Varekai - Cirque du Soleil

After a long and exciting night on Monday, my partner treated me to a night at Cirque du Soleil.

We have been so lucky that some really great shows have been in Sydney lately.. I know I sound like a broken record, but this show was fabulous!

"Varekai" is set in a dark and eerie bamboo-styled forest, positioned at the edge of a volcano. With amazing costumes and outstanding lighting, combined with the magic and artistry that one would expect from Cirque du Soleil, this show is heaven..

Well in more ways than one! I of course love a beautiful, well made and detailed costume, and there was two truck loads of them! Then the music, all live, was fantastic, really adding to the night. But yes.. There was something else worth a mention..

Two young GORGEOUS twins, who for the most part wear blue, black, or a combination of both were absolute heaven to watch! Apart from being stunning eye candy, they are amazing gymnasts and performance artists. With incredible grace and strength rolled into one, these boys fly through the air, and then come together for some (occasional) homo-erotic moments... Hmmm

Aside that, there are some hilarious moments with the "modern-ized clowns" - for want of a better way of describing them! I won't ruin the suprises for those who will go to the show (and YOU should), but I can say both my boyfriend and I were roped into their act - it was a lot of fun.

Now for those who think they will be stuck up the back rows for the show (and the back is not that far at all!), considering tickets have been on sale for ages, there is no need for despair! My partner bought our tickets online only HOURS before the show. We were right on the middle aisle in the front row.. right where all the action is. This was the $250 VIP area, yet we paid $99 for these tickets when obviously they were discounted to be sold.

As always, tickets are easier to get on a early weeknight, so consider that when looking for tickets to any long running show. (BTW, if your not going to the ACON Priscilla Preview on Friday September 29th, then remember that tip for the main season.)

You can buy tickets to VAREKAI from Ticketek or by calling 132 849.
Season running until October 8th 2006 in Sydney before touring Australia.

DIVA - My Fabulous Night...

Well what a fabulous night I had! I'm till recovering from being out all night, but so buzzed and excited about winning 2 awards! YAYYYYY!!! - I'll start from the beginning..

After helping the committee set up for DIVA during the day, I went home to get ready. While at Star City, my costume was delivered to my house, so from then on, it was up to me to make my look complete.

I went with a much drag-ier face, purple and pink eye shadow around the eyes with purple glitter highlighting my eye-lids. Contour shading was also with a light hint of purple, finished with pink blush on the cheeks and pink lips.

My costume - well what can I say? It was a masterpiece!



Words cannot say how brilliant it is.. Camp as a row of tents, but still very glamorous and elegant.. Take a look at the pic!

Enjoying the new red carpet location for DIVAs at the Star City Casino Showroom, I posed for the cameras and video cameras - I really did feel like a super-star!

As a poster girl, I was part of the opening video this year for DIVA. Cleo Coupe put the very funny video together - what a great job! Bitchy, fun and violent.. Just what you want to see with a bunch of drag beauty queens! My favourite moment is when I drop marbles onto some steps as Verushka Darling walked down them.. She tumbled with great style.. I love you Verushka - you are a cack!

Right after the video, I had hurried to make sure I was in position to walk on to announce the 2nd award. Onstage, Mitzi Macintosh started proceedings as one of the 3 hosts for the night. While backstage, I had the honour of meeting the "Young Divas". I spoke with Paulini (LOVE HER!) for a short time, then they were whisked off to get ready for the show after my award presentation.

Before I knew it, my music cue was sounding loud from stage, and the three spunky male "Solid Gold DIVA Dancers" (Michael, Kane and Will) carried me onto stage. After a short dance, I headed to the podium to present the DIVA Variety Award for 2006.

My very good friends, Cleo Coupe and Lawrence Stark won the award for "Hats Off" - a production held earlier on in the year at the Showroom. The fact that I also performed in that event and so presenting the award was a treat. Not to mention handing them the DIVA statue!



I RAN back towards my front row seat to watch the Young Divas, and I'm very glad I did! What a treat to see them live! It was AWESOME!

Paulini (pictured) looked amazing - as did all the girls!

I wished they performed more than one song!

Then on with the show.. more awards.. and tears..

My fabulous friend whom I love so much, Ru Bella, won DIVA Rising Star! I had some tears in my eyes, let alone Ru Bella herself, when she won.. I'm so very happy that I asked her work in my shows, as she is very talented and sweet girl. Thank god others appreciate and recognise it too!

Suddenly I was whisked from the table to the side of the stage, as I was a finalist in the "Belle of the Ball".

Made into a show, the 8 finalists were paraded around the stage, before hostess Vanessa Wagner, asked some typical beauty queen pageant questions..

Then came the moment..

The winner is...


SHELLEY LEGS DIAMOND!

Me? Really? OMG!

It was a surreal moment and one I'll never forget! I was very excited!

I did take the time though to thank the fabulous Abbey Rhode (Grant Margetts) who made this amazing outfit. He has unfortunately gone un-recognised for his work over the years with DIVAs (for quite technical reasons), and I was glad to accept this award as a appreciation of his work on this stunning outfit.

With interval now underway, I stood for many photos and made my way back to my seat.

Before I knew it, Verushka Darling was hosting and we were close to the end of the night. "Best Show of the Year (3 and under)" was now to be presented, and my show, "Rough Trade Hers" was nominated.

I was ecstatic that we won, but the whole time I was walking to the stage I kept thinking.. "What do I say? Who to thank..??"



Of course I just kept repeating that in my head so much that I actually didn't think of anything! In the end, I went into my thank you speech cold.. and suffered some embarrassing blanks... They were filled in by Cleo! Thanks for saving me babe!.

Sitting back and enjoying the rest of the night, I was very happy for Dancing Queen - (Kylie Show) on Saturday nights at Midnight Shift, to get the award for Best Show of the Year (4 and over). It's a great show, you should see it!

Amelia Airhead I'm sure hardly got back to her seat before heading back to the stage to accept the award for Entertainer of the Year. Regal, and displaying so much class and generosity, she accepted the award.. Adding to her "Best Show", "Most Popular Show Cast" and "Miss Congeniality" awards.

With a fun finale, complete with a live choir, the night finished with a bang!

Then it was off to the Bitch or Boast after party, where I had a lot to boast about. I was very happy with my results from the awards, and had a great time dancing and catching up with friends and judges.

My thanks to the DIVA committee and judges for their hard work in putting together a night where we Queens (and Kings) are encouraged to be self-centered bitches - well some more so than others!

I can't wait for next year! Pity it only comes once a year...

Hedwig and the Angry Inch

Hedwig was an absolute surprise!

After watching the film first when it was released a number of years ago now, I had no idea how the show would be performed.

After the typical dramas of entering a RSL club when you live outside a 5km radius, I walked into the small hall set up as a theatre and felt disappointed. The room was small, the stage was small and there was hardly a set to speak of. But I needn't have worried, as "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" was to blow not only my disappointment, but everyone's minds, away!

iOTA, a six time Aria Award nominee, performs outstandingly as Hedwig in a rock 'n' roll musical following the life of an East Berlin boy - Hansel.

His escape to the west can only happen via a tragic sex change operation and marriage to American "sugar daddy" G.I. Luther. Hansel, now known as Hedwig, moves to the USA with her new partner, but is soon abandoned. She is left with a one-inch reminder of her past (not to mention a few anger management issues!), and turns to her dream of a successful muscial career to help find happiness.

The film had a number of characters who helped to move the drama along, but in this production, it is performed as (almost) a monologue. Only Blazey Best has a select few lines, however she (playing the male character "Yitzhak") is mostly confined to the back of stage doing backup vocals. Otherwise the only other character is Tommy Gnosis, which is just a voiceover in this production.

iOTA carries the show brilliantly and his timing and his ability to give such depth to the character is outstanding. I couldn't imagine someone else in the role..

The crowd gave him a standing ovation, and it was well deserved. We all left with knowing that we had seen some amazing local talent perform a show which is already a cult classic!

The show has been extended due to high demand, so you still have time to see it.

Tickets are General Admission, so the earlier you get there, the better choice you have of seats - but since it's a small space, most seats will be great anyway.

Make sure you have photo ID with you as it is a licensed "theatre", and remember, those of us who live outside the 5km radius of the Newtown RSL, must become temporary members..

Don't be put off by that though, as the show is worth it!

*********************

Venue: Newtown RSL Club

Over 18's Only, ID Required

Season extended until Sunday 27th August 2006

$45 Adult and $35 Concession

Bookings on (02) 9550 3666, through Ticketek on 132 849 or online at www.ticketek.com.au

My Birthday..

My Birthday was on Tuesday just gone (15th Aug)..

And yes.. It IS rude to ask how old I am.. (Those who know my Gaydar profile would know the answer though! Hehehe)

Lets just say I'm in my 20's and leave it at that!

Anyways, I took the day off work, sleeping in until 10am. I had a light breakfast at Tropicana, then the boyfriend and I packed my little dog into the car and we headed south down the coast to Stanwell Park.

Yes, we enjoyed it down there earlier this year (For those who remember my previous blog) and decided to get out of town and go somewhere we knew we would enjoy...

Up on the cliffs above Stanwell Park, we watched a man assembling his glider for a recreational flight. All the while, a bus load of Asian tourists waited for the launch of the gliders from the cliff-face.

The tour guide, to my astonishment, was actually pressuring the man to complete the assembly quicker as they were on a schedule, but wanted to see him launch the glider!

The man wanted to tell them to "F"-off, but bit his tongue and tried to be nice.. I would have told them where to go!

In the end, the tourists, and myself, got the shots we were after... I took some photos and film footage with my little Canon Powershot A75. (I was hoping to have the pics on here to show you, but for some reason the pics will not transfer from the camera to my Macintosh through the USB... Who knows why..)

Needless to say it was spectacular to watch him catch the wind coming from below the cliff-face, and to watch the glider actually ascend vertically above us. Soon enough there were 3 gliders flying around, back and forth, with absolute ease - well it appeared that way!

Even a few birds came over to join in the gliding!

My little dog, Icypole, the boyfriend and I started to get a bit cold though, so we headed down the coast (and down to sea level) for some late lunch.

After that, we headed back towards Sydney, mindful there was some nasty weather about to come in.

Once we got back, we noticed we had missed a hail storm. The "cat balcony" (a ledge outside the window for the cats to sit on and eat their cat-grass) was half covered in a pile of hail still.

I was so disappointed to miss the storm, as I love snow (and anything that resembles it!) I even made sure I went on holiday to NZ during ski season 2 years ago, and learnt how to ski with private lessons on my birthday!

I've wished that it would snow in Sydney, and I missed the closest thing to it - and on my birthday too! Damn it!

Anyways, back to the rest of the day - We fed the animals, then headed off to watch "Ten Canoes" at the Verona Cinema on Oxford St.

"Ten Canoes" won some awards at Cannes earlier this year, and was the opening film for the 2006 Sydney Film Festival.

I was a little disappointed with the movie - though I expected something different - however it's definitely a movie worth watching. I did learn a number of things about the Aboriginal culture that I didn't know, and it was certainly good to see a completely indigenous cast performing on screen.

After the movie, we had some YUMMY Thai food at an amazing restaurant on Victoria St. (Next year I will order some of Pheonixboi's home-made pasta! Looks great..!) We then headed home to have a well needed sleep!

Now, I do have to thank my gorgeous boyfriend for making my day such a special one! (I Love You!)

SO MUCH HAPPENING ATM - Will report on "Hedwig and the Angry Inch", "The Boy From Oz" and "Burn The Floor - Floorplay" shortly.. I feel like such a theatre buff atm!

Until then, take care - look after your family, your friends, and most importantly.. yourself!

Luv
SHELLEY
XX

Honour Bound - Sydney Opera House, Playhouse Theatre

On Sunday I attended one of the most emotional and thought provoking performance pieces I have ever seen..

"Honour Bound", a work created by Nigel Jamieson and choreographed by Gary Stewart is a show that MUST be seen by every Australian.. In fact every person, regardless of nationality.

The show is about David Hicks, the Australian who has now been locked up for years in Guantanamo Bay for alleged terrorism charges. He has been the centre of much controversy in this country.

The performance takes us through just a glimpse of his life, confined in small lockups and suffering abuse.

Video footage and photos are projected onto the stage, set up as a large metal mesh block.

Even with the aerial acrobatics with some stunningly timed dancing against the multimedia, the show keeps to some quite heart-felt issues...

The footage of his family talking about David, puts a tear to your eye. Whether he is a terrorist or not, the compassion you feel for his family becomes immense.

Then there is the reminder about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, of which Australia is a signatory. The piece asks why this standard of human rights is not being upheld for one of our nationals in the custody of one of our "allies".

The piece is not for the faint-hearted. You will not walk away with a spring in your step, but I promise you that you will walk away feeling deep emotion. Isn't that what theatre should be like? (At least from time to time...)

I should also mention that the dancers are amazing. To project isolation and restriction is a contradicting challenge in itself, let alone to touch on such complex and emotional subject matter in addition. To represent Hicks' humiliation and vulnerability, the dancers even strip naked, producing a confronting scene, which had some people in tears.. Hats off to these amazing performers.

I was lucky enough to also attend a post performance question and answer session held with Major Michael Mori - US Defence Counsel for David Hicks.

It was fascinating to hear his answers - such a clear, concise, fair and honest man. On the following day, he appeared on ENOUGH ROPE, hosted by Andrew Denton on ABC. Click here to read a transcript of that interview..

If you are to watch just one show this year, this should be it!

I'm very serious...

SEASON
Tuesday 1 August - Sunday 3 September

PRICES
Adult - $53
*Concession - $43

*Concessions apply to Australian Pensioners / Full time Students / Unemployed / Children Under 18.

Tickets from the Sydney Opera House

Phone Bookings on (02) 9250 7777