Arts & Culture

Details: Written by: Nita Teoh; Category: Arts & Culture; Published: 22 August 2023

If there are two paths in the fork of a road – you have to decide which one to take.

You choose one path – but how different would your life have been if you had gone the other way?

And so the movie Past Lives explores the many facets of what changes our destiny over the course of our lifetime – decisions made about who we hung out with at school, where we lived, the influence of our family, getting an education, getting married etc.

In her debut film, Writer / Director Celine Song explores in a contemplative manner the close childhood friendship of Nora (Greta Lee) and Hae Sung (Teo Yoo) who are split apart when Nora's family emigrates from South Korea to Canada.

Two decades later, they are reunited in New York when Hae Sung goes on vacation to visit Nora, who has been married for some time to Arthur (John Magaro) - an American Jewish man and a fellow writer like herself.

Details: Written by: Nita Teoh; Category: Arts & Culture; Published: 22 May 2023

As I took off my shoes to step into the Saraswati Mahavidhayala Centre for Performing Arts & Education, I was struck by the colourful artwork on the walls - I felt like I was entering a special sacred space.

It brought me back to a time when I used to dine at the Annalakshmi restaurant (on The Esplanade) when the lifts would go up to the restaurant and you would be transported to a magical world of Indian artwork and pieces.

This evening I was to watch the showing of local young Indian classical dancers who had been working on new works with the renowned New York Based West African Dancer / Choreographer / storyteller Olivier Tarbaga.

The 8 young dancers up on stage were lithe and agile.

Details: Written by: Nita Teoh; Category: Arts & Culture; Published: 01 June 2023

My partner and I sat in the gorgeous Heath Ledger Theatre amidst a packed house for the opening night of Black Swan State Theatre Company’s Things I know to be True.

An Aussie family with 4 kids, living in the burbs of Booragoon, just going about their daily lives, the family members sometimes bickering – but more or less a happy family – with the young adult children busy with work and their love lives and the parents heading towards an empty nest.

That is the premise of Things I know to be True. Though as events start to unfurl we get swept into a storm cloud of seemingly unexpected and uncontrollable events. Each character cleverly narrates their unique perspective and inner thoughts and feelings on what is going on in their life.

Dramatic and poised to ignite like a lit fuse on a stick of dynamite ...

Details: Written by: Nita Teoh; Category: Arts & Culture; Published: 29 August 2023

My partner and I headed to Luna Windsor looking forward to seeing My Sailor My Love. The spectacular scenery and the heartfelt story shown in the trailer was what drew me to watch this movie.

The story line revolves around Howard (James Cosmo), a retired sea captain who is struggling with living alone as his health deteriorates. His daughter Grace (Catherine Walker) is caring and tries to visit him regularly whilst juggling a busy work life and strained marriage – but is not without her own emotional baggage including unresolved issues in her relationship with her Father dating back to her teenage years.

The story takes an interesting turn when Grace engages Annie (Bríd Brennan) as a housekeeper to help her Father out. Met with resistance by Howard, we watch the dynamics between the three parties unfold.

Details: Written by: Nita Teoh; Category: Arts & Culture; Published: 03 May 2023

I was eagerly awaiting another visit to the State Theatre Centre of WA – one of my favourite places in Perth.

This time I was headed down to Studio Underground to watch The Bleeding Tree by Black Swan State Theatre Company.

The stark, minimalist set with white painted lattice work on all three sides from top to bottom was all that met the audience as we waited for the play to begin.

The shadowy effects of the lattice created a slightly eerie effect...exuding silence and nothingness. A small thought bubble came up in my mind – I wonder what is going to happen?

This was my first time seeing The Bleeding Tree – it was last performed back in 2021 at The Blue Room Theatre.

This adaptation by Black Swan State Theatre Company did not disappoint.

Details: Written by: Nita Teoh; Category: Arts & Culture; Published: 24 May 2023

On a sunny Saturday morning, I walked down Oxford St to Luna Leederville to watch Sweet As - the debut feature film by Nyul Nyul / Yawuru Director Jub Clerc.

I was especially looking forward to watching this movie - being a locally made film and set within the spectacular and stunning landscape of the Kimberley region. I had missed catching it at the opening night of the WA Made Film Festival.

The movie revolves around the coming of age story of Murra (Shantae Barnes-Cowan) as she battles the challenges of young adult life – with her mother being constantly absent due to drugs and partying.

Her Uncle Tom (a policeman) sends her off reluctantly on a youth photography trip for at risk young adults, knowing her keen interest in photography.

Details: Written by: Greg Letts; Category: Arts & Culture; Published: 12 February 2023

From the opening bars of P!nk's “Get the Party Started”, the audience at Dean Misdale's Life's a Drag knew that they were in for a good time. And party we did, with only a brief pause here and there for a costume change or two (of course!) and to let in a couple of apologetic latecomers to the show.

Having first caught Dean on stage at the covid-decimated Cabaret Festival at His Majesty in 2021, my partner and I were looking forward to a booster shot of Dean's fabulous vocals and glam style. We were not to be disappointed...

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Past Lives at Luna

Olivier Tarbaga - A Story of Migration by WA Indian Dancers

Things I Know to be True by Black Swan State Theatre Company

My Sailor, My Love at Luna

Bleeding Tree by Black Swan State Theatre Company

Sweet As at Luna

Dean Misdale - Life's a Drag at Fringe Perth