Queer Vertigo 2012 Preview

Review of The Histrionic (Der Theatermacher)

The Histrionic is a deliciously devilish spin on the inner (and outer) most thoughts of every uber-egotistical actor to date. Served with generous lashings of frittata soup and performed to a tea by headliner Billie Brown, the Malthouse/Sydney Theatre Company collaboration will have the dullest of theatregoers giggling like Japanese schoolgirls.

Set solely in the inn of a rustic Austrian town named Utzbach, with a pigsty and numerous mentions of blood sausage to boot, actor Bruscon (Brown) struggles to patch together a workable performance of his ‘worldly masterpiece’, The Wheel of History.

Brown’s performance as self-indulgent Bruscon is exaggerated perfection, ringing true for an eccentric playwright who declares himself the greatest in “the history of the world.” Bruscon consistently critiques his family’s acting abilities and nitpicks at his wife’s ailing predicament (she’s allergic to the smell of pigs), drawing a fine line between narcissism and his misogynistic fanfare. Through and through, his brash personality is complimented with the supporting cast’s fine accompaniment.

Barry Otto sidelines as the twitching, terror-filled innkeeper, aiming to please his tempestuous guest. His performance was enriched by his wife and daughter’s humorous country-bumpkin background shenanigans, yet the entire play succumbs to Brown’s hedonistic, attention-grabbing monologues – a guilty eye-opening, hate-filling pleasure for all.

Writer Thomas Bernhard innocently criticises his Alpine motherland with insults ranging from a light-hearted attack of Austria’s ignorant infatuation with Hitler to the lack of culinary delights. Marg Horwell’s set design and Daniel Schlusser’s directorial skills shine through in the effectiveness of staging rampant familial chaos.

Tickets are well worth the student-friendly price tag. So save up the moolah for a cultural night on the town and rather than those extra puke-inducing vodka shots, consider a pre-performance cocktail at the Wharf Bar. Because we all enjoy being that little bit classy.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
By Ryan Auberson-Walsh

This review was first published online at the Vertigo Magazine website.

Silly Billy

Those moments when you decide to throw yourself in the deep end for a better outcome in the long run…. Well, Ah McCain, I’ve done it again.

This time however will definitely be advantageous to my future welfare though. I’ve taken on three different editorial positions on top of regular paid work and my university studies, so I’ll be a busy bee this coming semester. I am awfully excited about one of the publications though. It’s titled Querelle and is an annual magazine that coincides with a university-based conference for queer-identifying people called Queer Collaborations. This year at the conference James Wilson and I put in a bid for UTS (my university; University of Technology, Sydney) to run the editing and creative process. Thankfully we won the bid and have now got an opportunity to let our ideas flourish in the public eye!

So, with a fleeting request, I’d love for people to contribute in any way they possibly can. It would be best if you were living in Australia to understand the bulk of content we wish to produce, but we’re looking for international talent as well to provide a voice of what’s happening around the world. 

We’re looking specifically for journalists, writers, artists and photographers to send in their work that is based around queer-identifying people, or illustrates an insight into queer issues. The magazine launch won’t be till July 2013, but we’re hoping to receive timeless submissions within the coming months so the editing process can get underway! If you’re keen and would love to ask any further questions or send in a submission, simply email querellemag@gmail.com

Can’t wait to read some bold and beautiful work focussing on the LGBTIQ community of Australia.

Regards,

Ryan

Run Aubie, Run…!

This first week at University has proved a real mixed bag of emotions; excitement, horror, fear, anticipation, anxiety, stress, nervousness, joy, relief etc….

So it’s something odd that I’m not sure of which category I fit in exactly… am I one of the people running away in fear from the bulls in Pamplona, Spain, or am I in fact one of those wicked beasts taking charge of the situation… brilliant metaphor, I know.

In simple terms, am I running away from the pressures of this degree, or am I taking action and being not particularly nervous about it?

Here’s a little secret for you all. I’m on the fence. So here’s hoping that I’m a bull and not someone who’s about to get rammed and end up flying across the tourist-packed Mediterranean destination that Aussie tourists have come to love…

But the [fun] isn’t all over yet. To date I’ve only had two lectures from two of my three subjects. So I can’t exactly say where I feel as if I’m sitting. Give me a few days guys. Perhaps I’ll end up regretting my decision to study Journalism at UTS. Fingers crossed I don’t!

By the way, here’s a little snap I found yesterday… was taken last Wednesday on O-Day. :]

I’m hardly posing at all.

Keep it real kids.
Your future-journalist-to-be,
Ryan

Ready to write!

It’s been quite a while hasn’t it? Not since that silly little post about Valentine’s Day have I written something for my lovely followers!

I’m here to let you know that I’m taking a step into tertiary education on Monday and I’ll be starting my Journalism course at UTS. I’m rather excited and over the past week I’ve been popping on by campus for the various orientation sessions and already made some amazing friends. Wednesday was a particularly fun day because it ended in the evening with Ofest, so there was lots to see, do and (drink). ;]

Here’s some little snapshots of my action around Sydney from the past week.

Can’t wait for monday,
Your journalist to be,
Ryan :]