Flying in my gondola

The below review was originally published on Australian Stage and can be read by clicking here . Written by Gordana Andjelic-Davila    Friday, 30 May 2014 08:39 Melbourne has the privilege of being one of the stops on internationally acclaimed dance troupe Pilobus’ world tour, performing its groundbreaking new show Shadowland . Having featured on the 79th Annual Academy awards, and performing for Oprah Winfrey, Shadowland , simply put, is a fusion of shadow theatre, dance and acrobatics – but in actuality it is so much more. Using screens of all sizes to project onto them seemingly impossible body morphing, where dancers magically transform into exotic creatures and beautiful imagery, to convey a fantastic tale, Shadowland brings to life the story of a young girl who is at life’s cross road. While she reluctantly prepares for bed, she wishes that her parents’ perception of her would change. Convinced that she is more mat...

Each year, around this time, Little Big Shots (LBS) comes to town with a new collection of films from around the globe, intended for children or made by them. The film festival was conceived by Nick Place back in 2004, and this year LBS celebrates it first big milestone, a whopping decade of dedication to exposing kids to the very best international and domestic films, as well as the process of filmmaking. To commemorate their fabulous decade, LBS has released a limited edition 10th B’day Retro Collection DVD , featuring some of their most memorable films: Birthday Boy (2005, Aston’s Stone (2008), Because You’re Gorgeous (2009), Brunswick Browns (2010), The Animal Book (2010), The Vacuum Kid (2012), Abiogenesis (2013) and The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr Morris Lessmore (2013). The film festival offers 13 different packages appropriate for ages ranging from 2 years old to 15+. Movie aficionados of all ages can customise their film viewing schedule according to age, subjec...

In a not so distant future, Earth has been invaded by an alien race called the Mimics. The occupiers are - of course - menacing and über scary, resembling the offspring of   octopi who mated with some vicious space insects, with anger management issues.   Humans have looked past each other’s racial, religious and socio-economic differences by fighting  together  an up hill battle against their common enemy, and failing at it royally. It seems that, no army in the world or its arsenal of weapons can match the lightning speed or ruthlessness of the Mimic forces.  Lt. Col. Bill Cage ( Tom Cruise ) has been spared from combat during most of his career however, after his sudden drop in rank, he is forced to embark on suicide mission alongside more experienced soldiers, in a last ditch effort to defend the globe against its alien invaders. Unfortunately, within a few minutes of on the ground fighting, Cage is killed. For reasons unbeknown to him, Ca...

The below review was originally published on Australian Stage, and can be read by clicking here . Written by Gordana Andjelic-Davila    Wednesday, 28 May 2014 09:28 The letter “S” is the19th letter of the English alphabet; represented by a line which curves on top to the right and on the bottom to the left, therefore it is probably also the most balanced letter. The “S” can be perceived as sensuous as well, sophisticated, even a bit dangerous, and in this particular case it is the inspiration behind Circa’s powerful piece work, S , which the Brisbane-based circus troupe, performed at the Darebin Arts Centre last night. On a dark stage void of props, a lone female figure is barely visible, as it contorts to the rhythm of slow and heavy breathing. The bit of light which originates from a solitary lightbulb above her, highlights her body’s curves as she continues to bend and slither, possibly in pain, or perhaps in ecstasy, until she is met by a...

Written by  Gordana Andjelic-Davila    Saturday, 24 May 2014 08:47 Left – The Topp Twins. Photo – Sally Tagg Not familiar with the  Topp Twins ? Neither was I a couple of years ago, until I watched their documentary film,  The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls . I made myself a promise that, the next time they were in town, I would move heavens and earth to go see them live. Heavens and earth moved, I had my wish fulfilled. New Zealand’s national treasures, folk and country music singing activists and identical twin sisters,  Jools  and Lynda Topp  have been performing together for over 30 years. Born in the country, tending to farm animals and leading a true farmer’s life, the sisters started out as country singers, and eventually, due to their incredible sense of humour, they evolved into comedy. In the late 1990s, the  Topp Twins  had their own variety TV show, which showcased a cast of New Zealand stereotype characters among them, th...

Written by Gordana Andjelic-Davila    Tuesday, 20 May 2014 09:06 Left – Bert LaBonte and Jude Perl April 1st, 1984, on the eve of his 45th birthday, Motown Records’ superstar Marvin Gay, renown for chart topping hits such as “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You),” “I heard It Through the Grapevine” and “Sexual Healing,” was shot and killed by his own father. Ironically, when the news of the unfortunate incident broke out, many thought it was an April Fool’s joke, so they didn’t pay much attention to it. When Gaye’s passing was confirmed, the world was overwhelmed by a combination of shock and a devastated sense of loss. Upon learning of the incident, Rev. Al Sharpton said that Gaye’s death came “like a sick, sad joke.” Years later Marvin Senior was asked in an interview if he ever loved his son. He replied, “Let’s just say I didn’t dislike him.” 30 years after Gaye’s death, the show, Let’s Get it On at Melbourne’s Athaeneum Theatre, s...

Written by Gordana Andjelic-Davila    Friday, 23 August 2013 08:07   After two decades of impressing audiences around the globe, the Brighton, UK and Manhattan-based dance troupe known as Stomp has come back to Australian shores. My first exposure to the troupe was in the US back in 1997, at the Orpheum Theatre, by which time New Yorkers had already enjoyed numerous performances over the years. For me it was all very new. I was impressed by its originality and awestruck from the first matchbox shake. If you have never heard of Stomp , imagine a sort of post apocalyptic junkyard, where its inhabitants or workers have rummaged through the scraps and salvaged such things as large plastic rubbish bins, metal paint buckets, shopping trolleys, rubber tubes, newspapers, etc. After which, these overall clad scruffy individuals perform a mind blowing percussion symphony which varies from Spanish Flamenco-like clapping to Brazilian Samba ...

TUESDAY 16 - WEDNESDAY 17 OCT 2012 The Grimstones- Mortimer Revealed Created and performed by Australia’s leading deaf performer, this is the second compelling and magical fairytale about The Grimstone family. Martha Grimstone, the girl who reads dreams, longs for the truth. What happened to her father Mortimer? Back by popular demand, The Grimstones return to Nelson after the success of last year’s  Hatched . Asphyxia  – Creator/Performer                Paula Dowse  – Performer Created and performed by Australia’s leading deaf performer, this is the second compelling and magical fairytale about The Grimstone family. Martha Grimstone, the girl who reads dreams, longs for the truth. What happened to her father Mortimer? Enter Martha’s fantastical world of mysterious family secrets, giant books, marionettes and sign language. This quirky and inspiring tale explores family, love and lo...

Rumour Has It: Sixty Minutes Inside Adele Written by  Gordana Andjelic-Davila    Monday, 08 July 2013 17:24 Photo – Dylan Evans Rumour Has It: Sixty Minutes Inside Adele , performed by  Naomi Price , is an hour-long cabaret show packed with fabulous singing and peppery humorous banter, during which the audience is taken down Adele’s memory lane, highlighting key times of her life which proved to be a source of inspiration to many of her chart topping songs. Naomi Price  walked out with determination, planted her fierce presence on the dark stage and proceeded to belt out Adele’s repertoire of songs. Though she donned a red wig and black dress, somewhat resembling Adele, she did not do a straight-on imitation of the British singer but instead she lauded her with her interpretation, which is ironic, because apparently  Rumour Has It: Sixty Minutes Inside Adele  was initially a total piss-take, and its working title was  ‘Cheer the Fuck Up,...

Room on the Broom Written by  Gordana Andjelic-Davila    Friday, 05 July 2013 14:00 Left – Josie Cerise and Crystal Hegedis. Cover – Crystal Hegedis, Stephen Anderson, Josie Cerise and Damien Warren-Smith. Photos – Prudence Upton British writer, playwright and performer,  Julia Donaldson is best known for her popular rhyming stories for children, including  The Gruffalo  and  Room on the Broom , which have both been adapted for theatre. Room on the Broom , a story about a flighty witch, her sassy cat and the characters who hitch a ride with them, is currently at the beautiful National Theatre in St Kilda, where it has been playing to a packed house since opening day. The stage, though scantly decorated was brought to life by the performers, who more than made up for its spartan look, displaying their multi-skilled talents through clever and lively pantomime. Stephen Anderson, Josie Cerise, Crystal Hegedis  and  Damien Warren-Smith ...

flowerchildren | Magnormos Written by  Gordana Andjelic-Davila    Wednesday, 19 June 2013 11:43 Photos – Steven Potashnyk The 1960s spawned many-a-memorable musical group which influenced a generation, among them  The Mamas and the Papas , who wrote and performed such iconic songs like:  I Saw Her Again, Monday Monday  and of course the infamous  California Dreamin . Australia’s own,  Magnormos , has created the fabulous new musical  flowerchildren , a story about the incredible rise and consequent spiraling descent and break up, of the American four member group formed by,  Cass Elliot ( Casey Donovan ),  John Phillips  ( Matt Hetherington ), Denny Doherty  ( Dan Humphries ) and  Michelle Phillips ( Laura Fitzpatrick ). The show charts the journey of  The Mamas and the Papas , through a chronological narrative weaved in between extended monologues, with the actors regularly addressing th...

Create a travel journal, make a doodle book, or write a story about yourself! All you need is paper and scissors to create your own 8-page mini book. CrayolaLLC Facebook Twitter Pinterest Reddit Google Plus + April 26, 2012 Travel journals are fun to populate with facts and details about one’s travels, and then to re-visit after the trip is over. Text accompanied by such items as a New York city museum ticket, a Parisian post card or some Mickey Mouse shaped confetti, will bring back fond memories of a vacation well spent. Encouraging your children to keep a travel diary allows them to be creative and even organized, not to mention that they’ll have something to share with their school friends upon coming back from the adventure. The following steps will help you assist your child with this fun project: Before leaving on your family trip, talk to your son or daughter about what you will be planning to see, visit and experience...

GORDANA ANDJELIC-DAVILA MONDAY 3 OCTOBER, 2011 THE ARTS CENTRE: Based on the Australian picture-book ‘I’m Still Wake, Still!’, this entertaining kids’ cabaret successfully combines acoustic music, comedy and visual theatre. Still Awake Still! , at the Arts Centre’s Fairfax Studio, is a glorious performance geared for children four to ten years old, but the older kids who, upon entering the theatre, donned long faces and expectations of a ‘baby show’ were pleasantly surprised by the music and creativity which unfolded before them. Laughter and glee was overflowing during the performance I attended. Based on the Australian picture-book  I’m Still Awake, Still!  by author/illustrator Elizabeth Honey and the accompanying lullabies by composer Sue Johnson, the performance is a combination of acoustic music, comedy and visual theatre, making it a fabulously entertaining and funny sort of ‘kids’ cabaret’ . The show introduced ‘the legendary Ms Ivory Tinklefinger’, who...

GORDANA ANDJELIC-DAVILA SUNDAY 3 OCTOBER, 2010 MELBOURNE FRINGE: ‘Monty & Melville’ is about a young guide dog’s adventure to find the stolen donation collecting plastic dog, and to overcome the Kransky temptation. How very apropos, a performance about a dog held at The Dog Theatre. I almost expected to see doggies jumping through fiery hoops and being rewarded with treats after each accomplished feat. Alas, this was not the case. This story begins with a representative from Guide Dogs Victoria addressing the audience as if they were trainers and canines attending a class; picking random ‘guide dogs hopefuls' and instructing them to perform tricks.  Interestingly, on the day I attended, the audience was evenly split 50/50 adults and children, among which there were a couple of little groups of people in their early 20s not accompanied by kids (having heaps of fun none the less), and they eagerly participated in the show when called upon by the performers who w...

Gordana Andjelic-Davila Friday 25 June, 2010 ACMI: The Director of New York’s Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), Glenn D. Lowry is visiting Australia because of the Tim Burton: The Exhibition which is currently showing at ACMI. The Director of New York’s Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), Glenn D. Lowry has presented a keynote address at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image, (ACMI), this Thursday (24 June). Mr. Lowry is visiting Australia because of the Tim Burton: The Exhibition which is currently showing at ACMI. The exhibition is on its second leg of a world tour which began in New York, at the MoMA (Toronto, Los Angeles and Paris being other locations the exhibit will be going to). When asked how it came to be that Melbourne was chosen as the next city where audiences would be privy to Tim Burton’s amazing works. Mr. Lowry explained that ACM...