Company:

Soul Work Ensemble

Season: 4 October 2014

Venue: Playhouse Theatre, Hobart

Festival: Short & Sweet 2014

Written by: Alex Broun

Director: Rogan Brown

Staging: Rogan Brown

Costumes: The cast

When Australian traveller, Len, steps into a Beijing McDonald's he doesn't expect to meet Susannah, another Australian who is in China on a working holiday. It’s New Years Eve, and Len, a typical Aussie tourist, tries to strike up a conversation with Susannah. In a bid to become

Short+Sweet Theatre is the biggest festival of ten-minute theatre in the world! Held annually at the Newtown Theatre and the NIDA Parade Theatres in Sydney, Chapel off Chapel in Melbourne, Lasalle and The Esplanade Theatre Centre in Singapore, KLPAC in Malaysia, as well as in Brisbane, Rockhampton, Townsville, Canberra, the Central Coast of New South Wales and the Herald Theatre at The Edge in

Susannah: Jacqui Crouch                                     Len: Philip Crouch

CAST

SYNOPSIS

more familiar, Len offers her a bite of his Big Mac.  But the reception he gets is as chilly as an icy blast from Mongolia when she informs him that she is a vegetarian…  It’s downhill for Len from there on.

Or is it?

What is SHORT+SWEET?

Auckland, the festival has already helped launch the careers of countless theatre professionals.

Each year Short + Sweet Theatre presents over 300 of the best ten-minute plays from local and international writers in our festivals worldwide, utilising the talents of the best budding and established directors, actors and technical personnel.

Company:

Mainstage Theatre Company

Season:

23 October - 2 November 2014

Venue: Peacock Theatre, Hobart

Written by: Clark Gesner

Director: Don Gay

Production Manager: Rogan Brown

Stage Manager: Janet Smith

A musical play based on the popular and long-running comic strip “Peanuts” is a good vehicle for adults to enjoy being children again. Mainstage Theatre Company enjoyed presenting the delightful musical You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown at the Peacock Theatre in Hobart. The famous rock wall of the Peacock Theatre was obscured by a scrim, behind which sat four band members playing percussion, bass, piano and flute, under the musical direction of Amanda Harper, who played flute and set the pace for two hours of energetic action.

What is not to like about YAGMCB? With such a long history, the characters are known and loved. Casting was perfection and believable – so easy for the audience to relate to their own “inner child”. Andrew John looked the part of meek, nervous, un-confident Charlie Brown and won over the audience as the epitome of un-success. Melanie Brown, an adult, was the most convincing four year-old character one could imagine: as Sally Brown, Charlie Brown’s baby sister, she was adorably energetic, sweet and cute.  

Charlie Brown: Andrew John

Sally Brown: Melanie Brown

Snoopy: Christopher Forbes

Musical Direction: Amanda Harper

Choreography: Kristy Baker

Band: Matthew Ives, Matt Rushworth, Hans Kooij, Amanda Harper

Sets: Rogan Brown, Dave Bilson

Props: Janet Smith, Carol Devereaux, Don Gay

Lighting, Sound: Rogan Brown

CAST

Lucy Van Pelt: Anna Kidd

Linus Van Pelt: Jeremy Pyefinch

Schroeder: Bodane Hatten

PRODUCTION TEAM

Wardrobe: Helen Edwards, Debra Dean, Janet Smith

Lighting Rig: Matthew Andrewartha

Front of House Manager: Stuart Heathorn

Marketing: Carmen Stephens, Rogan Brown, Christopher Forbes

Program, Poster Design: Rogan Brown

THEATRE REVIEW

Christopher Forbes as Snoopy was one of the best dogs I had seen on stage. Anna Kidd was shrill, whimsical, capricious and cute as Lucy Van Pelt. Jeremy Pyefinch (Linus) convincingly portrayed the need for anyone to retain their comfort and security blanket. Every gang needs a clever, thoughtful, talented child for balance - Bodane Hatten was a delightful Schroeder.

Choreography by Kristy Baker was varied but not too complicated, while simple style costumes in primary colours echoed the cartoon strip look. The minimal set consisted of a dais/catwalk arrangement, a kennel and a few props. Lighting was used effectively to explode colour highlights on the scrim/hidden rocks. Director Don Gay developed each character to show the cheerfulness of the play, complete with the hidden anxieties and vulnerabilities that we know so well. The show was carried by the energy of the performers, loving their roles and having a good time. An uplifting experience!

Merlene Abbott