As if we don’t have enough real stuff to worry about, 5G mobile phone towers are our new enemy — according to the same people who believe the Earth is flat, Pete Evans knows more than actual doctors and scientists, and life-saving vaccinations are a bad thing. It’s disappointing to me that at a time when science is our best hope for a cure, vaccine or workable strategy to tame the virus, so many people are quick to believe in anything other than that which can be tested and proven to work. Still, as I demonstrate further on in this newsletter, playing on people’s gullibility can be fun.
SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL …
An American friend recently wrote a moving eulogy online about his favourite bookstore, which has closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. It brought home to me the need for us all to back the businesses we love in our own back yard. Channel 9’s My Way, hosted by Nova 106.9 FM’s Tim Blackwell, has been putting the spotlight on food and beverage outlets and tourist-oriented businesses that could do with our support. The most recent episode featured Ben Cleary-Corradini and Theo Roduner (pictured above), co-owners of Gnocchi Gnocchi Brothers, Michelle Mascher of Ugly Duck Fine Foods, Brisbane start-up Barbecue Mafia, and the Gold Coast’s Black Hops Brewing. They’ve all come up with solutions to keep operating during the shutdown, and deserve your consideration.
In other hospitality news …
+ The Story Bridge Hotel has joined the ranks of venues offering a takeaway menu.
+ Fancy some fresh produce direct from our hinterland? The Scenic Rim Farm Box initiative will deliver it to your door. Details here. This business was featured on Channel 7’s Weekender program.
+ The Fork, an offshoot of Trip Advisor, lists its best Brisbane restaurants here.
CODE BUSTERS
The recent revelation that one in eight Australians seems to think Bill Gates is somehow responsible for the Covid-19 outbreak via the aforementioned 5G conspiracy helped me remember The Einstein Code. This 1993 Brisbane-made documentary (or was it?) drew together some coincidences (or were they?) of world history to make a case for a “fifth force” that makes bad things happen. The Channel 7 production, the brainchild of David Pyle, Gary Feat, Damien Ledwich and the Toadshow crew — who also gave Brisbane the big stage musicals Sherwoodstock and Phantoad of the Opera — is available on YouTube (below). You may recognise some of the people linked to the “conspiracy”, which is explained neatly in the final five minutes.
DRIVE-IN STAND-UP
If you’re in Dublin this weekend — and, let’s face it, if you’re not in Ireland already, you won’t be — you can catch stand-up comedy at a pop-up drive-in theatre. I mention this because it’s part of a trend of artists finding new physical places to work. There’s already so much happening online, but not a lot of entertainment options for those who are itching to get out and about. I’ve no news to share yet about live comedy events closer to home, but if you’re gagging for a laugh, Brisbane’s Sit Down Comedy Club has a video archive of past gigs. The good news for music fans is that there’s a drive-in concert headlined by Russell Morris in Redlands on June 13. Details here.
WHO’S WHO?
Given the big change about to happen at 4BC with Neil Breen taking over from Alan Jones in the breakfast shift, here’s a little quiz. Who can name the former, recent and not-so-recent, 4BC stars pictured above? Answer next week and on social media. Congratulations to Adrian who successfully named the Brisbane TV stars as George Wallace Jr, Brian Tait, Jim Iliffe, Fiona MacDonald, Billy J Smith, Babette Stephens, Hugh Cornish, Don Seccombe, Melody Iliffe, Reg Grundy and Joy Chambers.
THEATRE UPDATE
Showtime is still not upon us, but an arts gift voucher still makes a great present. QPAC has some offers here. It is also constantly updating its what’s on section with details of cancellations and rescheduled events. If you want to check the status of other events, follow the links for the Brisbane Powerhouse and Brisbane Entertainment Centre. On Friday, BEC announced that the Jim Steinman Bat Out of Hell musical scheduled for next month has been rescheduled for next year. And the Queensland Ballet has announced the postponement of its entire 2020 season until next year. It follows La Boite in writing-off any chance of performing this year. The Brisbane Festival, due to be held in late August and September, has an update here.
MEANWHILE …
An update on last week’s item: I have received my Actors’ and Entertainers’ Benevolent Fund T-shirt with a brilliant design by Ben Mulheran, and you can get yours too, by following this link.
Opera Queensland is offering us an aria a day. Details here.
Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea, raising funds for the Cancer Council, will be held on Thursday, May 28. Details of how you can be involved are here.
As a seasoned traveller who has been in a few tight spots, I feel empathy for those trapped in a foreign country right now. Thousands of international students are stuck in Australia and need financial assistance. You can give to the appeal to help them set up by Lilly Luhrmann through the Givit website. Givit is also an official gateway to support other charities.
Looking for some more arts-related reading? You can browse through my columns for In Queensland here.
Sad to hear of the passing of Joy Chambers. I seem to remember her on kids TV in the early 70s. Is that true? Or am I making it up??