DEATH OF A SALESMAN REVIEW AVAILABLE ON

Posted on by Lloyd Marken

Weekend Notes 7.jpg

I was 17 when I first read Death of a Salesman in my senior year of English. Our teacher got to crux of the story when she asked a quarter of us to stand up and advised the rest of us would most likely would become unhappy with how our lives turned out. At 17 I remember the disappointment and reality of Willy’s story resonating with me and that it was all too real a possibility to not have your life turn out the way you wanted it too. The idea of that has always stayed with me and grows more real every year.

Watching the play again 20 years later I found new things caught my attention. Willy has a house paid off, a wife who adores him and a friend willing to help. Biff his son is less broken by the revelation of his father as he is confused by his priorities. The tragedy has become more complex and more saddening. At 17 I understood Willy’s dreams, at 38 I know all too well his insecurities but I can also see he has more to be grateful for if he can just get out of his way. I have no doubt I could see it a different way in another few years. This is a very rich text that continues to speak to us.

Karen took me to see the play last week done by Queensland Theatre and I have been fortunate to have a review of it published with Weekend Notes here https://www.weekendnotes.com/death-of-a-salesman-playhouse-qpac/ Let me know what you think.

Weekend Notes are a growing online magazine with a wealth of contributors based out of several cities across the United Kingdom, Australia and New York. Articles are leisure related and can include a wide variety of subjects from rainforest hikes to cultural festivals, from what hot new play is on at your underground theatre to a ultra trendy eatery. Writers are paid for their work based partly on how many views their articles get so please feel free to stop by and show some love.

-Lloyd Marken

Advertisements

ALITA: BATTLE ANGEL REVIEW AVAILABLE ON SCENESTR

Posted on by Lloyd Marken

Scenestr132.jpg

I was lucky enough to attend a preview screening of Alita: Battle Angel the other night to review it for Scenestr magazine with a cinema full of people. With the film’s release having been pushed back, middling reviews and a expensive budget has the narrative of being dead on arrival. Yet there is lot to recommend about it even if there are some criticisms I have, I hope it finds an audience. You can read my review here http://scenestr.com.au/movies-and-tv/alita-battle-angel-review-20190212

I’ve been intrigued since the original teaser trailer back in 2017 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gu1vBQXazOQ

Produced by Eyeball Media Enterprises Scenestr is an online national magazine with local offices around Australia. Celebrating 25 years in 2018 of publishing history they’ve excelled at moving into the digital realm but they remain at heart from the streets. They still publish magazines in print for Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales, Queensland and now Victoria! every month too.

-Lloyd Marken

ON THE BASIS OF SEX REVIEW AVAILABLE ON WEEKEND NOTES

Posted on by Lloyd Marken

Weekend Notes 6.jpg

Karen took me to a preview screening of On The Basis of Sex and I was lucky to have a review of it published on Weekend Notes. The film starring Felicity Jones covers the period of Ruth Bader Ginsburg that was particularly formative for her later achievements. The film has not received universal strong reviews but Karen and I enjoyed it quite a bit. As formulaic as the structure may have been I found something admirable in the slow burn nature of the performances and the balance between the domestic and the professional. You can read my review here https://www.weekendnotes.com/on-the-basis-of-sex-film-review/167825/

Weekend Notes are a growing online magazine with a wealth of contributors based out of several cities across the United Kingdom, Australia and New York. Articles are leisure related and can include a wide variety of subjects from rainforest hikes to cultural festivals, from what hot new play is on at your underground theatre to a ultra trendy eatery. Writers are paid for their work based partly on how many views their articles get so please feel free to stop by and show some love.

-Lloyd Marken

INTERVIEW WITH ‘OUR TOWN’ DIRECTOR CLARE WATSON AVAILABLE ON SCENESTR

Posted on by Lloyd Marken

Scenestr130.jpg

I love the play Our Town, I think it captures the essence of life in all its tragedy, beauty and humour so effortlessly that it never surprises that as it ages it remains timeless. The Artistic Director of Black Swan Theatre is a fan too and getting the chance to talk to her about her production of it was one of the most fun interviews I have ever had. The kind of ones where you lament having to put it to a set word limit because it can’t possibly cover the scope of the artists’ passion, thoughts and ideas. Yet you try, because you want to be worthy of the opportunity to speak to such people.

The production sounds like a winner, set outdoors in the theatre courtyard they’re going to have a reflective surface for the stage which will capture the long beautiful Perth sunsets and then the night sky. Those familiar with the play will know what an important part the changing sky can play. There’s going to be a wealth of locals, real Deliveroo drivers and doctors along with three talented actors Ian Michael, Abbie-Lee Lewis and Shari Sebbens who are all First Nation. Sebbens I saw give a particularly strong performance in the film Australia Day (2017) most recently. Given the importance of small town turn of the century America to the story its exciting to think of the possibilities that immediately come up when casting with such a focus on Perth locals and actors whose heritage predate white settlement in Australia. This particular production of Thornton Wilder’s classic shouldn’t be one to miss for fans old and new. You can read my interview with the delightful and talented Ms Watson here http://scenestr.com.au/arts/our-town-seeing-beauty-in-the-ordinary-in-perth-20190124

Scenestr131.jpg

Produced by Eyeball Media Enterprises Scenestr. is an online national magazine with local offices around Australia. Having started in 1993 they’ve excelled at moving into the digital realm but they remain at heart from the streets. They still publish magazines in print for Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland every month. This interview was published in print on page 19 of the 38 page first WA issue for 2019. You can read a digital version of the printed Western Australia edition here http://scenestr.com.au/read/WA/2019/23-WA/scenestr-WA-23.html#p=18

-Lloyd Marken

OVER 2,500 VIEWS FOR EXTRAS WHO ADD A LITTLE SOMETHING – JOHN B. DESTRY

Posted on by Lloyd Marken

Image result for zamboni driver happy gilmore

In the early months of 2017 I did a series of monthly posts that focussed on small speaking parts, minor characters who had major affects on narrative and character actors who became famous in their own right. I have long been meaning go back and expand on the idea of these posts which mostly collated information from IMDB, my own reflections and quick searches throughout the internet. Hopefully 2019 will see some movement in this regard. In the meantime I am encouraged by the fact that these post continue to get more views than any of my other ones for the most part. Most popular of these is the post about John B. Destry’s appearance in the 1990s Adam Sandler comedy hit Happy Gilmore.

A few stats for those who love stats, yes this post hit 2,5000 views this month having been originally published 18JUN2017.

A few stats just cause stats, the post published 18JUN2017 had 28 views in the month of June and had accumulated 112 views by the end of that year. A year after publication in the month of June 2018 it garnered 74 views, about the monthly average at that point. The next month the post peaked with 703 views and an average per day of 22 views. While there has been a decline since the post is still getting a monthly amount of views in the triple digits. I don’t know if I’ll keep doing posts like these, it seems fairly redundant and self-congratulatory. It is nice though to think people are out there enjoying my posts and such milestones don’t happen often.

Thank you once again to all my readers far and wide and to John B. Destry for living the dream and giving such a memorable performance in Happy Gilmore.

-Lloyd Marken

INTERVIEW WITH COMEDIAN HEATH FRANKLIN AVAILABLE ON SCENESTR AGAIN

Posted on by Lloyd Marken

Scenestr128.jpg

 

Another milestone was reached recently in my writing career when I got to interview an individual for the second time in promotion of their latest show. Having the opportunity to speak to such a talented comedian like Heath Franklin was a thrill the first time around and I feel very fortunate to have been able to do a second round of questions. Franklin came to national fame on the sketch TV show The Ronnie Johns Half Hour and his Chopper Read bits quickly became a mainstay. The tour of the latest Chopper stand-up show continues but he is getting to do more dramatic work.

You can read the interview here http://scenestr.com.au/comedy/heath-franklin-is-faithful-to-his-chopper-s-religion-20190123

Scenestr129.jpgProduced by Eyeball Media Enterprises Scenestr. is an online national magazine with local offices around Australia. Having started in 1993 they’ve excelled at moving into the digital realm but they remain at heart from the streets. They still publish magazines in print for Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland every month. This interview was published in print on page 37 of the first QLD issue for 2019. You can read a digital version of the printed Western Australia edition here http://scenestr.com.au/read/QLD/2019/1113-QLD/scenestr-QLD-1113.html#p=35

-Lloyd Marken

INTERVIEW WITH ‘BLANC DE BLANC’ DIRECTOR SCOTT MAIDMENT AVAILABLE ON SCENESTR MAGAZINE

Posted on by Lloyd Marken

Scenestr125.jpg

 

I was very fortunate to get to write the cover story for the Christmas-New Year Western Australian print issue of Scenestr, my sixth cover story for the magazine in the past 12 months.  I got to interview Scott Maidment who directs Blanc de Blanc which is showing at Fringe World in Perth this month continuing a two year tour throughout the world to sell out crowds. Maidment has a passion for what he does, originally a performer who founded Strut & Fret Production House which now produces shows that combine cabaret and circus in these fantastic productions. I discussed with him what he sees as his responsibility as the director and getting to work with Madonna amongst other things. It was an absolute pleasure and you can read the interview here http://scenestr.com.au/arts/blanc-de-blanc-sets-its-sights-on-perth-for-fringe-world-20181220

scenestr127

 

Produced by Eyeball Media Enterprises Scenestr. is an online national magazine with local offices around Australia. Having started in 1993 they’ve excelled at moving into the digital realm but they remain at heart from the streets. They still publish magazines in print for Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland every month. The cover story on Blanc de Blanc features on pages 10 and 11 of the WA print issue. You can read a digital version of the printed Western Australia edition here http://scenestr.com.au/read/WA/2018/22-WA/scenestr-WA-22.html#p=10

Scenestr126.jpg

 

It is the third Cover Story this year I have done for the WA mag. My first cover story for Scenestr was a year ago and also for the last WA mag for 2017 being issue #9 where I interviewed Jascha Boyce from the circus group Gravity and Other Myths. I followed it with 3 cover stories for WA in 2018, issue #11 interviewing SNL star and stand-up comedian Michael Che, #15 covering Chuck Norris coming to Supernova and now issue #22 about Blanc de Blanc.

scenestr124

 

To have done one cover story means a lot to me and to have interviewed such fascinating people remains one of the scariest and most fulfilling things I have dared to do these past two years. Whatever 2019 brings, I will always be grateful for this. If you’re in Perth I would strongly urge you to check out Blanc de Blanc, clearly a show not to be missed made by very hard working and talented people.

-Lloyd Marken