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Melbourne Obser ver - Wednesday, February 14, 2018 - Page 37 e urn lbo Me
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Thea tr e: Vale Mary Kappner .................................... P age 3399 heatr tre: Arts: Peter Kemp’s column ................................................ Page 38 Country Music: Joni Mitchell show at Memo .............. Page 38 Jim and Aar on: Top 10 Lists, Best DVDs .............................. Page 40 Aaron: Cheryl Threadgold: Local shows, auditions ........................... Page 41 PL US THE LLO OVATT”S MEGA CRO PLUS CROSSSWORD
VALE LORRAINE MADSEN Michael Mace OAM
● Michael Mace OAM. Photo: Digby Forbes ■ Hearty congratulations to Michael Mace who was awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in the 2018 Australia Day Honours List for his service to community Theatre. This well-deserved award particularly acknowledges Michael’s 56 years’ service to the theatre company he created, the Adelphi Players Theatre Company, as well as being a Life Member of more than 20 years with the Victorian Drama League. Michael also volunteers as a tutor at the Glen Eira U3A, running a Playreading Group. When I had the pleasure of interviewing Michael, his dedication to non-professional theatre shone through when talking about his own company, The Adelphi Players Theatre Company, formed in 1962. Michael does not seek the limelight as a performer, and has never performed onstage himself. For the company’s first show in 1962, The Winslow Boy, Michael was Stage Manager, and these days is the company Administrator and director of all productions. In the company’s early days, Michael’s Mum and Dad would give up their lounge-room for rehearsals. “There were not as many groups then as there are now,” said Michael. “There were companies like Beaumaris, Malvern and Frankston, but not a lot of little groups.” In 1965 the company began performing in the Ormond Uniting Church hall, and still perform there today. The Adelphi Players Theatre Company also performed at the National Trust’s Labassa mansion in Caulfield for many years until 2014, and raised good funds for the National Trust and for restorations. Michael Mace has made a unique and wonderful contribution to Victorian non-professional theatre, particularly through his determination to keep the Adelphi Players running for 56 years, which has benefitted local communities and the actors and behind the scenes people who work on his shows. Golden Days Radio presenter Joan Krutli who often performs in Michael’s productions, says: “Michael’s passion and commitment to community theatre is unsurpassed.” Congratulations Michael Mace OAM. - Cheryl Threadgold
● Lorraine Madsen ■ Melbourne’s non-professional theatre community lost a dedicated and talented practitioner with the passing of Lorraine Madsen, a Mordialloc Theatre Company member for 63 years. Lorraine was farewelled by family, friends and colleagues in a moving service at St Michael’s and All Angels Anglican Church in Beaumaris, conducted by the Reverend Robert McUtchen. Her four daughters Ann, Karen, Jane and Clare, each paid tribute to their mother, and remembered playing in the Parkdale Mechanics’ Institute hall while Lorraine was directing plays, and their dad John was working on the sets. The girls loved seeing Lorraine’s make-up case, being taken backstage to meet the cast in shows, and their mother’s sense of pride in her theatre group. Lorraine and John were to celebrate their 67th wedding anniversary this coming March. As well as directing, Lorraine’s fine acting was reputed to reduce audiences to tears or laughter. Lorraine later transferred her creativity to patchworking and took much pleasure in choosing fabrics to suit the individual personalities of family members, and created a patchwork quilt for each person.. Recently, I had the pleasure of interviewing Lorraine and company President Juliet Hayday for my research project on Victorian non-professional theatre. Lorraine remembered auditioning for the Mordialloc Citizens’ League Theatre Group’s first show A Cuckoo In The Nest, at 15, but was told to finish Fourth Form at Mordialloc High School. Not to be deterred, Lorraine returned to audition for the company’s second show, The House of Thrills, by Leslie Chadwick-Browning, and was asked if she could scream. “I screamed so loudly it nearly brought the roof down,” laughed Lorraine. As it turned out, the person already cast in the role could not scream as required, so Lorraine was cast instead, as a spinster in her late 50s, and all because she could scream! White shoe paint was used in her hair to help age the 16-year-old’s appearance. Thus began a lifelong association between Lorraine and the theatre company, known today as the Mordialloc Theatre Company. In 1962, Lorraine was asked to direct the first show that opened the Shirley Burke Theatre in Parkdale, The Man Who Came to Dinner, with a cast of 33 actors. “I was in my 30s at the time with young children, so a lady connected to the company came in to do my ironing to help me,” recalled Lorraine. Lorraine was described as a ‘generous, spirited woman’ and remembered by her grandchildren as an “extraordinary, patient and kind” grandmother, and a wonderful cook and storyteller. Among the many theatre representatives attending the service was Eric Hayes, who recalled meeting Lorraine in 1951 when she was known as Lorraine Johnson. Mordialloc Theatre Company President Juliet Hayday pays tribute to Lorraine with these words: “Lorraine was our Elder Stateswoman, held in high regard by the longer serving members of the Company who had worked with her, and viewed with affection by those who came to know her in more recent times. Her cheerful greeting will be missed in the foyer at Shirley Burke Theatre.” Sincere condolences to Lorraine’s husband John and her family, friends, and members of the Mordialloc Theatre Company. - Cheryl Threadgold
● Lorraine Madsen with Graham Hunter in Summer of the Seventeenth Doll in 1965.
School of Rock ■ The search is on to find the best knee-sliding, fist-pumping kids in the country, with auditions commencing soon – budding rock stars can register via the website. School of Rock – The Musical follows dropout Dewey Finn, a failed rock star forced to earn some extra cash by posing as a teacher at a prestigious prep school. But Dewey isn’t going to teach his straight-laced students algebra or arithmetic, oh no. These kids are going to learn what it takes to become the most awesome rock ‘n’ roll band of all time. Now he just needs to get his students to the Battle of the Bands, dodging strict teachers and pushy parents on the way to teaching these pint-sized prodigies what it means to truly rock. With a new score from Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by three-time Tony nominee Glenn Slater, book by Downton Abbey’s Oscar winning Julian Fellowes, and all the original songs from the movie, School of Rock features an incredible cast of kids scorching riffs, pounding drums and rocking out live. Andrew Lloyd Webber and Executive Producer, Madeleine Lloyd Webber are excited to be bringing the show to Australia and describe the musical’s creation. “As a family we sat down to watch the movie of School Of Rock and were immediately struck by how much it resonated with us all. We loved it for its sense of outrageous fun and the story that proves music can really change your life, whatever your age. “We therefore realised we had the opportunity to share this with the world in the most exciting way of all – as a great new musical. We cannot wait to see the remarkably talented group of young actor musicians that we will uncover down under.” Based on the hit movie, School of Rock – The Musical premiered in December 2015 at Broadway’s Winter Garden Theatre, smashing box office records, garnering rave reviews, and earning four Tony nominations. The West End production opened in November 2016 at the New London Theatre, winning both the 2017 Olivier for Outstanding Achievement in Music and the 2017 WhatsOnStage Award for Best New Musical. An extensive US national tour was launched in September 2017. Turn To Page 39