MAN ABOUT TOWN

Just a quick note to remind you that I'm hosting a conversation with actor and writer Rupert Everett at the Athenaeum Theatre in Collins Street tonight at 6pm. I'm not the least bit nervous - certainly I didn't wake up in a cold sweat last night after a dream that I was running two hours late for the event. No, really, I didn't. Rupe and I will be discussing his life, his career, and his new autobiography Red Carpets and Other Banana Skins , described by fellow thespian Simon Callow, " A startling self-portrait, unapologetic but not in the least confessional, in-depth but not analytical, of someone who has done exactly what he has wanted when he has wanted, and to hell with the consequences ... superb ...” Tickets from Readings Bookshop - hope you can make it!

It's amazing the sort of things you find at work, while you're looking for whimsical news stories to lighten the tone of the paper you edit. Such as this: the Men of Mortuaries calendar, which "features cheesecake photos of twelve muscle-bound morticians, funeral directors, and crypt keepers." Presumably, women and gay men are dying to meet these guys. Fnar fnar. I don't know whether to laugh hysterically, or hide under my desk and howl...

Based on a true story , The Spook by Melissa Reeves (one of the co-writers of Melbourne Workers’ Theatre’s classic play Who’s Afraid of the Working Class ) is an ambitious, often delightful comedy-drama set in the world of espionage, but with a twist. Instead of your standard spy story based in Berlin , Prague , Paris or similar international locales, its story takes place in Bendigo in 1965. Martin (Luke Ryan) is a young fitter and turner recruited by ASIO at a football game and ordered to infiltrate and report on the activities of the South Bendigo branch of the Communist Party. Much of the resulting action is comedic, but Martin’s activities also lead to moments of real pathos, as he begins to question his role and the purpose of a double life which sees him alienated from old friends and betraying others. The play’s tone is uneven, with occasionally awkward shifts between moments of broad farce (such as a scene in which Martin is instructed how to establish a new drop point ...

Memorable things about visiting Numurkah this weekend: The young white-trash couple who fought and argued for the entire three hour bus trip home, who were thankfully sitting two seats ahead of me, but were still close enough for me to hear the hissed "bitch", "lying mole", "bastard" and similar phrases flying back and forth between them. When they got off the bus at Southern Cross Station they erupted into a full-on screaming match, oblivious to onlookers, before storming off swearing in opposite directions. Discovering that the invitation to 'come smoke a spliff down by the lake' from the bloke I'd been chatting with in the pub for an hour on Friday night meant just that, and was not a coded sexual offer (much to my disappointment, and his shock). Speaking of pubs, Numurkah is a three-pub town. The top pub, the Telegraph, is the domain of the local footy team (cricket in the off-season) - boisterous yobs, predominantly. The middle pub is wher...

As a result of taking on the role of Editor at Melbourne's Weekly GLBT newspaper MCV, I've been stupidly busy the last two weeks, and consequently haven't been a good blogger: I've fallen behind on both posting and reading other people's blog entries, for which I can only apologise. Too much to do, so little time... In the past two weeks I've: I've worked a 15 hour day trying to get the paper to print; Discovered that even an office with four staff has office politics; Put two issues of the paper to bed; Seen fellow blogger Travis Cotton perform in the 20th anniversary production of Michael Gow's play Europe; Attended the launch of this year's Melbourne Queer Film Festival; Started to discover just what having a mobile phone means, the good (excitedly texting fellow political-tragics after watching Kevin Rudd on Lateline and actually being impressed - not because he has gravitas and conviction, but because for the first time in years I'm actually...

Things really do come in threes. As evidence, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I present the following: 1. New housemate (charming). 2. New job (stressful, challenging but rewarding and stimulating). 3. After holding out against the fucking things for at least six years, I am now the dubiously proud owner of a NEW MOBILE PHONE! Dear God, what next? What next, I cry, shaking my fists and railing against the capricious and rather delightful state of the universe?!? Could it be - gasp - a new federal government? Oh please, yes, make it so!

Cleaning out my spam folder, as is my periodical want, I discovered a media release advising me to FENG SHUI MY FRIDGE! "Your fridge needs to be organised and clean for the chi to flow unhindered, ensuring that it cannot become blocked and stagnant. All items over 6 months old should be thrown out and the inner shelves, drawers and walls of the fridge should be thoroughly cleansed of spills and any lingering bacteria." Try and guess where this media release originated... "Once sparkling clean, the fridge then needs to be packed with foods nourishing to the body. It is essential the food we eat is full with vital chi to bring a healthy balance and harmony to our bodies. Fill your fridge with lucky foods like fish and chicken for a prosperous 2007." I particularly love the combination of practical energy with feng shui advice, as typified by this next paragraph. "Red is the luckiest colour, symbolising fire to drive away the bad luck – so storage containers and ...

Detest (this thousand years I shall not weep) is a startling piece of theatre by Melbourne writer-performer Angus Cerini , which fuses elements of his previous works, including the award-winning Puppy Love (Melbourne Fringe 2005) with true stories told by young men in the juvenile justice system. From these elements, Cerini creates a vivid and caustic whole, which is one of the first must-see productions for 2007. The performance opens with a frank but light-hearted monologue performed by Cerini as himself (a way of engaging with the audience and developing a rapport with them that he effectively employed in Saving Henry v.5 at the Arts Centre last year). He will be naked shortly, he warns, but as a reward, tells us not only the running time of the show down to the hundredth of a second, but also promises us a bonus minute - surely a boon for the time-poor. Once Cerini exits the stage to return in character, the tone of the piece rapidly shifts, ably assisted by a minimal but highly...

Chocolate Monkey is a one-man show written and performed by John-Paul Hussey, and presented by Store Room Workshop Theatre in association with The Amazing Business . The production is the first in a series of three connected works (the others being Spacemunki and Love Monkey , which will show as part of the Full Tilt program at the Arts Centre later this year) in which Hussey’s remarkable facility for accents, storytelling and comic timing is given free reign. Chocolate Monkey is an intensely personal work, in which the autobiography of this Zambian-born son of Irish parents is prodded, poked and turned inside out for our entertainment. At its heart, it is an often-hilarious, stream-of-consciousness journey through Hussey’s life, taking in everything from a job spent measuring Melbourne’s railways to the Kevin Costner film Field of Dreams , incorporating interdependency, Maori bouncers and kinder surprises along the way. Restrained but effective video projection, and a rich sou...

I have three theatre reviews to post, a brief catch-up piece about taking over as editor at MCV to muse upon, and I should be going to bed right about now because it's A) 1.58am, and B) I have to put in a few hours work at the Midsumma Carnival tomorrow. On the other hand, I could just pop down to Control for a quick drink and end up staggering home at 7am. Decisions, decisions...

Doing anything on Wednesday February 28? No? Smashing. As it happens, I'm going to be in conversation with my old mate* Rupert at the Atheneum Theatre that night, if you'd care to join us. Rupert . Rupert Everett , silly. You know the one: homosexual, witty, charming, man about town... Oh wait, that's me. This Rupert Everett: actor , author and wit : The evening is being presented by Readings Bookshop , and while I don't have the booking details to hand, I'm sure if you were to call the nice folk at, say, Readings Carlton on 9347 6633, they'd be able to tell you everything you need to know about bookings and etc. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go and immerse myself in Rupert's films, novels and autobiography... Shit, I better take my tux to the cleaners, too! *What, a bloke can't use a little poetic license on his own blog?

Instead of leaving work at 6pm to attend a film preview last night, I went home instead, with a spring in my step and a curious but pleasureable sense of anticipation buzzing around inside my skull. I have a flatmate now. Last night saw us shop together, cook together and eat together - something I haven't done for more than six years, so it's quite a novelty. Then, while Mike fought his bedroom into an ordered state, I washed the dishes (don't tell my mum, she'd have a heart attack) before settling down to watch a few more episodes of the US TV series Heroes - showing here on Channel 7, but like most sane people I now watch episodes well in advance thanks to the internerd, with special thanks to fellow Fitzroyal, Simon, who's been supplying me with TV goodness. First Torchwood , now Heroes - where will it all end?! While the show's dialogue is sometimes clunky, and as Mike pointed out the characters aren't always well-developed, I'm still finding the w...

The Melbourne Queer Film Festival runs from March 15 - 22 at ACMI , and I can't wait! Definitely my favourite festival of the year, without doubt, although Melbourne Fringe comes a very, very close second. Hmm, as the Deputy Chair of Fringe I probably should put Fringe first, shouldn't I? Oh well... Meanwhile, the latest wave of queer films have just screened at the Sundance Film Festival , including a documentary about a real-life gay gangster (eat your heart out The Sopranos ) and the latest movie from Gregg Araki. Here's a report from the Bay Area Reporter to whet your appetite! I wonder if any of this lot will be screening at the MQFF next month? Hope so!

Hi everyone, Whether you are gay or straight....... Whether you think same-sex marriage is aping heterosexual stereotypes or not.... I'm sure you agree that we all deserve the right to love equally. Please support equal opportunity by sending a brief email to the City of Melbourne in support of their proposed Relationships Register. Let's not let the homophobes win this one. Thanks, Richard xx Please pass onto your networks and contacts encouraging them to support this important step in recognising loving relationships... MELBOURNE CITY COUNCIL RELATIONSHIPS REGISTER MAY FAIL WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT The Melbourne City Council's proposed Relationships Register (allowing same-sex couples to register their relationship) is still not a reality. Dozens of letters arguing against the register, but only two in support, have been received by Melbourne City Councillors. We need to let Council know that our community and our friends support same-sex relationship recognition. 1) SEND AN ...

Mike moves in tomorrow. Today we moved everything out of my study (five book cases, boxes of zines and comics, computer and desk, filling cabinet etc) into either my bedroom or the lounge room. Then we rearranged the lounge room, shifting piles of CDs and books around, dragging furniture from one end of the room to the other, and slowly creating order from chaos. There's still a hell of a lot of chaos at the moment, though. There are piles of CDs on the kitchen table - and the floor. My filing cabinet has taken up temporary residence next to the oven. The lounge is covered in stacks of books and CDs that are temporarily homeless. But the important stuff is done - the stereo has been reconnected and I've set the computer up so that I can blog to my heart's content (although after this post I think I'm going to crawl into bed and sleep the sleep of the flu-ridden and exhausted). Tomorrow, it will be time to steel myself to actually throw some shit out, I think - as well a...

Thanks to Strummer for the links... Kneel before the sweaty jock-strap of LIMP WRIST! "Tight pants and wallet chains Hooded sweats & Adidas drive me insane Dreadlocked crusties are hot and cant be beat Just double up the condom and stay away from their feet I LOVE HARDCORE BOYS, I LOVE BOYS HARDCORE! Bi-hawks and studs are really hot Emo kids whine, but i'll give em a shot Tight pants-skinheads with bodies that stack This whole damn scene makes my eyes roll back I LOVE HARDCORE BOYS, I LOVE BOYS HARDCORE! I love hardcore boys, its too good to be true One on one or the whole damn crew It's all exciting for us so lets give it a whirl I love hardcore boys cuz they make my toes curl Romulin-looking Justin clones got style But sports wearing edgers are who we'd like to pile After being with a peace punk in black We're definite that you're never turning back I LOVE HARDCORE BOYS, I LOVE BOYS HARDCORE!"

While overseas in 2005 I cut short my time in Ireland specifically to see this band live in Amsterdam - and by Thor it was worth it. Oh, and if you go to their website, there's a link to a brand new track from their forthcoming album. Bliss! Green Grass of Tunnel Summer Make Good

Meet Dane Swan . See Dane run. Run, Dane, run. See Dane handball. Handball, Dane, handball. See Dane stretch. Stretch, Dane, stretch. See Dane smirk while expressing contrition for brawling at Federation Square. Smirk, Dane, smirk. See Dane renew his contract at the Collingwood Football Club for three seasons. Money, Dane, money. Carn the Pies!!!!

If you think you're coming down with something, then I really don't advise flying to Sydney and back in the same day for work-related meetings. Although I do advise sitting at a bar at Sydney airport on Wednesday afternoons drinking two glasses of Cab Sav and flirting with a 28 year old electrician from Dubbo called Paul who sadly had a wedding ring on his finger which prevented me from politely inviting him to a nearby hotel for a few hours of ravishmen,t while you kill the hour before your flight home. Sat on couch last night, watched two epsiodes of Heroes (thanks Simon) and crawled into bed feeling a bit off colour. Woke this morning feeling positively... (searches for creative way of saying fully off colour - umm, palette-able? Shit I dunno).. shithouse. Coughing, sweaty, feverish, ick. Rang station and cancelled radio show. Rang or emailed guests and cancelled interviews. Crawled back into bed. Dreamt I was lying on a black beach beneath an oven light arguing about econom...