The Rainbow Ends Bayside.
Coral Drouyn reflects on MLOC on the eve of their latest production The Wizard of Oz. Will it be a pot of gold?
Back in 1939, when Judy Garland transported us over the rainbow in The Wizard of Oz, MLOC didn’t exist. In fact, it wasn’t until 1945, with World War 11 at an end, that a group of people got together socially to sing, and the Mordialloc Philharmonic Society was born. Essentially it was a choral society, but over the years an increasing amount of members wanted to move beyond just singing into full scale musical production. That took 25 years, and the tendency was towards light opera, with shows like The Merry Widow and HMS Pinafore being the safe options in the 1970s. They changed their name to Mordialloc Light Opera Company in 1985, but that proved too big a mouthful for most people, so in 1992 “The Little Choral Society That Grew” became incorporated as MLOC – and it’s not surprising that some newcomers think the M stands for musicals, not Mordialloc.
Their mission statement is ambitious, but they have never wavered from their objectives:-
- To provide opportunities for the community to participate on stage as performers in the presentation of quality musical theatre and concert entertainment
- To provide opportunities for the community to participate off stage in valued front of house, back stage and production roles in the presentation of quality musical theatre and concert entertainment
- To provide quality entertainment to the community and provide opportunity for them to attend our productions at very affordable prices
- To provide a training training platform and a source of practical experience for persons (students and others) who are seeking professional careers in theatre and theatre craft
It’s a community training ground as well as a theatre company, and somehow, with two full musical productions a year, it manages to keep raising the bar. Not everyone can go to VCA or WAAPA, but MLOC and other community theatres can provide training of a very high order, at the same time as providing top notch entertainment. The audition process is exhaustive for dancers and singers, and principal actors need to be true triple threats…..in short, the requirements are commitment and excellence, just as they are in theatre all over the world.
These days the quality difference between community and commercial theatre is a blurred line. The major difference is that a community theatre ticket will cost probably 70% per cent less. That’s a blessing in a world where family budgeting is tight and theatre tickets are a low priority. Without companies like MLOC, theatre tragics like myself would have no way of quenching our thirst for great musicals. We simply couldn’t afford it.
The Wizard of Oz promises to be a visual and musical treat for young and old. The Phoenix Theatre in Elwood will be transformed with a terrific set, complete with a yellow brick road….there’s even a new take on the Wicked Witch of the West – after all, a girl doesn’t have to be wicked to want a pair of red sequinned shoes, I just wish they came in a size 9. There’s all new choreography especially for this production and director Lucy Nicholson, herself an experienced theatre performer and vocal coach, promises to have everyone in fine voice. Along with much lauded production values, MLOC are becoming authorities on witches. Their last production was The Witches Of Eastwick – but don’t expect to see those “sassy sirens” replicated here. With Wicked such a huge hit in Australia, it’s time to go back to the beginning of the story with Dorothy and Toto, and the magical land that lies beyond the rainbow. It will be a magical journey for young and old, but book quickly. If you forget and miss out, you’ll be left singing “If I only had a brain”. See you over the rainbow very soon.
The Wizard of Oz plays at Phoenix Theatre, Elwood, Victoria from November 9 to 17, 2012.
Images (from top): Colin Sephton (left) as Lion, Sarah Gousse (Dorothy), Anthony Julian (Tin Man) and John Davidson (Scarecrow); Susie McCann (Glinda the Good Witch) & Sarah Gousse (Dorothy) with Richard Green (Uncle Henry) in the MLOC production of The Wizard of Oz.
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