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.
Strikingly presented with glossy staging, expert direction, and terrific cast, this long overdue revival of groundbreaking Mart Crowley play The Boys in the Band celebrates significant social progress achieved across the decades […]
A towering work in which John Neumeier celebrates not just the great dancer choreographer but also ballet itself, electrifying adult fantasia Nijinsky makes a very welcome return to the Melbourne stage.
Handsomely produced, the glossy visual flair of the new Australian staging of Agatha Christie classic And Then There Were None is let down by undercooked performances.
In a splendid realisation of an inspiringly ambitious vision, Melbourne Opera successfully brings opera to world heritage site, the Royal Exhibition Building. The combined result of dozens upon dozens of artists and […]
In a towering achievement, Victorian Opera lavishes high production values, sumptuous orchestra, and a peerless cast on revered Stephen Sondheim musical Follies.
Beloved Liverpudlian housewife Shirley Valentine roars back to life in an expertly realised, deeply touching solo performance from Natalie Bassingthwaighte.
John Foreman’s Australian Pops Orchestra blends traditional New Year’s Eve favourites with a generous serving of musical theatre and pop hits for a thrilling presentation of their annual New Year’s Eve & […]
Even when the dark comes crashing through When you need a friend to carry you And when you’re broken on the ground You will be found
A clever idea for a show and a perfectly timed Christmas presentation, sporadically funny new musical Love Actually? The Musical Parody falls short of its blue chip potential.
In the gorgeous setting of the Rose Garden at St Kilda Botanical Gardens, Melbourne Shakespeare Company delights with the merry mayhem of Twelfth Night.
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