Deservedly embraced by Melbourne’s legion of Harry Potter fans, Puffs, or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic, is both a hilarious spoof and a loving homage […]
Puffs review
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.
The Imperial Ice Stars: Swan Lake on Ice review
The wintry Russian setting and grand Tchaikovsky score prove an ideal fit for The Imperial Ice Stars, whose revived production of Swan Lake on Iceeffortlessly integrates the spectacle of ice skating with […]
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Melbourne musical theatre cognoscenti made their adoration of Patti LuPone clear, giving the first of many standing ovations the moment she stepped on stage. Part lovefest, part masterclass, Don’t Monkey with Broadway celebrated […]
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Having endured a decades-long wait, Sydney finally has a revival of revered golden age masterwork Gypsy. Stripped back to its grimy blackest, the courageous production takes grasp of the audience with unflinching […]
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Opera Australia’s world class revival of Lucia di Lammermoor is a heart-pounding thrill ride, in which the magic ingredients of opera blend to memorable perfection.
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The Australian Ballet accentuates the elegant beauty found in streamlined modern dance with a well-matched trio of works that form the program of Verve.
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Mutual love flowed back and forth between stage and audience as Melbourne musical theatre aficionados were treated to a thrilling display of pure talent from Ramin Karimloo and Special Guest Anna O’Byrne.
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Continuing to educate the opera lovers of tomorrow, Victorian Opera once again strikes a deft balance between authentic opera and children’s entertainment with a return season of Hansel and Gretel.
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A sensational cast of rising talents get vertical til they get vertigo in the Melbourne professional premiere of Bring It On the Musical.
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Lovingly re-polished, The Australian Ballet’s precious gem The Merry Widow sparkles again in an evening of pure entertainment.
