Fifield’s modern Shakespearean TV drama
Dr Mumbo notes that when Communications Minister Mitch Fifield took the portfolio he claimed he wasn’t really a huge fan of the Arts (part of the revised portfolio), preferring the Pet Shop Boys to the ballet or theatre.
But that hasn’t stopped him from doling out some Shakespearean references in his description of the state of television industry politics during yesterday’s address to the National Press Club.
Which of Shakespeare’s many plays did he use? Well, Romeo and Juliet, of course…
Fifield told the room of journalists and senior media execs: “Something I have realised early in the piece is that Free TV and ASTRA are a bit like the Capulets and the Montagues.
Dr Mumbo apologises to the owners of 1996 film Romeo & Juliet whose copyright was breached in the making of this image. Click to enlarge.
“Harold Mitchell as Lord Capulet. (ASTRA chairman) Tony Shepherd as Lord Montague. Which makes Julie Flynn Tybalt and (ASTRA CEO) Andrew Maiden Benvolio,” he quipped, before farewelling outgoing FreeTV CEO Julie Flynn.
“Julie, best wishes for the future,” he said.
Certainly, Lord Mitchell, patriarch of the Capulets – sorry, chairman of FreeTV – has a certain ring to it…
However, Dr Mumbo does worry about whose blood might have to be shed before FreeTV and ASTRA come to any sort of agreement over the perennial hot topic – anti-siphoning list – which governs which sports must be broadcast on free-to-air television.
He is not alone, there is no shortage of the artless the art ignorant, who unknowingly quote Congreve, Thackeray, and/ or Shakespeare daily, and are surprised to discover that a number of their life ideals, and a large chunk of their moral views, are contained within the pages of the complete Shakespeare.
When people tell me they hate the Opera, I always ask them which one, and why; the conversation dwindles very quickly after that.
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It’s just the over acting and stilted delivery which makes Opera unwatchable for me.
Am sure the stories are enthralling under all the pomp.
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