Sexism and my friend Dolores

 After Tony Abbott won the election I had a foolhardy dream. I actually believed for a minute that people might wait and see if all their dire predictions would come true. Sadly, I was wrong. The name-calling, the spite, the anger (and other signs of being a sore loser) were more prevalent than ever. Already the articles have started about all the bad things our new PM (who at the time of typing this hasn't even been sworn in as PM yet) has done. Disgusting groups like  "Tony Abbott is the worst PM in history" have sprouted up and at least 50 friends of mine on my FB page have joined it. I'm glad that spirit of "giving a person a fair go" is still alive and well in 21st Century Australia. Oh yes, I even got defriended by one person for daring to post a pro-Abbott video on my page (in response to the countless anti-Abbott articles, memes and such filling up my page which they posted).

 But you know what? We live in a country where all of that is possible without fear of death. I would rather people be engaged with political debate in this country then to sit passively by and say "I hate them all". I'll take a person who weighs up the pros and cons and reaches a conclusion that is different to my own anyday.

 I am proud to call some of those people my friends. Fellow musicians who I admire a lot but who think different politically to me. At least they care about this country. One of those is my friend Dolores [not their real name]. We've done shows together and she has always been a good friend to me. She is an outstanding teacher, a wonderful mum and wife and has been a great support to me as I do my degree. But her views on politics could not be more different than my own. On election day I actually messaged her on FB and apologised that we seemed to only talk when disagreeing on politics. She laughed and said it didn't matter- and she reminded me that she married a Liberal voter. The fact she is still my friend sometimes amazes me given some of the exchanges we have had in the past.

 Today was no different. The feminists have been having a field day since Mr. Abbott announced his cabinet with ONLY ONE WOMAN!!!! (du-du-DUUUUH!!!) Poor Corinne Grant must have steam coming off her keyboard writing so furiously to get a blog up on The Hoopla! How dare he!! Nice way to set women's rights back 50 years!! Oh the outrage, the anger, the venom!! 

 Dolores jumped in with a pithy status and, despite my better judgement, I went wading in right after her. Do I seriously need another target on my back??

 Of course, any attempt to defend the decision would be immediately leaped upon and branded as sexist (especially when coming from a man) and it didn't take long. So before I get the tirades of abuse, let me try and point out my views on the this.

 Let's play a hypothetical-

 You have to fill a position. You have two possibilities to fill that vacancy. One person is experienced and has a solid background in the job. They also are qualified and have proven themselves as a team player. The other person is nowhere near as qualified, has little experience and has yet to prove themselves. Which one do you go for? Now if this were a rather lowly position you may be tempted to make a judgement call and decide that a person has to start somewhere and if they screw up then no harm, no foul. But this is a senior position with a LOT riding on it. In this instance, I think a good boss will go with the first person. To me, that makes sound, business sense. It matters not what their age, gender, religion or race is. You picked the best person for the job.

 That is the choice the PM-elect has had to make. I note that Mr. Abbott is also nominating Bronwyn Bishop as speaker of the House of Reps (which would make the most powerful position in the house being filled by a woman- something a lot of the people are forgetting). By the way, I imagine he put the same criteria on filling THAT position as he did in filling in the cabinet positions. 

 When I looked through the ministry I saw a lot of experience both as opposition spokesperson and from outside Parliament. What I saw was a team capable of bringing solid government to this country and representing our country well. 

 "But what about the WOMEN"??? Dolores cried. She rightly pointed out that women are just as capable of doing these jobs as men and that they make up 50% of the population. I don't disagree with her on that at all. Sadly, the pool of talent that our new PM had to choose from wasn't very representative of that. I suppose we can argue about the Liberals not blooding enough female talent and you might have a point, but the simple fact is that if not enough women want to run as a candidate for the party then it is very hard for them to be elected and then put into cabinet. Is that the PM-elects' fault? As Mr. Abbott pointed out yesterday there several women knocking on cabinet's door. Good. Come time for a reshuffle, one or two of them may just enter into that room having had more experience under their belt.

 I am all for women getting the same opportunities as men- they are as capable (and in some cases, more capable) of doing the job as their male counterparts if they are the right person for the job!! It's not sexism, it's actually good business sense- the right person for the right job.

I still greatly respect Dolores and will continue to do so. She's awesome. 

"Salome"- State Opera of South Australia, Festival Theatre

 Richard Strauss' masterpiece of the stage gets an all-too rare outing in Adelaide. I remember seeing this opera when State Oepra performed it last in 1994 and was blown away by how vivid and exotic the score is. There is not a single "easy" part in this whole opera. From the first moment to the last (a nice call-back to "Game Of Thrones" watchers) it leaves the audience on the edge of its seat.
 When the Opera Conference chose to mount a new production they chose director Gale Edwards to bring this sordid one-act tale to life. Doing that ensured it would not be a sandal and toga affair. Rather, Edwards has presented a dark, brooding and sexual affair of the most grotesque kind. The single set functions well enough to set the stage with not-so-subtle imagery of dead carcasses off the back wall and a red hue to all the lighting and costumes.
 The production team should be applauded for keeping things visually interesting without over-blowing our senses (leaving that job to the wonderful music of Richard Strauss).
 In the title role, Kate Ladner proves once again that she is one of Australia's finest leading ladies. Not only does she have the vocal ability to tackle the demands of this score, but every nuance of her character is played out in her gestures, body movements and thought processes.
 As her depraved step-father, Herod, Hubert Francis is an absolute standout. Every bit the depraved ruler, he makes every member of the audience feel slightly violated. Vocally he totally nails this role to the back wall and his acting is on par with the best around the world.
 Elizabeth Campbell provides a solid support for Ladner and Francis as the much-maligned Herodias. I simply cannot remember a role where Campbell has given less than 100%.
 Douglas McNicol (almost unrecognisable under heavy makeup) is a brilliant Jokannan. Like the rest of his castmates, his vocal abilities are beyond question and he gives a much less pious performance of the doomed prophet than we have seen in the past.
 Bradley Daley as the love-struck Narraboth and Anne Marie Gobbins as Herodias' Page round out the major players superbly. Local talent including Adam Goodburn, Andy Turner, Thomas Millhouse, Bernard Hull and Robert McFarlane fill out the smaller roles with much gusto and relish.
 Arvo Volmer and the ASO performed wonders in the pit but I fear their exuberance led many passages being sung to be inaudible to the audience. The dance of the seven veils, however, was one of the most breath-taking moments ever heard in the festival theatre (and the ensuing dance onstage was cleverly executed by Ladner and several dancers).
 This opera- at 100 minutes- is almost as draining on the psyche as the 6-hour "Parsifal". Both of these are in my top 10 operas of all time and State Opera have pulled another gem from their hat.