The state of arts criticism in Australia has been a topic of doleful conversation for a few years now. From all accounts, things are pretty dire. Critics across the disciplines are bemoaning the shrinking space in print media, the “everyone’s a critic” mentality of blogging, the timidity of Australia’s close-knit arts community and the influence of a 24-hour news cycle that favours fast comment over considered analysis.
“Ultimately, the function of arts criticism isn’t that far removed from the function of art itself,” Nguyen says. “Hopefully we’re going to contribute to a culture where it’s actually exciting to read criticism, where you actually feel like you possibly learnt something or you’ve been enlightened and you don’t just feel like you’ve been sold a product.”
You may not be familiar with this term. I would like to say I coined it but I know, even before conferring with my good friend, Google, that that would be an outrageous lie. And, anyway, just look at what my good friend Google did find:
Indeed! A local business called…Get Threaded! You can take a look for yourself. N.B. This is NOT where I first experienced the ancient art of threading however, this IS where I’ll be going to from now on because Chermside’s Wink Bar is too pink for me and too far to visit every 4-6 weeks. I will say that it was pretty-pink-convenient to walk by, realise what was going on, walk on into without having made an appointment, and be treated with threading and a tint in just under 12 minutes, between the purchases of Wittner shoes and a Veronika Maine LBD. Look, a girl needs to put her feet up during such a spree and every seat was taken at Shingle Inn…
Also because my extensive research showed 6 mutual friends on Facebook – that’s 6 degrees of separation, kids – between me and Get Threaded, I thought, “It’s a siiiiiiiiiiiign…
In case you didn’t click on that link right there, here is the NBC story that helped spread the craze in the states. Incidentally, because I know there is NO craze without Oprah’s say-so, I looked for a clip from her show…and it seems there is an opportunity for somebody there…
Now when I look for my nearest practitioner, I find that these guys are suddenly EVERYWHERE
This is really important. It’s something your mother probably told you. If not your mother, your best friend or agent or photographer. I should mention that Kurt Sneddon has never offered any tips about brows to me personally but he is acknowledged, when it comes to headshots, as the best in the business and so it goes without saying that if you’re an actor requiring new headshots, which I am, you will do the courtesy of prepping your brows, which I am doing. Only then, will you be truly ready for your close-up, which I will have to be (because it’s booked now) for the 8th of December!
The eyes may be the windows to the soul but the brows frame them. Put simply, if you are in the public eye then you had better have great shaped brows.
Not to mention, it’s not really ever acceptable to sit down to Christmas dinner sporting the unkempt kind. Not even in Australia. Just saying. I mean, you have probably done enough this year already to offend the family.
Below are some examples of undesirable eyebrow shapes. Tragically, there are many more. In fact, there are LISTS of Best and Worst Celebrity Brows. Well, of course there are! In order that we mortals might know better. Try to avoid the following styles or any variations thereof.
UNDESIRABLE NO 1
UNDESIRABLE NO 2
UNDESIRABLE NO 3
Also, try to avoid pretty much everything you see next. It just won’t work…for you. Miranda Sings has a unique style and though many have tried, there is no one else in the world who can pull it off. Haters, back off. I happen to be a big fan.
As you can see, eyebrows are difficult to tame. And even more difficult to maintain. In fact, if you’ve ever seen me, or a picture of me, you would know that to be true. I don’t think I’ve ever gotten it quite right. But I’ll tell you one thing…actually, I’ll tell you two things:
Apparently, threading was conceived by some ingenious Indian women who did not want to use wax on their sensitive skin. It’s a valid point. After centuries, it’s becoming a growing global trend. It’s efficient, its painless, it’s novel and neat. You should try it.
If you do not heed this advice and instead, insist on plucking and ruining your brows (or worse, entrusting them to one who has not yet achieved – and, I dare say, never will – the illustrious title of Eyebrow Designer or Eyebrow Architect), you’d better have a bloody good hairdresser. The fringe will always be in for those with undesirable brows.
To read more about threading, keep an eye (brow) on Nikki Parkinson’s blog Styling You. She tells me she is getting threaded on Friday…
XS Entertainment/Whitehouse Celebrations/il secondo
Review by Nathanael Cooper
Sunshine Coast Daily September 11th 2010
I am definitely not someone you would call a prude. But there is one thing I can’t stand. Gratuitous nudity. And when I was invited to see Erotique in Maroochydore this week, I fully prepared myself to give the director a piece of my mind about onstage nudity. I had a script prepared and everything.
Here I publicly swallow my unspoken words. I went into the venue with a completely closed mind, fully prepared to hate what I was about to see so Erotique had a long way to go to impress me. And it did.
I was profoundly affected by what I can only describe as a brilliant piece of art. When XS Entertainment launched La Ronde earlier this year I wasn’t able to make it along to a show. I am kicking myself now because I could have discovered this wonderful production earlier. Now, in a scaled back version of the original, Erotique takes the audience on a journey through the sexual experiences of the six cast members. A live theatrical piece that is an exploration of sex sounds hard to watch and confronting. And it is. But it is also intriguing, fascinating, moving, touching and even, at times, beautiful. The show deals with themes of homosexuality, rape and abuse but there is much more. Lust, yearning, need and probably most importantly, love.
There is nudity right there in front of you but it is never gratuitous. In fact one could say, without the nudity, the scenes wouldn’t work. It doesn’t feel like there is someone standing right in front of you without clothes on. It feels like a technique to draw the audience further into the story, further into the art that is Erotique.
The performances by the small cast of Xanthe Coward, Sharon Grimley, Kay Ellsum, Mary Eggleston, Stephen Moore and Ben Johnson need to be commended. Their bravery as they strip away their clothes, throw away their inhibitions and give of themselves wholly to the audience is part of what makes Erotique so good. At times you want to turn your head away because what you are seeing is so confronting but the performances are so compelling that you wouldn’t dare.
It’s not about being perverted, as you stare at someone’s naked body. Much like a Renaissance painting of a nude woman, Erotique is art. It is as much art as it is theatre.
The show won’t appeal to everyone. It has themes that not everyone wants or needs to see. But for those who have an open mind and enjoy being challenged by entertainment, then Erotique is for you.
The partnership created between the three organisations that have brought Erotique to the stage needs to be celebrated as much as the show itself. While the coast is blessed with many theatre groups, the ability to stroll along the river to the M1 Function Rooms, enjoy a meal and a glass of wine at il secondo then be taken through another world by Erotique is a true gift. If this show is successful, then il secondo’s Tony Kelly assures us there will be more to come. Theatre on a Friday and Saturday night, right in the heart of Maroochydore, is something that needs to be actively encouraged. Tickets for tonight’s performance are available by calling 5444 1736.
Our first major sponsor wishes to remain anonymous.
We would like at least one more major sponsor pleaseuniversethankyou.
Or lots of little ones pleaseuniversethankyou.
That is all.
P.S. This is undoubtedly the shortest piece I have ever posted. And that is because I merely wished to express our enormous gratitude to said sponsor and also, obviously, to put it out there that another one would save us staging sexy car washes for the next month. Just saying.
It’s been about 3 years since my husband and I moved to the Sunshine Coast from Germany and in all that time I’ve barely sorted out any involvement in local theatre. Admittedly there have been many other things on my plate and to be frank, I have been rather a snob when it comes to local productions. I’ve thought nothing of travelling to Brisbane to see a great number of shows over the last 3 years but have been to only 2 local productions (Blood Wedding at Noosa Arts and Shout! at the Caloundra Events Centre).
When I heard that Samthe (this is my version of Brangelina for Sam and Xanthe Coward) were doing la Ronde I knew it was time to get amongst it again. I loved what Sam was able to do with ‘Shout! The Legend of the Wild One’ in just 8 weeks (read Simon Denver’s review here) and I’ve always loved the La Rondescript. It’s not often that local – dare I say, amateur – theatre tackles a script like this one and I am very interested to see how the Sunshine Coast community responds to this racy little number.
Each scene has something very human to reveal and what is more human than sex? Although I am no stranger to getting nude (for art’s sake) the act is always revealing – pun intended.
First and foremost, as an actor I love the workshop-style process Sam has chosen for rehearsing. It is through trial and error that we can examine the many choices, ideas and approaches available to us as theatre practitioners.
Fear is the starting point of all creation. Art is not conceived from a place of security and safety. An element of fear is most important for an actor’s process and journey. The energy generated by fear is integral to the creative process, the development of genuine characters and compelling theatre.
I was so impressed by the talent that came out of the woodwork to audition for this show and I feel very lucky to have been cast. Sam’s version of la Ronde is going to result in a really interesting and innovative piece of theatre and one that I hope draws the serious theatre buffs and also those who are just pain curious to see what all the hype is all about.
“I believe that theatre’s function is to remind us of the big human issues, to remind us of our terror and our humanity.”
The Mechanics of Undressing. Dressing. Being dressed.
How strange it is to relinquish control, yet remain in control, and let another apply the layers of armour, and perhaps in doing so learning the chinks and vulnerabilities. Trusting…drowning, not waving, since waving would give the audience something else to look at, distract them, and that is not the point. “YOO-HOO!! Look over here, away from those breasts…”
And, being undressed – not the action, the state of being. Not so difficult, since it is The Socialite who stands before the onlookers, but difficult all the same, in that Her physical flaws are my physical flaws. She wouldn’t care. I do. Easy for Her; She doesn’t know anyone in the audience.
Ah, even if She did, She wouldn’t give a toss.
And in exposing the physical self and its distinctive markings (so much nicer than “flaws” I think), exposing all the markings on the psyche, the inner self. Uncovering all the times I was not pretty/thin/sexy/feminine enough, and scratching open old scars thought long healed. Ouch.
Oh, but last night I saw La Boite’s Hamlet! As if that were not enough to distract me from a little game of concentration here, there are the delightful sounds of much mirth to be heard, as I write, from The Garage (You haven’t missed a grand opening, no; the rehearsal space to which I refer is actually our garage, sans vehicles. Sorry to disappoint and welcome to Independent Theatre on the Sunshine Coast)! So before I convince you, quite easily I’ll wager, that you must not miss this Hamlet, I’m going to try to focus for just a moment and do the La Ronde wrap up from last week before we begin this week (too late), as per the Director’s demands comments…
As we stand (or sit or languish across the chaise lounge) right now, we have 70% of the scenework (blocking) done and 80% of the script re-written to suit us. And it does suit. One of the priveleges of working in this fashion, the actors having substantial input into the development of the script and the scenework, is that we have been discussing and re-shaping each scene, adding or omitting words, lines, pauses…until we get the sense that it feels right. Until it feels real. At times, horrifyingly real. This is the place that, as an actor or director, one would hope to find oneself in at some point during any rehearsal period, regardless of which show it is! This place is about trust and instinct first and next, the confidence to go even further. At the moment there’s this feeling that we need to be running the rest of the way to the edge and jumping right off it! Several images come to mind.
Thelma and Louise: “Let’s keep goin’…..” (although, I never really could accept that committing suicide together in a flash of desperate inspiration – or something – was quite as empowering for women as the movie makers would have us believe). Still, it came to mind.
Finding Nemo: “DO YOU HAVE YOUR EXIT BUDDY?!” Many, many references in this clip but most notably, we all have our exit buddies. And look, in case you missed it, the whole knowing when they are ready conversation? Yep. You’ve got it now, haven’t you? Just as soon as I mentioned it, huh? It’s about Sam, isn’t it?
NINE: “GUIDO…………….” Ok, so if I’m completely honest, this is a little off-track but not really at all because HOW FREAKIN’ SENSATIONAL IS THIS PERFORMANCE?! It’s one of my faves. And I’m a Penelope fan from way back! Sorry, Pen…
…and thank you, Jane!
So anyway, I think we’re up to noting the rest of Sam’s points, with regard to last week’s rehearsals.
The set has been simplified, for various reasons, and mirrors added. The properties list has been revised.
The lighting and camera angles are to be reconsidered.
The soundscape is underway, thanks to the incredible talent, energy and enthusiasm of Ms Leah Barclay.
The roles of women are be explored and discussed further, in terms of the chasm between the original writing and our re-shaping of the text in order to deliberately show each of the women in a more powerful, independent, intelligent, sensitive/manipulative light. This is more with regard to the documentary, as the women playing the roles, are already finding all manner of ways to show the contrasts and conflicts of Woman. Jekyll and Hyde comes to mind (yes, the musical, of course)! Jekyll and Hyde is of course about the duality of Man (a note that was given, coincidentally, to Nathan tonight, with regard to his character, The Poet)…and WOMAN. The duality of woman, it seems to me, has only ever really been explored in terms of archetypes, something that Emily Macguire has explored, in her Princesses and Pornstars. However, let’s not look at the Lucy and Lisa characters here now, or at the archetypes in any detail yet, or we will be here until opening night!
This brings me to an intriguing note. The individual cast members have shown enormous attention to detail, in terms of their emotional investment in each scene and the development of their back stories. Everybody is getting comfortable now with who they are and what they need to do or who they need to become, in order to get what they want from their lover by the end of each scene. It doesn’t always end nicely. It’s like real life, isn’t it? A situation doesn’t always go the way we’d planned. Sometimes, as my three year old will tell you, IT ENDS BAD. This should not be so intriguing, it should be absolutely expected, as good actors will invest emotionally and commit to their role. What is different about this show (and this process, I guess) is that everybody is moving at about the same pace, working around the same issues and resolving some conflicts and discomforts at each and every rehearsal. This is, in my experience, highly irregular, particularly in the context of a much larger show, involving more people and many more scheduled rehearsals requiring everybody’s attendance. In stark contrast, we are working in pairs, with the director and often, with the cameraman present. And that’s all. The intimacy and attention to detail perhaps allows a little more progress each week than we had come to expect. Now we are all spoilt and want nothing else but to work this way every time we decide to put on a show!
There are, of course, some things that will take a few more rehearsals to sort. Suddenly, as we start to remove items of clothing and get a little closer to one another, there is the rather significant matter of how one responds onstage to breasts and bits that might be exposed and/or aroused…a rather more significant issue perhaps for most of the men in this production. If it were all for porn, it would all be for the best…look, I will let you know how we are going with that one as it, er, comes up.
There have been various states of undress already. Not sure if the neighbours have noticed yet. There are a few costumes that are integral to the development of the scene, you know, whether we are taking things off or putting things on…..these things must be rehearsed, people!
La Ronde is R-Rated and a little risqué. Sunshine Coast audiences can certainly expect to feel confronted. Think Burlesque but expect a deeper look into human intent, emotion and deception. Think sophisticated entertainment with a razor sharp edge. Think dark and delicious new theatre, like nothing you’ve ever experienced. La Ronde will delight and disturb…
La Ronde opens at Noosa Arts Theatre on March 25th and the season continues March 26th, 27th and April 1st, 2nd, 3rd at 7:30pm and Sunday March 28th at 2pm
We had our first production party meeting on Friday night. We made it a casual curry night, nothing fancy-schmancy; this was BUSINESS. Well, it was business for about 30 minutes and then the conversation went off on a kinky tangent, which for this show is not as kinky as you might imagine, and then we cleared the cigarette packets and Iphones from the table outside so we could eat, drink and be…very noisy and merry! Don’t worry, the work we did was GOOD.
Apart from the style and application of make-up, it’s all good. Everybody is on Sam’s the same page and…wait. Allow me to point out the make-up disparity. It won’t give too much away, the extensive research I have conducted via Youtube and Google Images might interest you and you can have your say about it during the decision-making process. i.e. Which do YOU want to see?
The Common Ground
Faces should be white. ish.
The Disparity
It is to be either the more severe, mask-like make-up of The Rocky Horror Picture Show Floor Show OR the more subtle and sophisticated style of Madame de Pompadour…which, look, if I were a drowning woman clutching at straws, I would say is not too dissimilar to the make-up sported by our dear alien transvestites throughout the first three-quarters of the film anyway. Okay, it’s pretty dissimilar. Straws. Drowning. You were warned.
Here we go.
1. Rocky Horror. Floor Show. Mask-like. This make-up serves to separate and alienate actors from audience, putting the viewers (voyeurs) into a situation where they can reflect critically within the social context. This is precisely the head space Herr Director would like his audience to find themselves in. Oh, the alienation of the theatre. Oh, how we – every so often – love you and your devices, Bertholdt Brecht.
2. Madame de Pompadour. Powdered. Delicate. Like Dangerous Liaisons. Let the audience be seduced into the same challenging head space but gently and slightly audibly; a breath, a sigh, a gasp…we’ll wait for you…making it a beautiful, dream-like journey so the shock of reality – that sex is not always NICE - shatters those illusions and each character confronts the audience with an accurate reflection of themselves as individuals, each with their own preconceptions and misconceptions about sex.
On another note, does Magenta not exude Madame de Pompadourishnessatiousness by the end of the film? Look! See?!
Still not convinced? Look, let’s just see what Annie Lennox would do, shall we? I always say, when all is lost, one ought to look to Annie Lennox.
While we’re on the Annie Lennox playlist, let’s just take a peak as she transforms, gradually, exquisitely into a seductive, delicate, bird-like creature. As opposed to a tragic, cross-dressing alien from outer space, perhaps helping to strengthen my argument, perhaps not.
n.b. I have nothing against cross-dressing any sorta species, in fact, I encourage it. Regardless of your stance on these and other pertinent issues, I have always loved this song, I have always been captivated by the film clip and intrigued and inspired by its colours and contrasts.
And look, while we’re at it, I found this especially for the Dr Who fans. You know who you are. This is the episode that made you cry, right?
So anyway, after all that, I’m quite sure I was going to tell you more about the production party meeting. But you know you sometimes have those nights when you think you are right there in the thick of it and all along, you’re thinking of something else? I will have to watch the footage to find out if I actually said anything at all. I have a vague memory of cleverly alluding to a cockroach in a lab coat but I can’t for the life of me remember why that was so funny. Perhaps it wasn’t. Probably, it wasn’t. Never mind.
I felt like the life of the party!
Note to self: Properly recover from virus and extreme exhaustion before hosting future production parties meetings. Or updating blogs.
Oh my! Katherine Lyall-Watson posted a review of Harvest Rain‘s The Secret Story of Cinderella and Her Fabulously Fashionable Footwear and the comments that have followed have dragged out of the ether, a little “discussion” that has been almost happening among theatre types for what seems like a very long time now, on various blogs and in the various foyers, green rooms and coffee shops of Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast.
As Dr Kate Foy pointed out to me, it is not actually a debate and “Anonymous posts short on fact will always be ignored.” There. She said it. Know the facts before you comment, particularly anonymously, which is almost always particularly annoying. Whilst this post and my comments are quite obviously and publicly me, take me or leave me and all that; there are some who prefer to comment anonymously and thereby avoid all, well, at least some of the responsibility that comes with making a claim about something one knows a lot or very little about. As I do not claim familiarity with all of the facts about the matter at hand, namely, how a particular theatre company got the guernsey here, I merely offer my opinion. And those of the friends who have posted their two cents worth on the Facebook link! Friends, I thank you! And I encourage others, particularly those working in the Independent Theatre Sector, to continue the discussion about how we each fit and what we can contribute to keep the scene changing and evolving to suit the artists and audiences. If we continue to keep our concerns to ourselves and sit by bitching while the questionable, mediocre, maddening things keep happening, we weaken any arguement we may have for an alternative!
Snarky, a bit of a regular to Katherine’s blogs, reminds us:
When it was announced all those months ago I didn’t notice the outcry: letters to the editor signed by theatre company ADs expressing their disdain, for example. Or meetings across the performing arts to draft position papers to the Premier and the Board of QPAT, it just snuck by quietly it seems to me and that seems a shame (I could be wrong, maybe I missed the meeting
This is precisely what interests me most about this thread. I too, wondered at the time, “How did THAT happen?” “When was THAT opportunity rolled out to independent theatre practitioners across Queensland?” and “What the hell is anybody able to DO about it?” N.B. I tend to react first and then give everybody the benefit of the doubt. If you’re good or right or the best at what you do or whatever SHOW ME. I am an extremely generous audience member that way. And by the same rationale, a harsh critic.
I posted Katherine’s link on Facebook and added this:
I had thought I was alone in assuming the next resident company at QPAC would be selected through some sort of widely advertised & fairly adjudicated tender process, as was the first…..well, wasn’t it??? And yes, I realise I have already assumed that there will be a “next” (and that 12 months in the space would be a fair stint). Surely God, a-hem, QPAC, can present opportunities to other indie theatre practitioners who are able to prove themselves worthy of being saved from the arts hell in which they may consider themselves to be . And by hell I mean the sheer hard work & resilience it takes to continually seek funding, resources & space and to gradually build a professionally run theatre company in Queensland that is truly highly regarded among peers and the public. Sure, it takes all sorts and we certainly need somebody to stage the colourful crowd-pleasers & pantos (as long as they’re fabulous & the ticket prices reasonable) BUT must that continue to be all we see from the resident company of our state’s première performing arts venue?!
And the comments from my talented friends and hard-working indie arts practitioners thus far? Here:
I Love you Xanthe…’they’ murdered off that 3rd Company principle in a rush of cultural fervour when Labor came to power by the early 90s when they ‘defriended’ the TN! Theatre Company saying another 3rd professional company would magically spring up in it’s place…well here we all are 20 years later and actually the whole environment, the state of funding and the divide and conquer-ness of the arts – makes it pretty much impossible…the real pantomime starts and ends in at 100 and 111 George Street – there’s no votes in it, sweet pea…
I love ya guts Xanth. It takes big kahounas to call in to question the process which has had nearly everyone in the theatre community whispering, and i applaud your doing so. You are right on the money asking the questions you do, but for fear of backlash I shall refrain from adding my two cents. Needless to say these are questions that demand answers.
another questions re QPAC, why is there no youth arts program or producer like the Sydney opera house and Victoria arts centre? I agree, i think it’s important opportunities like company residencies and other assistance programs are openly advertised and open to all, otherwise why should we trust we’re all getting a fair go for the work we produce, not the people we know.
Wow Wow Wow. I didn’t know this was going on. Am I right in thinking an amateur company that doesn’t hire professional actors for at least award rate, is a resident company at QPAC? There are pro companies in Brisbane that NEED to be supported for the arts to grow. More actors leave the city every year as working in one show a year doesn’t pay the electricity bill.
What a huge debate!! It’s a sad state of affairs in Brisbane. Great community of artists, but not a great culture of the arts….I think that’s why so many artists head south – me included.
I read a debate earlier about artists leaving the city as though we were piking. I left the city as there was no way I could earn a living (not a fancy one, just a living). I equated it to wanting to be an astronaut and staying in Tamworth. Brisbane has changed over the years and that’s great. But it’s a slow slow burn. And none of us WANT to be living away from our families, old friends etc. I miss my family on a DAILY (I truly mean that) basis. But I felt like if I wanted to grow as an artist (and work) I had to move. And I continue to – to find work. To Sydney. Melbourne. London. And now back to Sydney. I would love Brisbane to thrive. But clever decisions need to be made!
I actually believe the Brisbane Performing Arts Industry to be ready to thrive! What’s holding you back, Brisbane? Is it the same gammut of complex issues, which we are struggling to recognise and overcome on the Sunshine Coast? Tall poppy syndrome, questionable management, negative attitudes, amateur hour, lack of funding, resources, venues, commitment levels, honest critical reviews, the fact that we all still have a day job (or two) in oder to practise our art…
It’s not really about one theatre company in one space, is it? Or is it? Is that it?
THIS JUST IN:
anon:
I think religion is part of this debate because (and I agree with Snarky on this one), politicians in QLD toe the religious line. And they would be more than happy to fund a professional Christian theatre company because it TICKS MORE THAN ONE BOX.
Snarky is right that the industry should be worried. That the industry has failed to act thus far. And that if it happens, if we lose that precious promise of a third company to a group of manipulative, back-stabbing egomaniacs hiding behind a thin veil of morality and church doctrine, we only have ourselves to blame.
But hey, we’re Queensland.
No worries, right?
Oh my, indeed. Now, I am not wasting the space here to include Gethsemane’s additional comments. Read them within the original thread. And here, let us end this post with the somehow not-so-annoyingly anonymous anon, who may, as Matt does, fear the backlash that seems to come from stating your position in opposition to the self-made or media-made-popular opinion:
I wrote my contribution before Gethsemane’s third post.
I have now read it and am scared.
I am scared because with Harvest Rain on the edges of being professional, these are the conversations that will start to occur within theatre conversations. These opinions will drift into the foyers and change rooms. And reviews. And forums.
And people like Gethsemane will think that’s fantastic. People like this will think that progress is being made.
And then they’ll start making decisions. On what they think should be included. On who should be hired. Whose lifestyle they look down on.
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Get Threaded
Tags: Actors, aussietheatre.com.au, Beauty, Blueprint Studios, Brisbane, Brows, Comments, Get Threaded, headshots, Little Shop of Horrors, Performing Arts, Sunshine Coast, Threading
You may not be familiar with this term. I would like to say I coined it but I know, even before conferring with my good friend, Google, that that would be an outrageous lie. And, anyway, just look at what my good friend Google did find:
Indeed! A local business called…Get Threaded! You can take a look for yourself. N.B. This is NOT where I first experienced the ancient art of threading however, this IS where I’ll be going to from now on because Chermside’s Wink Bar is too pink for me and too far to visit every 4-6 weeks. I will say that it was pretty-pink-convenient to walk by, realise what was going on, walk on into without having made an appointment, and be treated with threading and a tint in just under 12 minutes, between the purchases of Wittner shoes and a Veronika Maine LBD. Look, a girl needs to put her feet up during such a spree and every seat was taken at Shingle Inn…
Also because my extensive research showed 6 mutual friends on Facebook – that’s 6 degrees of separation, kids – between me and Get Threaded, I thought, “It’s a siiiiiiiiiiiign…
In case you didn’t click on that link right there, here is the NBC story that helped spread the craze in the states. Incidentally, because I know there is NO craze without Oprah’s say-so, I looked for a clip from her show…and it seems there is an opportunity for somebody there…
Now when I look for my nearest practitioner, I find that these guys are suddenly EVERYWHERE
This is really important. It’s something your mother probably told you. If not your mother, your best friend or agent or photographer. I should mention that Kurt Sneddon has never offered any tips about brows to me personally but he is acknowledged, when it comes to headshots, as the best in the business and so it goes without saying that if you’re an actor requiring new headshots, which I am, you will do the courtesy of prepping your brows, which I am doing. Only then, will you be truly ready for your close-up, which I will have to be (because it’s booked now) for the 8th of December!
The eyes may be the windows to the soul but the brows frame them. Put simply, if you are in the public eye then you had better have great shaped brows.
Not to mention, it’s not really ever acceptable to sit down to Christmas dinner sporting the unkempt kind. Not even in Australia. Just saying. I mean, you have probably done enough this year already to offend the family.
Below are some examples of undesirable eyebrow shapes. Tragically, there are many more. In fact, there are LISTS of Best and Worst Celebrity Brows. Well, of course there are! In order that we mortals might know better. Try to avoid the following styles or any variations thereof.
UNDESIRABLE NO 1
UNDESIRABLE NO 2
UNDESIRABLE NO 3
Also, try to avoid pretty much everything you see next. It just won’t work…for you. Miranda Sings has a unique style and though many have tried, there is no one else in the world who can pull it off. Haters, back off. I happen to be a big fan.
As you can see, eyebrows are difficult to tame. And even more difficult to maintain. In fact, if you’ve ever seen me, or a picture of me, you would know that to be true. I don’t think I’ve ever gotten it quite right. But I’ll tell you one thing…actually, I’ll tell you two things:
To read more about threading, keep an eye (brow) on Nikki Parkinson’s blog Styling You. She tells me she is getting threaded on Friday…