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Erect on Stage
HIGHER GROUND, LIGHT SQUARE
8PM Monday 24th of November 2008
*100 minutes
All Tickets $5
Bart: Here’s the thing-
David: I wanted to get erect on stage-
Graham: It’s not what you think-
Nick: And then I say-
Bart: No you don’t not yet; take a hold of yourself
David: Oi! I want to work on my hard bit for a moment-
Nick: Wanker!
Graham: You can’t do that-
David: That’s exactly why I wanted to get erect on stage
Bart: The reading-
David: sorted.
*Includes a set of original music from the duo SONTAGE; trippy multimedia and music.
Part of the Feast Festival Just a Nibble Program of works-in-development, allowing artists to test out their work in front of an audience; it is hoped that this work will then be realised into fully fledged productions in future Feasts.
erect on stage, has been devised and directed by David Jobling; a saucy show and tell with some of Adelaide's most dynamic young actors presenting scenes from the Queer Australian Theatre in a rehearsed reading.
Join Bartholomew Csorba, Nick Ely, David Jobling, Kieth Matz, Simon Lancione, Graham Self, Matt Scales and SONTAGE as they present a live trattato to inform, engage and entertain you.
David Jobling is a seasoned arts practitioner. As a writer and director with companies such as StraightFace Productions, Sydney Gay & Lesbian Pride Centre (Performance Positive), Club Bent (The Performance Space) he has been among the cutting edge of queer Australian theatre for two decades; David created readings for Barry Lowe's Queer as Fuck Festival, Griffin Theatre Company's Development Week, was writer-in-community for the Darwin Gay & Lesbian Society and in Adelaide directed Bittersweet and Pastiche for the 2006 Feast Festival
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Check out Candy Chambers Living In The City filmclip - by viewing it HERE
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Priscilla Queen Of The Desert The Musical
Lyric Theatre, Star City Casino, Sydney, Australia.
Director: Simon Phillips
Musical Arrangements, Direction and Supervision: Stephen ‘Spud’ Murphy
Choreography: Ross Coleman
Friday, 31st October, 2008
This is a revised production of the stage musical Pricilla, Queen of the Desert The Musical and a credit to the whole team.
The central story is about three drag queens escaping the harsh city of Sydney in a bus christened Pricilla to perform a show in a casino in the middle of The Australian desert. They think they know what to expect from such a harsh expedition but nothing could have prepared them for what transpires.
As many people would know the musical was borne out of the Academy Award winning film of the same name which premiered in 1994. Ten years later the rights were secured to produce the show as a musical, in January 2006 rehearsed readings began and the production opened at the Lyric Theatre, Star City, in October, 2006, a remarkably short period for such a full scale theatrical musical. The show has a cast of 32, a live band, 23 tones of sets and lighting, 514 costumes, 55 wigs, 150 pairs of shoes, and 200 headdresses.
The costume design has been revisited by the award winning team from the film Lizzy Gardner and Tim Chappel. On this production their budget went from AU$15,000 for the film to AUS$1.5 million and they have produced exciting costume designs. Using icons like thongs, cup cakes, and Gumby, and inspired by other artists such as Fellini, they have combined their talent, the Australian flora and fauna, and the outrageous concepts of trash drag into a visual extravaganza that is an integral part of the production.
Musically the show is a pastiche of diverse genres, most notably disco, pop, opera, and country (and western, that is), as well as the orchestrations written for the show itself. The Music Direction is undertaken by Helpmann Award winner for Best Musical Direction of Dusty, Stephen ‘Spud’ Murphy. Spud Murphy is a stalwart of the Australian music and music theatre industries and has contributed his talent to international artists such as Marlene Dietrich, our own legendary talent Reg Livermore, and for the shows Godspell, Dusty, Buddy, and Shout!, to name a few; he has also contributed to the Australian television and film industries. The 20 full-scale musical numbers drive the show along with the drama deriving pathos from the excellently crafted placement of familiar songs.
A major part of the new show is the updated choreography by Ross Coleman. Coleman’s first major engagement was the original Australian production of Grease in 1972. He has worked for both the Sydney and Melbourne Theatre companies, choreographed for various other producers on shows such as Side By Side By Sondheim, The Rocky Horror Show, Cabaret, Funny Girl, Naked Boys Singing, and Dusty - for which he received a 2006 Helpmann Award for Best Choreography. In Pricilla he has taken the ensembles contribution from a well rehearsed movement piece, in the last production, to a snappy, up tempo, lavishly salacious dance troupe that perform acutely intense routines. His contribution is remarkably exhilarating.
The shows director is Dean Bryant whose recent credits include Virgins: A Musical Threesome and The Last Five Years; he also co-wrote the musical Prodigal, which became the first Australian musical to be produced off-Broadway, at the York Theatre Company and has worked on other musicals namely The People in Your Pocket, Jumpin’ the Q, The Virgin Wars, and Once We Lived Here. Bryant's’ direction has coalesced the salient visions of the teams of talent into a monumental extravaganza.
Of course with such a huge production there are a multitude of talents that bring it together and they all deserve accolades in this instance. People such as Phillip Scott – Script Consultant; David Skelton – Associate Musical Director and Conductor; Andrew Hallsworth – Associate Choreographer; Nick Schlieper – Lighting Design; Michael Waters – Sound Design; Cassie Hanlon – Make-up Design; Cass Jones – Technical Director; and Brian Thompson – Production Design. All world class talents.
The on-stage performers are also world class. In the role of Bernadette is Australian theatrical legend in his own right Tony Sheldon, who has received many awards for his portrayal of this pivotal character including a 2007 Green Room Award and Mo Award for Best Actor in a Musical. He has been working on the production in the role since it’s beginning in 2006 when it was at the workshop stage. He inhabits Bernadette completely, he plumbs the depths of her experience and takes you into her world and induces you to want the best for her.
Todd McKenny as Tick (Mitzi) is the central character around which the whole journey revolves. Todd is well known as the judge on TV’s Dancing With The Stars, and for his impressive portrayal of Peter Allen in the critically acclaimed Australian musical The Boy from Oz; for which he received two Mo Awards, The Variety Club Heart Award, the Glugg Award, the Green Room Award, the Australian Dance Award, and the Helpmann Award. He has also performed in numerous productions of classic musicals with Pirates of Penzance, Camelot, La Cage Aux Folles, Cats, and 42nd Street among them. Todd takes over the role of Tick from past performers and holds the mantle high. He gives Tick a pleasant mix of masculine demure and classic hard edged drag queen flair that eeks pathos, he sings and dances with expressive flair.
Adam (Felicia) is played by Daniel Scott who secured the title role in Shout!, performed in international tours of Cats, and created several one man shows namely Give Us A Break, Ikonika, and The Sweet and Low Down. He has appeared in the film and television productions The Wizard of Solmar, Young Lions, and Moulin Rouge. He realises the impetuous nature of Adam astutely and gives the character all the hardcore edge he can muster. Adam is the catalyst for much of the folly that befalls the trio on the road and Daniel revels in the role, he has a good command of the demanding choreography and vocals required to bring Felicia to life.
The three main characters are magnificently portrayed by these exceptional theatre artists and are supported by a first class ensemble that make Pricilla the Musical a great night’s entertainment. The Three Divas, Sophie Carter, Josie Lane, and Miss Min are a veritable virtuosic powerhouse of sound. Their singing holds the show together and they do most of it six metres in the air in tight harnesses swinging in, out, and around without missing a beat. Bill Hunter reprises his role of Bob from the film and is a crowd favourite, he also does a fine job of singing A Fine Romance. Collette Mann is delightful as the big busted back-water bar mamma, Shirley, for which she received a 2008 Helpmann nomination for Best Female in a Supporting Role in a Musical. Lena Cruz as Cynthia, Bob’s outrageous show girl wife, is delicious. The rest of the ensemble is pure quality. They blast their way all over the stage creating various tableau vivant and masterfully executing Coleman’s exciting choreography.
This current production of Pricilla Queen of the Desert The Musical is more up-beat and exhilarating and, I believe, is ready to conquer the world!
Peter McGill.
Performance Schedule:
Monday: no show
Tuesday: 8 p.m.
Wednesday: 1 & 8 p.m.
Thursday: 8 p.m.
Friday: 8 p.m.
Saturday: 2 & 8 p.m.
Sunday: 5 p.m.
(Subject to change. Check specific times around public holidays)
$79.00 November Midweek Tickets – enquire at ticketing outlets for general ticket pricing.
The 80-member company of Priscilla Queen Of The Desert The Musical has shimmied into Sydney for a strictly limited farewell season at the Lyric Theatre, Star City.
Priscilla has already been seen by more than a million Australians and grossed in excess of AUD$90 million at the box office. It will make its London début in March 2009 and its North American début in Toronto in late 2009.
Since making its world premiere in Sydney on 7 October 2006, Priscilla has gone on to become the most successful Australian musical of all time. After playing almost a year in Sydney, the show then transferred to Melbourne wowing both audiences and critics alike and collected six Green Room Awards including Best Music Theatre Production. It has most recently enjoyed a sell-out season in Auckland.
Further productions are being considered for Scandinavia, Germany, South Africa, Brazil, Italy, France and Japan.
Theatrical legend Tony Sheldon reprises his award-winning role as Bernadette for the 12 week Sydney season before mainlining the West End production early next year. Everybody’s favourite Daniel Scott also returns to the Lyric stage as the feisty Felicia. And joining them for the first time in the now famous journey into the heart of Australia is one of the nation’s finest music theatre performers and current Dancing with the Stars judge, Todd McKenney, who will play the role of Tick (made famous by Hugo Weaving in the original film).
Also new to this Sydney season is Colette Mann who will play Shirley, the battle-axe pub owner of Broken Hill with the worst mullet in Australia. Mann is one of Australia's best-loved actors who has appeared in film, television and on stage. Michael Linder will take on the role of Miss Understanding, the Sydney drag queen who does Tina Turner almost better than the real thing. While the powerhouse singing trio The Divas, who perform suspended six metres above the stage, have two new members Josie Lane and Miss Min joining original diva Sophie Carter.
Priscilla features 20 full-scale production numbers including the disco classics I Will Survive, Shake Your Groove Thing and Finally, more than 500 spectacular costumes, 200 gravity-defying headdresses, 23 tonnes of scenery and, as its dazzling centerpiece, a six-tonne 10-metre long custom made bus named “Priscilla”.
Performance Schedule
Monday – No Show
Tuesday – 8pm
Wednesday – 1pm and 8pm
Thursday – 8pm
Friday – 8pm
Saturday – 2pm and 8pm
Sunday – 5pm
(Subject to change. Check specific times around public holidays)
Prices
$69 October Midweek Tickets
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday - 8pm
A Reserve $99.90* B Reserve $84.90*
Friday, Saturday, Sunday - all performances
A Reserve $109.90* B Reserve $94.90*
Wednesday - 1pm only
A Reserve $84.90* B Reserve $74.90*
*Price includes GST and booking fee. Transaction fees apply to phone, internet and outlet bookings. All prices subject to change.
Booking
TICKETMASTER
Visit an outlet or call 1300 795 267
Gift certificates available
Prices
$79 November Midweek Tickets *
(* offer includes one 'best available ticket ' subject to availability. Transaction fees may apply. Offer valid Tues, Wed, Thurs at 8pm and Wed 1pm performances in November only)
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday - 8pm
A Reserve $99.90* B Reserve $84.90*
Friday, Saturday, Sunday - all performances
A Reserve $109.90* B Reserve $94.90*
Wednesday - 1pm only
A Reserve $84.90* B Reserve $74.90*
*Price includes GST and booking fee. Transaction fees apply to phone, internet and outlet bookings. All prices subject to change.
Booking
TICKETMASTER
Visit an outlet or call 1300 795 267
Gift certificates available
NEW TICKETS ON SALE 9AM MONDAY
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Review: The Pig Iron People
Playwright: John Doyle
Venue: Sydney Opera House – Drama Theatre
Date: 01st November, 2008.
The Pig Iron People is John Doyle’s first play, it resounds with elements of life that intrigue and excite him. His love of language is blindingly obvious if you’ve ever heard his character ‘Roy’, of Roy & HG of JJJ radio fame, and if you haven’t, where have you been since 1985? He also says that he is attracted to intergenerational issues, actors, and the theatre*. The play serves all these masters intimately and gives us an insight into John’s observations of relationships and the politics of co-habiting in an intrinsically emotionally corrupt street from his early life.
The premise of the play is that a young man moves into an established neighbourhood of middle aged and older denizens. He gets a girlfriend and they become involved in the intricacies of their neighbors' lives, their loves, and their idiosyncrasies. The insights Doyle reveals are comical and poignant.
John Doyle began his association with the theatre as an actor in 1980, created ‘Roy’ for radio in 1985, he wrote the television mini-series Marking Time and Changi. He has won a Logie for Most Outstanding Drama, Changi; an AFI and the NSW Premier’s Literary Award, Marking Time; and a Best Documentary SPAA for his documentary with Dr. Tim Flannery, Two Men In A Tinnie. It’s not surprising that he should delve into the medium of the play and with this his first major work he has utilised his insights on the great Australian dream, a home, a car parking spot, and an intimate relationship, with delicate craftsmanship and his usual piquant humour.
Glenn Haseldine is the protagonist Nick who stumbles into this middle Australian street and comments to us, the audience, his experience and insights into the goings on around him. There is the older couple, Janette – Judi Farr and Jack – Danny Adcock, who have been together for many decades but alas unhappily and are resolved in their animosity towards each other. The couple next door, Rosie - Jacki Weaver and Claude - Bruce Venables; Claude met Rosie when he was driving his truck through the country town she lived in, they are devoted to each other and have been together since she was fourteen. Then there is the third neighbour Kurt – Max Cullen, who immigrated from Germany retaining his inflexible attitudes from his early experiences of the early 20th century German psyche. Nick’s girlfriend April – Caroline Craig, moves in with him and the menagerie is completed.
Doyle has produced is an immensely funny and insightful drama that is familiar in it’s eccentric characters from the Australian milieu and gives the opportunity to have a good belly laugh while plumbing the depths of their middle class experience.
Peter McGill
* Sydney Theatre Company’s The Pig Iron People show Program.
Season: From 1st November, 2008 – 8 p.m.
Evenings: Tuesdays – Saturday – 8 p.m.
Twilights: Mondays – 6:30 p.m.
Matinees: Wednesday 26th November - 12:15 p.m.
Saturday – 2 p.m.
Tickets:
Evenings and Twilight shows: Adults - $77; Concession - $62
NB: Concession applies to Australian Pensioners, Full-time Students, Unemployed.
Matinees: Adults - $68; Concession - $56
NB: Concession applies to Australian Seniors only.
Peter McGill.
Sydney Theatre Company and UBS present
THE PIG IRON PEOPLE
By John Doyle
Venue: Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House
Previews: 27-30 October at 8pm All Tickets: $50
Season: From 1 November 8pm - 6 December 8pm
Evenings: Tuesdays – Saturdays 8pm, Mondays 6.30pm
Adults: $77
Concession: $62
Matinees: Wednesdays 1pm (Wednesday 26 November at 12.15pm) Saturdays 2pm Adults: $68 Concession: $56
Night with the Actors: Monday 10 November 6.30pm
Bookings: (02) 9250 1777
27 October to 6 December 2008 (Opens Friday 31 October 2008 at 8pm)
Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House
Writer, broadcaster and actor John Doyle’s new play, The Pig Iron People, is an ironic take on the politics and personalities of the suburban Australian street, exploring the frustrations of the generation gap and the redemptive power of love. Directed by Craig Ilott (Hedwig and the Angry Inch, The Pillowman), Sydney Theatre Company’s world premiere is at the Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House from 27 October to 6 December 2008.
Recently divorced teacher Nick, seeking to reinvent himself and find his voice as a writer moves in to Liberal Street in inner-west Sydney on the very day John Howard comes to power. His new neighbors, most of whom grew up under earlier conservative Prime Minister Robert Menzies (aka Pig Iron Bob), have a world view distinctly at odds with his own. Despite his best efforts he finds himself drawn into their lives and as salvation comes through love with eccentric actress April, his cantankerous old neighbours threaten to ruin everything.
As Nick, Glenn Hazeldine returns to Sydney Theatre Company following his memorable performance in 2007’s Don’s Party, while the production marks Caroline Craig’s Main Stage debut with the Company as April. Doyle’s Pig Iron People are brought to life by veteran actors Danny Adcock, Max Cullen, Judi Farr, Bruce Venables and Jacki Weaver.
John Doyle is well known for his iconic creation ‘Rampaging’ Roy Slaven who, with his cohort HG Nelson, has appeared continuously on television and radio since 1985. He is recipient of eight Australian Writers Guild (AWGIE) awards, one for Best Original Mini-Series for Changi, one for Marking Time, three Logies and an AFI Award for Best Television Screenplay and NSW Premier’s Literary Award, again for Marking Time.
Director: Craig Ilott Designer: Stephen Curtis Lighting Designer: Peter Neufeld Sound Designer: Steve Francis
Cast: Danny Adcock, Caroline Craig, Max Cullen, Judi Farr, Glenn Hazeldine, Bruce Venables, Jacki Weaver
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WOOSH!!!
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Is it a hot air balloon or a winged beast? Is it the lady Lucy in a sky of diamonds or a feisty fairy flitting about
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Quiet Child to headline, BrotherSister on at 10pm. Winter's Lament to open up.
END OF UNI DAYS AT THE UNI BAR
[ Click here to read more ]
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