Pippin Has Magic To Do At Victor Harbor
He’s in demand among Adelaide community theatre companies, but one of Adelaide’s most notable young actors is donning a Director’s hat for the time being, to help the South Coast Choral and Arts Society produce the Tony Award-winning classic, Pippin the Musical. Lesley Reed reports.
2015 ATG award-winning actor Robert Bell believes he is taking on his most difficult role to date by directing the South Coast Choral and Arts Society’s production of Pippin the Musical, which will be a magical finale to the 2016 SCCAS season. This is Bell’s directorial debut.
Pippin’s narrative is told by a troupe of actors, who are led by the cunning Leading Player. Young prince Pippin returns from university and is determined to find a purpose in life. He undertakes an epic journey which takes him into a bloody battle, sexual encounters and strategic political turnovers, only for him to discover that true happiness is not quite as he imagined. Pippin finds himself on an epic misadventure and thrown into the middle of a glorious battle, a very intimate encounter, an evil plot and ultimately, a life lesson.
“The entire team has really come together and is genuinely enjoying the creative process,” said Director Robert Bell. “Our production is vibrant, alive and very occasionally pokes fun at the art of theatre. It's hard to stay seated when I can see the entire cast having so much fun on stage. Pippin is definitely a night the whole family can enjoy.”
Choreographer Rebecca Kemp has taken Bob Fosse's (Chicago) iconic dance style and given it her own interpretation. With support from local dance schools, Pippin showcases the talent South Australia's Fleurieu Peninsula has to offer. Jacqui Maynard has the task of bringing the musical score to life, together with many local musicians. Written by composer Stephen Schwartz, the music is at the heart of Pippin, just as it is with Schwartz's more famous works such as Wicked, Godspell, Pochahontas and The Prince of Egypt.
The cast for Pippin Jack Doherty (Pippin), Emily-Jo Davidson (Leading Player), Barry Germein, Kimberly Hollitt, Byron Godwin-Knott, Kim Bell, Minnie Broad, Jack Van Rhoda, Shannen Beckett, Megan Davidson, Emily Grear, Simone Hendrick-Buchanan, Sophie Hollingworth, Esther Lewis, Eolise Morris, Jonathan Ogilvie, Serenity Ogilvie, Jemmah Sims, Lily Van Rhoda and Emily Williss.
Director Robert Bell is enthusiastic about this production but he’s just as enamoured of the coastal company staging it. The South Coast Choral and Arts Society was formed in 1950 as a choral group. Six years later, the group embarked on their first full-scale musical production, The Pirates of Penzance. The three performances were presented in the Victor Harbor Town Hall, and were well attended by members of the community. The success of this production launched the group as the leading arts society on the South Coast. Since then, they’ve staged more than one hundred productions including musicals, dramas, farces and self-written shows.
"Unlike a lot of companies I have worked with, SCCAS are just one big family,” said Robert Bell. “They always put having fun first, and that's what I love about this company. This show has a lot of firsts for SCCAS. It is the first time they have performed two musicals in a year and it's the first time they have had a cast dominated by younger people. I feel that this show will introduce younger performers and younger audiences to this great company. The young performers we have in this production will ultimately be the future of SCCAS and no doubt become regular faces throughout the Adelaide theatre world.
"I was introduced to this company last year in their production of Jesus Christ Superstar. The show was a roaring success, even after a monstrous challenge of protestors (yes protesters) trying to stop the show from happening. The entire company stuck it out and supported everyone involved, even though they were urged not to. It was because of the passion and how everyone supported each other that I feel the production was nominated for Best Musical at last year's ATG awards. This was the first time SCCAS had been nominated and that year they were nominated for three awards, Best Musical, Best Female Performer and Best Male Performer. They arrived with forty people that night to represent the company. I feel this definitely shows how much heart and soul goes in to put on these amazing productions."
Don’t allow distance from Adelaide to deter you from attending Pippin the Musical. The passion, talent and love for theatre the South Coast Choral and Arts Society has put into this production will surely make the journey a very worthwhile one indeed.
PIPPIN THE MUSICAL
Book by Roger O. Hirson, Music and Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz.
South Coast Choral and Arts Society.
WHEN: Saturday, October 8th, 8pm; Thursday October 13th-Friday 14th, 8pm; Saturday, October 15th, 2pm and 8pm; Thursday October 20th-Friday 21st, 8pm; Saturday October 22nd, 2pm and 8pm.
WHERE: Victor Harbor Town Hall, 12 Coral St Victor Harbor,
TICKETS: Adult $20, Concession $17, Student (U/12) $14 and Group Booking 10+ available.
BOOKINGS: www.sccas.org.auor at Toop Motors (RAA) 66 Ocean Street, Victor Harbor.
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Community Theatre Seasons 2016
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