Welcome to the final ever Light the Night benefit concert! Diva Knows Best is settled in backstage at the Sydney City Recital Hall and ready to start live blogging. The Green Room is humming while sound checks are going on and everyone is so happy to be here. Tom Sharah, Marika Aubrey (her hair in curlers) and iOTA are chattering away about all in sundry, Ed Grey and Tom Mistrovic from the cast of Wicked are wandering around looking hot and I just met legendary Australian maestro Michael Tyack ironing his shirt! The man is the musical director on only like half the Australian albums I cherish! And there he was – just ironing his shirt and chatting.
That’s Light the Night – where dreams are made.
Last year I got hugged by Tony Sheldon – at that moment I would have married the guy I was so ecstatic! So Tone’s, if you’re in New York reading this and you’re keen…
But let’s get the live blogging underway. I have the Recital Centre wifi password (POWER!!!) and I am ready to blog up a storm.
7:14PM
James Millar and I just had a huge bitch about how freaking hot it is in Sydney tonight and how relieved we are that everyone is sweating badly too. I then went and ate a sandwich and for those of you not in the know, the Light the Night Green Room always has the most spectacular sandwiches going! Drinking coffee too instead of champagne for a change. Something is amiss with this.
7:17PM
Jesus I’d forgotten how absolutely ridiculously fucking HOT Alex Rathgeber (Anything Goes) is!!! No really – the air around him seems to shimmer. He’s so lovely too, remembered my name and we haven’t met since the press launch for An Officer and a Gentleman – and that was years and a great deal of pain ago for all concerned. I’m now sitting on a lounge while opposite me iOTA is jamming on an electric guitar (not plugged in), a random hot blonde guy (this turned out to be Brendan Irving who is playing Rocky in The Rocky Horror Show) eats a redskin, and John James O’Hara (Wicked) looks stunning in a hat.
Does anybody still wear a hat? John James O’Hara!
7:21PM
Oh and I am going to be a puddle on the floor! Alex Rathgeber and John James O’Hara are singing “I’ll Cover You” from Rent. So screwed. So damn screwed! They are going to slay it and I will be crying in the bathroom for hours later as Shaun Rennie holds my hair.
Or certainly here’s hoping!
7:23PM
John James O’Hara just confirmed for me he is on “top” of the situation. It’s an inside joke.
Adele Parkinson just steamed through looking absolutely fierce and bemoaning the fact that she didn’t know there was a dressing room until after she needed it. Elise McCann is here dressed like Lucille Ball and iOTA actually spoke to me. I’m sorry, I know that may not seem like much but honestly, the guy was Hedwig and he co-wrote Smoke and Mirrors. I am gaygasming so hard right now!!!
7:27PM
Curtain up in three minutes! Time to go find a seat! Be back soon…
7:29PM
Ok so I am in the absolute ceiling! But then it’s a clear day so I can see forever. And yes, bad joke I stole from The Nanny – but music theatre. I haven’t had any champagne either which can’t have helped. I usually live blog on a three drink minimum.
Curtain up soon! Shaun or Adam Rennie usually open the show. I still can’t believe this is the final Light the Night I will ever attend. It’s like closing night of Sunset Boulevard all over again and I am just verklempt!
7:38PM
We’re starting late – but then LTN usually does. I wish you could see the little black number Adele Parkinson from Squabbalogic’s Carrie is wearing. Dear gods of the theatre, Rhonda Burchmore needs to take this girl under her wing and talk thigh splits. It just has to happen!
7:39PM
Bobby Fox (my future ex-restraining order plaintiff) is here looking absolutely schmick in a black suit. How has this guy grown up looking like this?!? It’s nearly in-human. Oh dear lord he just punched my shoulder and smiled at me! It’s not that I won’t ever wash that shoulder again, but I may certainly rub it for good luck!
7:50PM
Sorry! Giant internet loss just there! Jan van der Stool has taken to the stage looking fierce after a spectacular performance by The Idea of North of Joni Mitchell’s “Big Yellow Taxi” – Tyran Parke and Kirby Burgess are sitting near me and have both already bawled like children. Welcome to LTN – but then, we haven’t even gotten to the duets yet!
Oh and Esther Hannaford is two rows in front of me. CANNOT WAIT until her performance of “I’ll Hold On” later.
7:54PM
Jan van der Stool we are unworthy! She just cracked a joke about how dead Kane Alexander’s career is that got an “OHHHH!” of shock from the audience. It was so brilliant!!! I love her! Anyone unaware of who Kane Alexander is… you didn’t miss much.
A “ball breaking” exercise to start off the show and make us feel at home with some exercises about rhythm. We did approach the diva Jan van der Stool about possibly doing an interview with us about her long and controversially successful career as the host of Light the Night. But she declined “because I have better things to do David” – but we forgive her anyway! She’s still fabulous.
… And I think she just hurt herself?
Ready for the next act! Is there a doctor in the house?
8:00PM
Emma Pask and Phil Stack have just taken to the stage! The greatest gift to Australian jazz says jazz legend James Morrison – and she is singing “Rumour Has It” accompanied by nothing but a double bass. GODS this woman’s voice is just electrifying. Is there anything she cannot do?!?
8:03PM
Emma Pask is just inimitable. I just want her to sing every song ever for me. She’s raw jazz, but that sounds super wanky so we’ll say just raw music and thusly raw sex. Even with Phil Stack doing a solo she just stands there vamping gorgeously, snapping her fingers and scatting unamplified. The house is transfixed. And how can it freakin’ not be!
8:06PM
Thunderous applause for Emma Pask and Phil Stack. No doubt we will see her again later with Jan for the raffle draw.
8:07PM
Genevieve Lemon takes to the stage looking fabulous in black to sing “24 hours from Tulsa” – she sang this at Cause Celeb a few months ago and just nailed it! The Dusty Springfield classic by Burt Bacharach is just the most beautifully bittersweet song and Ms Lemon nailed it then and you better believe she’s nailing it now!
8:10PM
Now Tim Draxl is on the stage looking very sexy and svelte in a gorgeous suit. He’s singing “Blues in the Night” and he sounds beautiful. Doesn’t hurt that the guy is just an absolute fox. He’s really getting his hips into this. I don’t know if he realises it! It’s a little bit hypnotic.
P.s. If anyone is reading this and is at a loose end – I’d really kill for a glass of champers right now. I’m in the very last row of the Dress Circle with a Macbook. You can’t miss me.
8:20PM
The internet dropped out AGAIN!!!!
So I’ve relocated permanently to the Green Room where the Recital Hall wifi is really strong. There are couches, a TV screen I can watch the concert on and I’m going to rustle up a set list so I can know exactly who is singing what and how you spell it!
A super hot blonde guy (Brendan Irving) is nearby working out shirtless. I’m going to say it’s yoga.
As for what’s on stage – Jan and Millsy have talked about donating blood, the red cross, how much Millsy loves the gays… and lego. And also about Jan’s latest tattoo – of a black panther.
Now, Andy Dexterity is on stage doing a sign language rendition of “I Will Always Love You” – both Dolly and Whitney’s versions. As you can imagine… it’s freaking hilarious!
8:25PM
OH GODS!!!! Here comes John James O’Hara and Alex Rathgeber’s duet. I’m dying! I’m dying!!
8:29PM
Drenched. That’s all I can say about this. The audience is drenched – I can actually hear them going off in the Green Room before it comes in over the widescreen’s speakers! But then, two hot guys singing about love and “covering you” and all that jazz. Hallelujah I love these two hotties so!
8:32PM
Elise McCann is on stage now as Lucille Ball – and I think she’s getting wasted! Are we in for a gin-voice song or is this young Lucy? Me, I’m all about career on the verge, let the gypsies do the heavy lifting, Mame era Lucy. I Love Lucy version of Lucy… meh.
8:34PM
There’s a duet going on between Elise and the piano player but I can’t hear it because the cast of Wicked are all talking so loudly! Bitches, please. Trying to live blog here! Hang on while I go check the running list to see what the song is. Elise McCann is one talented comedienne. She was very impressive in the Superman musical a short while back at the Hayes.
And really the night for me was mostly for perving on Andy Cook.
8:36PM
iOTA is on stage performing a KISS song and the house is just going nuts! Even the cast of Wicked have clammed up to listen to this! I just love this guy. The way he moves – it’s like a demon beat. That fella Simmons who I gather was the big noise at the front of KISS – well he would like this. Or least thusly I will allege.
Naturally iOTA is wearing nothing but jeans and a wife-beater. Too bad. I was hoping for just jeans. He wore next to nothing for Cause Celeb. Why not Light the Night iOTA? What’s a bit of skin between friends?
8:39PM
How is iOTA not fronting a rock band? I know what a loss that would be given that he is entirely too spectacular as a writer not to write – but he is just rocking the house. Now he’s riffing on an electric guitar while the house just screams at him. The gays will start throwing Andrew Christian undies at him in a minute!
Is it just me or is it way too sexy in here?
8:40PM
The cast of Wicked just left. RELIEF!!! They were talking too loud for me to truly appreciate iOTA’s high notes – and Jesus lordy Mary Martin – they were awesome! A huge ovation for iOTA and now the glorious Jan van der Stool and my future ex one night stand Rob Mills are back. I’m hoping to run into him in the Green Room later. See if I can get his number or at least friend him on Facebook. It will just make the whole thing so much easier!
Ed Grey tells me the cast of Wicked are going to perform “Climb Ev’ry Mountain” – Awesome!
8:43PM
Marika Aubrey is singing “Letting You Go” while the super hot blonde guy (Brendan Irving) who was doing yoga or whatever before is doing the most crazy awesome aerial act beside her. Two sheets and some white jeans and the dude is just spectacular. People who do what he does should have the crazy awesome physique he has… gymn junkies be damned!
Mostly however this is a “wow Marika” moment! Gods but this woman has a voice. This is beautiful, just beautiful.
8:47PM
Now THAT got a crazy round of applause. A seriously stunning moment. I wonder who came up with the idea of accompanying the song with the aerial act? Truly, truly something else.
8:48PM
Ok, now it’s the cast of Love Bites. Kirby Burgess, Adele Parkinson, Tyran Parke and LTN founder Shaun Rennie are performing “Love, Bring Me Some Water” – by Peter Rutherford and James Millar. James Millar is here looking very dapper – did I mention that before? I should have.
This was a great cast. Anyone who did see the show, and there weren’t many of you, well you get that these are four truly great voices. A big round of applause from Shaun Rennie when he took the stage and rightly so. This number is actually kind of going off!
8:50PM
Ah ha! So that’s why the cast of Wicked buggered off! They’re the back up choir for this number. Big sound going on on stage right now. This Australian showstopper is damn near gospell right now! Kirby Burgess (Dirty Dancing) is seeing to that. Love bring me some water – help me jeeesuz!!!
James Millar is centre stage now being sexy as Kirby Burgess hits some HIGH notes!
8:52PM
OK big correction to be made. The choir was AIM students and not the cast of Wicked… my bad?
John Frost will be mad. Or as I call it, Monday!
But back to the show, that moment is the one to beat so far tonight! The cast of Love Bites and the cast of Wicked/the students of AIM (LoL?) singing up a storm old school on the stage of the recital centre. And James Millar – who looked freaking sizzling. Did I mention that? It was kind of like watching a Paul Simon concert – the one where Luther Vandross and Jennifer Holliday made guest appearances.
8:54PM
Now it’s time for Trevor Ashley to stop the show. In full drag he’s here to sing “I Am What I Am” – and he is getting his belter on in grand style. Give him the hook or the ovation? The audience roared on that line!
This is going to be a bit epic.
8:57PM
The gargantuan voice of Trevor Ashley taking on the classic Jerry Herman showstopper and nailing it naturally. Truly a spectacular moment and why shouldn’t it be? Trevor Ashley appears at LTN every year and just blows the ceiling off. It’s intermission now and I’m torn between getting a drink and hanging around the Green Room where hot people work out.
Side note: In about twenty years time, Trevor Ashley will lead the most spectacular revival of La Cage Aux Folles, and his Albin will be to die for. You know I’m right.
9:00PM
Just to give you a taste of Act Two – Queenie van de Zandt’s number is going to be incredible. And the opening will be the cast of Wicked… the real cast of Wicked! Should be awesome.
9:02PM
On the subject of Wicked – you should see what Wicked diva Ali Calder is wearing! Gurl you just werk it wherever you go don’t you! To give you some background, Ms Calder and I once lived together and she has seen me both naked and crying. Unfortunately after the whole Lucy Durack belt scandal at this years Helpmann’s Awards that kind of ended.
Michael Tyack just asked me how it’s going. About six thousand of you are following along and I told him as much. Not bad, not bad at all!
Elise McCann is back in normal clothes now. She’ll be back for the traditional closing number “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life.” Now THAT is going to be a teary moment. Even more so than usual.
I need a drink!
9:05PM
Kurt Sneddon I think just snapped some pictures of my back. I’m going to look fat I know it. What can I blame? The couch? The shirt? The sandwiches?
Let’s go with the couch.
DKNY bosoms – not mine!!!
9:07PM
I’m sitting with some of the boys from the band – Dan Mahur, Andy Davies, Eric Hutchens – I asked them if I could say we were doing lines off the table even though we aren’t even remotely doing anything of the kind. In reality we’re eating Cadbury chocolates from a vase off the table.
They’re pretty cool guys. I like the Green Room!
9:10PM
Max Lambert is in the Green Room. I wonder if he read my review of Miracle City?
9:11PM
So I just bore witness to the last in line of a long tradition. Backstage during intermission, the cast, the band and the crew hold a raffle draw. Max Lambert won something. Brendan Irving (a.k.a. the hot guy working out before and Marika Aubrey’s aerialist) who is playing Rocky in The Rocky Horror Show won something. One of the students from AIM won something and Kirby Burgess won something.
The guys from the band say it’s rigged and are demanding a redraw! I’ll keep you up to date on this potential scandal as developments come in.
9:15PM
Sorry – just dashed off for a wee!
Shaun Rennie found me backstage and I think was nervous I would be blogging about people being naked/drunk/high/throwing tantrums and considered moving me back into the auditorium with it’s questionable wifi. Fortunately no one has been naked or drunk or high or thrown an epic tantrum. Really – the most boring Green Room in the history of the music theatre!!!
Is it because I’m here?
Maybe this could be a future career? The guy who sits in the Green Room and makes sure no one in the cast gets messy. Frost, if you’re reading this. I’m available.
On the subject of messy. I still haven’t had a single drink! My hands are getting shakey.
9:20PM
The audience are filtering back in now. Act Two opens with a number from The Sound of Music – “Climb Ev’ry Mountain.” You know? That Carrie Underwood hit from the TV movie?
Julie Andrews is spinning in her Iso Tank in horror.
9:22PM
Remember at the Squabbalogic launch when I gave Hilary Cole my credit card and asked her to go buy me a drink? Maybe I need to do that?
Kirby Burgess is here eating chocolate! How does someone eat real food and look like that?!? The girl is stunning! I do not understand such people.
9:25PM
I just gayed out ALL OVER Emma Pask!!!!!! She looks stunning and was worried that her song was boring! BORING?!?!?!? Emma Pask! Bitch please! She and James Millar nearly came to blows and it was fierce! Just don’t tell anyone or Shaun Rennie might make me move. And I like it here. The couches are super comfortable.
Now the cast of Wicked is on stage. This is going to be emotional. Ed Grey is singing in that gorgeous tenor of his. I need to focus. This is amazing!
9:28PM
Shaun Rennie is taking a brief break and hanging around snacking on salted caramel popcorn with James Millar and Emma Pask while the cast of Wicked led by Ed Grey and Ali Calder just sing the shit out of “Climb Ev’ry Mountain” in the background.
This is surreal. I’m telling you!
9:32PM
Costume change for Jan van der Stool. She’s back in sequins. A gorgeous black number – very eighties. Love her. Love her long time. The cast of Wicked are now eating chocolate and being noisy again. Ahh they deserve it. They were pretty awesome just then. Classy awesome. Damn you Ed Grey and your stunning tone. I need to think of some shows you should do.
Any suggestions?
Fun fact – 7,500 hundred odd people following along right now. Cool.
9:35PM
I just freaked out Emma Pask by suggesting the raffle draw was coming up. It’s not. Not even slightly. She almost stopped eating popcorn. But I can now confirm that Ms Pask will be doing the raffle draw later with Jan van der Stool.
Fierce!
Now Tom Sharah is singing his Alanis Morisette showstopper from his 90’s cabaret show. It’s spectacular – the house do not known how awesome this is going to be! I spoke to him before and Tom is doing this with one rehearsal in which he modestly said he sounded like Elaine Stritch. As if! He’s blowing the roof off!
But then that’s what you do when you’re Tom Sharah!
9:38PM
Jaysuz Tom Sharah! Rockin’ out something special here!
Bobby Fox is singing “Lay Me Down” later. I’m trying very hard not to crack a joke/thoroughly inappropriate innuendo about that. But then I get the sense that the Fox has heard it all before. But then just look at the guy! Gahhh!!! He’s like walking porn! Inappropriate walking porn with leather and body chocolate.
Bobby Fox needs to leave now. I’m watching Tom Sharah. I’m watching Tom Sharah. I’m watching Tom Sharah.
9:41PM
Last year Tom Sharah opened with “Sweet Transvestite” and just blew the roof off. This year was no exception and the audience absolutely exploded when he was done. Just so you’re clear, the song was “You Oughtta Know.”
Now it’s Esther Hannaford singing “I’ll Hold On.”
Fuck. I’m already crying. This is so amazing you guys.
9:46PM
So I just ran from the Green Room to the theatre and watched Esther Hannaford sing “I’ll Hold On” from the wings. I also bawled myself stupid! Her best rendition yet. Just electrifying and the house leapt up after she was done and rightly so! If someone did not video that and it is not up on YouTube by tomorrow I will stalk every member of this House.
Now Queenie van de Zandt is singing.
I’m not done crying. Back to the wings I think!
9:49PM
Queenie van de Zandt singing “Come Back For Me” – it’s simple and beautiful, building to an emotional crescendo that I can already feel building in my bones. This woman truly is one of our very greatest voices. What I would not pay to see her sing “I’ll Hold On” – and yes, I am spoiled. I just did get to hear Esther Hannaford’s ultimate rendition.
It truly doesn’t get much better than these two ladies. Epic vocalists. Diva overdose. Crying. Dying. Loving it. I need a DRINK!!!!!
9:51PM
Now we’re watching a video of some past legendary acts from Light the Night and the audience are losing their freaking shit over it! And rightly so. Can I just point out that there is a crowd out there of about a thousand people virtually in hysterics over this concert?
Hahahahahahaha!!! Jan van der Stool is in a bunny outfit!!! Like iOTA that year? Geddit! Man I love that gal! Time for the raffle.
9:54PM
So… raffle!
Jan van der Stool is being very funny. Obviously. She’s talking about that year she screwed up the raffle while Alex Rathgeber is standing next to me looking smouldering. I don’t know whether to vamp for time or what to do just here. How do you talk to someone who looks like Alex Rathgeber? Do you know he goes home every night to Blake Bowden? Imagine the babies those two would make… you know, if gays could make gaybies together?
Let’s not get into that.
(Note: I later got told Blake and Alex have been broken up for a while now… sorry guys!)
Emma Pask just joined Jan van der Stool on stage for the raffle as promised. And Michael Tyack – THE MICHAEL TYACK – just brought me a glass of champagne!!!!! Not even kidding! Michael. Tyack. Brought. Me. A. Glass. Of. Freaking. Champagne!!!!!
I love live blogging!
9:58PM
Jan is going off at Emma Pask for screwing up the raffle draw! Is someone filming this? This is just damn gold! I think we have our first redraw. I’ve got a drink now – if you thought I’ve been dirty so far – HA! Watch me work. Send Bobby Fox back in!
9:59PM
Emma Pask is in stitches. So sad to think of this as the last LTN raffle. Gods this is funny!
10:00PM
Jan just cracked a Shire gag and stopped the show! How does she not have a TV show? Think about it. Jan, Emma, the hot gays they would have hanging around them at all times, the Shire, the Scout Hall… am I getting through to anybody? It would make Please Like Me look tame!
10:05PM
Bobby Fox is on stage now to sing “Lay Me Down” – this should be beautiful. And I think Lucy Durack is next to sing “At Last” – one of the songs from her solo debut album I think. Any Wicked-heads following along like to confirm or dismiss that one?
10:10PM
I just had to do some serious Googling to find out that Bobby Fox’s unannounced duet partner was Loren Hunter from Strictly Ballroom. “Lay Me Down” was beautiful, naturally. Bobby Fox looked gorgeous, obviously. And now here comes Lucy Durack who’s dress I will say is stunning because I tend to lose followers when I say otherwise.
And yeah – she does look pretty awesome.
10:13PM
So – Lucy Durack has me in the mind of thinking about the many, many other artists who have covered this classic – “At Last.” Of course it was originally performed by Etta James, who was later quite pissed off when Beyonce played her in the awful movie Cadillac Records. Which actually I rather love just because it is so awful! But who do you love singing “At Last”?
James Millar just stormed in and threw his raffle tickets at me because he didn’t win anything! Ok. I have my tantrum for the night. Now all we need is drunk, drugged and nudity and the evening is complete.
Lior is coming on stage now. This should be special.
10:17PM
Lior is singing a song from his new/upcoming album – I wasn’t clear on that because drink number two – but anyway, the song is called “A Life in the Morning Fog” and it’s beautiful. Acoustic guitar + pop tenor and I’m truly verklempt.
Hang on while I go find places where you can buy Lior albums. Merch!
10:20PM
So iTunes is taking forever to load. Because it does. But now The Idea of North is taking to the stage with Lior and the cast are flooding through the Green Room on their way back to the stage for the closing number. Really – it’s almost time for the show to wrap up! The final LTN and it’s almost over.
10:23PM
Oh and you can find Lior on iTunes here.
10:24PM
Lior and The Idea of North singing “This Old Life” – it’s like being in Temple Emmanuel with Barbra. Truly beautiful. Truly sweet. Now Shaun Rennie will take to the stage to talk more about Light the Night and the Leukaemia research funds it represents.
10:28PM
An emotional and very human story told by Shaun Rennie in a touching speech. He took the stage for his annual address to thunderous applause from the audience. This is a very powerful moment going on.
Hard to think about – the traditional closing number “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life” from Monty Python will be sung out into the Recital Centre for the final time.
10:31PM
Shaun Rennie (and the audience) grow emotional as he talked about his brother Matthew Rennie – the young man whose fight with Leukaemia first inspired Light the Night in 2004. Matthew passed away sadly in 2007. Light the Night saw out the decade dedicated to his memory.
10:33PM
And now for a performance from Shaun Rennie. Yup. I’m crying again. It’s “We Live on Borrowed Time.” LTN14 – the year Diva cried every five minutes!
10:37PM
Shaun Rennie and the choir of students from AIM absolutely ascending the heights in the final number. And now, can’t believe it, but it’s time for the finale. “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life”!
10:39PM
So the whole cast has taken to the stage along with Mr and Mrs Rennie and co-organisers Greg and Monica Smith. Adam Rennie is in New York – if you’re following along darling, big hug from everyone here! It’s been a special night.
Light the Night. Just what to say? This has been a special event for ten wonderful years. Inspired by a great man and the defiance of his family to let the horrendous disease that is Leukaemia defeat them, it has gone on to raise half a million dollars for badly needed research. It has inspired many people to give greater support to the Red Cross and to give more towards the fight to end Leukaemia and all cancer. It’s displayed some of the very finest Australian artists and brought them together to support and to celebrate one of their own.
Light the Night has been one of the great family affairs of the music theatre and while it’s truly sad to see it end, it will live on in memory for years to come. Light the Night – thank you for all the laughter and the love. It’s been a remarkable ten years.
10:45PM
So that’s it for tonight! Drinks now with the cast and crew – but thank you all for live blogging along. There were ten thousand of you there in Act Two by the time Lucy Durack was on the stage. It’s been great to share this moment in the music theatre industry with you.
Oh and Rob Mills just went past. I think I’ll head after him. If anything “happens” you’ll be the first to know!
Diva Knows Best
Xoxox
