As with Stephen Ward, a terrific story, exotic setting and experienced production team all indicate a high chance of success, but the magic is just not there. The talented cast give the […]
From Here to Eternity The Musical review
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.
American Psycho: A New Musical Thriller review
Edgy, slick, pristine and as blackly humorous as it is genuinely thrilling, brand new musical American Psycho is set to divide and conquer as it soon makes its way around the globe.
Stephen Ward the Musical review
Salacious subject matter, swinging era and groovy location all point to a terrific idea for a musical, but even with the world’s top theatre practitioners on board, that lightning-in-a-bottle magic of a […]
The Royal Ballet: Jewels review
Well established as one of the “jewels” of the repertoire, George Balanchine’s Jewels is a tantalizing reflection on the sheer beauty of ballet.
The Lion King review [Sydney]
Ingeniously spectacular and unashamedly sentimental, The Lion King is the ultimate live theatre experience, provoking the full range an abundance of spine tingles, goose bumps, laughter and tears.
2013 Music Theatre Year in Review
Boutique productions abounded this year, highlighting the expensive risk of full-scale commercial productions. Fortunately, smaller budgets for sets and costumes have no impact on the quality of the performances, with compelling acting […]
The Lion King Sydney: Sneak Peek
Ahead of tomorrow’s opening night, producers of the eagerly awaited return Australian season of The Lion King invited media for a glimpse at the spectacular costumes, innovative masks, gorgeous lighting and talented […]
Melbourne Opera: Rienzi review
Melbourne Opera made a terrific contribution to the Melbourne Ring Festival with their concert performance of Richard Wagner’s early operatic success, Rienzi. A blaze of stirring choruses and heroic solos, the glorious […]
The Sound of Music Live! review
The airwaves were alive with The Sound of Music last night as US network NBC premiered their eagerly anticipated holiday special that they, along with theatre fans around the word, hope will […]
Opera Australia: The Melbourne Ring Cycle 2013: Götterdämmerung
****Read Man in Chair’s 2016 review of Götterdämmerung.**** Götterdämmerung, or The Twilight of the Gods, see Wagner’s epic Ring Cycle reach its fiery conclusion. Previously, on The Melbourne Ring Cycle, giant Fafner […]
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