Descartes, Grayling and Reverse Seating

Reverse Seating Concert Hall QPAC © image Gretchen Bernet-Ward 2023

“Reverse Mode” means you sit in specially designed seating which flows from the choir stalls to the stage and gives you an immediate and engaging experience. This is the view performers usually see of the audience seating. The chair centre-stage (with microphone) is where the guest speaker, eminent philosopher and author Professor A.C. Grayling sat during his interview with host Dr David Burton. I took the photo and sat back for some Philosophy and Life.

“Descartes : The Life Of Rene Descartes and Its Place in His Times” by A. C. Grayling (Hardback) 2005

My Goodreads review:
“Been awhile since I read this book but last night I attended a talk given by Humanist A.C. Grayling, chaired by David Burton, and thought I’d put a comment on my blog. Not about his many controversial and philosophical books but about his delivery style, no doubt well-known to his students and devotees.
I was fortunate to sit next to Prof Grayling’s brother John and exchanged views before the floor was opened to audience question time. What I did not tell John was that I thought Grayling spoke well and interestingly but with a sense of rote, the ingrained inflections, slightly off-topic then cleverly returning, the humorous asides and thoughtful pauses obviously well honed over many years of public speaking and international tours. All the while keeping his eye on the clock. Kudos to Prof Grayling for his resilience, composure and charming manner but somewhere along the line the spark in his fire appears to have dimmed and I was not warmed by his fine words. GBW.”

❤ Gretchen Bernet-Ward

Read Philosophy and Life: An Evening with A.C. Grayling
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Large Portions of Fast-Paced Comedy

Queensland Theatre Review “Noises Off” QPAC Playhouse Saturday 3 June 2017

“Noises Off” theatre production is loud on laughs.

My first experience of Michael Frayn’s stage play “Noises Off” was in 1983 at Savoy Theatre, London, so I was keen to see how Queensland Theatre would handle a 21^st century production in Brisbane. Currently running at QPAC Playhouse, I was already attuned to the chaos about to transpire.

The Queensland Theatre cast cleverly mirror a blemished performance by a supposed theatre troupe in Weston-super-Mare. This play within a play is an hilarious bedroom farce of abundant innuendo, silly mix-ups and a display of Libby Munro’s white underwear. Simon Burke neatly portrays director and libertine Lloyd Dallas with a droll delivery, and Nicki Wendt and Hugh Parker evolve nicely as bemused husband and wife. Cast flexibility is spectacular, especially athletic Ray Chong Nee who channels Roger Tramplemain, and Louise Siversen as spry housekeeper Mrs Clackett.

Strong language crops up but it appears that most dialogue, costumes and props are relatively unchanged, with crafty set design advancing the action behind-the-scenes. Authentic director Sam Strong has handled “Noises Off” with finesse and his cast of nine prove that Brisbane audiences can absorb large portions of fast-paced comedy without losing the plot.

♥ Gretchen Bernet-Ward