Even stars have to queue
Last night we went to the State Theatre at the Victorian Arts Centre to see The Production Company’s performance of Little Me.
Debra Byrne starred as Belle Poitrine, an author looking back on her colourful life and all the men she had loved and lost (in one case, because she had accidentally murdered him). All the love interests were played by Mitchell Butel, who was an absolute knock-out.
The Production Company is a not-for-profit theatrical organization, specifically established to promote and showcase new and well-known theatre talent. On the media release announcing this 2007 season, the Chairman, Jeanne Pratt says: “We don’t want ticket prices to be a barrier to our audiences enjoying great entertainment and we are continuing to keep them well below commercial ticket prices. Subscriptions start at $90 for all three shows and the A Reserve Subscription price is $189.” Which, for real live musical theatre, is pretty good value!
Little Me is the second of the three 2007 shows. (We saw Sweet Charity earlier in the year, and still have 42nd Street to see in October).
The productions are simply staged, but display great musical theatre talent. We’ve taken Queenie along with us, and although some of the themes are perhaps a little mature for her age, she has thoroughly enjoyed the two we have seen so far and is eagerly anticipating the tap-fest that 42nd Street will be!
An added highlight last night was that sitting just a few rows behind us was a bona fide home-grown Hollywood star. He’s an actor with a huge theatrical reputation and has made many, many movies.
The interesting thing is you can win Oscars, Golden Globes, Emmy Awards, British Film Awards and Australian Film Institute Awards, star in blockbuster movies, be on the A-list of Hollywood and be recognised the world over, but when you go to the theatre in your home-town of Melbourne, during interval you queue up for a drink at the bar, just like the rest of us.
Australia. You’ve got to love it.
