Lola Montez (musical): Difference between revisions
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The [[Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust]] funded a trial production at the [[Melbourne Theatre Company|Union Theatre Repertory Company]] in Melbourne in early 1958. |
The [[Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust]] funded a trial production at the [[Melbourne Theatre Company|Union Theatre Repertory Company]] in Melbourne in early 1958. |
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This led to a large-scale Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust production later in 1958, presented in Brisbane and subsequently Sydney.<ref name="obit"/><ref>[http://www.janusentertainment.com.au/project.php?project_id=146 play information] at Janus Entertainment</ref> Hugh Hunt of the Elizabethan Theatre wanted a star so they imported 25 year old Mary Preston to play the lead.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article46241233 |title=English star is "Lola Montez" |newspaper=[[The Australian Women's Weekly]] |volume=26, |issue=21 |location=Australia, Australia |date=29 October 1958 |accessdate=9 April 2016 |page=39 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Burke said Preston was hopelessly miscast.<ref name="oral"/> |
This led to a large-scale Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust production later in 1958, presented in Brisbane and subsequently Sydney.<ref name="obit"/><ref>[http://www.janusentertainment.com.au/project.php?project_id=146 play information] at Janus Entertainment</ref> Hugh Hunt of the Elizabethan Theatre wanted a star so they imported 25 year old Mary Preston to play the lead.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article46241233 |title=English star is "Lola Montez" |newspaper=[[The Australian Women's Weekly]] |volume=26, |issue=21 |location=Australia, Australia |date=29 October 1958 |accessdate=9 April 2016 |page=39 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Burke said Preston was hopelessly miscast playing a 37 year old aging beuaty.<ref name="oral"/> |
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Michael Cole was sacked in Brisbane. Replaced by Eric Thornton who Burke said was too old - a 45 year old man playing a 19 year old. The play lost £30,000. Burke says it "was a show loved by very few people but it went into legend."<ref name="oral"/> |
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Alan Burke said he wanted [[Moira Fraser]] to star.<ref name="oral"/> |
Alan Burke said he wanted [[Moira Fraser]] to star.<ref name="oral"/> |
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Revision as of 12:22, 11 February 2017
| Lola Montez | |
|---|---|
 Original cast recording | |
| Music | Peter Stannard |
| Lyrics | Peter Benjamin |
| Book | Alan Burke |
| Productions | 1958 Melbourne 1958 Brisbane/Sydney |
Lola Montez is a 1958 Australian musical. It was written by Alan Burke, Peter Stannard and Peter Benjamin and focuses on four days of Lola Montez visiting the Ballarat Goldfields.
Background
The writers were all friends from university and they wanted to write a musical together. Alan Burke says he had never heard of Lola Montez until he heard her mentioned in a program on the ABC. He was attracted to the subject because it was Australian but had international appeal - he did not want to make something along the lines of On Our Selection. Also, since the lead was a performer the songs would come naturally.[1]
Production Details
The Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust funded a trial production at the Union Theatre Repertory Company in Melbourne in early 1958.
This led to a large-scale Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust production later in 1958, presented in Brisbane and subsequently Sydney.[2][3] Hugh Hunt of the Elizabethan Theatre wanted a star so they imported 25 year old Mary Preston to play the lead.[4] Burke said Preston was hopelessly miscast playing a 37 year old aging beuaty.[1]
Michael Cole was sacked in Brisbane. Replaced by Eric Thornton who Burke said was too old - a 45 year old man playing a 19 year old. The play lost £30,000. Burke says it "was a show loved by very few people but it went into legend."[1]
The show ran for more than 100 performances.[2]
Alan Burke said he wanted Moira Fraser to star.[1]
The musical has been much revived since.[5]
It was adapted for TV by the ABC in 1962[6]
1962 TV Play
| Lola Montez | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Alan Burke |
| Written by | Alan Burke |
| Starring | Brigid Lenihan |
Production company | ABC |
Release date | May 1962[7] |
Running time | 90 mins |
| Country | Australia |
| Language | English |
The 1962 TV production was directed by Alan Burke, who had written the book for the musical.
It was filmed in the ABC's Southbank Studios in Melbourne.
Cast
- Brigid Lenihan as Lola
- Campbell Copelin as Seekamp
- Mary Duchesne as Mary in Bavaria
- Alida Glasbecek as Gisela
- Patsy Hemingway as Jane
- Alan Hopgood as Smith
- John Kendall as Jocko
- Reginald Newson as Wilson
- Anne Peterson as Nancy
- Ron Pinnell as Crosbie
- Rex Reid as King Ludwig
- Beverley Richards as Ilsa
- Johnny Rohan as Daniel
- Leslie Sinclair as Mac
- Frank Wilson as Sam
See also
References
- ^ a b c d "Alan Burke interviewed by Bill Stephens in the Esso Performing Arts collection". National Library of Australia.
- ^ a b Alan Burke obituary at Sydney Morning Herald
- ^ play information at Janus Entertainment
- ^ "English star is "Lola Montez"". The Australian Women's Weekly. Vol. 26, , no. 21. Australia, Australia. 29 October 1958. p. 39. Retrieved 9 April 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) - ^ Lola Montez at David Spicer Productions
- ^ 1962 TV adaptation at Ausstage
- ^ TV Guide May 7 Sydney Morning Herald 1962