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
Sat, 21 June 2003, 12:51 pmEven though the question was addressed to me, I'll put my response here:
jeni ragan wrote:
> off that though would you happen to know how i can get
> involved in the WAYTCo?
Email Melanie at waytco@hotmail.com or phone her at the WAYTCo office on (08) 9226 2144.
WAYTCo is an outstanding youth theatre company that I can recommend wholeheartedly. My only regret is that I didn't find it sooner - so heed my words, young'uns! Take advantage of this company while you're still under 25 (which I am, but only just, so I'm going to be kicked out soon)!
It has provided me with innumerable professional opportunities, networking and, as a direct result of one of their series of workshops, I will be off to London in a week's time to study at the Globe Theatre. Jenny Davis is the artistic director, and I'm currently applying to have her beatified.
Upcoming activities include a series of workshops for boys with, and correct me if I'm jumping the gun here, Craig Williams. We're also discussing the major production for next year which looks like it'll probably be a musical. The website is also in its embryonic stages, so I will keep y'all posted...
[%sig%]
jeni ragan wrote:
> off that though would you happen to know how i can get
> involved in the WAYTCo?
Email Melanie at waytco@hotmail.com or phone her at the WAYTCo office on (08) 9226 2144.
WAYTCo is an outstanding youth theatre company that I can recommend wholeheartedly. My only regret is that I didn't find it sooner - so heed my words, young'uns! Take advantage of this company while you're still under 25 (which I am, but only just, so I'm going to be kicked out soon)!
It has provided me with innumerable professional opportunities, networking and, as a direct result of one of their series of workshops, I will be off to London in a week's time to study at the Globe Theatre. Jenny Davis is the artistic director, and I'm currently applying to have her beatified.
Upcoming activities include a series of workshops for boys with, and correct me if I'm jumping the gun here, Craig Williams. We're also discussing the major production for next year which looks like it'll probably be a musical. The website is also in its embryonic stages, so I will keep y'all posted...
[%sig%]
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