Picnic at Hanging Rock - 2018

MFMM alums abound in this rebooted drama about the mysterious disappearance of a group of schoolgirls. Our own Ruby Rees has a lead role as Edith, the only girl to have witnessed the disappearance and survive. Ruby gets a terrific nod from The AV Club: 

In addition to the familiar faces, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries fans will recognize a bounty of familiar shooting locales including Rippon Lea and Labassa.

MFMM alums in order of appearance (through the first 3 episodes, anyway):

Anna McGahan as Miss Greta McCraw - Miss Leticia Prout (Away with the Fairies)

Sibylla Budd as Mrs. Valange - Renee Fleuri (Murder ala Mode)

Ruby Rees as Edith - Jane Ross (Seasons 1 & 2)

Nicholas Hope as Colonel Fitzhubert - Geoffrey Spall (Juana the Mad)

Neil Melville as Mr. Hussey - George Sanderson (Season 2)

Philip Quast as Arthur - Dr. Hayden Samuels (Death & Hysteria)

Jonny Pasvolsky as Sgt. Bumpher - Warrick Hamilton (Death Comes Knocking)

Lyall Brooks as rude member of search party - Father Blackburn (Murder Most Scandalous)

Mark Coles Smith as Tom - Tom Derrimut (Deadweight)

Followers of Nathan Page’s oeuvre may recognize Marcus Graham as Tomasetti. While not an MFMM alum per se, he played Nils Vandenberg in Hiding, human trafikker and boss to Nathan’s character, Kosta “Koz” Krilich. So, 1 degree of separation. I’m taking a liberty - sue me.

The series is filmed beautifully, the plot moves swiftly creating intrigue at every turn, and the characters are portrayed with wonderful depth.

Not to downplay the drama and mystery of the series but one of the standout bits was when Edith freaks out because her Ladies’ Monthly has arrived for the first time. The headmistress, Mrs. Appleyard, informs her that proper hygiene is critical because, Maladies flourish in the dark. ROFL. At least she didn’t use the word, damp. LOLOL. Unfortunately, Edith has to cope with this coming of age moment just as the girls are about to head into the bush (pun totally intended) for the picnic. Appleyard condemns Edith to a lifetime of bad timing. PREACH, SISTER!

The series is filmed beautifully, the plot moves swiftly creating intrigue at every turn, and the characters are portrayed with wonderful depth. There are themes of feminism, sexual exploration and freedom, and women exerting whatever power they possess.

Picnic at Hanging Rock is available in the US on Amazon Prime Video. Other carriers include BBC for the Brits, Canal+ in France, and Foxtel in Australia.

MFMM alums abound in Olivia Newton-John biopic

8 in total. Captions on each pic. @geenee27 wanted me to do an old-fashioned recap so blame her let me give you the break down in as few words as possible:

Young ONJ is all about cutie-patootie Ian, who works at the TV station and has only seen her sing for kids until she gets her big break. She doesn’t want to ditch him but Mama knows best and ONJ follows her dream. Apparently, they have an agreement that if she’s not back in Oz in 3 months, they can start seeing other people. She isn’t and he does. Maybe he’s banging a skull somewhere in medical school. Whatevs. NEXT!

We get a first brief glimpse of ONJ’s dad (played by Richard Bligh) when he attends his daughter’s audition on Sing!Sing!Sing! It should be touching, seeing that pride on his face but all I can think is: Mr. B! You’ve got an Amazonian caterpillar on your face! Get it off!! He has a small role but creates an awesomely awkward moment when he meets Olivia’s live-in boyfriend, Hugh Collins Bruce Welsh, and tells him he’s a JSB man (Johann Sebastian Bach). Stay smooth, Mr. B. Strange how he never shows up with a martini... The moustache must be interfering with his magic. Moving on.

Bruce Welsh: rock star, legend, constable in training.  Loving the English accent and the guitar strumming but I cannot unsee what I have seen. Wear all the hippie shirts and wigs you want, Hugo, I will always be waiting for you to ineptly suggest, “Arabella” to someone. It’s not helped by the fact that his character struggles with having a relationship with a modern woman and managing his ego. ONJ ditches him, too.

The always lovely Kate Jenkinson plays recurring character Pat Carroll, ONJ’s bestie and constant companion. Perhaps all of ONJ’s romantic drama boils down to this: who the hell needs men when this smokin’ babe is your rock? Anyway, I digress.

Next up is reporter-turned-friend, Nancy, played by Diana Glenn, whose helmet hair and American accent are absolute perfection. If she’s not a national treasure, she damn well should be.

Coming in at #6, the long-awaited appearance by Nathan Page - whose character no one calls by name until, like, the 3rd time we see him. But then, hotness needs no name. Turns out he was playing security and self-protection specialist Gavin de Becker. (Side note: deBecker’s book “The Gift of Fear” was a revelation when I read it back in the late 90s and still has a place on my shelf.) Anyway, can we talk about the hair just for a minute? Just... NNGH. This was shot somewhere in the middle of Nathan’s last proper haircut and his 80′s mullet-fest theatre work, and it is just lusciously spectacular! Even the patented Can’t Cope Cowlick (TM @omgimsarahtoo ) makes an appearance when his spots ONJ’s stalker in a crowd. The American accent doesn’t work out too well - he hits a rough patch on his “r”s and you can’t tell if he’s just in a lot of pain or imagining how horrible it must be for us to talk like that. All in all, was it worth sitting through 3 hours of whitebread TV special for what amounted to be less than 10 minutes of Nathan on screen? You bet your cowlick. And I’m not here to apologize.

Probably the most surprising MFMM cameo for me came by way of ONJ’s doctor. I don’t know when Sergeant Baxter graduated to a physician but he seems a lot more competent in the new gig.

Finally, herb-collector and future Mr. Olivia Newton-John, John Easterling, is portrayed by Phryne’s old friend Stanley Burrows (Jeremy Lindsay Taylor). I don’t know where this guy is supposed to be from... Texas? Alabama? But it was painful, kids. I thought hearing Southern folks try to imitate my Jersey accent was bad. It’s nothing on an Aussie trying to sound sweeter than tea. ONJ probably pity-banged him just to keep him from talking.

There’s a biopic twisted around these characters with some heartfelt moments, and, overall, the series is enjoyable even if you’re not an ONJ fan (I’m not) but being an MFMM fan helps. It’s always good to see our favorite folks getting work because, let’s face it, fancy bikes and racehorses don’t pay for themselves. Chookas to the cast and crew! And thank you for bringing these old friends back into our homes.

As “Gavin”, Olivia Newton-John’s security detail in Seven’s “Hopelessly Devoted to You”

It’s been too long since we’ve seen this handsome face on screen.

A bit of shameless self-promotion.

SUMMARY: A Phrack Murder Mystery tale set back home in Melbourne after Jack and Phryne’s return (established relationship). Casefic scenario inspired by the following quote:

Truly the universe is full of ghosts, not the sheeted churchyard spectres, but the indistinguishable elements of individual life, which having once been, can never die, though they blend and change, and change again forever. —H. Rider Haggard, King Solomon’s Mines

All ready for the #missfishercon2017 ! May 4-7, 2017. Today is the last day for early-bird registration. Visit the @adventuresses_club_americas Facebook page for details and link to the registration form. Looking forward to seeing you all there! Can't go? Be with us in spirit by purchasing a t-shirt!

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries Rating: Mature Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Phryne Fisher/Jack Robinson Characters: Phryne Fisher, Jack Robinson, Historical Character(s) Additional Tags: Art, Inspired by Art, Emotional Porn, Taking Risks Summary:

MET UP WITH AN OLD FRIEND (STOP) NOT THAT KIND (STOP) ASKED ME TO MODEL ONE LAST TIME (STOP)

now you're just toying with us! (don't stop)