Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa or Po?
The Note was somewhat perplexed by a thought bubble by Perth International Arts Festival chair Michael Smith at the launch of the outdoor cinema program at UWA’s Somerville Theatre on the weekend.
In considering the possibility of some local executive talent being used in remaking some of the movie world’s great productions, Mr Smith took great delight in singling out ANZ Perth and Lotterywest chairman John Atkins (pictured) as having prior acting experience as a Tellytubby.
Bemused, the Note sought clarification that the comment had been more than a cruel reference to body shape.
Thankfully, this was the case. At a recent family gathering, adults were required to dress in costumes chosen by the children (note to self: never cede this much control).
We didn’t ask which coloured tubby outfit Mr Atkins had to don – we’d rather leave something to the imagination.
Art imitating life
The Note is fonder of lawyers than most, but even we can see the wry side of the legal profession at times.
It would take a lawyer, for instance, to join the dots between an acclaimed musical and a battle of the sporting codes.
Enter, stage left, one Michael Hotchkin, half of the founding partnership of Hotchkin Hanly.
Mr Hotchkin is normally engaged in bruising legal encounters in construction and property, but outside those billable hours it appears he displays thespian tendencies, albeit off the stage, with quill in hand.
This Bard-like quality was brought to the Note’s attention with the production of his most recent work, an epic called The Sound of Sport, penned as a parody to the Broadway musical made famous as a Julie Andrews’ film.
The newly scribbled play was for one of his children’s end-of-year school productions.
Our operative told us that one of the many theatrical highlights was when the All Blacks rugby team performed their pre-match haka, using the lyrics to Do-Re-Mi.
That is a creative mind.