Pirates on the beach

Pirates on the beach

A group of pirates will hit Bondi’s shores this month donning colourful costumes and belting out Gilbert and Sullivan tunes.

For the week starting on Saturday May 19, the Waverley Lugar Brae Players will perform six shows of Pirates of Penzance.

Former Waverley mayor John Douglas Morrison, 77, is one of the 30 actors and will reprise his role as Major-General Stanley.

“He’s a major general so he’s a bit of a buffoon, he looks after all these wards and he’s the old bloke – he’s a fun figure.”

He first took up the role in 1999 and also played the Pirate King in 1963.

Mr Morrison’s first brush with the performing arts was in the 1950s when he took a break from rugby because of an illness.

He quickly transitioned from the field to the stage and has been involved in the theatre ever since, playing roles such as Fabian in Oliver! and Dr Dolittle in My Fair Lady.

“I was invited to the Bondi Theatrical Society when I was 24 by my wife now but not at the time,” he said.

Mr Morrison has been an active member of the community and sat on council as mayor from 1985 to 1986. “I was an independent, I wasn’t a party man, I managed to get involved in a few things, I saved Bronte from being overdeveloped with high rises,” he said.

“I stopped a huge development which would have changed the social fabric of the whole area.”

The play’s Major-General was also a police officer for 38 years, serving in the Maroubra’s and Waverley’s divisions.

His wife Marion is the play’s director and has orchestrated 17 plays during her career.

For this year’s production she was responsible for choreographing over 30 musical numbers.

“We have a beautiful soprano who’s only five foot but once you hear her sing you’ll wonder where that wonderful sound comes from.”

The Players’ usually attract around 1200 people each year but last year’s Sound of Music commanded 1550 audience members.

“Having children helps,” she said. “And last year we had some very talented children.”

Including the orchestra and crew, Pirates of Penzance involves around 50 community members.

Musical director Rod Mounjed recruited about 16 musicians from the amateur circuit.

This year also marks the Player’s 53rd year.

The self-funded theatre troupe was first formed by three Methodist churches in the area.

Pirates of Penzance will be staged at the Church in the Market Place on the corner of Oxford Mall and Newland St from May 19 to 26.

By Deborah Erwin

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