Shane Warne: the Musical
After Australia the movie, we have Shane Warne: the Musical - though it could just as easily have been titled Shane and his Amazing Technicolour Life. Cricket's greatest ever leg spinner is rendered here in all his messy and chaotic glory.
The stage show, which gets its world premiere in Melbourne on Wednesday night, features aspects of his life which are strictly Wisden: the bowling world records, the trophies and accolades, the fear and psychological frailty that he sowed in opposing batsmen.
Then there are the aspects of his life which are strictly tabloid: the prolific text messaging, the equally prolific pizza-eating, the stray diuretic which led to a one-year suspension and barred him from the World Cup in 2003. There is both reverence and ridicule in Shane Warne: the Musical. He is the subject both of admiration and admonishment, which probably neatly reflects Australia's sometimes conflicted feelings about one of its favourite and most uproarious sons. Sometimes you look at Warnie with wide-eyed amazement. On other occasions, you want to avert your gaze.
I got a sneak preview last week, and got to hear a couple of songs. The first featured Warnie in his pre-Test cricket days, nobly trying to get his corpulent figure in trim.
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Eddie Perfect, the Warnie look-a-like who is both the writer and star of the musical, reckons that Shane Keith Warne is the classic Australian anti-hero, following in the tradition of Ned Kelly. He reckons Australians have marvelled not only at his talent, but his over-active anti-authoritarian streak. For him, Warne is the Australian everyman: the chubby suburban schoolboy who went on to become a slightly less chubby sporting sensation.
In many ways, he is the anti-Bradman. The Don was serious, considered, abstemious. Warnie is almost the polar opposite. Where these two Australian sporting legends come together, of course, is in the record books and on the field of play. Better still, some of their most miraculous on-field accomplishments came against the Old Country.
The Poms have always looked on the Aussies as a bit cocky when it comes to sport, and in particular cricket. In their differing ways, Bradman and Warne were a large part of that. It's hard not to exude self-confidence and self-assuredness with Bradman coming in a first wicket down or Warnie turning his arm over on the final day of a test match. Of course, Douglas Jardine and his men developed the 'Bodyline' bowling strategy to negate the genius of the Don (and, for all its sporting and diplomatic shortcomings, it proved reasonably effective). But right up until his retirement, the Poms never found a way of countering Warnie, one of the ultimate tributes.
The great blonded one is unhappy at the idea of a musical in his name. He has placed it in the same category as an unauthorised biography, perhaps even a tabloid hatchet-job. Still, this is a very affectionate portrayal of a sportsman who is fiendishly difficult not to like.
He comes across as a very human hero. Isn't that just the way that Australia likes them?
I'm 
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~07~RS~)
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Yes larger than life but the sad part is the breakdown of his family unit and I don't find anything entertaining about that. There are higher goals in life than sporting success and in all respects he's failed miserably.
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Keating the Musical was far better than any biography, and I hope Warne the Musical acheives the same giddy heights.
What is it about comedy musicals that can capture our feelings better than serious prose?
I'll be seeing this one for sure.
In an age of cookie cutter olympic athletes, swimmers and rugby players, Warney was brilliant.
More power to the personalities I say.
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Well it is good to know that the stereotype of the Australian as a sports mad idiot is being upheld with such vigor.
"World premier", indeed.
How much government money sponsored this farce? It is one thing when the private individuals of Australia make a spectacle of themselves, but when the government fund the disgrace, there seems no hope for the nation.
Bonza, mate.
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If it makes it to the UK, I suggest Ricky Gervais to play Mike Gatting.
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Another load of tosh from the BBC's ace reporter- for God's sake is there nothing else worth reporting on in Australia.
For example, would I be wrong in saying Aus is a major exporter of minerals? I think I would be right, so what effect is the recession having on the mining communities, how is Broken Hill responding, how does Aussies see the future, I'll think of a few more points if our Nick can't come up with of any. Second question, my son emigrated to WA, he is a brick layer but he now calls himself a brick thrower because quality of building is so poor, is gerry built the norm are standards generally low.
The point of this blog as I see is to give those of us who have an interest in Aus an insight into what is going on and what Aussies think about it. If I'm wrong and the BBC has nothing important to say then I'll just wade through the Australian newspaper website.
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No5 why dont you just calm down a little. You don't seem to understand the idea of a blog. This is a modern medium designed to allow a writer to air thier views on any subject matter - To entertain and if possible to inform, - In a similar manner to which the BBC Charter dictates.!!! If you want to find news on Australia and what's going on, why dont you go to www.theaustralian.com.au and read some of Murdoch's rubbish. If you want an insite into "what Aussies think! ask one of them... However, if like amny of the readers, you want to be entertained by a good wrtier with an Australian edge, keep reading Nick's blog....
Keep it up Nick!!!!!
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Yeah, keep it up Nick. The clip did look awful though, I have to agree with democracy threat. Written and starring Eddie Perfect sounds a bit dodgy. It reminds me of Summer Heights High. And if the British haven't seen that series yet, please do. The lead is a narcissistic drama teacher who writes and stars in a stage show about himself. Brilliant.
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Clearly none of you have seen or heard about Paul Keating the Musical, Eddie Perfect's previous show. I (and many other people) saw it, and I can say with confidence it was the best piece of theatre I've ever seen; a masterpiece.
I am quite looking forward to seeing the Shane Warne musical BECAUSE it is written and starred in by Eddie Perfect (not despite it, as someone else seemed to suggest) ... rather more for that reason than any particular fascination with Warnie.
All you mockers and knockers should educate yoourself on what you're talking about before making derogatory statements. The team writing and producing these shows are extremely talented, and have been recognised as such by accolades, awards, etc.
For the whingers having a go at Nick for not writing hard-hitting news in a light blog ... well, if you want Australian news, God knows the BBC is not the place to find it! That goes for any part of the BBC news site, not just this blog. Unless you want to read wacky crocodile attack stories, of course - the only events worth reporting to ever occur in this country apparently. If you want accurate, timely, important news about Australia you are in the wrong place . May I recommend www.smh.com.au for that purpose.
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Unfortunately the video does the show no favours - [video of live shows rarely if ever translate] I have seen the show and it is a truly remarkable piece. I believe it will confound all expectations. You only have to google the creative team [all industry heavyweights] to realise there must be more to this show than meets the eye.
#3"How much government money sponsored this farce?"
I have no idea, and I suspect you don't either. As far as I can tell it is a purely commercial venture that lives or dies in the commercial realm. [I suspect the former]. However Across the road from SWTM is "Wicked" the huge American export. Incredibly this show is proudly funded by the Victorian government.
I would much prefer government funding being allocated to develop local works [Like Shane Warne the Musical] than used to support already hugely successful commercial imports.
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If it makes the Nick knockers feel any better, i wrote a retort to y'all and it was rejected by the moderator. yet it seems that your drivel gets through.
so viva the BBC and viva free speech (except mine).
PS: as i wrote above, i loved Keating the Musical. sharp political commentary in a bloody funny show. perfect for my Aussie tastes.
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Sinnamonbound - you need to calm down a bit too mate. At the top of the page it says "BBC News." Mr Bryant is BBC News' Sydney correspondent. He is paid to report news. By the BBC. For the BBC. Not to air personal views. It is thus not unreasonable for no 5 to expect to come to this page and read news about Australia. He is perfectly entitled to ask Mr Bryant to report on a wider range of issues. I expect Mr Bryant would like to oblige. Equally I expect Mr Bryant's masters have an eye on their budget and that it doesn't extend to investigative journalism.
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Flawed heroes are always more appealing, it's human nature, after all. We love our Warnie. from Rosyinoz
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I hope that this musicial of Shane Warne, will be good....
~Dennis Junior~
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