Observer

OBSERVER: Rourke’s Reviews

Monday, March 24, 2025

The Call(MA). 111 minutes. Now streaming on Netflix.It’s not often that a remake improves on its original source, but The Call does just that, reformatting the material to entertaining, full-blooded effect.Seo-yeon (Park Shin-hye) returns home to see her mother (Kim Sung-ryoung), who is in hospital suffering from a brain tumour. Having lost her mobile phone…

OBSERVER: ‘OK’ with John O’Keefe

There is never a dull moment in the life of champion golfer Tiger Woods. On his personal side, Tiger has confirmed his love partner these days is Vanessa Trump who is the ex-missus of Donald Trump Jr. The pair have been dating for last two months. On the business front Tiger’s life of ups and…

OBSERVER: Whatever Happened To … Carole Lombard

Carole Lombard was one of the highest paid film stars in Hollywood during the 1930s. I wonder how many people still remember her.Carole died before I was born but I love watching her old films – she was beautiful and very good in her comedy roles.Jane Alice Peters was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana in…

OBSERVER: The Arts with Peter Kemp

Diagrams for Transition –Tonee MessiahMovement through alternating perception is observed as diagrammatic process of transition.A perception of belief in place comforted by its assumed resolution until it is met by an abrupt intrusion which must wilfully be absorbed or rejected.The assessment of what can be acknowledged and what might be a threat to equilibrium becomes…

OBSERVER: Jesus Christ Superstar

Friday, March 21, 2025

The Rice-Webber production of Jesus Christ Superstar first appeared in Melbourne in 1972. This revival directed by Timothy Scheader proves that the original composer and lyricist have written something of enduring significance. From the opening chords of the electric guitar we are shaken from our theological complacency into new ways of looking at an ageless…

OBSERVER: Arts House

Arts House transforms into a space of healing and cultural sovereigntyBlak Women’s Healing is a significant Yirramboi program and whole-building takeover at Arts House curated by Wemba-Wemba and Gunditjmara visual artist and academic, Dr Paola Balla, to be presented from April 23 to May 17.An exhibition of visual, oral, text-based and material culture, Blak Women’s…

OBSERVER: Don’t Look At Me

Live Nation presents Paul Williams (pictured) in Don’t Look at Me from March 27 – April 20 at the Victoria Hotel Banquet Room and the Westin, Melbourne.Multi-talented Williams has been making waves across Kiwi television screens with his role of assistant (as well as one of the three writers of the tasks and script) in…

OBSERVER: Love Don’t Live Here Anymore, You Do

Live Nation Entertainment presents Jesse Griffin AKA Wilson Dixon’s show Love Don’t Live Here Anymore, You Do from March 27 – April 6 in the Chinese Museum as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.Jesse Griffin is an actor, comedian, writer and director who has worked throughout the UK, Australia and NZ since the mid-1990s….

OBSERVER: End Game

Katie Reddin-Clancy presents End Game from March 31 to April 20 at the MC Showroom as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.Presenting the big questions most of us are afraid to answer End Game is part The Secret part Warrior of Light part Eat, Pray, Love exploring one woman’s journey at Earth School as…

OBSERVER: The Final Call

Friday, March 14, 2025

The Local Paper/Melbourne Observer music columnist Rob Foenander notes that Whittlesea CEO Craig Lloyd, in his side hustle as a xcountry music entertainer, has released his new single titled The Final Call.