Ladies In Black – SOLD OUT!

Ladies In Black

Ladies In Black Rating

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8

You can only hope that you already have a ticket or that they add an extra show, because only a short way into their latest run, Beaumaris Theatre have already sold out on their production of ‘Ladies in Black’. A story of the women working in a Sydney department store in the 1950s, full of gorgeous costuming and highlighting that era’s seriousness together with frivolous fun!

I took my Mum along to this one, I thought it was her era, but she was quick to remind me she was not that ‘old’ and she would’ve only been 10 then LOL. She did however love the show and much of the script was very relatable as success in many women’s equality movements wasn’t strongly successful until much later.

In fact, even my own Mum sent me to ‘secretarial school’ in the 80s, something that Lisa (played by Rose Chambers) knows her father will insist on if she cannot get her mother to help convince her father she should be allowed to go onto university. The 50s beliefs for traditional families stayed locked on men being smart enough for further studying and careers, whilst women were to focus on getting married, having kids, cooking / cleaning and perhaps get a ‘girl’s job’ (like being a secretary or working in a store). This musical is about that life in the 50s for women.

Lisa’s character is centre of the story as she prepares to work at ‘Goodes’ for the holidays whilst she waits for her final schooling results to see what university courses she can apply for. She is smart and might even get a scholarship. Lisa wants to be a poet. “A poet?!?” is the normal response with a snicker from most when she mentions it.

However, things will change when Lisa meets the ‘crazy continental’ European supervisor in the designer-dress department, Magda (played by Bek Champman), a connoisseur of elegant fashions from around the globe. Magda takes an interest in Lisa and her vision to become more of herself. Both actresses are very entertaining to watch as Magda (pronouncing a great accent as she speaks), influences Lisa’s girlish look and ideas into the possibility of new beginnings.

 

Lisa’s co-workers ‘Fay’ (played by Amy Gridley) and ‘Patty’ (played by Jacqui Moore) have their own stories going on in the background and one particularly funny moment on the side with Patty’s on-stage hubby Frank (played by Dan Bellis who also happens to be Jacqui’s partner in real life – luckily I’d say given their positioning).

You will laugh along with the rest of the audience to ‘The Bastard Song’ whilst you might mentally try and guess the next rhyming word to ‘bastard’, describing Patty’s on-stage hubby. By the end of the show, will he continue to be a bastard?

The show is very well cast and is another directed by the lovely Debbie Keyt with her team Rhonda Vaughan (Musical Director) and Camilla Klesman (Choreographer). This is my third review for Beaumaris Theatre and I also see other shows there; they are all fabulous. The set on this one is also fabulous, fab fashion of gorgeous dresses sets the tone immediately we walk in. We don’t notice that the beach scene isn’t at the beach because Magda steals the limelight in her one-piece to sit on her deckchair, flattered by her husband Stefan (played by Daniel Ischia) and good friend Rudi (played by Justin Royce). She is definitely NOT ‘mutton dressed up as lamb’.

I loved the opening of ‘I Got It At Goodes’ with the department store girls harmonious in singing and dancing with their shopping bags, Miss Cartwright (played by Kirsty Hall) is thoroughly every bit the boss in-charge, the surprise fun of ‘I Just Kissed A Continental’ and ‘I Can’t Be That Man’ was a tug on tears in feeling for that hubby who couldn’t be who he wanted to be. ‘Tomorrow Becomes Today’ was a meaningful solo for Lisa and again as the well-applauded finale song, though I must be honest, I did want to hear ‘The Bastard Song’ just one more time hehe (just in case they want to encore it as a popularity vote at the last show).

Shout out to everyone ducking and weaving in the song of ‘Pandemonium’ – great stage awareness and you all realistically engulfed the pandemonium at sales time! (Both my girls work in retail, and this is exactly what they describe from the other side of the counter).

I probably don’t need to say much more… what can I say… Ladies in Black at Beaumaris Theatre is SOLD OUT!!

PS. JOIN THE WAITLIST https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1318481

Don’t miss the next show of Beaumaris Theatre and get in early!! They have ‘Knife Edge’ coming up in May, ‘The Witches’ in August and ‘Blackadder II’ in November.

Tickets via: https://www.beaumaristheatre.com.au/

Venue: Beaumaris Theatre, 82 Wells Rd, Beaumaris, Melbourne, Victoria. The theatre is a small one but they always use the space well and hence good seat viewing from everywhere. Extremely welcoming front of house team, free tea / coffee and reasonable pricing in the canteen for interval, plus it’s easy to park in the surrounding streets.

Congratulations to everyone on the amazing effort for ‘Ladies in Black’

CAST:
Lisa – Rose Chambers
Frank – Dan Bellis
Myra – Gabi Bergman
Magda – Bek Chapman
Fay – Amy Gridley
Miss Cartwright & Joy – Kirsty Hall
Mr. Miles & Stefan – Daniel Ischia
Patty – Jacqui Moore
Mrs Miles – Roisin O’Neill
Miss Jacobs & Mrs Crown – Katrina Pezzimenti
Rudi, Lloyd & Fred – Justin Royce
Barmaid – Fiona Williams
Customer – Cheryllyn de Vries

This review also appears on It’s On The House. Check out more reviews at Whats The Show to see what else is on in your town.

The Bridges of Madison County

The Bridges of Madison County

The Bridges of Madison County Rating

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10

Many in the audience will be familiar with the highly successful film, based on the book, starring Meryl Streep and Clint Eastwood, but here we are now sitting in Melbourne’s Beaumaris Theatre for the musical version of The Bridges of Madison County.

As a fan of the movie, with a full house on opening night and being in this great little theatre again (where I did my very first review for ‘Whats The Show’), I can’t wait!

As the lights dimmed above our seats, I found the opening of the show very touching with the photographic screen rolling of times gone by and excellent live music accompaniment. This is the type of theatre where you don’t need to dress up or be knowledgeable on the Arts, we can all just sit back and relax to enjoy what is ahead. My husband really enjoyed the show and was so pleased he could wear his jeans and windcheater. Well, we are off to an Iowa farm…..

Set in 1965, the story is an intense, 4 day impromptu love affair between Francesca Johnson (Candice Sweetman), a beautiful Italian woman who married an American soldier to flee war-ravaged Italy, and National Geographic photographer, Robert Kincaid (Michael Gray), after he pulls into Fran’s driveway whilst her family are away at the State Fair.

Candice is just wonderful playing the main role of ‘Fran’, ‘Frannie’, “Francesca’ and ‘Mum’ depending on who is talking to her, and when she is singing her stage presence comes alive completely! Her eyes actually sparkle (good lighting effects or beautiful eyes – or both) and her smile lights up the stage, but when she is sad or reflective, her character’s emotions are felt with a tug of empathetic heart strings. I was transfixed in watching her in every scene, experiencing real love and real loss.

Michael as ‘Robert’ is perfection. He is of course the main male role but he’s also ‘the other guy’ because Fran is married to Bud (Adam Rafferty), and you can’t help but wonder throughout the show, should she or shouldn’t she? Who could resist Robert, he’s not only handsome and caring, he lives in the moment, tries not to think about things too much and travels the world – his life is far removed from Fran’s. What could they possibly have in common?

Whilst there is plenty of ‘oooo’ from the audience at the loving moments portrayed by the main characters, perhaps the ‘sexiest’ was performed with extra enthusiasm by Marge (Liz Catford), Fran’s envious neighbour. She is so funny and you’re definitely going to laugh! Especially when her hubby Charlie (John Tacey) steps in. At many times they prove themselves to be the most supportive neighbours.

Fran and Bud’s teen children Carolyn (Sienna Iscaro making her debut at Beaumaris) and Michael (Jordan Poyser) are absolutely fantastic talents x 2. If you have teenagers you will relate to them even more and they’ll give you hope too that teenagers aren’t always teenagers LOL, they do grow up! My favourite conversations were Michael’s with his Dad about driving the car (a conversation very like those that my husband sitting next to me and I have had with our 18 year old) and Carolyn’s nervousness being calmed by her Mum – Mum is always the one to call in a crisis, like when you are about to try and win ‘Steer of the Year’ with a cow you raised HAHA.

This musical is full of rich emotion about the choices we make and how they shape our lives. Internally yearning, as the day that Robert must leave approaches, Fran faces confusion and dilemma. Can she, in reality, abandon her children and loyal husband? Could there be a chance that such a spontaneous relationship with Robert would survive over time? Would it be worth the risk?

This show tells the past, the present and the future – you won’t be left wondering anything, it is a story you also are unlikely to forget. This performance will certainly stay with me far longer than the movie did as it is more in depth in explaining the emotions and timelines of everyone within.

I’ll give a quick shout out to the excellent ensemble too, as the ensemble in my mind always makes the whole show what it is – those little bits and pieces from them either in the background or foreground round out scenes to make them more memorable. My favourite was the waitress who obviously had her own opinion of how Robert and Fran should or should not be!

You must see this show if you are a fan of the story or anything remotely like it. It is truly captivating and the music and singing is beautiful with amazing voices, heartfelt lyrics and some very comical moments too. You will laugh and you will cry and you will relate to something or someone in almost every scene.

The show is running 9 – 24 August 2024 at Beaumaris Theatre, 82 Wells Road, easy to park in the surrounding streets. It’s a lovely little local theatre with mostly tiered seating (flat floor for rows AA-CC) and good access for wheelchairs too. Programs are provided along with a more than adequate canteen pre-arrival drinks and interval snacks.

Support local theatre and ENJOY!

Tickets via: www.trybooking.com/CSETI

MUSIC AND LYRICS BY JASON ROBERT BROWN | BOOK BY MARSHA NORMAN

BASED ON THE NOVEL BY ROBERT JAMES WALLER

DIRECTED BY COLIN ARMSTRONG | MUSICAL DIRECTION BY SUE FLETCHER

CAST:
Francesca – Candice Sweetman
Bud – Adam Rafferty
Robert – Michael Gray
Michael – Jordan Poyser
Carolyn – Sienna Iscaro
Marge – Liz Catford
Charlie – John Tacey
Marian & Young Francesca – Jessica Almery
State Fair singer & Chiara – Amelia Little
Ensemble – Daniel Ischia & Christine Wood

Photography credit: Pietro Giordano

This review also appears on It’s On The House. Check out more reviews at Whats The Show to see what else is on in your town.

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