Simply Hilarious!

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The dazzling Tony Lewis captivates and electrifies his audience with high voltage one liners and standup skits selected from a repertoire of over 70 animated personas.

Irreverent, quick as a flash and brilliant, Tony’s comedic timing keeps his audience dancing to his tune and coming back for more.

Do not miss Melbourne’s last night of high stakes comedy for 2013 before Tony Lewis returns to Las Vegas for the much anticipated season of the Martin and Lewis Tribute Show which will be telecast live from  Tony Sacca’s Las Vagas Rocks.

Where: Thornbury Theatre – 859 High St, Thornbury

When: 29th of November, 2013 at 8pm

Bookings: Tel: 9484 9831 www.thornburytheatre.com

www.tonylewiscomedian.com.au

www.martinandlewis.com

 

 

‘Baykeepers’ a film not to be missed

Collaborators filmmaker Michael J. Lutman and Neil Blake from Bay Keeper / Eco Centre
Collaborators filmmaker Michael J. Lutman and Neil Blake from Bay Keeper / Eco Centre

I first met Neil Blake back in the early 1990’s. I was co-producing the first of three Indigenous cultural theatre productions with my dear friend the late Robert Mate Mate, and Neil was already well known as the Port Phillip Penguin caretaker.

Since then Neil’s clear vision and total commitment to the environment have ignited many educational and ecologically sustainable ventures. Two of the most outstanding are the collective works of the Eco Centre, at St Kilda Botanical Gardens and the Port Phillip Bay-keeper.  Among Neil’s strengths is his ability to inspire and collaborate.

As a budding ‘greenie’ and ignorant of most ongoing ecologically sustainable ways of living, it was easier for me to just don the ‘blinkers’,  turning a blind eye to the negative impact that my daily practices had on our native environment and all its non-human inhabitants.

It is people like Neil Blake and his lifework that give me a window of freedom to look and learn and feel good about moving towards being part of sustainable solutions today and for the future. And for me solutions come with education, knowledge, understanding and practice.

I was privileged to be at the first screening of a brand new documentary commissioned by Neil and filmed in Melbourne by talented young Irish filmmaker Michael J Lutman. Titled ‘Baykeepers’ it is a film about the impact of the plastic age on the living inhabitants of Port Phillip Bay.

Not knowing what to expect, I was deeply moved and elated by the amazing story that unfolded.

For those of us who often feel impotent and overwhelmed by our negative impact on the bay and the surrounding environment, this is a must-see film that illuminates current issues and points towards practical solutions that we can all implement today.

The next viewing of ‘Baykeepers’ is on the18th of November at the Eco Centre. For further information click here

Michael and Neil with Carolyn M. Briggs from Boon Wurrung Foundation, Patricia Acuna and film editor Manny Mejia
Michael and Neil with Carolyn M. Briggs from Boon Wurrung Foundation, Patricia Acuna and film editor Manny Mejia

For an enlightening preview of “Baykeepers” click here

To read ‘Nurdle Soup’ the report click here

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MCC Kew Inaugural Ball

Front view of club house
Front view of club house
The boardwalk / promenade for drinks
The boardwalk / promenade for drinks

I was invited to cover the new MCC Kew Sports Club Inaugural Ball Saturday night on the 19th and I can confidently say it was a GREAT night had by all.

I’ve been to a few sports and bowling clubs around the traps but this one is in a league of its own. Very reminiscent of the grandeur associated with “country clubs”.

MCC Kew boasts ultra modern facilities with all 21st century technology in place … just to make life more comfortable.

For 6 months Angus MacIsaac, Club Chairman. had been orchestrating renovations and final touches ensuring the night went as smooth as their new greens (two being a punch carpet and the third a tiff dwarf) and I have the pictures to prove just that.

The 150 members and guests started rolling in on cue, giving me the opportunity to immortalise each couple on their maiden walk across the “green carpet”.

Welcomed by the chairman they preceded past the Trinity Grammar String Quartet, who added a fine touch to this salubrious room and then onto the outdoor promenade for drinks overlooking an amazing view.

After the salutary speeches and the unveiling of the cormmerative plaque by MCC president Paul Sheahan and Federal MP Josh Frydenberg, the impeccable staff served a delicious two course dinner to a serenade by The Valaries who featured as the nights entertainment. After dinner the girls turned up the tempo compelling the vibrant crowd to hit the dance floor and that is where they stayed until stumps.

The new MCC Kew Sports Club definitely adds value to our fair city and is a welcoming ‘go to’ destination for any occasion.

With a motto “There is always something to do at MCC Kew” this outstanding club is awash with sporting activities and social services. Including Bowls, Tennis, Bridge, Cycling and Group Fitness that includes Yoga!

If you are not a member I highly recommend you join and be part of this year’s summer program which include the “Barefoot Bowls Xmas Events” Melbourne’s Finest Barefoot Bowls Experience. For more details about what’s available go to www.mcckew.com.au

Ex president Ron Makin and friend
Ex president Ron Makin and friend
Table set to impress looking towards the bar
Table set to impress looking towards the bar 
MCC president Paul Sheahan Member for Kooyong Josh Frydenberg Chairman MCC KEW Angus MacIsaac with the commemorative Plaque
MCC president Paul Sheahan, Member for Kooyong Josh Frydenberg. Chairman MCC KEW Angus MacIsaac
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The party getting started in the main dining room 
The Valaries in full flight
The Valaries in full flight
Tennis Coach Bill Madafferi kicks up his heels with wife Carmen to the swinging sound of the Valaries
Tennis Coach Bill Madafferi kicks up his heels with wife Carmen to the swinging sound of the Valaries 
Simon Collett and a friend
Simon Collett and a friend

 

Reuben Stone

Reuben Stone performing in Melbourne
Reuben Stone performing in Melbourne

I would like to introduce you to Reuben Stone an inspired and inspiring young musician, songwriter, singer and performing artist.

I first encountered Reuben performing on the streets of Melbourne. His music stopped me in my tracks and after listening to one song I purchased one of his CD’s titled Spacing Memories.  I am listening to that CD as I am writing this story.

Spacing Memories takes us on a journey throughout the ages, awakening rich emotional landscapes that draw us to the centre of our hearts. Reuben is a story teller. At 24 years old he is a seasoned artist with the need to release and share his enormous creativity and talent. He is a profound solo artist whose music and lyrics transcend time and space. Very refreshing.

Personally, I do not know much more about Reuben other than he is another really gifted New Zealander born and bred, and my research tells me he was raised on a diet of drums and bass.

I do recognise he is very charismatic with great talent and I know he is on the rise.

His latest EP titled Spy Plans, where Reuben composed, sung, played all musical instruments as well as designing his CD cover is now available for your listening pleasure.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Shadow King…not to be missed

Tom E Lewis as King Lear
Tom E. Lewis as King Lear

The Shadow King is a story of power and vanity, fuelled by the disfiguring sense of entitlement, that is played out within a contemporary indigenous family dynasty in Arnhem land.

This compelling and confronting adaptation of Shakespeare’s King Lear, four years in the making, is the brainchild of director Michael Kantor and Tom E Lewis. It is inspired by the often tragic and desperate circumstances in current day Katherine, Tom’s home base.

This story illuminates human frailties. Exposing destructive internal forces that fuel greed, jealousy, ambition and politics. Forces that can distort and manipulate perceptions resulting in dire consequences.

All his life King Lear has been a major land owner and patriarch to his family and community. Now old and lacking wisdom he is lost in hedonism. His vanity craves the love and loyalty of his three daughters to support  him in his twilight years. In deciding to divide his land between his three daughters, he ignites a sense of injustice.

Edmund, played by Jimi Bani, is deemed a bastard child by his community. He decides to turn the tables for himself, schemes to take down his legitimate brother and to secure wealth and power endears himself with Lear’s daughters played by Jada Alberts, Rarriway Hick and Natasha Wanganeen. He stops at nothing to achieve his goal.

One of the most absorbing and compelling ingredients of the story is the intoxicating use of indigenous language that appears to spring from the earth itself. We are drawn into a deeper understanding of human complexities and our ultimate desire for wisdom and humility. This is most poignantly revealed by Frances Djulbing when she is singing her song of sorrow and loss, a song composed by her.

Performing musicians Bart Willoughby from the legendary band No Fixed Address, Selwyn Burns and Djakapurra Munyarryun did not miss a beat in keeping the audience pinned to the stage in anticipation of the next scene. The magical scene transitions were subtly delivered by ingeniously multi layered staging. For me it was a much anticipated show and I loved it.

Co-Creators Michael Kantor & Tom E. Lewis

Director Michael Kantor
Lighting Design Paul Jackson
Set Design Paul Jackson, Michael Kantor & David Miller
Sound Design Kelly Ryall
Props & Costume Design Ruby Langton-Batty
Music Consultant Iain Grandage
Musical Arrangements John Rodgers
Dramaturg Marion Potts
Film Natasha Gadd, Rhys Graham & Murray Lui
Performers Jada Alberts, Jimi Bani, Frances Djulibing, Damion Hunter, Rarriwuy Hick, Kamahi Djordan King, Tom E. Lewis, Natasha Wanganeen
Band Selwyn Burns, Djakapurra Munyarryun, Bart Willoughby

Michael Kantor, Frances Djuilbing and Bart Willoughby
An exuberant Michael Kantor, Frances Djuilbing and Bart Willoughby after the show

 

 

 

 

 

The hilarious Crimson Goat Caberat Club

MC Marty Fields
MC Marty Fields

Congratulations to Jack Levy aka Elliot Goblet and Mitchell Faircloth aka Slim Whittle co-founders and hosts of Crimson Goat Cabaret Club and all the artists who contributed to this world class celebration of comedy last Sunday night at Melbourne’s iconic Ormond Hall.

MC Marty Fields set the bar high for the evening with his dry, caustic humour and the vibe remained on the rise resulting in explosions of laughter from start to finish.

Tina Del Twist aka Wes Snelling was next to glide onto the stage and hold us spell bound with her cool jazz / blues vocals, laced with a hint of Boy George and just a pinch of Edna Everidge, looking absolutely glamorous in  her stunning attire. Pure class.

The Great Condos (Daniel Oldaker and Rani Huszar) who specialise in circus and magic and are also well known to reflect  “A peak of physical comedy”. Well, I got to say, that is an understatement and yes, that is the beautiful Rani folded up into that little box. And yes, the lid was shut and Daniel stood on top of it for our viewing pleasure.

Next on the bill was the acclaimed award winning comedian Asher Treleaven whipping up a sexual storm with his erotic manoeuvres.

The night climaxed with Chris “The Bloke” Franklin relating about the pros and cons of being a new age Aussie bloke. He ended this hilarious evening by singing his number one platinum hit on the ARIA charts  “Bloke” and  it hasn’t left my head since..wow Chris.

Finally, I would like to give Mitchell Faircloth extra special thanks and recognition in appreciation for his creation of  the CRIMSON GOAT COMIC BOOK.

Tina del TwistTina del Twist

The Great Condos
The Great Condos
The Great Condos
The Great Condos
Asher Treleaven getting everyone hot and bothered with his "interpretative" sexy manoeuvres
Asher Treleaven getting everyone hot and bothered with his “interpretative” sexy manoeuvres
Chris "the bloke" Franklin standing his ground
Chris “the bloke” Franklin standing his ground
Les Twentyman AO and long time Ian from Off Beat Music
Les Twentyman AO and long time friend Ian from Off Beat Music
TT editor Mick Pacholli aka bro and host Jack Levy aka Elliot Goblet
TT editor Mick Pacholli aka bro and host Jack Levy aka Elliot Goblet
Mitchell Faircloth aka Slim Whittle debuting his creation CRIMSON GOAT COMIC BOOK
Mitchell Faircloth aka Slim Whittle debuting his creation CRIMSON GOAT COMIC BOOK
 

Viva Las Vegas

Tony Lewis and Tom Steven "Martin and Lewis Tribute Show"
             Tony Lewis and Tom Steven 
         “Martin and Lewis Tribute Show”

There is a huge part of me that loves Jerry Lewis, Dean Martin, cabarets, crooners and all the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas. It was my parent’s heyday when those two iconic stars rose to fame and the Rat Pack” reigned supreme. By the time I was switched on to this resonating wave of comedic influence it was the 1970’s and Elvis and Las Vegas were synonymous – and of course, I loved Elvis too.

I was tickled pink to have the chance to meet Tony Lewis recently and discover that the magic of Martin and Lewis lives on.

To begin this story I would like to take you back in history to retrace a couple of key events.

WW2 officially ended on the 2 September,1945 and by Boxing Day the next year Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel’s iconic Flamingo Hotel had opened for business, paving the way for the future direction of Las Vegas.

The times were buzzing with high voltage energy. Explosions of talent rose to feed a war-torn world starving for positivity, creative expression and a fresh brand of humour, and on July 25, 1946 Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis teamed up to launch their comedy duo in Atlantic City’s 500 Club,  triggering a powerfully transformative wave of hope and enthusiasm. Their humour tapped into a sense of innocence, romance and cheeky bravado that helped re-align the shattered psyche of a world seemingly hell bent on destruction for “the greater good” … and that’s no mean feat!

Now, flash forward 68 years and the world has produced two of the greatest tribute performers in Tony Lewis and Tom Stevens whose Martin and Lewis Tribute Show is offering a window and a fresh view into those dynamic times.

For 29 years comedian, writer and actor Tony Lewis has been delighting Australian audiences with engaging and diverse cabaret style shows. With a repertoire consisting of over 70 voices and characters he pays tribute to the greats such as Elvis Presley, Tom Jones and Neil Diamond to name a few. But it is his uncanny resemblance to Jerry Lewis that makes him the quintessential Jerry Lewis tribute artist. To quote Tony “I have a mind like a zerox machine”.

On the other side of the world American comedian, writer and actor Tom Stevens has been a successful cabaret performer for 30 years, with over 500 live Dean Martin Tribute performances in Las Vegas over the last 11 years alone. He is undoubtedly  “The best Dean Martin tribute artist ever”.

You can imagine how these guys felt when they finally saw each others’ acts via cyberspace last year!  Together they have created  the greatest Martin and Lewis Tribute Show of all time and it is playing to sell out  audiences in LAS VEGAS.

They re-create much loved original Martin and Lewis skits from the 40”s and 50′s as well as successfully weaving their own written material and contemporary themes into the original comedic formula created by Lewis and Martin. The positive vibe and success of their shows have built a momentum that is growing with every performance.

Die hard fans and the uninitiated alike can enjoy the DVD of the recent Martin and Lewis Tribute Show telecast in early October 2013 before a live audience hosted by Las Vegas Rocks on the Tony Sacca Show.

The Martin and Lewis Tribute Show debuted in Australia last October leading to sell out live and telecast shows in Las Vegas. There is talk of a return Aussie tour in 2014, so stay tuned …

photo of Tony Lewis

To find out more about Tony Lewis and his amazing career past, present and future, and to catch the tail end of his 2013 Australian tour dates check out https://www.facebook.com/tony.lewis.946

Melbourne readers: absolutely do not miss out on joining the incredibly talented and funny Tony Lewis for his final show of 2013, in his home town of Melbourne. Performing live at the Thornbury Theatre on the 29 November.

I’ll leave you with a couple of quotes from the great Jerry Lewis himself:

“I get paid for what most kids get punished for.”

“When I was a kid I said to my Father one afternoon, Will you take me to the zoo? He answered, If the zoo wants you, let them come and get you.”

 

 

 

Martin and Lewis Tribute Show

Martin and Lewis Tribute Show DVD

Les Twentyman, reading the streets…

© Pation Pics 2013
Singer/songwriter Lucy Gale with Les Twentyman

I had the opportunity to meet with Les Twentyman, his fellow team member Wayne Ownes and singer / songwriter Lucy Gale at the 20th Man HQ in Footscray last week. Along with getting publicity shots to promote the 20th Man Charity Gala on the 18 October, my mission was to get a closer understanding of who Les is and how I could help him connect with the general public.

I discovered there are incredibly complex issues that Les and his dedicated team and supporters are confronting on a daily basis.

Most of us in the burbs rarely see children and adolescents actually living on the streets, forging a living out of what’s at hand. Often these kids are pretty hard to identify; overshadowed by our society’s enormous prosperity and affluence.

What is now illuminated to me is that Melbourne has a rather colourful and diverse street kid sub-culture. A melting pot of cultural and political diversity with rich expression and a great deal of potential. The graffiti posted on walls throughout all our suburbs, reflects a natural born desire to communicate, sometimes statement based and sometimes messages to rival gangs. A language that has sprung from ingenuity, a language that can be both positive and negative. 

Recently Les visited America as part of the 20th Man Youth Services – International Out-Reach Exchange in the quest to cross pollinate information about strategies in tackling the youth crisis at home.

Yet the common denominator among all these kids, regardless of where they are from, is that they are socially and financially dis-enfranchised, excluded from mainstream society, left to survive the best way they can.

We are indeed lucky to have Les Twentyman, a leading specialist with over 30 years of grass roots experience and knowledge in the field on the job.

The forthcoming 20th Man Charity Gala will be held at the Peninsula, Shed 14, Central Pier, 161 Harbour Esplanade, Docklands on the 18 Octobers 2013. If you would like to be part of this very special evening and get a greater understanding of the work this significant fund achieves throughout the year, please purchase your tickets direct from Wayne Owens 0417 107 959, wayne@20thman.com.au 

Lucy Gale will again be performing “Tears of a Child” a song co-written by Lucy as part of “the Loft” group and recorded by Bettina Spivakovsky to help lift awareness of our society’s struggling youth. Available in iTunes with all proceeds going to the 20th Man Fund.

If you are interested in learning more about the work Les does please check out: .20thman.com.au

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The 20th Man Annual Gala

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The 20th Man Fund has enormous reach and ongoing potential.

With Les Twentyman at the helm since 1984 this non for profit organisations has been proactive in addressing the needs of our societies  most disadvantaged, marginalised and often forgotten. Our street kids.

The social impact that the 20th Man has on youth in Melbourne is immeasurable and without public support, sponsorship and donations Melbourne’s youth and indeed our society at large would be in a far worse state.

The 20th Man Fund Charity Gala is on the 18 October, 2013 providing an opportunity to showcase to the general public the positive results the 20th Man achieves throughout the year.

If you would like to be part of this special event or feel you have something to contribute please call Wayne Owens on 0417 107 595 or email wayne@20thman.com.au

For more information please refer to www.20thman.com.au

***2013 Gala Flyer

 

Majestic Palais Theatre

 

Attracting 86 years of culture and artist expression

Palais front on low res

As we know, back in 1927 the Palais Theatre was the brainchild of some post WW1 American entrepreneurs with a keen passion of film.

Always a successful epicentre of entertainment throughout the proceeding decades, in 1957 the Palais Theatre was on sold to local Melbourne entrepreneurs to caretake and develop. To this day, with the moral and business backing of our community, the Palais Theatre remains one of the most attractive and successful entertainment centres in our city.

For 86 years this majestic work of art, globally recognised as one of the finest examples of Art Deco architecture in Australia has served our community with grace and majesty.

Fourteen years shy of a century the spirit of the Palais has continued to attract the world’s most celebrated performing artists to our shores and our city. Proudly doing its part in keeping a soul pulse in our community.

Who exactly is it that thinks the Palais Theatre has had its used by date? For what reasons?

Palias2 profile low res

Productions, PR, Publicity, and Pics

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