Reviewers: you either love us a little bit too much or we’re ignorant, bitchy wannabes who wouldn’t know art if it bit us on the bum and left a nice pattern. (Which may be true.)
This year I’ve been told I’m too nice, I’m too nasty, I write too much and I don’t write enough. So a perfect review is not too much, not too little, not too sweet and not too bitter? Sounds kind of bland, Goldilocks.
Opinion is merely that, an opinion. I don’t know anyone who writes about theatre who doesn’t love it to their very core and I’ve yet to meet anyone who has the exact same taste as me.
So, please don't trust what mere reviewers or bloggers say – get out there and make up your own mind. Just keep seeing live art. See the stuff you’ve read about, the stuff you’ve never heard about, the shows people rave about and the ones they hate. You’re not going to like it all, and you’ll disagree with what other people think, but every once in a while you’ll be left breathless or in tears or laugh so much it hurts as you’ll wonder how these glorious artists knew exactly how you felt and put it on a stage.
These are some of the wonderful and totally awesome artists who blew me away this year.
Outstanding Artists 2009
WRITER
Jackie Smith for The Flood
and
Lally Katz for The Apocalypse Bear Trilogy
and
Sarah Collins and Justin Kennedy for Donna and Damo
PERORMANCE
Shirley Cattunar, Caroline Lee and Maude Davey in The Flood
and
Ash Flanders in I Love You Bro
EVERYTHING THEY DO ROCKS
Finucane & Smith for The Flood, Salon de Dance, The Feast Of Argentina Gina Catalina, and Burlesque Hour Legends.
Outstanding Productions 2009
CABARET
Dead Men Tell a Thousand Tales – Mikelangelo and The Black Sea Gentlemen
and
The Last Tuesday Society – Richard Higgins, Bron Battern and everyone else
MUSICAL
Avenue Q
COMMERCIAL SHOW
When the Rain Stops Falling – MTC and Brink Productions
DANCE
The Oracle - Malthouse Theatre and the Sydney Opera House
COMEDY
Goodbye Ruby Tuesday – Justin Hamilton and Hannah Norris
The Best of the Best
The Boy with Tape on his Face – Sam Wills
and
Exit – Ghostboy with Golden Virtues
and
Le Salon – Peeping Tom
My favourite of 2009
Floating - Hugh Hughs
The 2008 winners.
