By Peter Kemp
Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre
Moon Over Buffalo
The lights dimmed; the audience prepared but the curtains did not rise.
A scuffle was heard at the entrance, then a group of actors were seen running sown the aisles in period costume and sword fighting all the way to the stage where they had a swordfight on the stairs leading
to the stage.
It was the actors playing Cyrano de Bergerac.
The setting was Buffalo New York in a small theatre.
The curtains opened to a scene off stage where there were two levels.
It was furnished as a living room and as the show is a delightful farce it had five doors which were used to full advantage.
The leading man was George Hay, played by Brett Hyland giving an outstanding performance particularly when he was drunk.
A terrific performer and loved by the audience.
His wife, Charlotte Hay, was played by Audrey-Maeve Barker, who was good balance to Brett and also gave a stirring performance as the wronged wife but in view of the fact a leading director from Hollywood was coming to see the show and perhaps cast George and Charlotte in his current film.
So Charlotte had to work well with George to grab their big moment.
Ethel was the deaf grandma and played by Julie Arnold.
A wonderful performance particularly when she did not have her hearing aid in.
Rosalind, Ethel’s granddaughter and daughter of George and Charlotte was played by Francesca Carl.
A young lady not interested in the stage nor the boyfriend her parents chose but her current boyfriend, a complete nerd.
Another wonderful performance and her scenes were a sheer delight.
The boyfriend Howard was played by Mark Cluning.
Mark really captured the role as envisaged and giving a great performance.
Paul, the stage manager and Rosalind’s ex was played by Josh Mitchell who certainly added to the high standard set and was enjoyed by the audience.
Richard, the wealthy lawyer who was wooing Charlotte was played by Mark Crowe.
A small performance but essential to the storyline.
Mark captured the role with professionalism giving a good interpretation of such a character.
Then there was Eileen, who George not only had an affair but Eileen was played by Madeline Connolly who gave a terrific performance as the wronged young lady of the tale.
All in all a wonderful evening of comedy and at the cost of repeating oneself the use of doors was amazing, the timing was spot on and as one door closed another opened immediately.
The other comedy bits were spot on and a very successful evening of comedy was produced by Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre.
The Round Theatre
Life in Plastic
A Christie Whelan Browne Production
Christine Whelan Browne takes us from girlhood to womanhood and motherhood trough pop songs, anecdotes and a few surprising costume changes.
This brand new, deeply personal, bubble gum pop cabaret is a dazzling array of disco hits and a sparkling celebration of sisterhood, because girls just want to have fundamental tights.
Season: Friday 28 February at 7.30pm.
The 1812 theatre
Spider’s Web
by Agatha Christie
The curtains opened to a magnificent set of an English country mansion lounge room.
Complete with 12 paintings, antique desk, double doors which were put to full use, mystery cupboards and something that 1812 specialises in, off stage are still sets what one can see through the doors.
Sir Rowland Delahaye was portrayed by Roger Paul who caught the essence of a Knight of England, a wonderful portrayal.
Hugo Birch and the Doctor was played by Tim Byron.
Another great performance as one of three visitors to the Hailsham-Brown home.
The third of the three was Jeremy Warrender played by Jonathon Simpson.
Jonathon kept up the standard set by the cast giving a good portrayal of the man who was not quite what he seemed.
Nicola Taylor was the main character, Clarissa Hailsham-Brown.
A wonderful character who occasionally mixed the truth with her own interpretation so when she told the truth nobody believed her.
A good portrayal but one felt the outfit did not fit the period.
Her stepdaughter Pippa was given an excellent performance by Sophie Watson who played as a 12 year old girl. A good interpretation of the character.
The lady gardener Mildred Peake was given a great interpretation by Michelle Zintschenko a surprising role and well done by Michelle.
The butler Elgin, was played by Gaurav Saxena.
Gaurav handled the role as envisaged but one feels his outfit could have been a little better.
The Police Inspector Lord was given a good interpretation by Andrew McAliece, a dominant character who did not quite believe the stories he was told.
The so-called blackmailer, Oliver Costello was played by Mitchell Sholer.
An evil man who frightened Pippa.
A good portrayal.
Henry Hailsham-Brown, the husband of Clarissa and father to Pippa was played by Miller Shettoch.
He was a member of the Diplomatic Corps and had a mysterious meeting that night and missed the goings on.
A nice portrayal Constable Jones was portrayed by Tim L. Chellerhos.
A good portrayal.
The 1812 Theatre gave its opening play for 2025 an interesting and wonderful evening of theatre.
