Random Play by Graham Reid

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Random Play: Alt.Nation: Ask not for whom the fat lady sings . . .

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  • andrew llewellyn,

    Storm in a teacup, Howard is misunderstood - he said he watched Oprah once.

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report Reply

  • Bob Munro,

    Brilliant again Graham. Is there no end to the inanities we allow ourselves to be sucked into?

    Christchurch • Since Aug 2007 • 418 posts Report Reply

  • InternationalObserver,

    heh heh heh

    but I have to say it was my wife's idea we go -- and I didn't actually enjoy it

    Yes, it's always the wives that insist we should inject some 'culture' into our married lives. How else do you explain those stupid 'Ballroom Dancing' lessons they sign us up for? Opera, ballet, and theatre ... all would be dead without Female Midlife Crisis.

    Since Jun 2007 • 909 posts Report Reply

  • Idiot Savant,

    And the worst bit? He stayed sober for the entire performance.

    Definitely unAustralian.

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report Reply

  • Michael Fitzgerald,

    Opera is not really my thing, ballet is great, but I'm sure we could get the whole of parliment out for some modern dance.
    It's got the best of them all (no-one really understands it but)it's a way for the cultured to glare at bare breasts in pleasant company (& no tipping).

    Since May 2007 • 631 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    Storm in a teacup, Howard is misunderstood - he said he watched Oprah once.

    On that basis Rudd is also in the clear.

    It wasn't stripping in New York City, it was trippin' in New... oh, nevermind.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • uroskin,

    Ride of the Valkyries is Helen Clark's theme song, not Ivan the Terrible. Get your opera buffoonery right :)

    Waiheke Island • Since Feb 2007 • 178 posts Report Reply

  • Michael Fitzgerald,

    Wasn't the Hilters fave as well?

    Since May 2007 • 631 posts Report Reply

  • merc,

    Das Rheingold (The Ring Cycle)was compulsory viewing (listening) for SS officers. Hitler may well have known the irony, because in Twilight Of The Gods, everything gets burned down (like Berlin).
    This is also why Wagner is considered suspect by some.

    Since Dec 2006 • 2471 posts Report Reply

  • Idiot Savant,

    Michael: No, that was The Merry Widow.

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report Reply

  • merc,

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Das_Rheingold
    The plot is interesting, very interesting. The Grateful Dead were HUGE fans of The Ring Cycle.

    Since Dec 2006 • 2471 posts Report Reply

  • Rebecca Williams,

    i don't get this. are we comparing watching women strip / dance about with no clothes on for the sexual gratification of men, to listening to opera? is paying to watch women as objects participating in the arts / culture?

    am i totally missing the joke / point? honestly, i'm sitting here feeling a bit stupid ......

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 120 posts Report Reply

  • Andrew Paul Wood,

    As much as any skewering of Key's ridiculous "me too" behaviour is, and I hate to be a pedant, but the Sydney Opera House is actually too small to host an opera by today's standards.

    Christchurch • Since Jan 2007 • 175 posts Report Reply

  • Robyn Gallagher,

    am i totally missing the joke / point?

    I got this from it - strip clubs and opera both have a stigma attached to them and are both poorly attended by average New Zealanders (though both enjoy regular attendance from a niche audience).

    But while strip clubs have a low-brow reputation, opera has a high-brow reputation and politicians will happily be seen patronising an opera, but will stay well away from a strip club (even if that's where they'd rather be).

    Somethin' like that.

    Since Nov 2006 • 1946 posts Report Reply

  • kmont,

    Nah, I was getting something else. More like taking the piss out of Key for getting blokey browny points out of "admitting to red blooded male behaviour".

    wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 485 posts Report Reply

  • Jeremy Andrew,

    Along with Robyn's points I'd add that even though pollies would generally be happier being seen at an opera, the stereotypical aussie voter would probably be happier with an occasional strip-club attender than an opera-goer. Maaaaaaate.

    Hamiltron - City of the F… • Since Nov 2006 • 900 posts Report Reply

  • Joanna,

    You're so much of a better person than I am, Robyn. I would have just said "Yes".

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 746 posts Report Reply

  • InternationalObserver,

    are we comparing watching women strip / dance about with no clothes on for the sexual gratification of men, to listening to opera? is paying to watch women as objects participating in the arts / culture?

    I once had the 'privilege' of being one of the only males present at a sold out performance of Manpower at the Powerstation. Since that day (oh the horror, the humanity) I will bear no truck about how 'men objectify women' and 'women celebrate their sexuality' ....

    Since Jun 2007 • 909 posts Report Reply

  • kmont,

    International Observer

    I don't know that women ogled oiled up, overtaned beefcakes really is a celebration of womens sexuality. It certainy is not a celebration of mine. But it is hardly the final word on why women might feel objectified in society.
    Having said that, the sooner this sideshow gets out of the news the better.

    wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 485 posts Report Reply

  • kmont,

    ogling not ogled (or is it oggling?)

    wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 485 posts Report Reply

  • Robyn Gallagher,

    I once had the 'privilege' of being one of the only males present at a sold out performance of Manpower at the Powerstation.

    Male strippers are... weird.

    I saw a production of Ladies Night and was horrified to be picked by the actor/stripper and made to go for a ride on his motorbike while all these drunken ladies yelled at me to rub my hands over the gross actor's oily chest.

    Then there was the time someone got my friend a male stripper for her 21st. I was nerdfully filming the party and thought it was more interesting filming the reactions of the crowd than the stripper himself.

    Since Nov 2006 • 1946 posts Report Reply

  • Jeremy Andrew,

    It is indeed ogling, but that verb has since been supplanted by the more popular term 'googling'.
    Hence "Googling oiled up, overtanned beefcakes" would be a more up-to-date phrasing.

    Hamiltron - City of the F… • Since Nov 2006 • 900 posts Report Reply

  • kmont,

    I once saw a male belly dancer who was pretty much a male stripper.
    My thoughts were, leave it to the women buddy.

    Ahem......leaving to do some work now.

    wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 485 posts Report Reply

  • InternationalObserver,

    okay, kidding aside ...

    I will acknowledge that there can be a 'seedier' element (ie very sad males, who let the gender down) present at female strip shows; whereas women (watching male strippers) are more about having fun and a laugh.

    Since Jun 2007 • 909 posts Report Reply

  • Michael Fitzgerald,

    Route 66 an old strip club in CHCH used to have a g string show with guys and girls.
    It worked well as heaps of chicks went there, heaps punters dancing together (clothed mostly), and the blokes in g-strings gave the guys a chance to get to the bar.
    Then the club got bombed.

    Since May 2007 • 631 posts Report Reply

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