Magnormos presents the Melbourne premiere of: The Hatpin

(click on image to see larger)

A large feather should be sitting proudly in the cap of Magnormos, who's production of "The Hatpin" opened Monday night in Melbourne. 

"The Hatpin" is a relatively new and exciting Musical written and developed in 2006-2007 by James Millar and Peter Rutherford. The exciting part - and this is the part that personally sold me into wanting to see the show in the first place - is this Musical was inspired upon actual people and historical events that took place in Sydney Australia around 1890's, events so dramatic that it literally changed Australian law into what we know today. 

The genre, think of themes similar to Clint Eastwood's "The Changeling" and a dash of Tim Burton's "Sweeny Todd: Demon Barber of Fleet Street" -  it's a dark story, and I'm a sucker for a bit of dark mystery. However let it be noted there are moments of true tenderness and beauty, accompanied by a smattering of humour - so just a heads up, you may be in store for an emotional roller coaster ride.

The casting is superb! Each character is strong and well defined right down to the Ensemble. Samantha Morely is infectiously lovable as the free spirited Harriet Piper. Sophie Collins is fabulous as Agatha Makin, a character I feel she makes reminiscent of Walt Disney's Ursula from "The Little Mermaid", and Emma Jones as Clara Makin is... extraordinary.

The singing is consistently good and strong. I've personally been known to switch off during Musicals when voices sound all too similar and generic, but the voices in "The Hatpin" will keep you at the edge of your seat, which I feel is a credit to Music Director Sophie Thomas - and keep an ear out for Thomas' violin as it effortlessly captures the emotion of the moment and will make you wilt inside.

To date this is one of the strongest productions that Magnormos has ever had the pleasure to undertake and congratulations to them for hosting the Melbourne premiere of "The Hatpin", they delivered and a bag of chips!* It was superb acting, singing, musical direction, costumes and lighting. This production is an exciting credit to all persons involved.

The Hatpin

16th - 28th May 2011

Theatre Works, St Kilda

www.magnormos.com

 *(actually a box of delicious choccies on each seat, compliments Schocolate).

Can you Yodel?

Meet Lulu and June Hummingbottom, the conjoined twin daughters of French Canadian genetics Scientist Judy Hummingbottom and renowned Anglo Canadian Pianist Lewis Hummingbottom. The twins are talented and gifted singers specializing in Opera and Jazz, and they can Yodel too!

Part of their act is to dress up as an Angel and Devil, Lulu as the Angel and June as the Devil, however off stage their personalities are to the contrary. Lulu admits she is the cheeky loud one with an "Encyclopedia of Vices".

"If it's frowned upon cos it's 'naughty' or 'innapropiate' I probably indulge myself. Drives June crazy"

- Lulu Hummingbottom   

This has been yet another sneaky preview of the 'Goils of the Sideshow' as part of The Sideshow exhibition, grand opening 7pm Wednesday, August 3 at 6:00pm  until August 26 at Miss Libertine
34 Franklin St

Melbourne, Australia

Squeaky clean?

Señor Manuel Miguel Ratón, or "Squeaky" as he is more fondly referred to by his mistress, is the head butler and number one confidant to Lady Aileana McInnes (aka. Lady Viper, a Pin-up Girl of the Sideshow). He is one of thirty-six siblings born on the outskirts of Barcelona to the Ratón family and comes from a long proud line of Butlers and Housekeepers. His father, Manny Marcos Ratón, worked for the late Lord and Lady McInnes (Lady Viper's dear mother and father) for many years until his untimely and most tragic death alongside his employers where he was succeeded by Squeaky. 


This terrible accident is one that is not too often spoken about, but it's all too intriguing and suspect. Let's just say "there is a lot more to the story" on how Aileana McInnes became sole heir to the McInnes family fortune and name... but you'd have to come  to the Sideshow exhibition @ For Walls Gallery opening Aug 3rd 2011 to find out the full details. (Hosted by beinArt Surrealist Collective)


("Squeaky" Above and Lady Viper Right. 
Click on images to see larger)

Venus: The Bearded Beauty

Daughter of two high school teachers and the eldest of six siblings, Venus, the Sideshow's Bearded Beauty was originally christened as Eden Grace Harper as named after Mount Eden in New Zealand where she was born.

As a young child and well into her teens, she was always academically gifted with an aptitude for Chemistry. To equal her natural brilliance was her beauty, which instead of a blessing Eden felt was a curse. Her beauty was so flawless, even from an early age, that people were intimidated by her  or perhaps too shy to speak to her.

"I was always very lonely as a child and again as a teen. It was horrible. People would just stare at me their mouth opening and shutting like a fish out of water. They would always stare but never speak or utter a word to me"

When Eden turned sixteen, fed up with the curse of loneliness her beauty caused her, she dosed her face in a chemical she had designed to treat dogs with alopecia hoping to cover her appearance and creating the beard that now grows on her face today.

"It's a strange thing, people were still staring at me but in a different way. They now stare at me with child like curiosity, which is great because with curiosity comes questions followed by conversation and then friendship. Having a beard was the best thing I could have done for myself"

Being so academically gifted, you'd expect that Eden would have discovered a cure for her famous whiskers long ago, and it may surprise you to learn that she has.

"I knew how to get rid of my beard the moment I grew it, but I don't want to. It's a part of me and that's the way that I like it" 

You can see Eden aka. Venus: The Bearded Beauty and more at the Sideshow exhibition @ For Walls Gallery opening Aug 3rd 2011. Hosted by beinArt Surrealist Collective

Progress of Crab Girl

The step by step under painting of Crab Girl.
Please note, the below images are strictly STRICTLY under painted images only. To see this painting finished... well, you'd just have to come along to the The Sideshow exhibition promoted by BeInArt Surrealist Collective @ For Walls Gallery Aug 3rd 2011

The Sideshow opening 3rd Aug @ For Walls Gallery 

Miss Libertine, 34 Franklin Street, Melbourne, Australia

The reappearance of Crab Girl

Beautiful, mysterious and aloof, Crab Girl is famed for being one of the Sideshow's most complex, unusual and fascinating performers.

The art of unbelievable mind-blowing dramatic bending, flexing and twisting of the human body is what you'd expect from the most talented of contortionists right? And Crab Girl certainly does deliver...
in spades!

Though what makes her so very VERY unique to her contemporaries is the unavoidable fact she has a crab claw where her right hand should be;

"I was born this way. I dunno. And no I'm not related to that Lobster Man whatshisfaceguyman ok!"

"What? Yes I am left handed. Why? Huh? Why are you saying that it's lucky I'm left handed?!"

As interviews go she'll do few and far between, but I think that adds to her mystique. Though where she won't do interviews she will do performances, appearances and portrait sittings - if you care to note the preliminary canvas outline above (yes that's right preliminary as in NOT finished).

Previously she appeared in the Erotic Grotesque exhibition @ 696INK in July - Aug of 2010 and she is now due to make a new appearance as part of the Pin-Up Goils of the Sideshow exhibition running alongside The Sideshow @ For Walls Gallery later this year -  so keep your eyes and ears open for details on that one!

"I Love Crabby Women" and "Silly Fat Cow and Two-faced B****h"

Both will be appearing in the Pin-Up Goils of the Sideshow and The Sideshow later this year at For Walls Gallery

 
(click any of the pictures to view a larger image)

Australia day in Coogee 1 year on

Australia (Jan 26th) 2010, I was in Coogee (in Sydney) with a bunch of lovely people sharing a BBQ and Vanilla vodka under the stars. It was such a beautiful evening that it's permanently etched into my mind forever and naturally made me inspired to capture the moment on canvas.

Please note, these are only progress shots and the painting is still a long way from being complete.

To view larger, please click on any of the images below

This image below was my very first outline attempt, which I was very unhappy with. I felt it was too static and boring...
so I painted over it.

People's choice award winner 2010 (woot!)

So I did it. This painting (which I hold so dear to me) won the People's Choice Award for the 2010 Cancer Council Art Awards.

Eydie's made me do it!

Last night I happened upon this rad (yes that's right, I'm using the word "RAD") wee bar in East Brunswick, situated on the tail end of Lygon Street.

Named Eydie's after 1950's singer Eydie Gormé, it was peculiar to me that this bar had that "clean and brand new" look, yet also managed to have a whole lota personality. The 1950's inspired furnishings were unpretentious and remained stylish, and the music selection was retro without being cliche. The entire bar atmosphere was warm and welcoming which I think was mostly credited to the really friendly bar staff.

I guess I must have really enjoyed my experience at this bar that I felt compelled and inspired to whip up my own little logo to mark the evening. In case you're curious to check it for yourself :

86 Lygon Street

East Brunswick

VIC 3057

Open from

Mon - Wed 5pm - 12am

Thu - Sun 4pm - 1am

(Ha! And maybe if you fall this bar the way I have, you can always join the Facebook group!)

Eureka!!

Image property of the Bendigo Historical Society

Today I am both proud and pleased to announce that m

y 2010 illustration of "Margaret Kennedy and Julia Farrell start The Rush" was officially acquired by the Bendigo Historical Society. Of all the potential homes this work could have, the Bendigo Historical Society was the most fortunate, and I feel best and happiest place for it to go.

Bon Voyage my dearest-largest-to-date-watercolour-illustration-depicting-Margaret-Kennedy-and-Julia-Farrell-panning-for-gold-at-the-rocks-where-what-is-now-known-as-the-city-of-Bendigo.

You will be missed... but I will come visit.