G'day all,
I'm still on a high from last Saturday night (Oz time).

Just finished a VERY short season (7 shows) of G&S "Pirates of Penzance" (the Papp version). Had the opportunity of playing the 'bone part in the orchestra and had an absolute ball.

The show was put on by the "Wyong Musical Theatre Company" and they did a first rate job. The following article was printed before the show started.

http://express-advocate-wyong.whereilive.com.au/lifestyle/story/pirates-life-for-wyong-players/

The young lass in the right, Suzanne, has a wonderful soprano voice which she used very effectively as "Mabel". The guy in the Middle, Mat, played Frederic and has a good strong voice too. Did a terrific job.

The chap who played Major-General Stanley, Marc Calwell, did the most amazing job of the Major-Generals song and in the final show let it really rip for the "very fast" reprise. I'm told he managed to shorten it by 30 seconds! - All I know is my slide was smokin' !!! His articulation has to be heard to be believed, the audience absolutely erupted calling for more in the middle of the show! They didn't get it of course as it would have interrupted the flow of the show but it was exciting just the same. We sold out every show (well almost, a couple of shows {2 or 3} were about 10 seats short of sold out) and for the last two shows we had to bring in extra seating.

The whole presentation was truly excellent and considering the limited budget was really very, very well done. The entire cast were fantastic and though I've highlighted a couple of the leads, they couldn't have done nearly as good a job were it not for the supporting actors. A really first rate job!

Most of you probably don't know but the majority of my playing is in my church, which I quite enjoy but can sometimes be limited in variety. Recently I've been able to expand on this, firstly with a student big band ('bout 4, maybe 5 years ago) and now musical theatre. This is my 4th show playing in musicals in less than a year, 3 with Gosford Musical Society and this one with Wyong. I'm really looking forward to more opportunities and hope to play "Cats" later this year (the current 'bone player is trying out for the pit choir - hope he gets it as it will leave the chair open), and Mikado early next year, both with Gosford. Wyong are doing Grease next and I don't think there's a 'bone part

The pit at Gosford is, unfortunately, UNDER the stage, is very small, and we can't see squat. The Wyong theatre is much plainer, but the orchestra sits in front of the stage (we had a catwalk around us so we were actually in the MIDDLE of all the action for Pirates) and could see everything as well as being able to interact more effectively.

It's all very exciting! Can you tell I had a good time?

--=-- My credo: If it's worth doing, it's worth overdoing - just ask my missus, she'll tell ya laugh --=--
You're only paranoid if you're wrong!