Philip Quast: Is This All Then

Australia only has a few them – theatrical royalty - performers whose dazzling talent has given them unique insights into the leading creatives of our times, after being handpicked to be in world premiere productions. 

Philip Quast is one of them. In a recent radio interview he revealed that his son was “christened” by Stephen Sondheim. (Well sort of.) The composer was holding his baby son and was so overcome by the beautiful sight, that a tear fell from his eye onto the child’s cheek.

But that story didn’t even make the cut in this cabaret, such was the breadth of material that Philip Quast could draw upon. He rattled off the extraordinary different experiences over his career on the stage and screen.

You might not have been able to tell at first, when he walked a little awkwardly onto the stage, with the help of a stick. This unwanted (temporary) stage prop was needed to help ease the pain in advance of Quast’s looming hip surgery. He was also a bit tired and forgetful as it was his second performance of the day.

But the best medicine for any performer is Dr Stage. The adrenalin kicked in and a sparkling performance followed, aided beautifully by the flawless Anne-Maree McDonald on the piano.

What was especially charming was the juxtaposition of tales from his life with his life on stage. He vividly recalled as a boy in regional NSW singing a musical aria whilst operating a tractor on his family’s farm.  Another time whilst starring in a West-End musical, he dashed from the theatre in full make-up and costume, to be with his wife in hospital when their child became seriously ill.

There was lots of beautiful music to feast on, from Rodgers and Hammerstein, to Lerner and Lowe, Les Misérables, to an audience participation rendition of “Wiggly Woo”, in a nod to his 17 years on Play School. 

Then came the top secret showstopper. He commenced singing Lily’s Eyes from The Secret Garden -  a duet he famously sang with Anthony Warlow. From the shadows emerged another singing partner. Who was this skinny young fellow with such a sweet voice?

Why it was David Campbell! Their rendition was spine tinglingly good – pushing the cabaret to more heights and three standing ovations.

A special night was had by all.  

David Spicer

Photographer: Jacquie Manning

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