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15/8/04
Hope you got to a chance to catch Jake Fraser in “Eternity”, the new and risky Quantum Leap departure – moving away from the ‘Hardware’ approach of past years – as well as Dean Cross who was in town and moving gingerly with Daniel McKinley in Cady McCarthy’s “Restless” at the Courtyard Studio. Oliver Baudert was his formidable if not ruthless self in “Ubu Roi” at The Street while Carly Jacobs turned our heads with a mesmerizing performance in “Boom Bang-a-Bang” for Arts.
Carly will shortly appear with GH in Philo’s
“Jesus Christ Superstar”, opening in early September. Prior
to that, try to catch Jonathan Thomsen’s direction of “Mother
Courage and Her Children” at the ANU in late August – it will
feature some HMTers for sure - including David Clapham who is following
in Duncan Driver’s big footsteps and directing Radford Senior Drama’s
interpretation of “To Kill a Mockingbird” in October. Also,
watch your neck as the Bohemians open both their blood vessels and new
work with their “Vampire Play” next week.
24/4/04
Don't miss the Radford musical opening on Thursday 6 May. Half of it, Funkatron 4000, has been written by Stuart Roberts and directed by Ben Waters and will feature some junior HMTers. Speaking of directors, Dave Clapham has been at it again and will direcet "The Caucasian Chalk Circle" for Papermoon, opening next week at the ANU Arts Centre. Also opening next week is Walter Learning's direction of William Inge's "Busstop" at Theatre 3. Walter's been busy directing George and Jake by day (for "Not Just Footy") then moving on to "Busstop" most evenings for Canberra Rep. Thankfully Sarah Prosser and Kate McFarlane have been on hand to keep the Big Bear on a natural high. Lastly, Fiona Atkin is busy preparing for her interpretation of our beloved Sam Shepard's "Fool for Love" which will feature Jerry Hearn and Steph Brewster while our beloved radio announcer Andrea Close is preparing for her lead role in "Absolutely Fabulous" for the Players Company. I'm sure all these projects will be totally fab.
3/3/04
Jordan Prosser has been in the news (see the Canberra Times on February 24) for his starring role in Sydney director Gary Eck's "Bye Bye Tim", a selected short film for this year's Tropfest Festival. Incidentally, Gary won the first prize this year for his film "The Money". The man has good taste as he chose Jordie from 80 contenders. We can't wait to see this one...
Jake Fraser has also recently been busy in Sydney filming the short film "Tide" for his big sister. Films are where its happening as GH and Jake have been rehearsing their on-stage father-son relationship (for "Not Just Footy" in June) by playing 'father & son' in 19th Hole production's first feature-flick, a psychological thriller called "Perfect". Keep an eye out later this year for it. "Perfect" also features Andrea Close, who has been simultaneously filming EOR Media's Short Seasons automatic entry "Small Things", written and directed by Radford Collegian, Beneta Hadzi-Popovic. Look out for its preview at the National Museum of Australia at 5.30pm on 12th March. It features members of GH's new Under 13 soccer team.
We all look forward to Liz Bradley's direction of Pinter's classic "The Homecoming" in March and David Clapham's direction of Brecht's "Caucasian Chalk Circle" (he was in a production of it under John Foulcher's direction in the late 90s) in April - both with the flush and glossy Papermoon (anyone wanting to bequest anything to HMT feel free), as well as Fiona Atkin's interpretation of Sam Shepard's magnificent mid-western "Fool for Love" at the ANU later in the year. David appeared with Introducing Jonathan Thomsen in their own folk musical "Sodom and Gomorrah" which played at fluctuating times at the recent Multicultural Fringe Festival. And Ben Waters, taking over from GH at Radford for the first half of the year, is following suit directing an original Stu Roberts musical at Radford ("Funkworld"?) – also in April - and that will be one feral, funky bitch of a musical I am sure. We'll keep you all posted. While all this is going on, Nick Akhurst will be the first cab off the rank, directing Terry Pratchett's "Johnnie and the Dead" with the junior Drama Group at Radford in March.
Next, we're happy to announce Hamish Pritchard has arrived from Melbourne to complete the power-sextet that is the "Dealer's Choice" cast. Under Stephen Pike's tight direction, Carmen King's tighter stage-management, a Quentin Mitchell-designed set and a tech crew to die for (including the truly wicked Fay Butcher) - this one promises to be an unforgettable and highly-charged night out. Check out its details on the HMT Homepage - as well as the marvellous posters for "Dealer's Choice" by Sarah Prosser and "Not Just Footy" by Dylan Mordike. E me if you need any...
Also, on Friday March 5, Kylie Higgins and Phil Simmons will join GH for another Crazy Night at Radford to celebrate the institution's 20th year in schoolage. They will perform 42 songs from as late as 1979 to as early as 1955 in a lil time capsule of rockin' and lovin'. Phil's "Rockin Robin" and Kylie's "Respect" threaten to blow GH's "Rock'n'roll All Nite" well and truly out of the water.
And lastly, Not Just Footy news. Walter Learning's arrival on March 17 draws ever-closer. We look forward to welcome our goddaddy of theatre back to Oz from the woods of New Brunswick (Canada). Go and audition for his in Rep's "Busstop" - the Learning experience is an unforgettable one. Our big NJF news is endorsement from Soccer Canberra and Kanga Cup for this production; and, sans funding, we are forever in the debt of Phil Lemon at Copy Qik for coming through and sponsoring us. If you EVER need printing done please go to Copy Qik in the city as they have immeasurably helped us out of a big hole.
8/11/03
Please, get out and see our friends in Bohemian Productions staging of an intriguing work "The Empire Builders" by Boris Vian - one strange, absurdisty monkey. There are many memorable performances from new and oldish faces - with apologies to Stef, Stu and Fee - and even special, gratuitous special FX - with sympathy to Dave Finnigan. There's one week left at The Street so go and see it and then go home and punch, stab or maim something, someone...
Hope you got out to see our bouncy boys: Dean Cross and Daniel McKinely in Cady McCarthy's "Awkward" and Jake Fraser in Free-Rain's "To Kill a Mockinbird". If you missed them, I'm sure Dean and Dan are busy getting ready and nimble for The Choreographic Centre's "Hot to Trot" later this month. While I'm at it, wasn't Max Gambale a steamy sensation in SUPA's electric "Tommy" while Jordan Prosser and Tallay Wickham were exceptional, edgy, seething leads in Duncan Driver's scorching interpretation of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" at Radford last month.
Oliver Baudert and Bronwyn Grannall featured delectably in Liz Bradley's "My Three Angels" at The Players Company. And speaking of the Players, Andrea Close is soon to appear as Hot Lips in MASH at the UCAN - something we all wanna see sizzle like a hot spud I'm sure.
I missed a lot of university productions these past few busy months, but I believe there were some HMT stalwarts involved in "Measure for Measure" (directed by Jontahn Thomsen and featuring Dave Clapham in every advertisement) and "The Government Inspector".
16/7/03
Please get out and see my good friend, Lajos Hamers in Hibberd's A Stretch of the Imagination which is at the Street Theatre Studio on Wednesday July 23 till Saturday July 26 @ 7.30 pm (with a matinee on Sat 26 @ 1.30 pm). Bookings: (02) 6247 1223. Lajos is an ex-Canberra boy who left the lake for the sea n surf; he can juggle Pirandello, Ibsen and Kids Theatre quite happily - so he's allright by us.
10/7/03
Life has been busy for HMTers despite there being no company shows on at present. David Clapham directed "John Drum's Entertainment" at the ANU Arts Centre for Papermoon and it featured Dan Jobson, Jerry Hearn and Stu Roberts in pretty unforgettable roles (and clothes). Jonathan Thomsen, Carly Jacobs and Fiona Atkin were on stage at the same time over at The Street Theatre in various states of undress in NUTS' "Pavlov - 2 Seconds Before The Crime" and all gave electric performances.
Finishing his trilogy, GH came off "Misery" and "Big" to guest-star (his first cameo) in The Street Theatre's Professional Group's Chekhov Laboratory playing the title role in a movement-based interpretation of "Ivanov" by the intriguing Catherine Langman. Also on the same bill, Iain Sinclair directed scenes from "Uncle Vanya" before disappearing OS on his Churchill Scholarship. (We're hoping he'll be back in time for a third round of "Harry's" at Christmas. Oliver Baudert, soon to appear in HMT's "Welcome to the Machine" and "Dealer's Choice" for HMT, gave a sensational performance under Iain's guidance in "Uncle Vanya".
The omnipresent Duncan Driver played a collection of roles (Ah to be Shaw, to be Shaw) in Rep's highly successful "Gross Indecency". We're looking forward to seeing his directional debut at Radford of "One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest" in October. Liz Bradley returned to the floorboards (or was driven there after directing "Misery") to star in Papermoon's epic "The Night of the Iguana". Also, Ben Hamey appeared with Robert Stackian sophistication in the recent Bohemian happening for Canberra Youth Theatre's "Zapt 6" - and don't miss him presenting Monday nights on artSOUND. Also at Gorman House, all of the HMT dancing boys (Dean, Jake, James and Daniel) are preparing to go "Out of Bounds" with Quantum Leap late in July.
Matt Frawley and Gerald Jones are to be congratulated on a fine show with Philo's "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" - and both are on-board to help with the decor for "Welcome to the machine". Lastly, we farewell Patrick Oxley as he leaves with his family to Brisbane. His au revior performance as Snoopy in "Charlie Brown" made us howl at the moon in sadness as Canberra loses one of its finest vocal talents.