Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, June 20, 2012 - Page 79
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Radio Confidential: Passing of Steve Price ... Page 80 Independent Theatre: Shows, reviews ............. Page 81 The Spoiler: Next week’s ‘soaps’ plotlines ............ Page 81 Jim and Aaron: Best DVD-film selections ................. Page 82 Cheryl Threadgold: Community Theatre - it’s a wrap ...... Page 83 PLUS THE LOVATT”S MEGA CROSSWORD
BURN THE FLOOR: IT’S HOT! OzOpera stages The Magic Flute ■ OzOpera has a special school holiday-friendly version of Mozart's classic opera The Magic Flute, being performed at Melbourne Recital Centre on Monday, July 9, at 11am. With its story of magic, heroes and heroines and monsters - and its abridged length! - it's a great way to introduce children to the magic of opera. This OzOpera production will tour many primary schools, making it often youngsters' first exposure to opera. Having a special school holiday performance in the glamorous surroundings of the Melbourne Recital Centre makes it a real occasion for both children and their parents. OzOpera, which is the touring company or Opera Australia, has always used young singers for their school tours, which makes the operas even more accessible, and shows primary aged children that being an opera singer can be fun and youthful. There are no large ageing Wagnerian sopranos with funny headgear in sight in an OzOpera production. Instead, you will see the emerging generation of professional opera singers. This production of The Magic Flute has been directed by exciting young opera director Cameron Menzies. The cast features three 2011 Herald Sun Aria finalists in Stacey Alleaume, Hannah Dahlenburg and Kathryn Radcliffe. Joining them are Don Bemrose, Robert Beasley, Anthony Mackey and former Ten Tenors singer Ben Clark, with music director Thomas Johnson and pianist Pamela Christie. Tickets are only $25 for adults and $15 concession, so this is one of the most affordable quality opera productions ever. www.melbournerecitalcentre.com.au - Julie Houghton
● Stacey Alleaume as Pamina, the heroine of The Magic Flute.
★★★★★
■ When you Editor drew the assignment to review the opening night of the sixth series of Burn The Floor at The Palms At Crown, it was described to him as ballro0m dancing. There were visions of men in tails with numbers pasted to their backs; women in evening growns, constantly in reverse. Wrong! Burn The Floor is a frenetic, sexy, hot show that you must not miss. You only have until June 30 to catch it. This sassy show is flawless. In close to two hours of a nonstop celebration of dance, there is not a step put wrong. Not a half-second of missed eye contact. This is precision dance, which has excited audiences on Broadway, but which still calls Australia home. Some 18 sensational dancers put together something very specfial. Inspirational dance, swing, Latin, waltz and jive. For the detail-minded, the dancfers excel at Cha Cha, the Vienesse Waltz, Foxtrot, Swing, Lindy Jive, Samba, Rumba, Quickstep and Paso Doble. Burn The Floor is the brainchild of founder Harley Medcalf and director-choreographer Jason Gilkison. They have deep passion for this show. Dancers include Robbie Kmetoni, Janette Manrara, Kalyanne Brown, Kedikantse Motsepe, Ash Leigh Hunter, Giulia Dotta, Giselle Peacock, Santo Costa, Valentina Vittobelli, Kieran McMahon, Jeremy Basiule, Faye Huddleston, Stephen Vincent,Aliaz Skorianec, Gary Wright, Jenna Grainger, Jemma Armstong, Dianne Buswell, Mattis Galante, Megan Wragg and Steven Rogers. Vocals are performed by Jessica Lingotti and Peter Saul; percussion is led by Giorgio Rojas and Pat Madden. Creatices include Creative Director Peta Roby, Lighting Director Scott Rogers, Sound Designer Derek Wilson, Scenic Engineer Ray Klausen, music consultant Charlie Hull, costume designer Janet Jine, and design and creative costume image whiz Bret Hooper. I was wrong. This show provides edge-of-the-seat excitement, non-stop ‘wow’ moments, sassy young men and women all in love with their craft, and justifiably proud of a showbiz triumph. In the Palms foyer at interval, one lady patron at least in her 70s, turned to her husband clutching his walking stick, and offered the serious warning after seeing the oiled bodies: “Don’t expect me to do any of that when we get home.” See Burn The Floor. - Ash Long
● Janette Manrara, from Miami, was a finalist in the US edition of So You Think You Can Dance. She is pictured answering questions after the opening night show
● Burn The Floor until June 30 at Crown Photp: Gene Schiavone
Tying Knots over gay marriage ■ Written by Indigo Bradenburg and directed by Ocar Lopez, Tying Knots explores one of the pressing questions of today: the legalisation of gay marriage. Two same sex couples, good friends and house mates, decide to get around the law by marrying each other’s “other half”. The two ‘brides’ show us the excitement of planning a wedding, while their partners have some reservations. The pros and cons of ‘the wedding’ are highlighted but the meaning of marriage itself is only touched on. The cast do a fine job of telling the story, with Pippa Bainbridge and Tarah Carey as the women, David Summers and James Harvy as the men. Amanda Logan shines in the pivotal role of Thea, ably supported by Ryan Jones as Kit. The skilfully designed set enables changes of scene with minimum disruption. The playwright is developing a full length version of the play, which will allow him to explore some of the other ideas, such as prejudice, trust and depression. The light approach that leaves the story to tell itself works better than the dialogue which is sometimes too ‘on message’. Nevertheless, he reminds us that the UN Declaration of Human Rights omits the word ‘gender’ in discussing the right to marry, and he is right to bring this to our attention. Performance Season: Until July 1 Times: Wed, Sun 6.30pm. Thu, Fri Sat 8.30pm Running Time: 65 minutes Venue: La Mama Theatre, Faraday St, Carlton, - Review by Penel Gibson
● Pippa Bainbridge, David Summers, James Harvy and Tarah Carey in Tying Knots, presented at La Mama Theatre until July 1.