Melbourne continues to enjoy a well-balanced opera program of large and smaller scale productions featuring a wide array of local and international artists.
Opera and Ballet Year in Review 2019
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.
Musical Theatre Year in Review 2019
Even with two of its main theatres not available for musicals, Melbourne still enjoyed a healthy musical theatre scene in 2019.
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 […]
