Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, August 29, 2012 - Page 3
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The hottest news about Melbourne’s A-listers
The Buzz
Barassi in rehearsals
To London
● Steve Bastoni
● Marney McQueen ■ Melbourne entertainer Marney McQueen will be performing in London this weekend. McQueen will present her She’s A Rump Steak At a Vegan Barbecue show at The Pheasantry
Off The Leash
● Debra Lawrence ■ Actors Debra Lawrance and Dennis Coard will take part in the dramatic reading of Jeannie Haughton’s short work, On Waking, on September 19 after Off The Leash Theatre’s AGM at 7:30 pm in the West Gipplsand Arts Centre meeting room, Warragul.
Visit to Max ■ Show business world veterans Pete Smith, Ted Ryan and Philip Ryan paid a visit to former Channel 9 and 10 executive Max Stuart yesterday (Tues.) who is living in care at Kyneton.
■ The cast of the new Australian stage play Barassi has begun rehearsals. Steve Bastoni takes on the role of the legendary coach whilst Chris Asimos plays the young Barassi. Matt Parkinson creates the role of coach and mentor Norm Smith, with Jane Clifton in the central role of narrator. They are joined by Richard Sullivan, Amanda Labonte, Glenn Maynard and Russell Robertson. The show opens at the Athenaeum on September 20.
GUESS WHO IS BACK ON RADIO
● Glenn Ridge
■ Glenn Ridge will return to Melbourne radio from next week, hosting the 9am-Noon weekday program on MyMP 1377. Ridge will present a daily threehour program combining MyMP’s easy listening music playlist, combined with lifestyle segments featuring entertainment news, and a guide on places to go around Melbourne. Ridge was most recently heard on the same frequency, as part of the Melbourne Talk Radio - MTR 1377 experiment. Ridge had weekday and weekend programs. Ridge, 56, is also well-known as having been the host of Sale Of The Century on the Nine Network. He is Managing Director of the Q Media Group, which produces TV specials and documentaries.
The National Road Transport Hall of Fame inducted five Victorians ★ at a ceremony at Alice Springs on Saturday. They are Alison Coop, Forest Hill; Graeme Dyer, Sale; Carl Douglas, Airport West; Vincent Monahan, Larpent; and Mick Best, Mulgrave. Phil Ah Wang has been nominated for a ‘Deadly’Award for the best indigenous Australian for activities run at the Victorian Aboriginal ChildcareAgency. Radio broadcaster Derryn Hinch will next month hear the outcome of a Magistrates’ Court case in which he is objecting to a $155 fine for failing to vote in an election. The charge was brought by the Victorian Electoral Commission on Friday afternoon. The Australia Israel Cultural Exchange and Palace Cinemas have announce Evgenia Dodina as the special guest of the 2012 AICE Israeli Film Festival. She will participate in a Q&A discussing the film and Israel’s film culture at Palace Cinema Como on Friday night (8.45pm), as well as introducing the film at Palace Brighton Bay at 5pm Saturday.
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On Friday night at Palace Cinema Como, on Saturday and Palace Brighton Bay.
Clyde Simpson remembered ■ Melbourne radio man Clyde Simpson’s start in show business, as a movie projectionist, was remembered at a memorial service held at St SilasAnglican Church,Albert Park last week. Tributes were offered by 96.5 Inner FM colleague, Kevin Trask ;and Shane Healy, General Manager of 3AW. Seen in attendance at the service led by Fr Ray McGuinness were Bruce Mansfield, Philip Brady, Wayne Browne, David Mann, Dean Reynolds, Peter O’Callaghan, Derryn Hinch, Gary and Joan Mac, Neil Mitchell, Bill Armstrong, John Veritgan and Graham Mott.
● Clyde Simpson
Other mourners included Billy Pennell, Bill Duff, Clark Fobesm Darren James and Michael James, Gerald Quigley, Karl Van Est, Fr Gerard Dowling, Denis O’Kane, Tony Tardio and Pat Panetta. Amongst the hundreds in attendance were Clyde’s advertising clients, staff of 3AW and EON-FM (MMM-FM), his colleagues from community station 96.5 Inner FM, and the entertainment industry. Atop the coffin were a ribbon microphone and a projector. The grandchildren of Clyde and Nola Simpson kept alive a theatre tradsition by handing out bags of Jaffas at the conclusion of the service.
Under The Clocks Happy birthday to Kevin Trask ■ Melbourne Observer columnist Kevin Trask celebrates his 70th birthday this week, joining friends for a party. Kevin has had a lifelong interest in show business, starting as a boy attending Saturday afternoon movies in Coburg, auditioning as a singer on 3XY’s early Saturday morning talent show, working as an actor and a director, and hosting the That’s Entertainment radio program on 96.5 Inner FM for the past 21 years. Kevin appears with Bruce Mansfield and Philip Brady on 3AW, and also has weekly spots on 4BC Brisbane.
● Kevin Trask
Salvation Jane at Surrey Music Cafe
● Salvation Jane’s Tess Lewis (left), Penny Larkins, Jenny Szery, Anna Fletcher and Rose Sexton will launch their new CD at the Surrey Music Café on August 31. ■ The next Surrey Music Café on Friday (August 31) at 8pm features vocal group Salvation Jane and percussion duo Invention In Time. Salvation Jane, a favourite vocal group of five women, is reunited in harmony with a new CD to launch – Something Old, Something New. The group burst onto the Australian music scene in the early 1990s, primarily focussing on a cappella bluegrass gospel. With stunning harmonies and powerful vocals, they toured the UK and New Zealand, finally bidding farewell to their fans in 1996. Returning with many of the songs that people love to hear, as well as new material, Salvation Jane will present a wide range of styles and collection of instruments with a touch of humour. Invention In Time features percussionists Kate Adam and Ariel Valent on marimba and vibraphone, presenting an exciting visual musical experience. Invention In Time specialises in creating intricate soundscape compositions that encapsulate the listener, with influences from world music and jazz, taking the audience on a journey of stimulating original music. Venue: Box Hill Community Arts Centre, 470 Station St, Box Hill. Date: Friday, August 31 at 8 pm, doors open at 7.30pm. Tickets: $18.Bookings: Whitehorse Centre 9262 6555 or online www.surreymusic.com
What’s On In Melbourne
Fed Square’s car park rooftop was yesterday (Tues.) transformed ★ into a vibrant vegie garden to promote the benefits of one of Australia’s most favourite past times. Taxi Dining Room Executive Chef, Tony Twitchett had produce on show. Enthusiast Ron Smith is making a free e-book about vegie growing available for children. To obtain a copy, e-mail simplygreen@ thelittlegreenbooks.com.au Victorian Opera soprano Tiffany Speight will perform at the Artists For Orphans fundraiser at The Elms Room, Kyneton Racing Club, on a night that includes an art auction, advises Roni Wildboer, phone 0424 938 931. www.trycooking.com/31455
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