tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post5636701468948338077..comments2024-02-18T19:36:43.844+11:00Comments on theatre notes: Review: The HistrionicAlison Croggonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08398213223487458758noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post-53315854552378912532012-07-20T08:49:39.227+10:002012-07-20T08:49:39.227+10:00HI Anon - I'm very glad you liked it (and how ...HI Anon - I'm very glad you liked it (and how marvellous to get a comment that's <i>not</i> about Queen Lear!) Yes, you should probably bring your whole class to Melbourne!Alison Croggonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08398213223487458758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post-17077698733538562002012-07-19T23:25:11.374+10:002012-07-19T23:25:11.374+10:00Thank you Alison for your insightful review which ...Thank you Alison for your insightful review which I had to find after reading a few uninspired Sydney ones. I didn't know this playwright or the director and am so glad STC brought this fabulous clever production here. Have never blogged before, but keen reader of theatre criticism and secondary Drama teacher - have much to discuss with my students tomorrow. Think I might have to move to Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post-16522739201081534752012-05-02T16:28:04.366+10:002012-05-02T16:28:04.366+10:00Thanks, Benjamin. Your research is much appreciate...Thanks, Benjamin. Your research is much appreciated.Alison Croggonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08398213223487458758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post-71115549675718334892012-05-02T13:13:20.173+10:002012-05-02T13:13:20.173+10:00An AusStage search suggests Australia has seen at ...An AusStage search suggests Australia has seen at least three productions of Bernhard's work prior to 'The Histrionic': the previously discussed 'Force of Habit', 'Hideous Portraits' (Mene Mene Theatre, 1997) and 'Lunch with Ludwig' (New Theatre, 2005). The 'professionalism' of these proudctions is debatable ('Portraits' probably pro co-op, 'Benjamin Brookernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post-52284962487700098372012-04-30T12:20:48.064+10:002012-04-30T12:20:48.064+10:00Hi Anon - I don't know what the story is. Acco...Hi Anon - I don't know what the story is. According to the website, it closes on May 3 (two days earlier than on the program: the weekend performances seem to have been cut). There may be any number of reasons for this. So you can still see it this week.Alison Croggonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08398213223487458758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post-83741739575962986522012-04-30T11:00:45.625+10:002012-04-30T11:00:45.625+10:00I am so shocked that Malthouse Theatre is closing ...I am so shocked that Malthouse Theatre is closing The Histrionic early. I saw the production last week and agree with Scott's earlier comments, i was floored! An incredible meeting of spectacular performance and intuitive stage design (I had not seen Daniel Schlusser's or Marg Horwell's work before - inspiring). Wanting to see the show again I tried to book a ticket for the final weekAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post-5747750371199359482012-04-29T18:38:53.852+10:002012-04-29T18:38:53.852+10:00http://wheelercentre.com/videos/video/critical-fai...http://wheelercentre.com/videos/video/critical-failure-theatre/<br /><br />not sure whether this is evidence in support of or against :)Richard Pettiferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00916298496154973547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post-83308286714864073972012-04-27T16:21:11.490+10:002012-04-27T16:21:11.490+10:00Hi Scott - glad to hear you loved it. I'm very...Hi Scott - glad to hear you loved it. I'm very tempted to return... And hi Gobsmacked: perhaps it might disappoint you to hear that for all the pistols at dawn in blogland, Cameron and I actually have a cordial collegial relationship?Alison Croggonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08398213223487458758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post-88649534664638429372012-04-27T14:45:07.575+10:002012-04-27T14:45:07.575+10:00It has been some years since I have been totally g...It has been some years since I have been totally gobsmacked by a Melbourne production. The Histrionic was much more than I expected - Bille Brown should be deemed a living treasure in Australia alone for his performance! I suppose though what is continually reverberating for me 24 hours later is the beautifully farcial way in which the crushed Austrian empire was referenced both by characters andScott Croziernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post-33176253503160939822012-04-27T10:31:13.765+10:002012-04-27T10:31:13.765+10:00"Nice review, Alison. You're in fine fett..."Nice review, Alison. You're in fine fettle at the moment."?!!<br /><br />Who are you and what have you done with Cameron Woodhead?Gobsmackednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post-69670411177875019732012-04-26T17:20:52.145+10:002012-04-26T17:20:52.145+10:00Thanks Cameron: much appreciated. Fell off the fet...Thanks Cameron: much appreciated. Fell off the fettle pretty much instantly, but such is life.Alison Croggonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08398213223487458758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post-35772319399135466852012-04-26T17:19:00.727+10:002012-04-26T17:19:00.727+10:00Nice review, Alison. You're in fine fettle at ...Nice review, Alison. You're in fine fettle at the moment.Cameron Woodheadhttp://cameronwoodhead.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post-36182784953384793662012-04-20T15:54:27.900+10:002012-04-20T15:54:27.900+10:00You have no idea how often I checked those names. ...You have <i>no idea</i> how often I checked those names. It's my subconscious sabotaging me. Apologies, especially to Josh Price, and now fixed.Alison Croggonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08398213223487458758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post-39631266317176488462012-04-20T15:25:42.761+10:002012-04-20T15:25:42.761+10:00Also, Ferrucio is played by Josh Price, not Josh W...Also, Ferrucio is played by Josh Price, not Josh Wright.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post-43111170805120152762012-04-20T11:44:16.749+10:002012-04-20T11:44:16.749+10:00Oops. I did call him Thomas. I don't know why....Oops. I did call him Thomas. I don't know why.Alison Croggonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08398213223487458758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post-26709270691691731172012-04-20T11:16:19.146+10:002012-04-20T11:16:19.146+10:00The translation was by Tom Wright, the exile in Sy...The translation was by Tom Wright, the exile in Sydney, not Thomas Wright, beardy black lung beer ad star.<br />Just in case anyone was confused.<br /><br />Thomas F Wright (another one)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post-70776172146615299342012-04-20T08:25:12.817+10:002012-04-20T08:25:12.817+10:00Thanks all. I'm not surprised that Anthill pro...Thanks all. I'm not surprised that Anthill produced Bernhard (and what a great cast); like other independent companies, they did many important writers - I remember a production of Bernard-Marie Koltes, for instance - who were otherwise neglected here. Those writers were still, bizarrely, considered "fringe" writers by the "mainstream", which is really the substance of my Alison Croggonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08398213223487458758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post-11268741486860185622012-04-19T19:55:02.136+10:002012-04-19T19:55:02.136+10:00Hi, yes Anthill was ahead of the pack. Tom W cert...Hi, yes Anthill was ahead of the pack. Tom W certainly would have known about the production having been in one of our shows a little before Force of Habit. It is really interesting how many shows Anthill produced in the very early '90's that Daniel has been exploring - Peer Gynt, Life is a Dream, Bernhardt (different play but oh such similar terrain) and also his recent creative Suzanne Chaundy exANTnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post-16620080856690711082012-04-19T18:20:28.030+10:002012-04-19T18:20:28.030+10:00Yes Chris, Anthill's production of The Force o...Yes Chris, Anthill's production of The Force of Habit was remarkable, dug out the old B+W proofs this afternoon.<br /><br />Petru Gheorghiu as Caribaldi, The Ring Master<br />Ernie Gray as The Juggler<br />Julie Forsyth as The Granddaughter<br />Hugh Wayland as The Clown<br />Ian Scott a The Lion Tamer<br /><br />Interestingly the programme gratefully acknowledges the assistance of the jeff busbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15683706363863266647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post-78467281664677945972012-04-19T17:41:46.737+10:002012-04-19T17:41:46.737+10:00Jason, ANT's production of Force of Habit was ...Jason, ANT's production of <i>Force of Habit</i> was part of the 1993 Fringe Arts Festival (as it was known back then) but it was definitely a Pro production. It opened on September 8.Chris Boydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18215203610745043810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post-62637284429922798112012-04-19T13:30:01.735+10:002012-04-19T13:30:01.735+10:00Hi 4Coffins - I should point out that the reviews ...Hi 4Coffins - I should point out that the reviews have been pretty well unanimously glowing on this production. <br /><br />I'm fairly amused - and I'm sure Bernhard would be - to think that his play might have any educational function. Unless you mean that in the broader sense of being a provocation to thought, which is, after all, the only education worth bothering about. <br /><br />OnAlison Croggonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08398213223487458758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post-62854359083993598712012-04-19T11:14:38.247+10:002012-04-19T11:14:38.247+10:00Thanks Alison, an interesting review. (There aren’...Thanks Alison, an interesting review. (There aren’t… exactly many immediate questions to be asked, are there? Only glowing to be done. I’ve been considering how to respond, or whether there IS a response, for some time, and a thank-you for pricking me into action).<br /><br />I think Jeff’s above comment regarding cultural specificity can be dismissed as not taking up Bernhard’s challenge. “We Richard Pettiferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00916298496154973547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post-84020627596137666982012-04-18T17:12:12.029+10:002012-04-18T17:12:12.029+10:00Re colonial petticoats, this is from the excellent...Re colonial petticoats, this is from the excellent /Brecht & Co: German-speaking Playwrights on the Australian Stage/: "Jurgen Zielinski, responsible for make up and wigs in Kosky's Faust, confirmed the strong commercial pressures in mainstream theatre when he recalled in personal interview (19 Apr. 1996) that the MTC did not take up his proposal to stage a play by Thomas Bernhard, Andrew Fuhrmannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05111045520521396035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post-82511955329521309302012-04-18T14:46:26.348+10:002012-04-18T14:46:26.348+10:00Hi Jason - only quoting claims made in pre-publici...Hi Jason - only quoting claims made in pre-publicity here, hence the get-out clause "apparently". Bernhard certainly hasn't - to my knowledge, at least - been produced on a main stage.<br /><br />And hi Jeff - (that's Jeff Sparrow there - he confessed): I think that's an interesting point. The play struck home for me - I found it kept working its way into my head like a burrAlison Croggonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08398213223487458758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post-67112861009307899532012-04-18T13:53:53.542+10:002012-04-18T13:53:53.542+10:00That's a very interesting review, and has give...That's a very interesting review, and has given me a lot to think about.<br />My take is quite different, though. <br />I did not find the performance funny, even though I know others did.<br />Part of the problem lay in the transposition of an intervention into Austrian history outside that specific context. Accusations of an underlying authoritarianism in a national culture has an obvious Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com