By Hollie Harris
Shameless Crowd Pleasers offers an entertaining evening of proven one act play comedies by Australian playwrights, performed and directed by Sunshine Coast actors.
There is something for everyone – quirky, funny, moving and thought-provoking all in one package.
Morning Tea with the Minister, written by Bruce Olive and directed by Sean McBride, is a hilarious two-hander. While entertaining the highly-respected church minister (Sean McDermott), Gloria (Tania Nash) drops the bombshell which she hopes will finally end her days as the local town spinster. The minister’s response is not one anyone expected.
The second comedy ‘I Hate my Job’ is written, directed and acted by Simon Denver. He is sharing the stage with favourites Anna McMahon, Joy Marshall and Michelle Connelly. It is with complete horror that a writer realises he has committed a one act play to a season at Noosa Arts that opens that night. The trouble is he hasn’t written it yet.
Sisters in Paris, written and directed by Noosa Deputy Mayor Frank Wilkie, is inspired by true life events. Talented actors Leona Kirby, Deb Ellison, Kay Ellsum and Claire Fermo bring to life the story of how a dream trip for three sisters implodes when competing priorities, quirky personalities and a mystery love collide in the City of Lights.
Bruce Olive, author of Morning Tea with the Minister, wrote and performed in his first play with his partner Alice for Airmar Theatre in the Taste Cafe, Coolum. Since then he has written school plays, youth plays, adult comedies and dramas, a number of which have been performed around Australia and overseas. He has won numerous playwriting awards and written festival winning plays, and has been involved in all aspects of theatre, including acting, writing, directing, administration and the facilitating of playwriting
workshops.
Sean McBride, director developed a natural aptitude, from an early for the stage and he has been lucky enough to be cast, in many of the 20th century’s great musicals and shows in his native, New Zealand.
After a 13 year break from theatre, Sean returned to the stage in Noosa Arts 2011 production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, then in Mary Poppins and Dead Loss, both in 2016, and earlier this year, he portrayed Mr Bumble in Noosa Arts
Theatre’s production of Oliver. It was a natural progression for him to move to directing, and so, he made his directorial debut at the 2014 Sunshine Coast Theatre Festival, directing Fay Weldon’s Storm Warning, then in 2015 he directed Amadeus at The Lind Theatre in Nambour. This is Sean’s first project for Noosa Arts Theatre.
Simon Denver, author and director of I Hate My Job is currently the Artistic Director and Writer-in-residence for Suncoast Repertory Theare Inc (SRT). In 2003 he was an inaugural inductee into the Queensland Cultural Hall of Fame and has written and performed in hundreds of plays. He was last on stage with Noosa Arts in The 39 Steps and is a member of the One Act Playwriting Competition reading panel.
Frank Wilkie is author and director of Sisters in Paris is inspired by real life events and characters.
Sisters in Paris is based on an ill-fated trip taken by family members and a recently discovered love. Frank’s play Tudo ou Nada (Portuguese for All or Nothing) was the Audience Choice winner at the 2010 National Playwriting Festival and The Devil’s Dance was a finalist in 2014. His satirical musicals based on the trials of Martin Luther and Ferdinand Magellan have been performed in Australian high schools. Frank has appeared in over 50 productions on the Sunshine Coast, including the recent Queensland Premiere of Jack of Hearts at Noosa Arts Theatre and is the theatre president.
All this amazing talent comes together in Shameless Crowd Pleasers.
Dates: Cut price preview: 15 February at 7.30pm.
Evenings: February 16, 22, 23 at 7.30pm Matinees: February 17, 18, 24 at 2pm
Tickets: Cut price preview: All tickets $23. Adults $32. | Concession $28.
Member/Group $25 | U18 $23.
Phone: 07 5449 9343 or drop in 10am to 2pm, Tuesday to Friday, 163 Weyba Road, Noosaville
Box Office: boxoffice@noosaartstheatre.org.au
