Friday, February 23, 2007
LEUNIG DRAWS AND PAINTS ON STAGE
Melbourne Age permachild Michael Leunig is headed for Sydney:
In 2003, Aria Award winning singer/songwriter Gyan sent a ‘love letter’ of sorts to celebrated cartoonist Michael Leunig - a CD of songs inspired by his poems. The result was the exquisite Billy the Rabbit album and book. Now they are bringing their collaboration to the stage of Sydney Opera House for a strictly limited season of 4 shows.
“Strictly limited.” Never has Leunig been more accurately described.
Gyan sings her beautiful, bittersweet interpretations of Michael Leunig’s poems while Leunig draws and paints on stage, adding his own insightful and witty commentary as the imagery is projected onto a large screen.
Other projections may be directed towards the floor and into handbags.
Both uplifting and heartbreaking, Gyan and Leunig’s performance is full of the characteristic humour, poignancy and gentle observations that make Leunig such a loved artist.
To which Skeletor responds: “It’d be great to hear some tracks inspired by the work of Leunig. Like, I’ll Give You A Holocaust, Jewboy; Working Women Should Be Sterilised; John Howard Is Really Really REALLY Evil; Hail Hail the Heroes of Hamas, and the ever-popular You’re All Dobbed In To Media Watch.”