Theatretrack

[Talissa]

Every Thursday night, 10pm-midnight, on 103.5 3MBS-FM Classically Melbourne, Henry Sachwald presents Theatretrack, a program in which he displays and discusses selections from musical theatre.

Here's his February programme.

5 February 2004
Tonight: NOW PLAYING
including selections from:
Yazbek: THE FULL MONTY
John: THE LION KING
Brooks: THE PRODUCERS

12 February 2004
Tonight: THE SONGS OF RICKY IAN GORDON
including selections from:
MY LIFE WITH ALBERTINE
BRIGHT EYED JOY
ONLY HEAVEN

19 February 2004
Tonight: THE SONGS OF JASON ROBERT BROWN
including selections from:
SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD
THE LAST FIVE YEARS
PARADE

26 February 2004
Tonight: THE SONGS OF MICHAEL JOHN LACHIUSA
including selections from:
HELLO AGAIN
MARIE CHRISTINE
THE WILD PARTY

Edit: I should have mentioned that if you don't live in Melbourne, you can listen to it at www.3mbs.org.au/

[Buff]

Sounds like a good thing. Shame it's on so late and I can only listen to it over the internet A good way to spend 10pm-12am on Thursday. I don't usually have anything else on

Buff

[Talissa]

Here's a transcription I wrote up of part of last night's program...

We opened with that rousing, spiritual 'Run Freedom Run' from Urinetown, and by the time you get to that number in the show, you've seen a little bit of West Side Story, you've seen a little bit of Threepenny Opera, and who knows what else. And all of a sudden they're in the sewers, and they take the chairs and they set them up just like the revival meeting in the Salvation Army scene in Guys and Dolls, but they're sitting in the sewer. And the show is Urinetown. The opening night was Saturday night, and I must tell you, what a weekend this has been in Melbourne for people interested in showbiz and musical theatre. Friday night I went off to catch the final preview of The Producers to see Reg Livermore and Tom Burlinson and the rest of the cast. Chloe Dallimore as well.

(static for a while on my tape, so I missed the next bit. Just talking about the show itself, if I remember correctly)

...The Producers' songs work. They're great. And when you see the show you will laugh... laugh your sides off. But Urinetown... Very clever, lots of good jokes... A lot of senior citizens of the theatre world thought there were too many pee jokes in the show. But hey, you know, if it works, use it, and the audience loves it.

And a fantastic cast. Talk about an ensemble cast.

Kane Alexander as Bobby Strong not only has one of the best voices on the Melbourne musical theatre stage, but he just fit the part perfectly.

Shane Bourne was fantastic as Officer Lockstock. He's narrator of the story and basically controls what's happening on the stage.

Rhonda Burchmore looks good even when she's dressed to work in the sewers. Well, let me tell you, anything Rhonda wears looks good on Rhonda.

Mitchell Butel was Mr McQueen, Sophie Carter - Soupy Sue...Gerry Connolly played the villainous Caldwell B. Cladwell...

Irene Dios, who is one of the great developing comic actors here in Melbourne, who's been in a number of small productions at Chapel Off Chapel in recent times, plays Little Becky Two Shoes and Mrs Millenium.

Garry Ginivan runs around the stage, and he's hard to recognise sometimes for all the different costumes he puts on.

Gary Down is Senator Fipp, Francis Greenslade is Officer Barrel - That's Officer Lockstock's side-kick, you see. Lockstock and Barrel - Damian Humbley, Andrew Koblar...

Lisa McCune as Hope Cladwell is just absolutely delightful. Wonderful voice, dances beautifully, and great comic acting as well.

Collette Man - wouldn't recognise her as Josephine Strong. Adam Murphy...

And Christen O'Leary as Little Sally. Innocent Little Sally. Just tries to do the right thing, and always plays up to Officer Lockstock during the show.

With a great musical ensemble led by Ian McDonald on piano, Shannon Birchall on bass, Greg Ryan on percussion, Dave Palmer on trombone and Tom Martin on reeds.

The production is directed by Simon Phillips, and choreography by Ross Coleman. Now I must tell you the choreography in Urinetown... They have been working on this show so hard. Every moment seems to be timed as much as every moment in The Producers is timed.

So you're talking about two very very slick productions currently on here in Melbourne; The Producers has been taken lock, stock and barrel from Broadway and brought to the stage of The Princess Theatre. And the theory behind that, too, is that the formula for the show works. And in time what I'd love to see... I'd love to go back and see The Producers in another month or two, once they've had a chance to really sort of just break into a nice pace for the run of the show, and see Reg Livermore and Tom Burlinson relax a bit more as they feel the beats of the show more naturally and just sort of play to the part and play it to the hills.

Tom Burlinson has that lilting Frank Sinatra voice, and Reg Livermore... Well, what can we say? Reg Livermore is the king of Broadway. He's the king of every Australian musical stage, really. He always commanded the stage well in his own shows, and all of a sudden he popped up on stage leading the fantastic ensemble back in the 1980s in the musical Barnum, and he really hasn't had a major role on the stage since Barnum. He's done a lot of low-key things, and he's spent a lot of time on television with Our House, but to have him back on stage in what is probably the best musical comedy - and I use the word 'musical comedy' - to come into Melbourne in a very long time. We've had some wonderful musicals in the last 20 years. Musicas like Cats, Les Miserables, and Phantom of the Opera... And Mamma Mia may have been popular and a terrific hit, and Mamma Mia's playing all over the region, let me tell you. It's in New Zealand, it's going to Hong Kong and Singapore. It just keeps travelling, that show. And people have enjoyed We Will Rock You. But The Producers is 100% Broadway musical comedy, and if you miss this one, you're mising out on a great experience. Especially all the members of the listening audience I'd say who are within the ages of 20 and 40, who have never really had a chance to experience some of these top musicals, and who didn't take advantage to go and see some of the productions that were on at The Arts Centre and Her Majesty's during the past 20 years. Shows such as My Fair Lady and Cabaret and Chicago - Chicago's going to be talked about in a little while, too.

Anyhow, enough said. Go to the theatre. Go see a show. Have a wonderful time. Here from The Producers....(introducing song)

[nadine]

Damn I wish we got that program in Sydney

[Talissa]

It's broadcast on the internet. If you go to www.musicalsaustralia.com.au, there should be info about that there.

The rest of the program last night was a tribute to Nancye Hayes, and I'll be uploading bits of that later, when/if I have time.

[nadine]

Yeah it is broadcast on the net but last night I was totally buggered and that's when I wished it was on in Sydney so I could record it.

Ohh the Nancey Hayes tribute would have been good.

That reminds me I would pay someone to tape Channel 31 in Melbourne for the yartz program when they televise the Green Room Awards - unfortunately we don't get that program on our Channel 31 here in Sydney.

[Talissa]

That reminds me I would pay someone to tape Channel 31 in Melbourne for the yartz program when they televise the Green Room Awards - unfortunately we don't get that program on our Channel 31 here in Sydney.

When's that on?

[Sally]

Ditto - when? I'd love to watch I adore C31 ;D

[nadine]

I think the yartz program is on, on Thursday nights on Channel 31 - my guess is if someone emails GRA they will inform people when they're on.

Nadine

[Sally]

So it is - 10:30pm, I just checked Thanks Nadine, I never would have noticed it myself! (I've never checked out C31 in the evenings because all the good shows only seem to be on during the day when rtv broadcasts. Now I have something else to tune into ;D)

[Talissa]

THEATRETRACK: WHAT’S HAPPENING - MAY

6 May 2004
Tonight: TONY® TIME – PRESENTING STEPHEN SCHWARTZ
including selections from:
WICKED
RAGS
CHILDREN OF EDEN

13 May 2004
Tonight: STARRING CHITA RIVERA
including selections from:
Bernstein: “WEST SIDE STORY”
Strouse: “BYE, BYE BIRDIE”
Kander: “CHICAGO”

20 May 2004
Tonight: STARRING NATHAN LANE
including selections from:
Loesser: “GUYS AND DOLLS”
Sondheim: “A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM”
Brooks: “THE PRODUCERS”

27 May 2004
Tonight: MORE TONY® TIME – PREVIOUS WINNERS
including selections from:
Holmes: “THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD”
Yeston: “NINE”
Miller: “BIG RIVER”