Randolph Magri-Overend

THE COLOUR ORANGE

According to a recent QI programme, Stephen Fry (that oracle of knowledge and wisdom on television) confirmed this quote I’ve extracted from Google (another oracle of knowledge):

“Before the late 15th century, Europeans simply referred to orange as yellow-red until they were introduced to orange trees, when the pigment was finally awarded its true name. During the 16th and 17th centuries, orange became a symbol of Protestantism and an important political colour in Britain and Europe under William III’s reign.”j

Prior to the 15th century, orange was referred to as red or an offshoot of red.  For some reason, that colour description persists to this present day.  Thus you have red kites which are really orange and red robins which likewise are not.

So what has that got to do with this CD Review of the original cast recording of The Colour Orange?  Nothing really except that unlike our cousins from the US, it is refreshing to see the word colour spelled correctly.

Seriously though, I find it very hard to take this CD seriously…which is exactly what the producers of this original cast recording wish me to do. So I will!

The problem, however is that I find it puzzling because I have no information on the show itself.  For example….when was it produced? Where?  I know it was recorded this year in Sydney and the music was composed by Oli Cameron and Sophie Roberts and the vocals were performed by Zara Stanton, Gavin Brown, Kirralee Hillier, Gabi Kelland and Liam Ferguson with additional vocals by the composers and Ben Secrett who also plays guitar.  

But I fear, little else has forthcomed.

Obviously the 8 songs on the recording are satires of people with red (or ginger) hair.  The name that sprouts regularly is poor Pauline Hanson.  I don’t know why I say poor because she is renowned for looking after herself, albeit awkwardly.  Also mentioned, fleetingly, is Julia Gilliard (red hair…although I’m not sure it’s natural).  She probably deserves the word poor more than Pauline after the maligning she received (but eloquently rebutted) from Messrs Jones (not Aled) and Abbott (no words necessary!).  There is even a quote from Mr Howard…although whether it was genuine remains to be seen, which if it happens would be fortuitous.  I mean who can miss those 3D eyebrows?

Enough from me, except to say you shouldn’t offer this CD to your grandma for Christmas. It’s not for her. It is really more attuned to university students.  If you can find any!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Published by Randolph Magri-Overend

One of the questions Randolph hates to answer is “Where do you come from?” Why? Because the answer can be so time-consuming and, in a way, also gives away how old he is!! Plus the questioner has to wrestle with the wish he hadn’t asked the question!! He was born in Cairo, Egypt, many moons ago of British parents although he can trace Maltese and Croatian ancestry in his lineage. Educated in a Jesuit college in London his wander lust for things unorthodox drove him to embark on a seafaring career with both Canadian Pacific Steamships and Shaw Savill. That in itself dates him because both lines have been redundant for many a year. One of his boasts is that he was the Purser on the “Gothic” which ten years previously had been Queen Elizabeth II’s Royal Yacht soon after her coronation in 1953. One of the objects imported on the ship by HM and left behind was a tape player which Randolph utilised on many a memorable Sunday evening with a classical concert for his passengers. Thus began a journey that not only awakened Randolph’s love for good music but also eventually led to his extensive knowledge of music in all forms. That he loves the era of Sinatra, Crosby, Armstrong, Dorsey (both) and many many more exponents of the post-war music scene is also part and parcel of his appreciation of the music of many an era. These days Randolph is retired but still reviews CDs and DVDs and has written articles on such diverse personalities as Yvonne Kenny, Teddy Tahu Rhodes, Alexander Briger, the late Sir John Tavener, Sir James Galway, Dawn Upshaw and countless probes into the music of Gustav Mahler, Elizabeth Shwarzkopf and her husband Walter Legge, Glenn Gould, Leonard Bernstein and many many more he regrets to admit he has lost track of! Before emigrating to Australia, Randolph spent a number of years as a Flight Dispatcher in Canada. Since arriving in Australia, Randolph has written for The Weekend Australian (especially in their travel pages), The Sydney Morning Herald, Opera Opera and Fine Music magazine as well as some jazz magazines. If you require an extensive coverage of your music to a public that, at last count, reaches the best part of 818,000 please contact David Kary on editor.sydneyartsguide@gmail.com or email me directly on ibmar@bigpond.com. This also includes advertising any forthcoming shows by promoting featured artists. Cheers and thank you.