{Hold some tissues for Holding the Man}

Well it finally happened, I saw Holding the Man last night, accompanied by one of my dearest friends Lauren. Yesterday I had every intention of racing home after the play and penning this post straight away, little did I know....

I arrived home last night a sobbing, mess! Never have I been so affected by a play, I'm certain that this one won't leave me for a long time. In one word: Moving.

Holding the Man is Tommy Murphy's stage adaptation of  Timothy Conigrave's memoir that was first published in 1995, a year after his death. The book and the play have both enjoyed great success with the book being listed as one of the "100 favourite Australian Books" in 2003, and the play enjoying multiple sell out seasons across the country.

So what's it about? Well it's a great (and true) love story. A heart-wrenching one with a smattering of temptation, separation, adultery and ultimate tragedy in death. An emotional roller coaster for the audience, it is certain to make you laugh whole heartedly, then leave you in a sobbing pile on the floor. As the lovely Lauren put it "Anyone who isn't crying after that doesn't have a heart". 

Every one of the six actors was just sensational and threw themselves fully into each part they played. There was no holding back from this cast. Eugene Gilfedder, Jai Higgs, Helen Howard, Lauren Jackson, Jerome Meyer and Alec Snow all deserved the standing ovation they received from the majority of the crowd (some where still too taken aback and emotional to stand I think.)

This simply is a MUST see, the best $30 that I've spent in a good while. It's showing until the 16th of March so get your bum (and a huge box of kleenex) along. I'm going to give myself a few weeks to recover and then brave reading the book, my poor house mate will have to deal with the wailing coming from room for a few weeks....

Little Planes Land

On another note it seems that sometimes you can have it all..... well almost. Before we headed off to the theatre to give our tear ducts a good clean out we popped into Room 60 for a drink. Much to our delight Little Planes Land started her set early! Our ears were graced with some warm and soothing vocals, a perfect match for the Shiraz we were sipping. I hope I get the chance to hear more of Jen Boyce and her lovely voice soon!

I'll definitely be heading back to Room 60 for their live music nights, it's such an intimate venue, it's free and they have superb wine!

Happy Friday,

KT