Kathryn Bendall

Clash of Comedy Titans in Quest Marrickville Town Hall

Kathryn Bendall — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 07:34:28 +0000

Friday Night December 2nd sees Triple J radio star Tom Ballardhosts the sixth grand final of Quest for the Best, Australia’s richest open mic competition. It will be held at Marrickville town Hall. Tickets are $25 ($22 conc) and are available through Moshtix.

The Roxbury will provide a full bar service so you can buy all the grog you can responsibly drink and there will be hot food too.

Feature act is the Suara Indonesian Dancers.

Contestants include:

John Cahill
Matty B
Luke Nowell
James Foley
Brent Thorpe
Mark Humphries
Danny O’Toole
Dave Keeshan
Aaron Chen
Bobby Demetriou
Sean Woodland
Matt Orchard
Kean Khoh
Arnie Pie
Katrina Dunn

The winner – decided by you, the audience – will take home $5000.

Previous winners are:

2006 Lawrence Driscoll
2007 Oliver Phomavanh
2008 Emma Zammit
2009 Josh Dolin
2011 Nikki Britton

Filed under: life

Vale Margaret Olley and your beautiful clutter

Kathryn Bendall — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 07:11:48 +0000

Well I haven’t really had much time to think about the news today, other than to note the passing of Australian artist Margaret Olley. I have one of her very large prints in my study (that’s it on the left) and it hangs over my desk specifically for the purpose of reminding me that she was a wonderful artist with such a simple view of life . I aspire to have that as well.
As the years have gone on I got to know a bit more of her story. The parts that I remember were things like she lived in a chaotic house in Paddington, surrounded by all the clutter that she loved and things that she just wanted one day to paint.
By painting she breathed.
The other thing that I had remembered about here and I guess really extended my interest was the fact that she was in AA.
The other thing about her was that the house was so crazy and chaotic, that as she was nearly blind and very, very, frail, she had guide wires about the house to help and her visitors find their way from one room to the other. I love that mental picture of her guests feeling their way from one room to the other. Speaking of visitors that was another thing that I remembered. Barry Humpries was a great fan supporter and lover of her art. He spoke very fondly of her once in an interview and I wickedly drew the conclusion that he may have played some part in her recovery from alcoholism. Or maybe it was the other way about.
Anyway the other thing about Margaret Olley is that she always reminds me of my friend Helen Townsend. It’s so much in the facial characteristics’, although there are plenty of those to look at as well.
It’s more in the essence of them both. Mind you I have seen Helen many, many times and I’ve never seen anything other than a photo of Margaret Olley but I still sense a common essence in them both. Magnificent Talent I guess.
I loved Margaret Olleys’s paintings and I’m looking at one now. For some time I had this same print downstairs in my dining area and I loved to set up a mirror image of the still life she’s painted on the table underneath the painting.
Bowls of fruit, a teapot, flowers in a jug, I just got tremendous satisfaction copying her layouts and colors.
It is a magical painting and everyone commented on it when they came to the room. I read today that she liked to smoke, that really surprised me, I don’t know why. It just that she had such a tiny face it would be hard for a cigarette to look anything other than a giant comedic cigar.
A tiny, lovely face that I really wish I had met just once.
She would have found me really annoying. If I had visited here I would have had to tidy up. It’s a compulsion and I just think things look better tidied up or better still ,put away.
So there goes the still lifes. Fruit would be packed away, chipped plates thrown out, dead flowers tossed and cracked teapots put in the back of cupboards. Left to me her still lifes would be a gleaming white walls with well, absolutely nothing. Perhaps an ad for Ajax or bleach?
But I would have clung to the guide wires gropping from room to room breathing in the color of her life.

Vale Margaret OIley.

Filed under: life

Can of Worms is a Can of worms

Kathryn Bendall — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 11:06:14 +0000

OK Pets. Blinked and you probably missed one of the greatest moments in Australian TV History. Just last night, on Channel 10′ new hit show “Can of Worms”, Ronnie Bendall slacked jawed on national TV while yours truly lectured the entire nation on truth and honesty in relationships. I’ve always had a natural talent for sussing out what people need to hear, and last night was no different. Nearly 900,000 people tuned in with the hope of hearing one of my deliciously famous “Life Talks” and they would have been deighted with the content, disappointed with the brevity.
More can be seen

http://ten.com.au/CanOfWorms.htm

Filed under: life

A Star is Born!!!

Kathryn Bendall — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 01:09:09 +0000

Ladies and Gentlemen! Please make welcome to our stage…… Miss Olive Balogh!! At just 12 days this young up and comer is making headlines everywhere. Olive burst into the limelight at the Mater Hospital in Brisbane a whopping 4.2kgs and had everyone gasping. Her tiny size 8 mum Sian for a start.

Hospital staff shook heads in disbelief as Miss Olive emerged, top hat and cane (her mother swears she felt it). With an auspicious birth time of 3.33pm (anyone know what it means?), pundits are betting this young baby will go far. According to her startled Dad, Brendon, Miss Olive is already demonstrating talents that should see her make the Guinness Book of Records in every classification. Gurgling, toe curling and nappy shitting are still under consideration as categories. Demonstrating an astoundingly early commitment to her career in the Arts, Miss Olive prefers to sleep deeply from 6.00am to 7.00pm and party all night. Critical reviews have been particularly favorable “She’s so cute I’ve almost given up the idea of having puppies!” (Julia Bendall, Aunt and Dragon Trainer).

Failed Dragon Trainer tries techniques on Baby Olive

“I love her colour, and that’s not a jaundiced view” (Yours truly, not realizing that Olive was jaundiced)…. Please put your hands together and welcome with all your might The delightful, the delicious and everyone’s Darling….Miss Olive Balogh

Filed under: life Tagged: BABY, OLIVE, STAR

What’s Wrong with French Men today?

Kathryn Bendall — Fri, 06 May 2011 22:02:37 +0000

Before I’d left home, I heard all these stories about how over-sexed the French men are. It’s not true. Every day for the last eleven days I have managed to walk through and around Montmatre, the Champs-Elysees, Pantheon, Eiffel Tower, Place de la Bastille with not so much as one wolf whistle. Let along a slap or a pinch. What’s happened? Like I mentioned before I’ve been spending a rather tragic amount of time in old houses and there’s plenty of evidence that Old French Men couldn’t keep their hands to themselves. The Kings of France even built palaces for their mistresses (and some of them had several) so where has all that Gaelic Testrone gone. Below is a picture of Henri’s (KIng of France) three mistresses which he hung on the wall of his wife’s bedroom.
So what’s the problem French men?
Too much cheese? Red Wine? There’s certainly too much smoking for anyone’s good (and peeing in the Metro) but that’s been my excuse as far as French men are concerned. What could be their excuse as far as I’m concerned?

So come on French Men! Show me some of your Oh-la-la before I head home…(picture below yours truly still “Fresh” after 22 kms on my bike)

Filed under: life

A Catholic Girl just Cant get Enough Gilt

Kathryn Bendall — Fri, 06 May 2011 21:35:31 +0000

After two weeks of gallivanting around I thought I might be “Chateaud and Palaced out” here in France. Even after spending so much time at various gorgeous museums around Paris, todays final visit to an ostentatious, extravagant, over the top palace at a little place called Fontainebleau raised my pulse, and I’ve realized that I need to overhaul our digs at Homebush Bay on my return. We just don’t have a “statement” and just between us I’ve realised that we’re far too bland in our attitude to home decorating.
Frankly, we just don’t have enough gilt. Or Wigs. Or French Clocks.
After The Louvre, The Chateau at Ambois, The Chateau at Chateau I’ve picked up a certain flair for what’s needed to make a home a “Maison” as they say.
On the right is the Formal dining room prior to my tour of France’s Grande Homes and below the transformation possible when one (particularly one of a Catholic persuasion) overcomes a natural reluctance to indulge in gilt.

Filed under: life

Bonjour ma chère blogueurs

Kathryn Bendall — Fri, 06 May 2011 20:52:27 +0000

OK I cheated and copied the title from a translation provided by Google. Look! I know I promised to blog every day, but honestly ship-board life just didn’t provide the opportunities I’d hoped.
What with formal breakfasts, morning teas, formal luncheons, high teas, pre-dinner drinks, formal dinners, post dinner do’s and high supper, I hardly had a moment of “me time”.
But I do have lots and lots of photos and I’ll try and upload some now.
In the meantime we’ve been in France since April 19th and we’ve had some adventures here. I just wish I could remember them all. That’s the problem travelling at my age, there’s hardly any RAMS of memory left in my heart drive after 54 years of solid TV watching. I mean where I could be telling you about the reign of the Plantigent Kings, I’ve got the theme songs of “Leave it to Beaver”, ‘Bewitched” “Neighbours” occupying that critical space.
As a matter of fact in the Louvre last week I found myself humming the theme of “I love Lucy” while trying to peer at the ‘Mona Lisa”….anyway more of that later.
Just wanted to let you know that I’m back on air….and home soon

Filed under: life

waaaaah! Dumped as Raw Judge

Kathryn Bendall — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 06:07:39 +0000

Dear Reader (all two of you)

You’ll no doubt remember the earlier posts where I lauded the insight and wise council of the people at RAW who had so wisely chosen me to on the judging panel. I have brought sobriety, sense and sensability to this audacious role.
But this week I was dumped and replaced by the eagerly insensitive and dare I say, dear reader, delighted daughter of mine. Well of course she know what she’s doing (she even thinks I’m funny)….but still…….
Of course I stunned everyone with the dignity and decorum I demonstrated on the night…and in time I’m sure that Festival people will come to their senses…..
Mark my words (not the comedian) it wont be long before she’s running Comedy on the Rox and telling everyone I’m on an extended holiday.
All I can say is “Check the Basement”!

Filed under: life

Raising the Roof for the Flood/Food Victims-tomorrow Burwood RSL

Kathryn Bendall — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 06:21:14 +0000

Well Helllooooo Sydney!

Tomorrow is D Day (DAMn) a passionate call from Melinda Kelly to all flood over to Burwood RSL tomorrow (Sunday! What else could you be doing on a Sunday arvo?)
Frankly it’s an absolutely downpour of talent, a tidal wave of entertainers all hopping under the one umbrella to give you a show that you won’t forget.
The Lineup starting at 5.30 is…………………………………..

Top Dogs: Since they first got together in the early ’90s the band has toured the Aussie east coast and even frightened the locals in clubs and pubs as far flung as Fiji and Indonesia.
They play a mix of classics and original songs – and have put the crochets and quavers behind legendary Aussie as diverse as Angry Anderson and Doug Parkinson. But today – they’re here for YOU lah lah lah
Billy Freeman Comedian
Vanessa Ballard Comedian
Jennifer Wong Comedian
Dom Romeo Comedian
Gabe Jones (Rap/Spoken Word)
That’s That (vocal harmony/ folk)
The Pollocks Feat. Dwain Elix + Mike Tyne(vocal harmony/ Country)
Wyatt Moss Wellington Progressive Rock/ folk :Wyatt just released his second album, the colossal “Gen Y Irony Stole My Heart” an album of progressive folk songs, experiments in sound, humor and pathos. Covering everything from suicide bombing, financial crises and the gen y condition. Wyatt is a talented and passionate young musician with a big heart.
Mikey Mileos Comedian
Seizure Comedian
Peter Miesel Comedian
Kathryn Bendall Comedian (Oh me? How sweet!)
Buckshot Band (country/ rock)

Filed under: life

DAMn-THe Line up this Sunday Burwood RSL

Kathryn Bendall — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 04:05:18 +0000

5.30pm Top Dogs Band (blues /rock)
6.10pm Kathryn introduces the night next act
6.15pm Billy Freeman Comedian
6.22pm Vanessa Ballard Comedian
6.29pm Jennifer Wong Comedian
6.36pm Dom Romeo Comedian
6.43pm Gabe Jones Rap/ Spoken Word
6.50pm That’s That (vocal harmony/ folk)
7.20pm The Pollocks Feat. Dwain Elix + Mike Tyne (vocal harmony/ Country)
7.35pm Lady Sings it Better Caberet
7.55pm Wyatt Moss Wellington Progressive Rock/ folk
8.10pm Mikey Mileos Comedian
8.20pm Seizure Comedian
8.30pm Peter Miesel Comedian
8.40pm Kathryn Bendall Comedian
8.50pm Stage set up Break Stage set up Break
9.00pm Buckshot Band (country/ rock)

Filed under: life