Latest news with #DeborahKerr
NZ Herald
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
Black Faggot's Victor Rodger on Destiny Church and why his groundbreaking play remains so relevant today
Like a lot of young homosexuals, it made me feel a lot of self-loathing. But I wasn't raised to denigrate people who were gay. My mother was very young when she had me – she turns 72 this year – but she elected to keep me and I'm so grateful she did. She let me do swirly swirlies in her blue dress when I was going through my Deborah Kerr phase, from The King and I, and she got me the Barbie dolls I craved as a young fella. She was still surprised when I came out when I was 26, but she's always just let me be. When Destiny Church led its 'Enough is Enough' march on Parliament in 2004 against the Civil Union Bill [giving legal recognition to same-sex relationships], I knew without a doubt that at least one of those young men would be gay. Hating on themselves and marching against themselves. I wanted to write something metaphorically for that kid. Then, in 2012, there were more protests against the marriage equality bill, with members of the Pasifika community coming out against it. I knew it was time to finally get over the line. Victor Rodger: "Some seriously appalling things are going down in our own backyard." Photo / Dean Purcell Black Faggot premiered at Auckland's Basement Theatre in 2013. I wanted it to be funny, which it is, and I also wanted to diversify the spectrum of Samoan queer characters, who until then had often been typified by fa'afafine as objects of mirth, with no complexity or layers. Two actors play multiple roles, mostly queer Samoan men, from super camp to super butch and everything in between. There's also a fa'afafine, a Samoan mum, and a pumping iron straight brother, but the spine of the show is a relationship between a young Samoan man on the down low and an out-and-proud Samoan man. When I heard The Court Theatre in Christchurch wanted Black Faggot on its programme this year, I wondered if it was still relevant. I'd thought about doing it myself in 2023, for the 10th anniversary, and had asked myself the same question. A few years ago, I was a dramaturg on a trans rom-com about a Tongan fakaleiti at high school and the captain of the First XV, who takes a bet that he can make her fall in love with him. When we did our first showing to a group of students, they were just so invested in the trans main character having a happy ending. For me, as an older, queer person, I was blown away because that never would have happened in my era. Destiny Church members wearing Man Up T-shirts disrupt the Auckland Rainbow Parade on Ponsonby Road in February. But as they say, the more things change, the more they stay the same. I was in the UK when I saw the headlines: 'Brian Tamaki's Destiny Church pride protests: Te Atatū witness describes terror inside library'. I wasn't expecting something like that to happen, but it didn't surprise me, either. We are living through a period in history right now that is as startling as it is unstable. And here in Aotearoa, we can't kid ourselves that we're in a position to look overseas and say 'Well, at least it's not that bad here', because some seriously appalling things are going down in our own backyard. Back in 2013, I wanted to pull Black Faggot. I was unravelling over all sorts of other life stuff and had convinced myself it was the worst piece of shit that had ever been committed to paper. Everything felt pretty grim and dark. The premiere got a standing ovation, but even that offered no relief. With this new season, I've been able to engage with the show from a much better place. I forbade my mother from seeing it, but she disobeyed me and went to the opening night in Christchurch, which is where I grew up. She's always been concerned with the amount of swearing in my work and that people will think she raised me to talk in the gutter. I did that all on my own. She's also not a great fan of sex, and there's a lot of sex talk in the show. But she coped and was blown away by the two actors, one of whom is the son of a family friend from the same church. There are moments in it when you can hear a pin drop, like when the young Christian character keeps praying to God to be made straight. That resonates with so many of us who've been through the same thing, just wanting to be #normal. On the night I went, there was recognition and there was laughter, but the overriding emotion was celebratory. That's not a word I would have used, but seeing it now, I thought, yes, this is absolutely a celebration. And a necessary one. Victor Rodger is an award-winning playwright based in Wellington and a 2024 Arts Laureate. The new production of Black Faggot, directed by Anapela Polata'ivao (who starred in the feature film Tinā), has just completed a four-week season at The Court in Christchurch and is on at Auckland's Q Theatre from June 25 to 29.
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Miami Herald
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Screen legend Audrey Hepburn lived in this ‘crown jewel' CA estate. It's for sale
For the first time in over three decades, an elegant house that's considered a 'crown jewel' has landed on the real estate market in Los Angeles, California. And it's one that's rich in Hollywood history. Listed for $10.895 million in Brentwood and surrounded by rose gardens, a 6,099-square-foot property that was once the home of two extremely famous starlets from Tinsel Town's heyday stands in all its glamour with its East Coast charm. 'Presenting a once-in-a-generation offering: the former residence of screen legends Deborah Kerr and Audrey Hepburn,' the listing on Sotheby's International Realty says. '685 Elkins Road is steeped in classic Hollywood history and timeless elegance. Tucked behind a private gate in one of Brentwood's most prestigious neighborhoods and nestled beside Brentwood Park, this stunning traditional-style home is the crown jewel of Elkins Road.' The home was actually once owned by Scottish icon Kerr, who starred in classic movies like 'The King and I' and 'From Here to Eternity,' and rented to Hepburn (who can be seen sitting in the house's yard with Mel Ferrer,) a news release says. Hepburn, of course, is one of Hollywood's most legendary faces whose brilliance shines in 'Roman Holiday,' 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' and 'Wait Until Dark.' The exquisite property has five bedrooms, 6.5 bathrooms and a plethora of fine features, per the listing, including: 'Covered Lanai'Outdoor entertaining space with fireplacePutting greenGrand foyerHigh ceilingsLibraryFront balconySwimming poolTwo-car garageChef's kitchen The listing is held by Jennifer Montague, Graham Larson, and Spencer Burmester of Sotheby's International Realty.
The Guardian
20-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
‘Never fails to make my day': readers on their feelgood movies
My parents' favorite, too. So much so they allowed me to watch it on a school night. I loved the arch dialogue (Deborah Kerr), especially the request for 'pink champagne' that I used for years to torture my younger sister whenever she wanted to know what I was doing. Why, drinking pink champagne, of course! It's on Netflix again so am enjoying it for the umpteenth time in all its glorious technicolor. Deepavali70 A feelgood, weepy, anti-fascist ghost story about baseball and fatherhood from a time when the USA had more goodies than baddies. Feels like a long time ago. SnorkellingZeem Very dated 60s romcom but has a charming swan song performance by Cary Grant as a sweet, meddling matchmaker in his last movie role. Samantha Eggar is lovely. There are a few physical comedy moments (Cary Grant started his career as an acrobat) that make me giggle every time. Dontwantaname1 It's a truly heartwarming movie about personal transformational change. reidlou A film about how precious childhood innocence is. And I always cheer when Jude Law's baddie gets it!!! I watch it once a year, at Christmas. Anita1970 Much better acting, funnier and smarter storyline than When Harry Met Sally. TreeFrogJohn No other film captures so perfectly the exuberance and cluelessness of adolescence. It might be a little too sexy for the prudish but its comedy (and its social commentary) are first rate. MJMKeating For me, an absolute work of art that never fails to move me. Innocence, nostalgia with an underlying thread of loss and loneliness, makes this my beautiful, majestic go-to movie when life's chips are in descent. Aubrey26 Audrey Hepburn and Peter O'Toole at their romcom best. Crazy fashions, daft plot, fun lines: 'Let's give Givenchy a night off.' And great supporting cast including Eli Wallach, Hugh Griffith and many more. ThinkingAoud The soundtrack is brilliant, the dialogue is endlessly quotable, the performances are flawless from everyone. Aside from being deeply funny, it's full of endearingly odd characters, rich with silly detail and, barring a little violence and sadness towards the end, it's overall a relaxed and fuzzy tale of nothing in particular. Am I wrong?! thealmightycraig It has a supremely silly plot but has a pin-sharp script that is marvelously acted. It makes me laugh from start to finish. And having watched it several times, I'm almost word perfect with the script. rewilder I've seen it at least 20 times and it never fails to make my day. Every character, big or small, gets a golden line. No throwaways. The grandfather is worth the price all by himself: 'Why do you make me wait! Howl.' Love it. Fintan28 I went to see it one dull afternoon without knowing anything about it but came out of the cinema filled with joy. The soundtrack is amazing. The story is educational and truly uplifting. Cardykid A bickering family from Long Island navigating the city to help Hope Davis find the elusive Sandy, someone her husband may be having an affair with. The cast is phenomenal! Anne Meara, Parker Posey, Liev Schreiber and more. Marcia Gay Harden is hilarious. VColarusso William Powell and Carole Lombard are perfect and the supporting cast has no weak player. Jean Dixon and Gail Patrick were never better. It's witty, charming, and has real heart. As a bonus, the cinematography is stunning. JDAretired All of the characters feel authentic, no one is a bitter caricature of a human being. As a result, all of the decisions feel real and right. Especially, the end, proof that sometimes if you are prepared to let something go, it might just come back to you. Splutterer When Stockard Channing declares her independence and strides out on Donald Sutherland at the film's end, it's a resolution of every grain of tension in the story and a demonstration of how life's connected threads can pull us but also show us the way. It's a brilliant, satisfying ending and I get a thrill each time I'm lucky enough to see it. cbpm72 Wonderful chemistry between Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn, characterful support from James Coburn and Walter Matthau, glamorous Parisian setting and a witty script. The perfect romantic comedy thriller. FrogCDE What's so clever about it, and its equally wonderful sequel, is that beneath the laddish humour, it's really quite sweet. Four misfits just trying to be 'normal', and kind of achieving what they perceive as normality by sharing life's experiences with one another. 11LFO11 It has a great script and wonderful performances, but most of all it's just an amazingly heart-warming film. It doesn't really matter that Ed is dreadful at making movies because he just loves what he's doing. Moreover, it's a story about compassion, friendship and the value of just opening your heart to the world. Ed's crew are people who are marginalised or rejected or washed up, but he doesn't care – he's just happy to have them around and to work with them. In return he finds someone who will love him without judging him. ThornDavis I know it's coming, I've seen it a thousand times, but when Stonehenge appears, I'm a giggling wreck. Every single time. DarenB Is it a masterpiece? No. Is it the funniest film I've seen? No. But I love it. It's a wonderful blend of 70s noir pastiche, buddy-cop comedy and detective drama with a hell of a cast, and probably the best comedic performances to date by [Ryan] Gosling and [Ruseell] Crowe (Gosling in particular is effortlessly brilliant). Because it doesn't take itself or its story too seriously, I don't have to be switched on totally to watch it, so it works for me regardless of mood or energy level going in. jcs100 Perfect combination of drama, romance, comedy, thriller, looks beautiful, cracking dialogue, fabulous performances, great set-piece sequences … Everything so perfectly judged, no matter how brief or insignificant a moment (see, for example, the brief scene where Thornhill escapes the hospital through a young woman's room!). And Hitchcock's hilarious, not remotely subtle, dick joke in the final shot of the film will always leave a smile. natjim
