Even with two of its main theatres not available for musicals, Melbourne still enjoyed a healthy musical theatre scene in 2019.
Musical Theatre Year in Review 2019
Simon Parris
I have appeared in about 40 productions over the past thirty-three years. Favourite roles include Eugene Fodor and Junior in (separate productions of) Crazy for You, Mr Fox in Mack and Mabel, Max in The Sound of Music, Freddy in My Fair Lady, Julio in Paint Your Wagon, Marcellus in The Music Man and Grantaire in Les Miserables.
I have directed several school productions. I choreographed Urinetown and Little Shop of Horrors for St Michael’s Grammar School, then went on to direct Hot Mikado and the Australian premiere of 13 for St Michael’s. I have since gone on to direct/choreograph The Music Man Jr and Thoroughly Modern Millie Jr for St Michael's.
I review music theatre and opera for Theatre People and the Sunday Herald Sun (Melbourne). I served on the Music Theatre Guild of Victoria Committee for five years as Treasurer and I am currently on the Board of The Opera Studio Melbourne.
I am a keen audience member, having seen 58 shows in six weeks in New York this year, as well as 57 shows during 6 weeks in London/Europe earlier this year.
I hope you enjoy reading the news and reviews at Simon Parris: Man in Chair. I would love to hear your thoughts on the shows covered here so please feel free to leave your comments.
Chicago review [Melbourne 2019]
Set to dazzle and divert, the Broadway revival of Chicago returns for its third Melbourne sentence with as sexy and sinewy a company of dancers as could possibly be wished for.
Victorian Opera: The Barber of Seville review
Victorian Opera rings in the festive season with a very merry concert staging of delectably melodious opera buffa The Barber of Seville.
The Australian Ballet School: Summer Season 2019 review
As a sampler of the bountiful work of The Australian Ballet School, Summer Season 2019 capably demonstrates the depth of talent and attention to detail that set the School apart.
Opera Australia: Faust review [Melbourne 2019]
In a production as spectacularly staged as it is intelligently conceived, Faust is another mighty achievement from Opera Australia, demonstrating the full extent of their resources to sterling effect.
Legally Blonde review [Melbourne 2019]
Irresistible guilty pleasure Legally Blonde returns in a blue-chip boutique production anchored by a dazzling star turn from Samm Hagen as everyone’s favourite pretty-in-pink law student, little Miss Woods, Elle.
Melbourne Theatre Company: Kiss of The Spider Woman review
The extraordinary quality of Kiss of the Spider Woman belies the eight-year gap since Melbourne Theatre Company produced a Broadway musical as part of their mainstage season. The dark, dazzling adult musical […]
Music Theatre Melbourne: Electric Dreams review
In an auspicious world premiere season, Music Theatre Melbourne takes audiences back to the garishly colourful 1980s in Electric Dreams, a new Australian musical based on the cultish 1984 film.
Opera Australia: Turandot review [Melbourne 2019]
The gift that keeps on giving, Graeme Murphy’s 1990 production of Turandot is grand opera at the pinnacle of artistic collaboration. Opera Australia’s revival sees the lavish work make a welcome Melbourne […]
Red Stitch Actors’ Theatre: Oil review
Grand in scope and intimate in detail, Ella Hickson’s 2016 play Oil is a given a suitably intense and immersive production for its Australian premiere at Red Stitch Actors’ Theatre.
