Tag: Sydney Opera House

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Review

Penn & Teller

Penn and Teller.

I am a massive Penn & Teller fan and have been watching them on TV for ages. Not only am I a huge fan, our twin girls and hubby are also raving fans as well. Yep, we think they are awesome.

It was hubby’s and my plan, with our two good mates to fly to Las Vegas and see Penn & Teller, however that never happened. So I am thankful that they are finally touring Australia as this might be my only chance to see them without flying to Vegas.

It was late 2019 and I managed to secure front row tickets for hubby and I and the twins to see Penn & Teller at the Opera House. You might have guessed I was a happy woman and sooooo excited about the upcoming event.

I didn’t give the kids heaps of presents for the 2019 Christmas as I was foucsing on experiences over things. I got them tickets to see Shrek the Musical and of course, the Penn & Teller tickets, which they had no idea about but the show would have been in January 2020.

However, due to COVID, the show was cancelled and my money was refunded. I was not happy but understood. I wasn’t sure if Penn & Teller would come back so decided to not say anything to the kids.
If I did mention that I got tickets and we couldn’t go, or if Penn & Teller decided to not tour in Australia? What if it never happened? Maybe the show will get rescheduled but when would this be? Still best to not tell the kids, I thought this the better tactic as I didn’t want to be asked, didn’t want the disappointment and thought it best to see what might happen.

I eventually got an email from the Opera House saying that the show had been rescheduled for April 2020 and due to other shows that were already playing Penn & Teller was now going to be at the Capitol Theatre. Okay I thought, I need to get tickets to that show. I managed to secure four tickets in the 3rd or 5th row and all was good, that is until the show got canceled again. I believe it was due to a few things this time, COVID and Teller had a back operation and needed to rest.

So for the second time, I got my money refunded and was told that they would let us know when the show would be rescheduled. At this stage, I thought they might not come at all.

Flash forward to 2022 and I got an email from the Opera House saying that since I was on the list of people that bought tickets before, and the shows were cancelled that they had great news that Penn & Teller were coming to Australia and tickets would be on sale from 9am that day.

I had a strategy day at work but needed to get 4 tickets urgently and make sure to get decent seats. For some strange reason, the bank had changed a code for online banking and my credit card was refusing transactions. I had to get the hubby to do the purchase and seating choice. I did have great seats but since the transactions were not allowing me to continue I lost the seats due to the time allotted to do the purchase…..I was not happy and needed to get tickets.

Hubby finally let me know that he secured tickets and all was good in the world. Finally, after 3 attempts to see Penn & Teller we had tickets again. Phew. I just hoped that this show didn’t get cancelled too.

Finally the show at last!

June came and the date of the show was here (Insert very excited happy dance from me). The twins had no idea what we were doing, just that we were all going to the city to see something, what they had no idea! As said I didn’t want to say that we might see these great magicians for the worry that it might never happen, I didn’t want to promise something that might never become a reality.

We arrived at the Opera House and parked our car. I didn’t even think about VIVID when I booked the tickets and as you can imagine it was packed with people and very busy. Once there, we all walked around and found somewhere to have an early dinner.

After dinner, we enjoyed ice cream and looked at the view and the large cruise ship going under the Harbour Bridge at sunset. It was a great sight and one that looked like if the ship was any taller it might not have fitted under the bridge.

Even though we had time to spare we decided due to how cold it was getting to wait inside the Opera House, when we entered a man who was dressed in a suit who worked at the Opera House said, “Are you here to see Penn & Teller?”

This is when the girls said, “WHAT! REALLY? DID HE SAY PENN & TELLER?” I said maybe…..as you can see they were very happy and surprised.

We waited until the upstairs area with the bar and more seating was open and then got drinks and waited some more. The girls got t-shirts from Penn & Tellers merch and we collected 4 cards as instructed for a trick we had no idea about – The Love Ritual… strange, but it is Penn & Teller.

It was finally time to enter the theatre and we were in the Joan Sutherland Theatre at the Opera House. I don’t know why but I thought we might be in the larger theatre in my head. We were seated and waited for the show to start.

The famous ampersand of Penn & Teller
The stage at the Joan Sutherland Theatre at the Opera House ready for Penn & Teller

I got talking to the nice lady and her husband next to me and she had the same experience with tickets, it was her third time too to see Penn & Teller and like us was very happy and excited to finally be there to see them in real life (Yes I am sounding like bluey)

The Show

The lights went down and then finally a loud voice announced Penn & Teller. Everyone erupted with screams, clapping and whistles. I think we were all pleased to see them and for the show to start. Maybe there are more people like me and the couple I sat next to that this was their third go to see Penn & Teller.

Penn and Teller – Image from the Opera House Website

Penn & Teller were in their standard dapper-looking suits and looking immaculately dressed (as always).

Penn started saying how they had been trying to come to Australia and we’re very glad they were finally here. Which of course got big claps and screams of appreciation from the audience. Penn then went on to tell us that their show Fool Us has been signed for a 10th season and they really only thought it would last a few years…now going strong at 10 years.

It was also mentioned that Helen Coghlan an Australian magician has fooled Penn & Teller 4 times! (see some of her tricks in the video below).

Penn was busy telling the audience about how we needed to pay attention and about how magicians use misdirection and then during this whole conversation there was a trick about a disappearing chicken and a gorilla with symbols. I will not spoil it for you, but it was amazing! You need to keep a close eye on everyone.

In the audience, there were many children and a few were lucky to be invited on stage to help with some of Penn & Teller’s tricks. A boy named Jack helped Teller with the polyester fabric trick. Teller had a long piece of fabric, tied it in a knot and then once cut, it was revealed as a whole piece of fabric, and the shocked expression on Jack’s face was priceless. Mind you Jack was only 8 and he thought Penn & Teller were amazing and was able to keep the polyester fabric as a souvenir.

There are a few tricks that I am not sure how they were done but being tricked and believing in the magic is magicial enough. The fun, humour and showmanship were first rate and we giggled and were amazed at everything they did. I like many other audience members were on the edge of my seat and looking carefully to hopefully figure out the secret to some tricks but I couldn’t.

Make sure you pay attention to the needle through the camel trick and another that I was amazed by was the rose in the vase. The rose in the vase is casting a shadow onto a piece of paper and Teller uses a knife to cut the shadow while affecting the real rose in the vase. HOW??? How is that possible??

While Teller was performing the rose in the vase shadow trick many in the audicence were yelling, “What?” “What the?” “How is this possible?”

I still don’t know and happy to be fooled as it was a joy to watch two of the best magicians perform live. I did tell hubby that I saved us money…he asked how? I said we didn’t need to fly to Vegas to see Penn & Teller. See winning right there!

If you are wanting to see Penn & Teller they are at the Opera House in Sydney until June 11th and will be having shows in Melbourne and Brisbane. I see from www.viagogo.com that there are still a few tickets but they are selling fast.

It was fantastic to see Penn & Teller in the flesh, well at least from row Q (not the far Q, so don’t think that), It was a fair distance but closer than seeing them on TV. If you get the chance to see Penn & Teller while they are in Australia I would urge you to go.

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Categories
Review

The Snail and The Whale

Last Thursday (16th of January 2020) I took Alexander to see the stage show of “The Snail and The Whale”, the show ended on the 21st of January.

The stage for the show The Snail and The Whale at the Opera House.
The stage for the show The Snail and The Whale at the Opera House.

I wanted to expose Alexander to more theatre and something that would be just for him and not his sisters.

I purchased the tickets and then decided to get the book of the Snail and the Whale by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. It is an award-winning picture book, and like the rest of their work, it is fun and has wonderful pictures.

Alexander told me that there is a fire truck on stage.. not a real one, it was a toy. Alexander loves fire trucks.
Alexander told me that there is a fire truck on stage.. not a real one, it was a toy. Alexander loves fire trucks.

Alexander takes a while to warm up to new books and when I originally got him Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s Stick Man he took a year for him to become interested and then obsessed with Stick Man, and this followed with the Gruffalo, Zog the Flying Doctors and I thought it would continue with The Snail and the Whale.

The book of the Snail and the Whale was given to Alexander for his Christmas present and he was interested but lost interest after about 2-3 pages. I read it to him nightly and we managed to the end a few times. I thought I was winning as Alexander didn’t know that he was going to see the stage show of the same book.

I had no idea what the show would be like, but thought it might follow the book. It did, but with the injection of Father and Daughter characters that told the story of the snail and the whale.

The snail was represented by a stuffed toy and also some wooden models, and the whale creativity came into being after the cast maneuvered the bed, bookcase, and armchair to create the whale.

There were a few times where they wanted audience participation and some pantomime fun too. The kids were busy yelling, screaming and laughing about where the daughter was hiding and to great glee pointing out where she was hiding to the Dad.

I think that this show was just the right length for my little boy, however, there were moments that Alexander seemed more taken with his seat and straddling the armrests like he was a gymnast and balancing on the top of the seat before it gets put down. (these are the seats that rise up if you are not sitting on them. He thought this was rather entertaining.

Alexander waiting for the show to start. We were getting excited to see The Snail and The Whale.
Alexander waiting for the show to start. We were getting excited to see The Snail and The Whale.

For my little boy, he loved the action and the fun of the kids yelling to the actors, and some of the story. However, I think he is a little young to take in the story, it needs to be more action-packed for my little person.

I did note that other kids of similar ages sat very well and were not doing tricks on their chairs like mine was.   Maybe it was his age, maybe it is just getting used to the theatre or needing to have a show that is more action-packed for my little boy that he was a little bit fidgety. I am not sure…. but I think it was a good experience for him to be there.

Mummy and Alexander enjoying the harbour
Mummy and Alexander enjoying the harbour

So what did I think?
I thought that the way they brought the story to the stage was interesting with the inclusion of the Father and Daughter characters, but for little kids maybe it was too much dialogue. I know it is based on the book and the words and some parts were directly taken from the Snail and the Whale, however maybe for future it could be more visual and action-packed.

I liked how the cast involved the audience with some dancing and games, and of course when the kids were yelling at the cast about where each person was extremely fun (Alexander loved this and couldn’t stop laughing and smiling at me during this section of the show).

 

Before the show, Alexander and I had a drink and a bite to eat at the Opera Bar. He had honey toast and bacon, while I had a coffee and some toast.

Relaxing at the Opera Bar, Sydney.
Relaxing at the Opera Bar, Sydney.

Alexander was very happy after food, if he doesn’t’ eat regularly he is a very grumpy person. Having a happy and fed kid before a show at the Opera House was key.

Enjoying some bacon before the show at the Opera Bar, Opera House, Sydney.
Enjoying some bacon before the show at the Opera Bar, Opera House, Sydney.

While we were eating at the Opera Bar, Alexander noticed the water slide on the top of a cruise ship that was in the harbour. He was super excited about it. He then told me, “Mumma after the show we are going on the slide”

The cruise ship that Alexander wanted to go on. Geez I just got tickets to a show at the Opera House and now this kid wants to go on a cruise.
The cruise ship that Alexander wanted to go on. Geez, I just got tickets to a show at the Opera House and now this kid wants to go on a cruise.

I then tried to explain that we cannot go on this water slide. He said, “We can Mumma!”  I said that only people that paid to go on the big cruise ship can go on this slide, and said that maybe one day we can go on a cruise and then we can play on the slide.

The slide Alexander wanted to go on..however, it was on a cruise ship and we were not passengers.
The slide Alexander wanted to go on..however, it was on a cruise ship and we were not passengers.

 

After seeing The Snail and the Whale there was some free play at the Opera House. There were heaps of pool noodles with connectors for kids to push and to attach into wooden holes. Alexander loved this. He spent ages connecting noodles together and even moved things together to attach different groups together.

Free creative noodle play at the Opera House.
Free creative noodle play at the Opera House.

 

I think Alexander loved his time in the city and I hope that he enjoyed his theatre experience.

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Categories
Family

Our Vivid Experience

This was our Vivid experience in 2016.

We went to Vivid last Saturday night. Hubby and I had never been, either had the kids. I must say that we were rather excited about our impending adventures.

However they were dashed quite quickly. The crowds and very rude people made the night not as fun as it was meant to be.

I know we chose to go on the long weekend, we chose a weekend and you have to expect it to be busy and crowded. BUT I did not expect to be pushed at every chance anybody got. I like others were on top of others just trying to walk to the Opera House to see the lights. During this horrible walk I had many people try to walk on top of my kids, one lady in particular try and push me away from my family and I lost touch of the twins. I had to have a word with this terrible person. I told her that I don’t know where she was going but pushing people and making me lose my kids and family was not on, not in a crowd like that.

The kids and I at Vivid last Saturday. This picture was taken when we could finally move around freely and not be on top of others. It was nice to be able to walk and to sit on our own. One thing that was lovely was the amazing view and the lights.
The kids and I at Vivid last Saturday. This picture was taken when we could finally move around freely and not be on top of others. It was nice to be able to walk and to sit on our own. One thing that was lovely was the amazing view and the lights. Please forgive the graininess of the photo. It was dark and hard to get a good image with the phone.

I also chatted with a lovely man who was helping his mate in a wheelchair walk back from the Opera House. He said that it was feral. People were not seeing the wheel chair and trying to walk on them also. Just chaos!

At one point hubby had to yell at a woman to watch what she was doing. Her bag just narrowly missed the babies head. Yes no one seemed to see the pram either. I think we all turned invisible that night as many people decided they could not see us. Maybe we were wearing Eric the Viking’s Cloak of Invisibility? If so it finally works!

The walkways were a free for all. I would have thought that one side would be for getting to the Opera House and the other for going back to George Street and the trains. It was not to be. Due to all this chaos the kids only experienced two hands on lightening installations at the Quay. There was no way to make it to other installations and get there in one piece. From our perspective it was very dangerous. If there was a disaster or say fire happened I’m sure we would have been trampled as the crowed would have stampeded to safety.

I do understand that this is a popular event. Sydney has many visitors and therefore this means crowds. However we picked late afternoon to early evening to make sure that we were not in the way.

Maybe in the future there could be more family friendly events and times? I know that they said it was family friendly but we did not experience this last weekend.

How about having more control over the crowds. Having people police the crowds and monitor lines: having one side for one direction and the other for the opposite. Just common sense actually.

I’m not sure if they are doing this currently but maybe having free shuttle buses to other destinations around the city would encourage more movement of people (they did close many streets to help with access and this was a good thing to do. It was a good help and one of the only pluses of the night) This way the crowds are always moving and not staying in one spot all the time. I know this would cause other issues such as waiting for buses and other connections but maybe with frequent buses or trains this could be avoided. Or the wait would be very small compared to the possibility of being pushed and shoved to see the pretty lights.

One thing that I could not understand. Vivid closed a section of the walk way to go towards the Opera House. They then made you go back onto the road to then walk around this closed section of walk way, this meant that we were again on top of many if not hundreds of people. Once we then turned the corner we noticed that the walkway was all open once you got around the bend. Why would they close this small section to have you in human traffic chaos! Just a disaster all round if you ask me. Why not have all the walk way open to encourage people to go everywhere and to of course to not have an angry mob happen.

Once we did get out of the bumper to bumper human traffic it was rather pleasant. Due to us having the baby and a pram we were able to access the bottom walk way at the Opera House. This allowed the kids to run around, me to sit down with the baby and to marvel at the lights of the Opera House and the rest of the harbour.

 

 

 

It was a HUGE pity that we did not see and do more. We were expecting so much more.

Did you go to Vivid? Were you at Circular Quay? Or did you go to Taronga Zoo? How about Darling Harbour or The Botanical Gardens?

 

 

What were your thoughts? Did you have a great time or were you stuck in human traffic with extremely rude and horrible people like us. Let us know.