(PT, Library, Acting)

Schedule Thursday 21st March
6am - Instruct Outdoor Fitness Session #1
10am - Induction at new PT job
2.15pm - E resource training at Library
4pm - Learn Lines
5.30pm - Instruct Outdoor Fitness Session #2
6.30pm - Instruct Outdoor Fitness Session #3
8pm - Rehearse

I think this may have been my most TripleThreat day ever.

(Acting) 'Twinkle Twinkle' tickets now on sale!

Rich Fulcher has started promoting his MICF show so guess I better keep up!

Twinkle Twinkle: the Confessions of a Child-Hating Children's Librarian will be returning for a two week run as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Seats are limited and available now.

I cracked myself up today whilst writing new baby related material which is hopefully a good sign.

Go ahead, Click.

http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2013/season/shows/twinkle-twinkle-the-confessions-of-a-child-hating-children-s-librarian-kelly-rose-ryan

http://www.trybooking.com/CHFT 

(Acting) Review: INCARCERATOR, Revolt

Fri 8th Feb, Opening Night
(Free bubbles, bring it on!)

I spent three years of my life at the Ballarat Arts Academy. When I go to see fellow graduates perform it is always such a relief when they are GOOD. ‘Thank God,’ I say to myself, ‘Those hours of humming, dancing to drums and rolling on the floor totally paid off for these guys, hopefully the same applies to me’.
The entire cast and crew of Incarcerator met and studied in Ballarat and have created a well meshed ensemble. The high energy of Zachary Ruane, Martin Van De Wouw and Illiana Contos was pleasingly met and subdued by the more sombre tones of Andrew Davies, Alyson Gale and Broden Kelly.
I love to discover a writer I have never heard of before. Even more exciting is discovering a writer through the eyes of someone who harbours a love for them and is passionate to introduce the world to their work. Isabelle Clara Mason spoke of her admiration for Betts in her program notes and this esteem shines through.
Betts' language is detailed and very stylised. (‘Oh, I didn’t know this was Shakespeare!’, said a lady next to me.) Obviously the actors had worked very hard to get their tongues and minds around the words. I heard and understood everything.
Rounding off the successful elements of the production was Tom Armstrong’s lovely sound design which effectively set the era, mood and energy as well as showcasing some beautiful music in it's own right.
Incarcerator was fun, edgy, a great night out at the theatre.
And no spoilers, but I love Easy Rider for a reason.

http://www.revoltproductions.com/melbourneevents/byevent/INCARCERATOR1

(Library) Review: THE HOBBIT by J. R. R. Tolkien

I first read The Hobbit when I was in Grade 3. I promptly wrote a creative writing piece entitled The Fobbit  in which 14 mythical creatures go to a mountain to recover treasure. My teacher thought it was a work of genius. 15 years later I was worried about rereading the children's classic. I'd read it before, I'd just seen the movie in which Peter Jackson drew out every possible moment form the 1st third of the book and in the lead up to Boxing Day, fueled by my anticipation, I'd been thinking about the story in minute detail. Would I be bored by a story I felt I knew so well? It is a testament to Tolkien's writing that no, I was not. Within 3 pages I was totally enthralled in the adventure all over again. Furthermore, much to my delight, my childhood images of the characters still held firm. Martin Freeman did a wonderful job in the movie but when I look at him I just see his pale English bottom whilst he mock humps in Love Actually. The Hobbit is a classic and rightly so. Currently at the library all our copies are on loan and there is a list of reserves. I sincerely hope this means a new generation is experiencing Bilbo's adventure through their own imaginations and not just relying on Jackson's Epic.

Morning Light

(Personal Training)

It's so light at 6am now! Getting out of bed is super tough but give it a go and squeeze your exercise in nice and early.

REVIEW:  To Rome with Love directed by Woody Allen

I love Woody Allen. In particular I love Woody Allen circa 1977. We've left Everything you ever wanted to know about sex* (*but were afraid to ask) almost long enough ago to forget about it and Annie Hall is in full swing. I love Woody's neurosis, his stammer his overall twitchiness. It's been awhile since I've seen him play himself (well sure, a character, but we all know what that really entails), not in Midnight in Paris, not in Vicky Christina Barcelona. Sadly this seems to be a good thing. In To Rome with Love Allen, now 76* (*a 'how old is Woody Allen?' Google search tells me) still stammers, still worries, is still completely erratic however the life seems to have gone out of him. The bags under his eyes neatly match up with the bottom of his signature glasses (Google cannot tell me the term for the style of these). It's upsetting to say but Woody Allen seems to be an old man desperately trying to recreate himself 40 years ago, and I'm sincerely sorry Woody, but you're coming up short. Perhaps the time has come to hand over to the Owen Wilsons and Jesse Eisenbergs permanently.
Despite all this I loved the movie. I love Alec Baldwin inexplicably hanging out with the young lovers of Paris. I LOVE the idea that a man can sing Turandot in the shower but is tone deaf when he steps out. I love watching what Woody Allen loves about Rome.
I have two ratings for the film:
In 2nd division (as ranked alongside all other films) 4 stars
In premier division (ranked in the universe of Woody Allen films) 3 stars
To Rome with Love is no Annie Hall but it sits happily alongside Matchpoint and Scoop.

REVIEW: The Casual Vacancy by J. K. Rowling
(Don't worry, no spoilers)

J. K. Rowling's first book for adults tells the story of three citizens of a small town vying for a seat on local council after it's previous holder suddenly drops dead. When I told this to one of my library co-workers she replied "that doesn't seem like much of a plot", I see her point. At times I did get quite immersed by Rowling's legitimately 3D characters however the book dragged on too long to sustain my interest.  For this story, the book was about a quarter too long (the length of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone).
There are no lead protagonists in the book, instead we follow about 15 characters as they face life's trials. At first this jumping back and forth between characters was very confusing but eventually I got the hang of it. I would assume that Rowling's message is that no matter your socioeconomic status, life will still present you with terrible situations. Unfortunately I found none of Rowling's characters like-able and therefore, although I felt sorry for them, I didn't really care all that much about their problems. Some will be shocked by the nature of these problem (drugs, rape, suicide etc.) I believe however this is a brave and correct direction for Rowling to take.

But overall there is no getting away from one disappointing fact, this book is just not Harry Potter.