The Mozart Faction **** 1/2

‘The Mozart Faction’ is the latest hilarious Red Ryder Production on each evening at 8.00 o’clock, in the Blue Room until 24^th March.

Whilst waiting to enter the auditorium, a small group of amateur singers arrived and under the direction of their conductor Evie (Alinta Carroll – who really did do the musical direction) gave us a beautiful rendition of their version of a Mozart composition. We are then invited to join them at their adjacent Community Hall to see their next rehearsal.

Designer, Monique Boucher has produced a very realistic village hall where Shirl (Maggie Anketell), the eldest member of the group is preparing the boiler for the tea and coffee. Soon the Cantus Formosus choir has assembled and the rehearsal commences. Immediately it becomes obvious that some members are more talented than others and, like any other village group, there is the ‘in crowd’ and the ‘excluded’.

Just as the practise is getting underway, the neighbour from hell (Phil Miolin) arrives and tells them in no uncertain terms what he thinks of their singing and wants them to stop, Will they accept his request or continue singing? This sounds a simple story, but there are plenty of twists and surprises.

Kate Rice’s script is brilliantly written, with very well observed characters – people that we have all met and suffered at similar PTA meetings or CWA. The cast of nine had very different characters, all true to life and wonderfully portrayed by an experienced company skilfully directed by Emily McLean.

The other superb cast members were Larissa Gallagher, Brodie Caporn, Caitlin Beresford Ord, Craig Williams, Jeremy Levi and Brendan Ewing.

This is a must see comedy.

The opening 10 minutes of this play built incredibly quickly to such a crescendo of hysterical laughter, that (we) the audience needed a moment to calm our heaving ribs. Thats why they call it side-splitting! I haven't laughed so HARD for quite a while. What a clever playwright. What a clever creative team. Emily McLean's direction, and the execution by the cast is superb. If you're a student of acting this is an absolute must see. It is VERY CHALLENGING for an actor to play: there is a cast of 9 on stage, all talking across each other's lines at various times. Brilliantly rehearsed. Steve Bevis' review will be in the West early next week (I'm guessing Tuesday), Sarah McNeill's review will be out Thursday in the Post, the X-press review will also be out Thursday, an rtrfm interview goes live to air at 11.15am this Monday (12 Mar), and you can look for the Sunday Times (STM) article this weekend. So if you want to guarantee yourselves a seat (venue holds 49), I'd suggest booking immediately. Seats available Saturday night (mar 10*), and early next week, but once the w-o-m gets around, and the reviews are out, you'll be beggging for a ticket. So book early to avoid missing out. (*assuming you're not at Bindoon on mar 10 watching the last night of Much Ado...) Dan Luxton Publicist for The Mozart Faction Benedick in Essential Theatre's Shakespeare in the Vines production of Much Ado About Nothing

How do i book? trace

The Blue Room Ph: 9227 7005 www.pacs.org.au Hope you enjoy the show. Cheers for the review Gordon. Phil Miolin. (Wolf the cranky neighbour)

look to the right of the web page at similar entries. all the listing info is under 'production'

Be sure to ring and book - 9227 7005!! Most shows this week Sold Out. Season runs till Sat March 24th http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=182&ContentID=23390 Mozart Faction hits right note 13th March 2007, 8:00 WST The impulse that drives many people to join community choirs might seem to others to be a bit too much like the call of the mild — hardly an exciting way to spend a precious evening in our increasingly busy modern world. But watching The Mozart Faction might shake up a few preconceptions. Yes, the eight choristers who meet for rehearsals in a dreary suburban hall every Monday night do seem a bit daggy at first as they squabble over the songbooks, argue about where to stand and anticipate their 9pm break for tea and bickies. But the violent intrusion of Wolf the neighbour (Phil Miolin) — who is as mad as hell and cannot take their mediocre singing any more — sparks in them and the audience an examination of mortality, the enduring appeal of music and the joy of self-expression. Playwright Kate Rice and director Emily McLean have deftly played out these existential themes in an entertaining, funny and rapid-fire mix of parlour farce, siege drama and behind-the-scenes music documentary. We first meet the suburban choir Cantus Formosus by way of a prologue when they sing in the theatre foyer. This sets the stage beautifully for the character development that follows as they arrive in the nondescript hall for rehearsal night. There is an ambitious young bank executive as first soprano (Larissa Gallagher); a lonely elderly woman (Maggie Anketell); a small businessman (Craig Williams) and his local councillor wife (Caitlin Beresford-Ord); a high school principal (Jeremy Levi), a nurse (Brodie Caporn); a young muso (Brendan Ewing); and their pernickety conductor (Alinta Carroll). They are a suitably suburban cross-section with nothing in common except their love of music. On the other hand, Wolf hates their singing and demands at the point of a gun that they shut up. As she did with Red Ryder’s productions of Dealer’s Choice and A Moment of the Lips, McLean lives up to her reputation as a strong ensemble director, eliciting strong performances all round. Stage veteran Anketell as the stoic Shirl and Miolin as the gunman are particularly good. The minimal set design — a chequered lino floor and a repaint of the venue’s interior walls and door frames — evokes the banal uniformity of community halls around the land. The beauty of this play is the way it looks beyond the apparent blandness of suburban life to uncover the passions, aspirations and thwarted ambitions that lead people to creativity as equally as to violent rage. This is highlighted as the lights go down on the choir singing Mozart’s Requiem, their earlier leaden efforts overtaken by the realisation that staring death in the face concentrates the mind. That this group of actors can achieve such musical heights is a testament to their singing talent and to the skill of actor-soprano Carroll, who whipped them into shape as music director during the rehearsals. The Mozart Faction runs until March 24 THEATRE The Mozart Faction By Kate Rice Red Ryder Productions Blue Room Review: Stephen Bevis

Just to advise that due to most shows being sold out we have added a 6pm show next Fri 23rd March. There are still limited seats for the season, so call the Blue Room today if you'd like to see our latest offering. 9227 7005. The Mozart Faction http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=182&ContentID=23390 So come along for a great fun show - plenty of laughs and beautiful singing. http://www.theatre.asn.au/theatre_reviews/the_mozart_faction_1_2 Many thanks, Benj Red Ryder Productions Red Ryder Productions present: The Mozart Faction 7 March – 24 March (Tues – Sat @ 8pm) EXTRA SHOW Fri 23rd 6pm The Blue Room Theatre, 53 James St, Northbridge. BOOKINGS - 9227 7005 or www.pacs.org.au Written by Kate Rice Directed by Emily McLean Featuring: Maggie Anketell, Brendan Ewing, Caitlin Beresford Ord, Brodie Caporn, Alinta Carroll, Larissa Gallagher, Jeremy Levi, Phil Miolin and Craig Williams A small suburban choir rehearsal is brought to an abrupt halt when Wolf storms in with a gun, demanding silence. For 10 years he’s lived next door, listening to their endless, effusive singing, and finally he’s cracked. During the tense siege that follows, Mozart’s Requiem gains new meaning for them all as Wolf forces each chorister to look death in the eye. The Mozart Faction is a new black comedy about art, life, death and the audience. For those who sing, and those who wish they didn’t. Proudly brought to you by award-winning Red Ryder Productions (Dealer’s Choice, A Moment on the Lips) and Perth playwright and AWGIE winner, Kate Rice. “Because it’s real, okay? It’s music. It’s the only thing I’ve got that never disappoints. Never lies. Never expects anything. You take it away, there’s nothing left.” - Ari (second bass) “Red Ryder Productions, under director Emily McLean, has a knack for assembling tight ensemble casts that work brilliantly.” – The Australian.

Due to every show being a sell-out we will be doing another extra show on Sat 24th March @ 6pm !!! FINAL NIGHT Be sure to book asap by calling The Blue Room on 9227 7005

The Mozart Faction was reviewed positively in Monday's Australian (19 March 2007). Is the script published anywhere? Jim

The script is available: The Mozart Faction a play by Kate Rice Published by Stone’s Publishing Pty Limited - Perth for Prickly Pear Playscripts in 2007. info@pricklypearplayscripts.com Enquiries concerning rights for professional and amateur stage productions to: kate@alwaysworkingartists.com.au © Kate Rice 2007

Will this show be on again?? I missed it unfortunately, and my girlfriends said I should see it. wendy