Stage Chat

January 2003

Dandenong Theatre Company Inc.

Web: http://www.dandenongtheatre.com

Email: info@dandenongtheatre.com

From the President

Happy new year to all our members, past members and other interested people.

As this is the first newsletter since our annual general meeting in November last year, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome our new committee for 2003. Congratulations to those elected, and thanks to the previous committee members, particularly David Peters who has stood down as president. 2002 was a difficult and busy year for DTC, and the hard work of the committee is greatly appreciated.

The new committee is as follows:

President Vice President Hon Secretary Hon Treasurer

Stephen Oakes David Peters Fiona Oakes Simon Wilksch

General Committee

Carly Hobbs, Joanne Legg, Chris Brown, Helen Brown,
Sharon Start, Belinda Peterson.

Most people who are currently active in DTC will know me, but for those who are unfamiliar, let me also introduce myself. I first joined DTC (or DLOC as they were then known) in 1996 as a member of the chorus for the May 1997 production of Hello Dolly. In subsequent years we put on some innovative productions as well as some "old favourites". (For a full list of productions performed by DTC, please refer to our web site.)

DTC has continued to improve and innovate over recent years. Since 1996 we have included a play amongst the productions we perform each year. Last year we performed Hansel and Gretel, our first "JETS" production. JETS is the name of the youth wing of DTC. It is for people aged 8 to 18, and following the success of Hansel and Gretel, we plan to have another JETS production this year. Those interested, please contact myself or Carly.

Our play this January is The John Wayne Principle, a dark comedy about family life and ambition within a large corporation. Clare Andrews has assembled a highly talented cast for this play; it promises to be well worth watching! Please contact Bill or Natalie Irvine on 9790 0149 for tickets.

Although the standard of DTC’s productions is generally improving each year, we need to work hard to keep up the standard in order to keep improving and thus attract good audiences. This in turn will attract production crew and cast keen to participate in exciting productions of a high standard.

This year we are very pleased to welcome back Matt Lockitt as director and Chris Stock as musical director for Gypsy, to be performed in May 2003. They have each proven themselves to be reliable and capable. The choreographer for Gypsy is Dianne Shepherd. This is Di’s first production with DTC, but in rehearsals she has already demonstrated some of her good ideas. We are very confident that Gypsy will be a great show.

The second major production for the year will be Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, to be performed in September 2003. This is one of my personal favourites, as it is the very first musical I ever saw, on ABC TV about 25 years ago! For a synopsis and further information regarding this production, please see elsewhere in this newsletter.

Finally, I would like to add some brief comments about my goals for the future of DTC. Firstly, I would like to see our musical productions continue to improve in quality in all regards. These major productions are, and should remain, our major focus of effort. Secondly, I would like to see our plays patronised to such an extent that we must consider performing them in a theatre with a larger auditorium.

It is not enough to assume that our productions will continue to impress. In the words of John Lennon, we should all strive to "make it better".

I will expand on these ideas in the next and subsequent newsletters. If anybody has any comments regarding this newsletter, or would like to contribute an article to the next one, please feel free to contact me or the secretary by email or at the DTC mailing address.

Stephen Oakes, DTC President

Cast for DTC’s Gypsy

DTC’s next major production will be Gypsy, to be performed in April and May 2003.

Director Matt Lockitt

Musical Director Chris Stock

Choreographer Dianne Shepherd

Production coordinators Stephen and Fiona Oakes

We have an excellent cast for the show, and preliminary rehearsals have already been quite productive. Rehearsals will resume towards the end of January. The cast is as follows:

Victoria Zainal Mama Rose

Kathryn Tohill Louise

Carly Hobbs Dainty June

Scott Hili Herbie

Bryce Baumgarten Tulsa

Ellie Martin Baby June

Laura Maclagan Baby June

Kassie Martin Baby Louise

Emma Sparrow Baby Louise

Robert Harvey Uncle Jocko/Chorus

Jayne Murphy Miss Mazeppa

Sharon Start Miss Electra

Miranda Barron Miss Tessie Tura

Kym Davies Renee/Stripper

Lynne Hobbs Miss Cratchitt

Chelsea Adams Hollywood Blonde

Chloe Fowler Hollywood Blonde

Chantelle Woodhouse Hollywood Blonde

Emily Mahon Hollywood Blonde

Stephanie Spiers Hollywood Blonde

Bradley McLean Newsboy

Ben Peake Newsboy

Nathan Furze Newsboy

Drew Birnie Farmboy/Chorus

Peter Breyley Farmboy/Chorus

Chris Brown Farmboy/Chorus

Danny O’Neill Chorus

Schy Peterson Chorus

Congratulations to all those cast. This promises to be a superb production!

Note that we still require several male dancers, aged between 8 and 20. Please contact a committee member for details.

DTC’s "Stage Chat"

"Stage Chat" is the official publication of Dandenong Theatre Company, Inc.

Postal address:
PO Box 8028,
Dandenong,
3175.

ABN
42 707 241 939.

ASN
A 0007855 Z.

Print Post approved:
PP 32699/0011

What’s on

The John Wayne Principle
Dandenong Community Arts Centre, corner of Walker and Robinson Streets (Melway ref 90 C8).
Dates: January 24, 25, 29, 30, 31 and February 1, 2003
Tickets: $14 ($12 concession)
Bookings: Bill and Natalie
9790 0149

Warning: This play contains strong language and adult themes which may offend some people.

Check out our web site!

Dandenong Theatre Company has its own Web site. We aim to keep this site up to date with current productions and special events, as well as information about our upcoming shows.

Articles of interest to DTC members and the theatre community may be submitted for consideration. E-mail us on info@dandenongtheatre.com.

You’ll find the site at -http://www.dandenongtheatre.com

Lyrebird nominations

Congratulations to the following DTC members, nominated for the "Lyrebird" awards.

Natalie Irvine
Highly Commended Performance In A Comedy (Ten Times Table)

Peter Kavan
Highly Commended Performance In A Comedy (Ten Times Table)

Peter Dowler
Best Supporting Actor In A Musical (Oklahoma)

Those who would like to attend the awards night on March 1st, please call Owen on 9755 2282 before February 15th.

Important dates

January 24-February 1

The John Wayne Principle performances.

January 28

Gypsy rehearsals resume. All cast required at fire station, 7:30pm.

April 14-24

Gypsy bump-in and theatre rehearsals.

April 25-May 10

Gypsy performances.

May

Information night and auditions for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat

September

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat performances.

Production crew required

Applications are invited for DTC’s September production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. Those interested in applying for the positions of director, musical director or choreographer, please send applications to:

The secretary,
DTC Inc.
PO Box 8028,
Dandenong, 3175.

Please include a brief resume or summary of relevant theatrical experience.

Birth

Congratulations to valued DTC members Simon and Christine Wilksch on the arrival of their second child Jacob, a brother for Bethany.

Death

DTC founding member, Evelyn Girling, died on November 13th 2002, after a short illness.

Marriage

Stephen Oakes and Fiona Marks finally tied the knot in a beautiful ceremony on Sandringham Beach on December 28th!

Congratulations also to Richard Thomas and Vicki Billing, who married on January 18th!

Vale Evelyn Girling

On 16th November, 2002, I attended the funeral of Evelyn Girling, the co-founder with Rose O’Brien of Dandenong Light Opera Company, the forerunner to the present Dandenong Theatre Company (DTC Inc). I was disappointed by the funeral, not so much because Evelyn would no longer be around, but because we were told so little about this lady, and that her funeral was not a celebration of ‘Her Brilliant Career’, and ‘Her Fortunate Life’.

Most of what I have written concerns her connection with DTC Inc. I also did happen to know of her latter day involvement as a chorister with the City Of Glen Eira Seniors Choir, and of her great love of ballroom dancing and that she used to be an avid competitor. In the past, Evelyn had been a respected piano teacher, and a one-time member of the Australian Music Examinations Board.

It transpires that she was a regular communicant member of her parish church in Ormond, had been a regular organist at that church, and a member of the church’s guild, and flower roster.

When DLOC was formed in 1973, Evelyn became the first Hon Secretary. From then until the mid 1990’s, she had occupied every committee position available many times over, sometimes two at once, and at the same time was perhaps also production manager and/or wardrobe co-ordinator. Over the years, especially when Evelyn was Hon Treasurer, she kept a very tight rein on the company’s finances, thus laying the foundation for the company’s present healthy condition.

For the company’s first production, "Die Fledermaus", Evelyn and her late husband Cecil lent the fledgling company sufficient money to hire costumes from J C Williamson’s, and to make some extra ones. After a very successful première season, the fledgling company was flying, mostly thanks to the efforts of Evelyn and Cecil. Evelyn later bought a property in Bangholme that included a disused church hall. For many years, this was the company’s scenery workshop, and wardrobe and properties store.

In later years, Evelyn was honoured by being made the company’s first ever Life Member. In 1990, the Music Theatre Guild honored her with an Edith Harrhy Award in recognition of her contribution to the fostering of community-based music theatre in Melbourne. The citation read "…for outstanding service to Music Theatre contributed in an honorary capacity".

In the 1990’s, after ceasing her ‘hands-on’ role in the company, she was always present at the opening night of a new show. In 1996, the company instituted the Girling Award, in honour of Evelyn and Cecil. This was to be presented at the conclusion of each production, to the member of the company who went ‘above and beyond’, thus ensuring the success of that production. Since its inception, Evelyn attended each production a second time on the Presentation Night, except for September 2002, to present the Award.

Even in those latter years, Evelyn was always there for advice, and more importantly, to give encouragement to new and young performers. She was also always keen to see people from the company given a go, especially if they ultimately went on to bigger and better things. Never mind that she was very parochial and loyal to DTC Inc - their shows were always the best!

Apart from the ravages of Anno Domini, she was seldom sick, and so her final illness was sudden and, mercifully swift.

If there can be such a thing, the best moment of her funeral came when Evelyn was being taken out of the church and the "Blue Danube Waltz" was played. No doubt she smiled and danced one more time!

Those who knew her will always remember her.

John Larcombe, with Bill and Natalie Irvine

Synopsis – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat

This is the bible story of Jacob and his twelve sons. Jacob’s second-youngest and favourite son was Joseph. The other brothers were jealous of Jacob’s devotion to Joseph and their anger grew after their father gave his favourite son a "dazzling coat of many colours". Whilst working in the fields one day, they planned to kill Joseph, but at the last moment they had a change of heart and instead sold him as a slave to a group of passing Ishmaelites.

The brothers returned to their father with the torn and bloody coat and led him to believe that Joseph was dead.

Joseph was taken to Egypt, where he was sold to Potiphar, a wealthy merchant. Joseph proved to be a good and honest worker, so he was rapidly promoted. However, the merchant’s wife was attracted to him, and upon rejecting her advances she had him thrown into prison.

It was while he was in prison that his ability to explain people’s dreams became known. This was brought to the attention of the pharaoh who was troubled by dreams. He called for Joseph who was able to prophesy Egypt’s next 14 years, allowing pharaoh to prepare for the famine ahead.

Joseph was put in charge of the preparations and was generously rewarded. His brothers back in Canaan, meanwhile, were struggling because of the famine, so they headed towards Egypt in search of food. They were brought before Joseph, whom they did not recognise. He gave them food, but to test them he planted a gold cup in the sack given to Benjamin, the youngest.

As they left, Joseph raised the alarm about the missing cup. The brothers’ bags were searched and the cup was found in Benjamin’s bag. The other brothers declared Benjamin’s innocence and insisted that they be punished instead. Joseph, recognising their honesty, revealed his identity to them and they were reunited. Jacob made the long trip to Egypt to be with his long-lost son.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, written by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, will be performed by DTC in September 2003.

 

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