Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, August 7, 2013 - Page 101
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Radio: Light FM raises $823,176 ................. Page 102 Theatre: Standing ovation for Equus .................. Page 103 The Spoiler: Advance plotlines for Neighbours ........ Page 103 Jim and Aaron: Top 10, best movies and DVDs ........... Page 104 Cheryl Threadgold: Local theatre shows, auditions .......... Page 105 PLUS THE LOVATT”S MEGA CROSSWORD
MASTERPIECE MADE MODERN Meet The Whiffenpoofs
● Back row,, from left: Reuben Hendler, Brandon Hayse, Mike Young, Daniel Reardon, Brad Travis, Michael Protacio, Alex Caron, McKay Neild. Front row: Brandon Levin, Andy Berry, Julian De Fretas, Spencer Klavan, Max Henke, Henry Gottfried. ■ Heading Down Under for just one Melbourne concert on Saturday (Aug. 10) is a most unusual group of sing● From Page 8 ing blokes. Known as the Whiffenpoofs of Yale, they are a 14strong choir of young men who are said to be the world's oldest and best-known university a capella group. Dating back to 1909, each year 14 senior Yale men are chosen to be in this famous ensemble. ■ A funny man who I love The ‘Whiffs’ began as a senior quartet that met for weekly is Matt Lucas; he is joinconcerts at Mory's Temple Bar, the famous Yale tavern. ing Rove McManus as speToday, the group has become a Yale tradition. cial guest co-hosts on NetIt all started on a cold winter's night in New Haven, work Ten’s This Week Live Connecticut when five of the Yale Glee Club's best singtonight (Wed.) at 9.30pm. ers headed to Mory's Temple Bar to escape the cold. I think it is such a gift to Louis Linder, the tavern's barkeep and a music aficiomake people laugh. nado, welcomed them in, beginning an institution that surHaving worked enough vives to this day. with comedians from all Apart from performances at public functions, the group over the world, I know that began to meet on a weekly basis at Mory's, where they underneath all that laughter improvised harmonies to the songs they loved so well. These are hard lessons of life. weekly meetings soon became a tradition amongst the singMatt Lucas is one of ers. But why the outlandish name? those comedians. Best known for his myriad of Apparently one of the singers was fond of a joke featurcharacters in standout Briting a mythical dragon fish named the Whiffenpoof, and he ish comedy Little Britain, suggested the name to his companions, who found the name Matt Lucas oozes funny an apt reflection of the fun that accompanied the group's and promises to add his gatherings. The word quickly caught on with the group's ad● Matt Lucas unique comedy spark to the mirers, and the name stuck. third episode of This Week Lives third episode. Matt Lucas And as they are still going strong after more than 100 said: “I watched the first episode of the show and everyone years, that odd name has done them proud. was sitting down, so I said I’d come on it as long as you give Such is the fame of the Whiffenpoofs, they have apme a chair, I’m happy.” peared on major American television shows such as Glee Rove McManus will also appear on tonight’s show. and The West Wing and have performed at the White House Rove, who is currently living and working in Los Angeles, for US presidents. couldn’t pass up the opportunity to swing by his television The Whiffenpoofs are finishing a world tour that has home of more than 10 years. taken them to Scandinavia, Europe, the Middle East, Rove said: “Everyone knows how much I enjoy working Africa and Asia, and Melbourne is their last and only on live television, so the idea of being part of This Week Live Australian concert before they head home. was a bit of a no-brainer. When you add to the mix the fact Catch them at St Michael's Church, 120 Collins St, that I’m getting to muck around with friends and write it off Melbourne on Saturday (Aug. 10) at 7pm. Tickets at as work only confirms how much fun it will be.” www.trybooking.com/56934 or 0427 028 096. I will be watching the show as they take a hard look at the - Julie Houghton week that was. - Di Rolle
This Week Live
By CHERYL THREADGOLD
● Caroline Vercoe performs the title role in Lyric Opera’s Iphigénie, opening on September 1 at Chapel Off Chapel. ■ Lyric Opera of Melbourne will draw audiences into a powerful drama set in a place of profound human despair and tortured love, with its production of C.W. Gluck’s Iphigénie, coming to Chapel Off Chapel from September 1 at Chapel Off Chapel, 12 Little Chapel St, Prahran. Presenting a dark, yet reflective story of human nature at its most extreme, and based on the play Iphigénie en Tauride by Euripides, the piece examines the nature of violence and the struggle between civic responsibility, family duty and human morality. The story follows Iphigénie, a high priestess of the goddess Diana, living far from her native homeland due to her near sacrifice at the hands of her warmongering father, Agamemnon. Faced with her imprisonment and the isolation of living as a foreigner in a strange land, Iphigénie is duty bound to kill any outsider who comes to the island. She is confronted with the ultimate dilemma when her brother Orestes is discovered washed up after a storm. Nathan Gilkes, director of Lyric Opera of Melbourne, said the piece examines what it is like to hold your own in the face of great trial and pressure. “This opera places Iphigénie in the most unlikely of scenarios. It's the ultimate test for her humanity - she has to decide to save herself or her family. It's extremely powerful and questions the woman's role in a patriarchal society,” he says. Featuring a typically intriguing cast of characters from Greek mythology, this production showcases the talents of operatic mezzo soprano artist and Opera Australia alumni Caroline Vercoe in the title role. Fellow operatic artists include Paul Biencourt, Michael Lampard, Bruce Raggatt and Angela Hogan. The production will also feature a 12-piece orchestra who will appear on stage to perform Gluck’s unique composition. Pat Miller, musical director and conductor for Lyric Opera, is excited to present this “masterpiece made modern”. “In a world where opera is often rightly perceived as irrelevant and inaccessible, we are turning to Gluck's revolutionary masterpiece to show that opera can be raw, accessible and powerful. This is opera where the pain of despair will tear at your soul through the power of the human voice.” The production runs for five shows from September 1-7 at Chapel Off Chapel, commencing at 2pm on Sunday, 6.30pm on Monday and 7.30pm for the remainder of the season. Tickets: $48 adults, $38 concession, $30 under 35s and groups of 10 or more, $25 students and $20 children under 15. Lyric Opera will also hold a $20 student night on Monday, September 2.. Bookings: 8290 7000 or visit www.chapeloffchapel.com.au