The Drowsy Chaperone Heads for The Hills

‘Roaring Twenties’ style show tunes, Vaudevillian characters and wry, observational humour will combine this June to create a delightfully funny musical theatre piece in Hills Musical Theatre Company’s The Drowsy Chaperone, bursting on stage at Castle Hill RSL.

Hills MTC, a refreshed Hills Musical Society, will present this show within a show on June 12th – 15th, 2014, replete with big musical numbers, show-stopping leading ladies, tap dancing leading men and, at its heart, a theatre fan with an anxious, sardonic sense of humour.

“Chaperone is a show I’ve wanted to put on stage for many, many years,” says David Russell, the show’s director. “I’ve had some big ideas for a long time on how I would present this masterpiece and, two weeks out, I’m confident no one will walk out of the theatre disappointed.”

Russell has directed many shows in the Sydney amateur musical theatre scene, but says The Drowsy Chaperonesits high on his bucket list. “The score, the book, the tone of the piece – it’s all flawless. It’s a perfect show and we’ve got the cast and creative team to do it justice.”

Russell is joined by Musical Director Jeff Fisher, Choreographer Gai Reckless, Assistant Director Emma Scarlis, and Assistant Musical Director Hayden Barltrop.

The show reveals itself cleverly via an anxious theatre fan (known only as ‘Man In Chair’) playing his favourite record, ‘The Drowsy Chaperone’, in his apartment. Audiences get a glimpse into the man’s imagination as the show plays out around him.

Philip Youngman, most recently seen on stage with Hornsby Musical Society as ‘Liebkind’ in The Producers, tells of his delight of being cast as Man In Chair. “It’s a role I’ve dreamed of playing for years,” he says, “-and in some way I think many theatre fans see a bit of themselves in this character. Myself included!”

Youngman joins a large ensemble of characters, including the groom Robert Martin, his glamorous bride-to- be Janet Van De Graaf, and the titular Drowsy Chaperone herself, played by Elizabeth Hogan.

“The Chaperone is an amazing character. She embodies the glitz, glamour and showiness of old style musical theatre,” Hogan says, “and does so in a very self-aware way. She’s a force of nature, like the old dames of musical theatre once were!”

The Drowsy Chaperonewill play for five performances only from June 12 – 15, 2014,at the Lyceum Theatre, Castle Hill RSL, 77 Castle St, Castle Hill. Tickets are $30 for Concession, $35 for Adults, and can be booked via the Hills Musical Theatre Company’s website at www.hillsmtc.com

Images (from top): Davey Cartwright as Robert Martin and Alyssa Wilkins as Janet Van De Graaff; (L to R) Nick Yates as George, Davey Cartwright as Robert Martin, Alyssa Wilkins as Janet Van De Graaff, and Elizabeth Hogan as The Drowsy Chaperone; Philip Youngman as Man In Chair; Elizabeth Hogan; (L to R) Nick Yates, Davey Cartwright, Alyssa Wilkins and Elizabeth Hogan. Photographer: Samantha Neill. Location: The Epping Club.

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