John Shand Posts

April 8, 2015 / Theatre Reviews - Archive

Sydney Theatre Company, Roslyn Packer Theatre, April 7   In Endgame Samuel Beckett repeatedly pokes the ribs the great cosmic joke in which we find ourselves and extracts a few more crackling laughs. From the moment the play begins the end is nigh. Clov’s opening line is “Finished, it’s finished,…

April 3, 2015 / Album Reviews - Archive

Live in Concert (ACT/Planet) Manu Katche may have changed labels (from ECM to ACT) and trumpeters (Nils Petter Molvaer to Luca Aquino) for this live set in a Parisian club, but the music remains the same curiosity. The drummer’s formula of soft-focus, TV theme-type melodies fleshed out with horn solos…

March 31, 2015 / Concert Reviews - Archive

State Theatre, March 13 “Are you tired?” Omara Portuondo asked the audience in mock surprise at the start of Quizas, Quizas. Everyone had dared to resume their seats after No Me Llores Mas, but an 84-year-old gently implying a want of stamina instantly had the desired effect, the jibe carrying…