www.echo.net.au/soap-box
MANDY NOLAN’S
SOAPBOX WHY WE MISS FAT ADELE While flattening the COVID-curve has forced us inside to bake sourdough and increase our curves, one woman has flattened her curves entirely. Adele. No longer rolling in the deep, possibly floating now, like a tiny leaf. Newsflash; Adele has lost weight. She’s barely recognisable. She now looks like every other successful woman in the media. She could now be mistaken for a newsreader, an actor, or a TV personality. She’s got what tabloid mags dub a ‘Revenge Body’. Not that Adele’s taking revenge, it’s just one of the clichéd ways the media have of describing women’s bodies, as if they were something you could order online to punish wayward men with. Adele is now what’s known in the media as ‘hot’; she’s thin, and gorgeous. And conventional, in the cookie cutter way dominant culture demands. Adele possibly feels the best she’s felt in years, and possibly feels a huge sense of achievement, and is feeling younger and fitter and has more energy. She has avoided diabetes, is healthier, and has probably achieved the thing we all find harder than multiple orgasms – moderation. And we don’t like it. We don’t recognise skinny Adele. We miss fat Adele. Women all around the world feel weirdly let down. Their chubby champion is no more. It’s a strange betrayal. Surely her body belongs to no one else but her? Ironically, even though she operated outside the dominant narrative, her body and its deviance from the norm was a part of why we loved Adele. Thin or fat, she was still objectified. Except in a weird way she was objectified by women who feel diminished by the lack of body-positive role models. Being a body-positive hero is a cursed chalice; on the one hand, the love and fan identification is magnified, on the other – you’re just as trapped as any thin chick, because you have to stay fat for the world. That’s a big responsibility: staying big. But I’ll admit it. Even I felt a bit sad that Adele had hung up the carbs. I even worried that she’d struggle to find the power in that voice without that body. No more full-length dresses. Hello short skirt. I loved that Adele had pushed through to the top of her game without the bump and grind of JLo, or Beyonce, or Brittney, or Shakira. And she’d done it while still wearing pants. She’d done it in a floor-length velour and diamante gown. This Tottenham lass with the wonderfully huge and unapologetic arse. An arse only eclipsed by her massive voice, and even bigger personality. It’s kind of wrong to admit it, because it’s really not fair to the person who is Adele, but a lot of us loved fat Adele, not just because of her voice and her charisma – but the whole package. Her confidence. The way she held the world stage. She was like an oasis of hope for every woman who woke up and looked at her defiant curves with loathing. She was a deviation in a pervasive narrative about body conformity. A relief that we, as women, might be valued for our merit not our rock hard abs. There’s a trillion thin Adeles with amazing voices. But not so many non-stereotypical divas adored on a world stage the way she was. I’m actually struggling to name any. It’s like there’s a quota for talented, successful, and dearly loved chubby women. It’s like there’s an agreement that only a select few body-positive women can be let through. Chubby heroes like Rebel Wilson. (Who, btw, is also dropping the kilos). The world adores her too. It’s not just the chubbiness. These women exude charisma. They are the relatable relief, the ones you can rest your eyes on who don’t leave you feeling less than you are. You see, women measure themselves. Not just on scales in the bathroom. They measure themselves against each other. It’s unspoken. But when one of our fat chick friends loses weight, we say ‘you look amazing’ and we mean it, and then we hate ourselves. Perhaps we need to give ourselves AND Adele a break, open the door and let through all the talented chubby girls waiting on the other side.
18 The Byron Shire Echo lëƷ ǨǪǽ ǩǧǩǧ
E N T E R T A I N M E N T WHO’S AFRAID? A LIVING ZOOM DRAMA! While the rest of the country can gather in groups of 10, Gladys has decided to keep us indoors a little longer! The last few months have driven many of us inside, with performers and creatives wondering how they can turn this lockdown into an opportunity. For Mandy Nolan, this provided an opportunity to present one of her favourite pieces. ‘Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? is one of my absolute favourite pieces of writing’ she says. ‘It’s complex, turgid, it is disturbing, it’s broken. It’s about love, and what we do to each other, and ourselves. Most people know the movie with Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor – which was extraordinary, but the 1962 Edward Albee play, I believe, is even better when you hear the full play – a lot of it was missing from that screenplay.’ Mandy decided to direct a Zoom reading of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? with the two central characters of Martha and George coming to her immediately. ‘You can’t do this without having someone who is exactly perfect as Martha AND George.’ So Mandy asked Linda Rutledge to read Martha, and Mark Swivel to read George. ‘I have seen Linda in plays over the years, and always thought she was a remarkably powerful actor. Pre COVID-19 I had the thought of what a perfect Martha she’d make. I thought at the time
STARS BY LILITH
that my friend Mark Swivel would be a great George’. As it turns out, Linda and Mark both loved the play as much as Mandy, with Linda admitting that it was one of her performing goals to play Martha! Mark introduced Mandy to Mick Webb and Madeleine Lipson, who are the perfect Nick and Honey. ‘I can’t believe how good they all are’ says Mandy. ‘This is a very long and complex play. And this is a complex time. We haven’t been able to gather – we have only been able to have a few reading rehearsals on Zoom, with everyone at their respective houses. But it seems ideal, at a time when we are all driven indoors with our nearest and dearest, that perhaps a play about how it can all come undone is perfect!’ Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? runs an astonishing four hours! That being the case, Mandy decided to present the rehearsed reading over three nights: an act each night. ‘Why not? There must be nothing left to watch on Netflix! This is a great opportunity to reacquaint yourself with a classic.’ The rehearsed reading via Zoom is free, and will be held on Friday 22 May, Saturday 23 May and Sunday 24 May – all at 7.30pm. If you would like to Zoom in on this epic lockdown cultural soirée, then pour yourself a whisky, and settle in. Email mandy@mandynolan.com.au for your nightly link with the subject header ‘Woolf link’.
TAURUS THE BULL This week, Jupiter and Venus join Saturn and Pluto in retrograde to support retrieving parts of our lives, or ourselves – valuable pieces of our personal puzzle…
ARIES: Your planetary motivator Mars, sinking into low power mode, can feel like walking underwater, or drowning in your own mind. And the upside? It’s simultaneously an inspiring cycle of healing, closure, creative brilliance and amazing realisations, all held in the supportive embrace of a plethora of retro planets.
LEO: Mars delivers a growth spurt to your financial potential this week, but with Venus in a snitchy mood, being stubborn will work against you. Best operating strategies? This week thought you’d never ask. Retrogrades favour words beginning with re: like reconsider, repair and reconnect. But not ones like retreat, rebel, resist or react.
TAURUS: Taureans prefer a certain degree of physical comfort to help get them through tough times, and Venus sashaying into your sector of sensual pleasures and earthy delights for the next six weeks is this year’s birthday gift for Bulls. Any downside? Recurring temptations do fatten the curves…
VIRGO: With Mercury’s present placement you could sell anyone anything, if you keep it simple, elegant and avoid complications. Flamboyant Mars ignites partnership sparks, but also arguments over conflicting opinions, and Venus isn’t at her most compliant. Even so, don’t let your inner critic sabotage this week’s joy.
GEMINI: Expressive, articulate Mercury in your chatty sign has a lot to say, but with Venus retrograde it may be taken the wrong way. If so, use the opportunity to practise Venusian diplomacy in your Gemini network, and upgrade the technical, verbal and media skills needed for navigating the rest of the year.
LIBRA: Are you tired of channeling celebrity obsessive/compulsive Libran Marie Kondo, and itching to hit the reset button? Retrograde planets are currently weighing in heavily on the wait-a-while side. A lot of rebalancing can be done this week along the lines of self-nurture, relationship repair and making home a happier place.
CANCER: Venus retrograde can be a confusing time for relationships if old hurts and trust issues resurface. With Jupiter and Saturn also in lockdown, it means sending some plans back to the drawing board to recalibrate and wait for more supportive circumstances. So what’s this week good for? What water signs do best; going with the flow.
SCORPIO: To quote one of my favorite astrologers, Rob Brezsny, grace emerges in the ebb, as well as the flow, and waning reveals different blessings than waxing. With Mercury and Venus both in mega-chat mode, noise-cancelling headphones are this week’s best accessory for blocking distractions so you can focus on a dormant portal about to open...
SAGITTARIUS: Mercury in effervescent Gemini can be super-effusive, and Sagittarius is a verbally vivacious sign. Currently the quicksilver planet’s recommending an equal balance of give and take in communications of all kinds, as in remembering the two ears for listening/one mouth for talking ratio for this week’s negotiations. CAPRICORN: Jupiter and Pluto’s fourmonth double backspin in Capricorn is a blessing in disguise. Retrogrades are for checking the rearview mirror: has something like this happened before? More than once? Then here’s your chance to crack the pattern. Though don’t expect an easy ride – that isn’t a given in the present circumstances. AQUARIUS: As motivating Mars brings its drive and dynamism to Aquarian confidence levels, what particular area of life would you like to do-over? Mercury in a fellow air-sign is presently firing with ideas, though Venus can be a bit of a drama queen if retrogrades bring up past issues for review, as they tend to. . PISCES: With energy-booster Mars and the weekend moon in your sign, it’s all eyes on Pisces time. Which mostly feels fabulous, though extra-sensitive Venusian mood swings might have you taking some things too personally. In which case, take a break and process things solo, till your perceptions level out.
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