tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200658218238769688.post8082642437916891803..comments2024-01-20T16:46:43.636+11:00Comments on Kevin Jackson's Theatre Diary: The Gigli ConcertGeorge Khuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10220918958933755405noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200658218238769688.post-4836358318382908322014-04-21T23:19:30.581+10:002014-04-21T23:19:30.581+10:00Standing ovation last night. Some had tears in the...Standing ovation last night. Some had tears in their eyes. Says it all really don't you think?<br />Kim Lewisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200658218238769688.post-72298962823298468272014-04-21T23:05:35.792+10:002014-04-21T23:05:35.792+10:00This programming is a flashback to the old darlo a...This programming is a flashback to the old darlo and I hope that they aim for a higher standard than this tired nonsense. <br />All My sons and Falsettos were a magnificent beginning. Truly competitive with the higher ticket priced venues. This was lazy programming and the Seafarer was so damn brilliant, my expectations were so high, they should have revived that show instead of this. The group has not lifted to the higher standard required of this new venue. Extremely disappointing. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200658218238769688.post-28401035792504805882014-04-21T22:16:43.960+10:002014-04-21T22:16:43.960+10:00Congratulations Mr Kevin Jackson you are the epito...Congratulations Mr Kevin Jackson you are the epitome of Tall Poppy Syndrome and the reason why so many brilliant Australian artists move overseas. Keep it up and you will have no theatre left to review. <br /><br />As an acting teacher and director surely you have the mental capacity to understand "The Gigli Concert" or perhaps your heart is closed and your mind too small, which is in fact permeating throughout this review and no doubt where the root of your "frustration" lies. <br /><br />Answer me this Mr Jackson, is ignorance bliss? <br /><br />Stafford is a superb actor, so superb I had to see him twice. His presence is so magnetic he could play the character mute and I would still be moved. <br /><br />O'Hares direction is an exquisite work of art with such beauty I was moved to tears both times I saw the play. <br /><br />If the O'Punsky's "The Gigli Concert" were a piece of fine art it would be painted by Caravaggio, for it is O'Hares dynamic and thought provoking direction which echoes the theatrical use of chiaroscuro with such perceptual experience only the finest director, like himself could manifest. <br /><br />It is clear Kevin Jackson (a name which too often gives my gag reflexes an exhausting workout) that this review reflects nothing about O'Punsky's brilliant production of "The Gigli Concert" and more about your ignorance as a theatre reviewer (forgive my ignorance but who is Kevin Jackson?) which you get away with time and time again. <br /><br />Mr Jackson it is clear you will never sing like Gigli!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200658218238769688.post-73354338773256039582014-04-21T22:11:13.900+10:002014-04-21T22:11:13.900+10:00I went to see The Gigli Concert last Sat night bec...I went to see The Gigli Concert last Sat night because I wanted to check out the new Eternity Playhouse and the tickets were cheap. I knew nothing about this play or even Gigli. Three hours is a long time in a theatre for me nowadays and in the past ten years I have sat through too many re-runs of old classics which may have been cutting edge in their day but now… (family dysfunction ….*yawn*) This is why my friends and I have been fast dispensing with our (expensive) subscriptions to the trendy theatres. <br />I did not expect for my $38 to see such a tour de force as this play. Superb! Here were real human beings revealing, developing, growing, and healing through their real interactions with each other. I got tears in my eyes at one point and that’s no small feat. It was funny and moving and it rang so true despite the craziness. I never once noticed the time (oh, maybe one of those Gigli arias was a little too long). I felt that I ‘got’ this play and I could see that playwright, director, cast and crew had worked skilfully to help me get there.<br />The pivotal actor of the play to me was Maeliosa Stafford. His performance was mesmerising. I could not take my eyes off him – that voice, that delivery, that stance... his very silhouette was perfect. Yes, there was a dramatic difference in the performance styles of the two men. Mr Dickson’s character is scatty, inconsistent, indecisive and somewhat hysterical in the first half of the play. From the moment the Irishman builder enters the play he provides the tether, a point of focus that JPW King badly needs. But we later learn that the Irishman’s seemingly clear goal and definite manner is a mask of very tight control. In the second half of the play he cracks and breaks down and the dynamics between these two men reverses. I agree that Mona is the ‘breath of reality’ coming in, as she does, from outside all the time. She gives the audience a respite from the intensity of what’s going on between the two more than a little unhinged main protagonists and she is the important lifeline to the real world for JPW King.<br />My heartfelt congratulations to the director, the cast, the music man (though at times a bit loud over the voices), the set design…. dammit, even the costumes were JUST RIGHT. A wonderful play.Jacky Gruszkanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200658218238769688.post-25944374909056634532014-04-20T00:39:25.463+10:002014-04-20T00:39:25.463+10:00no comments???? This is sad news Kevin. You are sl...no comments???? This is sad news Kevin. You are slipping up in your duties. I know that there have been several attempts by several unhappy campers. Have you a problem with comment or debate? The upside I suppose is that no one is commenting on your garbage.....therefore I can conclude that no-one is reading your garbage....so the contradictory nonsense you tried to disguise as intelligent opinion may finally put you and your blog to bed.Night Night. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14699951857474273844noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200658218238769688.post-23840684036988818572014-04-19T16:58:17.259+10:002014-04-19T16:58:17.259+10:00We loved your play last night. Absolutely heart fe...We loved your play last night. Absolutely heart felt- beautifully performed and mise en scene - loved the erratic OTT philosophy tomes and that wild dancing to Verdi that we have all done... And especially the meditive candle at the end. Clem adored it and Miguel lapped it all up too and you couldn't find two better candidates for existentialist crisises than them!!! A pleasure to meet you too John, you have a beautiful voice! Good luck with the remaining showz!<br />Cheers<br />Christabel BlackmanAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12024397930636762144noreply@blogger.com