[FRINGE] simply sublime twice, add lemon, and simmer

Two shows today which threaten to make me overuse the superlative of sublime (again). As in to sublimate, or "to reduce to the very essential essence or nature of the thing by removing the unwanted dross." Rather than, as chemists would argue, merely giving off vapours... The first show was a cabaret show based on the old songs from the World Wars, called War Notes. The singer, a Miss Lili la Scala, from London, had a most delightful voice, which she used to very good effect. [I believe that I may have commented in other forums that "angels must walk amongst us for I have heard their voices.*"] She truly loves these songs, and the message of hope and love and peace contained within them, and it shows in her impassioned and expert delivery. Simply sublime. If you have any appreciation of the songs from this era, this is a show not to be missed. She has one final show next Saturday at 5:30pm in the Speigeltent, and has plans to release a CD later this year. [She also cuts a mean rug with Richard from Sound & Fury, makes Puccini arias listenable (as miraculous as that may be), can sing just as well without electrics after they become waterlogged, and looks incredibly good in balloons.] This was followed by The Idea of North performing their Ballads by Candlelight to a sell-out crowd at St Peters Cathedral. This was a purely acoustic set (with a bit of fudging) of ballads, making use of the acoustics of the cathedral. Pure voice, unmodulated by electronics. Simply sublime. Yes, they've got their mojo back. I'm beginning to suspect it was the venue that caused the enervation I experienced last night, for they definitely were in the groove this time. There was quite a bit of overlap in the sets, so this wasn't my imagination. There was also much less fumbling at the introductions to the pieces and much more humour in the presentation. When the audience is sitting in stunned silence for a second or two after the piece ends, before exploding into wild applause, you know they are hitting it right. Anyway they've promised to do more unplugged gigs in the future (I believe this was their first attempt in Australia, if you don't consider their first garage concert for friends and family), which is something to look forward to. [* And no, I don't mean she sings like Alan Rickman or something from a Simon R Green novel.]

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Apeture Science is built on three pillars. Pillar one: Science without results is just witchcraft. Pillar two: Get results or you're fired. Pillar three: if you suspect a coworker of being a witch, report them immediately. I cannot stress that enough. Witchcraft will not be tolerated.

[FRINGE] that really old time dance

Today was off to see the Grace to see the last of Brillig's Til Death Do Us Part shows. After all the price was right, the Grace was packed, and I wanted to hear their covers of The Needle and the Damage Done [Neil Young], Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down) [Nancy Sinatra], Who By Fire [Leonard Cohen], I Hung My Head [Sting/Johnny Cash], and others I've forgotten, just in case they don't get a regular rotation in the group's playlist ever again. Whilst The Needle and the Damage Done was as good as last time, I have to admit that Elizabeth's rendition of Bang Bang blew me totally away. Then again it is a favourite song. But really I think I've seriously overdosed on incredibly beautiful beautifully-voiced female singers this Fringe. Oh woe is me... ["Help," he cries in a whisper that no one can here. "Help!"] Anyway it was great gig and I seriously want to dance to some of their songs sometime. Which means, (a) having them play somewhere where it is physically possible to swing a cat, and (b) find someone willing to swing this cat on the dance floor, since it would take us initiating the idea to make people think of joining in. ["You're all a bunch of wallflowers, Adelaide!"] Unfortunately the beat favours Pavanes* more than most modern styles of dance, although possibly Irish Folk might work. I need to do some refresher work on dance, methinks. * Not that I'm complaining about having to do one of my favourite forms of dance, but it's dreadfully difficult to find partners for this any more, probably because people prefer dances that didn't go out of style in the 17th Century. Particularly since I'm persona non grata with the only people likely to do that sort of thing on a regular basis. <sigh>