The Planner

Sydney Morning Herald

Saturday February 16, 2008

Compiled by Louise Schwartzkoff, Bruce Elder

GOING, GOING ...

SHOW US YA TIDDAS!

In her new musical stage show, Lou Bennett (pictured) takes the audience through her life story. With song, dance and words, she moves from her days in her uncle's small-town band to international fame with the folk band Tiddas. Saturday and Sunday, 8pm, CarriageWorks, 245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh, $25, 8571 9111, www.performancespace.com.au.

I'LL BE WATCHING YOU

When the Police toured the world in the early '80s, guitarist Andy Summers captured every move they made in a series of black-and-white photographs. His exhibition, I'll Be Watching You: Inside The Police 1980-83, closes soon.

Saturday, 10am-6pm, Blender Gallery, 16 Elizabeth Street, Paddington, free, 9380 7080, www.blender.com.au.

GUIDE TO THE GALAXY

The young artist Steven Deronne looked to the heavens to find inspiration for his show, A Philosopher's Guide To The Galaxy. Using sculpture and drawing, his work explores the planets, the stars and the mechanics of the cosmos.

Saturday, 11am-6pm, Newview Gallery, 277 Australia Street, Newtown, free, 9517 4547, www.newview.com.au.

SOFT SKIN

In his exhibition of painting and sculpture, Malcolm Utley brings out the sensuality of his materials. He uses polished stainless steel and rusted metals to create otherworldly structures. Saturday, 10am-

6pm, Sunday, noon-4pm,

Charles Hewitt Gallery, 335 South Dowling Street, Darlinghurst, free, 9331 4988,

www.charleshewitt.com.au.

KIDS

PUPPETS AT THE ROCKS

The Hey Diddle Circus is one of Australia's biggest puppet shows. The pace is frantic as koalas take to the trapeze, clowns tumble and a fat ostrich tries to perform a

ballet. Saturday and Sunday, 12.30pm, 1.30pm and 2.30pm, The Rocks Square, cnr Argyle and Playfair streets, The Rocks, free, www.therocks.com.

TREASURE HUNT

Hidden among the Australian Museum's collection of butterflies (pictured) , gemstones and shells is a treasure trove for pint-sized explorers to seek out and take home. Saturday, 10am, Australian Museum, 6 College Street, Sydney, ages 18-36 months, $17.50, 9320 6383, www.amonline.net.au.

TRAPEZE WORKSHOPS

On a full-size, outdoor trapeze rig, the kids will fly through the air like acrobats. During the 90-minute workshops they'll learn to hang, flip and make breathtaking catches.

Saturday and Sunday, 11am, 1pm and 3.30pm, Dawn Fraser Avenue, Sydney Olympic Park, $45, 0412 402 742, www.circusarts.com.au.

WALKATHON

Wander along the coast from Coogee to Clovelly to raise money for the Sydney Children's Hospital. If the children have leftover energy to burn, there will be jumping castles and egg-and-spoon races at the end of the walk. Sunday, 8.30am, south end of Grant Reserve, Coogee, children $10, adults $20, 9382 1188,

www.coogeeartsfestival.com.au.

FREE

DRAGON BOATS

Get into the spirit of the

Chinese New Year as more than 100 teams compete in dragon boat races. Boats carrying up to 22 paddlers row to the beat of the drum. Saturday and Sunday, 8am-5pm, Darling Harbour, 9265 9333, www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/cny.

PLAYBACK

For artist Mika Utzon Popov, sketching is a way of exploring memories and places. With a nod to his famous architect grandfather, Joern Utzon, Popov has created a series of fluid line drawings of buildings and urban landscapes. Saturday, 10am-6pm, Sunday, noon-5pm, Australian Galleries Works on Paper, 24 Glenmore Road, Paddington, 9380 8744, www.australiangalleries.com.au.

TRANSIT, DESTINATION AND PLACE

Artist Rachel Rovay arrived in Australia from Israel when she was 15, armed with a set of Hebrew books and the words to a few Israeli pop songs. Her exhibition explores her cultural identity, borrowing from Australian and Israeli traditions.

Saturday, 10.30am-5.30pm; Sunday, 11am-4pm, Palmer Street Gallery, 282 Palmer Street, Darlinghurst, 9360 0433, www.palmerstreetgallery.com.

TROPFEST

Last year, director Steve Baker won the world's largest short-film festival with An Imaginary Life, about a small, blue cartoon friend. See the 16 finalists from this year's 700 entries. Sunday, 3-11pm, The Domain, city, 9368 0434, www.tropfest.com.

OUT OF TOWN

COMEDY FESTIVAL

With a host of emerging comedians and stand-up veterans, The Big Joke

festival at Bangalow enables everyone to have a laugh. On Saturday afternoon local children will demonstrate their comedy skills and in the evening the Einstein Factor's Peter Berner (pictured) will be the headline act. Saturday and Sunday, 9am, A&I Hall, Station Street, Bangalow, 6687 1303, www.thebigjoke.com.au.

WOMEN'S ASHES

Bring a picnic chair and a cheer squad for this one-off international Test match. See cricket's leading ladies battle it out for the Ashes trophy.

Saturday and Sunday, 10.30am-5pm, Bradman Oval, St Jude Street, Bowral, free, 4861 5422, www.bradman.org.au.

WHO LET THE DOGS OUT

From flea-bitten mutts to pampered thoroughbreds, this exhibition is dedicated to man's best friend. Through paintings, sculptures, glass, ceramics and video, it explores the relationship between humans and their long-timecanine companions. Saturday and Sunday, 10am-5pm, Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery, 1A First Street, Booragul, free, 4965 8260, www.lakemac.com.au.

FROG WALK

Explore the frog breeding grounds in the Mount Annan Botanic Garden. Learn to identify frogs by their calls as you wander about the ponds and wetlands. Sunday, 7am-9am, meet at Wattle Garden car park, Mount Annan Botanic Garden, $30, 9231 8182.

PERFORMANCE

MOTORTOWN

Written by British playwright Simon Stephens during the 2005 London terrorist bombings, Motortown gives a scathing assessment of contemporary life. It tells

the story of a young soldier who returns home from Iraq to find himself in a society he no longer understands. Saturday, 8pm, SBW Stables Theatre, 10 Nimrod Street,

Kings Cross, $29, 1300 306 776, www.griffintheatre.com.au.

ROLLING STONES TRIBUTE

Relive the classics of one of the most popular bands of all time. A varied line-up of singers and musicians will add a contemporary twist to the Stones' greatest hits, including Start Me Up, Brown Sugar and Sweet Virginia. Saturday, 9.30pm, Basement, 29 Reiby Place, Sydney, $32, 9251 2797, www.thebasement.com.au.

THE BUSY WORLD

IS HUSHED

Hannah is a church minister and a neurotic mother. Her son, Thomas, is trying to

escape her constant demands. When their relationship explodes, the play reveals painful secrets and unshakeable bonds. Saturday, 5 and 8.30pm, Ensemble Theatre, 78 McDougall Street, Kirribilli, $62, 9929 0644, www.ensemble.com.au.

CABARET DECADANSE

Fresh from appearing with La Clique at the Sydney Festival, Canada's acclaimed adults-only puppet theatre group, SOMA, uses music and movement to create a steamy nightclub world, brimming with naughtiness and sensuality (pictured). Saturday, 7.15pm, The Studio, Sydney Opera House, $38, 9250 7777,

www.sydneyoperahouse.com.

LEARN

CENTENNIAL PARK'S

HISTORY

Join a guided tour of Centennial Park to hear about its 120-year history. Stroll from the villas on its periphery to the central swamps and learn about the battle to save the park from developers. Saturday, 10am-12.30pm, Centennial Park, $39, 8239 2266, www.hht.net.au.

DEEP SKY

Bring the family for a night of star-gazing through the university's computerised telescopes. The evening will include a multimedia presentation to teach you all you need to know about celestial bodies. Saturday, 8-10pm, UWS Observatory, University of Western Sydney, Penrith Campus, Great Western Highway, Werrington North, $12, 4736 0135.

ARTISTS' TALK

From images of the Aboriginal engravings at Bondi to shots of the Cronulla riots, the Sydney Now photojournalism exhibition provides a vivid portrait of contemporary Sydney life. The photographers, Moshe Rosenzveig (his Yasmina, pictured), Gerrit Fokkema and Michael Amendolia, will talk about their work. Sunday, 2pm, Museum of Sydney, cnr Phillip and Bridge streets, city, $10, 9251 5988, www.hht.net.au.

HARBOURLIFE

Through a series of photographs, drawings, paintings and ceramics, follow the transformation of Sydney Harbour from a bustling industrial port to one of the most-photographed tourist attractions. Saturday, 10am-4pm, Macquarie University Art Gallery, Building E11A, Macquarie University, free, 9850 7437,

www.artgallery.mq.edu.au.

See visual arts review, page 16

ETCETERA

HAND IN HAND

Artists from across the Pacific challenge ideas about sexuality within indigenous and mainstream communities (pictured). They come from Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, Maori, Fijian, Niuean and Samoan backgrounds.

Saturday, noon-8pm, CarriageWorks, 245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh, free, 8571 9111, www.performancespace.com.au.

DOMESTIC BLISS

Turn the clock back 50 years for The Dora Fay Davenport Show, an onstage parody of the 1950s domestic goddess lifestyle show. Set in a retro kitchen, the show gives advice on everything from stain removal and flower arrangement to social

etiquette and raising a family.

Saturday, 6-9pm, Rose Seidler House, 71 Clissold Road, Wahroonga, $69, 9989 8020, www.hht.net.au.

CHINATOWN CHALLENGE

Chinatown is transformed during Chinese New Year as local businesses attempt to outdo each other with lavish shopfront decorations. This year's animal, the rat, will feature among the auspicious symbols on display. Saturday and Sunday, all day, Haymarket, free, 9265 9333, www.sydney chinesenewyear.com.au.

SOUTH AMERICAN FESTIVAL

Get ready to tango at this celebration of all things South American. As well as tango, salsa and samba workshops, there will be food stalls, performances and craft markets. Sunday, 1-7.30pm, Bondi Pavilion, Queen Elizabeth Drive, Bondi Beach, $20, 8362 3400, www.waverley.nsw.gov.au.

MIDWEEK

OPEN AIR CINEMA

Big Dreamers began as a documentary about the 160 "big things" in Australia and became a story of one man's struggle to build the world's biggest gumboot in the small northern Queensland town of Tully. It impressed audiences on the international film festival circuit and has its Australian premiere next week. Wednesday, 6.30pm, Bondi Pavilion Amphitheatre, Queen Elizabeth Drive, Bondi Beach, $17, 9130 1235, www.bondiopenair.com.au or www.bigdreamers.info.

ORCHID MARKET

Beautify your garden with the colourful orchids (pictured) on sale from the Western Suburbs Orchid Society. Wednesday, 8.30am-5pm, Burwood Plaza, Railway Parade, Burwood, free, 9744 9189, www.wsosaustralia.com.

IN STITCHES

Natalie Fisher and Neidra Dunn draw inspiration from nature to stitch their brightly coloured tapestries. The pieces on display include wall art, object art and antique chairs with lush makeovers.

Thursday, 11am-6pm, Global Gallery, 5 Comber Street, Paddington, free, 9360 5728, www.globalgallery.com.au.

QUEER SCREEN

Filmed over five years in 12 countries and nine languages, A Jihad For Love is a documentary about Islam and homosexuality. The film's director, Parvez Sharma, and producer, Sandi DuBowski, risked imprisonment to get footage in Muslim nations. They will attend the Australian premiere at the Queer Screen film festival.

Thursday, 7.30pm, Palace Academy Twin, 3a Oxford Street, Paddington, $15.50, 9332 4938, www.queerscreen.com.au.

FOR THE DIARY

EMBRACE: GUILT FRAME

Drawing on the traditions of three countries - Japan, India and Australia - dancer Tess de Quincey and actor Peter Snow explore the eight states of human emotion as outlined in the Natyasastra, an ancient text outlining the theory of dance and drama in classical India.

February 27-March 9, Sydney Theatre, 22 Hickson Road,

Walsh Bay, $35, 9250 1999, www.wharf2loud.com.

KATHY GRIFFIN

She won an Emmy Award for her reality TV show Kathy Griffin: My Life On The D-List and now she is in Sydney for a stand-up show about her attempts to climb the Hollywood ladder. February 29, Enmore Theatre, 118-132 Enmore Road,

Newtown, $68.60, 9550 3666, www.kathygriffin.net.

AUSTRALIAN ROWING CHAMPIONSHIPS

The best rowers in the country will go all out to secure a place on the Australian team for the Beijing Olympics. March 3-9, Sydney International Regatta Centre, Castlereagh Road, Penrith, free, 4730 0000, www.rowingnsw.asn.au/nationals2008.

SHOUT!

Tim Campbell (pictured) stars in the multimillion-dollar musical about Australia's king of rock'n'roll, Johnny O'Keefe. The cast will belt out all the wild one's classic hits, including She's My Baby and Rock Around The Clock. March 6-April 20, Lyric Theatre, Star City, from $59.90, 1300 795 267, www.shoutthemusical.com.au.

EXCURSION

MORTLAKE

FEW Sydney suburbs are experiencing as dramatic a transition as Mortlake on the Parramatta River south-east of Ryde Bridge. Historically, Mortlake is synonymous with industry. In 1883 the Australian Gas Light Company bought land at what is now called Breakfast Point. At the time, parents with children suffering from whooping cough used to drive out to Mortlake so the children could inhale the fumes from the gasworks. At its peak, AGL employed more than 5000 people at the site.

Today there are still remnants of industry, particularly along Hilly Street, but the area has been transformed by the huge waterfront apartment development at Breakfast Point.

The two main attractions for visitors are the delightful Wangal Centenary Bushland Reserve and the city's last vehicular punt (pictured). The punt, which runs non-stop between 6.20 and 9.25 in the morning and 2.20 and 5.25 every afternoon (and every half hour between 10.30am and 5.30pm on weekends), has been crossing the river since it was brought into service in 1925. Today it seems like an eccentric indulgence, given that the Ryde Bridge is less than two kilometres upstream.

If you go to the end of Hilly Street you can enjoy the beautifully maintained bushland reserve with its Parramatta River boardwalks. Points of interest include plaques about the Green Point Naval Dockyard, rusting anchors and other reminders of its past use, shady picnic areas and a plaque and Port Jackson fig commemorating the life of Paul Landa, the NSW attorney-general, who died in 1984.

Bruce Elder

For more information see

smh.com.au/travel/australia.

Send listings to theplanner@smh.com.au