Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, July 18, 2012 - Page 39
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Radio Confidential: Bayside Radio Plays ...,. Page 40 TV Times: 8-Page week-long TV guide, starts .... Page 15 Jim and Aaron: Best DVD-film selections ............. Page 32 Cheryl Threadgold: Community Theatre .................. Page 41 PLUS THE LOVATT”S MEGA CROSSWORD Sport: Harry Beitzel on Footy, Ted Ryan on Racing, Len Baker on Trots
COSI FAN TUTTE Bravo to the Production Company
The Spoiler For Those Who Have Lost The Plot
Neighbours
● Victoria Lambourn as Dorabella and Phillip Calcagno as Guglielmo
REVIEW BY RITA CRISPIN
● Wayne Scott Kermond (Max Bialystock), Jeanne Pratt (Chairman, The Production Company) and Brent Hill (Leo Bloom) ■ I have seen most of The Production Company shows since Jeanne Pratt formed the not-for-profit outfit in 1999. The Producers, staged last week at the State Theatre, Arts Centre, was by far its best-ever. Wayne Scott Kermond, the fourth-generation ‘triple threat’, sang, danced and joked his way through Mel Brooks’ crazy ‘book’, alongside Brent Hill - the pair portraying Max Bialystock and Leo Bloom. Christie Whelan delighted an audience (which was ready for laughs) in her role as Ulla, with just as many laughs for her husband Rohan Browne (Carman Khia). Mitchell Butel uped the ante as director Roger De Bris, fluid, flexible and funny. He kept it gay! You are not allowed to say this in Melbourne, but Trevor Ashley was funnier than Bert New-ton ever was in the role of Franz Liebkind (and a super-sized showgirl). Another of the delighters was Virginia Gay who played multiple roles, with more than a dozen costume changes. No-one would know she had not danced on stage before. An incredible performance. Well done to the Production Company team led by Rachel D Taylor and Ken Mackenzie-Forbes. They have set the bar high for more delight in 2012 with Chess and Promises, Promises. - Ash Long
■ What a cracking, colourful winter offering from Melbourne Opera Company! Mozart set this romantic comedy exploring love and fidelity in Naples, originally calling it The School For Lovers. The opera premiered in Vienna in 1790. History tells us that life in the 1700s was pretty bawdy and scandalous, so Director Suzanne Chaundy’s choice of mid 1960’s Melbourne, with the worldwide social upheaval, free love, colourful hippies, ban the bomb marches and general breakdown of morals of that decade, is spot on to recreate the atmosphere. Ageing Lothario, café owner Don Alfonso, played with great energy and fun by Roger Howell, has his offer of marriage rejected – again! In order to exact revenge on women, he decides to rename his café Cosi Fan Tutte (Women are like that) and devises a way to prove that all women are unfaithful. He makes a bet with two soldiers, Ferrando, Roy Best and Guglielmo, Phillip Calcagno, that their girlfriends, sisters Fiordiligi, Danielle Calder and Dorabella, Victoria Lambourne, will not remain faithful whilst the soldiers are overseas. In order to do this, he enlists the help of the girls’ housekeeper/ minder Despina, Andrea Creighton, making a terrific Australian Opera debut in the role. Strong voices and acting by all the leads, with orchestra and chorus under the baton of Greg Hocking, keep the story moving along at a good pace. Congratulations to Stage Manager, Gemma Fletcher and her crew along with members of the cast, who managed the simple set and props by designer Christina Logan-Bell, and make scene changes seamless. Designers of lighting, colourful 60’s costumes, wigs and makeup combined to make it a really enjoyable, if long, evening. Performance: July 18 at 7.30pm. Venue: the Athenaeum Theatre, Collins St, Melbourne. Performances: Tues July 31, at 8pm.Venue: Alexander Theatre, Monash University, Clayton. Running time: 3 hours 15 minutes including a 20 minute interval
Radio plays at 88.3FM
● Mitchell Butel (Roger De Bris) and Christie Whelan (Ulla) at the opening night party
■ Julia Reichstein's radio play adaptation of Richard Holt's short story Opportunity Knocks was selected for recording by 88.3 Southern FM last week as part of the Bayside Literary Festival. Runner-up radio play was written by Vivienne Burrows. A week earlier, seven participants attended a How To Create A Radio Play seminar and had five days to submit their completed radio play adaptations for judging by Terri Adams and Cheryl Threadgold. Recording took place in the Round Room of the Brighton Library in front of an audience who thoroughly enjoyed the five actors' performances, Neil Barnett's live sound effects and music from cellist Kristy de la Rambelya . Julia Reichstein's radio play Opportunity Knocks will be broadcast on Tuesday (July 24) at 9.15am on Terri Adams's Kaleidoscope program on 88.3 Southern FM. Malcolm Threadgold’s photos are on Page 41.
Eleven. 6.30pm, Weeknights ■ Monday, July 23. Ajay is rattled by Paul’s muckraking, but Priya gives him hope the voters will see through it; Jade is surprised to hear about Kyle – will she invite him home? ■ Tuesday, July 24. Rhys is excited to hear he’s been nominated to go away with Martin on an overseas lecture tour; Toadie finds a way to be part of Sonya’s pregnancy, much to Callum’s horror. ■ Wednesday, July 25. Tash and Ed team up in a race against the clock, culminating in a steamy near-kiss; Vanessa tells a white lie that becomes more complicated than the truth. ■ Thursday, July 26. Guilty Tash fears she’s ruined things with Ed; Toadie takes his support of Sonya to the extreme. ■ Friday, July 27. Paul struggles with Zoe’s increasing investment in his family; stung by the online response to the letter Chris published about their fight, Summer realises just how selfish she’s been.
Home And Away Seven. 7pm, Weeknights ■ Monday, July 23. Indi is confused about Romeo's mixed signals, Sasha tells Casey how she feels and Casey tries to protect Ruby from his father. Gina is concerned that Jett is hiding his feelings about his real father ■ Tuesday, July 24. Indi leaves Romeo waiting for her, Heath realises Danny hasn't changed and Casey plays double-agent. Gina sets up Jett only to realise she was wrong. ■ Wednesday, July 25. Harvey struggles with the custody battle over Lottie and Heath tells Danny he doesn't want anything more to do with him. Brax is stuck in the middle of a drug deal from hell. ■ Thursday, July 26. Lottie learns the truth about her brother's death and Darcy asks Bianca if she's Heath's girlfriend. Brax takes control of the messed-up drug deal. ■ Friday, July 27. Natalie and Brax become closer, Lottie decides to go with her mother. Dex and April decide to move in together.
Media Flashes ★
Patti Newton spoke about the late Mary Hardy, in her Monday night spot on 3AW Nightline with Bruce Mansfield and Philip Brady. Patti spoke of a segment in which Mary Hardy appeared with Bert Newton on Good Morning Australia. Mary Hardy died in January 1985. GMA started in 1992-93. Geoffrey Rush will introduce the cast of A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum at a media function to be held at Her Majesty’s Theatre on Monday. John -Michael Howson will host a trip to the northeastern part of the United States in Spring. A number of his travelling group, from a previous American tour, have re-signed for the 2012 journey.
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