Now that I have your attention let me rephrase that: London Theatre is awash with farce. There are three crackers on the go at the moment, the perfect way to brighten up […]
London Theatre is a Farce
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.
Not Just For Kids
Some of the biggest recent musicals on the West End are very family friendly, but fortunately they are loaded with in jokes, sly references as well as plenty of nostalgia to provide […]
Terrific Tragedies
Two favourite operas in two magnificent productions.
Theatre Royalty
If Hollywood makes movies about movies, Broadway writes musicals about theatre, then it makes sense that West End shows are enamored with kings and queens.
Sugarplums in Motion
Part of the fun of planning a theatre jaunt to London is searching all the various websites for productions. New York is easy – Playbill has it all in one place. London […]
Hey, Old Friend
Man in Chair begins his West End 2012 reports with some long term favourites.
Summer of the Seventeenth Doll mini review
Well, strike a light! A brilliant production of the seminal Australian classic, lovingly presented and blazingly acted.
Man in Chair presents Death Takes A Holiday
Unfortunately, rather than a holiday, Death stalled the career of one of Music Theatre’s most promising, not to mention sexy, stars.
Annie review
Riding a wave of nostalgia, and a timely relevance to volatile world markets, that optimistic orphan Annie is back to warm the hearts of theatregoers all over again.
Opera Australia: The Magic Flute review
Re-imagined as a sumptuous family spectacle, The Magic Flute delights with a cavalcade of glorious images.
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