ADAM KAMIEN

FILMMAKER Judd Apatow is hot property in Hollywood — he has been involved in a host of the biggest films of the past decade, including Knocked Up, 40 Year Old Virgin and Superbad,

Apatow’s latest film, Funny People, is inspired by his own rise to the top and charts the fortunes of a successful stand-up comedian with less than a year to live and his relationship with an up-and-coming stand-up comic.

The film is a who’s who of Jewish talent, including Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, Jason Schwartzman and Jonah Hill, with cameos from comedians Sarah Silverman, Monty Hoffman and Budd Friedman. Here Apatow talks about his career and his new film.

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A scene from Inglourious Basterds.

SCALPINGS, disembowellings, mutilations, baseball bat bludgeonings and other assorted fits of violence aside, Quentin Tarantino’s latest film, Inglourious Basterds, is a World War II film you can take your Holocaust survivor grandparents to see.

Why? Because in Tarantino’s occupied France the Nazis are crushed in a violent explosion of ignominy and physical pain, and also because the film succeeds where most other World War II films fail. It’s a ripping hoot.

Sometime after the Macaroni Combat (Italy’s hammed-up answer to films like The Dirty Dozen) exploitation movies of the ’60s and ’70s, people stopped making camp war adventures, opting instead for earnest pathos-  drenched allegories about the human spirit in the face of overwhelming adversity. Suffice to say, Inglourious Basterds is a World War II epic with a difference, primarily because Tarantino is not bound by hopeless reverence, discretion or even reality. His plan is simple – take the most insidious, unsympathetic lot in recent history and brutalise them.

It’s not an original concept, but sometimes it’s not the trailblazers that get the kudos for spawning genres and sub-genres. In this case, Tarantino’s signature filmic mash-up, which is heavy on knowing nods and homage, has spawned a sub-genre affectionately named “Jewish revenge porn”.

The great man introduced himself with a “How ya going mate?” attempt at the Australian accent on the red carpet of the film’s Australian premiere.

“You could call it a Jewish revenge fantasy,” Tarantino says, mock-  baulking at the “Jewish revenge porn” title through a cheeky grin. But he clearly likes the moniker. He might as well have given a nudge and a wink at the end of the sentence. Read the full story

CONCERT: CENTRAL CHOIR
REVIEWED BY SHIRLEY KUPSHIK

BRETT Kaye and the Central Choir, conducted by choirmaster Myron Blecher, sang a delightful selection of popular songs as well as some beautiful tephilot (prayers) from their synagogue repertoire at the Musical Medley of Favourites performance at Mount Scopus on June 4.

The guest chazan, Shimon Walles, joined Brett and the choir on stage for two memorable performances, one in each half of the program. 

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MUSICAL: AVENUE Q
REVIEWED BY DANNY GOCS

THE adorable puppets of Sesame Street have morphed into the racier, adult versions on Avenue Q, the hit Broadway musical that had its Australian premiere in Melbourne last week.

There’s love, sex, racism, gay relationships and even a wedding with a Jewish toast that are tackled in this pacy production that is set in a rundown apartment block in New York.

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CONCERT: JOHNNY CLEGG 
REVIEWED BY LEXI LANDSMAN

WATCHING Johnny Clegg perform is a multifaceted experience: there is the obvious entertainment factor of watching a man who has an enthralling vocal range and an uncanny grasp of Zulu dance and language. 

But then there is the added layer of hearing the consummate storyteller and qualified anthropologist describe in detail the immense political, cultural and social ramifications behind his song. Read the full story

MUSICAL: SHANE WARNE THE MUSICAL
REVIEWED BY LEXI LANDSMAN

WHO would have thought that the words “musical” and “Shane Warne” would appear in the same sentence? 

Enter Shane Warne The Musical, an Australian-made musical about the life of cricket’s most adored and maligned hero as he battles fame, failure, fidelity and the ferocious Australian media.

The show opened last week at the Enmore Theatre, Sydney, and runs for a shorter-than-planned season until June 7. Read the full story

COMEDY: MARTIN SHORT
REVIEWED BY DANNY GOCS

COMEDIAN Martin Short presents a classy, entertaining show that combines stand-up comedy, singing, dancing and a smorgasbord of highlights from his movie and TV career.

Short is best known for his film roles in The Three Amigos and as the wedding planner Franck in Father of the Bride and his TV interviewer Jimmy Glick, but the accomplished Canadian-born star has also won Emmy and Tony awards for his work. Read the full story

MUSICAL: CABARET
REVIEWED BY DANNY GOCS

CABARET is a musical with great songs, a storyline with plenty of drama and romance, and one of the best roles created in musical theatre -– that of the Emcee.

JYM Theatre Company’s staging of Kandor and Ebb’s classic musical Cabaret, which opened at the Phoenix Theatre, Elwood, on May 14 is a quality production that delighted the audience.

The key ingredient for its success is the fine cast led by Nathan Reynolds as the Emcee, Courtney Krulis as Sally Bowles and Steven Walker as Clifford Bradshaw, plus a strong group of supporting actors, dancers and musicians.

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CIRCUS: CIRQUE DU SOLEIL
Reviewed by: Danny Gocs

CIRQUE du Soleil continues to dazzle in Dralion, its fifth production to tour Australia that is currently being staged in Melbourne under its Grand Chapiteau at Docklands.

Hallmarks of Cirque du Soleil shows are fine acrobatics, stunning costumes and non-stop action. It is worth getting to your seat 15 minutes before the show starts and watch the clowns have fun with patrons as they arrive.

Dralion is a combination of east and west, highlighted by beautiful costumes. The performers move on and off the stage at a rapid pace, ensuring that there is never a dull moment. One minute you are watching the delicate balancing act by a contortionist who amazingly twists her body while balancing on one hand. Read the full story

CONCERT REVIEW: RITA
REVIEWED BY SAMANTHA MIMERAN

BRINGING a little bit of the Holy Land to Australia, Israel’s queen of song Rita made her two appearances in Australia earlier this month -– on April 1 at the Palais Theatre in Melbourne and on April 5 at the Sydney Opera House. 

“What fun,” Rita exclaimed to her adoring fans. “If you are not careful, I might come back again.” In a most intimate environment, this Persian beauty sang mostly classics from her many albums over the years, but she threw in a few songs from her latest album Remazim (Hints) for good measure. 

The old favourites are almost anthems to Israelis, most of who were singing along and dancing, soaking up the incredible atmosphere. Read the full story