BRITISH High Commissioner [highlight]Paul Madden[/highlight] was using all his diplomatic skills when called to Chequers for a high-level meeting with his Prime Minister and the Cabinet Secretary. Well, not his Prime Minister and not the PM’s country home, either.

The good-humoured meeting was on the Canberra Theatre set of “Yes, Prime Minister”, the British stage show comedy that is thrilling local audiences. Paul found himself in the company of actors [highlight]Philip Quast (Sir Humphrey)[/highlight] and [highlight]Mark Owen-Taylor (Prime Minister Jim Hacker)[/highlight].

The show’s Canberra season closes on March 31. Photo by Silas Brown

Crowe tweets for Omar

HOLLYWOOD actor and Academy Award winner [highlight]Russell Crowe[/highlight] appears to be a fan of Queanbeyan’s own slam poet and writer [highlight]Omar Musa[/highlight].

In a series of Tweets and retweets, @russellcrowe has commented on Musa’s poetry video “Fireflies”, which featured on America-based news website “The Daily Beast”.

Rusty said on Twitter: “What I saw was great man, keep it up, powerful, inspiring stuff. Play on my brother, play on.”

“Seems old Rusty is a fan,” says Musa. “CC’s” followed the thread and it appears Musa has been making the most of the opportunity; he’s been sending Crowe more of his material via Twitter.

Musa has just released an album “MoneyKat” and who knows, may be some of his writing or hip-hop could make it into a Hollywood film!

What’s with burgers?

FIRST Deputy Chief Minister [highlight]Andrew Barr[/highlight] abandoned the affairs of state to launch the East Row McDonald’s and now Arts Minister [highlight]Joy Burch[/highlight] has been using ministerial time to open Brodburger, the former burger-van-made-good in its new spot at the Canberra Glassworks.

They say opening the hamburger restaurants fits their portfolios: Barr for Economic Development and Burch for the Arts, but with only months to October’s ACT election, it seems more like pollies on the election trail.

Sissi takes your ticket

AN unexpectedly familiar face in a Canberra Theatre usher’s uniform was spotted by “CityNews” arts editor [highlight]Helen Musa[/highlight] at the opening night of “Yes, Prime Minister”. It was [highlight]Susannah Bayes-Morton[/highlight], who plays Sissi, the young female “godfather” in ABC TV’s “The Straits”, due to reach its dramatic conclusion this week. Bayes-Morton told Musa she’d planned on staying at home in Canberra to watch episode nine of the series when a call came from the theatre offering her the shift!

Baton man returns

APRIL 3 will mark 20 years since the youthful [highlight]Maj Ian McLean[/highlight], director of the Royal Military College Band at Duntroon, took up his baton to conduct the first Music at Midday at the Canberra Theatre.

Now a lieutenant-colonel, McLean (and “CityNews” music reviewer) has been invited back by the current RMC Band music director, [highlight]Maj Dan Hiscock[/highlight], to conduct the anniversary program. They’ll all be joined on stage by [highlight]Andrew Dark[/highlight], now a Melbourne lawyer, who was the first Music at Midday guest artist.

Other familiar faces will be will be the deputy director of music, Australian Army, [highlight]Maj David Bird[/highlight] and [highlight]Maj Peter O’Connor[/highlight], commander of the Australian Army Band in Sydney.

Many Canberra artists claim their appearance on Music at Midday as their big break, among them the a cappella group The Idea of North, cabaret artist [highlight]Queenie van de Zandt[/highlight] and opera singer [highlight]Susan Ellis[/highlight].

According to McLean, Music at Midday has brought a great deal of joy to countless thousands of Canberra citizens and assisted most Canberra and region charities through its gold-coin donations.

Music at Midday, Canberra Theatre, 11am and 12.30pm, at the Canberra Theatre, April 3, gold coin donations go to “Outward Bound”.

With fond regards

REGARDED, a new website and iPhone app offering romantics the opportunity to find, flirt, date, fall in love with or befriend someone they have spotted or “regarded”, has hit Canberra.

Regarded gives people the opportunity to follow up on a stolen glance, smile or friendly chat that was cut short. Users simply log in to Regarded, describe the scenario, time and place and, if the other person does the same, they can connect.

[highlight]Gavin McCormack[/highlight], founder of Regarded said: “We have all experienced being ‘regarded’, be it a smile on the street or a conversation on the train that was over too soon, leaving us wondering what might have been. Regarded is the answer to this problem – a second chance to connect.

“Canberra has a buzzing social scene and a large student population which means lots of opportunity for ‘regarding’ people.”

The Regarded app and website include Google maps to easily find locations, bookmarking favourite places and direct messaging.

McCormack said: “Compared to other online dating sites, the key difference with Regarded is that is safe, fun and, most importantly, designed for people who have already had a connection. We are committed to upholding high standards for Regarded to ensure our members have a sleaze-free and positive experience.”

The Regarded app and website are free to use and available for download from the App Store. More information at regarded.com.au