Christie Whelan Browne to Star in Vigil
Christie Whelan Browne will star in Vigil, an intimate one-woman musical theatrical encounter exploring life, death, love and honesty. After debuting at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival, Vigil, written by Steve Vizard, will make its Victorian debut at Arts Centre Melbourne’s Fairfax Studio from 4 – 8 July.
A prodigal daughter returns to hijack Christmas Eve and make a bad night worse. Christmas Eve: a time for peace, love, carols, reunion and family. But not this Christmas Eve. Not this reunion. Liz, the 30-something daughter bursts through the door after years of sybaritic globe-trotting. A musical and theatrical tour de force, stunningly portrayed by Christie Whelan Browne, Liz is talented, shameless, beautiful, troubled and hilariously needy.
But this time she wants more than pinot gris, a loan, and to borrow her mother’s clothes – she wants answers. And the real question is: what will be left after all the reminiscing, retribution, blame, claims and confession?
Comprising more than 10 original songs, Whelan Browne’s compelling voice, accompanied by piano giant Joe Chindamo and violin virtuoso Zoë Black, will dazzle in a mesmerising journey of song and theatrical intimacy.
“A star comic” (The Age) and “bravura performer” (Stage Whispers), Christie Whelan Browne is one of Australia’s most dazzling musical and theatrical stars. Fresh from her triumphant starring role in the MTC’s acclaimed production of Born Yesterday - “Christie Whelan Browne flawlessly delivers” (SMH) - Whelan Browne has been described by The Australian as “immaculate and untouchable”; by The Age as “magnificent”; and by the Herald Sun as “a musical and cabaret talent not to be missed”.
A versatile actress and singer, the award-winning Whelan Browne has delighted audiences playing alongside Geoffrey Rush in The Drowsy Chaperone, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and The Importance of Being Earnest, dazzled in Britney Spears: The Cabaret, which the Herald Sun declared ‘a masterpiece’, and beguiled as Nikki in Channel 10s The Wrong Girl.
Steve Vizard’s works for theatre and cabaret include the memorable The Last Man Standing which premiered in 2015 at the Melbourne Theatre Company, and the brilliantly acclaimed 2016 Chamber Opera, Banquet of Secrets, composed with Paul Grabowsky, described as “a jolt of high-voltage visceral energy that is jaw-dropping” (Limelight), “a triumph” (Daily Review), “an elegantly crafted, emotionally complex and superbly evocative work” (The Australian) and “Australian musical theatre comes of age” (The Conversation).
Joe Chindamo is an internationally acclaimed, award winning, pianist, composer and arranger whose distinguished career spans jazz, classical and popular music, international concert performances, recording and film and television soundtrack performance, and who is recognized as one of the worlds most accomplished jazz pianists.
Described by New York’s Cadence Magazine as “unpretentious elegance under-scored by superlative technique” and as “the most prodigiously talented jazz pianist of his generation...", Joe has performed concerts all over the world, including notably, the Umbria Jazz Festival, The Tokyo Dome and The Lincoln Centre, Carnegie Hall in New York, the Sydney Opera house.
Arts Centre Melbourne presents
Vigil
Starring Christie Whelan Browne
Written by Steve Vizard
Composer Joe Chindamo
Director Andy Packer
Commissioned by Adelaide Cabaret Festival
Supported by Arts Centre Melbourne
Arts Centre Melbourne, Fairfax Studio
4 –8 July, 2017
Pre-sale from Monday 3 April 2017
Book at artscentremelbourne.com.au