America’s premier baritone Thomas Hampson made a long overdue Australian debut in this expertly curated and wonderfully intimate performance at Melbourne Recital Centre.
Great Performers: Thomas Hampson review
Simon Parris
I have appeared in about 40 productions over the past forty 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, then went on to direct Hot Mikado and the Australian premiere of 13. I have since gone on to direct/choreograph The Music Man Jr and Thoroughly Modern Millie Jr.
At my next school, I was Head of Productions, overseeing up to a dozen productions each year and directing another seven musicals, including The Music Man, Brigadoon and How To Succeed in Business Without really Trying.
I reviewed 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 was on the Board of The Opera Studio Melbourne.
I am a keen audience member, having seen 58 shows in six weeks in a 2012 trip to New York, as well as 57 shows during 6 weeks in London/Europe earlier the same year.
I hope you enjoy reading the news and reviews at Man in Chair. I would love to hear your thoughts on the shows covered here so please feel free to leave your comments.
The Production Company: Oklahoma! review
Venerable Melbourne institution The Production Company begins their landmark twentieth season with a concert staging of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! that is simply as good as it gets.
The Wizard of Oz review [Melbourne 2018]
Ever-emerald classic The Wizard of Oz gleams with the polish of new designs, new humour and even new songs.
CLOC Musical Theatre: Strictly Ballroom the Musical review
Bursting with vibrant colour and spectacular dance, CLOC Musical Theatre’s new production of Strictly Ballroom the Musicalis a visual feast.
Opera Australia: Don Quichotte review
Melbourne hears Massenet all too rarely, making Opera Australia’s presentation of Don Quichotte all the more of a treat.
Opera Australia: Tosca review [Melbourne 2018]
Melbourne welcomes sumptuous soprano Latonia Moore in a glorious performance, as Opera Australia revives their spectacular production of Tosca.
Opera Australia: La Traviata review [Melbourne 2018]
Opera Australia opens their 2018 Melbourne season with a brightly polished revival of cherished Verdi masterwork La Traviata.
Papermill Playhouse: The Sting review
In its world premiere season at charming New Jersey venue Papermill Playhouse, Broadway-bound musical The Sting is a slick, classy affair.
Carousel review [Broadway 2018]
Cherished classic Carousel returns to Broadway in this handsome, impeccably cast revival.
Met Opera: Lucia di Lammermoor review
International soprano Jessica Pratt treats the New York audience to her signature role as she sings Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor for the first time at Metropolitan Opera.
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