Welcome to the first RPW Blog for 2012 colleagues, associates & friends. And welcome to the new members of the RPW Artist Network.

It’s a wacking good edition to kick off with, packed with theatre news & views from Melbourne & Sydney, Youtube links to the Wayne Tunks interview & more so read on & enjoy.

3 PLAYS in 3 DAYS….Melbourne in January 2012

#1: 37 Ways To Say I’m Gay

is the latest play by writer/director/actor Wayne Tunks who currently lives & works in Melbourne. Playing to an almost full house last Friday night the play is literally a cavalcade of scenes with the pivotal character of each scene having to find a way to say their ‘gay’. Be it the High School Captain, the Groom on his big day, the football player, Boy Band members or coming-of-age son trying to find the ‘right’ moment to tell his parents or the hot young actor…telling the truth about your sexuality is a struggle. Not only for those doing the ‘telling’ but for those hearing it for the first time.

With many funny moments balanced nicely with moments of poignancy & simple honesty, 37 WAYS explores both sides of the story but never loses sight of the struggle.

Kudos to the ensemble who worked very well together to keep the pace of the play & the many scene changes slick & snappy. Simple staging – 2 chairs, a couch, a small table, a small rostrum & assorted hand props – helped of course but the cast behaved like a real ensemble to keep the overall play tight & the audience fully engaged during these moments. I noticed too that a few of the cast remained ‘in character’ which preserved the artistic credibility of this type of staging. Well done.

On the night I saw it a couple of the actors stood out for me especially in handling the comedic moments & maintaining a high standard throughout the whole play.

There was some uneven work which ‘pulled’ away from the generally cohesive ensemble performance dynamic but not enough to distract me from the enjoyment I was experiencing as an audience member…& so was everyone else.

The actors (1 in particular) who were doing their own thing looked the odd ones out & hopefully with more experience they will come to understand that when an ensemble works together all the time every actor looks hot-to-trot. 

I think the thing I enjoyed the most was the structure of the play – yes, eposodic – but there were re-occuring scenes which became a ‘backbone’ serving to reinforce the thematic drive of the play….37 ways to say I’m gay…..& the constant struggle (for some) to say it!.

The last play I saw of Wayne’s I didn’t enjoy the production but this one I enjoyed & the hard-working cast.

After the play Wayne did an interview with me about the play, his work as a story-liner with Neighbours & what’s next for him after 37 WAYS. Here are the Youtube links, enjoy:

http://youtu.be/L-qM2Ys6nRc

http://youtu.be/yK-6zpnuHUA

PERFORMANCE SPACE ALERT!!!!

Anyone looking for a good intimate space in Melbourne for their production – play, cabaret, comedy, musical theatre….. contact Philip ‘PJ’ Buchanan, Executive Producer @ Company B&C, who is one of the guiding hands running DOWNSTAIRS at ALMA’S. It has a great vibe, good lighting & sound insitu, good sight lines & is not dingy or claustrophobic. Its located (downstairs) in a Bowling Club where the drinks are well priced & there is a wonderful outside area to mingle, smooze & catch up after the show with mates. To find out more & talk ‘shop’ contact PJ on:

mobile: +61 422 373 679 or email: pj@companybandc.com .

Checkout the website too www.downstairsatalmas.com   

3 PLAYS IN 3 DAYS…….con’t

#2 LANDSCAPE DREAMING @ La Mama Courthouse, a premier event as part of the Midsumma Festival celebrating Queer Culture.

Directed by Damian Alexander Bernardo & written by Charles Mercovich, Landscape Dreaming boasted an energetic engaging cast who, on the night I saw it, worked hard to hit their performance stride. The staging was most effective but during the physical theatre moments the actors looked somewhat hemmed in. The Carlton Courthouse is a great venue & constantly supports new Australian writing such as Landscape Dreaming.

3 PLAYS IN 3 DAYS…..con’t

#3 THE YEAR OF MAGICAL WANKING 

    @ Theatre Works

Written & performed by Irish actor Neil Watkins & inspired by Joan Didion’s play ’The Year of Magical Thinking’ based on her memoir, THE YEAR OF MAGICAL WANKING is a brutally honest, beautifully written one-man play. Neil Watkins never spares the rod as he tells the truth about his journey through the wilderness of queerness “…porn addictions, destructive sexual behaviour, Catholic guilt and the journey to happiness”.

In an almost empty performance space a rectangle is marked out on the floor in white tape. One white chair is upstage left. Side lighting clamped onto vertical bars hug either side of the performance space sending ‘planks’ of light across the space……stripped back theatre….clean, unpretentious & ready.

Neil steps into the light, actually & metaphorically, wearing a plain dark hip suit, t-shirt & bare feet. A bottle of water is off-stage – his only support system. He begins.

A program note tells me WARNING:Contains Adult Content….it does…..I’m hooked.

The clarity of the writing built mostly on verse is mesmerising & the subject matter at any one time is confronting but it’s what we came for. This is ADULT material delivered with stellar craft & unflinching energy, humour (black & otherwise), conviction & love….yes love. And if you were expecting something akin to ‘reality TV’ don’t bother coming to this show.

Running at just on an hour give or take a few minutes, THE YEAR OF MAGICAL WANKING was……magical.

INDEPENDANT THEATRE SHINES IN SYDNEY IN MARCH

           “There’s only ugly ones left at 2 o’clock…”

Maggie Scott’s company, INSOMNIACT THEATRE, present Bouncers by John Godber playing at the Cat & Fiddle Hotel (Insomniac’s old home), 456 Darling St., Balmain during March – 15th to 31 (Weds to Sat only @ 8pm. $25/20 concession gets you in, with drinks at Pub prices. Bookings open 6th March phone 02 9555 9009. For further info. contact Maggie on 0403 224 980

Follow Maggie’s theatre on facebook….visit Insomniact page.

BLIND PENGUIN PRODUCTIONS present NUNS, written & produced by Robert Luxford & directed by Uma Kali Shakti.

  Playing at the Imperial Hotel Erskinville, 35 Erskinville Rd., Erskinville. Thurs to Sun, 22 March to 15th April….Sat’s @ 6pm, Thurs & Sun @ 8pm.

Bookings via 1300 get tix (438 849) or moshtix.com.au . 

 RPW LOOKS BACK ON 2011…LOOKS FORWARD TO 2012…..

The first thing I want to do here is create a Gratitude List. On that list are people, places & things that have brought me joy & a sense of achievement….. & reminded me just how fortunate I really am.

Jane E’s Gratitude List for 2011

*To all the actors who have come to me for audition & acting coaching….thank you for putting your faith & trust in me.

*To the people who have been my teachers this year - Howard Fine, Fiona Cosgrove, teachers at the Spirit of Yoga National Conference in Melbourne, the gentleman who talked to me about 9/11 when I had breakfast at the Cuban Cafe in Inwood, New York  in September. Thankyou for expanding my understanding of the human condition starting with myself.

 Howard during an interview I did with him in November in Melbourne 2011.

*To the writers, directors & casting directors who gave me work & wanted to work with me this year – Faith de Savaigne,writer Short&Sweet, Steven Gregory, casting director Deadly Women, Katie Hides director Deadly Women, John Mavety director Deadly Women, Tymon Langford director AFTRS, Daniel Saboune director IFSS, Aaron Smith director ABC1,Shailla Quadra actor writer director,Gila Barnett director Script-In-Hand, Zoltan Deak director producerDelicatessen Films, Anna Douglas director IFSS, Ben Lenzo director (eventhough I had to withdraw from the gig).

*To the colleagues who have become friends – Jamie Laura, Clariza F, Sammy T…love you.

*To my agent Marion for believing in me & being a good woman.

*To my friends & colleagues in LA -Peter Mitchell, Dorothy S, Pia B, Jessica, Erryn & Jamie, Joanie Marx (BADA alumni) who were so very supportive of me in September when things got tough; & thankyou to every person in New York who helped me get around .

 L to R:Erryn, Jamie, Joanie & ChiChi Navarro@ Edgemar Film Festival in LA, May 2011

*To New York – I love you…so good they named you twice!

*To Los Angeles – I love you but we need to talk……

 Sailing boat, the harbour & Lady Liberty from the Statton Island Ferry.

*To the people who I’ve stayed with in the US – Dante in West Hollywood, Sophia in Venice = happy  :-).

*To the Getty, Guggenheim & Central Park …..I’ll be back!.

It hasn’t all been plain sailing this year…..bitter disappointments & hurtful experiences…..but the good far outweighed the bad.

What I’d like to do now is create an ‘Intentions/’Wish’ List’ for 2012 so here goes……..(be advised this is a work-in-progress)

*I want to do David Coury’s ‘Singing for Actors’ course through the Howard Fine Acting Studio:Australia…so please bring it to Sydney Phil & Pat.

*I wish gossip mags would stop ratting on about how Brad & Angelina should get married….who cares, I don’t…just leave them alone.

*I love working…please Universe can I have some more?

*I want to do Howard’s July 2012 Masterclass…..those actors who did it this year in Sydney & Melbourne will know why.

*I wish my Father the best of good health as he moves into his 90th year. Wow.

*I think gay couples who love each other & want to get married should be able to do that. When I die & come back as Queen of the World I’m going to set this right.

*I’m going to read more books & plays.

Well, that’s about it for now dear readers & as I say, it’s a work-in-progress just like me & you. Thankyou for dropping in to read my blog this year & I hope to continue writing it in 2012….supporting mates & colleagues, spreading the word about good things to do & see, expressing my opinions & keeping in touch.

Love & fondest wishes for a cracker of a Christmas & a busy happy 2012.

      Jane E @RPW ….kisskiss  hughug.  

Margie Haber Studio, Los Angeles 2012

I did the International Studies Program in 2009 which was a month long immersion & it was a great experience working with actors from all over the world, Margie & her teachers Eden & Zac. Since then, the ISP has been tailored into a 2 week journey which is more affordable & time-wise yet still packed with professional acting for screen up-skilling & working with some of the best teachers in LA right now.

When you contact the office for more information use my name as a reference point & that should help you break the ice…take it from there. 

  Howard Fine Melbourne Masterclass November 2011

In July this year I participated in Howard’s Sydney Masterclass & when I knew he was coming back this month to do another one in Melbourne I had to attend. This time I was auditing but certainly having done the July masterclass I was able to treat the Melbourne one like an ‘on-going’ which is what I want to be doing every week.

 Full-house @ the Guild Theatre, Melbourne Uni. 

The first thing that will catch your attention is the way actors prepare to do their scenes (which is allocated & rehearsed 2-3 weeks prior to Masterclass) when its their turn.

 ‘Making place’ is essential to Howard’s scene work process, asking the actors to create a physical reality within the given circumstances allowing them to discover truthful action.

 ‘making place’

Along with making place, actors dress for their roles which completes the paradigm of scene practice methodology that Howard teachers.

 It seems to me as I’m watching this preparation that we crave the opportunity to make place & dress for the part when doing scene work. All the re-works I saw had been put together with attention to detail & relevance to the scene. Some were more elaborate than others, some were very simple. But all resonated with the sure signs of activated imaginations striving to create real & potent given circumstances in which to practice their craft.

 Preparing for scene work…making place & dressing for the role.

The situation calls for actors to be open & willing to accept the feedback, critical discourse & adjustments that Howard gives at the end of each scene. These sessions can be quite confronting but never in a way that leaves the actor demolished or humiliated. Certainly absolute honesty underscores this analysis but so does deep intelligence & experience, love for & knowledge of the craft, humour & a collaborative spirit that pulls us all together in the pursuit of excellence in our craft.

 “…what worked, what didn’t & why…”

Having been a part of a feedback session (twice) with Howard I know how the Melbourne actors were feeling – firstly, as if you & your scene partner are the only actors he is working with because he speaks to you not at you; secondly, anyone watching & listening never feels left out because it just doesn’t work that way & if you do feel left out then you’ve absented yourself!. The lines of communication are always open, there are no impediments on the learning curves except the ones we put there ourselves.

Even at the end the collaboration continues with a Q&A between Howard & the audience of actors, casting director’s & auditors.

 “There is no scene to do right…”, “When there is audience reaction after a laugh line live non-verbally till the next moment”, “The physical reality allows for….”..begin your selected place off-stage….”, “…Talent & technique are 2 different things……”     & so it goes.

When day 4 concluded Howard & I got together for another ‘In Converstaion’ interview – I do love a good chat about acting. I wanted Howard to elaborate on his decision to come back to Australia & discuss 2 courses that are on offer through the Howard Fine Acting Studio Australia that has now been established & is open for bookings. But I did also ask about a few things that came up out of the Masterclass……dear readers I couldn’t help myself!!.

You will find 5 clips from the interview up on my youtube channel & I think you’ll love them as much as I did talking with Howard & putting them together.

http://youtu.be/_W6squOuAR8

http://youtu.be/F-qDQ6Oz5Bo

http://youtu.be/8-2P6ESVNjs

http://youtu.be/Jn1PhOXHsSl

As a wrap-up to this write-up I’d like to thank all the Melbourne actors who brought so much talent & hard work to the stage. I had a great time being there with you all. Included in this thankyou is a huge round of applause for Pat & Phil who have worked their tails off to bring Howard Fine to Australia.

L to R: Phil & Pat make it happen.

Ted Bundy Is Was My Pen-Pal

             - a very short facto-fictional horror story inspired by the Japenese literary style ‘Haiku’ only longer -

Christmas 1988…….

What was to be his last letter arrived a week before Christmas. It was one page and he’d written on both sides, that was unusual.

That made me slightly suspicious as I began to read the letter from my pen-pal, a man who’d confessed to murdering a lot of women, some believed 30 although many suspected the count was much higher.

But Ted was his usual charismatic self yet I detected an ‘edge’ to the tone of this letter.

His final words said he would’nt be writing anymore and signed off as follows:

‘Goodbye, 

Yours,

T. Bundy’.

‘Goodbye‘, that was unusual.

 FUTURE CLASSIC THEATRE LAUNCHES IN SYDNEY

Future Classic Theatre is a new theatre company bringing to the stage Classics in the vein of Brief Encounter & It Happened One Night as well as the new wave of Radio Drama, showcasing new & established writers with specially commissioned original radio plays that are relevant today. All aspects of each performance are completely live – nothing is pre-recordered…very exciting….& it’s totally immediate theatre. Their current season has a different programme every week at different venues across Sydney already happening…..

Exchange Hotel in Balmain Tuesdays @ 7.30pm

Harold Park Hotel in Glebe Sundays @ 5pm.

The brainchild of Paul Ellis & backed up by Ali Aitken this new theatre experience should be a hit….both are dedicated experienced Pro’s with bags of talent & know-how between them. Check out their website @ www.futureclassicthetare.com.au .

Chookas Paul & Ali, very exciting indeed .