www.echo.net.au/soap-box
MANDY NOLAN’S
SOAPBOX
Issue# 35.19 October 21,–27, 2020 Editor: Mandy Nolan Editorial/gigs: gigs@echo.net.au Copy deadline: 5pm each Friday Advertising: adcopy@echo.net.au P: 02 6684 1777 W: echo.net.au/entertainment
E N T E R TA I N M E N T
WHEN GLADYS MET DARYL Gladys sure can pick ‘em! It’s not her politics that are going to bring her down, it’s not her choice in policies – it’s her choice in men. Namely, her bad boyfriend, Daryl. How could she have known? I mean, what happens in Wagga stays in Wagga! Unless of course you’re using your pillow talk to get the inside goss to convince federal oil and gas lobby groups to help sell your Chinese mining technology. ‘Frack Me Daryl!’ Poor Gladys – the man she loved turned out to be a Dirty John. How could she have known? Daryl is one of the most innocuous names around. Daryl is the perfect name for a good straight boring man. I don’t think there’s a single Daryl in the history of Daryls who have ever done anything remarkable. Daryl Braithwaite – he’s as good as a Daryl gets. Daryls don’t rock the boat. Daryls aren’t ever serial killers or terrorists. Daryls are reliable. You should be able to trust a Daryl. Daryl will come over and help you move furniture. Daryl loves a beer and a pokie at the RSL. Daryl reads the Telegraph. Daryl doesn’t help heirs to a racing fortune sell land near the proposed Western Sydney airport. Apologies to the Daryls out there – but it’s just not a sexy name. I’ll show you why. Start moaning in a building orgasmic crescendo and scream out ‘Daryl! Daryl! Oh Daryl!’ It’s quite the cold spoon on the climax. I once dated a guy called Daryl. He changed his name to Richard. When I found out his actual name was Daryl, I left him. Poor Gladys hit the bottom of the barrel with Daryl. (Barrel was the only word I could find to rhyme with Daryl… oh, and apparel). But Gladys is not alone. We girls love a bloke with problems, or a dark secret, or a conman. Does it for us every time. Bad blokes have a powerful charisma that nice blokes don’t have. Your friends can see it – they have a special name for the charisma of your bad boyfriend, they call it: ‘arsehole’. You don’t have to be into anal to love an arsehole. The more narcissistic, manipulative and duplicitous the better. It’s an aphrodisiac. Especially for smart high achieving women. Nice guys just can’t compete. I mean who would want to be in a supportive and nurturing relationship with a healthy man? If you weren’t trying to change him, or save him, then what would you do on weekends? I can imagine that Gladys’ friends probably pulled her aside and whispered ‘you’re the Premier of NSW Gladys – you can do better than Daryl. Jamie Packer’s single. And he’s got a casino. Doesn’t matter what you say in the bedroom, apparently he doesn’t remember anything.’ I think Gladys knew. Not what Daryl was up to, just that Daryl was probably not the best choice for a boyfriend. We women have an intuition for that sort of thing. Sadly we rarely listen to it. That’s why she kept him secret. Her secret Daryl. I feel sorry for Gladys. I look at the photos of her in the paper and she looks really ashamed. She looks heartbroken. You can see the pain on her face. And although she’s a bit dodgy on the details of when they started their relationship, she’s openly admitted she’s made a mistake. Something politicians rarely do.
This month there’s a surprise guest performing at The Big Gig. This is a high profile comic who everyone is going to love. We just can’t tell you who it is. What we can tell you is that you won’t be disappointed – and the next day everyone who didn’t go, is going to say, ‘Damn! I was going to go!’ Hosted by Mandy Nolan, the show is FREE – limited tickets available (because of COVID-19 you must register for a ticket! You can’t just rock up and get in!). Thursday 29 October. Ballina RSL at 8pm.
Mark Trevorrow, the creator of Bob Downe, continues the musical journey he began when he performed as himself on Good News Week and continued with his 2004 ABC album It’s About Time — singing pop, jazz and show standards, from Bacharach and Lennon-McCartney to Sondheim and Coward, in the smoothly melodious style you’ll never hear from Bob! A relaxed and funny evening of great music and stories, with music director, Bev Kennedy, on piano. Mark Trevorrow is singing straight at the Brunswick Picture House on Friday and Saturday at 7pm. Tix from brunswickpicturehouse.com
THE COVID COWBOY The Space Cowboy returns to the Picture House for his first performance in seven months and his last show of this kind for 2020. His record-breaking stunts have astonished audiences from Helsinki to Hobart, and made headlines around the globe. One of the most innovative sideshow artists alive today, The Space Cowboy currently holds over 50 Guinness World Records – ranging from sword swallowing, unicycling and juggling through to blindfolded arrow catching, blowtorch flame swallowing and many more! Be amazed at the Brunswick Picture House on Saturday. Tix from brunswickpicturehouse.com
GIRLS LIGHT UP FOR BAYFM BENEFIT
LUCIE THORNE “Some of the most simple and beautiful songs you will hear” The Age
SARA TINDLEY
Everyone thought that Gladys had no personal life. That she lived an ascetic life. That she went home to her empty house, with her empty fruit bowl, and cried quietly – on the inside. We liked her like that. It made her seem tough and invulnerable.
Time Off
40 The Byron Shire Echo wĈƐşćĕſ ǩǨǽ ǩǧǩǧ
“A Lucinda Williamsesque sound that’s about as sweet as anything”
Join us to celebrate Australian female song writing with two of our favourite performers and help raise vital funds for the Shire’s own, and only, community radio station.
ONE SHOW ONLY!
SUN 1 NOV / Doors 7pm / On stage 7:30pm Indoor Seats / Garden Seats
brunswickpicturehouse.com
ARTISTS INVITING YOU IN Have you ever walked into an art gallery and wondered ‘How do they do that? How does the artist get that effect, that colour, that sculptural curve?’ Well, now you can find out! For the third year running, Open Studios Ballina, Byron & Beyond is your opportunity to meet the artists in their studios and discover their secrets! A rare treat offered over two weekends, with 34 local artists in a wide variety of artistic genres opening their working studios to the public. So mark the diary: 28–29 Nov and 5–6 Dec. Visit www.os-bbb.com for details of participating studios.
THE POETRY AFTERGLOW! Dangerously Poetic celebrates Afterglow, Laura Jan Shore’s long-awaited third collection, published by Interactive Press, Brisbane. This free event will be held in the iconic Burringbar School of Arts Hall, Burringbar. The talented singer/songwriter, Emma Lees will perform musical interludes. Kathryn Boorman will be the MC. President of Dangerously Poetic Press, Laura has facilitated readings, co-edited twelve poetry collections, and offered poetry workshops in the area since 1996. See laurajanshore.com for more information. Book launch, Sunday at 3pm. Signed books $25.
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WHAT’S ON A NIGHT IN WITH MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY ONLINE EVENT Wednesday 21 October, 7pm Book + Show $55 | Show only $25
LOVEYS ACTUALLY LIVE THEATRE EVENT
Wednesday 21 October, 7pm $43.80
BBFF 2020 - SPOTLIGHT ON BYRON LIVE CINEMA EVENT Saturday 24 October, 7.30pm $21.90
BBFF 2020 - IN CONVERSATION WITH JACK THOMPSON & WAYNE BLAIR Sunday 25 October, 5pm $26.90
BBFF 2020 - SURF FILM SESSION LIVE CINEMA EVENT Friday 30 October, 7.30pm $21.90
Arrive early and enjoy a drink at the Theatre Bar
OCTOBER
Gladys got pork Daryled.
Ellen Briggs and Mandy Nolan perform their all new Women Like Us show at the Kyogle Bowlo this Saturday. The girls have used the covid downtime to record a podcast and reimagine their successful touring show, which is now on its 150th plus show. Bringing the house down wherever they go – tickets from womenlikeus.com.au or at the venue. Show starts at 8pm.
SINGING STRAIGHT
You can’t help who you love. Love is illogical. It’s sometimes dangerous. It’s compelling, especially, when it’s wrong. And Daryl was wrong. Daryl was Glady’s heroin. Gladys clearly loved Daryl. And now it has ruined her. She’d been doing a good job in her public office. But now, that doesn’t matter. She got held over a Daryl.
But she had her secret Daryl. It actually makes me like her and I’ve never voted Liberal in my life. She’s vulnerable. She’s human, she’s made a mistake in her personal life that’s going to totally smash her career. I’ve been embarrassed by some of my bad choices in men, imagine how Gladys must feel! For a very private person it must be excruciating to have ICAC trawl through your undie drawer. It seems cruel to be held accountable for the behaviour of your bad boyfriend. But such is the requirement of public office.
WOMEN LIKE US HIT KYOGLE!
BIG SURPRISE AT BIG GIG!
Byron Theatre & Community Centre 69 Jonson Street, Byron Bay byroncentre.com.au @byrontheatre
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