Third Generation for Waverley Pirates
In Waverley Lugar Brae Players (Bondi Junction, NSW) May 2012 production of Gilbert and Sullivan's The Pirates of Penzance, staged in this, the company's 53rd year, both of the lead players are carrying on a family tradition of performing with the company.
Soprano Chloe Anne McKenzie plays Mabel.
In the late 1960s John and Margaret McKenzie came from New Zealand and became part of the Players. Both John and Margaret performed leading roles in a number of productions and Margaret later became the Musical Director.
Their son David made his debut as one of Fagin’s gang in the 1977 production of Oliver! and also played Captain Corcoran in HMS Pinafore in 2002. Soprano Marie-Cecile, David’s wife played Yum Yum in the 1995 production of The Mikado. After moving from the Eastern Suburbs and spending some time in England the family are now back in Australia.
David and Marie-Cecile’s daughter Chloe has inherited the vocal talents of her mother and grandmother and is now the third generation of McKenzies to tread the boards with the Players.
There is also a generational history attached to the leading man. Tenor Julian Brun plays the role of Frederic, having previously played Freddy Eynsford-Hill in the 2006 production of My Fair Lady. Julian’s parents, Deborah and Peter Brun also had leading roles in that same production as well as participating many other shows. Deborah is involved as a member of the Players’ Executive and has worked behind the scenes on many occasions as well as directing “Me and My Girl” in 2010.
Waverley Lugar Brae Players production of the Broadway version of The Pirates of Penzance opens on Saturday 19th May at 8.00 with 6 performances to Saturday 26th May at the Coleman Theatre, Church in the Marketplace, cnr Newland St and Oxford Mall, Bondi Junction. Bookings: (02) 9389 5361.
More Reading
Community Theatre Seasons 2012 - www.stagewhispers.com.au/community-theatre/community-theatre-seasons-2012
More Community Theatre - www.stagewhispers.com.au/community-theatre
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