Thanassis is a co-member of Sydney Playback theatre. I have known him for years but it's always been around the world of Playback. As it happens the only time we could have our "date" was after our playback public performance. I had suggested we meet prior to the public but Thanassis is preparing to fly to Greece in a few days time and had a lot on his plate. So besides Thanassis and myself at the Union Hotel for a meal and a beer there was also Michael, Judy, Mariana, Johanna, Peter and Deborah. I wouldn't call them our entourage but for the sake of entertainment and self grandioseness I will say that they were our groupies;) The atmosphere was noisy , cheerful and Michael was sipping from the champagne glass of classic conducting- it was agreed all round the table it was a most excellent show.
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| An atmospheric turneresque group photo at Union Hotel |
Thanassis is an enigma. He has a computer technology background, studied at UCLA doing improvisation classes- an agile and passionate improviser and generally a nice guy. His Greek accented words scramble out of his mouth like there are a thousand contradictory ideas all equally important to express. What he can't express in words his hands and his facial expressions attempt to footnote. I haven't seen him lose his temper or get shirty once. Just the frustration of not able to give life its fullest description and the respect it deserves. He might shrug his shoulder, tilt his head and raise his hands and and give a beseeching smile.Unlike myself who is mostly brooding or keeping it at bay. Thanassis is the type of guy that will weigh up the shit in life but always mindful to wear gloves and goggles. I found out that he lost his father to pancreatic cancer when he was 16 years old. That he is the eldest by 2 years of his only other sibling , a brother who lives in US who works as an engineer. We both have and shared stories about not getting on perfectly with our brothers. A sad case of when relationships go awry.
I broached him about his new girlfriend. I am always interested in how people actually get together especially at an older age when one gets set in the blancmange of one's life. Thanassis is coy, and answers like a philosopher and politician. Weighing up the obvious joy with the wariness that any relationship can turn into shit at a moment's notice. Kids? He loves kids but. I could see he was loving the idea of becoming a father one day but.... and you can see him weighing..... there's all these things to consider... bringing another child into the world.. would he consider adopting? Yyyeeesss..yes.. That's Thanassis, first weighing up and then committing somehow still carrying and weighing the burden of proof.
I found out he is 10 years younger than me . He turning 40, me 50... I'm not sure if I actually felt older. Thanassis is an " old soul" . I don't actually know what that means but I suppose it means he's seen a lot of shit. I found out that his birthday, 17th November 1973, was the final day of a 3 day uprising against the Greek military junta. 83 dead, 1.100 people wounded. Something Thanassis says his mother recounts to him constantly . Born into conflict, a bloody milestone of Modern Greek history. Maybe that's why he is more acutely cognisant of what it means to bring a new being into this world.
I am grateful I have Thanassis in my life. He represents the younger brother I would have liked to have had. In fact he played my mother tonight to my 3 year old girl.
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| Outside the Union Hotel, Thanassis and myself on our "mandate";) |
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