Little did I think, when I first sang the song, that When I'm 64 would suddenly be only two years away. Will you still love me? Or is it time to display me in some Museum of Ancient Icons: an original Beatles fan who saw Paul wave his hand from the Sheraton window in Kings Cross, 1964.
Well, perhaps not. You see, I'd be embarrassed by all the Young-olds (aged 65-74 years), Old-olds (75-84) and Oldest-olds (over 85) bending down with increasing difficulty to read the label at my feet and wondering who on earth (or on Wings) Paul McCartney was. They might be having problems with the font being too small, and the overhead halogen lights are probably reflecting in their glasses so they can't really see me at all. If they're wearing multifocus glasses, they may as well give up and let the grandchildren take them on to K-Space.
Of course, when they get themselves down the stairs, they'll find all the interactive media flashes too fast for them to understand what's happening, and the background noise will mask their hearing aids. In fact having all those children around is just a bit too much as their energy fades.
What they really need now is not love, but peace, in the form of a comfortable high backed seat in a quiet corner. But not so quiet that nothing is happening. Something stimulating to watch, maybe about stories from our past, mainly entertaining but with new things to learn. A bit of a different perspective on history without trying to tell us that what we remember never really happened.
So we pick up a coffee from the mobile unit on the way to the theatre. Comfortable seats, with nice upright backs. The house lights dim to reveal some black-and-white television footage: the Sheraton, Kings Cross 1964, a window close-up with curtain drawn. Then the street below crowded with young people, cheering. Wait a minute: they are not facing the Sheraton, but the hotel opposite. Even the policemen (lots of them) are smiling.
On his balcony, waving to the ecstatic crowd, is the world renowned classical concert pianist, Artur Rubenstein. If the Beatles won't show, why shouldn't Artur get the applause?
But then, a hand - it must be Paul's (it's not long and thin enough for John's, or rough enough for George or Ringo) - slightly pushes the Sheraton curtain aside. It waves. And the crowd turns into even more ecstasy - while poor old Artur stands alone on his balcony and begins to understand what the new world of pop idols means for him.
The four Beatles walk onto stage left, Artur Rubenstein on stage right, as if they are apparitions from the film become real. They slowly approach each other, and Paul shakes Artur's hand. Films show behind them of their concerts. As the sound fades, Paul and Artur talk over their memories - the exciting concerts, the fears and failures. Ringo leaves the stage, John goes, Artur goes, George quietly fades away. Only Paul is left, looking 64 himself by now, to tell his latest story - about how he couldn't come to Australia in 2002 because he didn't want to offend the feelings of the families of those killed in Bali, and perhaps because of the fear of a terrorist attack if he gave a concert here.
According to the report Energised, Engaged, Everywhere: Older Australians and Museums, this theatre show would be just the ticket for Canberra's Olds especially. The research shows they have twice the interest in arts activities ( 8% against 4%) and three times the involvement in learning activities (24% against 8%) as Olds from Sydney.
When it comes to older people's motivation for visiting museums/galleries, in a survey of over-55s, 77% said "to experience something new" and 71% looked for entertainment. 67% considered themselves to be very interested in the arts (1.16 times the population average). What better way to satisfy these interests than by incorporating theatre in museums and galleries?
Yet the Report's 15 recommendations do not once mention the expansion of arts and theatre performances as important for Older Australians in museums, despite the international museum theatre movement which we have reported in The Canberra Times. Lots about labels, glasses, lights, wheelchair access, seating, sound, technical interfaces and cost - all most worthy issues which should not be ignored. But nothing explicit about the arts.
I just hope this nearly Young-old can look forward to an amendment to this Report before he reaches 64.
Energised, Engaged, Everywhere: Older Australians and Museums by Lynda Kelly, Gillian Savage, Peta Landman & Susan Tonkin. A joint publication by the Australian Museum and the National Museum of Australia. Copies available from Susan Tonkin, Evaluation and Visitor Research, NMA (s.tonkin@nma.gov.au).
© Frank McKone, Canberra
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