The Carpenters from Kempsey

Carpenters’ songs all the way from Kempsey Same songs, same ’70s fashion, different Carpenters – the Carpenters from Kempsey, that is. This musical theatre production will be at the Don Russell Performing Arts Centre on Saturday 25 October at 8pm. Seventies sibling megastars Karen and Richard Carpenter take the brunt of the joke in this comical cabaret, which resurrects their considerable catalogue of hits. Their national tour, another Perth exclusive for The Don, has already had sell-out seasons at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival and eastern states touring success. Like their counterparts, these Carpenters are also siblings, Darren (Darren Mapes) and Sharon (Susie Dunn) Carpenter, who hail from just outside the regional town of Kempsey, in New South Wales. They are both absolutely hopeless at just about everything. That all changed when they discovered one of their dad’s old vinyl records by the other Carpenters. Not only did they share the same name, they also looked alike. This humorous celebration of the easy listening musical icons from yesteryear features the duo’s greatest hits including We’ve Only Just Begun, Yesterday Once More, Top of the World, Close To You, Rainy Days and Mondays and many more. When Darren and Sharon are not giving deft renditions, they share amusing anecdotes about growing up in Kempsey. Sydney-based Mapes has co-written and performed numerous cabaret, musical and theatre productions including Laughing Matters, Three’s Company, Virtual Unreality (all at the Glen Street Theatre) and Nowadays with Jimmy Barnes’ son and jazz crooner David Campbell. Dunn came to Australia after regular stage and television work in New Zealand. She studied at and graduated from NIDA’s Singer, Dancer, Actor course. Her performance credits include Songs for the Numb and The Bitchy and Edgy Show for the Australian Theatre for Young People. Admission is $33.70 standard, $30.50 concession, $26.70 students and groups of 10 or more. For booking or information, call The Don on 9493 4577 or buy tickets online at www.gosnells.wa.gov.au and click on Don Russell Performing Arts Centre.