Some Enchanted Evening
Forgive me - if there was ever a clichéd sentence waiting to happen - this is it: “Tyran Parke dreamed the impossible dream”. He did so by way of his introduction to proceedings. Apparently, way back in 2021 when he took the reins as Artistic Director and the festival was in its infancy, he vowed…
“In five years, we’ll put on a big show in the Princess Theatre with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra.”
I wasn’t there, but knowing him the way I do now, I have no doubt. Having arrived late to this party and not having experienced any of the previous festivals, it’s hard for me to imagine that its beginnings could have ever been humble, or Tyran’s Big Dreams might have seen very ‘pie in the sky’ back then.
I can’t picture it, because I have witnessed the big stars, the future stars, the production teams, tech teams, admin, the publicists, the local thesos; the vollies all coalesce into one single, bright and shiny community. All of us, wafting from venue to venue, in a cloud of rainbow sequins and sighs. And this night of nights found us all together, experiencing the same (impossible - yet highly anticipated) fever dream.
So much to rave about - but let me just list what the mainlanders had to miss out on THIS TIME.
The TSO kicked things off with the Overture from Carousel.
Tingles.
The entire company then sang “Tonight” From West Side Story, followed by Mark Vincent crooning Some Enchanted Evening, then Caroline O’Connor sizzled her way through ‘Broadway Baby’ from Follies.
Phew!
Then we settled down for a couple of quieter, poignant solos courtesy of charismatic Glenn Hill singing ‘She Loves Me’ by Bock and Harnick, then Alinta Chidzey soothed our hot foreheads with “I Don’t Know How to Love Him” from JC Superstar. This was followed by Tassie’s own ethereal chanteuse, Cassie Ogle, singing ‘Love, Bring Me Some Water’ from Love Bites, supported by the VCA ensemble.
Then the esteemed Artistic Director, Tyran teamed up with the glorious Johanna Allen to whoop it up with ‘Master of the House’ from Les Mis - with the VCA ensemble providing boisterous chorus.
Just to double down on the Les Mis vibe, Mark Vincent reappeared to opine ‘Bring Him Home’ and then Johanna capped off the first half perfectly with her soaring rendition of ‘Climb Every Mountain’ from the Sound of Music. That’s right, I said - first half.
The second half featured all the aforementioned artists, with the delightful addition of renowned soprano Lisa Crosato, who sang ‘I Could Have Danced All Night’ from My Fair Lady, returning later with a stunning version of ‘Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again’ from Phantom.
So much to rave about in the second half, but suffice it to say, I can now tell people I’ve heard Caroline O’Connor belt ‘Don’t Rain on My Parade’ (it was everything). Then Tyran drew us all into a heartbreaking mash up of ‘I Honestly Love You’ from The Boy From Oz and ‘Someone Like That’ by Eddie Perfect. With just a piano accompaniment, it was so touching.
Phantom got another nod courtesy of Mark Vincent’s ‘The Music of The Night’, which I’d heard him sing three times by this stage, but seriously - he makes it his own. The program was RELENTLESS. For the finale, it was time for the full company to return with a rousing rendition of ‘One Day More’. The perfect, bittersweet ending to a night no one would ever forget.
I’m still recovering. I honestly feel sad for the theatre tragics who weren’t present. Aussies love to bandy about the phrase: ‘World Class’ - which usually feels patronising to me - but it fits on this occasion. Variety shows do not get better than this.
Rose Cooper
Images: Cameron Jones and AMTF
Subscribe to our E-Newsletter, buy our latest print edition or find a Performing Arts book at Book Nook.