The new Scottish Parliament building, currently under construction, is now “mired in controversy and openly mocked as ‘Donald’s Dome’. From the original £50 million budget set by Scotland’s first minister, Donald Dewar, estimated costs have spiralled to a minimum of £195 million (plus a further £14 million for landscaping and roadworks). As always, it is the architect who catches the blame.” (But he died.) – The Times (UK)
Author: Douglas McLennan
DUCKING THE COST
London theatre dresses an actor up as duck rather than use the real thing. Why? “Thespian ducks cost £250 a day, while the union minimum for an actor is £292.84 for a week’s work in the West End. If you’re thinking of putting your daughter on the stage, train her to be a duck, or at least a duck handler.” – The Telegraph (UK)
LET’S PUT ON A SHOW
Big theatre producers get together to talk about the realities of producing musical theatre. “Comments on Saturday from representatives of the biggest L.A.-based commercial theater producers – Disney, Warner Bros. and Universal – were considered by many in the audience to be so discouraging that Indonesia might look even more inviting.” – Los Angeles Times
HUGHES BACK TO COURT
Art critic Robert Hughes will have to face a retrial of his dangerous driving charges from a May 1999 accident. A Western Australian court upheld an appeal to reopen the case. – Yahoo! News (AFP)
STERN STUFF
Carnegie Hall spends the weekend paying tribute to Isaac Stern, the violinist who became one of the most powerful movers in the music world. – New York Times
A MATTER OF MANNERS
New York Magazine film critic John Simon goes for director Atom Egoyan’s jugular at a press conference about Egoyan’s project filming all of the Beckett plays. “I have seen at least 12 productions of this play,” he began, “all more touching than yours. Was this deliberate or just incompetence on your part?” – Salon
ITALIANS ON TOP
Time was when the Russians used to dominate international piano competitions. But this year’s Leeds International was dominated by the Italians – three of the top six finalists were Italian. – The Telegraph (UK)
ITALIAN WINS LEEDS
Alessio Bax, at 22 the youngest of three finalists, is the first Italian ever to win at Leeds. – The Times (UK)
MARKET FORCES
This year’s instrumental soloists with Canadian orchestras tend to be young, female and good looking. “Presenters aren’t interested in art any more. They’re interested in selling concerts. They’re trying to find ways that will draw an audience, and they’re following the standards of what’s happening in our general culture. The values of Hollywood have long been to misuse women and their bodies to bring in audiences.” – The Globe and Mail (Canada)
THE FAME GAME
Artists are a hot commodity in London right now. Newspapers vie to put artists in their columns, and he or she who makes something outrageous is sure to get plenty of attention. But it’s all so very predictable… – New York Times 09/25/00