Casting for stage plays should be sensible, but right now in Australia sense has been diminished by sensitivity policies. An actor inherently appropriates his or her character’s culture. She or he must. That’s the job. But now “cultural appropriation” policy and procedures have some actors fearful of damaging their careers if they stray from the current dictates. A straight woman fears playing a lesbian. A man listing his Spanish accent on his CV turns down the role of a Spaniard. (more…)
Carol Dance
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Time to explore Non-Anglo Theatre
There’s an abundance of interesting theatre out there in the non-Anglo worlds that could inspire, amuse and surprise Australian audiences. Yet, we seldom get to see those plays. (more…)
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NSW election: time for ODMOBS
Congratulations to the new Premier and his team. Top of the agenda is for NSW to secede from the Federation. Let the other States pay a share of the $380 billion for the submarines. Let them risk being part of AUKUS. West Australia is the wealthiest State in the nation. It can certainly carry the AUKUS costs without NSW’s contribution, so it’s not like we don’t care about the rest of the country. (more…)
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My dinner with Dr. Martin Luther King
It was 1967 in America. I was a student at Drew University and it was my role on the Student Council to invite speakers for the student forums. I wrote to Dr King. Would he come to speak to us? He wrote back to say he would. (more…)
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In 1966 Holt sent Australia to war in Vietnam. Will we repeat this mistake in 2022?
In 1966, Harold Holt proclaimed that he was “all the way with L.B.J”, leading to Australia going to war with Vietnam. A war we lost. In 2022, do we really want to do this again? (more…)
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Will Timor Sea oil and gas go begging?
The Attorney-General dropped the case against Bernard Collaery on July 7. Dreyfus’ announcement has greatly improved our relationship with Timor Leste and opened the door for smoother negotiations between Australian oil and gas companies and the Timorese government. That relationship is now oiling the wheels for further explorations in the Timor Sea but the wheels are turning slowly. Few investors are looking to oil and gas. Few buyers are planning long term hydrocarbon contracts. (more…)
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Bad capitalists: Australia’s corporate welfare betrays the system
There are good capitalists out there — but those in the Australian government propping up failing industries are not among them.
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