Brimming with warmth and heart, world premiere play Astroman takes audiences back to the 1980s in an all too rare familial focus on First Peoples of Australia.
Melbourne Theatre Company: Astroman 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 Production Company: A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder review
Completing their ever-grander twentieth season, The Production Company serves up a delectable slice of musical theatre heaven with the merrily macabre A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder.
Opera Australia: Metamorphosis review
Opera Australia defies traditional expectations, breaking the mould with an edgy, independent-style staging of Australian opera Metamorphosis.
Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra: Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette review
A pair of international artists were capably supported by a roster of excellent Australian singers as Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra presented Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette in concert.
OSMaD: Les Misérables review
Insightful direction and splendid performances balance the magnificent with the moving as musical theatre workhorse Les Misérables lives on for one day more.
Melbourne Opera: Otello review
Rossini’s dramatic opera Otello makes its long overdue Australian premiere thanks to the vision and drive of Melbourne Opera, a company exhibiting an increasingly strong flair for bel canto opera.
StageArt: Nine the Musical review
One of Broadway’s most rapturously beautiful scores, Nine the Musical is given a smartly conceived, darkly burnished boutique production by prolific Melbourne company StageArt. While the midlife breakdown of a once-successful Italian […]
CLOC Musical Theatre: Jekyll and Hyde the Musical review
Mark Doran gives a thrilling, world-class performance in the title roles as CLOC Musical Theatre successfully trades the melodramatic for the macabre in this revival of their 2005 production of Jekyll and […]
Victorian Opera: Pelléas and Mélisande review
In a gift to opera lovers of Melbourne, Victorian Opera presents a dream cast in a dreamy production of exquisite French opera Pelléas and Mélisande.
Madiba the Musical review
Showcasing the exciting talents of a diverse cast, Madiba the Musical is ultimately an inspiring celebration of the life of Nelson Mandela.
