The Merry Widow from Bluegum Creek Returns to Diamond Valley
Based on the original operetta Merry Widow by Franz Lehar, and featuring an identical score, Bluegum Widow has a distinctly Australian flavour. Set in the Australian Embassy in Paris 1901, with the action moving to a Parisian apartment, it's a story about love lost and found, mistaken identity (or was it?), Aussie vernacular confusing the “Frenchies”, and Parisian cultured society versus the unsophisticated Australian abroad. The poor Aussies are rather out of their depth in sophisticated Paris and would not survive without their wily French translator.
Celebrating their 30th anniversary this year, Diamond Valley Singers (Victoria) are committed to working locally and internationally with charities who make a difference in their local community. Community support over these 30 years has made a big impact in the local community and overseas enabling the Diamond Valley Singers to donate over $150,000 to Open House (Ivanhoe), World Vision and the Elizabeth Nursery School in Malawi.
Fifteen years since DVS’s first production of The Merry Widow from Bluegum Creek, the company felt it was time to bring this romp back for another airing.
The script, adapted by Frank Hatherley, an Australian who spent many years working for Thames Television and the BBC in London, sparkles with wit and just a pinch of naughtiness.
Diamond Valley Singers’ cast is led by two young opera students, Teresa Ingrilli and Andrew Lees, who have already made their mark in the Victorian Opera scene.
It's 1901, the federation of Australia is newly formed, and the new Australian ambassador to France, Sir Zacharia Wentworth, is understandably nervous about his first official function. Apart from his own staff, there is an array of guests to meet a mysterious recently widowed Australian who happened to be in the area and “thought she’d drop in”. To add to his woes, the PM has sent a telegram telling him that the old widow should not marry a foreigner or they’d all be looking for new jobs. The new federation could not afford to lose that amount of money.
However, all does not go as planned. The widow, Anna, turns out to be quite young and pretty, with typical Australian contempt for the protocol Zack had been so carefully trying to establish. His assistant attaché, Danny, seems to be nowhere in sight when needed, and the other two attachés appear to be losing the battle to keep their wives away from various amorous Frenchmen. At least his young wife, Valerie, is no trouble. He has so much to do, it is a pleasure to have her escorted by the nice young cove, Count Camille de Rosillon. Zack has also been fortunate enough to find a Frenchman, Michelin, to translate for the embassy staff, but he appears to understand little of the English that Zack and his staff use, and tends to spend most of his time organising everything else. This includes Zack’s favourite project, the flag competition, for his new country.
Creative Team
Director: Lynne Counsel
Assistant Director: Graham Ford
Musical Director: Ian Lowe
Choreographers: Julie Wright and Narada Edgar
Conductor: Marie Louise Wright
The Aussies
Mrs Anna Gladstone The Merry Widow: Teresa Ingrilli
Danny MacQuarie Junior Ambassador: Andrew Lees
Sir Zacharia ‘Zack’ Wentworth, Ambassador: Gerard Fullarton
Lady Valerie Wentworth, Ambassador's wife: Sabrina Surace
Bruce Crompton, Military attaché: Neil Spitzer
Mrs Olga Crompton, His wife: Barbara Skewes
William ‘Bill’ Boggins, Cultural attaché: Steve Wilkie
Mrs Sylvia Boggins, His Wife: Robyn Hannan
Marjorie Prescott, Embassy Secretary: Marlene Di Battista
Sheila Dawson, Embassy Secretary: Annette Dick
Mabel Tompkins, Embassy Secretary: Stephanie Black
The Frenchies
Michelin, Embassy Linguist: Michael Try
Viscount Camille De Rosillon, Gigolo: Darren Rosenfeld
The Marquis de Cascada, Gigolo: Gary Short
Monsieur de St. Brioche, Gigolo: Gary O’Dwyer
Ensemble
Alan Flint, Anne Sharkey, Helen Watt, Jeanette Flint, Kevin Pye, Malcolm Reeve, Marion Reid, Nick Hansen, Rae Lawry, Sharon Harding, Trevor D’Ambrosio
Dancing Girls
Bianca Majchrzak, Jess Cook, Megan Metcalfe, Tessa Hulsbosch
Ticket prices: $30, $25 Concession or for a group 10+ and $10 for children (plus booking fee). Cheaper tickets are available for Friday July 3 and Wednesday July 8.
Performances: 8pm on July 3, 8, 10 & 11, and 2pm on July 4, 5 & 11.
Warrandyte High School Theatre, Alexander Road, Warrandyte
Bookings and further information www.dvsingers.org or contact Angela 9439 7843
More Reading
Community Theatre Seasons 2015.
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