Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, September 25, 2013 - Page 105
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Observer Showbiz Every Week in the Melbourne Observer
Radio: Farewell to Paul Dix ........................... Page 106 Theatre: Seussical The Musical review ................ Page 107 The Spoiler: Advance plotlines for TV soapies .......... Page 107 Jim and Aaron: Top 10, best movies and DVDs ............ Page 108 Cheryl Threadgold: Local theatre shows, auditions ........... Page 109 PLUS THE LOVATT”S MEGA CROSSWORD
SIX FINALISTS IN ARIA KoLABorAYshun
● Emma Kathryn can be seen in KoLABorAYshun at Gertrude’s Brown Couch, Fitzroy, until September 25. ■ KoLABorAYshun, seven performers across two stages over three hours, is classic Melbourne Fringe. It is ambitious, adventurous, collaborative, experimental and challenging. This eclectic group of experienced and emerging poets is oozing with passion and dedication to their craft. Combining character-based poetry, performance poetry and recital, KoLABorAYshun presents some captivating moments. Emma Kathryn’s coy yet playful performance about love found and lost, was engaging in its poeticism. Fjalar De Haan’s character performance (and prose) in Famished and Mindf**ked was aptly disturbing. Both would have benefited, in the transition from the poetic to the theatrical setting, from some skilful direction. Recital performances from Amanda Anastasi and Steve Smart included excerpts from their new show, Loop City, a somewhat derisive but humorous expose of Melbourne, “only 12 hours from Sydney” - I think you get the picture was a highlight. Thomas Kent’s When I’m Prime Minister was delivered with vigor, which contrasted well to the strangely composed and restrained poetic performances, to rap then reggae, of beguiling identical twin poets Emily and Bronwen Manger. The eerie and dramatic performance from Lady Hannah Cadaver was a fitting conclusion to this literary – or was it theatrical – experience. KoLABorAYshun is the brainchild of Kent, a poet and composer, who is also the director, producer, publicist and photographer of the show. As he explained in his closing remarks, there were “glitches”. Mainly they were technical and may have had something to do with the limitations of the performance space and rehearsal times – it’s Fringe so you take what you can get. The show runs for three hours, which is a considerable ask of an audience. Personally I encourage performers to work without scripts. More attention to stagecraft, particularly for the transition between acts, could take this engaging poetic encounter to the next level. Performance: Until 25 September Venue: Gertrude’s Brown Couch, 30-32 Gertrude St, Fitzroy Tickets: $20/$15 Bookings:www.melbournefringe.com.au/fringe-festival/ show/ko-lab-bor-a-yshun/ - Beth Klein
By JULIE HOUGHTON
● Four of the six Herald Sun Aria finalists: Stacey Alleaume, Stephanie Gibson, Sam Sakkar andNicholas Jones. Not shown: Jade Moffat and Nathan Lay. ■ Since the 19th century, good things have always come out of Ballarat. First, it was gold, and later culture took a firm hold on the city of gold. By 1924, Ballarat had established what is still one of Australia's premier singing competitions - the Herald Sun Aria. Some 89 years later it still regarded as a huge coup in a young classical singer's life to be good enough to be selected as one of the six finalists in the Herald Sun Aria Final, taking place this year at 7pm on Tuesday (Oct.1) at Hamer Hall. It has produced names who have gone on to stellar international careers, the most famous of which might be New Zealand soprano Dame Kiri te Kanawa, who credits her win in the 1965 Sun Aria (as it was known then) as the launchpad of her long career. And it is more than just a nice title to put on the CV - the prize pool totals $60,000, with the winner taking home cash of $12,500 and an overseas study scholarship worth $22,500. Finalists compete in heats and a semi-final at Ballarat's Her Majesty's Theatre before being selected for the final in Melbourne. This year's finalists are five Victorians and one Queenslander: soprano Stephanie Gibson of Box Hill, tenor Nicholas Jones of Yarraville, soprano Stacey Alleaume of Mulgrave, baritone Nathan Lay of Southbank, tenor Sam Sakker of Port Melbourne and mezzo soprano Jade Moffat from Forest Lake in Queensland. The judging panel is Richard Divall, Dobbs Franks and Dimity Shepherd, with Richard Divall also conducting the Australian Philharmonic Orchestra as it accompanies the singers. To be part of the action on this popular night in the Melbourne cultural calendar, you can book tickets on 1300 182 183 or go to www.artscentremelbourne.com.au - Julie Houghton
● Judge and conductor Richard Divall
Disney’s ‘Camp Rock’
● Hannah Savige (left), Maggie McKenna, Asterope Varagiamis and Lauren Goetz in Disney’s Camp Rock: The Musical. Photo: Jessica Charnley ■ Stage Masters presents the Melbourne premiere of Disney’s popular Camp Rock: The Musical, from October 17-27 at the Randall Theatre, St Martins Youth Arts Centre, South Yarra. Camp Rock: The Musical is from a book written by Robert L. Freedman and Faye Greenberg, based on a Disney Channel original movie written by Dan Berendsen and Karin Gist and Regina Hicks and on characters created by Karin Gist, Regina Hicks, Julie Brown and Paul Brown. With music adapted, arranged, orchestrated and produced by David Lawrence, Camp Rock: The Musical is a fast paced story set to music that will fire up the stage with over a dozen songs, including This is Me, Can’t Back Down, It’s On and We Rock. Camp Rock is the ultimate place for aspiring musicians, and Mitchie and her friends can’t wait to spend their summer there, jamming out, making new friends and having the time of their lives. But the new flashy camp across the lake, Camp Star, has drummed up some serious competition and now threatens Camp Rock’s very existence. To keep the doors open, Mitchie needs to step up, rally her fellow Camp Rockers, and get them into top shape for the ultimate showdown. Stage Masters producers David Venn and Jessica Benney direct a young tour-de-force, 60-person cast, in this family musical for all ages. Venn said the company is excited to be bringing this highenergy show to Melbourne. “More than 380 aspiring singers, dancers and actors travelled as far as Echuca, Ballarat and Geelong to audition for this once in a lifetime opportunity and we are extremely pleased with the talented cast we have assembled,” he said. Stage Masters aims to develop high-quality entertainment, whilst providing educational opportunities for aspiring performers aged between 11 and 18 to develop their skills in all facets of the arts. Season: October 17-27 (except Monday and Tuesday) Times: Wednesday-Saturday 7:30pm; Matinees: Saturday, October 19 at 2pm, Sunday, October 20 at 1pm and 5pm, Saturday 26 at 1pm and, Sunday 27 at 4pm Venue: Randall Theatre, St Martins Youth Arts Centre, 44 St Martins Lane, South Yarra Tickets: Adult A – Res: $35, Child/Concession A – Res: $29, Single B – Res: $28, Family Pass: $118, Premium seat: $45 Bookings: http://camprock.com.au, or 9016 8486. - Cheryl Threadgold