Defying Gravity

Four of Australia’s favourite leading ladies are preparing to sing with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra on July 15 and 16. David Spicer spoke with two of them -  Lucy Durack and Helen Dallimore - about their concert called Witches and also asked for their tips to performers playing  the role of Glinda in Wicked in community theatre productions around Australia.

Lucy Durack says nothing beats singing with a symphony orchestra. “If there is a heaven on earth it is singing with the Sydney Symphony.

“I’m in the middle of learning a million different harmonies. We are exploring a vast range of repertoire with beautiful instrumentation,” she said.

The show, called Witches, features leading ladies Lucy Durack, Amanda Harrison, Helen Dallimore and Jemma Rix (pictured L to R). They are singing together for the first time to perform songs from favourites including Wicked, Frozen, The Witches of Eastwick, Dance of the Vampires, The Wizard of Oz, Into the Woods and Love Never Dies. Joining them on stage is one male – Ben Lewis.

Helen Dalmore says the music is quite eclectic.

“We are drawing on different genres of film, jazz and pop. It is a musically quite complex show with four female voices singing in harmony,” she said.

Helen says the list of songs in the concert is secret except for one.

“There will be a version of Defying Gravity, but it will be unlike anything heard before.”

Will all four be singing? “Maybe they will. Maybe they won’t.”

However she guarantees to be standing on the stage and not strapped to a harness. 

“My flying days are over.”

Both Lucy and Helen played Glinda – the good witch - in stage productions of Wicked.

Helen played Glinda in the West End. Lucy was the white witch for several years in Australia. She says it is important that the character is not nasty to her green friend.

“Glinda should never been too mean or someone who is too much of a bully. The two witches misunderstand each other but become good friends.

“I played opposite nine different Elphabas. I thought it was important to find and appreciate and love each one.

“Vocally it is a pretty big sing. So you do need a really solid warm up.  Glinda starts and ends in the Soprano range, then in the middle she cries and belts. So you need to keep that in check to get back into the Soprano range in the end.”

Helen says the most important thing is to be true to the story.

“Lucy and I talked a little about playing Glinda. It is a very emotional show for that character. Glinda is often seen as a comic role. But there are actually a lot of tears for Glinda. It is a sad journey.

“Be true to the story. It is a story about strong women and their love for each other. The only thing important in any art form is to be true.”