Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
by J K Rowling

The first Harry Potter novel I picked up way back when, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (HP1) was to ensure a few cultural reference points with nieces, nephews and assorted young ones. Totally enchanted, ten years later I’m emerging from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (HP7), apparently the last volume of the Harry Potter saga.

Good has triumphed over evil and The Boy Who Lived has vanquished He who Must Not Be Named. Terms, places and characters – Muggles, quidditch, Hogwarts, 4 Privett Drive, Death Eaters – all elicit knowing smiles of recognition that transcend language and age barriers. Over 400 million copies are in circulation in almost every language including Latin, Welsh and Ancient Greek … And finally, the now 17-year-old Harry can snog with Ginny Weasely to his (and her) heart’s content!

The little matter of the most evil wizard in the universe trying to eliminate Muggles, Mugbloods, and dissenting pure-blood wizards – along with elves, goblins, centaurs and any other species who doesn’t fancy His hortcrux-fractured ego – has been dealt with in a mighty battle. Harry’s choice to confront Lord Voldemort (that is You Know Who) and not pursue his own mastery over death has been our young hero’s greatest exercise in free will. His deceased mentor, Professor Dumbledore, his godfather Sirius and long dead parents would be proud. Though Harry is still stricken by the grief of their deaths and the still accruing deaths of those he loves, he has realised that it is the decisions that you make for the living and not the power of your magic that maketh the wizard.

* Curiously, the kids of Hogwarts (basically a boarding school for young wizards and witches) inhabit a markedly low tech realm. While parents world-wide have been whooping with joy that their own young Toms, Dicks and Harrietta’s have been happy to lose themselves in a novel rather than a computer interface (well, until they've entered the territory of HP by-products at least), the subjects of the Harry Potter series have long been  using owl-power for correspondence. I guess if you are studying the magic arts and saving the world from unspeakable evil you don’t have a lot of time for on-line communities.

Love, loss and hope are at the heart of the Harry Potter saga. J K Rowling has brought in a universe that will out-last us all.

Clive James - Out On His Own (information release)
13 October 2007
Presenter: Jon Nicholls and Sydney Opera House
Venue: Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House
  
Clive James is one of Australia's most famous exports, the kid from Kogarah returns to Australia to tour his brand new show "Out on His Own"
Clutching a copy of Cultural Amnesia,  his new book that talks about everything, Clive James comes on stage and talks about everything except the book. In this new show for Australia, he will so dramatically increase his range of irrelevant comment that quite a lot of it might even turn out to be relevant. There will be no dancing girls, except in his imagination: but since anything he imagines has a way of cropping up in the minds of the audience as soon as he evokes it verbally, perhaps there will be dancing girls after all.
Duration - One hour and fifty minutes including a twenty minute interval.

Sydney Opera House Season
Saturday 13 October, 8.30pm
Adult $75 / $59
*Concession $65 / $49
Book here

Sample Strange Kinoko's youtube clip  HERE  
Don’t miss Tokyo’s Strange Kinoko Dance Company bringing its super-cute dance show not quite right to Sydney for the first time.
Jumping, sliding and dancing around a crazy selection of furniture, created by Melbourne designer Justin Caleo, five female dancers use everyday objects to question the normality of everyday life.
Explore their strange and bizarre world where notions of time, space and scale are put to the test.
Great fun for all ages with a hot soundtrack of lounge, swing, jazz, Hollywood classics and Japanese pop!
“This company takes a childhood fantasy of dancing on furniture to totally new levels”  VIRGINIA HYAM, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, THE STUDIO
STUDIO SOCIAL NIGHT - Thu 27 Sept 6.30pm
If you're single, or just stuck with a partner who'd rather stay at home and watch the footy, then Studio Social is for you! Join your host Annabel Lines in the foyer prior to the show, meet like-minded individuals in a relaxed environment, watch the show together and then hang out in the bar afterwards. For phone bookings, quote Studio Social, or select the Studio Social price type via the web. Full details will be sent two weeks prior to the show.

preview
Tuesday 25 September
season
Wednesday 26 September - Saturday 29 September
Tuesday - Wednesday and Friday - Saturday at 8.15pm
Thursday at 6.30pm
prices
Preview - All tickets $20
Season
Adult $30
*Concession $20
*Concession available to Australian Pensioner, Australian Senior, Full Time Student,  
Bookings here!

See what The Art Life  is up to this week ...