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AUSTRALIA
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AUSTRALIA
THEATRE NEWS & REVIEWS
kindly provided by Peter Kemp
For DIRECT CONTACT for what's on in OZ - contact Peter direct at:
publicity@pktheatre.com
A
Chorus Line
In an
empty theatre, on a bare stage, casting for a new Broadway musical is almost
complete. For 17 dancers, this audition is the chance of a lifetime. It's what
they've worked for - with every drop of sweat, every hour of training, every
day of their lives. It's the one opportunity to do what they've always dreamed
- to have the chance to dance.
This is
A Chorus Line, the story of the ones who make it and the ones who don't. Told
through captivating song, riveting drama and stunning choreography, they
describe the events that have shaped their lives and their decisions to become
dancers.
Season:
opens February 4 at 8pm Venue: Her Majesty’s Theatre.
Review
A CHORUS LINE
Saturday
February 4 saw Her Majesty’s Theatre Melbourne present the opening night
of
A
Chorus Line.
A story of seventeen dancers auditioning for eight spots in a chorus
line for a new musical.
Unusual
for a musical the only set were mirrors at the rear of the stage and one
instance where mirrors were flown in fro a particular
dance sequence. The placing of the mirrors and lightning placing were excellent
and added to the enjoyment of the production. As the story is about the 17 auditionees and their director with the help of the
assistant director there was no need for any set.
The
dancers varied in height as the story foretold and definitely varied in
character. The director demanded each tell his/her life story to enable him to
judge their character. His brought on many and varied stories all done clearly
and emotionally as required. The cast gave good performances in this scene some
by demonstrating their ability as dancers or performers and acting with the
type of background their character grew from.
All the
cast were a high standard but Cassie played by Anita Louise Combe
stood out. Cassie was a veteran dancer somewhat successful going to Hollywood
but failing because she is more of a dancer than actress. She wants to restart
her career with back to the chorus. Combe gave a
first class performance in her solo scenes and her acting with the director Zach
played by Joshua Horner were a great example of theatrical performance.
A short production with no interval but one which had the audience
enthralled and definitely a show to recommend.
Any
retired or current chorus liners could certainly identify with A Chorus
Line.
Now playing until 3rd March
Shen Yun
Based in New
York Shen Yun Performing Arts was established ion 2006 with the mission of reviving 5,000 years of
divinely inspired Chinese Culture.
In order to
restore and revive Chinese traditional culture, a group of overseas Chinese
artists established Shen Yun in New York in 2006.
About 90 artists
embarked on Shen Yun's tour in 2007 in the first year
including a dance troupe, an orchestra, solo singers and musicians, emcees and
production staff. By 2009 Shen Yun had already grown
to three performance troupes and orchestras of comparable size. Today Shen Yun counts many winners of international dance and
vocal competition among its artists and the orchestras include many musicians
from world-renowned symphonies and conservatories.
Season: April 10
-15, 2012.
Annie
Melbourne’s
Regent Theatre is the venue for a new production of an old favourite musical. Annie,
to open May 12, 2012
An exciting new production
by John Frost and returning to the role of New York zillionaire Daddy Warbucks
is Anthony Warlow fresh from his success in the title role of Dr Zhivago.
Joining Anthony as Miss Hannigan who runs the orphanage is Australia’s
best known show business legends, Nancye Hayes. This Nancye’s third
production of Annie the first she played Lily St. Regis in the original
production and the second she was the Resident Director. She was approached to
be a director for this new production but owing to commitments could not accept
the position. But she then was offered Miss Hannigan and as she told your
correspondent she loves character parts and can’t wait for the season to
open.
Joining Nancye as her
scurrilous brother Rooster Hannigan is television and stage favourite Todd McKenney. And as Rooster’s girlfriend Lily St.Regis is Chloe Dallmore who is
probably best known for her portrayal of Ulla, the Swedish blonde bombshell in
The Producers which won her five awards including the 2005 Helpmann
Award.
Warbuck’s secretary, Julie Goodwin
who at the moment is playing the title role in Sydney Chamber Opera’s The
Cunning Little Vixen and starred as Maria in the recent tour of West Side
Story.
The production team is
also top quality with Director Karen Johnson-Mortimer, choreographer Kelly Aykers and musical director Peter Casey.
Of course we cannot forget
such numbers as It’s the Hard Knock Life, Easy
Street, You’re Never fully Dressed Without a Smile, NYC, Maybe and
naturally Tomorrow.
The Venue as announced is
Melbourne’s Regent Theatre
Season opens Thursday May
12, 2012.
Opening night is Sunday
May 27, 2012.
Bookings: 1300 111 011 or
ticketmaster.com.au
War Horse
To open
at the State Theatre Victorian Arts Centre late 2012
Tickets
go on sale early 2012
The National Theatre of Great Britain and Global
Creatures, in association with the Arts Centre, are proud to announce that
Melbourne has secured the rights to stage the multiple Tony and Oliver Award
winning War Horse, for a season commencing in late 2012.
State Premier Ted Baillieu
said the announcement that Melbourne would stage War Horse confirmed
Melbourne’s status as the theatre capital of Australia.
Melbourne is the best place to enjoy this
award-winning and highly innovative production and I am sure many Victorians
and visitors will flock to Melbourne’s art Centre to relish its delights.
Since its world premiere in London in 2007, War
Horse has won numerous prestige awards including two Laurence Oliver
Awards, five Tony Awards and four Outer Critics’ Circle Awards amongst a
host of others.
The Handspring Puppet Company has also won many
accolades including a 2010
Nick Stafford’s stage adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s book, War Horse is a
magnificent drama which tells the heart-wrenching story of Joey, the beloved
horse of a boy called Albert, who is sold to the cavalry at the outbreak of
World War I and shipped to France. He’s soon caught up in enemy fire, and
fate takes him on an extraordinary odyssey, serving both sides before finding
himself alone in no man’s land. But Albert cannot forget Joey and still
not old enough to enlist, he embarks on a treacherous mission to find him and
bring him home.
At its heart are astonishing life-size puppets strong
enough for men to ride, created by South Africa’s Handspring Puppet
Company, who bring breathing, galloping, charging horses to life on stage. Life
size horses traverse the stage, their flanks, hides and sinews built of steel,
leather and aircraft cables.
War Horse is a life
affirming story about friendship, courage and family, which appeals to all
ages. This is a production that brings the family together.
The ANZAC spirit is deeply entrenched in the
Australian ethos. We expect War Horse to have a great resonance
in this country not only because of our connection to World war
I but because themes of the land, loss and the ultimate triumph of friendship
have a special place in the Australian psyche.
The
Mousetrap
By
Agatha
Christie
January 20 Michael Coppel,
Louise Withers, Linda Berwick in association with Adrian Barnes announced that
by arrangement with Mousetrap Productions Ltd. London, Agatha Christie's iconic
play, The Mousetrap will tour Australia for the very first time in 2012 with
seasons in Sydney, Perth and Melbourne confirmed and additional dates to
follow.
This all-Australian production is one of 60
professional productions that have been licensed worldwide in celebration of
The Mousetrap's (60th) Diamond Anniversary, which will include productions in
every continent with productions scheduled for countries from Russia and China
to Turkey, Holland and Venezuela.
Christie's classic 'whodunit' opened on London's West
End in November 1952 and has since played over 24,000 performances. The
Mousetrap is the longest running show of any kind in the world and continues to
delight audiences to this day at London's St. Martin's Theatre.
At Monkswell Manor, the news
on the radio reports that a murder that has recently taken place in London.
Mollie and Giles Ralston, the young owners of the once-regal estate recently
converted into a guesthouse, hardly notice the news. They are far too busy
preparing for the arrival of their first guests and concerned that the heavy
snowfalls may prevent the guests reaching their destination. As the guests
arrive safely and the Manor becomes snowed in, a policeman arrives on skis
suspecting hat one of the seven occupants may be the
killer. After a second murder occurs in the Manor, Sergeant Trotter is
convinced. Suspects include the young married couple, a spinster with a curious
background, an architect who seems to better equipped to be a chef, a retired
army major, and an unexpected visitor who claims his car has run into a
snowdrift.
During his interrogation, Sergeant Trotter uncovers
the many mysterious secrets of everyone present, as he tries to solve the
murder n true Christie style.
Sydney:
The Sydney Theatre at Walsh Bay June 30 – July
29
Perth:
His Majesty’s Theatre. August 14 – 26
Melbourne: The Comedy Theatre: August 30 –
October 7.
NEW ZEALAND
NEWS and REVIEWS
(kindly provided by John Curry)
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New Zealand Theatre
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