MAY/JUNE 1987 Vol. II No. 3 ISSN 0314-0598 A publication of the Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust Nunsense - a habit-forming, unconventional musical comedy! A scene from the Sydney production of NUN SENSE NUNSENSE by Dan Goggin ment of Health is about to descend on NUNSENSE has won four prestigious Directed by Barry Creyton the convent, so in order to raise enough New York awards including Best Off Musical Direction by Michael Tyack money for their burial, the Sisters decide Broadway musical of 1986, Best Music Choreography by Dolores Dunbar to organise a talent show. They aim to and Best Book. Lighting Design by Donn Byrnes bring in further funds by selling Sister The critics have been enthusiastic Cast includes Betty Bobbitt, Maggie Julia 's "Baking with The Blessed Virgin about ,t,lUNSENSE. A sample of the King, Robyn Arthur, Geraldine Morrow Mary" which, incidentally, contains the their comments are: and Georgie Parker recipe for her vichyssoise. "Wickedly funny . the audience Twelfth Night Theatre The variety show is, in fact , the play: laughed all night. " Sunday Telegraph the set , incongruously , is the backdrop "These nuns deserve a halo each .. for GREASE , which the nun's eighth grad­ God 's sake go and see it." ity the poor Little Sisters of Hoboken, ers are producing (the Sisters promised Andrew Urban, The Australian Pthey have a problem! Twenty-two of not to disturb the set). their members died of botulism when The five Sisters bounce through an Sister Julia Child of God (the convent hilarious , toe-tapping show. Sister Robert Anne does her impersonations chef) cooked up a tureen of contami­ BOOKING INFORMATION nated vichyssoise. "Miraculously " five of (from Katherine Hepburn to Attila the From Thu April 30 their members escaped the same fate as Nun), Sister Mary Amnesia (her mem­ Mon to Sat at 8.00 p.m. Mats Wed they were out playing bingo. The prob­ ory has failed) astounds with her ven­ 11.00 a.m. and Sat 2.00 p.m. lem is that after burying eighteen of their triloquist act , Sister Mary Leo performs AETI $19.50 the ballet "The Dying Nun " and Sister GP $22.50 number, the money ran out when the Pen/Stu $15.50 (eve) Mother Superior decided to buy a video Mary Hubert and the Reverend Mother $13.50 (mat) cassette recorder; the remaining four are belt out "Just a Coupl'a Sisters". All Two AETI tickets per member. languishing in the 'fridge! The Depart- nun-stop fun. 2 The final two concerts of QTO 's 1987 Shaw'smilitary International Series will be no excep­ comedy tion. On Friday May 29 the QTO Music ARMS AND THE MAN Director , Georg Tintner, will conduct and by George Bernard Shaw Russian violinist, Nelli Shkolnikova, will Directed by Alan Edwards be soloist in a programme of Bach, Beet­ Designed by Richard Jeziorny hoven, Handel and Haydn. Cast includes Zoe Bertram, David Clandenning, Simon Burvill-Holmes Suncorp Theatre PLAY that glows with vivacity and A good humour, ARMS AND THE MAN is typical of the Irish playwright's satirical plays in which he attacked worn­ out conventions and irrational beliefs. GARRY McDONALD as 'Mo' in SUGAR One of Shaw's earlier works for the BABIES. stage, ARMS AND THE MAN, is a gay and witty comedy which begins as a con­ SUGAR BABIES Nellie Shkolniko va. Conceived by Ralph G. Allen and ventional romantic drama which then Harry Rigby turns around to expose the real people A graduate of the Moscow Conser Directed and choreographed by behind the social masks and the shams vatorium, Miss Shkolnikova has a re ' Ernest Flatt beneath their social values. markable technique and musicianshi Music by Jimmy McHugh The story line is of the young, charming which earned her an international reputa­ Musical direction by Dale Ringland and beautiful Raina Petkoff who lives an tion during concert tours that included the i Scenery and costumes by Rene du Bois idle life consumed with fantasies of vari­ USA, Japan, Canada and Europe . For · Starring Eddie Bracken, Garry ous heroes, heroic nobility and noble twelve years she was then restricted to i McDonald, Peter Regan and Joan love. Her fiance, the dashing Sergius has performances behind the Iron Curtain but I Brokenshire just been acclaimed a hero of the vic­ defected to the west in 1982. Currently i Lyric Theatre torious Bulgarian army and the chaotic based in Melbourne at the Victorian J Petkoff family is agog with the glory. College of the Arts she appears regularly! 1 ETERAN of more than 10,000 But an unexpected encounter with a for the ABC. fighting soldier from the defeated Serbian V SUGAR BABIES performances, On Friday, June 19, Pamela Page and army punctures her illusions and forces Eddie Bracken heads a cast supported by Max Olding and their son Dene Olding,! the "best 24 legs in town" - the Sugar her to a clear-sighted view of the postur­ will appear together for the first time in I Babies Chorus. ing that surrounds her. The glamorous the Concert Hall. SUGAR BABIES is fun for everyone. Sergius - ever ready to flirt with a pretty Queensland's own international music It is a musical revue which celebrates the servant girl - is merely ornamental ; family, their programme will include bravery in war is less important than prac­ Golden Age of American Variety from Mozart's Concerto No . 10 for two pianos I 1905 to 1930. This was also a period of tical toughness in peacetime; the founda­ and Mozart 's Violin Concerto No . 9. The i great vitality in the Australian theatrical tion of a happy and fulfilling marriage is orchestra will be conducted by Max Old­ world and the traditions and routines of certainly not a world of make-believe! ing and Dene Olding. Pianist Pamela American burlesque were shared by this Page met her husband Max Olding in country. BOOK.INGINFORMATION Thu June 11 to Sat June 27 London where they shared first prize in In New York the show was a smash hit Wed to Sat at 8.00 p.m. Tue at 6.00 the first Royal Trust Fund Competition. enjoying a seven year run and it has been p.m. Mats Wed at 10.30 a:m. and Sat at This fine two-piano team continues to a sell-out in Sydney and Melbourne. 2.00 p.m. perform and record together as well as Now it is Brisbane's tum to enjoy what AETI $11.90 GP $20 .00 individually. As Senior Lecturers in the show's Executive Producer, Noel Pen/Stu $12 .50 Music, they have contributed much to Ferrier, says is a knockout for the genera­ Two AETT tickets per member. music in this state. tions under 40 who have grown up on a diet of television. It's an Australian Elizabethan Theatre Concertdelights Trust production. Nelli Shkolnikova BOOK.INGINFORMATION The Olding family From Thu May 28 Queensland Theatre Orchestra Mon to Sat at 7.30 p.m. Concert Hall Mats Wed 10.30 a.m. and Sat 1.30 p.m. AETI $24.90 (except Sat eve) UEENSLAND 's own chamber $20.90 (June 1 & 2) orchestra, the Queensland Theatre GP $29.90 0Q c estra, has earned a fine reputation Pen/Stu $18.90 Two AETI tickets per member. not only for their music making but also for elegant programming. The Olding Family. 3 Violinist Dene Olding is a graduate of under the Artistic Direction of Boris San­ the Juilliard School of Music in New Hello and goodbye kin. Their programme includes the usual York. As leader and music director of the fast Russian folk dancing plus modern Australian Chamber Orchestra and.now pieces - tap dancing, skateboards and violinist with the Australia Ensemble, such like. Dene tours extensively throughout Aus­ No details of at time of going to press tralia, Europe, Asia and the USA as both but there WILL be a good AETT price. soloist and recitalist. Please call the office for details. BOOKING INFORMATION QTO/Nelli Shkolnikova Fri May 29 at 8.00 p.m. TNCo! AETT $17.50 GP $19 .50 VULTURE CULTURE Pen/ Stu $13.50 Two AETT tickets per member. By Frank Millward Directed by Hilary Westlake Princess Theatre QTO/ Olding Family Dear members, Fri June 19 at 8.00 p.m. Herewith your new Queensland rep­ OR something completely different AETT $17.50 the TN Co! offer a "remarkable GP $19 .50 resentative - Rosemary Cameron. F Pen/ Stu $13.50 Happy theatre going. combination of music, mime and dance" Two AETT tickets per member. on May 31. They describe it as a modern Denise WacJey fable, powerful and disturbing and pro­ mise some spectacular technical effects. Music is from a choir and the Queensland TrustSocial STOP PRESS Theatre Orchestra. Committee Russian Dance Co UST a reminder from the Com­ HE colourful and spectacular Rus­ BOOKING INFORMATION mittee that they will be holding a Sun May 31 at 6.30 p.m. J sian Dance Company of Moscow supper party for cast and Trust T Wed June 3 to Sat June 6 begins its Australia/New Zealand tour in Tue June 9 to Suri June 14 members after the SUGAR May with performances in Darwin and at 8.00 p.m. BABIES performance on Tuesday, North Queensland , before a short Bris­ AETT $16.50 June 2. Supper tickets are $10 and if GP $18.00 bane season June 22 to 26. you would like to attend ring: Stu/ Pen $12.00 Presented by Michael Edgeley Inter­ JIM MEREDITH 262 2068 Two AETT tickets per member.