"< /Life >"

Last night the man and I went to see 'The Year of Magical Thinking' with Robin Nevin at the Wharf. After a spade of terrible movies and various mediocre entertainment choices I was pleased to have seen this monologue. It stirred. That's what good theatre does.

The essense of this play was 'coping with grief' and grief is one aspect of life that binds us all - sooner or later. It bites from the inside.

Seeing this accomplished actress finding her way through its stages made me feel safe about it... amidst her character's strange games and rituals I found a sense of total plausibility... No death is easy.

Cate Blanchett directed it. The chairs were a fine choice. Odd at first, then absolutely symbolic, working on many levels, functioning at the very simplistic least to settle...us...

We wondered how much direction you'd expect there might be amongst those two accomplished artists. Some cinematic sound effect choices were irritating... to us. Not keen on the volume and/or that disturbing rumble underpinning the early piece. Nevin kept me hanging onto every one of her words.
'Click here for a review'



...and then I went home, still buzzing from driving us, I checked my mail, then, as if by divine intervention, clicked randomly on a forum thread that dealt with the reality of a bike associated death. Real people, bike riders facing the sudden loss of a friend.

It was raw.

Always unexpected.

My deepest sympathy goes to those that are coping with the loss of a loved one.

Stay upright. Ride safe!