THE AUSTRALIAN, TUESDAY, APRIL 20, 2010 www.theaustralian.com.au ARTS 15

Brooke cleans up BROOKESatchwellhasbeen announcedasalast-minute replacementforPiaMirandain A performance worth the wait theBlackSwan-Queensland TheatreCompanyco- productionofTheCleanHouse, whichopensinPerthonApril27. Ian McKellen brings Mirandapulledoutfollowing Beckett’s classic play thebirthofherfirstchildin March,sayingtheworkloadof to our shores rehearsalsandatwo-cityseason wastoodifficultsosoonafterher JANE CORNWELL daughter’sarrival.The whimsicalromanticcomedy IAN McKellen grabs his bushy aboutaBraziliancleaning beard with both hands and yanks womanwhowouldratherbea his cheeks sideways. ‘‘Can you im- comedianwillbedirectedby agine,’’ he says in his stentorian BlackSwan’sartisticdirector voice, ‘‘living with this thing for KateCherry,withactorsSarah over 250 performances? To look McNeill,CarolBurns,Hugh in the mirror every morning and ParkerandVivienneGarrett. see it there on your face? It makes TheQueenslandseasonbegins one feel old.’’ He slumps in his June28. armchair, crumpling the jacket of his dark blue suit. ‘‘I mean, I am Out in the open old,’’ adds the pre-eminent classi- cal actor, 70. ‘‘I just don’t particu- THERE has been plenty of talk larly want to look any older.’’ about landscape painting during The facial hair won’t be coming the past week after Sam Leach off for a while yet; at least not until admitted he copied a painting of Waiting for Godot, in which an Italian scene for his Wynne McKellen plays co-lead Estragon, Prize-winning work, Proposal finishes its forthcoming tour of for a Landscaped Cosmos. That Australia and New Zealand. painting borrowed heavily from When McKellen first broached Adam Pynacker’s 1660 oil Boat- the idea of performing Samuel men Moored on the Shore of an Beckett’s renowned 1953 play Italian Lake, underscoring the about, well, everything and noth- realities of contemporary land- ing — an idea he took to his for- scape painting. But while most mer lover, theatre director Sean painters continue to work in Mathias — he could hardly have their studios, it seems painting anticipated its phenomenal suc- en plein air hasn’t gone out of cess. Celebrated as the must-see fashion just yet. Yesterday NSW theatrical event of the season Arts Minister Virginia Judge an- when it opened at the Theatre nounced that 214 entries had Royal Haymarket in 2009 (with been received by the NSW Par- McKellen’s fellow X-Man Patrick liament Plein Air Painting Prize, Stewart as Vladimir), Waiting for almost twice last year’s number. Godotbrokebox-officerecordsfor Now in its third year, the prize is both the theatre and the play. Its open to Australian artists fo- run was extended. A national tour cused on a subject ‘‘found in sold out. NSW’’, and created en plein air. The production went back into The $20,000 winner will be an- the Haymarket in January (with nounced on May 19. Shakespearian actor Roger Rees replacing Stewart) and ran until Neighbours cameo earlier this month. Reviews were glowing. ‘‘McKellen’s droll, wry AUSTRALIAN soap opera Estragon is even funnier than last Ian McKellen plays Estragon in one of the most popular and praised productions of Samuel Beckett’s two-act masterpiece Waiting for Godot Neighbours, consistently more year,’’ wrote The Times. ‘‘Masterly popular in Britain than in its McKellen glitters in Waiting for homeland, is giving British view- Godot revival,’’ said the Evening from a role in the British TV dra- wards. ‘‘It was more like climbing ‘It’s a play about the Computers address me as Siri Mc- Which of course it is,’’ he adds, and other things, and Godot has ers the chance to audition for a Standard. The existentialist play’s ma series Minder to playwriting Everest and going, ‘Ah look! Kellen. I answer to all.’’ puffingupwithGandalf-likegran- become more accessible as a re- cameo role. The show, which two vaudevillian tramps wait end- and directing in London, New There’s the top!’ ’’ struggle of old age’ The recipient of a Tony Award deur in his seat. ‘‘In my dreams I sult. It’s no wonder comedians launched the careers of Kylie lessly for the mysterious Godot, York and his second home of Cape ‘‘We’re both obsessives,’’ offers IAN McKELLEN and two Oscar nominations, Mc- am sudoku.’’ love doing this play,’’ he continues. Minogue, Jason Donovan and diverting themselves by bickering, Town in South Africa. Mathias from the sofa. Kellen’s long career as a bravura Mathias rolls his eyes good- ‘‘Barry Humphries, who I’ll be Guy Pearce, is celebrating its moaning and clowning around — ‘‘I dream about it of course,’’ he So does the fact that they are stage actor — he played King Lear naturedly. ‘‘Well, I’m staying lunching with when I’m there, was 25th anniversary this year and is and popular demand for this adds with a sigh. ‘‘Even when I’m ex-partners — the two men were sists Beckett came to see it and and Sorin in The Seagull, back to awake worrying about whether in the first Australian production offering female British fans the accessible ‘‘Godot with a differ- shopping or hoovering, random together for 10 years after meeting that we shook hands in the pub back, in the Royal Shakespeare the Godot set’’ — a crumbling in the 1950s. Mel Gibson did a chance to appear as a character ence’’ has kept the antics going. lines from the play will just pop as actors at the 1978 Edinburgh afterwards,’’ says McKellen. ‘‘But I Company productions that visited theatre-within-a-theatre design Godot, too, I think. for a month. Aspiring actresses ‘‘Maybe it will go on for ever into my head. But this is a play that Fringe Festival — help or hinder think I would remember if I did’’). Melbourne in 2007 — has been by Stephen Brimson Lewis — ‘‘will ‘‘But we both feel that age is an can download the audition and I’ll never be rid of this bloody merits continual work. It is actu- their working relationship? Mathias has since directed his somewhat eclipsed in recent years make it to Melbourne in time for important factor. I don’t know script, then upload their audition beard,’’ quips McKellen, lighting a ally extremely funny. Beckett was ‘‘It helps,’’ the director says ex in a supporting role in the 1997 by his big screen triumphs as the opening.’’ how this play works with young tapes to YouTube. A panel will cigarette. ‘‘Still, why shouldn’t it? right to call it a tragi-comedy; firmly. ‘‘it makes communication film version of Bent and on stage in Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings We imagine Beckett’s lone tree, actors. Vladimir and Estragon pick the top five, with the top two You should never throw away there is so much emotion that easier, more intimate. But then I Dance of Death, Chekhov’s Uncle trilogy and Magneto in the X-Men where Estragon and Vladimir have aches and pains and prob- decided by public vote. They will your hits. When you have a big keeps bursting through.’’ prefer being on intimate terms Vanya and Alan Bennett’s Talking series. Today the exaggerated meet to wait for Godot, poking its lemswithshort-termmemoryand fly to Melbourne, where the success it is so tempting to think McKellen nods. ‘‘I would hate it with my cast. Many directors Heads. For Christmas 2004 and gravitas of both characters leaks, way out the top of the ship that set the like. This is a play about old show is filmed, before producers that your next project will be if Australian audiences thought don’t.’’ McKellen speaks back over 2005 he directed Aladdin at the with tongue firmly in cheek, into sail for Australia three months men. It’s a play about the struggle make the final decision. successful but that is not, in my they were simply getting the tag his shoulder as he takes his Old Vic with McKellen as the out- our conversation. ago. ‘‘The set intentionally has a of old age against the fading of the experience, the case.’’ end of our long run,’’ he says. ‘‘I am ashtray into the kitchen: ‘‘I don’t rageous pantomime dame Widow ‘‘I live on my own,’’ says McKel- trapped, apocalyptic feel; it could light.’’ Hall refurbishment Mathias — in whose art- very much looking forward to per- work with Sean because he is a Twankey, prompting the media to len of his long-time home in be Haiti or New Orleans or any- McKellen strokes his beard. bedecked Oxford St apartment forming in Australia again. It was good friend,’’ he booms. ‘‘I work divulge the nickname that had Limehouse next to the Thames where post-disaster. This is a play ‘‘It’s a play,’’ he says, ‘‘that illumi- THE Victorian government has the interview is taking place — re- when we were in Sydney doing with him because he is a wonder- been known to the gay commu- River in London’s East End. ‘‘Each that is very aware of its theatri- nates life.’’ released plans for the $128.5 mil- clines on a designer sofa in green Strindberg [he played the Captain ful director.’’ nity ever since the actor was night, to help me wind down after cality, that acknowledges it is lion refurbishment of Hamer jeans and a T-shirt emblazoned in the Mathias-directed Dance of It was Mathias who encour- knighted in 1991: Serena. the play, I sit up in bed playing actually a play.’’ Waiting for Godot is at the Hall that will open the 30-year- with comic book superheroes, and Death in 2004] that I felt we had aged McKellen to take the role of ‘‘ ‘Serena’ was wittily coined by sudoku. Then when I go to sleep I ‘‘It set a precedent when it came Comedy Theatre, Melbourne, May old building to embrace the Yar- smiles. ‘‘I’ve seen this play more finally . . .’’ There’s a long pause as Max, a gay Berlin Jew, in Martin Stephen Fry at a gay fundraiser,’’ tend to see all these rows of num- out,’’ says McKellen. ‘‘It felt more 6-23; His Majesty’s Theatre, Perth, ra promenade. The project will than eighty times,’’ says the he searches for the words. Crack- Sherman’s groundbreaking 1979 McKellen told Britain’s Indepen- bers floating across and down, and absurdist, more confusing then. May 28-June 6; Her Majesty’s be lodged with Heritage Victoria 54-year-old Welshman, an ex- ed it? ‘‘No-o-o.’’ He thinks for a few production of Bent at London’s dent newspaper in 2004. ‘‘In the if I can only find the missing num- But in the years since, we’ve had Theatre, Adelaide, June 9-12; this week, with a 28-day public actor whose CV spans everything beats then points a finger sky- Royal Court Theatre (‘‘Martin in- US I am invariably Sir McKellen. ber then everything will be OK. Monty Python and Little Britain Sydney Opera House, June 15-27. consultation to follow.

Church again opens Priscilla set to become its door to creativity the queen of Broadway

A local favourite In contemporary life the functions of religion and heads for the art have their points of convergence holy grail of musical theatre RACHEL CAMPBELL-JOHNSTON MICHAELA BOLAND THE relationship between art and commissions with some of their Christianity began in the cata- finest works. And it was not just combs. The two have been money that moved them. They Chris Ofili’s Holy Virgin Mary MUSICAL theatre star Tony intricately involved ever since. worked in the service of a faith Sheldon is set to kick up his plat- You have only to look at the work that could lift their talents above form heels on Broadway in the of the great Western masters — the level of mere illustration and role of Bernadette in Priscilla, the devotional delicacy of medie- offer a supreme test of skill. Queen of the Desert when the val manuscripts, the grand biblical For example, think of images Similarly, in 1996, when the Australian musical opens there dramas of Michelangelo, Remb- from the passion and crucifixion video artist Bill Viola installed The next March. randt’s dusky meditations on div- of Christ. The stripped body of the Messenger in Durham Cathedral, Sheldon owned the role of the inity, the iconoclastic Picasso’s saviour offered a perfect oppor- JOHN FEDER there was an outcry because the older transgender character Tony Sheldon as Bernadette appropriations of religious sym- tunity for a bravura display of Pre-eminent video artist Bill Viola with his work The Messenger figure who moved through the when the stage version of Ste- bolism — to see how closely the human musculature in all its div- images’ watery depths was phan Elliott’s hit film opened in stories of faith and culture have inely wrought magnificence. unclothed. One might have Sydney in 2005. think we just march in, but it’s ter- always run. Anatomical study was raised to on bleak expanses of canvas, snarl potency of the symbols they at- tury. Matisse’s Chapelle du Rosai- assumed that the divinity who Priscilla transferred to Mel- ribly, terribly hard,’’ she says. Recently we have seen a flurry celestial heights and ecclesiastical the pain of existence from the foot tack. Chris Ofili was assured of an re on the French Riviera, designed mouldedAdamandEvemightnot bourne the following year before Original director Simon Phil- of contemporary art commissions authorities appreciated such of the cross. international reputation when his by the pioneering modernist in have minded nudity, but among a return season in Sydney pre- lips, artistic director of the Mel- in churches, such as Antony Gor- skills. In the 16th century, when Stanley Spencer discovers mir- vision ofan Afrovirgin Marycom- every detail from the stained-glass the more prudish sectors of so- ceded its West End debut in bourne Theatre Company, is at- mley’s Flare II in the Geometric Benvenuto Cellini, a master of acles in English village life. Mark plete with pornographic seraphim windows to the holy-water stoup, ciety it appears to be felt that a fig March last year with enhanced tached to direct the Broadway Staircase of St Paul’s Cathedral in mannerism’s emphatic forms, Wallinger’s Ecce Homo, a tempor- stirred up a rumpus in New York. remains a place of prayer as much leaf — or at least a loin cloth — sets and costumes. version. London. allegedly staged a crucifixion so ary occupant of Trafalgar Square’s Culture often takes the role of as artistic pilgrimage. should remain firmly in place. Sheldon’s mother, stage vet- It will be produced by the orig- Though this may feel novel, it’s that he could scrutinise the body fourth plinth, spoke of human vul- religion in our contemporary And last year Anthony Caro, in Meanwhile, Coventry eran Toni Lamond, confirms inal Australian team led by Back worth remembering that for inagonisedcontortion, thePopeis nerability as it set its frail figure world. Galleries are modern-day what probably counts as the most Cathedral is commemorating the Sheldon will open Priscilla on Row Productions. centuries the church was the main said to have pardoned him alone upon the brink of a granite temples, regularly attended by the significant religious commission famous bed-in for peace by John Broadway, most likely at the Sheldon will be joined onstage patron of art. Art galleries are because his sin was secondary to block. And Antony Gormley, people on their day of rest. Art has since then, installed a series of his Lennon and Yoko Ono with an Richard Rodgers Theatre on by American actors Matt Caven- often termed the cathedrals of art, his nobler intent. making his own body the mould become a cult. It is there to make big industrial sculptures in niches exhibition of photographs. And, West 46th Street. augh (West Side Story) in the orig- but it’s the great cathedrals of Eu- The crucifixion became a for a series of crucified effigies that us wonder how our lives may be behind the fontin the bombed-out alongside the falling and flailing of ‘‘I’m so excited,’’ she says. ‘‘This inal Guy Pearce role and Will rope that have long born grandilo- benchmark of artistic talent. And were displayed along the walls of raised above the mundane. choir of the church of Saint-Jean- Flare II’s whirling metal angel, is the holy grail. Getting to Lon- Swenson (Hair) will undertake quent testimony not just to hu- though, as the nature of patronage Derry, found in a time-honoured As we wander through mu- Baptiste in Bourbourg in northern next year St Paul’s will perma- don was one stop and this is the the Hugo Weaving role. manity’s spiritual aspirations but changed, as powerful families and iconography a modern-day sym- seums, we ponder the sort of ques- France. The result is a truly extra- nently install two giant mult- whole way.’’ Sheldon took his final bow on to its loftiest cultural ambitions. a rising mercantile class sup- bol of sectarian strife. tions that theology once asked: ordinary fusion of Gothic archi- iscreen installations by Viola. Sheldon was the only original the West End last month. Indeed, the latter often took planted the church, as personal Over the past decades the ir- whyisthishereatall?Whatdoesit tecture and contemporary sculp- Such works may not be directly cast member in the London Lamond says he is on holidays precedence. The renaissance portraits replaced the altarpiece reverent subversion of religion mean? In an era in which religion ture, of soaring stone arches and religious, but they speak of a wider season. Lamond says the pro- ahead of a publicity tour to Can- Pope Julius II is remembered and landscape graduated from a has been most discussed. From is too often reduced to dogmatic monumental abstracts in wood desire for the values that faith has ducers auditioned widely and had ada, where another production of more for his artistic commissions mere backdrop to become a sub- Damien Hirst’s apostolic gather- squabbles, art reopens the mind and steel. traditionally espoused. Canon to convince British Actors Equity Priscilla opens in Toronto later — the Sistine Chapel ceiling, Rap- ject in its own right, religious de- ing of bloody cows’ heads, through and emotions to the wider ques- And yet there is opposition to Giles Fraser, the chancellor of St he was invaluable to the pro- this year. hael’s Vatican frescoes, the re- pictions still remained a yardstick Sarah Lucas’s crucified Christ tions of the world. new religious art. When Leonard Paul’s,quotesfrom TheTempestin duction. Late last year he was rec- At the Olivier Awards last building of St Peter’s — than for against which skills could be made out of cigarettes, to Sam But now the balance of power McComb’s sculpture Young Man response to the elegance of Gorm- ognised with a nomination for an month, Australian designers Tim his theological impact on the matched. Taylor Wood’s glossy magazine- has shifted. It is less art that needs Standing (also known as The ley’s construction. ‘‘What seest Olivier Award for the role. Chappel and Lizzie Gardiner won Roman Catholic Church. More Even in the increasingly secu- style Last Supper, artists have the church, but the church, in its Golden Man) was displayed at thou else?’’ Prospero asks Miran- Lamond says it has been just as the best costume award for their powerful than pious, this notori- lar 20th century, artists continued played transgressive games. waning popularity, that needs art. Lincoln Cathedral in England in da.‘‘That’sthefundamentalChris- tough to secure his passage to work on the musical. ously cantankerous church leader to play on the profound emotive But in so doing they pay hom- It should embrace the opportunit- 1990, it provoked national contro- tian challenge,’’ the canon says. It Broadway because he doesn’t Chappel and Gardiner already would habitually use a cane to resonance of Christianity’s iconic age to the power of religion. On ies offered to it by culture. There versy and was withdrawn from is a challenge that contemporary have a green card. have shared an Academy Award punish insubordination. images. Francis Bacon’s tortured the flipside of their blasphemies have been a few attempts to revive exhibition because its nudity was art can also pose. ‘‘Every Australian has to go in 1994 for their creations in the Artists responded to religious figures, battered tangles of flesh lies an acknowledgement of the its patronage over the past cen- considered indecent. THE TIMES through this overseas. People original movie.