Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, February 27, 2013 - Page 73
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MURDER ON THE HIGH C’s ‘Hairspray’ plays at Pakenham
● Alex Kangur plays bubbly Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray, at the Cardinia Performing Arts Centre until March 9. ■ Presented by the Cardinia Performing Arts Company (CPAC),performances can be enjoyed on March 1, 2 at 8pm, March 3 at 2pm and March 7 at 7pm in Pakenham at the Cardinia Performing Arts Centre, Lakeside Blvd. Tickets: Full price $32, Concession $29, Family (2 adults, 2 children $105). Bookings: www.trybooking.com or call 0407 090354 or email rrene70@hotmail.com - Cheryl Threadgold
All ‘Cranked Up’
● Carl Polke and Ania Reynolda in Circus Oz 2013 Cranked Up, June 19-July 14. Tickets on sale Monday, March 25. ■ Circus Oz 2013: Cranked Up takes the 2012 show, From The Ground Up, to new heights. It incorporates the irreverent Circus Oz spirit and the company's much-loved characters, with thrilling, daring new feats as Mark Sheppard steps into the shoes of roving indigenous provocateur, destined to disrupt Circus Oz's ongoing brand of tomfoolery that leaves audiences wanting more Season: June 19 - July 14. Preview: Wednesday, June 19. Gala Night: Thursday, June 20. Duration: 2 hours (plus 20 minute interval). Venue: Circus Oz Big Top. Location: Birrarung Marr, between Federation Square and Batman Ave. Tickets: $24 - $92 (on sale from Monday, March 25) Bookings: 136 100 and ticketmaster.com.au
● Stephen McIntyre and Helen Noonan in Souvenir at Chapel Off Chapel until March 12. Photo: Jeff Busby ■ Souvenir is a little show with an enormous heart. It has plenty of charm, tenderness and humour, all of which combine to provide a most satisfying night at the theatre. It is the story of a New York songstress of the 1930s and 40s, Florence Foster Jenkins. You might think that a soprano who dedicated her life to singing was destined for the Met Opera House, but Florence had a slight problem - while she loved to sing, she simply couldn't sing in tune. But why let a little thing like that stop her? She made sure it didn't! Denied the singing career she craved by parents and later her husband, once she came into her inheritance she was determined to sing the whole classical repertoire, so needed to find a sympathetic accompanist. Enter Mexican-born Cosme McMoon, who started as a most reluctant accompanist who became her cherished friend and protector. If you are wondering what the real Florence Foster Jenkins sounded like, she made several recordings, one of the most famous being Murder On The High Cs, featuring Florence massacring Mozart's Queen Of The Night aria. It would be easy to make Florence a laughing stock, but Souvenir is a sensitive and appropriately humorous journey through the time she and Cosme worked together. We see Florence's impregnable belief in herself as a fine singer who simply loved to serve her art. Whether she was totally delusional or simply unable to hear how off key her singing was becomes irrelevant as Helen Noonan as Florence and Stephen McIntyre as Cosme take us on their journey of preparing for and experiencing Florence's legendary recitals. The final performance was at the famous Carnegie Hall, and it was booked out weeks in advance, as Florence had developed a cult following. Helen Noonan is a fine singer with a long career in opera and music theatre and she manages Florence's off key singing with such aplomb that after a while you don't' even cringe at what is ● Frank van Straten coming out of her mouth, because she presents us with such an endearing character. ■ Performing arts historian Frank van Straten has two Stephen McIntyre has had a career as one of Australia's historical publications in progress. The Melbourne archivist and historian is putting the finest concert pianists, but in Souvenir he is called upon to play finishing touches to a new book about the history of Her and act, and proves himself as adept an actor as he is a pianist. Majesty’s Theatre, Adelaide, which celebrates its centeComing out at interval, I was amused to hear patrons comment nary this year. “he's a pretty good pianist, isn't he?” in tones of surprise. Her Majesty’s Adelaide was part of the Tivoli chain, Given McIntyre has an AM for his art, he is indeed a pretty and is regarded as Barry Humphries’s favourite Austragood pianist. lian theatre. Helen Noonan is a total delight as Florence and her twinkling Frank excitedly took delivery this week of the page eyes charm the audience into submission despite the weird sounds proofs for the book. that emanate from her larynx. Another project that we hear that is on the cards, is a There is a surprise just before the final curtain, which makes book collating his 15 years of program notes for The Proa most satisfying finale. duction Company’s shows. Directed with a deft touch by Peter J Adams, Souvenir is a There are a number of working titles, but Observer Showcharming two-hander that should appeal to anyone who likes a biz hears that the favourite is I’ll See You At The Theatre. warm hearted, slightly quirky story. - Ash Long - Julie Houghton
Two history books for Frank van Straten