In Sydney, 2002 on the 13th of May.
Ruth Cracknell, Australia’s greatest actress passed away,
Our Ruth died quietly at night in a nursing home bed,
Her courageous heart stopped with angels singing overhead.
Her last scene was a battle with respiratory disease.
She was 76 years old when she discovered peace.
If Australia is an slowly emerging frontier,
Then Ruth Cracknell embodied that wonderful idea.
She wrote: " The last word always belongs to the audience.
I remember their involvement, that blessed connection,
that silken thread that links two hundred, five hundred,
a thousand people to a small circle of concentrated energy.
Yes, that is a most powerful feeling. One that is worth savouring on
dark nights when the wind blows.
On the other hand, there is no way of ever knowing, when one
steps out into that circle, if the connection will be made.
The promise is there, the hope is there, but no certainty whatsoever.
Which is, I suppose, the attraction.
That connection, when it happens, is magic.
When it doesn't… Turn out the lights…"
Ruth Cracknell was unique and is and missed by her beloved.
For this humble observer the connection has been made.
(There is a shuffle in the wings)(Ruth Appears)
God I must look a fright. (pause) but I guess it's alright.
Oh yes, apparently I'm dead. (pause) I lost the fight.
It's hardly surprising considering my age,
And it's not even the first time I've died on stage.
However, it would have been nicer if one knew,
One could have prepared hours before it was due.
Imagine having loads of time to get prepared,
A little smile and a bright red dress if you dared,
Much better when the grim reaper knocks at your door,
Than coughing up pints of blood all over the floor,
Death, ha, I laugh at you , you don't scare me at all,
Of course you don't know, I mean it's my curtain call,
Death is not a final farewell our last goodbyes,
No, some part of us lives on in our child's eyes,
I know my mother and my aunts lived on through me,
They are gone yet I see them as clear as can be.
That is the great question we all try to answer,
What would you do if you were told you had cancer?
To know when you will cast of this mortal coil,
You would have time. It would hardly be toil,
You could tidy up your affairs before you went.
I never had affairs. None worthy of comment,
My love , my Eric, he was a wonderful man,
My affair was with the stage as much as one can,
The God of the stage allows the impossible,
Plays are still magical and that's incredible,
I adored the stage and I loved the poetry,
Where else can your imagination be set free?
(Ruth adopts a poetic/dramatic stance)
I, Pegasus, am not such a beautiful horse,
Yet I, Pegasus can fly along the sun's course,
That is how the Gods allow the impossible,
I, Phoenix, have not such beautiful strong feathers,
Yet I, Phoenix have risen from the burnt ashes,
This is how the Gods allow the impossible.
I am just a humble woman,
But I have danced the waltz with a beautiful man,
That is how love allows the impossible.
Death came to me as a respiratory ailment.
I ran out of puff! That's what they really meant,
God above, what were you trying to say to me?
As you gently ushered me to eternity.
What were you trying to prove, that I talk too much?
It was mine! The gift of pausation or some such!
I had a good innings; the play had a good run,
Here is the gift of pausation to all and one,
And keep watching those re-runs of Mother and Son.
-
Author:
David Wakeling (
Offline) - Published: November 26th, 2024 05:14
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 14
Offline)
Comments5
A wonderful tribute to an artist. Well constructed and in poetic style. The images were well placed in the picture. Well painted very nice.
That is kind of you mi amigo.Thank you
It scares me and thrills me both to have the last say and to give it to whatever audience comes my way. She’d done well though!
Indeed. Still fondly remembered. Thanks for commenting
Beautiful
Thanks compadre
You're welcome
Clearly a much loved actress. I will have to research her out. You have done her proud David with this magnificent tribute to her talent and work. A fine read.
promise me you will check her out. You see Australia doesn't have a star system like Hollywood so most Australian Actors are not known outside Australia.
Anyway I thank you for your kind words
I ENJOYED THIS.
I felt your passion. I learned a bit about Australia that I didn’t know and I agree with the concept of pain tribute to those who have reached the mark in life where they have impacted many and you did that and it was great. I got a Music question for you but not in the middle of this really great poem that you wrote sooner. I’ll hit you with a private message. Very cool. I cool.
Thanks compadre much appreciated
BTW - Australia had given the world a gift. People have been trying for 50 years to re-create the field of the famous STAX record label from Memphis. Otis Redding be in the trickiest to duplicate well. The Teskey Brothers have done so who knew had all these excellent artists for years that failed two white guys from Australia have nailed it. I can’t get enough of them when you listen to their live version of rain it’s transcendent. I hope you’re listening to them. They’re from your country, their monsters, man, monsters, and monsters.
I'll check them out.Thanks for the message
I expect a snappy turnaround on that info. It’s a five minute project. If you like Otis Redding then they will thrill. I’ll wait for your response.
Tic tic tic tic
The Teskey Brothers are an Australian blues rock band from Melbourne, founded in 2008 by brothers Josh Teskey (vocals, rhythm guitar) and Sam Teskey (lead guitar). In 2019, they signed with Glassnote Records and Ivy League Records. They have released three albums: *Half Mile Harvest* (2017), *Run Home Slow* (2019), and *The Winding Way* (2023). At the 2019 ARIA Music Awards, The Teskey Brothers were nominated for seven awards and won three, including Best Group, Best Blues and Roots Album, and Engineer of the Year (Sam Teskey).In 2018, The Teskey Brothers signed with Downtown Music Publishing, followed by deals with Glassnote Records, Ivy League Records, and Mushroom Music Publishing in 2019. They won the Levi Music Prize in July 2019 and contributed to the Palm Beach soundtrack. Their second album, Run Home Slow (August 2019), debuted at number 2 on the ARIA Charts, earning Sam Teskey the ARIA Award for Engineer of the Year, alongside wins for Best Group and Best Blues and Roots Album. "Carry You" went Gold by ARIA in 2022. They released Live at the Forum (May 2020), covered INXS' "Never Tear Us Apart" (April 2021), and issued Live at Hamer Hall (December 2021). Collaborating with Emma Donovan, they released a cover of Archie Roach's "Get Back To The Land" (January 2022). Their third studio album, The Winding Way, arrived in June 2023 featuring singles "This Will Be Our Year" and "Oceans of Emotions".
You’re a champion. I guessing you know I was just messing with you.
Did you listen?
Doesn’t he remind of Otis Redding ?
And most importantly // Did you like the music?
Yes a weird combination of Otis Redding and the early days of Cold Chisel "Forever now". I did like "Hold Me"
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