The 2003 Finley Awards
Sun, 11 Jan 2004, 05:08 pmGreg Ross2 posts in thread
The 2003 Finley Awards
Sun, 11 Jan 2004, 05:08 pmCongratulations to all those involved in organising the 2003 Finley Awards presentation night. It was the first one I had attended and I really had no idea what to expect.
I had forgotten just how far it is to Kalamunda for a city dweller ( a 45 minute drive in light traffic), but what a lovely theatre complex. I donÂ’t know the history behind it, however if it is local government funding, then a visit to the centre should be obligatory for all other local councils and the relevant ministers.
The ticket prices were wonderfully low and the price of a glass of wine? … absurdly cheap. A wee grape related gripe from a lush – I’d be happy to pay triple the price for the option of wine from a decent chilled bottle of white, or a dusty bottle of five year old merlot.
I’m not sure why Ms Hilton, more often than not, chose to stand out of the spotlight – perhaps nerves at having to replace Dr Who and his neck decorations? And the feed back from the sound system during the first half was a little disconcerting, but no such sound problems in the second half.
Kerri and her toy boys were fantastic. Their approach prevented any sign of pretentiousness, as theatrical as the night was. And the girls!! Magnifique darlings! This was truly one of the better awards nights for anything, that I had witnessed. The light hearted approach was exactly the right touch.
I don’t have the personal experience to comment on the winners, as I had not seen those plays or musicals which took out the various awards, suffice to say I’m sure the adjudicators decisions were justified. It certainly gladdened my heart to see country WA not only included, but also taking out three awards and I loved the kids in “Puss in Boots.”
As I drove away after the ceremony, a couple of things occurred to me, one being that it had been a wonderful opportunity to catch up with fellow cast members from previous productions – where else does everybody have a chance to get together like that and doesn’t every production finish with a chorus of, “We must get together again", which invariably never happens? Secondly, although Kerri did briefly mention it, there was a marvellous opportunity missed to congratulate the whole amateur theatre community for their collective talent.
To see such a wide cross section of people from all walks of life and ages, come together, following their individual passion for theatre is humbling. Almost everyone taking part in amateur theatre has another role in life, if not several. For instance, some are mothers with full time jobs and yet somehow, they still manage to play an active role in theatre.
Everything is usually done on the smell of an oily rag, in conditions that in all probability, no professional would accept. Some are blessed with the ability to conjure up scenic effects with the stroke of a paint brush, others can close their eyes and visualise twenty people standing apparently naturally in thirty square feet. Some have that auditors perfect eye for the detail of when props are due on stage, others find they have a talent for programming lighting and sound. Some are blessed with that extraordinary gift of the ability to perform Front-of-House with perfect manners and an unruffled calm – some are not, but hey, we’ll take all the help we can get! And still others, wondering time and time again why they do it to themselves, cannot resist the lure of the stage and the addiction of crowd reaction.
Yes, some changes and additions could be made to the night – money would probably help! And it probably behoves any of us who have helpful suggestions, to offer them, but for me, the awards night was a celebration of two things.
That incredible perhaps eventually ephemeral feeling, of family, that almost every production achieves – that moment, maybe at the end of a final rehearsal, when you understand that the production has achieved a life of its own, through the dedication and hard work of every participant. Then there's that bitter sweet final night, when part of you says, “Thank God, I can get back to my own life,” and the other part of you says, “This is part of your life.”
To each and everyone involved in amateur theatre, congratulations, The vibrant theatre and arts community that WA has become, is entirely due to you and the Finleys are a wonderful way of celebrating.
I had forgotten just how far it is to Kalamunda for a city dweller ( a 45 minute drive in light traffic), but what a lovely theatre complex. I donÂ’t know the history behind it, however if it is local government funding, then a visit to the centre should be obligatory for all other local councils and the relevant ministers.
The ticket prices were wonderfully low and the price of a glass of wine? … absurdly cheap. A wee grape related gripe from a lush – I’d be happy to pay triple the price for the option of wine from a decent chilled bottle of white, or a dusty bottle of five year old merlot.
I’m not sure why Ms Hilton, more often than not, chose to stand out of the spotlight – perhaps nerves at having to replace Dr Who and his neck decorations? And the feed back from the sound system during the first half was a little disconcerting, but no such sound problems in the second half.
Kerri and her toy boys were fantastic. Their approach prevented any sign of pretentiousness, as theatrical as the night was. And the girls!! Magnifique darlings! This was truly one of the better awards nights for anything, that I had witnessed. The light hearted approach was exactly the right touch.
I don’t have the personal experience to comment on the winners, as I had not seen those plays or musicals which took out the various awards, suffice to say I’m sure the adjudicators decisions were justified. It certainly gladdened my heart to see country WA not only included, but also taking out three awards and I loved the kids in “Puss in Boots.”
As I drove away after the ceremony, a couple of things occurred to me, one being that it had been a wonderful opportunity to catch up with fellow cast members from previous productions – where else does everybody have a chance to get together like that and doesn’t every production finish with a chorus of, “We must get together again", which invariably never happens? Secondly, although Kerri did briefly mention it, there was a marvellous opportunity missed to congratulate the whole amateur theatre community for their collective talent.
To see such a wide cross section of people from all walks of life and ages, come together, following their individual passion for theatre is humbling. Almost everyone taking part in amateur theatre has another role in life, if not several. For instance, some are mothers with full time jobs and yet somehow, they still manage to play an active role in theatre.
Everything is usually done on the smell of an oily rag, in conditions that in all probability, no professional would accept. Some are blessed with the ability to conjure up scenic effects with the stroke of a paint brush, others can close their eyes and visualise twenty people standing apparently naturally in thirty square feet. Some have that auditors perfect eye for the detail of when props are due on stage, others find they have a talent for programming lighting and sound. Some are blessed with that extraordinary gift of the ability to perform Front-of-House with perfect manners and an unruffled calm – some are not, but hey, we’ll take all the help we can get! And still others, wondering time and time again why they do it to themselves, cannot resist the lure of the stage and the addiction of crowd reaction.
Yes, some changes and additions could be made to the night – money would probably help! And it probably behoves any of us who have helpful suggestions, to offer them, but for me, the awards night was a celebration of two things.
That incredible perhaps eventually ephemeral feeling, of family, that almost every production achieves – that moment, maybe at the end of a final rehearsal, when you understand that the production has achieved a life of its own, through the dedication and hard work of every participant. Then there's that bitter sweet final night, when part of you says, “Thank God, I can get back to my own life,” and the other part of you says, “This is part of your life.”
To each and everyone involved in amateur theatre, congratulations, The vibrant theatre and arts community that WA has become, is entirely due to you and the Finleys are a wonderful way of celebrating.