News and Spoilers

Ivar Kantz (Barry Hyde to Home and Away viewers) and Linden Wilkenson (Mumma Rose) are currently playing husband and wife in David Wiltse's play The Good German, not to be confused with the film of the same name. The Good German is getting its first showing outside of the USA since its New York premier in 2006.

Ivar Kantz plays a crusty academic, Herr Vogel, who is aware of what is going on in Germany in the war years, but chooses to ignore it. His wife, Gretel comes home one day with a jewish friend, Wilhelm Braun and begs her husband to help him. They hide Wilhelm by having him masquerade as their servant. Herr Vogel is however quite anti-Semitic and has agreed to this risky plan only out of love for his wife. Into the equation comes Herr Vogel's old school friend Seimi, a rather weak and self serving man who works for the Nazi party, who befriends Wilhelm. Gretel dies early in the play and the three remaining characters are left to confront the moral dilemmas of their situation. Gretel's death causes Her Vogel to shift his perceptions. As Seimi becomes suspicious they all face the moral dilemma of sacrificing another in the face of an uncertain danger.

The Good German is presented by the newly formed Black Pearl Theatre Company, and is playing at The Seymour Downstairs. The Seymour Centre, University of Sydney - From 28th April through till Saturday 24th May. Tickets $28 - $39

http://www.seymour.usyd.edu.au/subseason/seasons_ggerman08.shtml

Home and Away triumphed at the star studded 50th annual TV Week Logies earlier this week, taking home no less than four awards.

Kate Ritchie took home her third consecutive 'Most Popular Actress' Logie and her second consecutive 'Gold Logie'. In her acceptance speech, she reflected on how important Sally Fletcher had been to her over the last 20 years but was quick to point out that her Summer Bay departure was the start of a new chapter and it certainly wasn't the last we'd seen of her. Viewers were also treated to a light hearted tribute to Sally Fletcher from the Umbilical Brothers.

The trophy for 'Most Popular Australian Drama Series' was presented to Home and Away for the third year running, with Lynne McGrainger accepting the award on behalf of the whole cast. Lincoln Lewis received the award for 'Most Popular New Male Talent' for his portrayal of teenager Geoff Campbell.

A prize was also presented to the episode of Australian Story, which covered the life of the late Home and Away actress and musician Belinda Emmett.

Unfortunatly the evening wasn't a clean sweep, with Charlotte Best losing out to Bindi Irwin for 'Most Popular New Female Talent' and both Paul O'Brien and Mark Furze being pipped at the post for the 'Most Popular Actor' award by Chris Lilley

Maggie Kirkpatrick, better known to Home and Away viewers as Jean Chambers and Viv "The Guv" Standish has landed a lead role in the upcoming Australian production of Wicked. The musical tell the untold story of the witches of Oz and Kirkpatrick will play Madame Morrible, the ambiguously motivated headmistress at the school they both attend.

The show is set to open in July at The Regent Theatre in Melbourne, also starring Amanda Harrison, Lucy Durack and Anthony Caella. Tickets are onsale now for what is sure to be a spellbinding show!

Ray Meagher and Lynne McGranger will be heading off to the UK as usual this Christmas for the Panto season, Ray to play the baddie and Lynne to play the goodie.

Ray Meagher, Alf, will be playing Abanazar in Aladdin at the The Anvil Theatre in Basingstoke, from 5th December 08 through to 3rd January 09. Tickets will be on sale from the 1st May. www.anvilarts.org.uk

Lynne McGranger, Irene, will be playing the Fairy in Jack and the Beanstalk at The Lyceum Theatre in Crewe from 3rd December 08 through to 3rd January 09. Tickets are already on sale and 20% have already been sold, and there is still 6 months to go until the opening night! www.lyceumtheatre.net

Hot on the heels of the announcement that Tim Campbell (Dan) will be hosting the newly revamped Wheel Of Fortune, speculation has risen over the coveted co-host role. Over 700 people have apparently auditioned for the role, with the likes of Lara Bingle, Chloe Maxwell, Lizzy Lovette,Ali Mutch and Gemma Gawned.

But it is one time on-screen wife Holly Brisley that has caught the attention of the casting crew, with some citing that "Brisley is said to have on-screen chemistry with Tim Campbell, no doubt due to their experience on Home and Away." If she is sucessful the starlet will be the third actor in as many months to defect to Nine from Seven, with Tim & Bobby Morley (filming telemovie Scorched) jumping ship after departing from the weeknightly soap.

Is there something in the water in Summer Bay, it seems so if this latest news is anything to go by.

After two years of people dressed as raisins and nuts representing the Weetabix brand, Home and Away has a new sponsor in Ragu sauce.

Ragu was first sold in 1937 and comes under the Unilever umbrella. Available in all good supermarkets.

It's that time of the year again when the frocks go on and the stars come out to play. Logie time! The nominations were announced today, with H&A's perennial favourite Kate Ritchie nominated for the Gold Logie. The ceremony is once again in Melbourne, but this time sans hosts, which will be a different thing from the usual.

The other H&A nominees are:

Kate Rictchie, Most Popular Personality On TV
Kate Ritchie, Most Popular Actress
Mark Furze, Most Popular Actor
Paul O'Brien, Most Popular Actor
Charlotte Best, Most Popular New Female Talent
Lincoln Lewis, Most Popular New Male Talent
Home And Away, Most Popular Australian Drama

From all the staff at BTTB we wish all the nominees the best of luck.

Musicals being all the rage at present, news has reached us that yet another ex Home and Away star is doing well, this time breaking into song. The musical is called Spectacular! Spectacular! is a fairly typical all American story, although it will be shot in Vancouver Canada, and it is basically about a very preppy high school student who will be played by none other than our very own Tammin Sursok, (aka Dani Sutherland) who is part of the school's Spectacular! choir. The group is very poor shape, with all its talent having been poached by a rival squad, or having left to go to Uni. The teenage preppy star sees salvation in a cocky rocker (Canadian Nolan Funk), who reluctantly joins "Spectacular!" to win a money prize that would finance his rock 'n' roll dreams. But the rocker doesn't gamble on falling for the preppy girl. Awwwww, it's a love story too. . And Tammin gets to sing as well. Good luck Tam, from BttB.

Sharni Vinson left Home and Away and the role of Cassie in Australia this week, and flew off to Hollywood straight into the writers strike. However, luck is on her side and the latest news is that she is to star alongside her boyfriend AJ Buckley in a new TV mini series called Scarlet. The series will be released in the USA next month and is being directed by David Nutter, who also directed Jessica Alba on Dark Angel.

Sharni is joining a long line of ex Home and Away'ers who are making an impact in Hollywood. BttB wishes her all the best in this series. If she is good as she was in the HIV story line she will blow their socks off.