Drake the Amazing + La Dispute; Darlinghurst Theatre Co

'It is my duty to entertain you'

‘It is my duty to entertain you’ Andrew Johnston solemnly announces, the velvet red curtains framing the stage as he looks forlornly at the audience.  Playing the role of Astor, Johnston opens the first short play featured within a double bill by playwright Andy Hyman.

Drake the Amazing, the dramatic journey of a dramatic monologuist is an engaging, witty and fun enactment of a travelling vaudeville theatre in 1917.  The black and white backdrop sets the scene for the stereotypical comedic characters of the early 1900s.

Spiced with romantic tension, pathos and sharply delivered dialogue, Drake the Amazing is pure fun and entertainment that leaves the audience smiling.  Kate Skinner stands out as the spicy Claudette, the driver of Alden Drake’s quest to challenge the audience and get the girl.  The banter between Drake (Scott Sheridan) and Astor is joyful to watch, and the half-deaf Neilson (Nicholas Papademetriou) has the audience laughing out loud.

Actress Kate Skinner (centre) and friends

La Dispute, the second half of the double bill, has a quirkier, more absurd take on reality.  Raising complex questions about the inherent inclination of the sexes towards fidelity – or lack thereof – it plays out the results of a strange human experiment that provides compelling entertainment. Despite being reasonably well executed and fast-paced, the play was a strange choice to follow the humorous theatrics of Drake the Amazing.

Billed as uproarious comedy, it was amusing and interesting but didn’t go far enough in either direction to be thought provoking or hilarious.  The assumptions of the gender based stereotypes based on the experiment were slightly jarring and lacked depth – with women proving to be bitchy and men ‘matey’.  The script didn’t do justice to the cast full of talented actors, who didn’t seem to be stretched as those in the first bill.

Small and local, the Darlinghurst Theatre Co. has staged over 120 shows since 2001 and prides itself on encouraging people to discover the power of live theatre and its possibilities.  Despite missing some elements in La Dispute, the double bill delivers enjoyable and intimate entertainment that succeeds in taking the audience on a fun journey of discovery.

Sal Giblin and Scott Thomas...'loved both shows'

Drake the Amazing + La Dispute is showing at Darlinghurst Theatre Company until 14 August 2011.

Darlinghurst Theatre Company
19 Greenknowe Avenue
Potts Point 2011
Tickets were provided to Lifeafterfive by OurDeal, who featured an offer for two tickets for $39.

Departure Lounge - Jetsetting to Zimbabwe

African dummers Ki Fetch

There’s nothing that says ‘I need a holiday’ like the prospect of another day at the office during blustery winter July.   With grey clouds gathering at the window, the Microsoft paperclip your most riveting company, the closest beach in sight is in facebook photos travelling friends have tauntingly posted.

Departure Lounge at Piano Room provides a novel escape from the winter blues that doesn’t bite into your leave balance, cost a fortune or require hours of preparation. 



Rich Coombes, Vincent Stander and Daniella Alhadeff (lifeafterfive*) preparing for departure

Transforming into the departure lounge of a different country each week, the event is an initiative by the foodies and fashionistas behind Eat Drink Play and Fashion Palette.   At the Zimbabwe event on Thursday 30 June, charming hostess Sonya Mefaddi hands us a boarding pass and shows us to our seats.  With Shakira and Freshly Ground’s Waka waka (This Time for Africa) playing on arrival and a pair of Cheetahs lounging on the bar, we may be in the heart of Kings Cross but the spirit of Africa is in full force as we order our first cocktail from a safari clad waitress.

The ‘Lion King’ cocktail may not be strictly traditionally Zimbabwean, but no one is complaining as they’re served the delicious frangelico based drink infused with cinnamon and orange peel.   A chef’s tasting plate of African food is served as the skilful Ki Fetch Band of African drummers warm up the crowd. 

 

2 x Lion  King cocktails & chef's plate - only $15



Chef's african tasting plate

The concept is the first collaboration between Fashion Palette and Eat Drink Play. Both companies have a focus on showcasing up-and-coming talent such as emerging fashion designers and inspiring young chefs.

“Sonya and I wanted to combine food and fashion to create something unique and different for Sydney but with an accessible price tag that everyone can enjoy” said Alex Adams, the fabulous foodie behind Eat Drink Play. 

“Guests can expect anything from Brazilian dancers to a mariachi band. Each night will be like stepping off a long-haul flight into a completely different country” added Adams.

Whether you want to samba with the Brazillians, celebrate Bastille Day in true Parisian style or sample Spanish cuisine, Departure Lounge is an opportunity for Sydneysiders to escape to the far corners of the globe – even if only for a few hours.  

Ki Fetch jamming with the crowd

Keen travelers, foodies and fashionistas can purchase a boarding pass online from preferred ‘travel agent’ Our Deal for $15. In exchange for a boarding pass guests will receive entry, two cocktails and a plate from the ‘Chef’s Global Menu’ and a night of worldly entertainment.

Travel Itinerary

9 June - Mexico
16 June - Japan
23 June - Greece
30 June - Zimbabwe
7 July - Morocco
14 July - France
21 July - Old England
28 July - Spain
4 August - Vietnam
11 August - Brazil

The Divine Miss Bette

“Layyyyy-dees and germs! We are falling into a vat of vulgarity!” announces the sequin clad femme fatale on stage to an appreciative crowd.  Channeling a sexy version of Bette Midler (think Midler in her younger heyday), Catherine Alcorn delivers the hilarious so-called “vulgarity” between songs that range from bluesy ballads to comedic rock.

At the Sydney opening of The Divine Miss Bette (having sold out to crowds in Melbourne), we rediscover the art of cabaret at Slide Bar in Darlinghurst.  Charismatic performer Catherine Alcorn has created a winning combination with a spectacular voice, addictive stage presence and bawdy banter with the crowd.  Reminiscent of the Palace Theatre in 1970s New York, we sip campari while enjoying a dimly lit two course dinner as a prelude to the show.



Larger than life - Miss Bette



The Divine Miss Bette was created by Peter Cox, with musical direction from the talented, long-haired Isaac Hayward.  Inspiring the creation of the show was the majestic voice and Midler-esque personality of Catherine, who was trained by Steve Ostrow.  Ostrow is the man who discovered Bette Midler while she was singing for tips at his Continental Baths, creating musical history by pairing her with Barry Manilow – who happened to be filling in for an AWOL pianist.



Playful backup singers, The Harlettes (Lauren Cook and Christina Paterno) are a delight to watch.  Cute as buttons, coy and flirty, Miss Bette advises the crowd that she found them selling their cherries down at the farmers markets – “but don’t worry, I’ve still got the box they came in!”. 

Tagging itself as Sydney’s most surprising venue, Slide Bar is a hidden gem that has evolved through multiple identities.  Originally a Commonwealth Bank, it has transformed from a wild gay nightclub to a classy underground cabaret joint complete with chandeliers (albeit dangling with cherubs), a French chef and a large number of mirrors.  Hosting everything from corporate events to mardi gras after parties, hints of all three identities merge to create the sense that anything could happen next.


The vegie lasagna





The vegetarian lasagna recommended for dinner demands its own special mention.  It is a regular staple of an evolving menu that is far more sophisticated than your standard bar/restaurant fare.

  

Whether you’re planning a hens party, looking to impress a date or kicking off a girls’ night on the town, The Divine Miss Bette is a sensual, fun vat of vulgarity into which all ladies and germs should fall.

The Divine Miss Bette starring Catherine Alcorn returns to Slide for 3 shows only – Thursday 21 July, Friday 12 August and Friday 16 September.  Pre-purchase your tix here before they sell out.



Dinner & Show – $65 7pm (incl entrée & main)
Show Only – $25 9pm
This article first appeared on Eat Drink Play.

Back to class with Eau de Vie

The James Bond films are known for their blatant product placement, but it was Bond’s famous martini instructions “shaken, not stirred” which challenged the drink’s origins and caused controversy among connoisseurs worldwide.

At Eau de Vie’s Martini Masterclass, ‘Dr Phil’, the waistcoated bartender who has studied everything martini, tells us that the classic (read: authentic) martini was stirred so as not to bruise the gin.  Not merely a strong cocktail in a stylish glass, we learn that the martini has a history full of politics, science – and of course, culinary debate.

A hidden bar which prides itself on knowing its Hendricks from its Anchor Junipero, Eau de Vie is the ideal setting to learn about the evolution of a cocktail that found its feet during the American prohibition era.  Water is served in antique crystal tumblers, and strains of Chicago’s ‘All that jazz’ reinforce the sense that one is in an intimate speakeasy set up for the discerning tippler.

Winston Churchill makes a regular appearance in this alcohol enhanced history lesson, where his most important contribution to history appears to have been the popularisation of the dry martini (the more vermouth, the wetter the martini) – stating that “I would like to observe the vermouth from across the room while I drink my martini”.

Sipping our lychee martinis, the students seated around the bar are told that ice is the most important part of any martini (beware a bartender who doesn’t fill the glass!).  Crushed or broken ice is another warning signal.  Serious about its commitment to quality, Eau de Vie has liquid nitrogen on hand to ensure that the drinks are served at ideal temperatures and makes its own vermouth on the premises.

After concocting and drinking approximately five variations of martinis (the experiential part of the learning experience), our recollection of the techniques may be hazy but we have a newfound appreciation of the level of skill required.  Wet or dry, vodka or gin, stirred or shaken – the drink of tuxedos, Aston Martins and general sophistication is definitely one worth outsourcing to the experts at Eau de Vie.  As Dr Phil spins around the bar, pouring shots, stirring the drinks and juggling the glasses, he reminds us of the most important ingredients – theatre and flair.

The Martini Masterclass was run by Eau de Vie as part of World Cocktail Week.  Keep an eye on their Facebook page for future events.

Tickets were provided courtesy of Eat Drink Play

 

Check it out!  Eau de Vie comes to life in this brilliant video by the team at Barology

But it's an institution...

The crowd outside Mamak on a cold Tuesday night

It is a cold, wintery weeknight but the line at Mamak in Haymarket snakes around the corner (though moves surprisingly quickly), people shivering on the pavement and longingly watch the chefs work their magic. Chilly winds and the threat of rain aren’t enough to keep people away from the promise of fluffy rotis and slow cooked tender lamb curry (kari kambang) awaiting them in the warmth.

One of the chefs working his Roti magic

The fresh, inexpensive but mouthwateringly authentic Malaysian cuisine prepared in an open kitchen is a key ingredient helping Mamak on its way to becoming that mysterious creature – a Sydney institution (as in “what? You haven’t been there? But it’s an institution…”) – despite the fact that it only opened in 2007. The no-frills décor (including plastic cups for BYO wine) hasn’t got in the way of the SMH Good Food Guide 2009 awarding Mamak the Editor’s Pick award for Best Asian cuisine.

But it’s not the multiple awards that are causing people to flock there in droves. Mamak is becoming part of the unofficial establishment among Sydney-siders.

So what causes a place to become a ‘sydney institution’? A few other examples include (and this list is by no means exhaustive)…

Bill & Toni’s

Lonely Planet calls it a national treasure, and there are few places that have managed to last this long and maintain their reputation. Bill & Toni has been known for both its strong Italian coffee (in the downstairs cafe) and its schnitzels (upstairs) since 1964. Unpretentious but authentic Italian food, orange cordial, bread and a bowl of lettuce are brought to the table as soon as you sit down. Downstairs has a mix of old men, random bikies and journalistic types contemplating life over coffee, while upstairs sees everyone from families to couples to football teams feasting on pasta and parmigianas.

Harry’s Café de Wheels

You haven’t experienced a true Sydney night out if you haven’t perched on the wooden ledge of Woolloomooloo wharf during the wee hours of the morning, precariously balancing a pie topped with mushy peas, mash and gravy in one hand and a drink in the other. Harry’s has been around since 1938, serving “sailors, soldiers, cabbies, starlets and coppers” alike. Brooke Shields, Elton John and Colonel Sanders (of KFC infamy) are but a few of the well known names to visit Harry’s and indulge in a Tiger pie. Harry’s “institution” status was made official in 2004, when it was classified as a “quintessential Sydney icon” by the National Trust of Australia (NSW) and included on its register.

Kings Cross

Flashing lights, strip clubs and expensive restaurants, Kings Cross is a bizarre mix of red light district, trendy nightclub area and gentrified inner city living. A walk through the Cross on a Saturday night can lead to encounters with mini-skirted, high-heeled 18 year olds lining up for the latest club, working girls scouting for business, smartly dressed couples making their way from dinner, and a number of homeless people minding their own business on the side. The Coca Cola sign marking the entrance to the area is a landmark in itself, with its own Wikipedia entry.

Bourke St Bakery

People visit Surry Hills from miles away to join the queue for their famous sourdough, sausage rolls or croissants, just to enjoy them in the park across the road or sit on milk-crates on the pavement. The bakery has been described as “the heart of surry hills”, and sets the standard for bakeries across the city.

All of these places are landmarks in their own right, unique places that form the cultural landscape of Sydney.  How have they managed to beat the other cafes, areas, restaurants, to imprint themselves on the Sydney psyche?