THE BROADWAY MUSICALS YEARBOOK 1948 (RADIO PROGRAM PROMO)

 

“The Broadway Musicals Yearbook” will be heard on Artsound FM 92.7 at 5pm on Sunday 27 June and repeated at 11pm on Monday 28 June.  The show is produced and narrated by Len Power, Canberra theatre critic, music critic and radio presenter.

This week – the musicals of 1948

Ray Bolger starred on Broadway in 1948 in Frank Loesser’s ‘Where’s Charley?’, Nancy Walker had audiences laughing at ‘Look Ma, I’m Dancin’ and Beatrice Lillie capered through a musical revue, ‘Inside USA’. Then there was Cole Porter’s masterpiece, ‘Kiss Me, Kate’, which has just been performed here by Queanbeyan Players.  You’ve heard the local singers, now hear the Broadway originals!

Songs in this program include ‘Brush Up Your Shakespeare’ (Harry Clark, Jack Diamond), ‘So In Love’ (Patricia Morison), ‘Were Thine That Special Face’ (Alfred Drake), ‘At The Mardi Gras’ (Beatrice Lillie), ‘I'm the First Girl In the Second Row’ (Nancy Walker) and ‘Once In Love With Amy’ (Ray Bolger).

Listen Now: https://artsound.fm/shows/the-broadway-musicals-yearbook/

 

TONIGHT WE SING (FILM REVIEW)

Tonight We Sing is a 1953 musical biopic film directed by Mitchell Leisen and starring David Wayne and Ezio Pinza about the life and career of the celebrated impresario Sol Hurok.

The film includes opera arias, duets and staged scenes from the operas, Boris Goudonov, Faust, Madama Butterfly and La Traviata.

Ezio Pinza, the famous opera bass fresh from his long run on Broadway in ‘South Pacific’, plays the Russian opera singer, Feodor Chaliapin, and is seen in onstage scenes from Boris Godounov and Faust.  Isaac Stern, plays Eugène Ysaÿe, the early 20^th century violinist, and performs several pieces during the film.

Tamara Toumanova, in her role as Anna Pavlova, performs in three ballet scenes within the film.  The tenor voice of Jan Peerce is heard in the picture as the voice of opera singer, Gregory Lawrence, played by Byron Palmer.

In spite of being a conventional biopic full of clichés, the film is definitely worth seeing for the staged opera and ballet scenes and for Isaac Stern’s masterful violin performances.

I saw it on a borrowed DVD and enjoyed it very much.  If you can find a copy, it’s highly recommended.

THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE FUNNY EPISODE 2 (RADIO PROGRAM PROMO)

 

THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE FUNNY - EPISODE 2

The 20th Century produced many memorable songs.  There are legendary songs associated with a particular artist - the good songs.  Then there are songs so awful they make us cringe - the bad songs.  And there's a range of just plain funny songs. We know these songs but what are the stories behind them?

Join Len Power on Artsound FM every Friday at 4pm for his selection of ‘The Good, The Bad and the Funny’.

Listen now:

https://www.mixcloud.com/artsoundfm/the-good-the-bad-and-the-funny-episode-2/

 

THE 7 STAGES OF GRIEVING (THEATRE REVIEW)

Written by Wesley Enoch and Deborah Mailman

Directed by Shari Stebbens

Sydney Theatre Company production

Canberra Theatre Centre Playhouse to 26 June

 

Reviewed by Len Power 23 June 2021

 

Tracing seven phases of Aboriginal history in one hour could seem to be a tall order for the creatives of ‘The 7 Stages Of Grieving’, but in this powerful play, the stories told, the strong acting and the fine production ensure the message of strength and survival comes through strongly.

Focussing on Dreaming, Invasion, Genocide, Protection, Assimilation, Self-Determination, and Reconciliation, writers Wesley Enoch and Deborah Mailman don’t flinch from telling stories of horror and injustice in an often unsettling mix of humour, anger and music.  They reach out to the audience to share the pain and the emotional turmoil, moving toward a greater understanding and ultimate coming together.

Helpmann Award-winning actress, Elaine Crombie, is the woman who takes us on this journey.  Her solo performance engages the audience immediately with her commanding presence, dramatic skills, comic timing and fine singing voice.  Switching from comedy to drama and back again, her heartfelt performance is extraordinary.

The play was first presented successfully in 1995 and this production includes new scenes added to show what has changed in the 26 years since then.  It’s clear that assimilation, self-determination, and reconciliation still have a long way to go.

The attractive setting designed by Elizabeth Gadsby gives a powerful sense of the land and the lighting design by Verity Hampson and sound design by Steve Francis add considerable atmosphere to the show.

Director, Shari Stebbens, has ensured that the production is well-paced and visually interesting as well as enabling the actress to develop and maintain her strongly in-depth performance.

The play certainly helps us to understand what it means to be an Aboriginal woman in contemporary Australia.  Elaine Crombie’s electrifying performance in this memorable play will long be remembered.

 

Len Power’s reviews are also broadcast on the Artsound FM 92.7 ‘In the Foyer’ program on Mondays and Wednesdays at 3.30pm.

 

THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE FUNNY EPISODE 1 (RADIO PROGRAM PROMO)

 

THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE FUNNY

The 20th Century produced many memorable songs.  There are legendary songs associated with a particular artist - the good songs.  Then there are songs so awful they make us cringe - the bad songs.  And there's a range of just plain funny songs. We know these songs but what are the stories behind them?

Join Len Power on Artsound FM every Friday at 4pm for his selection of ‘The Good, The Bad and the Funny’.

Listen now:

https://www.mixcloud.com/artsoundfm/the-good-the-bad-and-the-funny-01/