Love, Loss, and What I Wore at Castle Hill

Love, Loss, and What I Wore is the third production in the 2016 Season at Castle Hill Players Pavilion Theatre.

The play, written by Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron, based on the book of the same name by Ilene Beckerman and directed by Meredith Jacobs, is a funny, deeply moving, provocative and insightful observation of women and the clothes they wear at significant times in their lives.  Every woman (and man) will recognise themselves in the words spoken; the fears and doubts, the triumphs and tragedies, as this wonderful scrapbook of stories is presented by 5 outstanding performers portraying more than 30 characters.

Director, Meredith Jacobs, a stalwart of the Pavilion Theatre stage, commented there had been a lot of emotional investment as she worked through the rehearsal process with the cast.  ‘Yes, there have been some tears but not so much in a distressing or upsetting way, rather a deeply moving, inspiring way.  The memories of some of my own special clothes and life experiences while wearing them came flooding back.  You find yourself smiling with tears running down your face.’

We are very familiar with Nora Ephron’s works – Sleepless In Seattle, You’ve Got Mail andWhen Harry Met Sally just to name a few – and her observations of life touch us with a truthfulness and sincerity instantly recognisable in our own lives.  It is rather comforting to realise your own failings, which frustrate you so much on a daily basis, are in fact highly amusing when brought to life on the stage. 

The production features an original musical score composed by Joshua McNulty with additional pieces in collaboration with Mark Charadia.  Joshua, 22, has recently completed his Bachelor of Music, majoring in Composition at the Conservatorium. Despite previous collaborations, this is the first time he has recorded with live musicians for a Castle Hill Players production.  Joshua conducted the Canaria Scoring Orchestra, a flexible group of 20-30 young musicians dedicated to creating original soundtracks for film and stage.  ‘I felt it was vital to use the orchestra rather than electronics.  This play is such a pure form of theatre, to produce the music any other way would’ve been an injustice’, Joshua said at one of the final rehearsals.

The cast ofLove, Loss, and What I Wore includes Annette van Roden, Sandy Velini, Mary Clarke, Leigh Scanlon and Kate Gandy.

The production runs Friday 3 June through Saturday 25 June 2016.

The Pavilion Theatre - Home of the Castle Hill Players, Castle Hill Showground.

Tickets $27/$22. Bookings via www.paviliontheatre.org.au.

Images: (top) L-R:  Annette van Roden, Sandy Velini, Mary Clarke, Leigh Scanlon and Kate Gandy, & (lower) Joshua McNulty - composer & conductor.