local Sounds Peer inside the theatre with Nick Aritcle by Ken Corbit
Nimbin School of Arts
CURATED BY the poet laureate of the rainbow region, David Hallett, the Blue Moon Cabaret (pictured) is now celebrating it’s 25th year.
These cabarets are always full to the brim in the Nimbin School of Arts, (the town hall), a magnificent space with lots of soulful character. Hallett has defined the standard of local cabaret, and these shows are always world class and impressive. The School of Arts boasts a beautiful grand piano and tonight, the first cabaret of 2016, the show opened with maestro Harry Freeman performing a couple of pieces from composer Mike Nock. Harry Freeman is a great artist who captivated the audience
arpeggios with his right hand doing jazzy syncopated flourishes. He was followed by gravelly voiced Freowin Harper, a piano man who played a couple of standards with a relaxed twist. Harper was followed by one of the standouts for the night Possum and Tango, two woman who did a poetry in tandem about alternative living that was absolutely hilarious, their satirical commentary had the audience in stitches. Next the La Salsa dance troupe brought in some hip swishing razzle dazzle. They were followed by newhobo troubadour Jimmy Dowling, who played the song from Mary Poppins, Chim Chim Cheree, the audience sang with him in hushed tones, a moment of spontaneous theatrical magic. The mother and daughter trapeze act Martje and Mika, ( Mika the daughter must be about 7 ) was a great performance of agility and grace, and because of the wee lass, very cute! The Drill Hall Theatrical group did a very bizarre piece of conceptual theatre with full costume and props. They were followed up by stand up comedian Peter Willey, (who quipped that he drove to the gig from the Gold Coast going through several tax income brackets), the crowd roared along with his self deprecating observations. Li Pawson is a well known acrobatic performer who absolutely gobsmacked me...Cont Pg12
We’ll keep you up-to-date with events and take you behind the scenes for an insider’s view of the magical world of drama. Well, what a fantastic experience it has been presenting Oscar Wilde’s classic Victorian comedy The Importance of Being Earnest – a slick interpretation by that doyen of directors, Bryanne Jardine. For every person on stage though, there are many more making it happen behind the scenes – stage manager, sound, lighting, wardrobe, make-up, set-builders, props, front-of-house and much more. Theatre is an intricate game, and all helpers play their part in a successful production.
To get the make-up just right for Graham Scott as Lady Bracknell, make-up artist Margaret Jessop studied the techniques used on David Suchet in the recent film version of Earnest. The make-up had to look natural, not overstated as in a pantomime dame. Dresser Su Lee was also invaluable – modern men don’t know how to fix ties and cravats, but Su did. Hats are always a problem – finding the correct one and getting them to fit just right, is for the experts. Anyone with spare hats should give us a bell. Lady Bracknell’s change of costume for Act 3 was solved by the ingenious wardrobe mistress Robyn Crossan – she used a doona cover! And Lady B’s long black gloves were true antiques. Even the rosebush was real, albeit with attached silk flowers for constant use. Improvisation is the key to live theatre.
An inside look at the local theatre with the cast from Importance of Being Earnest
FAMILY DAY AT
TUMBY PUB
FREE Jumping Castle FREE Face Painting
EASTER EGG HUNT for kids
LIVE MUSIC Starting around 12 Midday
Riverside Drive, Tumbulgum, NSW, 2490
(02) 6676 6202
73388
BLUE MOON CABARET
Welcome to Talking Theatre, a regular monthly column on all things theatre for the Tweed. from his first note, his left hand pumping
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