Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, February 29, 2012 - Page 41
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Radio Confidential: Daniel O’Donnell .......... Page 42 Veritas: Academy Award winners ..................... Page 43 The Spoiler: Next week’s ‘soaps’ plotlines ............ Page 43 Jim and Aaron: Best DVD-film selections ................. Page 53 Cheryl Threadgold: Community Theatre - it’s a wrap ...... Page 54 PLUS THE LOVATT”S MEGA CROSSWORD
ABC WINS OVERNIGHTS Tribe needs to learn to listen
Little Shop of Horrors at CPAC
● Tony Delroy (ABC) and Andrew McLaren (3AW) ● Luke Watts, Julia Grace, David Paterson, Sarah Peirse, Brian Lipson and Alison Bell. ■ Integration of people with disabilities is a wonderful thing, but in the new Australian play Tribes, integration has meant that one family's deaf son Billy has missed out on tools he needs to be able to join both the hearing and nonhearing world. Billy is the only deaf member of his family, and it's a rather snobbish and belligerent one. When he introduces his new partially deaf girlfriend Sylvia, Billy realises that despite being taught to lip-read by his family, he has missed out by not being taught sign language or being introduced to the deaf community. Billy's family raised him as a hearing person, but when Sylvia teaches him sign language, Billy discovers a community he can join in that fits him better than his family who often ignores him. And when Billy decides to leave home in protest at never feeling he fits in with his family, they can't believe it, and are forced to do some soul searching. The scene is set for a lot of confrontation, always a good start for a meaty drama, and playwright Nina Raine has blended speech and sign language in her play, which provokes many questions about language, parents, belonging, community and the nature of communication. Hearing-impaired actor Luke Watts from Sydney takes on the demanding role of Billy, combining his own ability with sign language with the need to be able to speak in the play. Directed by Julian Meyrick for the Melbourne Theatre Company,Tribes poses challenging questions for its audience, and stars Alison Bell, Julia Grace, Brian Lipson, David Paterson, Sarah Peirse and Luke Watts. It's at the Sumner Theatre, Southbank Boulevard, Southbank, until March 14. Bookings at www.mtc.com.au or 8788 0800 - Julie Houghton
FALLING ratings for 3AW’s Melbourne Overnight radio program have savagely cut the audience numbers towards the start of the daily breakfast show hosted by Ross Stevenson and John Burns. With ABC 774 officially winning the first 2012 radio ratings survey figures in the Midnight-Dawn timeslot, the drop in audience numbers must be a major concern for programmers at 3AW, which narrowly won the survey, released on Thursday. ABC 774 won the audience survey with 21.7 per cent of the Melbourne audience, comparedto 19.6 per cent at 3AW, overnight. The Nielsen survey was released on Thursday, and measures all people aged 10 and over. The ABC programs hosted by Tony Delroy (10pm-2am), and shared during the week between Trevor Chappell and Rod Quinn, win outright on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings. 3AW wins narrowly on Monday (18.8-17.5) and Tuesday (23.722.3). The ABC has also taken the ascendency in the majority of the quarter-hour timeslots, in which ratings are measured: 12 Midnight, 12.15am, 12.30am, 12.45am, 1am, 1.15am, 1.30am, 1.45am, 2am, 2am, 2.15am, 2.30am, 2.45am, 3.15am, 3.30am, 3.45am, 4.15am At 3AW, Andrew McLaren and Mark Petkovic take the lead in only five of the 22 the quarter-hour slots in the shift: those starting at 4am, 4.30am, 4.45am, 5am and 5.15am. At 2am, ABC 774 now has 13,000 listeners, compared to 3AW’s 8000 listeners. Through the week, Andrew McLaren’s program now averages 13,000 listeners. He peaks with 18,000 just after midnight, falling to a low of 8000 at 2.30am, then builds to 37,000 people in the 5.15am-5.30am slot. ABC 774 has 27,000 listeners in this lead-up time to their breakfast program.
Filming of ‘I, Frankenstein’ ■ This week marked the commencement of filming I, Frankenstein, a major production that will boost Victoria’s economy by up to $37 million and employ around 500 local cast and crew. Featuring Aaron Eckhart in the title role, the major production by Hopscotch Features in partnership with Lakeshore Entertainment, the movie commenced production at Melbourne’s Docklands Film Studios and will film at a number of Victorian locations over the next 10 weeks. State Minister Louise Asher announced that Victoria secured the production of I, Frankenstein in November after beating off strong competition from other states. I, Frankenstein is written and directed by internationally recognised Australian writer/director Stuart Beattie (Tomorrow, When the War Began, Australia, Pirates of the Caribbean franchise) and will be produced by Lakeshore Entertainment’s Tom Rosenberg (Million Dollar Baby, Underworld) and Gary Lucchesi (Primal Fear, Million Dollar Baby) along with Hopscotch’s Andrew Mason, Lakeshore’s Richard S. Wright, Hopscotch's Troy Lum and Kevin Grevioux.
● Trevor Chappell and Rod Quinn (ABC)
Hunt for volunteers ■ The Warrandyte 55 Plus Variety Group is seeking additional members for their 2012 shows. Interested singers, dancers, comedians, musicians and backof-house assistants may apply by ringing the club on phone 9844 2437 Mondays (except Public Holidays) between 1.00pm and 3.00 pm or Allan on 9877 1077.
● Dan Bellis (Mr Mushnik) and Audrey 2. Photo: David Belcher ■ Cardinia Performing Arts Company (CPAC) presents the rock musical Little Shop of Horrors until March 9 at the Cardinia Performing Arts Centre, Lakeside Boulevard, Pakenham. Nerdy Skid Row florist assistant Seymour Krelborn helps business and finds fame when purchasing a strange plant and naming it Audrey II after Audrey, the girl he adores. Seymour is horrified to discover that Audrey II craves human blood and flesh, which he must source to satisfy the plant’s appetite. This part of the storyline is gruesome, but taken as light-hearted theatre, the show is fun and enjoyable. CPAC’s production is hallmarked with Lee Geraghty’s creative directional flair and the toe-tapping music is rendered by musical director Tony Toppi’s orchestra. The slick, well-rehearsed dance routines reinforce Robert Mulholland’s reputation as one of the best choreographers in town. Brad Ericson (Seymour) is perfectly cast and Jessica Rawlins (Audrey) presents a first class characterisation. Dan Bellis (Mr Mushnik) and Josh Prince as abusive bikie dentist, Orin, do good work. Talented singing/dancing quartet Emma Sparrow (Ronette), Claire De Freitas (Shirelle), Nicola Bull (Crystal) and Sarah Power (Chiffon) are invaluable assets to the show, joined by a strong ensemble. Kelly Price and Ashley Jenkins operate the lovable but bloodthirsty plant, Audrey II. Congratulations to Wardrobe Coordinator Fiona Sparrow, for the striking, colourful costumes and to set designers Lee Geraghty and Ashley Jenkins. Little Shop of Horrors is good entertainment in a beautifully appointed venue, with a lakeside café for pre-show/ interval refreshments. Just a warning to remember the pre-show announcement that anyone whose mobile phone rings during the performance will be “fed to the plant”! Performances: March 3, 9 at 8.00pm, March 4 at 2.00pm, March 8 at 7.00pm. Venue: Cardinia Performing Arts Centre, Lakeside Boulevard, Pakenham. Tickets: $30 full price, $27 concession, $25 child. Family ticket $100 (2 adults, 2 children) Bookings: 0407 090354 www.cardiniaperforming arts.com - Review by Cheryl Threadgold
Oscar winners list - Page 43