Congratulations to all the winners!

Wow what a weekend - not only the Napta Awards on Saturday but yesterday ALL DAY coverage of the Academy Awards! (oh and a full day rehearsal for a little show I am doing on Sunday!).

First the Naptas - well no real surprises this year (Beauty and the Beast scooped most of the awards it was up for, with James (see pictured) garnering the best male performer). Winners are posted here: NAPTA WINNERS! The night was okay - nothing spectacular - lots of air kissing, drinking, smoking, gossiping, applauding, more drinking, more smoking, more gossiping, catching up with friends, selling Grease to everyone, finding out about auditions etc etc - you will notice here that I did not mention eating as even though we paid a VERY large amount to go to the "night of nights" the food was virtually inedible (think cold chicken/ pasta with no sauce and an Aunty Betty's pudding for dessert! - hardly The Governors Ball) - so much so that I had to have a late night snack (when we finally got home at the very respectable hour of 11.45!).

And then onto the Grease rehearsal the next day and I felt very proud of myself that I had no sore head post Napta and was all keen and ready to go when I arrived for the supposed rehearsal at midday (note the word supposed!) Needless to say when we had still not got onto the stage by about 1.30 I was feeling a tad less than enthusiastic! We are going to get there, and of course there is the old "she'll be right on the night" adage but I must admit to feeling a tad hesitant at this stage. We only have something like 6 rehearsals to go until we are in front of the public and I personally have not seen my first act costume, hair, make up, props, sound checks etc etc - I have a teeny tiny role in the show so can only imagine what others are thinking - the big numbers are spectacular I just hope and pray that everything comes together in the last minute - and knowing amateur theatre I am sure it will (she says fingers - and toes crossed).

As for the Oscars yesterday - well I am sure everyone in the world knows by now what happened - all very predictable, Ellen was fine, very safe, certainly nothing spectacular, the countdown however on E! was great - to be honest much more interesting than the actual awards show. I did however REALLY like a couple of the things they did - the Jack Black/ Will Ferrell/ John C Reilly skit dedicated to "clowns at the oscars"/ going home with the Oscar and Helen Mirren was spectacular - one of the best Oscar skits ever - and the Hollywood Sound FX chorus showing how SFX can be produced by humans rather than machines - very cool! But again a night of no real surprises, some of my picks were not exactly on the money BUT I will say in my defence I got all four of the acting awards correct and as I had only actually seen about four of the nominated movies (The Queen, Dream Girls, In Pursuit of Happiness and Happy Feet!) I was definately not at my best with actually knowing who was what! and also I have said it before and I will say it again BRING BACK BILLY CRYSTAL!

So that is it - the Oscars and the Awards Season over for another year - so what will 2007/08 bring as far as movies/ shows go? Who knows - but I will endeavour to put in my 2 cents about whatever I go and see and do - and yes I do take bribes :o) xxx

...and the award goes to......

Well what a huge weekend coming up - first off Saturday night and it is NAPTA night! The biggest night of the year for Amateur Musical Societies in Auckland. Over 300 of us get all dressed/ dollied and otherwise spend ludicrous amounts of money on make up/ manicures/ pedicures etc etc for our annual awards night. Starting in 2001 this has been the best excuse ever for everyone to get together over a bit of "friendly" (or at times not so) competition, dinner and ALOT of alcohol and enjoy each others company, watch what is usually a marvellous cabaret and then dance/ party the night away. This night usually has the associated pre and post functions however unfortunately for me we have a huge Grease rehearsal the next day so will be taking it easy (famous last words). Also Dad is presenting on Sat night as a tribute to him receiving his New Years Honours so it is a very special night for us as a family.


So anyway to all the nominees - congratulations - each and every one of you deserves to be there and best of luck for Saturday night.


And then onto my personal event of the year THE OSCARS! Can't wait for Monday - sitting around watching Oscar coverage ALL DAY and generally just chilling out. Looking forward immensely to seeing what Ellen does with the hosting job - seeing Helen Mirren, Forrest Whittaker and Jennifer Hudson win in their respective categories and seeing if Martin Scorsese FINALLY gets to take home the big one. Bring it on! (oh and have changed my mind about Best Picture have feeling may be between The Departed and Babel - but from what I have seen Babel is SO like Crash will the Oscars go the same way two years in a row!?!) Oh well all will be revealed on Monday our time. Hoorah!

Oh and just heard!

Jennifer Hudson is performing live at the Oscars this year with her song from the movie - "I Love You I Do" from Dreamgirls - yay!

and the nominees are........

So exciting - the time is nearly upon us OSCAR NIGHT! I will be (as usual) taking the day off work, popping on my glad rags and immersing myself infront of the television with all my favourite things (bubbly, nibbles, ciggies etc) ready to transport myself on my yearly mission to watch as much Oscar coverage as possible.

I will pop up my picks later - suffice to say am THRILLED Jennifer Hudson got the nod - I am rooting for her for sure, and Martin Scorsese as Best Director ? - whether or not he deserves for this particular film is redundant - bascially it is his turn after being over looked so many times before.

and speaking of nominations........... the Auckland Community Theatre Trust nominations came out last night and hoorah for Ian that he has been nominated for best sound for Midsummer Nights Dream !!!!

(oh and another audition this morning OI!).