Theatre stars make the jump
I’ve read some commentary this morning from a number of people who have laughed off the Logies last night as a terrible, worthless, cringe-worthy event.
I’ve read some commentary this morning from a number of people who have laughed off the Logies last night as a terrible, worthless, cringe-worthy event.
The Logies are of course television’s “night of nights”, honouring what has been achieved in Australian television over the past 12 months.
In the eyes of its critics, it is never really a winner.
But last night I watched the Logies through less critical eyes than normal. I chose to avoid the jokes that fall flat, the ‘Logie Minute’ that looked more like an ad for a fitness machine on a morning television show and I did my best to avoid looking at Richard Wilkins.
I chose to look at the exceptional talent instead.
The tall poppy nature of Australia is of course to shoot down anyone who is successful, so when you get a whole bunch of successful people together, it’s no surprise that the Logies can’t please anyone.
Television is a tough nut to crack. It is one of the hardest, most demanding forms of entertainment/journalism there is and to be able to get on the inside is a tremendous achievement.
Last night is was fabulous to see some theatre talent being honoured or finding their way on stage. Asher Keddie, who has worked with both the Melbourne Theatre Company and Playbox, deserved her Most Popular Actor gong, and is proving to be one of our most exceptional young actors. Her performances in Offspring are great, but in Paper Giants she was undeniably superb.
Eddie Perfect, also of Offspring, has come a long way since his early days in theatre and cabaret and has now emerged as a real star of Australian TV.
There’s two exceptionally talented people who we in theatre know have done the hard yards to get to where they are. And whilst the “think we know what we want” Australian media will throw ‘best and worst dressed’ lines at us and talk about lame jokes and the host, I prefer to look at and be proud of the two actors I just mentioned and the many others who graced the stage.
Heck, how could you not be proud of Laurie Oakes? And yes, I’ll even give it up for Karl Stefanovic. The bloke is a talented journalist and reporter and has been unfairly criticised at times for what has been a busy and career-defining year.
So often in theatre we are critical of our own. The problem is, an industry like television can survive the internal pessimists, theatre can not.
Later this year the Helpmann Awards will again be presented.
How about this time around, we give them the hand they deserve, show support for the talent on stage, and leave the mindless critical banter for somebody else?