghi e Taleggio ($23/$28) textbook gnocchi and silky mushrooms gently caressed by taleggio cream; and Milanese specialties like Osso Buco Gremolata ($35). Especially because the falling apart veal is served on a bed of glorious saffron-tinted Milanese risotto that defines al dente, and is speckled with rich bone marrow! To complicate things further there’s also a simple and satisfying Milanese Veal Cutlet ($35) with perfectly cooked rosemary potatoes; and Pappardelle with Duck Ragu ($23/$28) and dried figs. If they shaved a little off their prices the next time they’re shaving their wafer-thin coppa, I’d call it perfetto! 172 - 174 Liverpool Street, Darlinghurst (02) 9331 4358 www.lapesa.com.auItalian $$$$

JBC now consults in association with MBED Structural Engineers and Building Designers. They can offer an integrated package for development design right through to development approval. Being integrated, their services offer cost

effective development advice and development applications, and earlier development approvals. Development Applications are a long and complex process. Delays in approvals, & stop work orders on construction or on business activity are expensive. As an alternative to expensive and delayed legal action, JBC/ MBED closely liaise with Councils to resolve problems quickly on your behalf, and during the development assessment process can keep your Development Application progressing smoothly.

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He holds an undergraduate degree in Clinical Psychology, a graduate degree in Urban and Regional Planning and a Masters degree in Heritage Conservation.

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Applications: Structural Assessments of buildings, Statements of Environmental Effects

• Plans of Management• Residential, Industrial and Commercial

Building Design• Land and Environment Court Expert Witnesses• Social Impact Assessments• For Liquor Licences: Community Impact

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and management of Remediation of Contaminated Sites

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Cons. (Syd); MRAPISuite 88/330 Wattle St, Ultimo

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TOWN PLANNER and HERITAGECONSERVATION

SPECIALIST

Rosebud *NEW* Hesham el Masry is an experienced restaurateur with Egyptian blood. His chef, Shane Rider, is a true blue Aussie; so Hesham got him into his Mum’s kitchen. The result fuses Modern Australian cooking and Moorish flavours, with a nod to the ‘interesting but accessible’ peninsula preferences. Service in the almost barn-like modern space won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but they recommend the Banquet ($48/5 plates) for a reason - dishes vary widely in size. The wine list is small but wide-ranging; the biodynamic 2007 Millton Te Arai Chenin Blanc ($46) from Gisborne is luscious and refreshing. Accompany your wine with a Dip Selection ($7) featuring excellent smoky baba ghanoush. The Crisp Potato and Duck Mezzaluna ($14) stand out; you may want a second one to enjoy more of the tasty red pepper relish. Saucing is great all round, including the tomato and cardamom chutney under the well-presented Zucchini Flowers ($14). I was less convinced by the Spiced Scallops ($25) paired with cauliflower, sumac and tart olive crumbs; ditto for the foamy Ocean Trout ($19/$28) with Swiss brown mushrooms, though the sous vide fish was beautifully-handled. The more straight-up Peppered Lamb Loin ($22/$33) is an excellent savoury ending, before you venture on to the Persian Love Cake – the hero of the lovely Dessert Sampling Plate ($14/head).654 Darling Street, Rozelle (02) 9555 8999 www.rosebudsydney.com.auModern Australian/Moorish $$$

EAT & DRINK By Jackie McMillan jackie@alternativemediagroup.com

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EAT & DRINK By Jackie McMillan jackie@alternativemediagroup.com

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Amarcord The name means ‘I remember’. The mural down one wall of the pretty dining room shows where co-owner/Chef Andrea Riva (ex-Zeffirelli) grew up. He cooks the food of his boyhood – a delicate Fritto Misto Tricolore ($18) balanced by strips of zucchini; a gooey-centred Flan di Grana Padano ($16) offset by a grape reduction. Addictive hand-made Italian flatbread or Piadina ($5) with a pot of Slow-Baked Cuttlefish with Peas ($16). House-made pasta’s a highlight – try beautifully chewy Ravioli di Ricotta e Parmigiano ($25) or hand-twisted Strozzapreti ($24)

with smoked salmon and asparagus. Charming, regional Italian that Nonnas often cook. BYO.96 Bronte Road, Bondi Junction (02) 9369 4071Italian $$$

INNER WEST (Pyrmont/BalmainLeichhardt/Glebe)

Fujiyama Battle bento box is being waged on Norton Street with this newly moved entry offering ten Lunch Boxes ($12). Sit on the covered verandah and enjoy

the Sashimi Entrée ($22/ 12 pieces) of scallops with luminous flying fish roe, an oyster, salmon, tuna and kingfish. There’s interesting rolled sushi like Palm Spring Roll ($12) topped with lightly dressed raw salmon; or the tempura Soft Shell Crab Roll ($14); plus a range of entrees. I enjoyed the Black Horenso ($7) of blanched spinach surrounded by black sesame; and the addictive Takoyaki ($9.00) octopus balls topped with writhing dried bonito. 161 Norton Street, Leichhardt (02) 9560 8949 Japanese $-$$

Ruby L’otelSpecials abound at this truly local, twenty-first century Australian inner city pub. Tuesdays are cheap Wagyu Burgers ($9.95); Thursdays are for kilo serves of Baby Back Pork Ribs ($19.90); and Wednesdays are ‘2 for 1 Curry Night’. Chef Raja Anand’s curries are flavoursome and authentic – but ask for more heat when ordering. The Vegetarian Korma Curry ($17) with springy green beans, pumpkin and beautifully cooked chickpeas suits a Bulmers Cider ($7). Massaman Beef Curry ($18.90) impressed with falling apart beef; or there’s the famous Bengal Chicken

Curry ($17.50), best with Hahn Super Dry ($5.20). The well-protected back deck even works in winter!68 Victoria Road, Rozelle (02) 9555 1900 www.rubylotel.com.auPub Bistro $$

NEWTOWN & ENVIRONS (Marrickville/Petersham/Dulwich Hill/Waterloo)

Bitton Café & Grocer The Club Sandwich ($16.90) in this light and airy gourmet food store meets café gives five star hotels a run for their money, even on a ballistic Sunday. An efficient black-

clad battalion of staff deliver food and drinks quickly. Expect smallish portions in dishes like the French Crepes with Strawberry and Vanilla Jam ($10.90) and a skillet of One-Pan Bacon and Egg ($15.20). French Toast à la Bitton with Fresh Fruit and Orange Jelly ($13.50) impressed by avoiding an overly-gooey centre. Owner David Bitton was expediting coffees – perhaps that’s why I enjoyed so my smooth, strong Grinders Latte ($3.40 + $0.50) so much.36-37a Copeland Street, Alexandria (02) 9519 5111 www.bittongourmet.com.auCafe $-$$

Moo Gourmet Burgers *NEW* Adam Gerondis has just opened his third old-fashioned Aussie burger joint, but this time he’s stepped away from the eastern beaches and into the centre of busy Newtown. The new store is a light, airy and reasonably elegant place to down a good-lookin’ burger. My dining companion for this meal was a vegetarian, so I missed out on a repeat of the Man V. Food moment from my last review where I watched my significant other attack the towering Deluxe Burger ($28) and get his noggin in a Polaroid on the wall. Instead we enjoyed their new Lentil Burger ($12.50) with walnuts and potato adding a level of lightness and crunch to the house-made patty on a light sourdough bun; and a Felafel Burger ($13.50) which was let down slightly by an average hummus – stick to the tzatziki and house-made chilli jam. Their fat, golden Hot Chips ($5.00) were a triumph on this visit. Be a devil, add a lil’ Aioli ($1.50). Fast track back to your childhood with their terrific, calorific Rocky Moo Shake ($6.50) topped by pink marshmallows; it really captures rocky road in a glass. My more sensible companion opted for an Emma & Tom’s Green Power ($4.50) - the most palatable ‘green’ drink I’ve tried!232 King Street, Newtown (02) 9565 4001 www.moogourmetburgers.com.auBurgers $-$$

Astral Restaurant *NEW* The arrival of ethical foie gras is the perfect excuse to revisit Astral – not that you need an excuse. A full Ethical Foie Gras Chef’s Menu ($225/head) is an extravagant and wonderful way to explore the nuances of Eduardo de Sousa’s seasonal, organic product. Consume with abandon, secure in the knowledge that Eduardo’s free-range geese choose to gorge naturally in preparation for winter. It has a slightly more livery flavour which rolls beautifully against the sweetness of the lobster on Sean Connolly’s Lobster Burger with Foie Gras Butter & Baby Cress – it’s just a shame it’s so small! Smoked Duck Breast with Pan Fried Foie Gras and Quince Puree shows off the smooth (they eat less grain) foie gras in a seared form, matched rather nicely by the 2005 Mermerus Pinot Noir ($70). Serving size ramps up with the wholly satisfying adventure of buttery Certified Angus Beef, King Mushroom, Foie Gras with Black Truffle, Miso Hollandaise & Jus Gras. Did I mention there’s a surprisingly enjoyable Coffee and Foie Gras Ice Cream with Salted Caramel for dessert too? Add great wine matches from slick staff, and a particularly clear winter night that made the gleaming city panorama even more lovely, and you have one memorable evening! Level 17, 80 Pyrmont Street, Pyrmont (1800) 700 700 www.astralrestaurant.com.auModern Australian $$$$

a r t s & E N t E r t a I N M E N t

a&e

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

20WHAT’S ON

24muSic

25mOvieS

Go to:www.altmedia.net.au

for more A&e storiesarts Editor: Angela Bennetts

Listings Editor: Komi SellathuraiMusic Editor:

chris PekenContributors:

Aidan Roberts, michelle Porter, Kate Britton, Adam Guetti,

Rebecca Keane, Brian Yatman, craig coventry,

megan Garrett-Jones, Simon Black

James Harkness, Lucy Hearn, Lucy Hill, Lena Rutkowski, Nell Greco, Alex Bodman,

Alex Britton, Sophie mallam, Anna Klauzner, Tara Parsons,

Brianna La Rance, claire martin, Jess Noble,

Anthony edward Bell, irina Dunn & Alice Fenton

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THEATRE: WOYZECK

BY meGAN GARReTT-JONeS

Woyzeck follows a long tradition for Belvoir St Downstairs of showcasing up-and-coming thespian talent and providing the chance to see more experimental or fringe work than its upstairs main stage. Georg Buchner ’s text (circa 1836) is heavy, following the psychological demise of the lowly soldier Franz Woyzeck as he is ruthlessly trampled by the ‘good men’ around him, and succumbs to the status of scientific experiment at the hands of the sadistic ‘Doctor’. The play unfolds as a philosophical parable regarding the relationship between man and nature. i am reminded of the ‘learning plays’ of Buchner’s successor Brecht, to which the ‘chalk

circle’ drawn to enclose the musical prologue in Belvoir’s foyer is a less-than subtle nod. Despite the intellectual aerobics such plays imply, director Netta Yaschin strives to escape a ‘talking heads’ approach, producing a highly sensorial adaption. Dancers in the cast demonstrate the artistry of the human body and live musicians vacillate between jovial tunes and sinister noise in a powerful sound design from Tom Hogan and Alexandra Spence. The ensemble produces striking imagery that contends with the classic text. Words and individual characterisation occasionally lose out, but a strong and unsettling impression is left nonetheless. Aug 5-29, Belvoir St Downstairs, 25 Belvoir St, Surry Hills, $24-32, 9699 3444, belvoir.com.au

BY micHeLLe PORTeR

Looking for a way to break out from your winter hibernation? Well, the Jazz Visions Festival may just be the thing. As there are few music festivals this time of year, it’s a great opportunity to attend the launch of an event where the musical ‘vision’ is to promote lead jazz artists and improvisers in either new or collaborative settings. The event has been organised by SimA (Sydney improvised music Association), a non-profit association first established in 1984 to address the lack of performance opportunities for contemporary jazz artists. Held over seven nights at three venues – two live performances and a film screening on opening night at colbourne Avenue, two headliner nights at The everest Theatre, and then five nights at The Sound Lounge – the festival will consist of two bands each night playing one hour sets. These will be made up with local, interstate and international musicians, ranging from the highly acclaimed, chris Abrahams of The Necks in duo with uSA saxophonist Phillip Johnston, to the high profile with Katie Noonan singing from her new cD, emperor’s Box with cameron Deyell; to the legendary with uSA tenor sax player, George Garzone jamming with the mike Nock Trio. You may be wondering why Sydney needs a jazz festival? And what will it sound like? “Jazz is a form of improvised music that in most of its variants has some structure. in origin, it’s American and has a long tradition of its own, but these days it is an art form that’s international,” says Gordana Raketic, SimA’s Program co-ordinator. However, Raketic explains festivals weren’t organised to compensate for an absence of performance opportunities throughout the year, but rather existed to highlight the various aspects of an art form in a particular timeframe. “Some projects are better performed within a festival context than in a club venue,” agrees Peter Rechniewski, Jazz visions Artistic Director. “Second, such a concentrated set of performances makes it easier give jazz and improvised music a bigger profile. There isn’t an absence of jazz in Sydney but the jazz scene has suffered disproportionately from the makeover of pubs into gambling venues rather than the site of music entertainment and from the restrictive licensing laws that apply in NSW.” Whatever the approach, SimA

wants audiences to be stimulated, engaged, challenged, entertained and inspired. As they also hope people will sample as many groups as possible, they have created a festival pass to maximise value. “We want Jazz visions to be a meeting point for audiences and creative musicians. One way to encourage people to check out music they are ignorant to or which they are resistant, is to attract them with a familiar name doing something different and hope they discover another side to that artist,” says Rechniewski. “many people know Katie [Noonan] from the band ‘George’ but we have Katie doing an entirely different but very accessible project on a multi-bill that includes one of the world’s best saxophone players.”Aug 12–21, The Sound Lounge & Everest Theatre, Seymour Centre & Colbourne Avenue, Glebe, $15-25, 9351 7940, sima.org.au

FESTIVAL: JAZZ VISIONS

Katie Noonan

BY SimON BLAcK

Sydney’s central Business District will be the site of one thousand acts of temporary graffiti this August as part of the Australian Poetry Festival’s Guerrilla poetry event.Founder Jess cook from the Sydney creative team, Token imagination, said the event is all about bringing spontaneous colour into people’s lives. “This had been done overseas but never really in Australia,” she said.”The idea is to have something like an ambush, but rather than it being cutting and bang in your face, this is something that tries to be a little more fun and lighthearted.” “We are more than happy to have people pick the works up and move them, take them home, modify them, whatever.” The installations consist of six different colored gorilla magnets attached to large speech bubbles bearing poetry and word-art from ten different contributors in random locations around the cBD. “There will be 100 bubbles per poet, a thousand bubbles total and we’ll be planting them all over the cBD, in true guerrilla style,” cook said. Announced at the event’s launch at the Stanley Street Station last Tuesday the contributing poets include an 80-year-old woman from melbourne, a first-time poet and a villawood Detention detainee as well as a range of graphic designers, poets and illustrators. cook said she was interested to see how the event was received by the conservative crowd from Sydney’s business district.”The last time we did something like this we were in Newtown,” she said.”i’m keen to see how it goes at the cBD when we’re not preaching to the converted so to speak.”From late Aug, in the lead up to the Australian Poetry Festival, Sept 3-4, The Rex Centre, 58A Macleay St, Kings Cross, poetsunion.com/apf/2010

GUERILLA WORD ARMY & THE AUSTRALIAN POETRY FESTIVAL

BY ANGeLA BeNNeTTS

i will hazard a guess that 99.9% of those walking out of Gwen in Purgatory will be shaking their heads with disbelief, muttering, that was my family, oh boy, how did he know ... Admittedly, that’s the kind of prosaic statement that would make most critics, english teachers and university lecturers cringe the nation over. But please forgive me this once, because it’s just so true. Playwright Tommy murphy (Saturn’s Return, Holding the Man) has spun a pitch-perfect if slightly quotidian story out of the simplest of ingredients; a fractured family (the Houlihans), a visiting catholic priest, a new home (a clinical townhouse on the edge of Queanbeyan). Throughout one, unbroken scene we learn that the jittery postal delivery grandson Daniel (Nathaniel Dean) is experiencing a marriage meltdown, martyred daughter Peg (Sue ingleton) is ready to shed the shackles of family obligation, and puffed-up son Laurie (Grant Dodwell) is carrying the load of their childhood guilt. Father ezekiel from Nigeria (Pacharo mzembe) is a gentle, smiling balm amidst the chaos – although as the changing face of faith and tradition, is suitably out-of-place. As the title suggests, the real star of the show is the doddering yet needle-sharp Gwen, a 90-year-old matriarch embodied with startling resonance by melissa Jaffer. While the vision of an elderly grandmother (your grandmother, your mother?), stuck in all kinds of purgatory, is ultimately bleak – you leave laughing. What 90 minutes spent with your family doesn’t elicit similar complex reactions? murphy balances the two expertly, like some kind of theatrical spirit level, using effortless humour and unaffected familiarity. Here’s another bet: this is destined to be an Australian classic.Until Sep 19, Belvoir St Upstairs, 25 Belvoir St, Surry Hills, $35-57, 9699 3444, belvoir.com.au

THEATRE: GWEN IN PURGATORY

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THEATRE & PERFoRMAnCE

From Chekhov with LoveNot to be confused with New theatre’s The Chekhov Term that’s just ended its run, From Chekhov with Love is a triple bill of the man’s comedic short plays. the Russian writer who was a professional doctor said: “Medicine is my lawful wife and literature is my mistress.” and his cheekiness is evident in these farcical plays that will give modern rom-coms a run for their money. Until 4 sep. New theatre, 542 King street, Newtown. $14-$28, 9519 5081, steamproductions.com.au, newtowntheatre.com.auThe God Committeeshould humans ever play God? Mark st. Germain’s The God Committee puts the spotlight on the topical issue of organ donations as a feisty medical board matches a heart with its new recipient. (JN)Until 29 aug. Ensemble theatre, 78 McDougall street, Kirribilli. $25-$65, ensemble.com.au

I Love You Because…Described as a “musical cross between Sex in the City and Friends”, shire Music theatre’s latest production is the theatre equivalent of a hollywood rom-com. two brothers in New York sign up for memberships on an online Jewish dating service even though they aren’t Jewish. when they are matched with dates, madness is unleashed. skip the popcorn date-night movie and try a date-night musical theatre production replete with songs, shenanigans and suspense. 20 – 29 aug. sutherland Memorial arts theatre, East Parade, sutherland. $25-$29. 8230 0668 or shiremusictheatre.org.au

of Earth & SkyBangarra Dance theatre’s latest performance proves yet again that it is committed to engaging audiences with its innovative and culturally rich contemporary dance. Now in its 21st year, it

is still one of australia’s most significant dance companies and is showing no sign of parochialism. (NG)Until 29 aug. Drama theatre, sydney Opera house, Circular Quay. $49-60. 9250 7777, sydneyoperahouse.comThe Marriage of Figaro as director of Le Nozze di Figaro, Neil armfield draws out the great comic potential of what is perhaps Mozart’s loveliest opera. this is a complex plot full of intricate stratagems, deceptions, lies and hypocrisy. Conductor Patrick summers kept up the pace and never let a moment flag in this wonderful opera buffo, perhaps the best example of the tradition. (ID)Until 23 Oct. sydney Opera house, $95-270, 9318 8200, opera-australia.org.auTheatre of Blood Graphic, blood-soaked and over the top horror was a staple of the Grand Guignol – a Parisian theatre that specialised in what was then considered naturalistic horror shows in the 19th and 20th centuries. In its second installment, Newtown theatre brings back the tradition to a 21st century audience who are just as enthralled by dark tales. Fridays from 30 apr. 11pm. Newtown theatre, Cnr King and Bray streets, Newtown. $15-$19. 8507 3034, newtowntheatre.com.auUndercover LawyerEspionage, deception and marriage woes unite in Undercover Lawyer, the 10th in the popular series of comedic plays by sydney playwright, tony Laumberg. the ongoing characters in the series, henry the hubristic lawyer, and his alcoholic wife, Margaret, return again in squabbling glory as Laumberg brings this clever comedy to the taP Gallery. (JN)Until 29 aug. tap Gallery, 278 Palmer street, Darlinghurst, $24-30, 1300 306 776, mca-tix.com.auWest Side Storythe australian production of Broadway hit West Side Story is vibrant, entertaining and highly energetic. Leonard Bernstein’s

jazz-based music and stephen sondheim’s lyrics have captivated audiences since its debut in 1957 and this production will too. (Pw)Until 26 sep, Lyric theatre, star City. $80-130. 1300 795 267,ticketmaster.com.auWickedLong before toto and Dorothy turned up, two girls had a rendezvous in Oz: one beautiful and popular, the other smart and fiery but decidedly – well – green. Wicked follows the girls as they grow to become Glinda the Good witch and the wicked witch of the west, with appropriate dashes of wit and warmth.Until 12 sep. Capitol theatre, 13 Campbell st, haymarket. $69.90-$134.90. 1300 723 038, wickedthemusical.com.au, ticketmaster.com.auWinter’s DiscontentThe show must go on. It’s a mantra that no performer is a stranger to; especially Robert winter in Winter’s Discontent. Performed solo by one of australia’s most renowned actors, william Zappa delves into the private workings of an actor’s life. Inspired by Zappa’s work as thenardier in Les Miserables, the play exposes an actor’s inner conflicts, and depicts the unmasked tragedies of one’s disillusionment. (BLR)aug 10-22, Darlinghurst theatre, 19 Greenknowe ave, Potts Point, $27-37, 9331 3107, www.darlinghursttheatre.com.auWrong Promthis is a performance with the ultimate twist – you are the performer. Learn dance moves from professional dance instructors from films like Flashdance, Blues Brothers, Grease and Chicago then let your hair down as you would in a club. sip on cocktails and re-enact those hairbrush to face dance routines that you practice in front of the mirror on those lonely Friday nights. Until 25 aug. 7.30pm. Carriageworks, 245 wilson st, Eveleigh. $15-$18. 1300 723 038, carriageworks.com.au

FoR THE KIDS

Science Exposedheld in conjunction with the annual Ultimo science Festival, get your kids involved in workshops and experiments with the help of real scientists at Science Exposed. a full day of fun and learning for the whole family. 21 aug. Powerhouse Museum, 10am-5pm daily. 500 harris st, Ultimo. Free-$25. 9217 0111, powerhousemuseum.comTinytoreum the tiny museum figurines featured are the inspiration behind the much-loved shaggy Gully children’s books by author Jackie French and illustrator Bruce whatley. Join Gunna the goanna and his friends Paul Platypus, Freddie Flea and Mothball wombat as they take you on their imaginative adventures. Big fun for the little ones. Until Feb 2011. Powerhouse Museum, 10am-5pm daily. 500 harris st, Ultimo. Free-$25. 9217 0111, powerhousemuseum.com

CoMEDY

Thursday 12 AugAlan Glover, Muj, JJ Mullard – Laugh Garage ($12-$27)The Best in Live Comedy: Jacques Barrett, Mickey D, Daniel Townes & others – sydney Comedy store ($10-$30)Friday 13 AugAlan Glover, Muj, JJ Mullard, James Rochford – Laugh Garage ($12-$27)The Best in Live Comedy: Jacques Barrett, Mickey D, Daniel Townes & others – sydney Comedy store ($10-$30)Comedy Court: Donte D1, Billy Freeman, Andrew Playdon, Joe Mifsud, Greg John, Vanessa Ballard, Dave Keeshan – star Bar ($10-$15)Kitty Flanagan – sydney Opera house ($34.90-$44.90)Wilful Misconduct: Wil Anderson – sydney Comedy store ($10-$30)Saturday 14 AugAlan Glover, Muj, JJ Mullard, James Rochford – Laugh Garage ($12-$27)The Best in Live Comedy: Jacques Barrett, Mickey D, Daniel Townes & others – sydney Comedy store ($10-$30)

PUBS, CLUBS AnD BARSAnnandale Hotel:Cnr Nelson st and Parramatta Rd, annandale. 9550 1078,www.annandalehotel.com.auThe Basement:29 Reiby Pl, Circular Quay.9251 2797,www.thebasement.com.auBeach Road Hotel:71 Beach Rd, Bondi Beach.9130 7247, www.myspace.com/beachroad-bondiCandy’s Apartment:22 Bayswater Rd, Kings Cross.9380 5600, www.candys.com.auThe Duke Hotel:148 Enmore Rd, Enmore.9519 1935, www.duke-hotel.comEnmore Theatre:130 Enmore Rd, Newtown.9550 3666,www.enmoretheatre.com.auExcelsior Hotel:64 Foveaux st, surry hills.9211 4945,www.excelsiorhotel.com.auThe Factory Theatre:105 Victoria Rd, Enmore.www.factorytheatre.com.auFriend in Hand Pub:58 Cowper st, Glebe. 9660 2326,www.friendinhand.com.auFringe Bar:106 Oxford st, Paddington.9360 5443, www.thefringe.com.auGaelic Theatre:64 Devonshire st, surry hills.9211 1687, www.thegaelic.comThe Laugh Garage:Cnr Church and Market st,Parramatta. 8883 1111,www.thelaughgarage.comThe Loft:University of technology, 15 Broadway, sydney. 9514 2000,www.myspace.com/utsloftbarManning Bar:Lvl 1, Manning house,Manning Rd,University of sydney.1800 013 201,www.manningbar.comMelt Bar:12 Kellett st, Kings Cross.9380 6060, www.meltbar.com.auMetro Theatre:624 George st, sydney.

9550 3666,www.metrotheatre.com.auThe nags Head Hotel:162 st Johns Rd, Glebe. 9660 1591,www.nagshead.com.aunotes Live:75 Enmore Road Newtown, 2042 9557 5111, www.noteslive.net.auopera Bar:Lower Concourse Lvl, sydneyOpera house, sydney. 9247 1666,www.operabar.com.auoxford Art Factory:38-46 Oxford st, Darlinghurst.9332 3711,www.oxfordartfactory.comThe Roxbury Hotel:182 st Johns Rd, Glebe.9692 0822,www.roxbury.com.auRuby Rabbit:231 Oxford st, Darlinghurst.9332 3197, www.rubyrabbit.com.auThe Sound Lounge:seymour Centre, cnr Cleveland st and City Rd, Chippendale. 9351 7940,www.seymour.usyd.edu.auSandringham Hotel:387 King st, Newtown. 9557 1254,www.sando.com.auSapphire Suite:2 Kellet st, Kings Cross.9331 0058, www.sapphiresuite.comSpectrum:34 Oxford st, Darlinghurst.1800 438 849 (moshtix),www.pashpresents.comStar Bar:600 George st, sydney. 9267 7827,www.starbar.com.auStrawberry Hills Hotel:453 Elizabeth st, surry hills 9698 2997The Vanguard:42 King st, Newtown.1800 438 849 (moshtix),www.thevanguard.com.auVenue 505:280 Cleveland st, surry hillsWorld Bar:24 Bayswater Rd, Kings Cross.9357 2755,www.theworldbar.com.au

BY KOMI sELLathURaI

Kitty is a lot more cautious about what she says than she appears. while she jokes around like a friend with certain questions, she also just as easily draws the line with succinct answers that say “move on” when need be. the comedian who started out doing sketch shows here on Full Frontal and in the UK on The Sketch Show is now a regular presenter of “99% fact free humour” on The 7pm Project. her stand-up show Charming & Alarming returns to say one last good bye after debuting at the sydney Opera house last year before it toured the country. here are the highlights of our chat with the intelligent, funny and big-haired comic goddess. Tell us something about The 7pm Project panel we don’t know.I can tell you something I don’t know either. I don’t know why Charlie Pickering is doing that to his hair.What’s the strangest thing a fan has done for you?I don’t have fans as such. But that’s very kind of you. Besides, I wear so much make-up on The 7pm Project, people probably think: “oh that looks like quite an ugly version of that woman on television”.

What are your thoughts on Catherine Deveny’s dismissal from The Age after the Twitter-Logie incident? I’m not on twitter and I don’t really have an opinion.Is the industry harder for women to break into?I don’t think the industry is harder for women to break into. I know that’s what most people say and probably think but there are not that many women in the industry so you tend to get noticed a lot faster. there are obviously elements to the job, like when you walk out on stage and people immediately assume women aren’t funny. You have to quickly prove that you are. when a man walks on stage, people will actually assume that he is funny. when you are funny, they are very happy for you. they come up and compliment you: “Oh we hate women but you were good!” Most of the female comedians I know have had that. You’ve done television, stand-up, copywriting and film. Is there anything you won’t do?Oh god you make me sound like a whore there Komi. Yea! I do have standards, you know. 13 – 21 Aug. The Playhouse Theatre, Sydney Opera House. $34.90-$44.90. 9250 7777 or sydneyoperahouse.com

COMEDY: KITTY FLANAGAN

Kitty Flanagan – sydney Opera house ($34.90-$44.90)Quick Comedy: MC Kristin Boesenberg, Billy Freeman, Matt Woods, Blake Mitchell, Matthew Wakefield – star Bar ($10-$15) Wilful Misconduct: Wil Anderson – sydney Comedy store ($10-$30)Sunday 15 AugThe Best in Live Comedy: Jacques Barrett, Mickey D, Daniel Townes & others – sydney Comedy store ($10-$30)Kitty Flanagan – sydney Opera house ($34.90-$44.90)Wilful Misconduct: Wil Anderson – sydney Comedy store ($10-$30)Tuesday 17 AugKitty Flanagan – sydney Opera house ($34.90-$44.90)Wednesday 11 AugOpen Mic Variety Night – Laugh Garage ($12-$27)Thursday 19 AugKitty Flanagan – sydney Opera house ($34.90-$44.90)

A Mic In Hand – Friend in hand hotel ($8-$10)Simon Kennedy, Dave Smeidt, Gary Bradbury – Laugh Garage ($12-$27)Friday 20 Aug Comedy Court: Donte D1, Michele Betts, Ray Cashman, Matt Woods, Anna Bilalis – star Bar ($10-$30)Kitty Flanagan – sydney Opera house ($34.90-$44.90)Simon Kennedy, Dave Smeidt, Gary Bradbury – Laugh Garage ($12-$27)Saturday 21 AugKitty Flanagan – sydney Opera house ($34.90-$44.90)Quick Comedy: Mc Tony D Amore, Jenny Campbell, Danny Morgan, Ray Cashman, Joe Mifsud – star Bar ($10-$30)Simon Kennedy, Dave Smeidt, Gary Bradbury – Laugh Garage ($12-$27)Sunday 22 AugGabriel Rossi – sydney Comedy store ($10-$30)

w h a t ’ s o n

22

GALLERIES & MUSEUMS

Art Gallery of new South WalesAlfred Steiglitz: The Lake George Years until 5 sepArt + Soul until The Dreamers from 15 augLa Per: An Aboriginal Seaside Story until 10 OctPaths to Abstraction until 19 sepVictorian Visions until 29 aug10am-5pm, 7 days a week. art after hours – every wed until 9pm. art Gallery Rd, the Domain, sydney. 9225 1744, artgallery.nsw.gov.auArtspaceMs&Mr : 808.838 / Grandfather Paradox 13 aug – 10 sepSamuel James: Amygdala – Fear Conditioning 13 aug – 10 septue – sun. 11am-5pm. the Gunnery Building, 43-51 Cowper wharf Rd, woolloomooloo. 9356 0555, artspace.org.auAquabumps GallerySurf Photography permanenttue – sat. 10am to 6pm. 151 Curlewis street, Bondi Beach. 9130 7788, aquabumps.comAt The Vanishing Point Marginal Democracy 19 – 29 augThe Postcard Project until 15 augthur 10am-8pm, Fri 10am-6pm, sat – sun 10am-5pm. 565 King st, Newtown. 9519 2340, www.atthevanishingpoint.com.auAustralian Centre for PhotographyThe Birthday Suit until 28 augRobyn Beeche: London Calling until 28 augZeitgeist Becomes Form: German Fashion Photography 1945 – 1995until 28 augtue – Fri 12pm–7pm, sat & sun 10am–6pm. 257 Oxford st, Paddington. 9332 1455, acp.org.auThe Australian MuseumBirds Exhibition permanentDinosaurs permanentIndigenous australians permanentMuseum Mummy permanentPlanet of Minerals permanentSurviving Australia permanentSkeletons permanentMon – wed 6am-10pm, thur – Fri 6am-11pm, sat – sun 8am-11pm. 70 Riley st, East sydney. 9361 4613, austmus.gov.auAustralian national Maritime MuseumAustralia-America permanentEora First People permanentNavigators permanentNavy permanentSea Journeys permanentWatermarks permanent9.30am-5pm daily. 2 Murray st, Darling harbour. 9298 3777, anmm.gov.auBreenspaceBeata Geyer until 14 augDani Marti until 14 augMitch Cairns 20 aug – 18 sepVanila Netto 20 aug – 18 septue – sat 11am-6pm. 289 Young st, waterloo. 9690 0555, breenspace.comBlender GalleryEthan Russell: Let It Bleed-The Rolling Stones 1969 US Tour 26 aug – 5 Octtue – sat 10am-6pm. 16 Elizabeth st, Paddington. 9380 7080, www.blender.com.auCharles Hewitt GalleryAbout Flowers Group Exhibition until 30 augDavid Welch: Girt until 30 augMon – sat 10am-6pm. 335 south Dowling st, Darlinghurst. 9331 4988, www.charleshewitt.com.au

Darren Knight GalleryEuan Macdonald until 21 augJason Greig until 21 augJennifer Mills until 21 augKenzee Patterson until 21 augNoel McKenna until 21 augRob McHaffie until 21 augtue – sat 11am-6pm. 840 Elizabeth st, waterloo. 9699 5353, www.darrenknightgallery.comDickerson Gallery SydneyHonor Bradbeer: What Remains to Keep until 18 aug Michael Peck: It’s Not That It Burns 20 Oct – 21 Novtues – sat 11am-6pm sun 1pm-6pm. 34 Queen st, woollahra. 9363 3358, www.dickersongallery.com.auGlobal GalleryAn Exhibition of Russian Artists until 29 augAnthony Bartok: Modern Living until 15 augCyndi Rogoff: New Faces 1 – 12 septDarko Kubatka: New Faces 1 – 12 septDaron Parton: New Faces 1 – 12 septJustin Feuerring: Poly People (faces) until 15 augMarcus Marritt: Popular Propaganda until 15 augMarie Larkin: Little Women until 15 augRhianna Griffith: In the Night Garden until 15 augShannon Crees until 15 augSonya Rothwell: Amour & More 1 – 12 septYianni Johns: New Faces 1 – 12 septwed – sat 11am–6pm, sun 12pm–4pm. 5 Comber st, Paddington. 9360 5728, www.globalgallery.com.auHarrison GalleriesAndrew Baines until 19 augEclectic until 19 augPenny Coss 21 aug – 9 sepSieglinde Battley 21 aug – 9 sepThe Suburban Cow until 19 augtue – Fri 10am-6pm, sat 10am-5pm. 294 Glenmore Rd, Paddington. 9380 7100, www.harrisongalleries.com.auJustice & Police MuseumSin City from 1 MayMon – Fri 10am-5pm, daily in school holidays. Cnr Phillip & albert st, Circular Quay. 9252 1144, hht.net.auMacleay MuseumMacleay Reworked permanentMon – Fri 10am-4.30pm, sun 12pm-4pm. Gosper Ln, near the Footbridge st entrance to the University of sydney. 9036 5253Meyer GalleryLight Sculpture: Energy of Form until 15 augRenne French & Shelley Burnham: The Rock Show 19 aug – 12 septhur – sat 11am-6pm, sun 12pm-4pm. 269 Bourke st, Darlinghurst. 9380 8014, www.meyergallery.com.auMuseum of Contemporary Art In the Balance: Art for a Changing World 19 aug – 21 NovPrimavera 19 aug – 21 NovRuna Islam 19 aug – 21 NovWe Call Them Pirates Out Here until 29 aug10am-5pm daily. 140 George st, the Rocks. 9245 2400, mca.com.auMuseum of SydneySkint! Making do in the Great Depression until 25 JulyUp the Cross: Rennie Ellis and Wesley Stacey until 8 aug9.30am-5pm daily. 37 Phillip st, sydney. 9251 5988, hht.net.au

nicholson MuseumCharles Nicholson: Man and Museum until Dec 2010Classical Fantasies: The Age of Beauty until Dec 2010Mon – Fri 10am-4.30pm, sun 12pm-4pm. southern entrance to the Quadrangle, the University of sydney. usyd.edu.au/museumsnG Art GalleryJane Gillings; Come Closer (Now Go Away) 24 aug – 11 sepPatricia Casey: Scented Gardens for the Blind until 21 augtue – Fri 11am-10pm, sat 9am-10pm. Upper level, 3 Little Queen st, Chippendale. 9318 2992, ngart.com.auobject GalleryBig: Sydney’s Small Studios until 29 augBlue until 29 augSpring Series until 10 OctStereotyped: Sound & Typography 4 – 26 septue – Fri 11am-5pm, sat & sun 10am-5pm. st Margarets, 417 Bourke st,surry hills. 9361 4511, object.com.auoutré GalleryShag aka Josh Agle: Inscrutable Mystery Guide 20 aug13a Burton street, Darlinghurst. 9332 2776, outregallery.comPorch and ParlourTed O’Donnell: The Jungle and the Sea until 8 sepMon – sun 7am-7pm. 100-102 Brighton Bvd, North Bondi. 9300 0111, facebook.com/porchandparlourPowerhouse MuseumThe 80s Are Back until late 2010Sydney Design until 15 augThe Tinytoreum until Feb 2011Trainspotting: The Powerhouse Museum Photo Competition until 29 aug10am-5pm daily. 500 harris st, Ultimo. 9217 0111, powerhousemuseum.comRobin Gibson GalleryBallan Bolton 21 aug – 15 sepGallery Artists: Still Life Treasures until 18 augSimon Fieldhouse 21 aug – 15 septue – sat 11am-6pm. 278 Liverpool st, Darlinghurst. 9331 6692, www.robingibson.netRoslyn oxley9 GalleryGareth Sanson: New Paintings until 7 augJenny Watson: The Daisy Show 12 aug – 4 septJulie Rrap: 360 Degree Portrait until until 7 augNell: Made in the Cross 12 aug – 4 septtue – Fri 10am-6pm, sat 11am-6pm. 8 soudan Lane, Paddington. 9331 1919, www.roslynoxley9.com.auSarah Cottier GalleryChristopher Hanrahan: Correction until 21 augwed – sat 11am-5pm. 3 Neild ave, Paddington. 9356 3305, www.sarahcottiergallery.comSheffer GalleryUlrike Sturm until 8 augwed – sat 11am-6pm. 38 Lander st, Darlington. 9319 5683, www.sheffergallery.comUTS GalleryGraphic Material until 3 sepMon – Fri 12-6pm. Lvl 4, 702 harris st, Ultimo. 9514 1652, www.utsgallery.uts.edu.au

t h E n A K E D C I T Y

BY Miss DEath, JaY Katz aND COFFiN EDa few weeks ago we commented here on the lack of shelter in sydney for those sleeping rough in what has been a particularly cold and wet winter. around the same time homeless men in the woolloomooloo area began sleeping in the front of the Domain Parking station, itself a cold and uninviting concrete bunker, but at least some protection from temperatures that fell as low as 5C. the area in question was basically one unused by the station and the homeless men that occupied it installed mattresses and even swept the area to keep it clean. Channel Nine’s roving reporter Denham hitchcock even spent a night there to report on the plight of the homeless in sydney. Last week the twenty or more men sleeping at the station were evicted, metal caging was erected to prevent them gaining access and security guards employed to keep them away. Various reasons were given for the eviction, one being that theft and break-ins had occurred at the station, something that has been happening for years as far as we know. Regardless of the reasons for the eviction, it was just another kick in the guts for the homeless, in particular for those unable to get into sydney’s already hopelessly over burdened homeless shelters. if there was a natural disaster in sydney like a flood or a cyclone and hundreds were left homeless, temporary facilities would appear overnight. Not so for the homeless in again what has been an usually cold and wet winter. Earlier this month sydney City Liberal Councillor shayne Mallard suggested that people living semi permanently on sydney streets should seek council permission. the statement was in reference to a homeless man who regularly begs on the corner of George and Market street in the City. the suggestion of course painted all homeless people as beggars, the reality being that only a tiny number ever regularly ask for money.

it also raises a very ugly head as to the way bureaucracies legislate to deal with these kinds of social problems. in California for example a number of cities have adopted what are commonly referred to as anti camping laws whereby you can lie down in the street or a park to sleep and not be prosecuted, but if you do so with a sleeping bag or any kind of bedding you are deemed to be camping out. this law applies to everybody, as the legislators would tell you, but of course it particularly targets the homeless. a lot of noise is made about getting the homeless off the streets and into long term public housing and certainly these objectives should be pursued. But if there’s a short term problem and an immediate practical solution nobody wants to know about it. it wouldn’t have taken much money or effort to provide some temporary accommodation for the homeless men who were ingloriously turfed out of the Domain Parking station last week.

NO VACANCIES AT THE DOMAIN HILTON

Wilson Street GalleryNola Jones until 29 augBill Brown: Soliloquy 4 – 26 sepwed – sun 11am–6pm. 30-34 wilson st, Newtown. 9516 3144, www.wilsonstreetgallery.com.au

TALKS & EVEnTS

Dinner with a View: Princess IvonaFollowing a successful run of A Taste Sensation where short plays took centre stage, Dinner with a View uses the same concept of mixing food with theatre. this time audience are in for a treat with satirist witold Gombrowicz’s (known by many as the grandfather of the theatre of absurd) , Princess Ivona. Gombrowicz uses humour as a means to tell a story of malice and cruelty. why sit at home in front of the goggle box with a packet of crisps when you can savour wine and antipasto platters in the middle of a live theatre performance? Every sat 14 aug – 9 Oct. Eastside arts Café. 395 Oxford street, Paddington. $23-$26. 1300 438 849, www.moshtix.com.au, dinnerwithaview.org.au

DigiSPAA Digital Feature Film Competition Calling all aussie and Kiwi digital filmmakers. here’s your chance to make the next big digital feature film.

You won’t need to dig deep to enter, just a story worth telling and a good dose of passion in the tradition of great filmmaking will do. Films must be at least 70 minutes long and independently funded. applications close 5pm, 17 sep. spaa.org.auPaths to Abstraction 1867 – 1917Paths to Abstraction explores the transitional period between the late 19th and early 20th century when a realistic, “holding a mirror up to nature” artistic style was replaced with abstract art. the Nsw art Gallery has brought together more than 150 exhibits by the likes of Picasso, Monet, Cézanne, Derain, Gauguin, Mondrian, Munch and Kandinsky amongst others. (See full preview)Until 19 sept. art Gallery Of New south wales, art Gallery Rd, the Domain, sydney. $5-$20. 9225 1744, artgallery.nsw.gov.auPaths to Abstraction Film Seriesthis is easily one of the best film series put together by the Nsw art Gallery in recent memory. a mix of lesser-known gems from auteurs, a sprinkle of popular cult films and intriguing shorts will have audience coming back for more every week. held in conjunction with the Paths exhibition (see above), each film is meant to encapsulate you in a vacuumed world, abstract yet complete in itself. Check website for full line-up.

Every wed 2pm & 7.15pm and sun 2pm. Until 19 sep. art Gallery Of New south wales, art Gallery Rd, the Domain, sydney. 9225 1744, artgallery.nsw.gov.au

FESTIVALS

Indie Gems: A Festival of Fresh Australian FilmsOur hearts break a little when we see quality australian films go straight from the big screen to DVD. thanks to indie Gems, some of these films are given new lives on the big screen. Our aussie gems are polished and ready for second viewing. highlights include three Blind Mice, Men’s Group, Blind Company, The Jammed and a test screening of Dee McLachlan’s Project 47A. Riverside theatres Parramatta, Cnr Church and Market streets, Parramatta. $22-$28. 8839 3399, riversideparramatta.com.auParklife 2010Yep, we are already planning for summer. and what better way to welcome sunblock season than with a huge outdoor music festival that’s celebrating its 10th birthday. this year’s line-up includes Groove armada, Missy Elliott, soulwax, Kele, Cut Copy, Midnight Juggernauts, Darwin Deez, the wombats and Mix Master Mike amongst many others. tickets are now on sale. 3 Oct. Moore Park. parklife.com.au, fuzzy.com.au

M u s i c

Project 5: Pop up Live Art & Music Curated by aMBUSH Gallery, Project 5’s second installment of live street art will see some of the country’s finest urban artists come together for charity. Internationally renowned, Brisbane-born Anthony Lister, Melbourne’s Meggs (laneway stencil artist), Sydney’s Ears (Daniel O’Toole) – painter and co-founder of Oh Really!? Gallery in Newtown and Webuyyourkids (Sonny Day & Biddy Maroney) – design and illustration experts to the Australian music industry will amaze as they create works of live art that will be auctioned off for Information and Cultural Exchange, an organisation that runs creative arts programs for disadvantage youth in Western Sydney. Do not miss this grand scale community art project. 20 – 22 Aug. Auction on 14 Oct. Cockle Bay Wharf, Darling Harbour. Free. cocklebaywharf.com.au, project5.com.au

sBW stables Theatre: Housewarming WeekWe have been waiting anxiously to see the result of major renovations to revamp the much loved Griffin Theatre Company’s Stables Theatre and it’s finally here. With a brand new bar and a stream of events centred on improving local theatre, there’s much to celebrate. Check website below for the full program. 16 – 21 Aug. SBW Stables Theatre, 10 Nimrod St, Kings Cross. 8002 4772, griffintheatre.com.ausydney Design There are 70 events and exhibitions taking place at Sydney Design 2010, so to make things just a tad easier, we’ve picking out our favourites. Exhibition Creating the Look: Benini and Fashion Photography will impress. Live stage show Iron Designer will entertain. And, Why We Love Making Books: Ideas about Unfettered Self-Expression, a talk about the simple love for books will tug at the heartstrings. Until 15 Aug. The Powerhouse Museum, 500 Harris St, Ultimo. $5-$10. 9217 0111, powerhousemuseum.com

LiVE Music

Thursday 12 AugBandaluzia Flamenco – 505 ($10-$15)Basic: Void, Foreign Dub, Headroom, Space is the Place – 202 Broadway (free)Divine Dances, Dene Olding,  Vladimir Ashkenazy – Sydney Opera HouseFreshly Cut, The Dirty Secrets, Crack, Bayonets For Legs – Gaelic Theatre ($10)Fuzz Phantoms – Oxford Art Factory (free)Jack Ladder – Beach Road Hotel (free)Mysterious Travellers - A Tribute To Weather Report – The Vanguard ($27-$30) Regal Records Showcase – Valve Bar & Venue ($10)Sketch the Rhyme, Reyes De La Onda – Macquarie Hotel, Sydney (free)The Suspects – Marble Bar (free)Teenage Kicks – The World Bar (free)A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison – The Basement ($27)Whitley, Seagull – Oxford Art Factory ($20)

Friday 13 AugAmali Ward, Darryl Beaton Band – Macquarie Hotel (free)Black List Rock Club, Lord, Platinum Brunette – Notes Live ($12.30)Brown Sugar – Marble Bar, Sydney (free)Cafe Carnivale – Eastside Arts ($22-$28)Christian Death, Familia – Gaelic Theatre ($35)Corpus – The World Bar ($15)Darren Hanlon, Shelley Short – The Factory Theatre ($26)Deborah Conway & Willy Zigier – The Vanguard ($27)The Dingoes – The Basement ($30-$35)Dust Tones: Surecut Kids, ISHU, Mike Who, Ability – Beach Road Hotel (free)Hungry Kids of Hungary, The Holidays, Artisan Guns – Oxford Art Factory ($15-$18)LET IT BE: The Beatles Songs of Lennon & McCartney – Sydney Opera House ($99-$119)Lowrider, Empire Rising, The Melodics, Nicholas Roy – Annandale Hotel ($12)Mark Hannaford Trio, Hobo Bordeaux – 505 ($10-$15)Political Folk – Valve Bar & Venue ($15)Purple Sneakers – Gladstone Hotel, Chippendale ($12)Rapids, Step Panther – Oxford Art Factory (free)Simon Paparo – Nag’s Head Hotel (free)saturday 14 AugAlice Terry – Nag’s Head Hotel (free)The Choirboys – Metro Theatre ($37)Eels – Enmore Theatre ($68.70)Extortion, I Exist, SXWZD, Had It – Sandringham Hotel ($12)Glide, Toby Martin – Annandale Hotel ($18)Huoratron, Redial, Nadisko, Smacktown, Whynot DJs, DJ Obey, RA – Oxford Art Factory ($25)Jamrock: Nick Toth, Joe – 202 Broadway ($7-$15)Jazz Visions: Chris Abrahams, Phillip Johnson & the Pagers, HIT Organ Trio – Seymour Centre, Chippendale ($15-$25)Kandy Apples,  Baba O’Riley – Oxford Art Factory (free)LET IT BE: The Beatles Songs of Lennon & McCartney – Sydney Opera House ($99-$119)Ross Wilson – The Basement ($30.20-$35)Senses Fail, The Mission In Motion – The Factory Theatre ($43)Sirens Big Band – 505 Club ($10-$15)Tinpan Orange, Husky, Cilla Jane – The Vanguard ($18-$22)Utopia: Homegrown – Hordern Pavilion ($65)Wham! – The World Bar ($15-$20)sunday 15 AugHavana De Noche: Club Havana Band, Av El Cubano, DJ Dwight ‘Chocolate’ Escobar – The Basement ($20)Folk/Country Showcase – Valve Bar & Venue ($10)Los Van Van, Latin Block Party – Sydney Opera House ($49-$110)Samba Friends – Beach Road Hotel (free)Screaming Sunday, Veora – Annandale Hotel ($20)Shir Madness: Sydney Jewish Music Festival – Bondi Pavilion Theatre ($40-$120)Monday 16 AugGreg Coffin Trio – 505 Club ($10)Slash, Juke Kartel – Horden Pavillion (sold out) (see HOT TIX)Slash After Party, Australian GnR Show – Gaelic Theatre ($15)Soulfood – The Basement ($20)Unherd Open Mic, Derkajam – Sandringham Hotel (free)

Tuesday 17 AugChris Klondike Masuak & The North – Sandringham Hotel (free)The Glorious Sousaphonics, Psychomotor – 505 ($8-$10)Mr Percival – Raval ($20)Nick Latta, Clay Couter, Sam Newton, Alex Gibson – The Basement ($15)Red Slim, Bonney Creek, Darling Blue – Beach Road Hotel (free)Wednesday 18 AugAlanna Cherote – The Vanguard ($15)Jam Nights –Fitzroy Hotel, Windsor (free)Juke Kartel – Sandringham Hotel ($15-$20)The Liberators – Macquarie Hotel (free)Sideshow: Sound Casino & Stickyfingers – Beach Road Hotel (free)The Study, Preachers – Gaelic Theatre (free)The Tom Ferris Group, Chad Wackerman – The Basement ($25)Underground Tables – Valve Bar & Venue (free)Wednesdays at 202 – 202 Broadway (free)Zohar’s Nigun – 505 ($10)Thursday 19 AugBasic: Void, Foreign Dub, Headroom, Space is the Place – 202 Broadway (free)Bliss n Eso, Diafrix, Mind Over Matter – Enmore Theatre (sold out)The Brand New Heavies – Metro Theatre ($59)Dave Halls – The Basement ($18-$22)Freshly Cut, Lions At Your Door & others – Gaelic Theatre ($10)G3 –Marble Bar (free)Hot Damn! – Spectrum ($10-$12)Matt Finish – The Vanguard ($27-$30)My Future Lies – Oxford Art Factory ($15)Punk Show – Valve Bar & Venue ($10)Smoke & Silver – Beach Road Hotel (free)Teenage Kicks – The World Bar (free)Bed Wettin Bad Boys – Oxford Art Factory (free)Friday 20 AugBasement Birds, Old Man River, The Sun Orchestra – Enmore Theatre ($43.90-$65.30)The Bedroom Philosopher, The Awkwardstra,The Boat People, Pinky Beecroft & the White Russians – The Factory Theatre ($15-$20)House Cabaret: The Broadway Show with David Campbell – Sydney Opera House ($50-$150)Casey Donovan –Slide ($23)Dust Tones: Choose Mics, Syntax, Elgen & Johnny Utah, Ability, Lou Lou –Beach Road Hotel (free)The Hellfire Club with DJ Tokoloshe, Sveta, Karl Anderson – The Gaff($25)Java Quartet – 505 ($10-$15)Katie Underwood, Matt Dwyer Little Big Band – The Vanguard ($16.50)Killjoy, Shihad – Annandale Hotel ($25-$44)La Discoteca – The World Bar ($15)Melody Black, Indigo Rising – Sandringham Hotel ($10)Midnight Juggernauts, Dappled Cities, Canyons, Kirin J. Callinan –Moore Park($30)The Monks of Mellonwah – The World Bar ($15)Ngaiire, Lucy Hall, Fatback 4 Way, Juanita Tippins – Macquarie Hotel (free)Oxford Art Factory’s 3rd Birthday – Oxford Art Factory (free)Rock Show – Valve Bar & Venue ($10)Static Sillhouettes – Gaelic Theatre ($8) saturday 21 AugustArt vs Science, Tim & Jean, Jinja Safari – Metro Theatre, ($22-$25)Blues Society Performer of the Year Award – Valve Bar & Venue ($10)Cordrazine, Nick Batterham – The

Vanguard ($20-$25)David Campbell – Sydney Opera House ($50-$150)The General Electric, Shihad – Annandale Hotel (sold out)Jamrock,  Nick Toth,  Joe – 202 Broadway ($7-$15)John Harkins Trio – 505 Club ($10-$15)PVT, Seekae, Ghoul – Manning Bar ($20.85-$24.50)Radio City Cats – Marble Bar, Sydney (free)Set Sail – Gaelic Theatre ($10)SoundSchool:  Midnight Youth, Delta Riggs, Big Phallica, Jane Gazzo – Beach Road Hotel ($20)Kon, Soulshaker DJs – The Basement ($25-$73)The Weird Assembly – Macquarie Hotel (free)Wham! – The World Bar ($15-$20)sunday 22 Aug Birthday Clash - A Birthday Tribute to Joe Strummer – The Vanguard ($15-$17)David Campbell – Sydney Opera House ($50-$150)Harry Manx – The Basement ($43-$47)The House of Blues, Matt Black & the Phat Cats –Town Hall Hotel (free)Rock/Electro/Hip Hop Show – Valve Bar & Venue ($10)Samba Groove – Beach Road Hotel (free)

W H A T ’ S o n

cD Reviewschris@alternativemediagroup.com

For more cD reviews go to www.altmedia.net.au

EnDLEss BooGiE - FuLL HousE HEADEndless Boogie are a name, a concept and a force of nature. A force that will niether yield nor bend to no man. Four albums into thier recording career and the song remains the same, and the same, and yet again, the same. These boys are ardent students of Keith Richards, The Stooges, Led Zepplin and Rose Tattoo, they have sat down, listened patiently, and distilled what they like into its most base form. Then they have spent hour upon hour upon hour meditating upon the ‘Almighty Riff ’. And once they are there, don’t expect Endless Boogie to give up in a hurry either, the shortest tune on Full House Head is a tick under five minutes, the finale A Life Worth Leaving - a live Stooge-fest over 22 minutes long that is as raw and visceral as it is low-fi. What seeps through the speakers is a sheer determination, a bloody-minded resolve to play each note with maximum intensity until the listener just ‘gets it’. Sure, some won’t (in fact most won’t), but those who do “get it” will join the flock with the zeal of a born-again, and you have to admire that. (CP)

sHAMELEss sEAMus - no VAns MARYA few months ago, at a place over the mountains (and far from the sea), I came across this fellow; be-hatted he was, dog in tow and mandolin in hand - a traveller to look at him no doubt. Shameless Seamus, or Jim Moginie to his family (and the many many Midnight Oil fans), only recently discovered that his ancestors are Irish Celts. So guitar in hand Seamus/Moginie wandered off into the Australian bush to explore his Celtic roots and No Vans Mary was born. Far from the power perhaps, but not short on gentle passion, the album sounds very much like a beginning; as Seamus/Jim explores the sounds and thoughts of an Irish culture in a distant land, dislocated but regrowing. Unable to shake his own pop roots, the songs share a joint heritage - 30 years of Australian rock-pop legend meets a burgeoning interest in Celtic beginnings - to create the acoustic, folk-pop of No Vans Mary. The further you let these beautifully crafted songs in the more they reveal, and one also suspects that the more Moginie allows Seamus to explore his roots the more we will all benefit. Avalaible only from www.reverberama.com.au (CP)

TiM nELson & THE cuB scouTs - EPIf there’s one thing Tim Nelson has over his contemporaries in the burgeoning Aussie “nu-folk” scene, it’s his uncannily dexterous and feminine voice. Nelson was a boy soprano until age 17, and now at 19 has assembled a band of gentle players to bring life to the pop music in his imagination. Nelson’s voice, of course, is what makes him unique and he wields this tool with skill and grace. Giant Sleeps is a beautiful pop song - a tangy, folky romp that clearly recalls clear influences The Middle East or Angus & Julia Stone, and there are moments of indie-tinged dreaminess that work on a subliminally nostalgic level. Say Something almost sounds like the ghost of Duran Duran, and Pinocchio achieves its bittersweet layers of vocals with hushed, canon-like interaction between male and female vocalists. It’s a lovely mix, although being an EP there aren’t enough songs to take us on a completely rounded musical journey. But as for hooks and chops among the quiet indie set, Tim Nelson has all the right ingredients. (AR)

REBEccA BARnARD - EVERLAsTinGEverlasting isthelatest album from Rebecca Barnard, and only her second since parting ways with Rebecca’s Empire in 2000.Hardly prolific, perhaps, but she’s been busy. In the liner notes, Barnard writes of “...the constant dilemma of creativity vs motherhood... trying to be everything to everyone.” Given these pressures, it’s to her credit that she’s made an album with such a clear identity. These songs (recorded itin New York with expatriate jazzpianist Barny McAll) are honed, but effortless sounding. The best - Closer to You, Own Time, Fall and Walk, Age 14 - boast a mixture of sensuousness and grit that bears comparison to the work of Lucinda Williams. Guitars are gently strummed, pianos ripple, drums patter, the arrangements ebb and flow, and Barnard sings, her delivery unhurried, earthy, and tender. A highlight is a stripped-back cover of Robert Wyatt’s Seasong. Everlasting is an understated, intimate album, the perfect soundtrack forthe long drive back from the beach. (BY)

HOT TIXThe Royal Ballet comes to Palace cinemaMayerling and Ondine are the last of the Royal Ballet performances in the Palace Opera & Ballet series. Composed by Franz Liszt and choreographed by Kenneth MacMillan, Mayerling is a twisted fairy tale replete with sex, drugs, politics and suspense. Edward Watson also stars in Ondine, a surreal performance set in a fantastical underwater world, with music by Hans Werner Henze. Both performances are filmed live with numerous high definition cameras to make this once in a lifetime experience a reality in your very own backyard. Until 8 Sep. Palace Verona Cinema. 17 Oxford St, Paddington, 9360 6099 and Palace Norton Street Cinema, 99 Norton Street, Leichhardt. $15-$27. 9564 5620 or palaceoperaandballet.com.auslashOrganisers of Slash’s World Tour in Sydney are kicking themselves. First, they cramped his style by placing him at the Enmore Theatre which sold out in a day. Then they moved him to the Horden Pavillion after upset fans complained till their ears bled. And guess what? Yep, he sold out again. These tickets are so hot, you can hear Slash burning up the stage with his guitar just looking at them. Michael Jackson, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Quentin Tarantino are just a few of Slash’s famous fans. Now you too (if you have the ticket) can experience the stringed mayhem of Slash live in Sydney. 16 Aug. Hordern Pavilion, 1 Driver Ave, Moore Park. (sold out) 9550 3666, playbillvenues.com

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reliable people (with a vehicle) to deliver our newspapers.All enquiries please call Chris on 9212 5677 or email

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POSITIONS VACANT ILLUSTRATORSpace is avaliable for someone with something

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Political, social and whimsicalvisual comentary all considered.

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m o v i e m i c r o s

ANimAL KiNGDom During this grittier than gravel Australian cop drama, i had to keep pinching myself. Am i dreaming, or are two impossible things happening; one, the police are efficiently doing their jobs; two, i am enjoying an Australian film. Centring around a melbourne crime family and their inevitable demise, Underbelly comparisons are unavoidable. But where Underbelly is mewling kitten, Animal Kingdom is ferocious lion, jaws still dripping with blood. (AB)A ProPHET Grim, gritty, violent, and almost entirely set in a prison, A Prophet is by no means a glorification of crime and neither is it a seat-of-the-pants action thriller with twists and turns at every corner. Yet it is about criminals and it is a thriller, but within a slow human drama that is as much about growth and friendship as it is about organised crime and power. (mG)BENEATH HiLL 60 Directed by Jeremy Sims and written by David Roach, Beneath Hill 60 is the story of the ‘silent war’ fought between allied and German forces, underneath the Western Front. it casts a spotlight on a little known aspect of Australia’s involvement in WWi. (AF)THE BoUNTY HUNTEr in this romantic reimagining of genre classic Midnight Run, a fugitive reporter (Jennifer Aniston) tries to allude her bounty hunter ex-husband (Gerard Butler). Perfunctory plot aside, this playful offering works when the leads are given enough space to chew the scenery. (JH)cENTUrioN Set against Scotland’s bleak wilderness, a Roman Centurion fights desperately for his life against the barbaric Picts. The bloody, irreverent Centurion demonstrates Neil marshall’s knack for crafting taut thrillers that lovingly embrace the tropes of b-grade genre flicks, while distilling them to their core values. (JH)crEATioN is the story of Charles Darwin as he works towards publication of On the Origin of Species, battling illness, repressive religious society, a pious wife and the death of his beloved eldest daughter along the way. (ABr) EVErY JAcK HAs A JiLL After being dumped by his girlfriend, Jack heads off to Paris in a bid to move on; however, the trip becomes a nightmare when his luggage disappears. But it won’t be for nothing as the suitcase ends up with Chloe, an oddball French woman who decides, based on its contents Jack is the man of her dreams. (mP)EXiT THroUGH THE GiFT sHoP The hype will have you believe this is about famed UK street artist Banksy (Brangelina

bought one of his pieces for £1 million), but in actuality it’s about how artistic styles can be stolen and sold. into street art’s sanctified glass shop a French bull with a camera staggers in, threatening to shatter all they value. Highly recommended. (AB)FisH TANK Set amongst the peeling walls of British housing estate, violent, erratic adolescent mia (Katie Jarvis) finds her life complicated when her alcoholic mother brings home a new boyfriend (michael Fassbender), who displays a paternal, borderline sexual, interest in mia. But this film is so much more than a series of depressing events in the life of a luckless girl. (LRu) GrEENBErG will be remembered as that movie Ben Stiller played a serious character in, but really, that’s not such a bad thing. This must-watch for those who are not afraid to go on a journey with an unlikable protagonist in a film that is in unequal parts awkward and funny. (KS)GroWN UPs is the title, but this lazily conceived and poorly executed mess is made for a juvenile audience it can barely conceal its contempt for. (ABo)HArrY BroWN Following the ‘last straw’ moments in the life of widower and former British marine, Harry Brown (michael Caine) this skirmish of a film is at moments heart wrenching, and at others, simply hardcore. Do not miss this film. (AeB)THE HEDGEHoG Precocious 11-year-old Paloma is filming her family as a way to expose the absurdity of their bourgeois lives. But when mr ozu moves into the building and introduces her to Renee, the seemingly dowdy and cheerless concierge, Paloma discovers culture and passion can be found in the most unlikely places. (mP)i, DoN GioVANNi Lorenzo da Ponte, Giacomo Casanova’s protégé, is hired by composer Wolfgang Amadeus mozart to write an opera about a legendary lothario, ‘Don Giovanni’. Carlos Saura’s handsome period piece is slow, but will reward opera enthusiasts with its extended, and immaculately staged, opera sequences. (JH)i LoVE YoU Too every clichéd character from a bad beer commercial comes to life in this broad romantic comedy, written by Peter Hellier. it won’t offend anyone, however it may insult your intelligence. (ABo)KArATE KiD The wax-on, wax-off scene has been replaced with jacket-on, jacket-off; the cutesy minority Posterboy italian to black; mr miyagi for mr Han; the LA backlots for Beijing alleyways,

and in fact even the karate has been chopped for kung fu ... but the guts and glory plotline remains as strong, the master-apprentice friendship as sweet. (AB)KicK-Ass As masked vigilante Kick-Ass, teenager Dave (Aaron Johnson) trades blows with the mafia. Wonderfully depraved, bitingly funny, yet sweet; Kick-Ass proves that legitimate superhero films don’t have to be dour or humourless – they can also be a helluva lot of fun! (JH) THE LAsT sTATioN Love, religion, sexuality and honour play out in this theatrical tale of Leo Tolstoy’s last days. The acting is great across the board but hinges on stellar performances by Christopher Plummer (Tolstoy) and Helen mirren (his wife of 48 years). (AF)LETTErs To JULiET could perhaps go either way, a concoction of nostalgia, simplicity, and tenderness or, stereotypical, corny, and weak. it goes with the latter. intrigued after discovering an unanswered letter written to Juliet, Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) meets the author of the letters Claire (venessa Redgrave), and ventures through Tuscany to reunite her with the long lost Lorenzo. (Cm)mE AND orsoN WELLEs in Richard Linklater’s triumphant portrait of orson Welles, newcomer Christian mcKay’s richly idiosyncratic performance captures Welles larger-than-life ego. meanwhile, co-star Zac efron graduates away from his hammy High School Musical roots with his quietly assured, intuitive portrayal of a young theatre actor. (JH)THE mEN WHo sTArE AT GoATs Walking through walls and killing goats by simply starring at them are just some of the psychic weapons used by the U.S. military’s New earth Army. Sounds kooky? Well, it is a kooky kind of a movie except that it flaunts a dream cast and is based on a true story. (KS)moTHEr AND cHiLD Forced to give her daughter up for adoption at birth, the now socially inept Karen (Annette Bening) is still dealing with her grief some 40 years later while, unbeknownst to her, her controlling, man-eating daughter elizabeth (Naomi Watts) wallows in denial on the other side of town. The knots slowly untangle in this intense drama but it’s well scripted and heart-warming to consider that human bonding might be the best remedy. (NG)mY oNE AND oNLY in what is more than an average ‘road-trip’ story, Anne Devereaux whisks her two sons Robbie and George around America to find herself a new husband and unexpectedly finds instead, that she doesn’t need one. (NG)

NANNY mcPHEE AND THE BiG BANG When the Green’s are at risk of losing their family farm, the magical Nanny mcPhee turns up to help out. So ensues the tale of Nanny mcPhee and the Big Bang, a solid kids movie enough straightforward laughs to keep you watching happily to the end. (LHe)PriNcE oF PErsiA Loosely based on a video game, Prince of Persia details the adventures of Dastan, an orphan turned prince who stumbles upon a magical dagger capable of rewinding time. This action extravaganza is not a classic movie, but is most definitely an enjoyable one. (AG)rocKET sciENcE Shooting for the cultish and cool cinematic constellation populated by Napoleon Dynamite and The Garden State, Rocket Science unfortunately flounders and ends up crashing somewhere in the boggy, repetitive marshes of Yawnsville, uncomfortably close to Why Did They Bother? (AB)THE rUNAWAYs This keenly anticipated bio-pic about the notorious 70s all-girl rock band headed by Joan Jett was directed by music video visionary Floria Sigismondi – and you can tell. While based on the spill-all tale of leadsinger Cherie Currie (convincingly played by Dakota Fanning), The Runaways is sadly more montage than movie. (AB)THE sEcrET iN THEir EYEs A retired Argentinean criminal court investigator recounts his greatest personal and professional failure – a murder case still unresolved after 25 years. Director Juan José Campanella’s utterly captivating film meditates on obsession, truth and the pursuit of justice within – and outside of – a flawed judicial system. (JH)sEPArATioN ciTY is in essence a comedy drama about romantic relationships in all their dysfunctionality – from the old shtick of the wife who finds her philandering husband in a compromising position with some

blonde bimbo, to the wife who tells her husband she’s actually a lesbian. At times predictable, it does make you think about the high price of keeping love going, while staying light and funny. (mG)sKiN Born to white parents during South Africa’s apartheid era, a dark-skinned woman struggles to reconcile with a society that has marginalised her. Uplifting without being mawkish and tensely poignant without being bleak, Anthony Fabian’s underdog film tackles the severe implications of racism. (JH)soUL KiTcHEN in Soul Kitchen, a young German restaurateur must fight to stop a smarmy property shark from taking over his modest eatery. Director Fatih Akin’s fun comedy uses idiosyncratic charm and earnest character moments to extol the virtues of love and livelihood. (JH) soUTH soLiTArY meredith (miranda otto) encounters misadventure and romance after relocating to a remote island to aid her lighthouse keeper uncle. isolation and companionship are explored in this modest character piece, which is elevated by its exemplary cast, tempestuous setting and Shirley Barrett’s measured yet kinetic direction. (JH)THE sPEciAL rELATioNsHiP michael Sheen play Tony Blair again, highlighting the ‘special relationship’ with America, and the British Pm’s with Bill Clinton (Dennis Quaid). The junior partner gradually becomes the more statesmanlike of the two, but will he stay true to his liberal ideals? (CC)ToY sTorY 3 Though the thematic concerns are heavy, the movie explored them in a painfully beautiful and profound way, without skimping out on good old fashion laughs either. A must watch for die-hard fans, 3D buffs and the young at heart. (AeB)THE WAiTiNG ciTY Ben (Joel edgerton) and Fiona (Radha mitchell) have travelled to Calcutta to adopt a little girl, Lakshmi. The premise for this story of

self-discovery, but the character stereotypes means it lacks the poetry or humanism director mcCarthy strives for. (NG)WELcomE To reunite with his girlfriend in england, an iraqi teenager plots to swim the english Channel with the reluctant help of a cynical French swimming instructor. Don’t let the washed-out colours fool you; there’s tenderness in this rare human experience. (JH)THE WHiTE riBBoN (GErmAN: DAs WEißE BAND) one the eve of World War i, a German village experiences a number of bizarre incidents. Using masterful restraint, Director michael Haneke provides a perverse sense of satisfaction in being continually strung out by the film’s slew of titillating enigmas. (JH)

BoNDi JUNcTioN GrEATEr UNioN Level 7 & 8 Westfield Shopping Town, 500 oxford St, Bondi Junction, 9300 1555, www.eventcinemas.com.auBroADWAY HoYTs ciNEmAs Broadway ShoppingCentre, Broadway Ph: 9211 1911www.hoyts.com.aucHAUVEL ciNEmACnr oxford Street & oatley Road, Paddington 9361 5465Dendy Newtown261 King St. NewtownPh: 9550 5699www.dendy.com.au/newtownDENDY oPErA QUAYs Shop 9, 2 east Circular Quay, Sydney, 9247 3800EAsTGArDENs HoYTsWestfield Shopping Centre, 152 Bunnerong Rd, eastgardens, 8347 5900, ENTErTAiNmENT QUArTEr HoYTs & LA PrEmiErE Building 206, ph. 9332 1300 Cinema Paris Building 215, ph. 9332 1633entry via Lang Road on Bent Street, moore Park, www.hoyts.com.auGEorGE sT ENTErTAiNmENT comPLEX505 George St. SydneyPh: 9273 7431mArKET ciTY rEADiNG ciNEmA Level 3, 9-13 Hay St, Haymarket, 9280 1202, www.readingcinemas.com.auPALAcE AcADEmY TWiN3a oxford Street, Paddington, 9361 4453Palace Norton St99 Norton St. LeichhardtPh: 9550 0122 www.palacecinemas.com.auPALAcE VEroNA17 oxford Street, Paddington, 9360 6099rANDWicK riTz ciNEmA 39-47 St. Pauls St Randwick, 9399 5722, www.ritzcinema.com.au

YoUr LocAL scrEENsin Roman Polanski’s shrewdly paced,

deliciously wry political thriller, The Ghost Writer, a writer (ewan mcGregor) known simply as ‘the Ghost’ is hired to salvage the memoirs of former British Prime minister Adam Lang (Pierce Brosnan), following the mysterious death of Lang’s previous writer. But as the Ghost delves deeper into Lang’s political indiscretions, he puts his life in danger. As the writer turned reluctant detective, mcGregor provides understated charm; underscoring his protagonist’s mild manner with an air of facetiousness and providing some of film’s best quips (‘i can’t talk, peace protestors are trying to kill

me’). offering strong support are co-stars olivia Williams, Kim Cattrall, Tom Wilkinson and Brosnan, who trades his usual charisma for volatility and smarm. Noteworthy too is the perpetually overcast and wind-swept New england coastal setting, which accounts for much of the film’s inherent eeriness. By flirting with humour, whilst still retaining a seductively dark undercurrent, The Ghost Writer is, in many ways, reminiscent of Polanski’s quirky and free-spirited early forays (Knife in the Water, Cul-de-Sac, The Fearless Vampire Killers). This hypnotic, occasionally cheeky suspense-thriller is vintage Polanski. (JH)

HUBBLE 3D ever wished you could launch yourself into deep space? See planets and supernovas far, far away? Witness the birth of a galaxy? Well, imAX has answered your prayers, minus the astro-physics degree. All you need to do is strap on your 3D glasses and settle in for the ride of a lifetime. Hubble 3D, the latest imAX offering, takes you on a journey to save the Hubble telescope for the last time, featuring footage taken by the astronauts crewing the mission. While i would have liked to see some more of the incredible images Hubble is capturing, and less of the repair work of the astronauts, Hubble 3D remains a mind-blowing vision of our galactic neighbourhood and beyond. The footage spans from earth, to the milky way, our next nearest galaxy Andromeda, and the huge planetary metropolis the virgo Cluster, in which some of the most astounding images of the film, that of the so-called star nurseries, where you can see the birth of stars, planets, and whole galaxies whizzing past you in spectacular 3D. (KB)

THE EXPENDABLEs When The Expendables ends, chances are you’ll leave the cinema bleeding out of your eyes and ears. in part, this is because of the concussive soundwaves that have assaulted you throughout the entirety of the film – vertebrae snapping, shotgun blasting, mass demolition, and engines hitting redline. The other reason you may be feeling slightly giddy, is because of the movie’s sheer awesomeness. With a surprisingly fresh approach to kicking the action genre in the teeth, and hosting a cast of some of the biggest names within the ranks of Hollywood badass-ery, The Expendables makes every bullet count when it comes to entertainment. if there were a fault to this film (and if you were brave enough to bring it up in front of director, co-writer and lead actor Sylvester Stallone) it concerns wanting to see more from select actors in the film. But trust us, you won’t feel cheated when it comes to stunts! This is a new innovation in applied, choreographed violence. And what’s more, it’s fun! (AeB)

26

THE GHOST WRITER

Rob bRezsny

aARIES (March 21-April 19): When I studied method

acting with David Mamet, he taught us to develop such a vivid imagination that we could taste the pretend coffee that we drank out of an imaginary cup. We’d feel the heft of the cup in our hand and the steamy heat rising. We’d hallucinate the bitterly flavorful smell, and the muscles of our face would move the way they might if we were sipping the real thing. Pop star Lady Gaga didn’t work with Mamet while she was maturing as an actress, but she got similar teachings. Recently, she told New York magazine that she can “feel the rain, when it’s not raining.” And more than that: “I can actually mentally give myself an orgasm.” If you think that you will ever want to have that strong an imagination, Aries, now is a good time to start working toward that goal.

bTAURUS (April 20-May 20): When they say “Go

with the flow,” what “flow” are they talking about? Do they mean the flow of your early childhood conditioning? The flow of your friends’ opinions? The latest cultural trends? your immediate instinctual needs? When they say “Go with the flow,” are they urging you to keep doing what’s easiest to do and what will win you the most ego points, even if it keeps you from being true to your soul’s code? I’m here to ask you to consider the possibility that there are many flows to go with, but only one of them is correct for you right now. And in my opinion, it is flowing in an underground cavern, far from the maddening crowd.

CGEMINI (May 21-June 20): “There would not

be such a thing as counterfeit gold if there were no real gold somewhere,” says a sufi proverb. Why am I bringing this to your attention at this particular moment in your life story? Here’s the bad news: you’re in possession of some counterfeit gold that you think is authentic. Here’s the good news: Within a short time after waking up to the truth about the fake stuff, you will locate the real thing.

dCANCER (June 21-July 22): Here’s a thought from

the Cancerian philosopher Gaston bachelard: “He who listens to the singing of the stream cannot be expected to understand the one who hears the singing of the flame: They do not speak the same language.” While I mostly agree with that poetic formulation, I think you’re about to be a temporary exception to the rule. normally you are acutely attuned to the singing of the stream; your skill at reading its nuances are supreme among the zodiac. but I expect that in the coming days, you will not only have the power to appreciate the song of the fire; you’ll even be able to empathize with and understand people who are entranced by the song of the fire.

eLEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Paul, a fortune-telling

octopus in oberhausen, Germany, had an amazing run of success predicting the results of World Cup competitions a while back. His technique? His handlers gave him a succession of choices between two tasty morsels, each representing one of the teams in a given match. The treat he picked to eat was the team whose victory he prophesied. I wish I could access his expertise to help me sort out your upcoming decisions. It’s really important that you not over-think the possibilities, but rather rely on simple gut reactions. Why don’t you pretend you’re an octopus, and imagine that each choice you have to make is symbolized by some food item. Ask yourself, “Which is yummiest?”

fVIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Lewis Carroll’s sequel to

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland was Through the Looking Glass. As he wrote it, he invited his illustrator John Tenniel to offer editorial advice. In response, Tenniel tactfully suggested that Lewis cut out a certain chapter. Lewis agreed, and so the story, as we read it today, doesn’t include Alice’s meeting with a grumbling wasp who wore a bright yellow wig that sat disheveled on its head like a clump of seaweed. Think of me as your version of Tenniel, Virgo. As you finish up your labor of love, consider following my recommendation to omit the part that resembles a wasp in a wig.

gLIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): If you and I were sitting

face to face and I asked you, “What are the most important lessons you’ve learned these last 11 months?”, what would you tell me? I think you need this type of experience: an intense and leisurely conversation with a good listener you trust -- someone who will encourage you to articulate the major developments in your life since your last birthday. Here are some other queries I’d pose: 1. How have you changed? 2. What long-term process needs to come to a climax? 3. What “school” are you ready to graduate from? (And by “school” I mean any situation that has been a hotbed of learning for you.)

hSCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): The film Avatar hammers

out such vehement anti-military, anti-capitalist, and anti-imperialist themes that it could have been endorsed by the leftist rock band Rage Against the Machine. And yet it’s the highest-grossing film in the history of the world. one critic marveled at its popularity in even the most conservative areas of America, noting that it got “a theater full of people in Kentucky to stand and applaud the defeat of their country in war.” your assignment in the coming week is to do what Avatar has done: Try to make sure that your opponents and skeptics are entertained by your message -- maybe even excited and intrigued.

iSAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): I recommend

that you enjoy an abundance of recreational time in the coming days, sagittarius. but I hope that you will favor a rigorous physical challenge over lying lazily on the beach. I hope that you will read great literature instead of mass market paperbacks, and that you’ll attend a brain-bending workshop rather than being a spectator at a sports event. Catch my drift, sagittarius? say yes to embarking on a vision quest that scares the fear out of you and pumps up your spiritual ambition; say no to wasting away in a puddle of sluggish, circuitous daydreaming.

jCAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): sixty-nine percent of

conservatives think that hell is a real place, and over half of all liberals do. shocking! Ridiculous! I hope that you, Capricorn, give zero credence to the idea that there is a realm of eternal damnation. In my astrological opinion, believing in hell would grossly interfere with your ability to know the truth about your life right now. so would an irrational fear of failure, an obsession with enemies, or a tendency to define yourself in opposition to bad stuff. Here’s the alternative: To thrive, all you have to do is accentuate what you love, identify what you want, and focus on rewards.

kAQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): This is an excellent

time for you to get more conscious and proactive about what images you bring into your life and surround yourself with. It’s always important to monitor the pictures flowing into your imagination, of course, but it’s especially crucial right now. your mental and physical health are unusually dependent on it. so please do yourself a big favor and gaze upon as much uplifting beauty as you can. Favor gardens over garbage dumps, soaring vistas over strip malls, interesting faces over scowling mugs.

lPISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): every year smokers

toss away over four trillion cigarette butts, fouling the environment terribly. but recently a few Chinese scientists embarked on the seemingly impossible project of finding value in this noxious waste. Collecting up big piles of discarded filters, they developed a process to extract chemicals that are effective at preventing corrosion when applied to steel pipes. your assignment, Pisces, is to accomplish a comparable miracle: Turn some dreck or dross into a useful thing; discover a blessing in the trash; build a new dream using the ruins of an old pleasure.

Homework: Let’s meet in dreams sometime soon. Describe to me the adventures you’d like us to have together. Truthrooster@gmail.com.

F R E E W I L L A S T R O L O G Y