You all probably know that I cannot resist a musical, so imagine my pleasure at finding Australia culturally up my street. It seems they can't either!
During my travels so far, I have looked out for live performances of any description at every opportunity. In Sri Lanka I watched beautiful dancers and fearless fire performers at the theatre on the lake at Kandy. In Nepal I wrapped up warm and sat outside clapping and laughing as youngsters danced and sang at 2,000m, entertaining each other and those of us fortunate enough to be trekking the Annapurna circuit after our evening meal. At Chitwan National Park I witnessed traditional Tharu dancers performing in their community hall. In China I enjoyed the simply mesmerising Tang Dynasty show whilst in Xi'an, a feast of singing, dancing, flamboyant costumes and acrobatics. In Vietnam I went to the theatre in Hanoi to marvel at the water puppet show based on traditional entertainment which harks back to the rice fields. And in Cambodia, the children of 'Hope for Cambodia' school, sang for me and fellow visitors, as they held an outdoor assembly in the schoolyard, putting me in mind of my time at Ndlokolo Primary School in South Africa.
But none of them made me smile as much as Baz Lurhman's loud, romantic and incredibly sequinned "Strictly Ballroom" at Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne. If you have not seen the film, released in 1992, you must go and find it. What a show! I am sure it will tour internationally when it has finished it's domestic debut outings across Australia.
Then in Brisbane, the glam musical stakes escalated when I was able to watch "Wicked" in the beautiful Lyric Theatre on the South Bank. I'd resisted this musical since it's Broadway release in 2003, fearing it was an American 'Glee themed' insult to the original 1939 film "The Wizard Of Oz" starring Judy Garland. But, with a little encouragement from someone I trust implicitly back home, I went along and I was very much impressed. The lead singers were simply amazing and the love story was sufficiently plausible to tie it nicely to the original '39 movie.
The lovely Glinda and Elphaba
Now some of you will be rolling your eyes and wincing at my overtly camp taste in theatre, so my final cultural treat down under, was surely the icing on the cake. Sydney Opera House, Ludovico Einaudi and the stringed members of the Sydney Symphony and Australian Ballet Orchestras. His grand piano accompanied by dozens of violins, violas, cellos and double base - simply amazing! I had to pinch myself as the music wafted over and around me. I was sitting in the Opera House and more importantly I was enjoying the music of one of the greatest pianists and composers working today. The main hall has a capacity of over 2,600 people - and we were all treated to the performance of a maestro.
If you have never heard his music - check out 'Islands'
Who said Australians don't do culture? Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane - I thank you for three wonderful evenings of entertainment.
Wicked was an amazing show. The only thing i liked about oz was 3 sister and the trsin ride.xxxx
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