OZ +4: Oz in Oz...

It was a slightly different cultural experience in the evening.

As I have mentioned, Melbourne is a very civilised city - the entertainment on offer is of the highest order. Just while we have been here, Paul Weller and Brian McFadden have been here recycling their back catalogues. Although what back catalogue Brian McFadden has I'd be interested to know. (Actually, I wouldn't.)

They weren't appearing together, I hasten to add. Tony Hadley (ex of Spandau Ballet) and Paul Young are around sometime next week and they are appearing on the same bill, this time recycling and reliving the 80s. I bill Tony Hadley (ex of Spandau Ballet) as ex of Spandau Ballet, not because I think you won't know who he is, but because that's how he is billed on the poster, just in case no-one else does. I notice Paul Young isn't billed as "ex Streetband, who did Toast, you know, a little bit of TOAST..."

Oh, and we just missed Sinead O'Connor. One can be thankful for small mercies.

In the musical theatre genre, they were holding casting sessions for Billy Elliot and the previously mentioned Shane Warne - The Musical opens soon. (Thanks to Tina and Chris who suggested its fictional similarity to "Shayne Ward - The Musical" which I guess, if it existed, would tell the embellished story of poor northern boy made X-Factor-Good. And would still be more entertaining than Brian McFadden.)

So we went to see Wicked...



...which was excellent on Broadway and was excellent here too.

In addition, here (because they're not Broadway, and the alternative was Brian McFadden) they had "Wickeded-up" the whole street with spectral green lighting in all the trees. Best of all was the "Ozmopolitan" - a sort of fluorescent green alcoholic slush puppie in a light-up plastic glass.

Of course I had one! I'm on holiday!