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Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, November 12, 2014 - Page 45
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Frankenstein
REVIEW BY CHERYL THREADGOLD ● Katie Weston (Elizabeth Lavenza) with Scott Mackenzie (Victor Frankenstein) in Frankenstein: a New Musical. Photo: Gavin D Andrew ■ Williamstown Musical Theatre’s theatrically stunning production of Frankenstein: a New Musicalplays until November 22 at the Williamstown Mechanics Institute Theatre. Different to Mel Brooks’ Broadway musical Young Frankenstein, this adaptation of Mary Shelley’s classic gothic novel tells of brilliant young scientist Victor Frankenstein secretly experimenting to recreate a perfect life after death. Instead, the laboratory experiment results in a grotesque Creature who resents Frankenstein as ‘the author of my misery’. Frankenstein’s privileged world tragically disintegrates as his family and beautiful new bride Elizabeth fall victim to the Creature’s terrifying revenge. Masterly use of innovative theatrical devices onstage and in the auditorium immerses the audience in this captivating tale, with mind-boggling visual effects. Devices include surround sound, atomic strobe lights, more than 100 sound effects, hundreds of lighting sequences, specialized rigging, flashbacks, overlapping timelines, projected images and a score played by a terrific orchestra that continues until the end of each act! Particularly clever is the ingenious set, including two irregularly shaped, motorised arcs. Perfectly choreographed, these versatile, foreboding walls constantly move to facilitate scene changes, backdrop, curtain, or a set pivotal to the narrative. Scott Mackenzie (Victor Frankenstein) and Mark Doran (The Creature) lead the vocally-strong cast of outstanding musical theatre performers. Using fine vocal and acting skills they deliver superb portrayals of their powerful characters. In gentle contrast is Katie Weston’s lovely performance as Victor’s fiancée, Elizabeth Lavenza, with her exquisite gowns designed by Frankie Farrelly, and Jessica Barlow’s strong portrayal of governess Justine. Both performers have bell-like, beautiful voices. First-class performances are also enjoyed from Paul Batey (Alphonse Frankenstein), articulate Peter Dennis (CaptainWalton), Bradley Dylan (Henry Clerval), Campbell Bonello (William Frankenstein), Bianca Bramham (Caroline Frankenstein), Britt Lewis (Agatha) and the equally talented ensemble. The creative team who devised this brilliantlypresented Australian premiere production comprises Shaun Kingma (Director), Tyson Legg (Musical Director), Jason Bovaird and Deryk Hartwick (Lighting Design), Marcello Lo Ricco (Sound Design) and Frankie Farrelly (Costume Design). Hearty congratulations to all concerned – and thank you for a great night of theatre. Performance season: Until November 22, incl. 2.00pm matinee November 16. Venue: Williamstown Mechanics Institute, 5 Electra St., Williamstown. Bookings: 1300 881 545
TV, Radio, Theatre Latest Melbourne show business news - without fear or favour
Raw comedy to India ■ Ronny Chieng, Kate McLennan, Elbowskin, Nish Kumar (UK) and David Williams will take the Melbourne Comedy Festival Roadshow across the sub-continent while searching for the hottest comedy talent. Indian audiences and up-and-coming comedians are in luck this November as the Melbourne International Comedy Festival brings both Raw Comedy and the Roadhsow to Mumbai, Bangalore and Kolkata. Raw Comedy India heats will be held for the third consecutive year to discover the freshest Indian comedy talent. With an aim to find, develop and showcase great talent to a broad audience, this year’s Raw Comedy India winner will win a trip to Melbourne to perform in the Raw Comedy National Grand as part of the 2015 Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Guest mentors from the Roadshow lineup will also hold workshops for the Raw Comedy heat contestants in all four cities, prepping the best up-andcoming Indian comedy talent before they perform in front of a live audience.
● UK comedian Nish Kumar. In February, the piring comics. Melbourne International The winner was Delhi Comedy Festival held the contestant Rohan Desai second Raw Comedy In- who won the competition dia competition and flew with his hilariously awkAustralian comedians ward and shy stage perKate McLennan and Jus- sona. tin Hamilton to India to For full details, visit hold workshops prior to www.comedyfestival.com.au the heats with the local as- Cheryl Threadgold
Plenty of Passion ■ Life Like Company is a new music theatre company, evolving from a creative partnership that has been developed over 20 years between Theresa Borg, Anton Berezin and Troy Sussman. Their inaugural music theatre season features the musical masterpiece Passion at the Playhouse, Arts Centre Melbourne. This Tony Award winning musical has music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by James Lavine, and was adapted from Ettore Scola’s film Passione d’Amore. The story was originally based on a 19th century novel Fosca by Iginio Ugo Tarchetti. Passion opened on Broadway in 1994. Sondheim described Passion as about how “ the force of somebody’s feelings for you can crack you open, and how it is the life force in a deadened world” The story explores themes of love, passion, obsession, sex, illness, manipulation and power. It is set in 1863, at a provincial military outpost, to where. the handsome captain, Giorgio has been transferred. He has informed his lover, Clara, a married woman, whom is distraught at the thought of his absence. Here he meets Fosca who is described as having a nervous disorder. She falls in passionate love with Giorgio, who has politely engaged with Fosca only as a friend. Kane Alexander portrays the complex and increasingly tormented Giorgio who is relentlessly pursued by a manipulative Fosca ( Theresa Borg), and mak-
ing up the third member of the love triangle is Silvie Paladino, playing the beautiful and passionate Clara. This excellent trio are ably supported by John O’May ( DoctorTambourri), Mark Dickinson (Colonel Ricci), Jolyon James (Major Rizzolli and Count Ludovic), Cameron MacDonald (Private Augenti), Tod Strike (Lt Torasso), Troy Sussman (Sargeant Lombardi) and Glaston Toft ( Lt Barri). All the cast display strong vocal abilities doing complete justice toSondheim’s almost hypnotic score. They are strongly supported by an 14piece orchestra led by Concertmaster Matt Hassell, all expertly handling the technical challenges of the music. Director, Neil Gooding and Musical Director Guy Simpson have produced a splendid performance with Choreographer, Benjamin Osborne, Set and Lighting Designer Rob Sowinski and Creative Producer Luke Gallagher. All the actors, orchestra and creative team have partnered to produce an impressive performance of Sondheim’s brilliant musical. Playhouse, Arts Centre Melbourne: www.artscentremelbourne.com.au - Review by Jill Page
Murder in Brighton
● Tim Murphy, Christine Bridge, Simon Cooper, Joan Krutli and Stacie Mason in Bloody Murder In Brighton. Photo: Jo Boyes ■ Brighton Theatre Company presents Bloody Murder by Ed Sala from November 13-29 at Brighton Theatre, Cnr Carpenter and Wilson Sts, Brighton. Directed by Andrew McMillan, Bloody Murder tells of a group of the usual British murder types gathering for a weekend retreat at the sumptuous country estate of the esteemed Lady Somerset. Suddenly, one of the colourful characters dies of poison, but Her Ladyship refuses to summon the police! She says she won’t go through all this again. The question needs to be asked “All what again?” And why were they all invited there in the first place? Is this just another all-too predictable mystery, or is something very different? Agatha Christie meets Pirandello as characters rebel against their author. Tickets: $23/$21. Bookings: 1300 752 126 or online www.brightontheatreco.com Email: enquire@brightontheatreco.com Website: www.brightontheatreco.com - Cheryl Threadgold
Going Nowhere
■ rts House, North Melbourne Town Hall, is the venue for Going Nowhere, a sustainable arts festival happening on two sides of the globe – Melbourne, Australia and Cambridge, United Kingdom from November 21 - 23. Among the many events around sustainability in the arts that people can attend, including theatre shows, a Bush Bash Barn dance and costume making workshop, is Permanent vs Impermanent, a series of textural projection treatments that can be viewed on the exterior of Arts House, North Melbourne Town Hall, by renowned experimental multimedia artist Olaf Meyer. Previous iterations of the work have related to events in the Town Hall. At this year’s Festival of Live Art, viewers could playfully engage with the work by making gestures of throwing paint blobs at the clock tower. This work will send the North Melbourne streetscape abroad by texturing the tower with famous architecture from around the world. The work in this iteration will reflect on the familiarity of architecture like this, and the way its form imposes colonial authority. Dates: Wednesday, November 19 – Sunday, November 23. Times: Dusk to midnight. Venue: Arts House, North Melbourne Town Hall. Tickets: Free. Details of all events: www.goingnowhere.net.au - Cheryl Threadgold
Showbiz Briefs
■ Smooth 91.5 FM yesterday (Tues., Nov. 11) played its playing our first Christmas song in breakfast this morning – Michael Bublé’s It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas. ■ Father Bob Maguire is receiving his own .melbourne webiste this morning when State Minister Gordon Rich-Phillips launches the domain at the Eura Sky Deck. ■ This week sees the 50 year- anniversary since The Mavis Bramston Show premiered on Australian television. It was a political satire show.