SHIMMERY BURLESQUE

Local Theatre

Shows

■ Encore Theatre: Spring at Marino (by Constance Cox) March 18 – 18 at the Clayton Community Theatrette, Cooke St. Clayton. Director Richard Burman. Bookings: encoretheatre.com.au

■ The 1812 Theatre: The Shoe-Horn Sonata (by John Mistro) March 23 – April 22 at The 1812 Theatre, Rose St., Upper Ferntree Gully. Directed by Andrew Ferguson. Bookings: www.1812theatre.com.au

■ Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Victoria: My Fair Lady March 30, 31 and April 1, 2 Matinee at 2pm at The Alexander Theatre, Clayton. Director/Choreographer: Robert Ray; Musical Director: Timothy Wilson. Bookings: gsov.org.au

- Cheryl Threadgold

Auditions

■ Avid Theatre and Ardour Productions: The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark (by William Shakespeare) March 14, 7pm –10pm; March 18, 2pm – 5pm at Malvern Community Church Hall, 29 Burke Rd., Malvern East. Director: Nicholas Opolski. Audition enquiries: nopolski@hotmail.com or 0400 507 788.

● ● Evana and Sarsha prepare for Shimmery Burlesque at Gasworks, Albert Park. to leave her impoverished family to live with her cousins, the wealthy Bertram family.

■ The burlesque show, Shimmery Burlesque, is returning to Melbourne for a four-day season at the Gasworks Theatre, 21 Graham St, Albert Park, from April 13-16.

Thousands of rhinestones, over one hundred costumes, twenty exclusive burlesque routines and fifteen performers, will all contribute to the glamour of the performance.

The story begins in Lady Shimmery's workroom, inspired by the romance of old-fashioned dressing rooms. The stage is adorned with sewing machines, dressing tables and mirrors ... the costumes glistening with rhinestones, feathers and tassels.

The second half of the show takes place in a vintage French garden with parasols, park benches, fountains and painters.

The show is set in the city of Paris, a main influence in Lady Shimmery's life and art and where she first fell in love with the art of burlesque.

Performance Details: Thursday April 13Sunday April 16. VIP Cabaret Packages available.

Venue: Gasworks Theatre, 21 Graham St, Albert Park

Bookings: www.shimmeryburlesque.com

- Cheryl Threadgold

Morning Melodies

■ The next Morning Melodies program presented by Arts Centre Melbourne will be The Dancin' Man on Monday, March 6 at 11 am and 1.30pm.

Luke Alleva will celebrate the song and dance men who graced the stages and screens of years gone by through singing, dancing and sharing stories about Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire, Donald O'Connor, The Nicholas Brothers and Sammy Davis Jr.

Accompanied by a three-piece band, songs will include Make Em Laugh, Mr Bojangles, It Don't Mean A Thing and Singin' In The Rain, among many others.

Performance Details: Monday, March 6, 11am and 1.30pm

Bookings: www.artscentremelbourne. com.au One hour sessions.

- Cheryl Threadgold

Lovers’ Vows at Mansfield Park

■ Abbotsford Convent’s Bishop’s Parlour is a perfect space for a play based on Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park.

Not only its architecture and interiors but also its dark history lends a gothic element to its setting.

Lover’s Vows at Mansfield Park tells the story of Fanny Price (Kali Shanthi), compelled

As with all Austen, comic misunderstandings, unrequited love and marriage proposals follow.

As the catty Bertram sisters, Brenna Cockrem and Sarah Falzon make excellent contrasts to the kind, intelligent Fanny as they bicker over the caddish Henry Crawford (Ali Samaei) and the bumbling Mr Rushworth (Darren Thao)

In her novel, Austen hinted at Sir Thomas Bertram's wealth generated by the slave trade and his plantation in Antigua.

Lover’s Vows makes this veiled connection explicit and integral to the play.

Aunt Norris, played by Joanna Costa , is overtly prejudiced in her actions, shockingly so.

While Austen’s Fanny can come across as strait-laced and po-faced, writer-director Sharmini Kumar’s version makes Fanny’s position fathomable for a modern audience.

Kali Shanthi radiates a quiet dignity as Fanny.

Not only are we acutely aware of her humble rank, but her mixed-race status as a critical element in the plot lifts the performance from a narrative of nineteenth-century manners to something much more satisfying.

In addition, a rewriting of Mary Crawford, played by D.L. Turnbull, attracted to and yearning for a romantic relationship with Fanny, only to be rebuffed, brings much-needed pathos to the story.

Presented by 24 Carrot Productions.

- Review by Kathryn Keeble

Shane Todd

■ TEG Dainty announces that Irish stand-up comedian Shane Todd will debut in Australia in Melbourne's Trades Hall on April 20, 21, 22, 23 as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

Shane has performed regularly throughout the UK and Ireland and toured the US with solo shows, has just launched a new podcast series and is hosting the BBC New Comedy Awards in Belfast.

Performance Details: April 20 - 23

Venue: Melbourne Trades Hall, Carlton Bookings: www.tegdainty.com

■ Beaumaris Theatre: The Three Musketeers (a comedy adventure) (By John Nicholson and Le Navet Bete) March 18 at 2pm; March 20 at 7.30pm at 82 Wells Rd., Beaumaris. Director: Richard Keown. The director is looking for four actors to play over thirty roles. Enquiries: Via form on website. www.beaumaristheatre.com.au

■ Mordialloc Theatre Company: Summer of the Seventh Doll (by Ray Lawler) March 19 from 2pm and March 21 from 7.30pm at Factory 8/417-419 Warrigal Rd., Cheltenham. Director: Martin Gibbs. Audition enquiries: mandcgibbs@tpg.com.au or call 0411 645 003.

- Cheryl Threadgold

What’s On At Warrawee Park

■ A free live music event is being held on Saturday, March 18 from 3pm to 9pm at Warrawee Park, Oakleigh.

Live at Warrawee will showcase live music by the Pierce Brothers, Thndo, D'Arcy Spiller, Pirritu, Women of Soul and Busted Chops.

Nestled within the grounds at Warrawee Park , music lovers can gather on the grass under the shady grove of trees to appreciate the melodic tunes, DJ and roving entertainers. As the sun sets over the park, attendees can also delight in a range of food trucks, a pop-up bar and local cuisine within the Oakleigh Village precinct.

The Pierce Brothers will fill the park with their toe-tapping harmonies and high-energy on-stage antics.

The Voice Australia finalist and Zimbabwean-born ‘First Lady of Soul and R&B’ ‘Thndo will play a solo set and present an Ascension Artist Showcase.

The blues-pop singer-songwriter D’Arcy Spiller will perform after a three-year stint in America , undertaking a music intensive at Berklee College where she attended Coachella instead of the prom.

The event also features the performance by First Nations singer-songwriter Pirritu, a set by the collective, Women of Soul , and funky genre-defying fusion by local five-piece ensemble Busted Chops

More event information is available on the Live at Warrawee Facebook event page.

Live at Warrawee is presented by Monash Council and On The Road Again, a Victorian Government initiative to bring live music back across the state.

Free outdoor live music event . When: 3pm – 9pm, Saturday, March 18. Where: Warrawee Park, corner Atherton Rd and Drummond St, Oakleigh. More Details: www.monash.vic.gov.au/Things-to-Do/Festivals-and-Events/Live-at-Warrawee

As part of the lead up to Live at Warrawee, a series of industry workshops will also be presented in partnership with Music Victoria and the artists. - Cheryl Threadgold