tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post5833705219758660604..comments2024-02-18T19:36:43.844+11:00Comments on theatre notes: Moody MoodyAlison Croggonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08398213223487458758noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post-31361619858259079852007-11-02T17:16:00.000+11:002007-11-02T17:16:00.000+11:00Try reading the New York reviews of Edwards's prod...Try reading the New York reviews of Edwards's production of "White Devil" to give you a un-jingoistic appraisal. Not trying to be unkind, just realistic. As anyone who sat through the original "Boy from Oz" would know, subtlety is not her long suit...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post-50515839437285710662007-11-02T08:06:00.000+11:002007-11-02T08:06:00.000+11:00Good guess, Chris. A lot of Williamson (a little g...Good guess, Chris. A lot of Williamson (a little goes a long way). I certainly haven't seen everything, and certainly not Sweeney Todd, which I do love as a work. Still, in general it's a certain kind of work, no? I don't really have an animus towards straight work - in fact, I'm all for good plays well directed, a rare pleasure - but I like to live in a various ecology.Alison Croggonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08398213223487458758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post-48905086097374354972007-11-01T18:02:00.000+11:002007-11-01T18:02:00.000+11:00Which of Gale's shows have you seen in the last ha...Which of Gale's shows have you seen in the last half dozen years, Alison? Maybe <I>Hitchcock Blonde</I> (an uncharacteristically fuzzy and lacklustre show from GE) and one of the shockin' touring David Williamson productions? Maybe that directed-by-numbers musical about the Eureka Stockade? <BR/><BR/>You would be one of her fan club, I reckon, if you had seen her production of <I>The Way of Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post-48516364038182227852007-11-01T08:56:00.000+11:002007-11-01T08:56:00.000+11:00Sigh. I guess the real task for is sorting out the...Sigh. I guess the real task for is sorting out the valid complaints from the bile.<BR/><BR/>Simmonds comment here - "Moody will be painted as a malcontent in public and as a hero in corners where he will be surreptitiously patted on the back. Meanwhile, his former colleagues who are enjoying the rare experience of a steady job and decent salary will toe the line and work their arses off as they Alison Croggonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08398213223487458758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post-46392110096137647282007-11-01T08:37:00.000+11:002007-11-01T08:37:00.000+11:00Alison I see your old sparring partner Simmonds ha...Alison I see your old sparring partner Simmonds has decided to run with the Moody story, and sink as many boots into the STC as she can. I guess after finally finding someone who agrees with her hatred of the STC and Actors Company, she's going to flog it for all it's worth.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post-21852489508701172742007-10-30T17:22:00.000+11:002007-10-30T17:22:00.000+11:00I'm interested Anonymous 9.20, who are the artists...I'm interested Anonymous 9.20, who are the artists missing from the list? Who is 'out in the cold' at STC? (or MTC or anywhere else for that matter?). Occasionally I wonder why we in Sydney don't see more of Belinda McClory (sp?) for example...but is this as a result of little in-crowds, fashionability, taste etc? Or is it inadvertent?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post-67086929402017286892007-10-30T10:45:00.000+11:002007-10-30T10:45:00.000+11:00You are quite right Alison that "best" lists are p...You are quite right Alison that "best" lists are pointless. My mention of those three actresses Rabe, Blanchett and Nevin was simply to lampoon Colin Moody's absurd comment that they were only suited to playing the witches, and that Pamela Rabe had no right to direct. Beyond that, scorecards for artists make no sense. The annual fracas over the Helpmann awards being a case in point.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post-1373256739418983772007-10-30T09:36:00.000+11:002007-10-30T09:36:00.000+11:00(I've given up counting Anons.) I agree that "best...(I've given up counting Anons.) I agree that "best" is a problematic judgement... best <I>what</I>? Is Celan "better" than Mandelstam, is Blake "better" than Milton... There's a point where such things become ludicrous, because Milton is "best" at being Milton, Blake "best" at being Blake, and it's ridiculous to put them together as if they're galloping for the same post.<BR/><BR/>Still, Alison Croggonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08398213223487458758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post-52108102161116151712007-10-30T09:20:00.000+11:002007-10-30T09:20:00.000+11:00And so the conversation becomes about "best" actre...And so the conversation becomes about "best" actresses. Taste, opportunity, role, director, text, audience...all of these surely contribute to such a notion, limited as it is. Not that any of those women are limited, but for God's sake, think of those who are missing from the list - or let's just NOT think about "best" at all. Our performance culture is blessed with an abundance of Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post-42568146525629627372007-10-30T08:45:00.000+11:002007-10-30T08:45:00.000+11:00Chris you are certainly correct. because Ms Jurisi...Chris you are certainly correct. because Ms Jurisic has been in Europe for so long I didn't think of her as a native any longer, but she is at the very top of anyone's list. Women of Troy with her and Nevin will be something to see--my prediction is that freed from the admin bureaucracy of her day job, Nevin's best work is ahead of her.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post-42589619775416991122007-10-30T07:25:00.000+11:002007-10-30T07:25:00.000+11:00Right back atcha, St Genesius! Any list of "great...Right back atcha, St Genesius! Any list of "greatest stage actresses in this country today" that isn't headed by Melita Jurisic is fatally flawed! (Much as I love all three that you mention...)Chris Boydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18215203610745043810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post-59181629193236205462007-10-29T22:33:00.000+11:002007-10-29T22:33:00.000+11:00Thanks everyone for all the comments...still in po...Thanks everyone for all the comments...still in post-fest haze here.<BR/><BR/>Anon #4, yes, being "combative" and "difficult" doesn't mean that Moody might not have a point. I know plenty of combative and difficult people. Some have even accused <I>me</I> of being such a person (perish the thort).<BR/><BR/>But it would be nice to have some sober and informed media discussion, rather than the Alison Croggonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08398213223487458758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post-42402917461604983662007-10-29T21:35:00.000+11:002007-10-29T21:35:00.000+11:00To continue in this vein - I just wanna pay to see...To continue in this vein - I just wanna pay to see Colin Moody cleaning blood off the walls (again). I bet he loves it...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post-20289433156430968132007-10-29T21:23:00.000+11:002007-10-29T21:23:00.000+11:00Isn't it possible to be "complicated and troubled"...Isn't it possible to be "complicated and troubled", "combative and extremely difficult to work with", even "unemployable", and yet also right?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post-16220558685206091812007-10-29T12:04:00.000+11:002007-10-29T12:04:00.000+11:00I disagree Chris, I think the joy would be seeing ...I disagree Chris, I think the joy would be seeing arguably the three greatest stage actresses in this country today playing the roles, each at their different height but all of similar stature.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post-57993471696079349032007-10-29T07:58:00.000+11:002007-10-29T07:58:00.000+11:00I'm picturing R Nevin in Frankenstein platform boo...I'm picturing R Nevin in Frankenstein platform boots -- a bit like the ones Max Gillies used to wear when playing Malcolm Fraser -- just to equalise the heights of these (very) weird sisters.<BR/><BR/>But, hell, we've already had Chloe Armstrong as a bitch-witch in school uniform... who could ask for anything more?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post-59495271143482846482007-10-29T07:07:00.000+11:002007-10-29T07:07:00.000+11:00All I can say is, if Colin Moody gets his wish, an...All I can say is, if Colin Moody gets his wish, and R Nevin and C Blanchett play the witches in the Scottish play (with P Rabe as the third, just to complete his trifecta of abuse?) I for one will be first in line for a ticket.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post-43521769748453621052007-10-29T03:15:00.000+11:002007-10-29T03:15:00.000+11:00Let's not forget Andrew Upton's superb translation...Let's not forget Andrew Upton's superb translation/adaptation of Maxim Gorky's Philistines for the National.<BR/><BR/>In the meantime, the Melbourne Theatre Company looks irrelevant as a state institution compared to the Sydney one, which at least takes its state responsibilities seriously. The proof is in the programming, surely.Ben Ellishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16654820455368893078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post-66518141839851449992007-10-28T21:47:00.000+11:002007-10-28T21:47:00.000+11:00There is an issue with the new STC leadership, but...There is an issue with the new STC leadership, but it isn't with Cate.<BR/><BR/>To be blunt, Andrew Upton's theatrical legacy largely rests on two higly successful transatlions (Cyrano and Hedda), and two far less successful plays (Old Masters and Rifelmind). He doesn't remotely have anything like the runs on the board necessary for qualifying for the position.<BR/><BR/>When Robyn Nevin moved in Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post-86363931512717967922007-10-28T19:37:00.000+11:002007-10-28T19:37:00.000+11:00Anon #3 (it's brilliant btw if anonymous types use...Anon #3 (it's brilliant btw if anonymous types use pen names, so we know "who" is "who") - read the post again. Am I being too subtle? Of course I totally agree with you, there is no story here. I think it's a total beatup. I don't even think the real story is at the STC.<BR/><BR/>Anon #2, I will leave that comment up - it seems kind of fair enough, given what Moody said - but can I suggest more Alison Croggonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08398213223487458758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post-20863020597636568102007-10-28T18:11:00.000+11:002007-10-28T18:11:00.000+11:00In an attempt to soothe TN's twitching journalisti...In an attempt to soothe TN's twitching journalistic antennae I would suggest there is, in fact, no story here.<BR/><BR/>Ironically, the only reason Mr Moody's artistic woes received any attention is because he dropped the Blanchett/Upton combination into his story.<BR/><BR/>Trees for the forest people, trees for the forest.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post-49839969615837377582007-10-28T16:22:00.000+11:002007-10-28T16:22:00.000+11:00Colin Moody is well known in the industry for bein...Colin Moody is well known in the industry for being combative and extremely difficult to work with. His acrimonious departure from the Actors Company speaks more about him as a person than it does about the state of affairs in Sydney Theatre. <BR/>I find it perplexing that he talks passionately about doing work that is true, yet is quite happy to take on a role in Jan with the very company he is Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post-49950307584162617432007-10-28T14:50:00.000+11:002007-10-28T14:50:00.000+11:00Hi Anon - just a tiny and no doubt anal point, but...Hi Anon - just a tiny and no doubt anal point, but Plea For Sanity isn't - so far as I know - a blogger, but a commenter. You can tell bloggers because their names will link to their blogger profiles, which in turn link to their blogs.Alison Croggonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08398213223487458758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post-19591047206612451122007-10-28T11:10:00.000+11:002007-10-28T11:10:00.000+11:00Having seen "Vertical Hour" in New York last year,...Having seen "Vertical Hour" in New York last year, I can assure you that it was anything but a star vehicle for Julianne Moore. I too am no huge David Hare fan, but this was by far the best play of his I have seen, and the American audience sat in stunned, attentive silence as the folly of the war was eloquently and intelligently discussed. It is an important piece of theatre with a contemporary Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7202906.post-74078338118299240452007-10-28T10:03:00.000+11:002007-10-28T10:03:00.000+11:00PS Forgot something: I'm no great rap for David Ha...PS Forgot something: I'm no great rap for David Hare, but saying no one takes him seriously in London is ridiculous, when Vertical Hour is on at the Royal Court next year and he's also included in the National's 2008 season.Alison Croggonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08398213223487458758noreply@blogger.com