Shadow Of The Eagle - only a one week season!
Sat, 24 May 2003, 07:09 pmcrgwllms9 posts in thread
Shadow Of The Eagle - only a one week season!
Sat, 24 May 2003, 07:09 pmWhere: Playhouse, Perth
Who: Perth Theatre Company
Dir Alan Becher
Design Michelle Dado
Cast Geoff Kelso & Michael Loney
Only one week to see this production, so don't leave it to the deathknock.
I think this production will surprise a lot of people who may be expecting a dry, historical treatise. Yes, it's about the meeting of Prime Minister John Curtin with General Douglas MacArthur, in the middle of WW2, and it is being as accurate and factual as possible; but I also found it very entertaining and watchable.
As a two hander of this type, there was a danger of it becoming too wordy and long...I didn't find this happened at all. The play only goes for about an hour and 20 min; and the transitions between various sections of monologue or dialogue are very neatly broken up with engaging business...some of the characters created offstage (via telephone conversation) are as real as the ones we see.
The set is beautifully realised, and the use of audio/visual projection is done extremely well. Occasional photographs and footage from the period help support the text, and never became distracting. The use of the map also helped us to visualise the world situation at the time, and to make sense of MacArthur's strategic suggestion. Attention to details like the opening soundtrack kookaburra from the old newsreels added to the authenticity of the experience.
Michael Loney has obviously studied everything about MacArthur to understand how the man ticked. Talking with him after the show he was keen to reveal even more information than was given in the play, and the fact that he unearthed some facts that were then written into the show. All this helped his characterisation, and it was quite a fascinating interpretation of a character whose public history is quite well known.
Geoff Kelso's characterisation is marvellous. Physically and vocally he really became the ailing Prime Minister. The first scenes are just Geoff onstage, and he controls our attention brilliantly. He and Michael parry each other with skill and deftness.
You don't really need to have any knowledge of the historical context, although you may surprise yourself at how much you already know. If you are a bit of an historian, you'll really enjoy seeing these figures brought to life.
Cheers,
Craig
[%sig%]
Who: Perth Theatre Company
Dir Alan Becher
Design Michelle Dado
Cast Geoff Kelso & Michael Loney
Only one week to see this production, so don't leave it to the deathknock.
I think this production will surprise a lot of people who may be expecting a dry, historical treatise. Yes, it's about the meeting of Prime Minister John Curtin with General Douglas MacArthur, in the middle of WW2, and it is being as accurate and factual as possible; but I also found it very entertaining and watchable.
As a two hander of this type, there was a danger of it becoming too wordy and long...I didn't find this happened at all. The play only goes for about an hour and 20 min; and the transitions between various sections of monologue or dialogue are very neatly broken up with engaging business...some of the characters created offstage (via telephone conversation) are as real as the ones we see.
The set is beautifully realised, and the use of audio/visual projection is done extremely well. Occasional photographs and footage from the period help support the text, and never became distracting. The use of the map also helped us to visualise the world situation at the time, and to make sense of MacArthur's strategic suggestion. Attention to details like the opening soundtrack kookaburra from the old newsreels added to the authenticity of the experience.
Michael Loney has obviously studied everything about MacArthur to understand how the man ticked. Talking with him after the show he was keen to reveal even more information than was given in the play, and the fact that he unearthed some facts that were then written into the show. All this helped his characterisation, and it was quite a fascinating interpretation of a character whose public history is quite well known.
Geoff Kelso's characterisation is marvellous. Physically and vocally he really became the ailing Prime Minister. The first scenes are just Geoff onstage, and he controls our attention brilliantly. He and Michael parry each other with skill and deftness.
You don't really need to have any knowledge of the historical context, although you may surprise yourself at how much you already know. If you are a bit of an historian, you'll really enjoy seeing these figures brought to life.
Cheers,
Craig
[%sig%]
Re: The Tempest - WAYTCo
Tue, 27 May 2003, 12:49 pmWalter Plinge
Last Friday I had the pleasure of experiencing the WAYTC production of "The Tempest". Quite frankly, putting aside some speeches which were difficult to hear and becoming a little smoked out by the smoke effects, dare I say it I was 'swept away' by the delicious tempestuous theatricality of it all! The 'Bard' would have loved it!
Jenny Davis' and her amazing production team used their creative vision and talent and took these young players and gave them, and the audience an experience not soon forgotten. I thank you all for the show.
There are some notable performances which include: David Smith as 'Prospero'. An extremely demanding role which he carried with aplomb. What a voice. Michael Lamont was a strong 'Caliban' and captured the vulnerability of this vulnerability of this character. Todd Moran was a delicious and vital 'Trinculo' and Garreth Bradshaw - well you just had to love his 'Stephano'. Jenny Davis' utilising three actors to convey the role of 'Ariel' was for me a 'creative coup'. Anna Kim, Nel Minchin, and Alex Desebrock were literally as one and they lit up the stage with their 'ensemble' creation.
The 'Ghosts' were very effective and managed to effortlessly 'ooze' their way up, down and around the brilliant set by Brian Woltjen. And when you see the show you will realise this is no easy physical task. You would think they had had months of rehearsal on the set not just a couple of nights.
The production was superbly cocooned by the brilliant musical underscore and original songs by composer Craig Skelton. To quote from the programme Craig's aim was to make the music ..."fun to sing, good to move to, enticing, intriguing, rhymic, melodic...let me put it this way my inspiration came from Bjork, Queen, Mozart, Yes, Nirvana and, of course, The Bard himself.' If for no other reason, go and hear the music.
Jenny Davis' and her amazing production team used their creative vision and talent and took these young players and gave them, and the audience an experience not soon forgotten. I thank you all for the show.
There are some notable performances which include: David Smith as 'Prospero'. An extremely demanding role which he carried with aplomb. What a voice. Michael Lamont was a strong 'Caliban' and captured the vulnerability of this vulnerability of this character. Todd Moran was a delicious and vital 'Trinculo' and Garreth Bradshaw - well you just had to love his 'Stephano'. Jenny Davis' utilising three actors to convey the role of 'Ariel' was for me a 'creative coup'. Anna Kim, Nel Minchin, and Alex Desebrock were literally as one and they lit up the stage with their 'ensemble' creation.
The 'Ghosts' were very effective and managed to effortlessly 'ooze' their way up, down and around the brilliant set by Brian Woltjen. And when you see the show you will realise this is no easy physical task. You would think they had had months of rehearsal on the set not just a couple of nights.
The production was superbly cocooned by the brilliant musical underscore and original songs by composer Craig Skelton. To quote from the programme Craig's aim was to make the music ..."fun to sing, good to move to, enticing, intriguing, rhymic, melodic...let me put it this way my inspiration came from Bjork, Queen, Mozart, Yes, Nirvana and, of course, The Bard himself.' If for no other reason, go and hear the music.
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