| Memmie Le Blanc | deckchair theatre & Vitalstatistix |
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 There have been wild jungles noises emanating from Victoria Hall this past week as rehearsals have commenced for Memmie Le Blanc by Hilary Bell.
“Pedestrians have literally heard the noise of killing a cat, 1920’s jungle music and screams of an excited Ape,” said director Angela Chaplin.
“Memmie Le Blanc was the most exciting play in the 2006 Australian National Playwrights’ Conference and won Hilary the 2007 Inscription Award for Best Scriptwriter. I’m thrilled that Hilary has chosen deckchair theatre to produce the world premiere of her new work. I’m really excited about directing this remarkable piece of theatre. Already the play has thrown up all kinds of challenges for us. For example, how do we make a mouse that can run across the stage, be caught and eaten? Or make a glass of milk appear out of nowhere?”
Wild and Untamed, Memmie Le Blanc is based on a true story of a child found in a forest in France in 1731. It is a fascinating play that will have you wondering about the wildness that lives in us all.
Internationally acclaimed Hilary Bell, daughter of John Bell (Bell Shakespeare Company), is one of Australia’s leading writers for theatre, television, film, radio, opera and music theatre. Her plays have been produced in Australia, Europe and the US. “Memmie Le Blanc grew out of a disparate array of passions, events and concerns comprising my life in 2005. I was listening obsessively to tropicalia songs; raising my then-toddlers, and thinking about the inherent 'civilising' process; reading about feral children; and feeling compelled to put a monkey on stage. These various elements coalesced into a play when I came across the story of Memmie Le Blanc, a savage child reclaimed from the forests of France.“ Says Hilary.
Set and lighting design is by Andrew Lake who has created a beautiful set, over 4m high, inspired by the apparatus of monkey bars, a willow tree or garden arbour and allows the actors to ‘swing’ and ‘hang’. Isaac Lummis has hand printed his own fabric, making the highly detailed period costumes with a contemporary motif.
Don’t miss Sete Tele one of Australia’s most dynamic dancers as Robert the orang-utan, Anni Lindner as Memmie and Adam McGurk and Netta Yashchin in this very physical and dynamic production complete with “jungle jazz”!
Memmie Le Blanc, presented by David Cooke from Fothergills of Fremantle and deckchair theatre is a co production with Vitalstatistix (SA). Performed by a cast of Western Australian and South Australian actors in November 2007 in Fremantle and then at the Adelaide Fringe Festival in February 2008.
Fothergills presents the deckchair theatre and VITALSTATISTIX production of
MEMMIE LE BLANC
by Hilary Bell
Director Angela Chaplin
Starring Anni Lindner, Adam McGurk, Sete Tele, Netta Yashchin
Set and Lighting Designer Andrew Lake
Costume Designer Isaac Lummis
Venue: Victoria Hall, 179 High Street, Fremantle WA
Season: 10 November – 2 December 2007 (Tues – Sat, 8pm / Sun, 5pm)
Previews: 8, 9 November 2007
Tickets: $32, $27 Conc / 4+, $22/ 10+ dct members, $15 Student Rush. Tropicana Meal + Show $50.
Bookings: BOCS 9484 1133 or www.bocsticketing.com.au
www.deckchairtheatre.com.au
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