ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

from Seniors Today Sunshine Coast Spring 2021

COMMUNITY ...................pages

Pygmalion is transforming

By Tania Phillips

Real-life husband and wife Howard Tampling and Rachel Fentiman will star in the much-loved George Bernard Shaw play Pygmalion at the Noosa Arts Theatre in October.

The play (known to many through the musical version My Fair Lady) is directed by Liza Park and had been due to be part of the groups 50th birthday celebrations last year.

Noosa Arts Theatre spokesperson Maria Karambelas said director Park has updated the setting to 50’s London from the original Victorian era.

“I think we like to have some good old classics coming out because a lot of our theatre community are elderly and they love that stuff and we have an amazing costume designer who comes up with some amazing stuff,” Maria said. “The director Liza wanted to do this -you know how theatre works, you have the program a couple of years ahead. Last year was Noosa Theatres 50th anniversary and all these were lined up and of course doors shut. So we’re catching up – we’re doing the same program from last year. But theatre lovers here love it and we’ve got a good cast.”

She said director Liza believed the play was still as relevant today as it was back in 1911 when it premiered, as it depicts our main character, Eliza Doolittle, proving that with grit and determination, she can become a successful, independent woman, without being manipulated or bullied by a man.

Most times when a story or play starts with “a dark and stormy night”, there’s horror coming.

Not the case with Pygmalion, the dark and stormy night ushers in linguistic hijinks and class commentary, along with the empowering story of a determined young woman.

When Professor Higgins, a scientist of phonetics, and Colonel Pickering, a linguist of Indian dialects, meet in the rain one night at Covent Garden, the first bets the other that he can, in a matter of months, convince London high society that the cockney speaking flower girl, Eliza Doolittle, can be transformed into a woman as poised and well-spoken as a duchess.

And thus begins the enchanting story that has charmed audiences for over a hundred years, especially with a superb cast, great set and fabulous costumes.

Pygmalion at Noosa Arts Theatre boasts a strong cast, with Rachel Fentiman playing Eliza opposite her real-life husband, Howard Tampling as Professor Higgins.

Revered Sunshine Coast actress and playwright Rainee Skinner will charm you as Mrs. Higgins, while Jackson O’Sullivan plays the gentlemanly Colonel Pickering with aplomb.

Deputy Mayor, and ardent thespian, Frank Wilkie, is the irascible Alfred Doolittle. The theatre’s resident genius wardrobe expert, Margaret Courtney, is channelling her inner Dior to create fabulous costumes, while simultaneously working on five upcoming productions.

This show will delight audiences of all ages so book your tickets now. Show opens on 14 October and for more information and bookings check the website noosaarts.org.au

Sticky Fingers at the Caloundra Music Festival

The popular beachside Caloundra Music Festival will have a distinctive Rolling Stones flavour when it returns on 1-3 October.

This year’s festival will feature Ball Park Music, Sneaky Sound System, Spiderbait and The Stones’ Sticky Fingers starring Adalita, Phil Jamieson and Tim Rogers with Baker Boy, Ben Lee, Gyroscope, Katchafire, San Cisco, The Badloves, The Superjesus and The Whitlams also ready to rock. While the event promises to be start studded the final day is expected to be a highlight – particularly for Rolling Stone fans.

On Sunday 3 October the festival will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of The Rolling Stones’ album Sticky Fingers with Adalita (Magic Dirt), Phil Jamieson (Grinspoon) and Tim Rogers (You Am I) bringing the songs to life.

The event kicks off on Friday with Spiderbait taking to the main stage while Indie pop-band San Cisco are an exciting late addition to the Friday lineup, returning to CMF to share their new album before heading off on the next stage of their national tour. Tickets are on sale for the Caloundra Music Festival. With limited capacity due to Covid-19, it’s important to snap up tickets quickly. www.caloundramusicfestival.com.

The Caloundra Music Festival is an event initiative of Sunshine Coast Council and supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland. This event features on the It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar.