Caravan

Director: Adrian Carr.

A typical Australian summer story. Who hasn’t been on a caravan holiday at sometime in their life? And a typical Australian summer holiday when the weather always seems to change for the worse.
Caravan is a story of two couples and their bachelor friend who brings along his latest young lady. The friends are in their 40s and the young girl is only 22 and naturally  sometimes the group do not always understand each other.
Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre built a caravan especially for its production. An amazing construction with the side opening to the audience much wider and higher then the rear giving the correct perspective for audience viewing.
The quiet submissive wife Penny Robinson, whose husband Parkes owned the caravan, was played by Claire Hanley. A wonderful performance of the petit quiet wife until! Then losing her temper and had everybody on the holiday cowed.
Rowan Francis was the husband Parkes Robinson. A definite ‘Norm’ type and very upset that he did not get his normal caravan site and spent the rest of the play telling everyone of the fact. A great portrayal of a man who could not always get what he wanted.
The first friend of the Parkinson’s invited to spend a few days sharing the caravan were Rodney and Monica Rice. As Rodney David McLean gave a memorable performance even more than expected as he stepped in at the last moment with only two weeks to learn the role, capturing the character with naturalism and had a good rapport with Sharon Corbier as Monica. Monica was not used to roughing it in such a manner but stuck it out for friendship’s sake. A smooth flowing skilled performance from Corbier.
The young 22 year old Gwendolyn was played by Grace Presse. Presse captured the young giggling girl who thought her boyfriend was old at 36 but was surprised to find he was over 40. A good portrayal enjoyed by the audience. The boyfriend Pierce (opening night)  was played by Graham Andrew. A positive performance projecting well and capturing the character with aplomb.
A well flowing production with a well balanced cast and a good opening night.

Proof

Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre
Director: Catherine Carr.

A four handed play about a mathematics Professor working on a mathematical proof but dies before he finds it. His daughter Catherine looked after him for four years and finds the proof. But who calculated the maths? Catherine’s sister Claire wants to sell the home and take Catherine to New York. But Professor Hal the current mathematician is wildly enthusiastic about the missing Proof.
The set was virtually a complete house on stage. Weatherboard, veranda, where the action takes lace inside a workable kitchen, a study and stairs at the back.
Excellently built and complements to Graham McGuffie set designer and Scenic Artist.
Neil McCall was Robert the professor looking for the Proof. A great capture of the mathematician who only lived for his maths and when he was losing his mind McCall gave a first class portrayal.
His younger daughter Catherine another mathematician who gave up her career to look after her father. Rhiannon Leach gave a deeply feeling to the character. A professional performance in her portrayal from a 25 year old to a young 21 year old in flashback scenes.
Hal, the mathematician from her father’s university was played by Kieran Tracey.
Tracey projects well and had a good rapport with Leach.
Catherine’s sister Claire did not have the academic brain of her father and sister, worked in New York and supported the family. The two sisters did not get on. As Claire Keillie Tweeddale gave a well balanced performance working well with the rest of the cast.
A well directed smooth flowing production from Lilydale Athenaeum

Shirley Valentine

Director: Doug Bennett

Shirley Valentine is a Liverpool housewife in her early forties with a grown up family and a boring lifestyle. An opportunity arrives to go to a Greek island for a fortnight’s holiday and what a result.
The stage was set as a kitchen with the taps I the sink working, the stove actually cooked chips and eggs, the clock showed the time in which the lay was set.
A one person show with Helen Ellis playing Shirley Valentine. As the audience entered the theatre Ellis as Shirley was on stage cooking her husband’s dinner and talking to the wall. She says it is just as informative as her husband’s conversation. Eggs and chips for tea it must be Thursday. A monotonous life and Shirley wonders about the future.
Ellis gave a wonderful portrayal which in act one was the bored nervous housewife who did not really want to change anything.
She does accept the trip to Greece and the change in character was well handled by Ellis.
The Greek set was a credit to Doug Bennett the set designer and the construction crew. It consisted of real sand (the beach) large rocks extending back to grassy landscapes with ancient Greek buildings and monuments on the grass.
A wonderful evening of theatre both acting and sets standard adding to the enjoyment of the evening.

The Freedom of the City

The Freedom of the City
Director: Doug Bennett

A story written by Brian Friel based on the events that occurred on Bloody Sunday the 30th of January 1972 when 14 innocent civil rights protesters were shot and killed.
Lilydale ATC has chosen to present this just as the Saville Inquiry commissioned by the Blair government, is due to be handed down, some 36 years after the event.
The story is set in the mayoral office in the Guildhall of Derry, Ulster, Northern Ireland.
A first class stage setting with three levels, the street, the office and a wall with a landing. There were three main characters, the civil rights personal who found their way in to the office to avoid gas.
Lily, the mother of 11 children, a 40 plus housewife, was played by Gabrielle O’Brien. A wonderful portrayal of a mother just having a break from her family but with a hidden agenda. O’Brien really captured the character.
Skinner, a young man who lived by his wits and wasn’t above a little petty larceny to live. Liam Jordan played Skinner giving a good performance of the cheerful minor criminal.
Michael was an enthusiastic student very keen on the rights movement and disappointed in his two acquaintances’ outlook of the day. Jason Triggs as Michael, performed very well has good stage projection and handled the role with finesse.
The judge was played by Barry O’Neill who really looked the part and had the correct feel for the role. Sandy Clinton was lecturer Dr Dobbs, a small role and well done.
Rod Flanagan was Brigadier Johnson Hansbury. Flanagan looked the part of an army officer just obeying orders. A fine interpretation.
Adrian Carr gave good performances as a priest, Dr Winbourne and the balladeer.
Les Wallis was a Police Constable, Army Press Officer and barkeep. Wallis captured the roles as envisaged.
 The press photographer, reporter and cameraman were played by Steve Tanner. A fine and realistic portrayal.
Professor Cuppley the coroner was given an authentic feel by Cyril Whitchurch.
The TV commentator, Liam O’Kelly  from Dublin Television was portrayed by Richard Foster who had the correct characteristics for the role.
The three soldiers, Pete Young, soldier 1, Ian Carter, soldier 2, and Luke Privitera, soldier 3; gave a positive and realism feel to their characters.
Technically a great success with gun flashes, correct sound effects and fantastic set.
Upon entering the theatre the audience had the mood set by a fully armed soldier each side of the stage, who kept the stern face of soldiers in the circumstances.
The guildhall was barricaded by barb wire. All helping to set the mood of the evening and enhancing the play.
A great evening by Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre.

W;T

Director: Vicki Smith

A story of Professor Vivian Bearing a lecturer in poetry specialising in 17th Century poet John Dunn.. Professor Bearing is in hospital with a serious illness.
Juliet Hayday  as Vivian Bearing gave a fantastic performance in the role and also made the greatest sacrifice a woman can make for her art. Her performance is possibly one of the best your reviewer has seen for many years and her interpretation of the role and her handling of the script was superb.
 As her doctor and former student Daniel Golshevsky played Dr Jason Posner.gave a good professional performance with a good rapport with Hayday.
The nurse Suzie was played by Melanie Rowe who handled her character with expertise and sympathy for Professor Bearing. Judy Corderoy was Bearing’s tutor and visited Bearing in her last moments. A good performance keeping up the very high standard of this production. Ron Kofler was Harvey Keleklan and Mr Bearing. Another very good portrayal. Stephen Shinkfield, Melissa New and Gordon Lyon were the ensemble playing various roles including doctors when necessary. All three handled their roles with finesse.
This play is possibly one of the most moving plays performed for a long time and is rather confronting in its dealing with a fatal unfortunately these days all to common illness.
Congratulations to Encore Theatre for an excellent production.

I Ought to be in Pictures

Director: Tim Long

Encore Theatre’s production of Neil Simon’s I Ought to be in Pictures was well directed, produced and the set design and construction was worth going to see.
A three hander about a young 19 year old girl who hitchhikes from New York to Hollywood searching for the father who walked out on his wife and family 16 years before.
Geoff Arnold was the father Herb Tucker, now q script writer in Tinsel Town. Arnold captured the essence of a father confronted by a daughter who he had seen since she was three years old. A great performance especially when he started having fatherly worries when his daughter starts coming home late at night.
His girlfriend, a make up girl, Steffy Blondell was played by Kim Ryan. Due to an unfortunate illness Ryan had only three weeks to learn the role. Like all good troupers she met the challenge and gave a superb interpretation of such a character.

Haywire

Director: Christine Simmonds.

A light hearted comedy of indiscretions, troubled kids and a grandmother who left her retirement home.
Encore Theatre created a good set of an upstairs living room where all the action takes place.
Alec Firth the bookshop owner is planning a dirty weekend with his assistant Liz without his wife knowing. Naturally nothing goes as planned.
Alec Firth was played by Stephen Barber who caught the character as envisaged really looking the harassed middle aged man trying to get away for a dirty weekend with his assistant. The assistant, Liz, was performed by Lindal Young. A fine performance really giving the feel of the frustration of trying to get away with all that can go wrong does.
Liz Matthews was Alec’s wife Maggie. Maggie had her own agenda which her whole family did not wish to interrupt but was it her real agenda? Matthews handled the role with finesse and added to the success of the evening. Eileen Nelson gave a great performance as Alec’s mother who discharged herself from the old people’s home and later from hospital. The son, Jamie, who came home for help because he had broken his ankle, was played by Stuart Daulman. Daulman had a difficult part as he had to perform on crutches throughout the evening. A good portrayal. His sister Mandy came home pregnant and not wanting to marry the father. Myrto Balamatsias gave the character the realism of such a young lady and performed well.
A good round evening of English comedy enjoyed the audience. 

Over the River & through the Woods

Director Edna Bartlett.\

Season: June 20 – June 29. 2008

Encore Theatre opened its first season somewhat later than usual in the new Clayton Community Theatre. The theatre has just been completed and is a wonderful asset to Melbourne 's suburban theatre network.

The production was Joe DiPietro's Over the River and Through the Woods.

The story is of Nick who spends each Sunday with his grandparents and then has to tell them he has a promotion and has to move across the country. They are heartbroken and do their best to keep him at home.

Adrian Gertler was Nick Cristano. Gertler captured the correct feel for the character and worked well with the cast.

His maternal grandparents were Frank Gianelli and Aida Gianelli. Michael Knuckey was Frank, giving a good portrayal of a self made man who worked hard for his family and like Nick's other grandparents cannot understand why Nick wants to leave the family nod stand on his own tow feet. Mary Kappner was Aida Gianelli. Kappner gave a great performance of the grandmother whose solution to ever problem as eat, eat whether or not you were hungry or whether you would even eat what was offered.

Nick's paternal grandparents were Nunzio Cristano and Emma Cristano. Nunzio was played by John Davis who gave a god performance of a man who would not reveal an illness so that his grandson would not alter his decision about moving..

Joan Krutli was Emma Cristano giving a good portrayal of a loving grandmother who did not know about her husband's problems and worried about the moving of her grandson.
Alicia Kidd was Caitlin O'Hare the girl that the grandparents were trying to match up with Nick to keep him in town. Kidd really captured the character with finesse giving a good portrayal of the girl who did like Nick but as events changed so did their feelings.

A good opening production to Melbourne 's newest theatre.

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Still Under the Brim
Doreen, Mother Figure, Graceland

HATS has a tradition of one act plays so the July season saw the launch if three plays which Hats intend performing at the Ararat One Act Play Festival, Mornington One Act Play Festival and Anglesea One Act Play Festival in 2003.
The company opened the evening with Alun Owen's Doreen. A story of two boys and a girl. Doreen, John and Eric. The two boys had two girls up to a flat for dinner. One girl not liking what she thought might happen left. The two boys are left with one girl who appears to be quite happy to stay regardless.
Doreen was given a seductive and confident performance by Bianca Beer. Aidan Martin was Eric, a shy boy but it appeared that he was the one Doreen was keen on. Aidan gave a fine performance in the role capturing the character as written. John, the confident rather full of himself, was played by Sean Hand. Sean handled the role with finesse and projected well.
The second play was Ala Ayckbourn's Mother Figure. A story of a mother whose husband is a commercial traveller and leaves her alone for weeks at a time. This results in mother only talking to her children and cannot relate to other adults. The next door neighbours pop in and the play is a result of their visit.
Rosemary is the neighbour who visits after a request from the mother Lucy's husband who cannot raise her on the phone. Rosemary was played by Kate Baker who gave a good interpretation of the neighbour who was worried about Lucy's mental state. Rosemary's husband Terry came in to see why his wife was held up and falls into the dialogue and actions. Terry was given a great performance by Nick Beaton.
The mother Lucy was portrayed by Genevieve Ryan. Genevieve gave an outstanding performance of the mother who lived in a world of her own.
The third play was Ellen Byron's Graceland. The play is set outside Elvis Presley's home Graceland which is to be open to the public for the first time. Bev has arrived first; she is an Elvis devotee and is always first at anything connected to Elvis no matter what. Rootie, a young girl arrives and claims she was first and the story is about who was really first and why they should be. No action as such just sitting on chairs and talking, I feel that it could make a good radio play considering it appeared to be two people talking with little action.
Bev was played by Sheona Paxman, Sheona had the correct approach to the character and gave a good interpretation. Rootie was played by Sarah Lamb, a young actor who caught the role as envisaged.
A pleasant evening of theatre and HATS is a company worth adding to your diary.

The Retreat

The Retreat is about four people, three going on a writer's retreat. Rachel has written a film script focusing on the story of Shabbetai Z'vi.
The play opened with David preparing to go to the retreat and arguing with his partner who says he should not go owing to the pressure of work. Then Rachel, a schoolteacher, appears with her preparation to the trip. The set was minimum and opening scene was in front of a scrim. The Retreat basically was represented by a desk and chairs, then a bed then a rear wall of a lounge room. Simple yet effective.
David, a married man, falls for Rachel but as the play eventuates shows that he regularly falls in love with a woman he works with but always goes back to his wife. David was played by David Whitely. D.W. gave a fair performance, diction clear but on a larger stage may not be. David worked well with Eva Parkin as Rachel. Eva gave a good professional portrayal of Rachel, the schoolteacher who fell in love with the wrong man. Eva also had a good rapport with David Demant as her father wolf.
David's (D.W.) partner Jeff was played by Jeremy Levi. Jeff was the more down to earth businessman who had trouble trying to get David to face reality and the business. Jeff played the role with good projection and the correct temperament for such a character.
David Demant as Rachel's father Wolf gave a superb performance. He was in a hospital bed most of the term as the character was in a nursing home. David (D) gave a genuine feeling the father character of Rachel.
The cast handled the production with comfort but as it was written there was not much stage movement and it gave the feel of a radio play done on stage.

Hocus Pocus

Director: Keith Hutton

Sherbrooke closed the 2009 season with a comedy involving twin brothers a Vicar and a millionaire business man. Both are in financial trouble and with a swap around the problems accelerate and then …
The set represented two apartments one the vicarage and the other an hotel room. Both very well done including views through the window and passages seen when doors open.
As the vicar Simon and the twin brother Peter Erin O’Connell gave a wonderful performance changing characters with professionalism and has a good stage presence.
The vicar’s assistant Janet who was not quite what she seemed was given a professional portrayal by Laell Raiteri.
Peter’s friend Bella, a dumb blonde type who also was not quite what she seemed was given a great performance by Tamara Hill-Beary.
As Peter’s business associate Harry, who was not quite honest, was well captured by Bob Bramble who has a good stage presence.  
The vicar’s housekeeper Mrs Gravestock who nearly gave the game away was played by Dru Bartlett. A good performance with Bartlett capturing the character and accent with aplomb.
Paul Phillips was Alderman Knebworth who was convinced t assist in raising funds to assist he church rebuilding. Phillips captured the character and gave a great portrayal.
Luther Gates was a millionaire who knocked back Peter’s request for £50million but when meeting Simon had a change of heart. Aaron Baker was Luther and although a small role gave a positive and entertaining performance.
Luther’s secretary, Miss Vincent, was played by Claire Twycross who also played a masseur Claire. Another small role and well handled.
The final scene was a surprise when the twins were seen together especially when one person was performing both roles.
A good production from Sherbrooke Theatre to close 2009.

Pack of Lies

Director: Tony Bird.

STC chose an unusual play for the July season. Based on a true story where the Jackson family are great friends of their opposite neighbours but did not know that the Krogers were Russian spies.
The stage was set in the kitchen and lounge room of the Jackson household. The lounge room was to audience left and the kitchen audience right.
A well done smooth flowing production with a well cast of players.
Bob Jackson was played by Glenn Baker who captured the loving father and husband and a man who agreed that his home could be used for surveillance even though it was really against his wife’s wishes.
Barbara Jackson was portrayed by Robyn Pollock. An outstanding performance of a shy woman who did not make friends easily but became best friends to her neighbour Helen Kroger only to find out that the Krogers had been living a lie for five years. The effect of this and the surveillance was excellently portrayed by Robyn Pollock.
The Jackson’s daughter Julie was played by Caitlin Yolland. Another good performance capturing the teenaged school girl who called the neighbour Aunt Helen. Yolland handled the role professionally particularly when she learned who her so-called aunt really was.
Liz Mathews was Helen Kroger. Mathews caught the American accent and did not deviate from it at all during the performance. An exuberant role contrasting with that of Barbara Jackson. Mathews caught the feel of the friendly Canadian neighbour really enjoying the company of her friends the Jacksons and delighting in spoiling young Julie.
Helen’s husband Peter was played by Paul Fisher. A good balance to Mathews but some worrying moments particularly at the Xmas party where Helen had a little too much to drink. Fisher captured the friendly quiet neighbour with aplomb and has good stage projection.
The MI5 man Stewart was played by Stephen Baker. Stewart was a determined man who got his way no matter what the Jacksons thought. Baker caught the essence of such a man with finesse and gave a good performance.
The surveillance was done by two girls the first Thelma played by Kate Hender.
A young girl who realised the embarrassment of her position in the house. Hender did a fine job as Thelma particularly as it her first time on stage in community theatre. A young lady worth keeping an eye on. The second surveillance girl was Sally, a small role only appearing briefly. Sally was played by Sue Moon who gave a good portrayal.
An interesting evening particularly as the story was adapted from real life and giving an insight of what spying can really be like..  

A Month of Sundays

Director: Joe Tuppenney

A story of Cooper and Aylott spending their reclining years in a rest home in the south of England.
Sherbrooke construction team made a first class set of Cooper’s room with a door to the bathroom which was fitted out and the entrance door and when opened one saw the passage and other doors along the corridor. Considering the very small stage space of the Doncaster playhouse the way the space was utilised was nothing short of miraculous.
Chris Hodson as Cooper the man whose brain was always alert but body breaking down did a wonderful portrayal as the cantankerous old codger but in reality very popular with the staff. Hodson really caught the essence of the character giving a poignant moving performance.
Cooper’s friend Aylott was played by Roderick Chappel. A perfect partner for Hodson a great rapport between the two with Aylott remaining physically fit but mentally as he says, “the cotton wool is closing in” and his memory is going. Chappel gave a top performance of such a person, changing from normal to slowly losing his mind.
Nurse Wilson, played by Serena Palmieri, was the butt of comments by Cooper but she really liked him and went out of her way to look after him. Palmieri played the part with emotion and sympathy and worked well with Hodson. The cleaning lady Mrs Baker who would not let anyone else clean Cooper’s room was played by Genevieve Ryan. Ryan gave a stirling portrayal in the role with backchat to Cooper when occasioned.
Cooper’s daughter Julia was played by Robyn Pollock. Julia and her husband Peter came the first Sunday of each month and the visits gradually got shorter and less keen but then the two finally became reconciled. Pollock caught the emotions required for such a role with the changes from the stiff upper lip daughter doing her duty to really missing her father and his love.
Peter, Cooper’s son-in-law Peter was played by Stephen Barber. Barber captured the role with finesse and added to the standard of the evening.
A fine evening of theatre by Sherbrooke Theatre Company. 

The Rainmaker

Director: Don Harrod

A play that takes place in a western state of the USA in a time of drought in the 1930s. A family worried about the drought and more worried about their unmarried sister and trying to find a husband for her.

Sherbrooke Theatre's crew did a good set of a lounge room of the ranch then the sheriff's office and the Tack Room. A very small stage and it is amazing how the STC's crew construct such successful sets.

Dad, H.C. Curry, was played by Alastair Rice. Rice gave a good performance understanding his daughter's problems and keeping the peace between the siblings.

The eldest son Noah who ran the ranch and tried to run the household the same way, was played by Mark Such. Such captured the character giving a fair performance in the role.

The youngest of the family was Jim Curry played by Jayme Markus. Jim was over whelmed by Noah but was trying to lead his own life. Markus looked the part and played well with Such as Noah.

The boy's sister Lizzie Curry was given a very good performance by Brooke Dillon who handled the character with finesse capturing the various disappointments and successes with ease.

The deputy sheriff File was given a good portrayal by Robert Adorna. Adorna captured the bachelor deputy and prospect for the hand of Lizzie with ease projecting well and a god rapport with Dillon.

Liam Mitchinson was Sheriff Thomas, a small role but handled very well.

The visiting stranger, who upon payment of $100.00 promised rain to break the drought and was thought a conman by Noah and Lizzie was played by Peter Humphries. A very good performance of a conman who was no quite as expected.

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Thoroughly Modern Millie

Catchment Players Review

Season: May 9 – 24. 2008.

Directed & Choreographed by James Rooney & Nathan Toovey.

A story of Millie Dillmount from Salina , Kansas who has come to New York determined to marry her boss...who ever he may be.

She is a modern girl believing in reality not love in securing her future, but, alas human nature being what it is the heart does take over.

Catchment Players had a good backdrop of New York skyline, the props were excellent some stand out were the typing pool desks. They were mounted on wheels and when the girls were typing the boys pushed them about to the music forming a well choreographed dance movement.

Amy Larsen was Millie Dillmount. An effervescent performance with terrific personality, presenting well to the audience and really capturing the essence of the character.

Her new boyfriend, a paperclip salesman was Jimmy Smith played by Nicholas Kong. Kong gave an outstanding performance in the role working well with Larsen and added to the standard of the production.

Millie's friend, Miss Dorothy Brown, was played by Alma Kiely. Kiely captured the unreal young lady who does not really understand the real world. Several funny scenes were with Miss Dorothy the proposed victim of white slavers and the various ways the slavers were thwarted.

Millie's boss was Andrew Wild played by Trevor Graydon. Graydon has a good stage presence and his scene on meeting with Miss Dorothy was hysterical.

The concierge of the Hotel Priscilla, a hotel for young ladies and if a young lady had no relations or friends so much the better “…sad to be all alone in the world”, was the sinister Mrs Meers who had another profitable sideline. Ang Cuy gave a good performance of the evil character capturing the nuances of such a character with finesse.

Her side kicks Bun Foo and Ching Ho were played by Ben Nguyen and Yuhan Lim. A great pair of performers with some good comedy moments. One particular scene remains in the memory of the two singing Al Jolson's Mammy in Mandarin with English subtitles above the stage.

Emily Fraser as Miss Flannery who was the typing pool boss. Fraser captured the role with ease, projecting well and adding to the humour of the production.

A well directed and produced show and Catchment Players is a company not to be missed.

The Mikado

Savoy Opera Company

Director: Stee Dixon

Musical Director: Brian Clough

The Mikado is the story of the son of The Mikado of Japan who has disguised himself as a musician, a second trombone, with the Titipu town band to escape the attention of Katisha, an elderly lady of his father's court. While in Titipu he falls in love with the ward of Ko Ko the Lord High Executioner who also wishes to marry Yum Yum.

A popular Gilbert & Sullivan operetta and the Savoy Opera Company gave a wonderful fully professional production. The costumes were outstanding particularly Yum Yum's wedding Kimono donated by the late Mrs M. c. Monya Mariko of Japan

The sets gave the feel of being in the land of Titipu and obviously helped the cast to imagine themselves in such a land.

The son of the Mikado, Nanki Poo, was played by Stephen McNealy. McNealy captured the character with ease, projects well, a good clear understandable voice and had a good rapport with Teresa Duddy as Yum Yum.

Duddy as Yum Yum. A remarkable and good performance capturing the comic scenes and also a little worry when she realises what can happen to the bride of man executed for flirting.

Yum Yum's sisters Pitti-Sing and Peep-Bo were played by Ashlyn Tymms and Rebecca Muratore.

A great performance by the two and each worked well with Pooh-Bah and Pish-Tush.

Pooh-Bah was Lord High Everything Else ( and drawing the salary of everyone else) whose pedigree went back o the initial slime and was far superior to everyone else but did allow the odd insult, provided it came in cash and was heavy enough. Geoff Carison gave an excellent performance really capturing the snobbery as expected.

Ko-Ko, the Lord High Executioner, was played by Richard Burman. Burman excelled in this role, he has a great touch of the comique which was evident in his performance and his scenes with Katisha were thoroughly enjoyed by the audience.

Simon Cuthbert was Pish-Tush a noble Lord. Cuthbert also gave a good interpretation of the role.

Janice Kennedy was the elderly lady Katisha whom Nanki-Poo was trying to escape. A great character role and well performed by Janice. Her scenes with Richard Buran are not to be forgotten and her expression when she realises Nanki=Poo is out of her clutches was a picture.

The choruses were well choreographed and added to the standard of the production.

Savoy Opera is a company not to be missed and o not forget the next production Princess Ida.

Kateryna

Suzirya Ukrainian Dance Theatre of Calgary

Ukrainian Male Chorus of Edmonton .

Kateryna.

Artistic Director: Serguei Makarov.

A tale of life in a Cossack village where a group of Zaporozhian Cossacks is gathering. A flashback in time to where the Cossacks are preparing for war.

Andrei, a handsome Cossack meets with the village maidens and falls for Kateryna. The sounds of war leads the Cossacks away leaving the girls and Kateryna to worry about their men.

The dancers gave a great display of energetic dancing and a high standard and the production combined the talents of the dancers with the men of the Ukrainian Male Chorus of Edmonton

The first half of the program was the story of Katerina where the Cossacks are gathering when a blind man led by an unknown boy enters. The Cossack chorus begins with Shevchenko's Dumy Moi. The chorus was the Ukrainian Male Chorus of Edmonton which gave a wonderful feel to the essence of the meaning of the song.

The next scene is a flashback where the young Cossacks have assembled for war and are showing their bravery in song and dance and taunting each other. A very energetic dance program with each member trying to outdo the other. An exciting and colourful performance.

The scene then shifted to the young women who dance with grace a good contrast to the strength of the men. Kateryna falls in love with Andrij and a well done pas de deux is executed.

Andrij is presented with his sword and cap as the choir sings Stand and Arise my Brothers .

The merging of the dancing and singing combines to give an enjoyable evening of theatre.

The Cossacks go to war which was well shown in the dancing mixed with sword fighting. The inevitable end of war resulting in tragedy and then we find the identity of the young boy who looks after the blind minstrel.

Kateryna an opera/ballet and storytelling bringing back many memories to those in the audience ho remember their life in Ukraine and in the village.

The second half of the program was done in concert style with various dances and choir singing.

One number is rather relevant to April the song The Cranes. Lyrics written by a 14 year old boy. It is a lament for the cranes returning to Chornobyl una ware of the tragedy and how the local people tried to keep them away. Set to music this lament was well handled by the choir.

This was followed by a central Ukrainian dance which is accentuated by the addition of tambourines.

The next dance was the Tropak, a number showing the grace of the Ukrainian maidens contrasting with the strength of the men. This was skilfully executed and the dancers obviously enjoyed the number which added to the standard of same.

The production competed with the most popular, energetic and symbolic dance of the Cossacks the Hopak.

The dancers let their hair down and the audience would not let them finish. Where they managed the energy for so long says well for their training.

A great evening of dancing and singing from the Suzirya Ukrainian Dance Theatre of Calgary and the Ukrainian Male Chorus of Edmonton. The Ukrainian community has been settled into Canada since the turn of the 20 th century unlike Australia where the community commenced arriving in the late 1940's after WWII. But in Canada it shows that after 100 years the community still keep up their roots and also bringing their art and culture to the rest of the world.

The Merry Widow

Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Victoria

Director & Choreographer: Robert Ray

Musical Director: Hamish Paterson

Costumes: Phillip Rhodes.

Paris 1905 Where the Ambassador of Pontivedria is throwing a party for the duke's birthday. Among the expected guests is Anna Glawari, recently widowed and heiress to a fortune. If she remarries a man not of Pontivedria the country will go broke.

Anna Glawari was played by Catherine Northey who has good stage presentation, good movement a nice but quiet voice and not easily heard back in the theatre.

The First Secretary to the Embassy was Prince Danilo. Bruce Raggatt was Prince Danilo. A good even performance and voice was clear and strong.

Baron Mirko Zeta, the Ambassador was played by Alan Brown who has good stage presentation, a fine voice and captured the character as envisaged.

Amy Spruce was Valencienne the Baron's wife who was also having an affair with Camille de Rosillon; the French Attaché Spruce gave a good positive performance capturing the character with finesse and also a god balance to Ala Brown.

A great fun character was given by John Filonzi as Njegus, the Embassy messenger. Filonzi has a good sense of the comique which showed particularly at Maxim's dancing with the Grisettes. A good voice and good stage presentation added to his standard.

Lucy Nicolson as Zo Zo the leader of the Grisettes. Nicolson has a good sense of humour a strong good voice which carried well in the Alexander Theatre and captured the essence of such a character.

The dancers gave a great performance as both the Pontevedrian dancers and the Grisettes and the male dancers as waiters. A good standard and added to the production.

Congratulations to off set workers such as the designer scenes, one outstanding scene was when Anna Glawari at Maxim's started to leave and stood briefly under the arch with the Count Danilo sitting forlorn at a table. The lighting was magnificent and the complete scene looked like painting. A really moving scene.

Also the costume designer Phillip Rhodes who tells us that he begged, borrowed and promised favours, searching across the world for materials resulting in magnificent costuming which also adds to the actors' feelings for their characters.

A good evening of theatre but unfortunately generally the lady performers were on the whole difficult to hear from toward the rear of the theatre.

Spamalot

Her Majesty's Theatre

Director: Mike Nichols

Musical Director: peter Casey

Choreographer: Casey Nicholaw.

For Monty Python fans this is it. A musical of Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
Very close to the original film which as the program says a new musical lovingly ripped off from Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Also the show includes a touch from The Life of Brian and Fiddler on the Roof.
Reading the program convinced one that this would have to be a Monty Python production as it opened with a description of a new Moosical Dik ?d Triaaanenen F?l (Finns Ain't What They Used To Be)
And the opening number after the narrator announced this story was set in the year 932 in England was set in Finland .
A very good interpretation of Finland folk music and dance plus background until the narrator returns and emphatically announce “ I said England not Finland” All the performers looked at each other saying sorry and walked off stage then the scene changed to England of the period with Arthur searching for knights.
A well constructed production with great stage settings using all the stage including an enchanter flying in on a rocket propelled broomstick. In true Monty Python tradition there were breaks with film clips interspersed, a cow being thrown across a castle, the killer rabbit with his attack very realistic.
The main cast of nine all but three played various characters very successfully. Billie Brown made an imposing King Arthur. Brown has excellent stage presentation and had the right attitude for a King whose subjects either had no knowledge that they had a king or had no respect for authority. A hard working player was Derek Metzger as Patsy the King's servant. All the program he carried all Arthur's luggage plus clapping the coconut shells for the horse rhythms. He also played the Mayor and Guard 2.. Metzger gave a good performance in all characters but Patsy was the outstanding effort.
Mark Conaghan was the Historian who announced the show plus Not dead Fred, French guard, Minstrel, Prince Hubert.. A good performance in all roles.
Jason Langley was Sir Robin the slightly cowardly Knight who had trouble with his bowels at any sign of danger, described as not so brave as Sir Lancelot. Langley captured the character with finesse giving a good portrayal both as Sir robin and Brother Maynard.
Sir Lancelot, the French Taunter, Knight of Ni. Tim the enchanter were played by Stephen Hall. A very good stage presentation n all roles particularly as the Knight of Ni.
Dennis, Sir Galahad, The Black Knight, Prince Hubert's Father were performed by Ben Lewis. Not an easy task changing from the argumentative Dennis to the huge demanding father of Prince Hubert.
David Whitney was Dennis's mother, Sir Belvedere, Concorde. A good interpretation particularly as Dennis's mother an imposing woman peasant who stood no nonsense from even a King.
Lucinda Shaw was the Lady of the Lake who was upset in the second act about her lack of role. Shaw has a wonderful voice good stage appearance and the right sense of the ridiculous for such a production.
The last main character was only heard but his legs did come into view. This was God played by John Cleese.
The set changed from Finland , the English countryside, various castles in England with a French castle thrown in, a life size cow thrown over the French battlements, a dark and very expensive forest, The holy Grail being found in the most unusual place. A very entertaining musical which sticks to the true Monty Python tradition.

Priscilla Queen of the Desert

Director: Simon Phillips.

Musical Director: Spud Murphy

Choreographer: Ross Coleman .

Melbourne 's Regent Theatre was the venue for the opening and season of the stage version of the film Priscilla Queen of the Desert.

A moving and funny story of three fish out of water heading west from Sydney to Alice Springs via Coober Pedy, Broken Hill and Woop Woop to perform a drag show. The three drag queens are Bernadette the former Les girls star played by Tony Sheldon. Tick, who organises the adventure, is played by Jeremy Stanford and in charge of the bubbles is the flamboyant and unpredictable Adam played by Daniel Scott.

The other star is Priscilla the bus that the three drive across the Australian desert. An amazing prop costing $1million. A full size bus on stage with one side opening to see the interior. On top during the performance there is a giant shoe which projected out across the audience where one of the “girls” sat singing.

Tick has had a call from his wife who runs a casino in Alice Springs to come and see his six year old son who he has never met. He persuades his two friends Bernadette (Ralph) and Adam to join him on the trip. On the way Priscilla breaks down and they call for help. Bob the mechanic arrives and joins them for the rest of the trip. Bob is played by Michael Caton. Bob has long time memories of Les girls in Sydney and is excited to meet Bernadette.

Bob invites them to perform at the Woop Woop Pub where tho local folk do not appreciate ‘faggots' from the city. Caton gave a great performance as the straight man of the team.

Tony Sheldon handled the role of Bernadette with a flair, poignancy and understanding of the feeling for and against drag queens. Jeremy Stanford as Tick was a surprise to his two friends when they found that not only was he married but was a father. Jeremy, during the drive dressed reasonably “straight'. Stanford gave an outstanding performance as the drag queen whose marriage broke down as he said “the other woman in my life” his on stage persona.

The third of the team Adam, played by Daniel Scott, gave the other two a lot of trouble when in an outback town dressed in his gear went to the local pub trying to do a line with the regulars who, when his wig came off nearly killed him. His kind were not appreciated by Australia 's outback small town characters.

A great performance by Scoot.

Other good performances were given by Bob's .Philippine wife, Cynthia who gave a great and comic performance by Lena Cruz. A vital and energetic performance. Shirley, the barmaid at Broken Hill, played by Colette Mann who also gave a stunning performance

The set was primarily the bus crossing the desert with the background colour of reds and yellow actually the colour of the countryside. The pubs were simply done but capturing the essence of the outback pubs. The Alice Springs casino was in the shape of Uluru (Ayers Rock)

The other stars of the production were the costumes by Oscar winning design team, Lizzy Gardiner and Tim Chappel. They have expanded their outlandish creations from the film into 500 eye-popping costumes ranging from kangaroo suits, emus, Australian wild flowers, absolutely outrageous outfits for the ‘girls' and general costumes for the outback folk.

An amazing performance was given by three divas, suspended from the roof above Priscilla and singing quite relaxed and comfortable while suspended in mid air.

.The production used the complete stage in all dimensions from the stage level, on the bars, on the bus and through the air. An amazing piece of theatre and a show not to be missed.

Kiss Me Kate

MLOC Productions

Director: Judy Sullivan

Choreographer: Tania Robins

Musical Director: Geoff Earle.

Kiss Me Kate is the story of a company presenting Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew.
The fun starts when we find the leading man and lady were once married and now divorced then throw in a gambler actor in debt to the local gangster boss and signs an IOU in another name.
A fair production by MLOC with good acting but average singing.
Peter Smitheram was the lead male Fred Graham and Petruchio. A good player with good stage presentation and worked well with his partner Lucy Nicolson Lucy Nicolson gave a good performance as the divorced wife Lilli Vanessi of Fred Graham and Katherine the Kate of Kiss Me Kate. Nicolson has a great sense of comedy which was obvious in her performance and adding to her presentation a wonderful obviously well trained voice. John Davidson was the gambler Bill Calhoun who as Bill played Lucentio. Davidson captured the character as envisaged and gave a good portrayal.
Trudi Sheppard gave a good and amusing performance as Lois Lane (dumb blonde type) and Bianca. Sheppard captured the two characters and amused the audience with her portrayal.
One of the highlights of the evening were the two gangsters sent in to recover the outstanding gambling debt. Both dressed in typical stage mafia outfits, black suits, hats and white spats of the shoes. The first gangster was Michael Young and the second was Bill Irvine. Both were very professional, very funny and really caught their characters with aplomb.
Colin Prosser was Harry Trevor and Baptista Minola the father of Kate and Bianca Prosser showed skilfully the change of character from the reasonably shy member of the company to his role as Baptista the frustrated father of Kate. A good change of character showing the actor's skills.
The stage manager of the Kiss Me Kate company Ralph was given a good performance by Diane Weisner-Dwyer. She caught the character with finesse and projected well.
The opening night audience enjoyed the evening.

Thoroughly Modern Millie

Trial by Jury & HMS Pinafore

Babirra Music Theatre

Director: Leonie Cambage

Musical Director: John Ferguson

Choreographer: Nicole Davis.

Trial by Jury and HMS Pinafore are always presented together and Babirra took it one step further in a very interesting fashion. At the close of the curtain at the completion of Trial by Jury the curtain descended and after interval with the rise of the curtain for HMS Pinafore we, the audience, saw the final scene of Trial by Jury . Then sailors entered, swung the sets form the previous show around showing the decks and sides of the ship HMS Pinafore. A very smoothly exhibition of what the audience normally does not see and added to the combination of both productions.

Trial by Jury is a small operetta about a breach of promise of marriage by the charming plaintiff, Angelina with the defendant, Edwin.

An all male jury who shows as a jury no bias whatsoever except for al to declare their love to the poor bride and venting their displeasure by beating up the defendant.

Opening with the Usher of the Court Mr Samuel Scriggins played by Alan Wright. Wright has good stage projection clarity of the voice and gave a good performance. The learned judge The Hon. Critchlow was given a great interpretation by John Filonzi. Filonzi captured the spirit of such a character and handled the role well. The defendant Mr Edwin Abernathy was played by Gerard Schneider who gave a good interpretation of such a character.

Owen Davies was the Clerk of the Court giving a fine performance in the role working well with Alan Wright the Court Usher.

The judge was given an amusing and over the top which is called for by John Filonzi. Filonzi captured the character with finesse and was well enjoyed by the audience.

A delightful performance was given by the ‘sweet innocent' bride to be Ms Angelina Tibbits Catherine Bolzonello gave a positive and wonderful performance as the broken promised young bride to be.

The second half of the program was HMS Pinafore. With s mentioned earlier the set was changed from Trial by Jury by the sailors to HMS Pinafore. The Boatswain Bill Bobstay gave a running commentary about the change. Phillip Elphinstone as the Boatswain used a heavy dialect which unfortunately was not comprehensible by the audience.

Andy Payne was Sir Joseph Porter who was very proud that although he was the Leader of the Queen's Navy but had never ever been to sea. This was emphasised by the fact that Sir Joseph's cousin carried a small bucket which was well used by Sir Joseph. Payne gave a good portrayal as Sir Joseph Porter projecting well and having a good stage personality.

Captain Corcoran, whose daughter wished to marry a common sailor but also who Sir Joseph wished to marry, was given a wonderful performance by Kevin Kelley. The common sailor and hero Ralph Rackstraw was given a great performance by Steven Crosby. Crosby captured the feel of such a character and had a good rapport with Samantha du'Rennes as Josephine.

Du'Rennes really caught the essence of the Captain's daughter who could not marry below her station no matter what her real feelings were. Some good scenes were when Ralph decided enough is enough and was prepared to do away with himself. But H=Josephine saw this and rushed down and declared her love. Another scene was Sir Joseph explaining that love conquers all and the status of class does not matter. This was nectar to Josephine although Sir Joseph did not realise how Josephine took the news.

The villain of the piece was Dick Deadeye, a crippled sailor who was very disliked by the sailors. .Bill Connellan gave a good performance in such a role and projects well.

Little Buttercup, Mrs Cripps was the bumboat woman who came aboard when the Pinafore entered port to sell the sailors the necessities of life, she was also in love with Captain Corcoran and had a shocking secret that she could not tell (at first). Jennifer Wakefield gave a wonderful portrayal of the character.. working well with Kevin Kelley and adding to the quality of the production.

Blood Brothers

Director: Shaun Kingma

Musical Director: Martin Mcaulay

Written by Willy Russell the story is of twins separated at birth, one going to a rich home where he is well educated goes through university and becomes a city councillor. The other twin stays at home in the slum area barely gets through school and does time in jail and marries his pregnant girlfriend. The two brothers meet and become friends with their lives intertwining till the final moment. Neither knows that they are twin brothers. A dramatic story with laughs and tragedy .A play with songs more than a musical as such.

The opening scene was viewed through a black scrim adding to the dramatic turn of the moment. This scene was at the end of the story and at the completion of same the events moved back to the past and we follow the lives of Mrs Johnstone and her family.

An excellently set stage with each side set with two two storied brick houses with a viaduct at the rear and above the viaduct a screen with a view across a river to the other side of town. During the performance the background dropped down to show country scenes and views from other homes.

Well done and changes moved very smoothly.

The opening player was Peter Stanbrook as the Narrator. Stanbrook has good stage presentation, voice projection with the correct accent for the area.

The twins' mother Mrs Johnstone was given an outstanding performance by Lauren Elise. Elise captured first the young girl meeting her boyfriend at the local dance and then through marriage, deserted by her husband leaving her struggling to bring up a family and the result of having twins. The only fault she did not appear to age throughout, perhaps a touch of grey n her hair and a couple of worry lines on her forehead.

The children playing in the street was remarkably well handled by the cast really capturing the ages they represented. As a six years old nearly seven the poor twin, Mickey really captured the age with his toy gun and his friends playing cops and robbers, cowboys and Indians.

Then his, unknowing to Mickey) twin brother appears from the other side of the tracks. Eddie the other twin wanted to join in and was accepted by Mickey, they swore to be blood brothers and played happily together.

Mickey was played by Chris Buchanan who captured the cheeky young Mickey a little shy with the girls as he was growing up. Buchanan gave a great performance in the role handling the change of years to the problems of school; work, on the dole, forced marriage and the final tragedy with expertise and professionalism.

Mickey's twin Eddie was played by Christian Cavallo who caught the character of the twin from the posh side of the tracks yet wanted the feeling of friendliness that Mickey could give. Cavallo caught the essence of the lad growing up in a well-to-do household with god schooling, university and then onto being a local councillor, with ease and professionalism. Both Buchanan and Cavallo worked well together with a good rapport.

Mickey's elder brother Sam , who lead Mickey into all kinds of trouble was played by Eric Wawra. A good performance showing the character of such an older brother.

Their girlfriend whom eventually the two boys fell in love with was Linda, played by Laura Burzacott. A good role covering her life as a little neighbourhood friend of the Johnstone family to a teenage schoolgirl in love with Mickey to a young woman who marries Mickey but also loves Eddie. Burzacott gave a good performance in the role capturing the essence of such a character and her age changes were excellently done.

The mother of Eddie, Mrs Lyons, was played by Pam Christie Birkett. Mrs Lyons was well-to-do and hired Mrs Johnstone as her housekeeper. The two became quite friendly and then when Mrs Johnstone was expecting twins, Mrs Lyons, who could not conceive, had a bright idea. Birkett captured the character very well giving a very good performance of the adapted mother who promised that Mrs Johnstone that she could see her baby every day to the feeling of jealousy and ultimately sacking of the baby's real mother and the feeling of persecution ever since.

Mr Lyons, the businessman who did not spend much time at home allowed his wife carte blanche with her baby. David Gedicke as Mr Lyons handled the role with ease and projected well.

An unusual play with a tragic ending by CLOC with a very high standard of production and well enjoyed by the opening night audiencd.

The Phantom of the Opera

The Princess Theatre

After 17 years The Phantom of the Opera returned to Melbourne and if the opening night is a sign it will be even more successful.

The venue. Melbourne 's Princess Theatre is an ideal location as it was built at the same time as the Paris Opera house where the story is set. In the story there is a Box set aside for the Phantom, In The Princess Theatre there is a seat set aside for the ghost of Frederici the theatre's own ghost.

The production opened with an auction of the bits and pieces from old productions the major piece being the infamous chandelier. This was uncovered and then hauled to the ceiling. Then the show started. The technical effects lived up to the previous standard if not better, the smooth running of the production was a credit to cast and crew.

The Phantom was played by Anthony Warlow under difficulties of having the Flu'. This by no means diminished his voice or performance. His projection is magnificent and the voice came over strongly and clearly. He had a good rapport with Ana Marina and the duets were excellent.

Ana Marina as Christine Daae played the role with finesse and really captured the innocent young girl being trained as she says by the Angel of Music ho was determined to see herself no matter what the cost. A wonderful performance really appreciated by the opening night audience.

A high standard production bringing gasps of shock when the chandelier crashes down above the stalls. It comes down then swings onto the stage so gently that not one globe broke.

Another scene which bought instant applause was the masked ball where all the guests were on a stairway. An amazing piece of theatre. Other impressive scenes were when the Phantom takes Christine down to his home across a lake in the bowls of the theatre. They rowed across the lake lit by candles after coming down ramps and the boat even had the ripples from the bows as it crossed the stage. The final scene where Christine's lover, Raul caught up with them was very emotional and tragic. An unexpected ending but suited the story.

When the performers came forward for the applause which was awarded by the audience was only equalled when Anthony Warlow entered the whole theatre rose as one in a standing ovation.

A great evening of theatre and one never to be forgotten.

Patience

Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Victoria

Director and Choreographer: Robert Ray

Musical Director: John Ferguson

  The Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Victoria presented Patience giving the Melbourne audiences a preview of the production the company is taking to the Gilbert & Sullivan festival in England . A fun production set in the time of the aesthetic movement where the girls of the village have forgotten they are engaged to the regiment of Dragoons and have all fallen in love with an Aesthetic poet Bunthorne.

Reginald Bunthorne was played by Ron Pidcock. Pidcock captured the essence of the aesthetic movement mincing across the stage waving a flower and followed by all the love struck ladies Pidcock has good stage presence and gave a professional performance.

His rival another aesthetic poet was Archibald Grosvenor played by Aleksy Bialecki. Bialecki also gave a great interpretation of such a character. But later in the story he completely changed and the contrast was very well done. A good performance.

Patience, the milkmaid, who could not understand this aesthetic movement and was also loved by both the poets, was played by Joanne Blankfield. She gave an excellent performance being not only a good actor but an excellent and delightful voice. Blankfield presents well on stage and worked well with her fellow performers.

Another good and amusing performance was given by Lynlee Williams as Lady Jane. Lady Jane was as she said slightly sagging in her beauty so was anxious to grab Reginald Bunthorne before this became too obvious. She diligently pursued Bunthorne throughout the evening until a surprise ending. Williams gave a good performance as a character and one highlight was an individual performance “playing” the double bass as a solo in front of the curtain. This performance nearly brought the house down.

Sarah Taylor as Lady Angela gave a fine performance adding to the standard of the production.

A mention must be made about young Patience and young Archibald. These roles were played by Evelyn O'Meara and Declan Kerr-Lawley. Both are toddlers and caught the characters and were enjoyed by the audience.

A good production with stunning sets and good costuming and Melbourne wishes them all the best on the forthcoming trip.

Fiddler on the Roof

Diamond Valley Singers & Eltham Orchestras Inc.

Director & Choreographer: Deborah Uselioates.

 Fiddler on the Roof is the story of life in the little Ukrainian village of Anatevka with the Jews and the Cossacks who are both ruled by the invading Russians.

Tevye the milkman, who believes in tradition and as he says “without our traditions life would be as shaky as a fiddler on the roof”.

Tevye was given a good interpretation by John Leahy. John captured the character with professionalism and projects well.

Golda, Tevye's wife, was played by Amy McLean. McLean gave a great performance and was a good balance to John Leahy.

Tevye's daughters were Tzeitel, Hodel, Chava, Shprinze, and Bielke. Tzeitel was played by Gaby Kolb. Tzeitel was the first to break with tradition by wishing and marrying the man of her choice. Gaby gave a very good performance as the young girl about to be married to Lazar the butcher, a man older than her father, courtesy of the matchmaker, but succeeding in marrying the man she lived. Her husband was Motel Kamzail a poor tailor, was played by Jonathan Parsons. Parsons caught the persona of the character giving a good performance and working well with Gaby Kolb.

The butcher, Lazar Wolf, who wished to marry Tzeitel was played by Brad Buckingham. Buckingham gave a fair performance in the role and presented well.

Yente, the match maker who did not believe in these modern ideas of young people making up their own minds as to who they should marry, was given a wonderful performance by Lynne Counsel

The second sister Hodel was played by Chloe Sproat. Sproat gave a wonderful and very moving performance particularly in the scene t the station saying good bye to her father while she was on her way to Siberia to join her fiancé Perchik.

Philip Shayer was Perchik, the student from Kyiv who upset the community with his modern thinking. Shayer gave a good interpretation of the poor and radical student who taught Tevye's children and fell in love with Hodel

Chava, played by Jennifer Wilson also broke with tradition by marrying a Christian and Tevye could not forgive her. Jennifer captured the feeling of such a girl who broke with her family for love. Another good performance..

The young Ukrainian Cossack Fyedka who falls in love with Chava was played very well by Tim Warren.

The Constable was played by Geoff Vaughan who has a good stage presence and gave a good performance.

The Cossack Dancers were a little disappointing, not really fiery enough and the choreography did leave a little away from the original type of Cossack dancing. The Bottle dancers were successful with four members dancing with bottles balanced on their heads while dancing and in the dance down nearly on their knees and up again with the bottles staying balanced at all times.

A large cast of 58 members and the age ranged from 70 years to three weeks, yes three weeks. In the last scene with the Jews leaving Anatevka Tzeitel and Motel were carrying the baby.

A pleasant evening with the large cast enjoying the feeling of appearing on stage for the first time and this is what amateur theatre is all about giving beginners an opportunity to make their stage debut.

Miss Saigon

Her Majesty's Theatre

Director Laurence Connor

Miss Saigon opened in Melbourne on March 29 to an appreciative audience.

Yes the helicopter was there. A computer generated helicopter but just as if not more than an actual helicopter. The sound of it flying overhead came from the back of the theatre across the auditorium and then was seen landing on the roof of the Embassy where the Americans fleeing the Viet Cong climbed aboard. It was so realistic it was hard to believe it was a computer image.

The story is set in three different cities albeit four names.

The story opens in Saigon in April 1975 with Kim a country girl finding herself lost in the big city.

Kim was played by Laurie Cadevida. Laurie was Kim; she caught the finer nuances of the lonely desolate young innocent lost and finding herself in a situation over which she has no control. A wonderful portrayal. Cadevida has a strong and good voice with clear enunciation.

The actor who stole the show was The Engineer played by Leo Tavarro Valdez. The Engineer initially the brothel owner who takes in Kim. He is a man out for The Engineer and no one else and there is nothing he would not do to achieve his ends. Valdez has a great stage presence and played the part in a way that the sympathy of the audience was with him regardless of the evil character he was.

Chris the young American serviceman who fell for and married Kim was portrayed by David Harris. David showed the feeling of a young man in a situation that obviously was very unpleasant but then both sorrow and love for the young innocent Kim. His performance captured the young man torn between two cultures and love for two women and his half Vietnamese son.

John, Chris's friend and Embassy employee was played by Juan Jackson who caught the friend torn between friendship and duty by knowing the future of such a mixed marriage.

Ellen, Chris's American wife was given a moving performance by Sophie Katinis. Sophie caught the essence of the young American wife worried about her husband's moods after such a life experience and understanding the feelings of Kim and Kim's love for Chris.

Kim's betrothed Thuy a family relation and a commissar in the communist regime was given a good performance by R. J. Rosales. Rosales has a good stage presence with a positive projection.

The show is very spectacular with a large cast showing the life in sleazy parts of Saigon just prior the communist takeover, Ho Chi Minh City in April 1978 showing the contrast between the old regime and the new. This was very well done and gave the feel of a dictatorship and the people's oppression. Not a pleasant scene showing examples of torture and the length a mother will go for her child.

This was followed by a brief scene in Atlanta USA in September 1978 where the Chris is still having nightmares of his experiences in Vietnam .

The last scene is in Bangkok where the Engineer is still trying to get to USA and Kim is doing anything to keep alive and the promise to her son that his father will return for him.

A well produced smooth running show with amazing sets which were changed efficiently and easily. The one fault that was heard by many was the sound technicians who do not appear to realise that theatre goers are not deaf. The helicopter and aircraft flying overhead was extremely loud but this is to be expected as these aircraft are noisy. But when the singers volume is increased to the extent that it ruins the timbre of the voice and grates on the ears someone should take note.

Sound these days does generally appear too loud which makes one wonder if the sound technicians have their own hearing problems.

The King and I

MLOC Productions.

Directors: Roy & Jenni Mears

Musical Director: Geoff Earle

Choreographer: Laura Hamilton.  

A story of Anna Leonowens, a widow who has a position as governess and teacher of the children of the King of Siam. Based on the real story of Anna Leonowens this musical tells the story of Anna and her sone and the effect on the King and the Siamese people.

A great challenge for MLOC with a cast of 65 with ages ranging from 6.5 to 65 years. The company is to be congratulated on a wonderful production.

Anna was played Emma Watts. Emma had to wear the large hoop dresses of the period which would not be easy to handle backstage. Emma has a delightful voice which projected across the theatre and was easily understood. Her acting ability equalled that of the voice and her rapport with the children was excellent.

Anna's son Louis was given a very good performance by Jack Earle.

Albert Ip played the king. A great performance and a wonderful interpretation .Albert presents well, had a good rapport with Emma Watts and they had some good scenes together.

Another good performance was given by Christine Keys as Lady Thiang; Christine has good stage presence and a good voice.

Tuptim, the young girl who was a present to the King of Siam but loved another was given a good performance by Georgie Walker. Her love Lun Tha was played by Danny May who contrasted well with Georgie and the two added to the standard of the production.

A good well executed scene was The Little House of Uncle Thomas. Danced by the children of the King and narrated by Tuptim who tried to use the story to tell the King her personal feelings.

Rubin Matters was Crown Prince Chululongkorn. A positive and enjoyable performance. Rubin has a good stage presence and is a promising fine actor.

Paul Ash captured the character of The Kralahome with professionalism giving a good performance.

A popular production with a delighted audience and MLOC gave a good production.

Hot Mikado

Mountain District Musical Society

Director: Paul Watson

Musical Director: Ryan Jacobs

Choreographer & Co-Director: Lyndall McGregor

Hot Mikado is an updated to the 1940s version still remembering the original but including jazz, hot gospel and typical 40's music. MDMS achieved a great success, having a wonderful cast and a great set.

The opening was two Japanese ladies in kimonos enter but are taken off by two girls in 40's dress. The set was magnificent portraying a Japanese background of red and black and was very effective.

Jonathon Guthrie-Jones was Ko-Ko and what a performance. Jonathon has a great stage presence a good strong voice and an excellent acting ability all of which came to the fore in his performance. His scenes with Frieda Lai (Katisha) were amazing, a Good rapport from both performers which added to the standard of the production.

David Short was Nanki-Poo the son of the Mikado disguised as a second trumpet to escape the clutches of Katisha who thinks he is in love with her.

David captured the character with finesse giving a great performance and working well with Jasmine Dare who plays his love Yum-Yum. Some of David's scenes were a delight such as trying to do away with himself and Ko-Ko trying to put to his (Ko-Ko) advantage.

A delightful trio was Yum-Yum, Pitti-Sing and Peep-Bo. When they entered singing Three Little Maids are We they were the Andrew Sisters of the 1940s. A great interpretation

Yum-Yum, Nanki-Poo's love was given a superb performance by Jasmine Dare. Jasmine has the cheeky feeling expected of the character and besides having a good, clear voice is an excellent actor. A great performance and Jasmine worked well with David Short with some memorable scenes such as when she found if being married to a man to be executed means she must be buried alive. Her expressions were excellent as she thought about changing her mind and asking Nanki-Poo if he understood.

Her friends Pitti-Sing and Peep-Bo were a good balance and played very professionally. Brigid B. DeNeefe was Pitti-Sing a wonderful performance and a great voice

Peep-Bo was played by Deana Moore. Deana gave a good performance and added to the standard of the production.

Pooh-Bah Lord of everything was given a bright and humorous portrayal by Tony Burge. Tony captured the character of the persona in a professional manner and was well appreciated by the audience.

The joy of the evening was Fried Lai as Katisha, the plain older member of the Mikado's court who was after Nanki-Poo to marry because once he was well-mannered to her.

A great performance and voice what can one say, a small person but a perfect blues/jazz voice booming across the stage and auditorium. It stunned the audience and just mad the production. Not only a great singer Frieda gave a good acting performance and her expressions particularly after Little Tom Tit were an absolute picture.

Another leading character who added to the enjoyment of the evening was Pish-Tush played by Harry Tseng. Harry has a good stage presence, a touch of the comique and a great performer.

The Gentlemen of Japan, Katisha's wenches and the geishas gave good performances which enhanced the success of the evening giving MDMS a high standard to keep up to.

Annie Get Your Gun

Babirra Music Theatre

Director: Craig Maloney

Music Director: Basil Hawkins

Choreographer; Renée Maloney.

A successful evening of the western musical about Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West show and his two stars Annie Oakley and Frank Butler. Both are crack shots but Annie could outshoot anyone. Based on the real life of all the characters Babirra's production captured the feel of the times and the characters with strong, professional performances.

Opening we see Annie Oakley her young sisters and brother come from the hills to sell game to the local hotel. Annie cannot read or write nor count which led to some funny moments.

Megan Coe was Annie and what an excellent choice of casting. Megan was Annie of the musical, some of the best expressions seen on stage and when she first met Frank Butler her stunned look almost brought the house down. She worked well with the other members of the cast and when she moved on to the experienced show girl Megan's professionalism came to the fore in handling the role in all its variations. An outstanding performance.

Eric Wawra was Annie's hero the world's greatest shot (until Annie came along) Frank Butler. Eric has a good stage presence and captured the essence of such a character comfortably Eric's expression was also good particularly when he shows off his medals to Annie and she opens her jacket. Eric and Megan worked very well together with a great rapport and looked as if they were enjoying themselves thoroughly which goes through to the balance of the cast and to the audience.

The owner of the show Buffalo Bill Cody was played by Bill Connellan. Bill has the stature of the character projecting well and very sympathetic to Annie while still trying to keep the show on the road. A good performance keeping up the high standard of the production.

The odd girl out and troublemaker was Dolly Tate played by Lesley Wardrop. Lesley has a good sense of the comique which was very evident in her portrayal. Her scenes particularly with Barry Baker were a sheer delight.

Barry Baker was Charlie Davenport the manager of the Wild West Show. Barry also has good stage presence working well with the other cast members and some great scenes with Lesley Wardrop.

Chief Sitting Bull was played by John Filonzi who could have been born for the part. A good stage appearance moving with dignity as expected from a Chief of the Sioux.

The clumsy half Indian half Irish knife thrower was given a great portrayal by Tyler Hess. As Tommy Keeler Tyler's sense of timing was very good as he staggered across the stage while overloaded with luggage and although seemingly about to stumble just saved himself and the parcels. He was in love with Winnie Tate the sister of Dolly Tate who did not approve of such a romance.

Winnie Tate was played by Kate Warner. Kate gave a good performance in the role and was a good balance to Tyler . They both had some good scenes working well together and getting a few good laughs

Paul Hansen was Pawnee Bill, Buffalo Bill's rival and friend. Paul captured the character giving a good portrayal and adding to the standard of the production.

Annie's sisters and brother on opening night were played by Cast A, Tate Wallas, Tayla Currie, Brigette Garofalo and Miranda Garofalo. They were excellent both in the acting and in the singing. A good future in the theatre is looming for these youngsters.

The costuming was excellent with the period set well to the changes from Annie as a hill billy type to the sophistication of the hotel party in New York and Annie's show business costumes of glamour and yet practically.

A wonderful evening of theatre thoroughly enjoyed by the opening night audience which can be theatre's harshest critics.

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The Witches of Eastwick

Catchment Players of Darebin Inc.

Director: Nathan Firmin.

Music Director: Tyson Legg

Catchment Players opened the 2007 season with a look at a small New England town and how the population handled something out of the ordinary

The story of three divorcees who were not really accepted by the other ladies in town and what happened when their wishes came true

A simple set plan which worked efficiently and by no means took away from the story.

The three divorcees were Alexandra .Spotford, a failed sculptress who was also worried about her teenage son; Jane Smart the upright music teacher and Sukie Rougemont who is having an affair with her boss, Felicia's husband Clyde .

Alexandra was played by Rachel Whitelaw who gave an outstanding performance. Rachel has a good stage projection and had a good rapport with her fellow team mates.

Jane Smart was played by Cassandra Beckitt.. Cassandra really caught the feel of the frustrated drab looking music teacher with her hair bound back and heavy framed spectacles. After meeting the newcomer to town her persona changed and did t change! A wonderful performance.

Susie Rougemont was played by Alexandra Clover. Alexandra caught the finer nuances of the newspaper girl who could not finish a sentence when speaking and was having an affair with her boss. Clover has good stage projection and captured the character with professionalism. The three girls worked very well together and obviously enjoyed their roles.

The newcomer to town was Daryl Van Horne. Who was he? Was he just a newcomer or was he devil in disguise? Lee Threadgold played the role capturing the suave, outrageous bachelor having all the girls in town and especially the three friends shall we say interested. Lee captured the role with finesse creating the mystery and some of his expressions particularly later in the story when the girls were not quite what he expected, were a picture. A very good performance. Another character in the Van Horne household never to be forgotten was the butler Fidel. A non speaking part but the expressions. David Cenzato was absolutely terrific in the role. No matter what was happening in his master's house not a change of expression but when a young lady from the town enticed him out of the room what a difference. David really captured the character and added to the quality of the show.

The town's busybody who ran the place was Felicia Gabriel. Felicia was played by Natasha Bassett Natasha caught the character with aplomb making her into the most despicable unliked person in town. A wonderful portrayal and very professionally done. Her poor henpecked husband who was editor of the local paper and dared to have an affair with his secretary Sukie was Clyde Gabriel. Clyde was played by Mark Monroe who really caught the essence of such a character and gave the audience the feeling that he really was the character. Some good scenes with Natasha particularly in the kitchen with the frying pan and the look on his face after the incident.

Lauren Seymour was Jennifer Gabriel daughter to the above. Lauren captured the sweet young girl in love with the wrong boy and then the transformation into the girl friend of Daryl Van Horne. Lauren gave a wonderful portrayal of such a character which added to the production. Her boyfriend Michael Spotford, the son of Alexandra Spotford, was a real nerd but did change through the course of the evening into completely the opposite. Stephen McDowell gave an outstanding performance in capturing such a character with such contrasts.

The little girl was played by Samantha Dodemaide. A narrator part with the little girl coming on and singing about the goings on in town. Samantha given plaits and a little girl dress lived the role and projected well.

An excellent evening by Catchment with some amazing stage effects completely unexpected but added to the magic of the show and I mean magic.

Shout - The Legend of the Wild One

CLOC Musical Theatre

Director/Choreographer: Craig Wiltshire

Musical Director: Bev. Woodford

The life story of Australia 's Rock ‘n Roll king, The Wild One Johnny O'Keefe.

The production tells the life story of Johnny O'Keefe from his first performance to his meeting with entrepreneur Lee Gordon and the results of that meeting.

CLOC presented an amazing show with sets ranging from an FJ Holden number plate FJ OK to the interior of the Sydney Stadium, Channel 2 and Channel 7, Furniture store dressing rooms and many more. All sets well done and very slickly moved on and off.

Chris Hughes gave an amazing and energetic performance as Johnny O'Keefe. A superb performance capturing the feel of such a character and did not stop moving for a minute. A good voice and excellent acting skills and a good rapport with his other performers.

His girl friend then wife was played by Jodie Symes. As Marianne Renate Jodie gave an excellent performance capturing the broken English of a new arrival to becoming a wife and mother then leaving Johnny because of his lack of interest in his own family.

Another great and energetic performance was given by Fernanda Testa as entrepreneur Lee Gordon. Lee Gordon was an American who brought out many American stars to Australia . Johnny O'Keefe was the first Australian performer presented by Lee Gordon.

Johnny's parents were played by Marissa Tunks as Thelma O'Keefe and Robert Harsley as Johnny's father. A very funny scene was when the parents were trying to find their seats in the Sydney Auditorium actually in the theatre. Both gave very good performances and added to the professionalism of the show. A young lad who gave a stunning solo was Barnaby Reiter as a young boy.

Backing Johnny O'Keefe were the Dee Jays and the Delltones. The players in each group captured the groups and gave stirling performances.

A nostalgic evening for many of the audience and it was funny looking around to see the puzzled looks on the younger members as the older audience beat to the music and moved with the music bringing back memories of the Sydney Stadium and the era of Rock ‘n Roll.

At the end of the production Johnny (Chris Hughes) called the entire audience to stand and with the cast on each side of the theatre everyone jived and jumped to the music till they could do so no more.

CATS

Nova Musical Theatre

Director: Noel Browne

Musical Director: Philip Osborne

Chorographer: Peter Wallace.

NOVA Theatre presented Andrew Lloyd Weber's Cats based on “Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats” by T. S. Elliot.

An unusual musical in that there are no stars. Originally set in a rubbish dump restrictions are that amateur companies cannot use the rubbish dump setting nor the original lighting scheme but must design their own sets and lighting. This by no means daunted NOVA and the result was a great success. The stage was set on the rooftops of London with plenty of openings for the cats to come and play and a novel idea for the chosen cat to go to the Heaviside layer for rejuvenation.

Lighting was excellent and added to the success of the evening. For a change one could hear the singers and although there was variation in the singing all were clear and understandable. Other companies please take note.

The dancing was very good and was enjoyed by the audience. Keith Stubley as Old Deuteronomy gave a superb performance as the leader of the Jellicle cats and who chose the cat to go to the Heaviside layer. A good clear, strong voice and a great stage appearance.

A funny scene was all the cats lined up singing when a little mouse wandered on stage looking at the audience then turned upstage and saw The Cats. What a reaction and certainly added to the mirth of the evening.

Another good scene was the Awful Battle of the Pekes and Pollicles. A very difficult dance routine with the costumes and style of footwear.

A good routine and amusing one was given by Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer danced and performed by Matt Jakowenko and Miranda Brooks .

A star of the evening was the old cat who left the Jellicle cats a long time ago. Then she was beautiful and now she is lonely and wants to return but initially Grizabella is not welcomed back by the Jellicle tribe. Fiona Wake gave a stunning performance as Grizabella, a beautiful clear, strong voice and a high standard of acting to balance it. .

A very successful evening out and congratulations to NOVA for a wonderful night of musical theatre.

Sweeney Todd

Dandenong Theatre Company

Director: Neil Goodwin

Musical Director: Ben Hudson.

The story of an escaped convict one Sweeney Todd from Botany Bay returning to England to seek his revenge on Judge Turpin who sentenced Todd for life so the judge could have his way with Todd's beautiful wife and later Todd's daughter.

A gruesome production in true Sondheim style.

The stage captured the feel of London in the 1800's with good sets and touches of London fog creeping in.

Mrs Lovett's pie shop had Sweeney Todd's barber shop above it and an amazing barber's chair which added to the strength of the play.

Stephen Brodie was Sweeney Todd. Brodie has the personality and good stage projection to really give the feel of the wronged man who took his revenge a little too far. A good performance by Stephen Brodie.

His partner in crime, the maker of popular pies, Mrs Lovett was played by Gabrielle O'Brien.

O'Brien has a wonderful sense of humour which was evident in her scenes. She captured the evil Mrs Lovett with professionalism adding to the standard of the production. Johanna, the heroine, was the ward of Judge Turpin who had not quite paternal ideas in mind for her. Johanna was given a good performance by Kirilie Blythman who caught the innocence of such a character.

The young hero Anthony was played by Mark Doran. Doran performs well and worked well with Blythman

Judge Turpin was given a good portrayal as the evil judge always getting his own way, by Michael Banks. Banks has a good stage projection and captured the essence of the evil judge.

The poor half-wit Tobias, who helped in the pie factory, was played by Damien Calvert. Calvert carried the changes from the puzzled young man to the keen young baker to losing his mind and finishing up some problems with ease and professionalism.

The Beadle was played by Cameron Waters. As the Beadle Waters carried out Judge Turpin's every command and showed his cruel handling of the law when dealing with such as Anthony when looking for Johanna. A good performer capturing the character as envisaged.

The Beggar Woman, a coarse woman of the streets who turned out to be not what one expected was captured by Kirstin Morton. Morton gave a good performance as the character.

Paint Your Wagon

Director: Judy Sullivan

Musical Director: Celia Riley

Choreographer: Lyn Laiser.

Mloc Productions decided on Lerner & Loewe's Paint Your Wagon to close the 2006 season.

A story of Rumson's Town in the Californian gold fields of the 1800's. On the opening of the story there is a population of 4000 at the closing there is a population of seven and a half.

Mloc stage designer and crew produced a covered wagon which doubled as a coach. Each side of the stage was a general store and an hotel. The orchestra was to the rear but unfortunately it still on occasion drowned out some of the softer singers.

Ben Rumson founder of Rumson town was played by Peter Martignoles. Peter has a wonderful stage appearance and really looked the character, giving a good performance in the role.

His daughter 16 year old Jennifer was played by Rebecca De Gare. Rebecca gave a great interpretation of the young girl who does not realise that she is coming onto womanhood although all the men in town are quick to catch on. Then after returning from the east and schooling she does find love. Rebecca not only performed well she also has a good voice which exemplified her performance.

Her love was the Mexican miner Julio Valveras who was played by Brett Roberts. Brett gave a fair performance but opening night did appear a little stiff and could relax more.

The Mormon family was played by Peter Smitheram as Jacob Woodling with Tania Whitlock as Elizabeth Woodling and Viv Ditcham as Sarah Woodling Peter Smitheram projects well and gave a fine performance. Viv Ditcham as his wife Sarah with baby captured the feel of the bossy wife who because of her baby could not do all the work so pushed it onto Jacob's other wife Elizabeth. As Elizabeth Tania Whitlock gave a great performance showing the frustration of doing all the work without any satisfaction and when the opportunity came to change husband's the expression on her face was worth a thousand words. Tania has a good sense of the comique and added to the humour of the production.

Rowland Brache as the Irish miner Mike Mooney was an energetic performer and as Mike did not let anyone get a word in edge ways. David Lawson-Smith was Steve Bullnack whose wife had sent him out to the goldfields and kept telling him to stay till he hit the rich strike. David is a good performer and has an excellent voice adding to the pleasure of the evening.

An older musical which did tend to be little drawn out which some of the younger members of the audience did not appreciate. This was not really one of Mloc's better productions.

Cox & Box and The Sorcerer

The Savoy Opera Company closed the 2006 season with the double bill of two not often seen productions.
The openng production was Cox & Box with the libretto by Francis Cowley Burnand and music by Arthur Sullivan. he story is that of two men, Cox & Box who unbeknownst to each other share the same room. The landlord Sergeant Bouncer realising that one man worked during the day and the other at night so he decided to earn double rent for the same room.
David Kipp was James John Cox and gave a good performance as such a character.
John James Box was played by David Campbell who also gave a good professional performance and the two had a good rapport. A funny play with one particular scene where each found the other's cooking and throwing the food out the window and the results thereof.
The landlord Sergeant Bouncer was played by Kyp Iacovou. Kyp caught the feel of such a character giving a good performance.
A short and amusing operetta successfullroduced and enjoyed by the audience.

The balance of the evening was the production of The Sorcerer.
A story of the young Alexis who is so in love with Aline he wants the whole village to share the joy of being in love. So he hires John Wellington Wells purveyor of spells to create a love potion that puts people to sleep fr half an hour then the first person they see on awakening they fall in love with. Naturally nothing goes to plan and the production solves the problems.
A well executed production with good sets and good costuming.
Sir Marmaduke Pointdexture was given a good performance by Barry Fry.
Sir Marmaduke's son Alexis was played by Stephen McNealy. Stephen caught the character as envisaged and carried a wonderful upper crust accent throughout. Stephen projects well and had a good balance with Sally Kirkcaldy as Aline.
David Kipp was the local vicar Dr Daly. David handled the character with professionalism and projects well. The sorcerer John Wellington Wells was gien a good portrayal by Ian Frost. Ian had the look of a sorcerer as envisaged by the authors and handled his last scene with aplomb.
The Lady Sangazure, who was being pursued by Sir Marmaduke Pointdextre, was played by Janice Kennedy. Janice gave an experienced performance and has a good stage presence.
Aline, Alexis's beloved, who was in doubt about Alexis's ideas, was played by Sally Kirkcaldy. Sally gave a very good portrayal of the young girl in love with the handsome ypung man but when the potion takes effect things go a little awry.
Geraldine Larkins was Mrs Partlet the mother of Constance, a yong girl in love with Dr Daly the Vicar. Geraldine carries herself well on stage and gave a good performance. Her daughter Constance was played by Caitlan McNab who although in love with the Vicar changed somewhat when she partook of the love potion. Caitlan captured the character and gave a good interpretaiton of the role.
A large and prpfessional cast creating a very enjoyable evening of Gilbert & Sullivan.

Gigi

Nova Musical Theatre's final production for 2006 was Lerner & Loewe's Gigi. A story of a young girl in 1900's Paris whose grandmother and great aunt are grooming her to become, as they were, a courtesan.
But Gigi has seperate feelings. She wants to meet the right man and get married.
Nova had a great production with very good sets and wonderful costuming perfect for the period
The narrator Honore Lachailles and uncle of the hero Gaston Lachailles was played by Warren Davies. Warren gave an outstanding performance in the role with a good stage French accent not deviating from the accent throughout the prformance.
His nephew Gaston was given a good performance by Jaison Hoern who caught the essence of the charcter and also had a good rapport with Carly Laughton (Gigi).
CarlyLaughton as Gigi was excellent and the changes from a tomboy having a lot of fun with Gaston to a young woman with strong feelings in a different way for Gaston but does not want the reputation which goes with any woman seen out with Gaston Lachailles.
Gigi's Great Aunt Alicia, who tried to train her in the finer arts of womanhood and how to please and understand a man, was played by Pam Charleston. a very professional performance Pam captured the character of the Aunt who is full of her own performance which was evidenced in the scene of the hotel foyer. Gigi's grandmother, Mamita, was given a superb and also professional performance by Patricia McCracken. Patricia really caught the feel of such a grandmother.
A light-hearted role very well performed was Gaston's valet Manuel playe by Barry Baker who also played Maitre Duclos. Liane d'Exelman Gaaston's current young lady was given a stirling and humorous performance by Julie Burnett.
The flow of the performance went very smoothly and the balance of the cast kept the standard set by the leads.
An outstanding scene and performance was the Can Can. One of the largest groups your coreespondent has seen, 17 dancers giving a wonderful interpretation of the Can Can. This was well appreciated by the audience and obviously enjoyed by the dancers.
Congratulations must go the the choreographer Peter Wallace for this number.
Also to Noel Browne the director for such a great evening of theatre and to the musical director Phil Osborne for keeping the orchestra from not drowning out the singers which is so common these days.
A great night of theatre and just shows the high standard of productions in the Melbourne suburbs.

How to Succeed in Business without really Trying.

Director & Choreographer. Di Shepherd.

A show that has not been seen for a while but not dated. Members of the audience could identify with some of the characters. A story of a window cleaner who has a book titled How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying. The production shows how he put it to use and the result.

A well produced and directed production with good sets of the offices, lifts and foyers and good views of a New York style skyline from the office windows.

Good costuming with the office girls in similar type outfits suiting the office identity.

The performers were of a good standard thus adding to the enjoyment of such a show.

J. Pierrpont Finch the young window cleaner who rose in the ranks after following the instructions in THE book was played by Jonathon Guthrie-Jones. Jonathon gave an outstanding performance of the confident and pushy go-ahead young man.

His girl friend Rosemary Pilkington who decided he was the man for her regardless if her realised or not. Caroline Buckle gave a good performance as Rosemary. Caroline has a good stage presence and worked well with Jonathon Guthrie-Jones both giving an enjoyable and professional performance.

The company president Mr Biggley was played by Zak Brown. Zak caught the character and helped support the rise of J. Pierrpont Finch but was surprised by the result.

Another very good performance was given by James Cook as Bud Frump, the president's nephew who with the aid of a little nepotism had his own way until J. Pierrpont Finch came along. James caught the feel of such an unpopular character with professionalism and was enjoyed by the audience Mr Biggley's new secretary Hedy Le Rue ( a dumb blonde) was given a good interpretation by Clare Dea. Clare gave a great performance of such a character getting all the men in and not too popular with the ladies of the company. Naturally she had no idea of how to be a secretary but with her looks she had no worries of keeping her job.

A large cast who all kept a high standard and giving a smooth flowing production which was thoroughly enjoyed by the audience.

Beauty and the Beast

Whitehorse Musical Theatre excelled itself with the production of Disney's Beauty and the Beast.

The set was absolutely amazing, covering the town square, the forest, the castle exterior, and the castle interior. Very smoothly operated in the changing of scenes.

The props were excellent an outstanding piece was the inventor's car. The costuming and make up exceeded all expectations particularly the wolves and the Beast.

The Beast/Prince was played by Shaun Kingma who gave an outstanding performance showing his expertise in varying from a bad tempered spoilt Prince to a cruel beast to a kind understanding man beneath a beastly exterior.

Lauren Selway was Belle. A wonderful interpretation of a girl who does not fit in with the rest of her peer group, a girl who would do anything for her father and was sympathetic to the beast but having her own mind which came to fore in the scene with the handsome but self possessed Gaston.

Shane Munsen was Gaston. His portrayal was excellent as the self-opinionated villager who decided that Belle was suitable to be his wife, regardless of Belle's own feelings.

Belle's father Maurice was played by Rob Constable who captured the essence of the local eccentric inventor not highly regarded by the villagers.

The scenes in the castle were good as we see the Beast's servants who had been changed into household items such as a clock, a candlestick, a teapot, Salt and Pepper shakers, a teatray on wheels, knives, forks, spoons and plates. The candles on the candlestick were actually lit on occasions, the teapot poured steam when pouring a cuppa and the cup on the teatray speaking to his mother the teapot.

The choreography was very good and the music and singing was well balanced so that one could clearly hear all the voices.

The Whitehorse Musical Theatre have closed 2006 with a superb production and are to be congratulated on such a standard.

EUREKA

Her Majesty's Theatre Melbourne was the venue for the World Premiere of a new Australian musical Eureka.
Adapted from the story of Australia's only revolution which in fact lasted about 15 to 20 minutes yet the result led to the democracy that Australia enjoys today. The Eureka story starts with the discovery of gold in the Colony of Victoria and the town of Ballarat. Within a few years anger over unjust mining licence fees and the brutal administration which collected them reached boiling point. After further incidents the miners built and manned a stockade where before dawn on December 3 heavily armed troops attacked catching the diggers unprepared.
The musical gives the story through the eyes of some of the real people on the scene and some compilation of diggers and their families. The basic story was adhered to but some liberties were taken with fact.
One example was Kardinia as the program says was there before it all started. Kardinia was representing all the aboriginal peoples who were affected by the white invasion. Pauline Whyman gave a good portrayal of Australia's so-called forgotten people. Another representative of peoples who numbered in the thousands was the character Long Tu for the Chinese diggers. Yang Li gave a strong performance of the character showing the suffering the Chinese received at the hands of the white diggers and the understanding of others.
The program was divided into four parts listing nationalities as The Irish, the English, Other Foreigners and an Original Australian. People came from all over the world to Victoria which had some of the richest goldmines in the world.
The leader of the rebels Peter Lalor was played by Ian Stenlake. Ian has a good stage presence and caught the character leading the revolution, first by legal protest which went unheeded then by the stockade. His friend, Sean Flynn a poor Irish miner was given a great and understanding portrayal by Simon Gleeson. One of the highlights of the performance was that of a spirited girl newly arrived from Ireland, Bridie O' Malley. Trisha Crowe played Bridie and gave an energetic, expert and excellent performance in the role. She came to join her grandfather, Paddy O'Malley, a lovable miner who did fancy his drink. Barry Crocker captured the essence of Paddy and presented well.
The British officer in charge of the gold fields was Commissioner Gray. Played by Michael Cormick giving a very good interpretation of the arrogant English Commissioner who had no time for the miners but did have his eye on Bridie O'Malley. Rachel Beck was Alicia Dunn, a Geelong schoolteacher and Peter Lalor's fiancée. Rachel was the perfect English young lady but in love with an Irish engineer who happened to be leader of the diggers. Rachel presents well on stage and gave a wonderful portrayal.
The Governor of the Colony of Victoria was Sir Charles Hotham. Peter Carroll gave a good performance as the Governor who did not really want the governorship of Victoria and had no time for the diggers. His wife lady Jane Hotham who was a little too fond of a drink was played by Nancye Hayes. Nancye gave a wonderful portrayal of such a character with one hilarious scene where a large digger picked her up to carry her over a piece of muddy ground.
A lively role was given by Amanda Muggleton as Mercedes Cortès a Spanish dancer who runs the brothel. Amanda is an energetic and brilliant performer who gave a top performance as the Spanish Dancer who was not quite whom she appeared to be. The Italian poet and historian Rafaello Carboni was given a good performance by Christopher Tomkinson.
The attention to detail went as far as the long sweeping dresses had clay around the edges and the diggers' clothes also had clay stains where relevant.
The production ran smoothly, the orchestra blended well with the singers and overall a very pleasant evening of theatre and good to see an all Australian production.

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Cosí fan tutte

Opera Australia

Director: Jim Sharman
Conductor: Olivier-Phillippe Cunéo

Cosi fan tutte is a light-hearted opera about two young officers who boast to their friend Don Alfonso about the fidelity and devotion of their fiancées. Don Alfonso bets that, given the chance the girls would forget their promises and take new lovers.
The two young officers’ agree and so the opera commences.
OA had a basic set with white panels and a sloping stage.
A two act production that in Act! did tend to drag a little resulting in some audience members not returning after interval.
Henry Choo as Ferrando, engaged to Dorabella, gave a positive performance. Choo’s voice is very good in this character and he has a good stage presence.
Luke Gabbedy was Guglielmo, engaged to Fiordiligi, another good performance
The two girls, Fiordiligi and Dorabella were played by Hye Seoung Kwon and Sian Pendry. The two had a good rapport and wonderful voices. Their acting was very good and captured the roles as envisaged.
 Tiffany Speight was Despina, the young lady who did her best to make the sisters forget their finances and enjoy themselves while the boys were serving on the front. Speight not only has a wonderful voice she has a great sense of the comique and captured the role with finesse. Don Alfonso was played by José Carbò. A good interpretation of the man who bet the young officers that their fiancées would not stay faithful.
A fine performance and Carbò had a natural approach to the character.
A pleasant evening of Mozart’s works but the first act did seem to drag a little.

Opera in the Vineyard - The Three Tenors

Balgownie Estate, Yarra Valley Victoria was the venue for The Three Tenors evening.
The evening opened at 5pm with wine tasting, various stalls including various foods and books. A pleasant evening although a little damp underfoot. Sitting at outside tables enjoying meals and a wine or two while making new friends and enjoying the wonderful views of the Great Divide and the Dandenongs.
At 7pm the audience moved down to the marquee for the evening performance.
The producers re thrilled to pay tribute to the legendary moment of July 9, 1990 when history was created when opera greats, Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo and José Carreras met on stage at the Baths of Caracalla in Rome and became widely known as The Three Tenors.
To remember that evening Balgownie Vineyard and 4-D International presented a memorial and mischievous evening from today’s Three Tenors, the internationally acclaimed Jorge Lopez-Yañez, Jose Medina, Dennis McNeil and as a special treat the performance also included Niki Vasilakis acclaimed as one of the most exciting violinists to have emerged from Australia.
The evening was hosted by Julia Zemiro probably best remembered as co-host of the SBS Broadcast of the last Euro Vision broadcast. 
The overture was The Bartered Bride by the orchestra which was followed by the Three Tenors with Granada. Then each tenor gave individual performances.
Following the Tenors Niki Vasilakis performed a special arrangement of Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending.    
Act 1 gave two performances from each artist and The Three Tenors.
The Three Tenors both individually and solo not only gave a great vocal performance but were quite amusing with their treatment of each other.
Niki Vasilakis gave a wonderful performance with the violin with the audience spellbound by her playing.
Act opened with a Neapolitan medley from The Three Tenors with the audience joining in when they knew the songs. Each tenor then gave a solo performance and Niki Vasilakis performed a Concert Fantasy from Bizet’s Carmen. Very popular with the 700plus strong audience.
 The evening was enjoyably and amusingly hosted by Julia Zemiro who had a great rapport with the audience and not only a good MC but a wonderful entertainer.
Opera in the Vineyards is an annual event and it is recommended to book early as the dinner and show package was booked out in June.

Victorian Opera

Ariadne auf Naxos
Director: James McCaughey
Music Director/ Conductor: Richard Gill.

A story of the richest man in Vienna who has hired two groups of entertainers for his party. One group is a band of commedia dell’arte buffoons; the other is an opera company to present a serious opera Ariadne auf Naxos. As time is tight and the guests wish to view a firework display the owner tells the two groups they must perform their shows together.
The production opens with the Prologue in which the story is explained and the characters defined. This is the first half of the program and shows the result of the big decision on the players.
The Composer (of the opera) was rather upset and threatened to leave. Jacqueline Dark was the Composer. A wonderful performance with a strong clear voice and handled the role with finesse. The lady of the Commedia dell’arte, Zerbinetta, was played by Theresa Borg. Another first class performance showing the difference between the two groups.
A well set stage of the Viennese home where the production is held, showing the rooms used and the setting for the island where Ariadne has been left.
Act two was the opera and the buffoons combined. Very well executed with the mixture of the two groups mixing well. The production showed the contrast between the feeling of Ariadne for her lost love and Zerbinetta not at all understanding Ariadne’s problems.
Elizabeth Stannard was the Prima Donna in the prologue and Ariadne in the second half.
A great interpretation of the role also with a clear strong voice. The tenor/ Bacchus was performed by John MacMaster who has an impressive stage appearance plus an excellent voice
A successful evening for Victorian Opera and was well appreciated by the opening night audience.

A Little Night Music

Opera Australia
Director: Stuart Maunder
Conductor: Andrew Greene

A story of middle-aged lawyer, Fredrik Egerman has recently remarried to an eighteen year old. And after eleven months of marriage they had still not consummated the marriage. Throw in an old flame of Fredrik’s and the fun starts.
A well staged and smooth flowing production.
Robert Grubb was Fredrik Egerman; Grubb caught the character with finesse and had a good rapport with Sigrid Thornton as Désirée Armfeldt.
Thornton gave an outstanding performance in the role of the actress Désirée Armfeldt who was Egerman’s former lover and has returned to renew old friendships and perhaps more.
A fun performance was given by Ben Lewis as Count Carl-Magnus Malcolm, Armfeldt’s current lover and very jealous. Lewis has a good stage presence which added to his character, a great performance.
Nancye Hayes was Madame Armfeldt, mother of Désirée, who had the family stay for a weekend with the Count and Countess being uninvited guests.
Lucy Maunder was the young Mrs Egerman who wanted to marry Fredrik all her life but did not realise what being married to an older man involved. Maunder gave a great performance in the role and captured the essence of the character.
Frederik’s son, Henrik, is a seminary student falling in love with his stepmother (who was younger then he). Matthew Robinson gave Henrik the correct portrayal and worked well with Maunders. Another light-hearted touch was the maid, Petra. Kate Maree Hoolihan gave the portrayal the correct touch of mischief required and presented well.
A pleasant evening if Sondheim and a nice finish to the Melbourne 2009 opening season.  

Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk

Opera Australia

Conductor: Sir Richard Armstrong
Director: Francesca Zambello

A four act rather dark opera set in Russia at the time of the Gulags. A story of Katerina, the bored wife of a merchant Zinovy Borisovich Ismailov who has trouble with her father-in-law, husband and later her lover.
A violent depressing show which was life under the Communist system and Stalin.
There was rape; whipping, murder and infidelity all dome very authentically.
The set was that of the interior of Katerina’s bedroom, the exterior of same and the large dining room complete with cellar. A great reaction was when the shabby peasant opened the cellar looking for vodka and again when the police opened it during the wedding celebrations. A wonderful effect really giving the audience the horror of the moment. Katerina was performed by Susan Bullock who gave a great portrayal of the bored, evil and selfish wife
Katerina’s father-in-law played by Daniel Sumegi. Sumegi has a good stage presence, a tall dominating character and giving the feel through his domination of Stalin ruling the country.
David Corcoran was Katerina’s husband Zinovy Borisovich Ismailov. Corcoran looked the part and gave a fair performance.
Katerina’s lover Sergei. A labourer who was employed by her husband was played by Richard Berkeley Steele. Steele has excellent stage projection, worked well with Bullock giving a very good portrayal.
The role of Sonyetka normally played by Dominica Matthews and owing to illness was played by Vanessa Lewis. Sonyetka was a convict on the march to Siberia and had her eye on Sergei Lewis has a real feel of mischievous and nastiness in teasing Katerina. Unfortunately Sonyetka went to far.
An interesting opera bringing back to mind the suffering of the Russian people under Stalin and the Communist system.   

I Capuleti e i Montecchi

Opera Australia
Conductor: Brad Cohen
Director: Orpha Phelan

OA’s second Melbourne production was Bellini’s I Capuleti e I Montecchi or the Capulets and the Montagues. Better known as Romeo and Juliet. But as the program says “This is not Shakespeare”.
The story s that of Romeo, leader of the Montecchi and his love for Giulietta, daughter of Capellio leader of the Capuleti They are two rival political involved families. Romeo’s plea is to marry Giulietta and bring the warring families together.
A sparse set stage with costuming of today and modern arms such as automatic weapons. No colour and the evening performance was all black and white which added to the storyline.
Giulietta was performed by Hye Soung Kwon a good actor and a lovely voice but can develop more.
Catherine Carby was Romeo. A good portrayal and very moving in the final scenes. Catherine projects well and as ambassador had good stage presence.
Aldo Di Toro was Tebaldo, the husband to be of Giulietta. Another good performance and added to the enjoyment of the evening.
A very dark opera with rather frightening scenes such as the Capuleti being surrounded by the Montecchi. The staging was well done adding to the mood of the story.      

The Magic Flute

Opera Australia

Director: David Freeman
Conductor: Jari Hämäläinen

Mozart’s The Magic Flute was Opera Australia’s choice to open Melbourne’s opera season.
A joint production with Sydney based Legs on the Wall. A company whose performers do not seem to have heard of the law of gravity thus an ideal group to join the company for this fairy tale opera.
The opening scene was a jungle very well done with members of Legs on the Wall up and down vines giving a good exhibition of acrobatics.
There was a change in the program for Tuesday April 21 when Andrew Goodwin who was to play Tamino was indisposed and Henry Choo was given two hours notice to take over.
Choo gave a magnificent performance with no sign of such short notice. He captured the essence of Tamino working well with Andrew Moran and Sarah Crane.
Moran gave a brilliant comic performance as Papageno really capturing the comic side f the character and is baritone added to the standard of the production.
Lorina Gore was the Queen of the night and Pamina’s mother. Her entry was on the crescent moon descending from the roof. A different entry but in no way alter the standard of her performance and voice. A good portrayal.
Pamina was given a wonderful portrayal by Sarah Crane. She captured the character with aplomb and worked well both with Henry Choo and Andrew Moran. Sarastro, High Priest of the Sun, was performed by Daniel Sumegi. Sumegi has a dominating stage presence and gave an outstanding portrayal.
An interesting production with dragons and lions with acrobats in the first half and the lions in the second half, thanks to Legs on the Wall. Definitely an asset to this particular opera. 

Don Giovanni

Victorian Opera
Music Director: Richard Gill.
Director: Jean-Pierre Mignon.

Victorian Opera opened the 2009 season with Mozart’s Don Giovanni. Based on the story of Don Juan it is about a seducer of women across Europe with last count of 1000 conquests in Spain alone. He has a duel with the Commendatore, the father of Donna Anna, his latest conquest. In the duel he kills the Commendatore and flees the scene before he is recognised. He meets his future and past at a dinner he gives for an unusual guest.
Samuel Dundas was Don Giovanni, a little wooden in his performance but as the evening drew on he relaxed more and gave the performance as envisaged. A fine voice capturing the nuances as expected.
Don Giovanni’s servant, Leporello was performed by Andrew Collis. A wonderful portrayal giving a comic performance that added some light heartedness to such a part in a tragic story.
Donna Anna the daughter of the Commendatore was performed by Caroline Wenborne.
A good performance and Wenborne was well balanced by James Egglestone as Don Ottavio her fiancé. Egglestone captured his character with finesse and added to the standard of the production.
The Commendatore was played by Steven Gallop who has a good stage presence, very imposing not only during the duel but at the banquet in his last scene with Don Giovanni.
Tiffany Speight was Donna Elvira who no matter Don Giovanni’s faults remained in love with him. Although she did try to warn Zerlina about the Don. Speight gave a great performance
The peasant girl Zerlina was performed by Michelle Buscemi who captured the essence of a young girl not quite sure of such a gentleman as the Don and worried about her fiance’s jealous rages. A natural interpretation of the character. Her fiancé Massetto was played by Anthony Mackey. Mackey gave a good portrayal as the young peasant on the eve of his wedding and suspicious of such a man as Don Giovanni.
The stage was set well but comparatively simply. Two walls which depicted the town square and with the use of red curtains was quickly turned into Don Giovanni's palace. Good effective lighting highlighted the feature items.
A very dramatic moment was the final scene with Don Giovanni. The lighting and the effects successfully dramatised the moment. An enjoyable and entertaining evening opening the Victorian Opera's 2009 season.

Otello

Opera Australia
Conductor: Giovanni Reggioli
Director: Harry Kupler.
Season: November 18,22,25,28. December 3.

Opera Australia’s second production for the Melbourne Spring was Verdi’s Otello.
Based on the tragedy by William Shakespeare with libretto by Arrigo Boito
The setting and costuming was the 1920s. The main stage set was a huge flight of stairs with several exits was very effectively used by the cast particularly in the opening scene. A large storm drove everyone inside and they literally poured down the stairs tumbling and running.
Otello a Moor and a Venetian General was performed by Frances Farini. A wonderful stage presence and the duets with Jonathan Summers as Iago and Kate Ladner as Desdemona were superb.
Kate Ladner as Desdemona captured the new bride who could not understand her husband’s anger. Ladner had a good rapport with Farini which exemplified their performances.
Jonathan Summers as Iago the general’s ensign who hates his superior, gave a stirling performance in the role. 
Roxana Hislop was Emilia, Iago’s wife and maid to Desdemona.  She was used by her husband to assist in the troubles he was causing between Otello and Desdemona. A good performance adding to the strength of the production.

Madama Butterfly

Opera Australia
Conductor: Shao-Chia Lű
Director: Moffatt Oxenbould

Opera Australia opened its Melbourne Spring season with Puccini’s Madama Butterfly.
A simple set stage designed to represent a typical Japanese house with sliding doors and walls. The floor area was surrounded by water as a moat and used for floating candles in the wedding scene. The scene itself was a beautiful picture and would make a good painting.
Rosario La Spina was the American Lieutenant who fell in love and married Cio-Cio-San (Madama Butterfly). A fine performance portraying a man not understanding the local customs or the effect of his marriage on Madama Butterfly. La Spina has a wonderful voice clearly understandable across the State Theatre.
Suzuki, Madama Butterfly’s servant was given a superb performance by Sally-Anne Russell, a great actor and singer and enhanced the evening.
Another god performance was given by Barry Ryan as Sharpless the American Consul. Ryan caught the understanding man caught between helping his fellow countryman yet understanding the problems which he forecast by such a marriage.
Madama Butterfly (Cio-Cio-San) was played by Nicole Youl. Youl was on stage for the whole opera, a stupendous and wonderful portrayal. A wonderful voice and an excellent acting performance well approved by the audience.
Another good performance and a little humour was given by Graeme MacFarlane as the marriage broker Goro.
A very moving opera with touches of humour and drama flowing smoothly and feeling that no time had past as it finished, the sure sign of an absorbing production.

The Coronation of Poppea

Victoria Opera:

Musical Director: Richard Gill.
Director: Kate Cherry.
Season: July 18 – 26. 2008.

Victoria Opera chose Monteverdi’s The Coronation of Poppea for the July season.  The story is of Poppea, a ruthless, ambitious woman determined to marry a maniacal emperor in an opera in which evil truly triumphs over good.  
Nero was played by Australian countertenor David Hansen and Poppea was played by Tiffany Speight.
The orchestra combined violins, viola, Continuo Cello, Double Bass Violone, two Harpsichords and two Theorbos.
An interesting sound which suited the period of when the opera was written. The set was simple with the rear of stage a wall of Plastic acting as mirrors or with light behind showing various actions. In front there was a long pool well used particularly with the suicide of Seneca.  
The opera was divided into the prologue, and three acts.
The prologue was delivered by three ladies, La Fortuna, La Virtu and Amore who were situated on the balcony. A minor fault was the lighting in the prologue did make the surtitles hard to read.      
Wonderful performances by David Hansen and Tiffany Speight enhanced by the supporting cast kept up the high standard giving a great evening of opera..

Arabella

Opera Australia

Director: John Cox

Conductor: Lionel Friend

An opera in three acts by Richard Strauss with Libretto by Hugo von Hofmannsthal.

A story of Count Waldner, his wife and two daughters. The Count is a committed gambler but not a winner and the family is deeply in debt with the only asset daughter Arabella. If they can make a good match (forget Arabella's own feelings) their troubles will be over. The other daughter is a bit of a tomboy and as the family cannot afford to bring two daughters out in society they are quite happy to keep Zdenka appearing as a boy. This does lead to some interesting problems later.

An interesting set stage with a background of an aerial shot of Vienna with the foreground in Act 1 the family's apartment. Act11 was the ante-room at the ballroom and Act 111 the hotel lobby. All were skeletally done but certainly giving the effect desired.

The lead is Arabella around whom the opera revolves and who lead man Peter Coleman-Wright as Mandryka was ill on May 6 and was replaced by Warwick Fyffe.

Arabella was sung and acted by Cheryl Barker. A superb performance both as a singer and performer. Her duets with Fyffe were a good example of the operatic art. Barker had a good rapport with Emma Matthews as her sister Zdenka, Warwick Fyffe and Conal Coad as her father Count Waldner.

Warwick Fyffe as Mandryka gave a stirling performance working well with Barker particularly as he was called in at the last moment and was applauded by the cast at curtain call.

A comedy touch was given by Conal Coad as Count Waldner, as soon as he got his hands on some money instead of paying any bills off to the next card game. Coad has a good stage presentation, good expressions and caught the feel of such a character.

Emma Matthews was Zdenka the daughter who dressed as a boy and was considered by the family as a tomboy and indeed was believed to be a boy by one of Arabella's suitors Matteo which created some problems as Zdenka was in love with him. Matthew's voice was a little soft in her opening numbers but did strengthen as the show moved on. A good performer and handled the role of a tomboy to a lovely young lady with expertise.

Lorina Gore was Flakermilli the cabaret artist in the ballroom scene. A good performance which added to the delight of the Cabbies Ball.

An interesting evening of opera and one mixed with the music of Strauss and Slavonic folk music.

Carmen

Alcina

Opera Australia

Director: Justin Way

Conductor: Atony Walker .

A story of a young girl Bridamante who disguised as her brother goes in search of her lost betrothed who has been bewitched by the evil Alcina.
Accompanied by her tutor Melisso, Bridamante goes to the island of Alcina to rescue her affianced.
The set was surrounded by monsters and animals who were knights changed by Alcina, The stage has a very steep rake which the actors to their credit handled very well.
Bradamante was performed by Alexandra Sherman giving a superb performance both as an actor and as a contralto.
Her tutor Melisso was performed by Richard Alexander, a dominating stage appearance and a good contrast to Bradamante. Bradamante's betrothed Ruggiero was given a wonderful portrayal by Catherine Carby.
Rachelle Durkin was Alcina. A wonderful performance and in her arias gave a great example of a top performance soprano.
Alcina's sister Morgana was performed by Natalie Jones. Also very well done performance with her voice equalling the standard of her portrayal.
A long evening but very enjoyable nevertheless. There was very little dialogue but mainly arias. Opera Australia met the standard expected for this production and closed the Melbourne season with an unforgettable evening.

Tales of Hoffman

Opera Australia

Director: Stuart Maunder

Conductor: Emmanuel Joel-Homak.

  A story of the poet Hoffman and his tales of three women.
The Company made full use of a stage revolve with sets suitable for the three stories and the prologue.
The prologue was set in a café where Hoffman and students were starting to carouse when a muse enters. A good scene with all the aspects of a café of the period. The muse changed to Nicklausse Hoffman's companion and accompanied him on all the stories bringing him to becoming a better poet.
Dominica Matthews was both the Muse and Nicklausse. A good positive performance
Hoffman was performed by Rosario La Spina, a good stage presence a remarkable voice and captured the essence of Hoffman.
Hoffman's attention was to the Opera singer Stella. Played by Emma Matthews who also played the three women in Hoffman's story.
As Olympia , a doll invented by Dr Coppelius, Matthews really looked doll like with the correct staccato movements.
In Giulietta Matthews played a courtesan also capturing the real feeling of the character. And in Antonia Matthews was Antonia In the roles Matthews gave good credible performances with voice to match her roles. The balance of the cast kept up the standard given by the leads giving the audiences a top standard production.

Don Giovanni

Opera Australia

Director: Göran Jävefelt

Conductor: Imre Pallo  

A well set stage of a town street with solid buildings on each side with windows at rear.
A good comic performance was given by John Pringle as Don Giovanni's servant Leoporello.
Don Giovanni was performed by Teddy Tahu Rhodes. An imposing performer with a great stage appearance with voice to match. An energetic performance with a good scene between Don Giovanni, Leoporello and the Commendatore after the duel between Don Giovanni and the Commendatore. a marvellous trio.
Kate Ladne was Donna Anna, the daughter of the Commendatore. Laden captured the wronged lady and her battle to bring Don Giovanni to justice and revenge for the death of her father.
A change of scene to the peasants celebrating the forthcoming wedding of Zerlina and Masetto. A bright happy moment in the opera but then enters Don Giovanni who naturally sets his sights on Zerlina.
Tiffany Speight as Zerlina captured the essence of the young bride who found Don Giovanni irresistible much to the chagrin of her husband to be Masetto.
Speight a delightful soprano and a good actor had a good rapport with Richard Anderson as Masetto.
Anderson gave a good portrayal showing his anger and was a good contrast to the suave but lecherous Don Giovanni.
Don Giovanni's nemesis is Donna Elvira, who loved the Don but was determined to revenge. Fiona Janes was Donna Elvira giving a good performance
Donna Anna's father Il Commendatore was performed by Jud Arthur. Arthur gave an excellent portrayal most obvious as the statue in the cemetery and then at Don Giovanni's party.
The final scene of the party was a descent into hell showing the suffering of the lost souls and what Don Giovanni was in for.
Another great production by Opera Australia and not to be missed.

The Love of the Nightingale

Victorian Opera

Director: Lindy Hume

Musical Director/Conductor: Richard Gill.

The Victorian Opera's winter season presented The Love of the Nightingale. A myth about men and women and the conditions and experience of women in a patriarchy: fate, sexual conflict, suffering, female desire, Dionysius versus Apollo and metamorphosis are its elements but, in the words of the drama,” we cannot rephrase it for you. If we could why would we bother to show you the myth?

A Greek tragedy originally written as a play by Timberlake Wertenbaker who then turned his play into a libretto at the request of Richard Mills who wrote the music thus creating the opera.

A stark stage eminently suitable to the production opening with two sisters Procne and Philomele.

Procne, the older sister has been given to the king of Thrace in marriage. The two sisters are very close and Procne wants her sister Philomele to come when she sends for her.

Anke Hoppner was Procne giving a wonderful performance not only in her acting but also in voice. Clear, distinct and managing the arias with expertise.

Philomele was played by Leanne Kenneally, another excellent performance balancing well with Hoppner and handling the tragic scenes as expected.

The King of Thrace, Tereus, was played by Douglas McNicol. A good stage presence, capturing the more barbaric king whose army has just saved Athens from invasion but not comfortable in the culture and luxury of the Athenian court. McNicol captured the character as envisaged with his presence and voice. A role excellently portrayed.

The scenes were well done and ranged from happy family scenes to tragic which left the audience gasping.

A good production unfortunately only on for two performances but do not miss it if the opportunity arises again.

The Barber of Seville

Opera Australia 's opening production was Rossini's The Barber of Seville. This production has been reset in a 1930's health spa. Figaro is the salon's head stylist.

This concept by no way detracted from the story with the set design is inspired by the exuberant, quirky work of the Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi (1852-1926). An amazing set with bright blue carved pillars on each side, a two storied set coloured yellow and brown. The first floor doors are all carved, with carved handrails on the stairs.

Downstairs is the concierge's office and counter and Figaro's barber shop

Jose Carbo is listed as Figaro but owing to an unfortunate attack of laryngitis he was unable to appear.

Figaro was sung and played by Luke Gabbedy. Gabbedy captured the role with finesse projecting well. A wonderful acting performance balanced by a good voice. Gabbedy had a wonderful rapport with Emma Matthews as Rosina. To see both these performers together made a wonderful evening.

Emma Matthews was a sheer delight as the ward of Dr Bartolo. Not the downtrodden kept under duress Rosina. Rather a mischievous cheeky young lady flattered by the attention of Count Almaviva. Some of Matthews experience was an absolute picture and she being behind the Dr Bartolo copying his movements and expressions leaving the audience laughing to the stage of tears.

A highlight was Rossini's aria. Emma Matthews excelled with the aria with the audience hodling its breath until the end and breaking into non-stop applause.

Henry Choo was Count Almaviva, a good performance, a wonderful voce and well appreciated by the audience. Warwick Fyfe was Dr Bartolo. Warwick caught the feeling of the doctor giving a great portrayal which was only enhanced by his magnificent voice.

A wonderful evening of opera and one that would be a good introduction to opera to someone who does not have any real knowledge of opera.

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Carmen

Ozopera. Opera Australia 's touring company opened the 2005 touring season in Melbourne 's Her Majesty's Theatre. The season opened July 28 and running to August 6 then moving on to Performing Arts Centres across Victoria , Tasmania , ACT New South Wales and Queensland .

Opening showed a simple set designed for a travelling company performing in many and various types of theatres, halls and in one case a rain-forest setting.

The set comprised two walls one with doors which doubled as a factory entrance, a town square and a Plaza de Torres. The colour was reminiscent of Spain being red and yellow denoting the dryness and harshness of the Spanish countryside.

The other wall was silver representing the cold steel of the sword of the bullfight and the knife of the smugglers and soldiers. The wall moved on a pivot making the stage area more intimate on the occasion needed.

The cast was reduced for practical reasons as Richard Gill the conductor said “It being logistically and financially impossible to travel with a group of sixteen children and an army of ten male choristers”.

The cast all played more than one part and the result was a great success.

Good presentation was given by all the performers, dialogue was clear although the Australian twang was very obvious and the clarity of diction in some of the singing was not too clear.

Judith Dodsworth captured the role of Carmen with the correct feel capturing the voice as envisaged and worked well with Kent Maddock as Don Jose.

Kent Maddock presented well as Don Jose. He caught the character of the army corporal with a past and loved by the young Micaela and the jealous lover of Carmen. Teresa La Rocca was Micaela the 17 year old girl who loved Don Jose. Teresa gave the performance of a young innocent girl in Seville for the first time and her scenes with the soldiers outside the cigarette factory were very good.

Henry Ruhl was the Toreador Escamillo. Henry has good stage presence and gave a good performance in the role.

Mattias Lower was the smuggler leader Remendado Mattias carried the role with finesse and had the appearance of leadership qualities for the role.

Ozopera has presented a good evening of opera and it is recommended not to miss same when it comes to your local venue:

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