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The Carnie's Aren't Comin' to Town |
| The journey of getting a new Australian musical to the professional stage is a tough one, as none would know better in recent times than inaugural Pratt Prize winners Gary Young and Paul Keelan. When it was announced that this original Australian story was to have its premiere in Brisbane, and then enjoy a national tour, it appeared that the battle was finally getting easier. Tragically, a recent announcement has put another obstacle in their path, with the news that their current production will cease at the end of its Brisbane season, and not continue on its national tour. Peter Wyllie Johnston reports. |
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By Peter Wyllie Johnston
In Brisbane, the reviews for SIDESHOW ALLEY were
generally positive with Linda Hassall in The Australian (6 February 2007)
praising the work for 'some terrific original songs' and describing it as 'a
passionate and invigorating contribution to the Australian stage'. When Cole Porter wrote the upbeat song, 'Another
Opening, Another Show' for his masterpiece KISS ME MATE, he knew as well as
anyone that not every show is a hit. Meticulous research by Rosenberg and
Harburg for their book, The Broadway Musical, showed that in a forty-five
year period the average FAILURE rate of musicals was between 75% - 80 %. So
musicals, whether on Broadway, the West End or the Australian stage are not
for the faint-hearted. By every measure, Australia is a difficult
environment for musicals in the commercial theatre. Keelan and Young are to
be congratulated for succeeding where many others have failed because their
musical has now been produced professionally and an excellent recording of
songs from the musical is available. We can all hope that SIDESHOW ALLEY
will be produced again in the future, and that Keelan and Young will go on
to create more Australian musicals. Peter Wyllie Johnston |
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Sideshow Alley plays at QPAC until March 4th. More information and bookings: www.qpac.com.au |