A Touch of Pink

5 Oct 2014

Show 481 / 11th October 2014

(Matt Fishel)

Welcome to my Touch Of Pink blog page. I’m back from my break in the States and raring to go. Lot’s of new track, particularly with a gay theme, such as Mary Lambert, Holly Johnson, Man Meadow, Colton Ford, Matt Fishel, Allan Jay and not forgetting the star of Kinky Boots, Billy Porter teamed up with Cyndi Lauper of a Judy Garland mash-up.

My Single Of The Week is ‘Angel” by ONO. You gotta love John Lennon’s widow, performance artist and octogenarian making great dance music at such an advanced stage in her career. Who’d have thought it possible?

Here follows tonight’s playlist. Tune in this Saturday on JOY 94.9 from 6-7pm for a bakers dozen of fab-u-lous tracks. Your host is Dick.

Playlist for 11^th October 2014

Billy Porter and Cyndi Lauper #	Happy days are here again (Cutmore radio edit)
Hazell Dean	I close my eyes and count to ten
Holly Johnson #	Follow your heart (Knuckles & Kupper edit)
Red Hot Chilli Pipers	Wake me up
Allan Jay #	Love and pride (Matt Pop radio mix)
Man Meadow #	Take it (all) off
Colton Ford #	Look my way (Danny Cohiba remix)
Michael Jackson	Slave to the rhythm (Audien radio edit)
The Saturdays	808
Yoko Ono	Angel (Dave Aude radio edit)
Tina Arena *	Still running (Adam Turner radio edit)
Mary Lambert #	Secrets (Danny Verde radio edit)
Matt Fishel #	When boy meets boy (Matt Pop mix)

* AUSSIE Content # GLBTI Content

What have I seen lately? What haven’t I seen? The following includes shows etc from Broadway and other American and Canadian cities visited on my recent soujourn …

Films:

Gone Girl: At over 2 ½ hours this was quite a journey to find out whodunit. A wife goes missing, did the husband kill her? Or what. Well the answer is what, but there are a lot of twists and turns in this convoluted story before we get there. A tense rollercoaster of a ride, but I’m getting a little tired of the f-word used so much.

Guardians Of The Galaxy: Excellent new Marvel group adventure, a little darker and more plot based than previously, but worth a look.

As Above, So Below: Supernatural adventure, think paranormal activity in the sewers under Paris. Not the best movie I’ve ever seen.

Magic In The Moonlight: The new Woody Allen movie about an illusionist (Colin Firth) trying to discredit a psychic, and naturally, they end up falling in love. A typical Woody Allen period piece, gorgeous locations and vintage music. .

Lucy: Sci-Fi adventure where Scarlet Johansson accidentally ingests a substance that causes her brain function to multiply until 100% of the brain is being used. Sounds odd but the effects are amazing and the plot begins to seem …. plausible?

Sin City: A Dame To Kill For: Second instalment and another highly stylised pulp fiction adventure, based on the graphic novel. Very violent, and it looks amazing.

Love Is Strange: Touching movie about two mature gays, one of whom gets sacked when they get married (this is set in New York). Then they loose their apartment and have to move, separately, in with relatives. Not an ideal situation, and this heart wrenching tale is how they come to terms with what happens to older gays.

The Skeleton Twins: The movie starts where the twins (straight sister, gay brother) are both engaged in suicidal behaviour on opposite coasts of America. The brother slits his wrists, and the sister come over to comfort him, although they have been estranged for 10 years. The movie is all about how they re-connect and try to help each other. Not easy watching, but brave performances and ultimately rewarding.

The Normal Heart: A remake of the Larry Kramer play about the early days of the AIDS epidemic in NYC with Julia Roberts as the doctor charged with raising the alarm. The play seems a little dated as the AIDS landscape has changed, but worth seeing for the political environment and it was a very moving period in gay history.

A Most Wanted Man: Based on the John Le Carre spy thriller. I was not really looking forward to this as I thought that the recent remake of his novel Tinker Tailer Soldier Spy was one of the most boring films I have seen, but it turned out to be pretty good, and quite tense.

Begin Again: A simple movie about a has-been music producer (Mark Ruffalo) who sees a singer songwriter (Keira Knightly) performing and decides he wants to produce her. The bulk of the movie concerns the recording of an album, each song at a different outdoor location. If you enjoyed “Once” you’ll love this. Which I did!

The Keeper Of Lost Causes: This was a cop thriller from Denmark, about a cold case investigation into the disappearance of a woman. Very tense edge of the seat stuff. Love those Scandi-crime-thrillers.

The Hundred Foot Journey: We do love a feel-good movie, and when it’s set in France and stars Helen Mirren, well, you can’t go wrong. It’s about the rivalry between a posh traditional French restaurant and the newly opened Indian restaurant over the road. Culture clash, but it’s a lot of fun, and love story, and some great food porn.

Mrs Brown’s Boys D’movie: It’s everything you’d expect. You either love or hate this stuff. I did like the flash mob episode.

Monty Python Live (Mostly): A film of their recent live shows, with a mixture of some of their greatest hit sketches performed live, with some clips of classic moments, plus singers and dancers performing some of well known songs. Energetic and very, very funny. Fans will love it.

Driving Miss Daisy: A film of the recent Melbourne production at the Comedy Theatre with Angela Lansbury and James Earls Jones. Another of those period pieces, but still enjoyable seeing two old professionals performing.

Lego Movie: If you like lots of bright colours, hip modern culture references and have the attention span of an SMS then this is the movie for you.

Divergent: Another of those young adult Hunger Games type movies about becoming an adult and having to chose your professional path in life. This leads to lots of fighting etc, but enjoyable, if not essential viewing, except for the very attractive male star.

Million Dollar Arm: Fun little movie about a sports agent (Jon Hamm from Mad Men) setting up a recruitment plan to get talented Indian cricket players to play baseball in America. This could have been the plot from a Bollywood movie, but it was pretty good, and filled in 90 minutes of the plane trip.

Shows in America/Canada

Some Men (Play) : This was a brilliant play, a series of vignettes about 30 gay characters covering the period from Stonewall up to the present day, book-ended by a gay marriage. It was performed by a repertory company with a cast of 10.

The Qualms (Play): 4 couples get together at a beach house for a swingers party. One of the couples are newbies, and it doesn’t take long for the fur to fly as the discussion gets around to the purpose of monogamy and mating privileges. There are lessons in there for all of us. Intense but rewarding.

Cirque du Soleil Kurios-Cabinet Of Curiosities: I must admit that I’m over the usual Cirque Du Soleil shows, but this was a new production, it has just started in Toronto, and the overall theme is Steam Punk, and the music more world/Balkan beat box. It looked amazing, the acrobatics and juggling etc were imaginatively staged, and I loved it. Worth seeing when it gets here.

Glenn (Play): Interesting bio-play about the reclusive Glenn Gould, the Canadian pianist, performed by four Glenn’s, each from a different period in his life interacting with each other. Complicated and a little arty-farty but interesting.

Shear Madness (Play): This was one of those camp crowd pleasers that have been on for over 30 years in the same theatre. Set in a hairdressing shop, with the campest hairdresser ever, when a murder is committed. The main action concerns the police investigation and there is some audience interaction where are asked to help in detailing the time line of events. Very corny but also a lot of fun.

Pageant (Musical): A revival of the show about a beauty contest. Each of the “girls” has to sing, wear three different outfits and showcase their talents. I saw in back in the early 90’s and it is still hilarious. The Master Of Ceremonies was wonderfully over the top, as were all the performers.

Matilda (Musical): Brilliant show based on the Roald Dahl book, about a very bright young girl with magical powers who doesn’t quite fit in at school. The songs, the staging and all performances were wonderful.

Kinky Boots (Musical): Based on the film about a struggling shoe company trying to keep afloat, when the owner encounters a drag queen who needs some sturdy but elegant boots, form an unlikely partnership. Lots of drag songs and a feel good love story when the company owner realises the love of his life is not his stuck up fiancé but one of the company employees. Lots of singing and dancing and drag numbers, and score by Cyndi Lauper. Much fun.

Red Hot Chilli Pipers (Concert): This was a rock band fronted by three bagpipers and two specialist drummers. They do mostly covers of rock classics, We Will Rock You, Thunderstruck etc, but also a few dance covers such as Everybody Dance Now and Wake Me Up. They are all excellent performers and one of the pipers is quite a looker.

If/Then (Musical): This was a showcase for Idina Menzel, about a woman and what would happen to her life in two scenarios. Firstly, if she fell in love with a returned solider she meets in the street, or if she had an affair with her married boss. The staging is very clever as the two scenarios are carried out simultaneously. A very modern production and the songs are excellent.

Hedwig (Musical): A revival of the hit show with special guest performers. I missed Neil Patrick Harris’ run, but was very impressed by the performance of Andrew Rannells, who was also in the 2011 cast of The Book Of Mormon and the tv show The New Normal. It was an amazing performance, and left you drained by the end of the show.

Book of Mormon (Musical): I saw this on a previous trip, but Dennis went to see it and thoroughly enjoyed this romp about two missionaries who go to a remote village in Uganda to convert the locals. Written by the guys who do South Park, it was quite confronting but filled with a good hart and great songs.

Cabaret (Musical): Another revival starring Alan Cumming as the Master Of Ceremonies an Michelle Williams as Sally Bowles. Another example of wonderful staging and an over the top and wonderful performance by Alan Cumming., as if the role was written for him.

Lady Day At Emerson’s Bar & Grill (Musical): Starring the amazing Audra McDonald as Billie Holiday late in her career putting on a performance in a night club. By this stage Billie Holiday was drinking too much, taking drugs, and becoming very forgetful. The performance was like watching a car wreck, the singing was brilliant but she was slurring her words, falling over and losing her concentration. Like the final days of Judy Garland and Marlene Dietrich. Heartbreaking, but a brilliant performance by Audra.

A Gentleman’s guide to love and Murder (Musical): The 2014 Tony winner for Best Musical, this was set in Britain in 1909, and concerned the plot whereby a distant relative in a rich family tries to kill off the other relatives above him on the family tree to become the Lord of the Manor. Lots of mischief and plotting as Monty goes about his dastardly deeds. Good fun.

Uprising of love (Concert): Benefit for Global Equality, hosted by Jane Lynch, featuring performances from Sting, Patti Lupone, Kathy Najimy, the cast of One, Wicked, Hedwig etc. A brilliant star studded night, and contributions from Greg Louganis and Vlad, a 17 year old gay refugee from Russia.

Motown Smash Hits Musical (Musical): A fun bio-musical of Berry Gordy, founder of Motown. Basically a bit of plot and lots of performances of tracks from Diana Ross and Te Supremes, Marvin Gate, Stevie Wonder etc.

Stalking The Bogeyman (Play): Harrowing real-life story about a young boy, now grown up, confronting the older college friend who raped him as a child. He plots to meet his attacker, procures a gun etc. I won’t say what happened, but it was gripping.

Mighty Real: The Fabulous Sylvester (Musical): Imagining of a performance where the legendary singer comes back to life for one last performance. Starring Anthony Wayne who channelled Sylvester amazingly, the voice was incredible, as were the four back-up singers. Sylvester’s story was told between song performances. If you get a chance to see this production, it will blow you away.

My Big Gay Wedding (Play): Very corny and slightly amateurish performance as a gay couple get ready for their marriage ceremony. Naturally the whole extended Italian family members become involved and I’m sure you can imagine the shouting, the bitching etc. Fun.

Newsical The Musical: Sketch type show about various current events put into music, very topical (included a Joan Rivers segment) and clever writing.

Beautiful: Carol King Story (Musical): The hottest ticket at the moment, based on the life of singer songwriter Carol King, her tragic marriage to Gerry Goffin, how she wrote all those classic 60’s songs, and how she eventually became a solo star and recorded the Tapestry album which sold over 25 million copies. An interesting story and beautiful music. A hit!

Shows In Australia

Carrie: The Musical: Originally staged on Broadway in 1988 where it flopped, but now rejigged and on at Chapel Off Chapel, this was a revelation. An exceptional, mainly young cast, performing the Stephen King horror story with a great set of songs . I loved this, so dramatic, the tale of a young girl coming to womanhood in school, bullied by her classmates, and exacting a horrific revenge. Wonderful.

Once (Musical): The tale of a part-time Irish busker, who is about to give up on his musical career, when he meets a young Rumanian woman, who encourages him in his musical endeavours. This simple plot is set in a pub with lots of Irish music and dance from a very talented cast of musician/actors. This is the second time I’ve seen it and I loved it all over again.

Show Boat (Musical): The second Production Company presentation for 2014, and I don’t know how they did it but the talented cast breathed life into this hoary old chestnut of a musical. The songs really shone out.

David Harris: Time Is A Traveller (Concert): David is a very talented Melbourne singer, the star of many musicals (including Miss Saigon and Legally Blonde). This is his showcase to give us a look at his life and some favourite tunes, and an interesting glimpse of his fondness of the songs of Peter Allen. A real star and a lovely person.

The Night Larry Kramer Kissed Me (Play): Based on the 2000 film, this told he story of two men meeting and growing up against the backdrop of gay New York, the Stonewall riots and the AIDS crisis. The two performers at the Butterfly club were excellent, bringing the story to life on a virtually bare stage.

Mother And Son (Play): A real crowd pleaser, Noelene Brown and the cast brought the classic ABC tv series to life on stage. The small cast were all excellent, and the writing captured the essence of the humour.

Twisted Broadway (Concert): The 5^th annual charity performance, where Melbourne show performers do show tunes relevant to the opposite sex. Boys do girls roles and vice versa. A mix of humorous and moving performances and all excellent. It sells out, and rightly so, so get ready for the 2015 show.

Impossible Occurrences (Magical Illusion Show): Do you ever see an illusion and wonder how the performer did it? Luke Hocking performed in a small venue, surrounded by the audience, and the audience, including myself, were gob-smacked. A very talented Melbourne lad, and a very entertaining 60 minute performance.

Phew !!!

Dick’s Top 5 Videos This Week

Campest video: Matt Fishel: When Boy Meets Boy