A Streetcar on Avenue Q (with spam)

October 14, A Streetcar Named Desire, Sydney Theatre Company
Last week, I saw Cate Blanchett play Blanche in Sydney Theatre Company's A Streetcar Named Desire. It was an incredible production. She played the part with such an amazing energy, that I felt drained from having experienced her complete mental breakdown. I can't believe she did that every night for 2 months.

The accents were a-little-bit New York at times, but otherwise the show was flawless.

October 16, Avenue Q, The Theatre Royal
I accompanied Dave and Margaret to see Avenue Q and I laughed the whole way through. Of course, I laughed ahead of the lines, because I knew what was coming. I Wish I Could Go Back to College seemed a little lost on the Australian audience, as most of them didn't write messages in dry erase pen on the door, spend a few years on meal plan, or have TAs (they even changed the TA related lyric). But all in all, a great show with a great audience.

Despite it being my third time to see the show, I was still impressed with what life the puppeteers give the puppets through the puppet's motions, but also through their own expressions and movement.

October 17, Spamalot, Regal Musical Society, Rockdale Town Hall
A coworker is involved with the Regal Musical Society, which puts on a few productions a year. His sister was in Spamalot and I made the trek to Rockdale to see it, despite the fact that my very convenient train wasn't running due to trackwork. I saw The Holy Grail once, but didn't remember much more than the guy who gets his arms and legs cut off. The show was funny and I thought the production was very well done (it restored faith in amateur theater after last year's Chess debacle).

The highlight of the show for me was Prince Herbert singing a few lines of "Another Hundred People" from Company. Perhaps that's a sign I should stick to Sondheim...

September in Sydney - At The Opera House

September 6, Ben Folds, Sydney Opera House - Concert Hall
An amazing, amazing show. Before the show, audience members wrote requests on slips of paper in the foyer. Ben chose songs from the overflowing fishbowl and played whatever came up. They were mostly oldies, all of them goodies. From time to time, he forgot lyrics, but the audience always helped out. This was most probably the best concert I have ever attended.

Here's the set list I sent Meg, Christina, and Lance after the show:
The Luckiest
Smoke
Battle of Who Could Care Less
Underground
Don't Change Your Plans
Tiny Dancer
Such Great Heights
Rockin' The Suburbs
Magic
Landed
Rock This Bitch
Cigarette
Fred Jones Part II
"Fred Jones Part III"
Bitches Ain't Hos
Hiroshima (Japanese Version)
Emmaline
Same After That
One Angry Dwarf

September 3, Aida, Opera Australia, Sydney Opera House - Opera Theatre
This was the best of the three operas I saw this year. Graeme Murphy choreographed, which made the production not just about great opera singing, but dance as well. In particular, The Triumphal March had some spectacular dancing.

In The Heights

On August 16, I saw In The Heights with two former residents of The Heights - Parisa and Eran. Their connection with and enthusiasm for the show greatly improved my own experience. The best scenes included the mother's "Enough" where she lays the smack the down to husband and daughter, the blackout scene, and of course Claudia's Pacienca Y Fe.

Today, I found myself singing about piragua as I poured a glass of agua. I've never had piragua, but next time I find myself in Washington Heights, I might try some.

To be filled in later

- Christmas at the House (Opera House/Concert Hall)
- Travesties (Sydney Theatre Company, Opera House/Drama Theatre)
- The Alchemist (Bell Shakespeare Company, Opera House/Studio)
- Roadkill (Carriageworks)
- We Unfold (Sydney Dance Company, Sydney Theatre Walsh Bay)
- So You Think You Can Dance Australia live results show (Carriageworks)
- Morphoses (The Wheeldon Company, Theatre Royal)
- The Magic Flute (Sydney Opera, Opera House/Opera Theatre)