With Cate Blanchett's contract up at the Sydney Theatre Company her husband Andrew Upton has been re-appointed as Artistic Director but there are rumblings amongst the ranks with claims of nepotism.
Giorgio Armani with Cate at the STC
Upton and Blanchett jointly ran the STC producing critically acclaimed productions that received plaudits around the world including their A Streetcar Named Desire, directed by Liv Ullmann and staring Cate as Blanche DuBois being declared the best ever presentation of the play by the New York Times and the Washington Post.
The City News is reporting that local playwrights and actors are not happy and do not accept that the board of the STC has fully searched the world for a replacement for Upton.
" Are we seriously meant to believe after searching the globe for someone to replace Cate and Andrew the best possible person happens to be already working at the STC and it happens to be Andrew? " says an anonymous source .
Liv Ullmann,Cate & Joel Edgerton at the Sydney Streetcar premier
One of the complaints is about Upton's "black box" minimalist productions that feature black walls and street clothes rather than costumes and a preference for overseas' plays instead of local plays.
STC's General Manager Patrick McIntyre is quoted as saying " theSTC Board had always wanted Mr Upton and Ms
Blanchett to stay, and only looked for a replacement because “Cate and
Andrew … were contemplating moving overseas“When [this] changed, the Board asked Andrew if he would reconsider and
stay on … The Board absolutely believes he is the best person for the
job.”
When Blanchett and Upton took over in 2007 the STC was ailing financially and Blanchett was able to attract big time sponsors like Giorgio Armani who flew into town for two opening night performances and the critical acclaim the pair's productions have received have revived the financial fortunes of the Australia's premier theatre company.
Update :after a polite slap across the wrists from the awards committee we must point out that 'Streetcar' and Paul Charlier has been nominated in the Sound Event section. ********************************* In a puzzling move actress Cate Blanchett has been completely overlooked in the nominations for the most prestigious Australian theatre awards, the Helpmann Awards.
Liv Ullmann, Cate & Joel Edgerton
The awards are named after one of the world's greatest ballet stars, Sir Robert Helpmann who was born in a remote country town in South Australia in 1909. When his mother noticed his tendency to dress in her clothes and dance about with great agility, his parents actively encouraged his artistic talents. Eventually he became one of the most renowned dancers appearing in and choreographing ballets from London and New York to Moscow.
Sir Robert Helpmann
At the announcement for the award nominations which will be presented at the Sydney Opera House on September 6th, Cate's "A Streetcar Named Desire" didn't receive a mention. Streetcar was not only an artistic success in Sydney, Blanchett's production which was directed by Liv Ullmann and starred Cate and Joel Edgerton in the main roles was hailed throughout the USA when it toured there as one of the all time great productions of Tennessee Williams' play, earning the Sydney Theatre Company a much needed $3.5M in profit.
As Artistic Director since 2008 Blanchett, along with her husband Andrew Upton has been guiding the fortunes of the Sydney Theatre Company ( STC) and has revived the company with a number of noted talents for it's 12 productions each year including Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Steven Soderbergh and William Hurt.Cate was also responsible for attracting designer Giorgio Armani as the theatre companies major sponsor.
The Helpmann Awards , one motto being "ensuring the Awards are the most prestigious awards in the industry and the highlight of each Season." ironically has nominated a host of artists who trained at the STC including Neil Armfield and Robin Nevin.
# trivia moment : In 2007 the Social Shuttle attended the premiere of the film 'I'm Not There' at the then new Sydney Theatre Company Theatre in which Blanchett gives a stunning performance as Bob Dylan.
After introducing the movie with a small speech stating she had not yet seen the film, Cate Blanchett left the stage and took a seat next to the Shuttle with Upton and proceeded to narrate various anecdotes to her husband as the film ran. A woman sitting behind reached over and tapped her on the shoulder and said "could you please keep the noise down-I'm watching Cate Blanchett on screen and can't hear a word she is saying !"
## Channeling Mystic Meg earlier tonight we advised 4 paparazzi not to bother attending a function at the State Theatre which would feature Don Spencer, father-in-law of Russell Crowe who was expected to attend. "Our crystal ball says he won't be there", we said. Russell and wife Danielle can always be relied on to support Don in his ventures. And so it came to pass as the following tweet says:
Got that flu coming on feeling?Both our boys were sick last week, so bound to happen.Need an early night,not a late one on the giggle juice.3 hours ago ******************** At tonight's Young Chef Awards (not to be missed-buckets of Bollinger and fine food) the Shuttle happily informed Federal Tourism Minister Martin Ferguson MP that despite the doom and gloom mainly emanating from the Murdoch media in their campaign to bury Prime Minister Julia Gillard, that Labor will be returned or govern with a 3 seat majority but that could be made up of independents/Greens.. I think we made his night. And that too will come to pass. Trust me.
While Toni Collette was receiving plaudits at the Golden Globes in LA where she was voted Best Actress in a TV series-the terrific show The United States of Tara, a much smaller get-together was happening in Kings Cross when a number of media theatre critics gave their own awards for the year's local productions at the Sydney Theatre Awards.
It wasn't going to be too difficult to guess who would receive the top gong-Cate Blanchett for her Sydney Theatre Company's production of A StreetCar Named Desire, directed by the legendary Liv Ullmann and which wowed audiences throughout the USA.
Cate is one of the most bankable stars in the world, one of the most gorgeous with flawless porcelain skin, captivating eyes and is the least affected by her amazing success.
There's no chance she'll trade in long time husband, playwright and director Andrew Upton, she adores him. Still commanding up to $15M a movie, she has a few homes dotted around the world but prefers her stately homestead in the fairly suburban Hunters Hill, albeit with superb harbour views where she can give her kids a kind of normal life.
And she still hangs out at the bar after an awards affair or opening night and always look quite beautiful.And she treats tSS to a glass or 2 of champers and drops us home in her limo. Our kind of gal.
Under Blanchett's stewardship the Sydney Theatre Company goes from strength to strength drawing endorsements from the likes of Giorgio Armani who has flown into town to see 3 productions including Streetcar and this year's critics award for the best production The War of the Roses.
Other theatre types who dropped in included Leah Purcell and actor Marcus Graham (left)-NicKidman's secret long-time ex. Marcus tells us he has another gig in a new series of the US show Sins of The City and is ploughing through half a dozen Hollywood scripts.
Tiny actor Tom Burlinson (right ) handed out a few awards. He tells tSS he is still in such high demand for his Frank Sinatra tribute show he could spend the rest of his life in the Catskills or Las Vegas making a fortune.
Actor Josh McConville was named best newcomer for his roles in The Call and Strange Attractor. And in mid-presentations, word came through that the lovely Caroline O'Connor had just received 3 standing ovations at the opening of Cell BlockTango on Broadway (clip below)
Cate tries her hand badly at the piano...
and (below) poses with something in a frame.
************************************************************
Tomorrow tSS goes to Redfern where HRH Prince William meets some indigenous kids. What fun !
When a snapper telephones your news desk at around 12.30 am with a pic they believe may be off interest-having your phones diverted to the security office doesn't quite seem de rigeur for a major newspaper.
But who are we to tell accountants how to run a news organisation ?
Whilst the assembled paparazzi and tabloid photographers waited outside to get the snap of the stars of "A Streetcar Named Desire" at the after show party, the Shuttle swept in and here they are: Cate Blanchett and Joel Edgerton with director Liv Ullmann.
Fortunately the Shuttle's US agent is on hand 24 hours a day and had shifted 12 pics within the hour-even as far as China !
One of the reasons why your 120 year old empire is stumbling is because bean counters don't know how to run newspapers. Perhaps that's why 6 months ago as you let one of your most experienced journalists Annette Sharp sit around twiddling her thumbs when she returned from maternity leave wasting her talent,she was snapped up by the Daily Telegraph'sSydneyConfidential.
Sharp pulled off a major coup this week when major Hollywood box office star Russell Crowe challenged her to a bike ride contest to Bondi complete with cameras and the story has been syndicated to newspapers worldwide.
Sounds like false economy if you won't consider allowing experienced newsmen to call the shots instead of accountants who have presided over a plunge in profits in the last year.
But enough of moi-"A Streetcar Named Desire" is simply amazing and the 2 stars-Blanchett and Edgerton shine. Ullmann's direction is superb. Don't even try to get a seat-it's a sell out. If you want to catch the show you will have to travel to Washington or New York later this year-but book now.
And along tonight to support Blanchett and Edgerton-2 pals building great careers in the USA, the gorgeous Miranda Otto (above) and Rose Byrne withactors Damian Walshe-Howling & Nash Edgerton.
Tuesday night brings the opening of the much anticipated Sydney Theatre Company's production of A Streetcar Named Desire starring Cate Blanchett and directed by cinema great Liv Ullmann.
Ullmann , although nominated for Oscars, Baftas and Cannes film awards has yet to win but has reaped a whole lot of other awards for her film and stage work as well as being a Cannes Film judge .
According to Ullmann, she was frustrated by the Norwegian Film Fund in 2006 in her ambition to film Ibsen's play "A Doll's House"in which she hoped to cast either Blanchett or Kate Winslet.
Now with Cate Blanchett, a Hollywood heavyweight and heading the STC for a year, Ullmann was commissioned by Cate to produce and direct Streetcar. With Blanchett as Blanche Du Bois opposite JoelEdgerton's Stanley Kowalski this also could be the much needed break Edgerton needs to crack the US market when the play moves to New York in November.
Edgerton narrowly missed out on the role taken by Aussie actor Sam Worthington in Avatar which is bound to bring Worthington instant stardom. Edgerton has auditioned for several Hollywood roles but has yet to be cast despite appearing in the Star War's trilogy and carrying heavy endorsements from producer/director George Lucas.
The Shuttle also recently encountered Cate Blanchett a fortnight ago at the launch of Audi's new multi-million dollar showrooms in Zetland. Asked if she was an Audi driver , Cate declined to confirm but did say she was still very fond of zipping about town in an eco-friendly Toyota Prius.
With Cate Blanchett's contract up at the Sydney Theatre Company her husband Andrew Upton has been re-appointed as Artistic Director but there are rumblings amongst the ranks with claims of nepotism.
