Verdi’s thrilling tragedy Otello shines in a classic example of magnificence on stage at the Met. Back for a second run this season, with the earlier visit including a Met Live in […]
Met Opera: Otello 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.
The Addams Family review [Sydney]
Benefitting immensely from an extreme makeover, The Addams Family arrives in Australia in peak condition. Funny, charming, tuneful and very well cast, the show is an infectiously enjoyable treat.
Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour: Carmen review
Following the superb quality of last year’s inaugural Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour and the recent success of Gale Edwards and team with La Boheme and Salome, expectations were sky high for […]
The Australian Ballet: Don Quixote review
The Australian Ballet returns Rudolf Nureyev’s Don Quixote to the stage in a somewhat dated but altogether delightful production.
MTC: Other Desert Cities review
A play written to have the audience as a fly on the wall of a dysfunctional family Christmas turns us instead into onlookers at a distant aquarium as MTC ruins the most […]
Driving Miss Daisy review [Sydney]
For all the study, analysis and practice of acting, writing and directing, the distillation of live theatre remains the most elusive of essences to predict, capture or maintain. When it works, it […]
Opera Australia: Orpheus in the Underworld review
Superbly talented performers, gloriously melodious music and wittily updated lyrics combine to create a frothy, sit-back-and-enjoy confection.
Souvenir review
Her upper range fortuitously extended after a taxi cab crash, Florence Foster Jenkins had the late-in-life singing career of her dreams, even though the audience could not hear the way she sounded […]
Trevor Ashley’s I’m Every Woman review
Even before the fabulous “Trashley” has stepped out on stage, the fun has already started, with a lively, eager audience soaking up the Tramcar/Spiegeltent vibe and enjoying the fresh relief of Melbourne’s […]
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang review [Melbourne]
That fantasmagorical flying machine steals our hearts in this bright and breezy clap-along family fare.
Man in Chair 