Violet for Adelaide Fringe

Violet for Adelaide Fringe

Everything’s coming up Violets for local theatre company Davine Interventionz. Already multi-award winning, the company hopes to wow Adelaide Fringe 2017 when it produces the musical Violet. Lesley Reed reports.

“Are you on the way or are you in the way?” is the central question posed in the musical Violet, which is the 2017 Adelaide Fringe production for South Australia’s Davine Interventionz.

Originally developed at the Eugene O’Neill Theater’s National Music Theater Conference in 1994, Violet began as a collaboration between Tony Award-winning composer Jeanine Tesori (Thoroughly Modern Millie and Shrek the Musical) and librettist Brian Crawley (The Little Princess).

The Broadway version of Violet received very good reviews and it’s this version Fringe audiences will experience with the Davine Interventionz show.

Violet encompasses various musical genres including show-stopping anthems, American roots, Soul and Gospel.

Based on the short story The Ugliest Pilgrim by Doris Betts, the musical tells of the emotional journey of Violet Karl, a disfigured girl travelling through the segregated American South in the 1960s.

“She is on her way to meet a televangelist she hopes can make her beautiful,” says producer/director David Gauci. “On the journey, she gets to experience a very different kind of salvation. I am thrilled to be bringing Violet to Adelaide for the first time. Often musicals are described as having ‘heart’ and never has that been truer than with Violet, a stunning show with a compelling and beautiful score that will have audiences laughing and crying, often at the same time.  I know I speak on behalf of the whole creative team and the amazing ensemble cast when I say we can't wait to share Violet's journey with everyone.”

David Gauci says this is the sixth show for his production company. “I tend to do shows in groups of three,” he says. “The first shows I put on focused on the music styles of the 70’s through to the 90’s and the next three, of which Violet is the third, have focused on the world from the point of view of outsiders in society.”

Leading the large cast are: Casmira Cullen (Violet Karl), Mitchell Smith (Monty Harrill), Fahad Farooque (Grady [Flick] Fliggins), Eloise Q Valentine (Young Violet) and Adam Goodburn (Violet’s Father).

"As with all of my previous productions, I am thrilled that we are a wholly South Australian production,” says Gauci. “I couldn’t be happier with the talent pool that is involved... which includes Adam Goodburn, well known performer from South Australian State Opera Company.”

As always Gauci also likes to get new talent involved with his productions. “Casmira Cullen landed the lead role of Violet and while she may not be a well known name in Adelaide theatre circles yet, I am certain that will change quickly.”

Adelaide Fringe 2017 includes a huge variety of attractions and it will be impossible to experience it all, but Violet is surely one show no musical theatre lover will want to miss.

WHERE:Star Theatre Hilton

WHEN: February 22 to March 4, 2017

TICKETS:www.adelaidefringe.com.au

MORE INFORMATION: www.facebook.com/DavineInterventionz/

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