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Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, May 22, 2013 - Page 89
Observer Showbiz THE PRODUCERS
Local Theatre With Cheryl Threadgold
‘CALENDAR GIRLS’ AT ELTHAM SHOWS
● Swedish actress Ulla (Lisa Brash) auditions for Leo Bloom (Steven Walker) and Max Bialystock (Sonny Beycher) in The Producers, playing in Elwood until May 25. Photo: Des McMillan ■ A vibrant, refreshingly youthful production of the Mel Brooks’s musical The Producers is being presented by the JYM Theatre Company at the Phoenix Theatre, 101 Glenhuntly Road, Elwood, until May 25. Amazingly, nobody in the cast is over 28, yet all deliver their roles with seasoned flair. Director Brendan Cohen should take a bow here, because his expert direction, including clever use of characters to facilitate smooth set changes, provides an excellent performance vehicle for his talented cast. Special mention should also be made of Musical Director Philip Stretton and his equally youthful orchestra. This is Philip’s third show as MD with JYM, and his impressive orchestra never fails to produce sounds equal to the best heard around town. The story tells of has-been musical producer Max Bialystock and nerdy accountant Leo Bloom, seeking a sure-fire flop so they can close the show and abscond with the backers’ money. They think they have the worst show ever… until it all goes horribly right! Sonny Beycher as the confident shyster Max and his antithesis partner, the awkward Leo, played by Steven Walker, are terrific in their roles, using well-paced comedy timing. Effervescent Lisa Brash delights as glamorous Swedish actress Ulla, singing and dancing with oomph and style. Joel Lazar (Nazi playwright Franz Leibkind), Oliver Rose (flamboyant director Roger De Bris) and Josh Mulcahy (assistant, Carmen Ghi) all deliver entertaining performances, while the versatile ensemble members present some great characterisations. Cara Johnston’s snappy, well-rehearsed choreography is topped off with some beaut tap-dancing. Audiences really appreciate performers using high-powered energy to ensure we enjoy the show. Thank you. We loved it! Congratulations JYM Theatre on another success. Performance Season: May 22, 23, 25 at 8.00pm Venue: Phoenix Theatre, 101 Glenhuntly Rd, Elwood Tickets: $35-$42 Bookings: www.jymtheatre.com
PHÈDRE ■ A media call and dress rehearsal was held yesterday (Tues.) for Phèdre, being staged at the Merlyn Theatre at The Malthouse, Sturt St. Featured were Act 2 performances of Hippolytus and Aricia (Edmund Lembke-Hogan and Abby Earl); and Hippolytus and Phèdre (Edmund Lembke-Hogan and Catherine McClements). Written by Jean Racine, this most famous of French tragedies continues Bell Shakespeare’s foray into French classical theatre, with Co-Artistic Director Peter Evans directing Ted Hughes’s passionately wrought translation of love, betrayal, humiliation, despair and death. Phèdre is married to a notorious and absent King Theseus, who has been missing for months. When rumours of his death reach her, the forbidden desire that has been rising in her erupts in a confession of devastating love for her stepson, Hippolytus. Rejected by him and faced with the shock return of her husband, the devastated Phèdre stands-by while her stepson is accused of her rape. This mythic tale of erotic obsession explodes with wild accusations, chilling curses and violent deaths. It cannot end well, and, like any good tragedy, it doesn’t. Starring Catherine McClements (Phèdre), she’ll be performing alongside Marco Chiappi (Theseus), Julie Forsyth (Onenone), Bert Labonte (Théramène), Olivia Monicciolo (Ismène), Caroline Lee (Panope), Edmund LembkeHogan (Hippolytus) and Abby Earl.
Melbourne
Observer
■ Eltham Little Theatre: Calendar Girls (by Tim Firth) Until May 24 at the Eltham Performing Arts Centre, Main Road, Research. Director: Gayle Poor. Tickets: $22.50/$17.50. Bookings: 9437 1574. ■ CLOC Musical Theatre: The Phantom of the Opera Until May 25 at the National Theatre, St Kilda. Bookings: 1300 362 547. www.cloc.org.au ■ Nova Music Theatre: Sweeney Todd Until May 25 at the Whitehorse Centre, Nunawading. Director/designers: Chris and Lynette White: Musical Director: Phillip Osborne. Tickets: $38/ $33. Bookings: 1300 305771 or 9727 0192. ■ Strathmore Theatrical Arts Group (STAG): The Merry Widows (by Cenarth Fox) Until May 26 at the Strathmore Community Hall, Corner Napier and Loeman Streets, Strathmore. Director: Mel de Bono. Tickets: $20/$15. Bookings: 9382 6284. ■ The Basin Theatre: The Woman in Black Until June 8 at The Basin Theatre, Corner Doongalla and Simpson Roads, The Basin. Director: Justin Stephens. Tickets: $25. Bookings: 1300 784 668 www.basintheatre.org.au ■ Moreland Theatre Company: Arsenic and Old Lace (by Joseph Kesselring) Until June 1 at the Mechanics Institute Performing Arts Centre, Corner Sydney and Glenlyon Roads, Brunswick. Director: Rick Barry. Tickets: $25/$18. Bookings: www.moreland.org.au ■ Brighton Theatre Company: Picasso at the Lapin Agile (by Steve Martin) May 23 - June 8 at the Clocktower Theatre, Corner Wilson and Carpenter Streets, Brighton. Director: Jeff Saliba. Tickets: $20/$18. Bookings: 1300 752 126 or www.brightontheatreco.com ■ Savoy Opera Company: Cox and Box and The Sorcerer May 24 and 25 at 8.00pm, May 25 at 2.00pm at The Alexander Theatre, Monash University, Clayton. Bookings: 9905 1111 www.monash.edu.au/waps ■ The Mount Players: The Threepenny Opera (by Bertolt Brecht), May 24 - June 23 at 56 Smith Street, Macedon. Director: Leo Vandervalk: Musical Director: Peter Weerts. Tickets: $28/$25. Bookings: www.themountplayers.com.au ■ Gemco Players Community Theatre: Don't Drink the Water (by Woody Allen) May 24 - June 1 at the Gem Community Arts Centre, 19 Kilvington Drive, Emerald. Director: Kym Davies. Tickets: $24/$22. Bookings: www.gemcoplayers.org ■ Phoenix Theatre Company: The Wedding Singer May 24 June 1 at the Doncaster Playhouse. Director/Choreographer: Renee Maloney; Musical Director: Katie Packer. Tickets: www.phoenixtheatrecompany.org ■ Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre: Laughter on the 23rd Floor (by Neil Simon) May 29 - June 15 at the Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre, 39-41 Castella Street, Lilydale. Director: Kevin Trask. Tickets: $25/$22. Bookings: www.lilydaleatc.com ■ Fab Nobs Theatre Inc and Williamstown Music Theatre Company: [title of show] June 7 - 15 at the Fab Factory, 33 Industry Place, Bayswater, Bookings: fabnobstheatre.com.au or 0401 018 846. June 20 - 23 at the Williamstown Mechanics Institute, Corner Melbourne Road and Electra Street, Williamstown. Bookings: wtc.org.au 1300 881 545. Tickets: $32/$28. ■ MLOC Productions: Big The Musical June 14 - 22 at the Phoenix Theatre, 101 Glenhuntly Road, Elwood. Director: Trish Carr; Musical Director: Geoff Earle: Choreographer: Keir Jasper. Tickets: $32/$30/$28. Bookings: www.mloc.org.au ■ Windmill Theatre Company: The Phantom of the Opera June 21 - July 4 at the Drum Theatre, Dandenong. Director: Chris Hughes: Musical Director: Julia Buchanan; Choreographer: Robert Mulholland. Tickets: $39.60/$35.20. Bookings: www.phantomoftheopera.net.au ■ Sunshine Community Theatre: Boston Marriage (by David Mamet), June 28 - July 6 at the Dempster Park Hall, 82 Phoenix Street, North Sunshine. Director: Lee Cook. Tickets: $15/$12. Bookings: 0407 802165 www.sunshinecommunitytheatre.com ■ Aspect Theatre: Hairspray July 12 - 20 at the Shirley Burke Theatre, 64 Parkers Road, Parkdale. Director: Lyn Laister; Musical Director: Emma McGeorge; Choreographer: KimAnnette. Bookings: www.aspecttheatre.com After hours: 9580 8415.
AUDITIONS ■ The Basin Theatre Company: Lend Me a Tenor (by Ken Ludwig) May 22 at 7.30pm at The Basin Theatre, corner Simpson and Doongalla Roads, The Basin. Director: Joe Tuppeney. Audition bookings: 0408 336310. ■ Purely Pensive Productions: The Importance of Being Earnest May 26, 3.00-5.30pm at St Thomas the Apostle Primary School, Diamond Creek Road, Greensborough. Audition bookings: www.purelypensive.com.au ■ Warrandyte Theatre Company: The Real Inspector Hound (by Tom Stoppard), June 2 at 2.00pm and June 5 at 7.30pm at the Warrandyte Mechanics Institute Hall, Yarra St, Warrandyte. Directors: Nieta Manser/David Tynan.Audition bookings: 0439 311428.
The Good Person of Szechuan The true brilliance of Brecht is exposed and stripped bare in The Good Person of Szechuan, performed at the La Mama Courthouse in Carlton. The show was written during Brecht’s years of exile from Nazi Germany but was translated into this Santa Monica version by David Harrower. Whilst exploring themes of love, morality, identity and addiction, the show asks deep questions about what it truly means to be a good person. The action that takes place is chaotic yet beautifully serene at the same time. The Good Person of Szechuan centres on Shen Te, a prostitute who is proclaimed a ‘good person’ by the gods, and her predicament of being caught between a desire to help and her need to survive. HaiHa Le plays Shen Te and does an outstanding job at portraying this strong yet fragile character in a powerful manner. She is supported by an exciting ensemble cast that work together harmoniously to provide a true theatrical experience that will drawyou in and excite the senses.
The show is edgy, raw, and in your face, as Brecht would have wanted it to be. Lawrence Strangio had directed this latest production to truly captivate and engross the entire audience. I In fact, he has not only engrossed the audience, but uses them as an integral part of the action. The set design of Lisa Höbartner, although seemingly simple, works incredibly effectively and cleverly in allowing the focus to be on what is really important, the story and the powerful questions at hand. The entire cast and crew should be extremely proud of this remarkable production and the journey that they allow their audience to be part of alongside them. Season: Until May 26 Times: Wed, Sun 6.30pm ; Thu, Fri, Sat 7.30pm; Wednesday 1pm;Thursday 11am Venue: La Mama Courthouse, 349 Drummond St, Carlton Tickets: Tickets $25 Full ; $15 Concession Bookings: www.lamama.com.au or 9347 6142 - Review by Stephen Leeden
AUDITIONS
■ Croydon Parish Players: Fiddler on the Roof Information Night May 28, 30 at 8.00pm, Auditions June 3, 4 at 7.00pm at the Croydon Uniting Church, Tallent Street, Croydon. Director: Russell Walters; Musical Director: David Billmori. Email: info@croydonparishplayers.com ■ Williamstown Little Theatre: Morning Departure June 3, 4 at 2 Albert Street, Williamstown. Director: Gaentano Santo. Audition bookings: 0419 529 208. ■ Sunshine Community Theatre: And the Big Men Fly (by Alan Hopgood) June 6 at 2.00pm, June 10 at 8.00pm at the Dempster Park Hall, 82 Phoenix Street, North Sunshine. Director: Stephen Andrews. Audition bookings: 0407 802 165. ■ Wyndham Theatre Company: Deathtrap (by Ira Levin) June 22, 29 at 12.00 noon at the Crossroads Theatre, Corner Synot Street and Duncans Road. Werribee. Director: Ron Fenton. Audition bookings: 0403 338 836. ■ Geelong Repertory Theatre Company: The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (by Gay Presson Allen), June 27 at 7.00pm, June 30 at 12 noon at the Woodbin Theatre, 15 Coronation Street, Geelong West. Director: Stacey Carmichael. Audition bookings: 0400 233 085. ■ The Melbourne Observer Local Theatre report is compiled by Cheryl Threadgold in an honorary capacity. News and photos of shows, auditions and theatre people can be sent to: editor@melbourneobserver.com.au