Oklahoma

"Title to come"
Review still to come

Review to come. Fran thinks she has all the reviews, but she can't find some of them. We are still looking. In the meantime, isn't that a nice poster.

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South Pacific

"A great musical for all time"
Messenger News Review 05 July 1995
Nick CARROLL

THE LATEST Northern Light Company production is set to open not with a bang but with the beautiful melody of Bali Ha'i. Rodgers and Hammerstein's 'South Pacific' returns to the Shedley Theatre next week after a break of 17 years.

The musical romance, about a young American navy nurse and a French planter on a US-occupied tropical island during World War II, was a big hit in the Festival Theatre in 1993.

The Adelaide Festival Centre Trust production went on a national tour, played last September in Hong Kong, and has just finished a season in Chang Mai, Thailand.

For Northern Light, director David Winston has assembled a large cast of company regulars and newcomers.

"South Pacific has always been a personal favourite of mine, ever since I saw the first London production as a teenager," he said. "It has a mystique, an aura about it. Scenes from Bali Ha'i (the mystical isle of the natives) have always stuck in my mind."

"It's a show that after almost 50 years hasn't aged. You can a still will get the same situations happening today. When you think of something like MASH, which was set in the Korean War during the early 1950s, your nurses and male doctors are nearly identical to the type of characters in this show. And if there was another war you'd have the same type of characters again."

"I've kept the dialogue the same, but brought out both the comedy and the heartbreak, and there will be a few surprises." David's most recent production at the Shedley Theatre was Charlie Girl last July.

Local dance identity Kereanne Wilkinson is choreographing her second show for the company, and has developed many new routines that are sure to please.

Stage newcomer Sheree Lockwood of Campbelltown is making her debut as a musical director.

The cast of South Pacific includes Jan Peterson as Bloody Mary, Michael Walter as Captain Brackett, and Mike Pole as Luther Billis a part he is reprising from the 1992 Mayfair production.

The season is from July 14 to 29, with performances on Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, and a Saturday matinee on July 22 at 2pm.

Tickets: $12 or $9 concession. Bookings: BASS 13 1246, Belinda's Card & Gift Shop, Elizabeth, or on 281 2629 or 250 0851.

Chicago

"Chicago a hot jazz that needs more dazzle"
Messenger News Review 25 October
Matt BYRNE

MURDER has always been big business in America just look at the O.J. Simpson extravaganza and Northern Light Theatre Company is out to cash in on it with its latest show, Chicago.

Fred Ebb, Bob Fosse and John Kander's jazzy about a bunch of merry murderesses in the roaring '20s is a big challenge.

Director Alan Taylor has assembled a mixture of youth and experience to tackle this terrific show and the results are mixed.

When it's good it's very good and the audience has a good time. There are some top numbers, good individual performances and ensemble work, and despite the odd slow tempo, the orchestra under Matthew Barrowman handles the hot jazz score capably.

Choreographer Kerreanne Wilkinson has her moments but more with the men than the women.

The show has a major plus: Sue Pole was born to play foxie Roxie Hart. Her energy, timing, characterisation, singing and dancing lift the show every time she appears.

Other standout performances come from Kent Green's delightful ray of Mary Sunshine as the sob sister columnist, and a pleasant surprise from Richard Trengrove in the plum role of Roxie's fall guy hubbie Amos.

But the staging, the lack of continuity, the inadequate lighting especially the sparing and haphazard use of spotlights and other specials deprives the show of the razzle-dazzle and atmosphere it demands.

The normally forceful Linda Taylor seems strangely subdued as head murderess Velma Kelly. She gives the character a melancholy quality when it requires 10,000 volts.

Jan Petersen plays Matron Mama Morton with gusto but needs more guile, and the promising Michael Williams sings well but lacks the crafty showmanship for the crucial role of lascivious lawyer Billy Flynn. There's some great work from the other murderesses Donna Schliwa, Angela Schliwa, Sherryl Hargreaves, Illythiana Johnson and Linda McNamara. Their singing of Cell Block Tango is a highlight but for some reason there's no movement.

There's also good support from the male chorus in particular from baby-faced Michael Papps and a tap happy Mark Gulliford.

Full credit to Northern Light for tackling a show like Chicago. Once the production settles down and is relit, it should rock Elizabeth. Chicago is playing in the Shedley Theatre until November 4.

Sue Pole and Lynda Taylor