Mary Kiani – Little Things Mean a Lot

We in Sydney’s GLBT community love the beautiful Scottish lass Mary Kiani even more since she has made Sydney her home in recent years. Mary of course comes to us with the most wonderful calling card of enduring Top 40 dance hits including 100%, Real Love and the huge world wide hit I Imagine.

Locally Mary has the fabulous credit of starring in one of the best Mardi Gras show’s of the last ten years when she sang I Imagine in a ‘Memoirs of a Geisha’ themed full-on spectacular in the early hours of the 2006 party.

Many people still talk about this with such affection so I asked Mary about this connection she has with our community and she told me “I have always been treated like a queen here by the gay and lesbian community and when I’m up singing I always feel the love. I’m sure they all feel it coming back at them”. 

Mary is now launching ‘stage two’ of her musical career by recording a collection of torch songs, jazz and classic standards on her latest album Little Things Mean A Lot. It includes songs from the 1930's through to the present day. I’ve got to say I love this CD and whilst Mary won’t know she and I sing the best duets to it at my place.

Enjoy Brunch at Claire’s Kitchen and brighten your Sunday!

Last Sunday a couple of friends and I went to say ‘Bonjour’ to our friend, the oh so very french, Claire de Lune who has recently opened the very fabulous Le Salon at the lower end of Oxford Street in what was the Gotham small bar.

Claire, or as I should say Marc Kuzma, as we all know has for the last six years been behind the successful Slide just a few doors up, giving the strip an excellent cabaret / restaurant / nightspot experience. Well he’s dusted himself down and created this splendid French style brassiere and cocktail bar Claire’s Kitchen at Le Salon.  

He’s there steering dinner and drinks each evening between Tuesday and Saturdays but I want to share that he also serves Brunch on Sundays and from my experience I can predict it will soon be the new must-do spot to be. It’s not to be saved for a special occasion oh no – it’s a little chic treat guaranteed to make your Sunday sparkle.

Marc has designed and chosen the décor and furnishings and it’s a gorgeous Parisian black and white themed room with a really astonishing sense of detail. Primarily being a dinner restaurant the table and chairs are comfy and spacious. The front, which faces Oxford Street is floor to ceiling glass so the vibe is sunny and bright with just that lovely little touch of occasion.

 

Love Never Dies – Capitol Theatre 10 March 12

The last two months have been chocker with some of the best festival fare we’ve had for some time, constant and generally all good stuff. With all that behind me I’ve popped back into the theatre just in the nick of time to persuade my keen musical theatre friends – do not miss Love Never Dies which is in its last weeks so please be quick.

This newly imagined Australian version of the latest Andrew Lloyd Webber creation is a heartbreaking love story set in the colour and excitement of Coney Island, New York. It’s a truly spectacular night in the theatre! 

Love Never Dies continues the story of The Phantom of the Opera. The year is 1907. It is 10 years after his disappearance from the Paris Opera House and the Phantom has escaped to a new life in New York where he lives amongst the screaming joy rides and freak-shows of Coney Island. OK, you may have read the story is not without problems and yes that’s true in as much as its ten years since we last saw the Phantom and his angel of the music Christine Daae and yet they are both younger. Look just do as I did – give yourself over to the magic of the theatre and you will be rewarded with an evening that will stay in your heart and mind for a very long time after.

Directed by Simon Phillips, with spectacular set and costume designs by Gabriela Tylesova and choreography by Graeme Murphy, Love Never Dies was the winner of 3 prestigious 2010 Helpmann Awards for Best Scenic Design, Best Costume Design and Best Lighting Design.