Review: Annie at The Regent, Melbourne

Playing to an audience, with all the generations covered, highlights were aplenty at Melbourne’s Annie opening at The Regent tonight (29^th May).

Everything a musical theatre lover demands was in evidence including super tight singing, creative choreography, well-executed dance, eye-catching costuming and effective set design.

The cast were exuberant - there was clearly no place they’d rather be.

Musical highlights included Hard-Knock Life by eight supremely talented orphans and Easy Street with three stars at the top of their game: Nancye Hayes (Miss Hannigan) Todd McKenney (Rooster) and the most amazingly leggy Chloe Dallimore (Lily St Regis). Continue reading

About the Melbourne Annies

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Melbourne Orphans Named on Annie's 35th Birthday

You’d have been excused for thinking there was a party at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre yesterday afternoon, as twenty-four exuberant girls were introduced to the media. 

And in a way you'd be right.

Annie’s Executive Producer Walter van Nieuwkuyk was on hand to introduce Melbourne’s three Annies, and the twenty-one orphans who will constitute the three different casts for the season.

'Today’s rather a special day in the history of Annie,’ he said, ‘because, to the day 35 years ago, Annie had it’s world premiere on Broadway. 

So Happy Birthday Annie.' Continue reading.

Melbourne review coming on 30th May, 2012
Read about Annie's adult cast

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Designing Love Never Dies

While audiences may not be unanimous in their praise of Sir Andrew Lloyd-Webber's Love Never Dies, no-one is quibbling about its lack of spectacle. The person most responsible for this is Gabriela Tylesova, who designed costumes and set in just 6 months. Add to this the knowledge that the artist has two pre-school children and her achievement takes on gargantuan proportions.

My interview with Gabriela Tylesova, originally published in the July-August edition of Stage Whispers, can now be viewed online.

Read it here.

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Annie: An All-Time Favourite Returns to the Australian Stage

In Melbourne yesterday the Australian season of Annie was launched, with an impressive principal cast on hand at the Plaza Ballroom. Annie is set to grace Australian stages from December, touring Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.

Read my Annie Update now published by Stage Whispers.

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Behind the Phantom's Mask: Meet Ben Lewis

Desperate times call for desperate measures. During previews for Love Never Dies, line changes came so fast and furious that Ben Lewis, playing the Phantom, jotted them down on the handiest prop. Lucy Graham went backstage to peak behind the mask.

Backstage at the Regent Theatre is a rabbit warren. Costumes line the walls: wigs, feathers, tulle, and an array of moustaches hang on the wall. Ben Lewis strides confidently ahead: blundstone boots, black beanie, and coffee to go. He oozes confidence, but not the gung-ho variety. It reads,this is who I am, take it or not. Two costume attendants sit on the floor, mending, and smile as we pass. Three hours out from curtain, and backstage is effervescent. Voluptuous singing rolls along passageways, and laughter trickles through change room doors.

Landing the role of Phantom in Love Never Dies at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre means English-born Ben Lewis, 31, has “never been pushed to this extent before”. While he doesn’t describe himself as superstitious, Lewis admits a preference for fairly structured ways.

Continue reading.

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Review: Love Never Dies

My review of the opening night performance of Phantom of the Opera sequel, Love Never Dies, now playing at Melbourne's Regent Theatre, is now published by Stage Whispers.

You can also read my profile of Phantom Ben Lewis, check out my photos of the after-party and the Theatre Show's wrap on You Tube.

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My review cited in The Week 
 

Lloyd-Webber in Town: Sneak Peek at 'Love Never Dies'

 I was delighted to attend the Media Sneak Peek of Love Never Dies today at the Regent Theatre in Melbourne. With Andrew Lloyd-Webber in town, the excitement and anticipation is high, particularly after mixed reviews in London. At the media brief we were told Lloyd Webber had composed more music to add to the score in Melbourne this week.

Read my report now published on Stage Whispers.
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