Lola Montez
Image: Photo: Kurt Sneddon
It’s an Australian musical that was hugely popular during the late 50s and 60s, with shows and soundtrack albums selling out, and songs that bumped Elvis off the charts – yet very few people have heard of it. That may not be the case for much longer because a collection of high profile actors and theatre professionals have been working passionately towards a full scale revival. As a teaser and to celebrate its 60th anniversary, Diadem Productions will be staging a full script preview of Lola Montez for one night only.
“There are quite a few die hard fans of Lola Montez that can’t wait to see it put back on the stage,” says Debora Krizak who plays Lola. “It’s an Australian work that needs to be seen, it has a lot of history in there that we don’t have a lot of.”
Lola Montez was a real person, an Irish woman (she changed her name) living in Victoria in the mid-1800s whose performances, on and off stage, were brash, unconventional and deliciously scandalous. Her signature act was the Spider Dance – based on the Italian tarantella – which earned her fame more for its audacity rather than any artistic skill.
“Her allure was, of course, her sexuality but it was also the fact that nobody really knew if she was wearing anything under that dress,” explains Krizak.
The upcoming production is mostly faithful to the original, with only a few minor edits, however it does contain one new song, Lola’s Misgivings, written while in his 90s by the composer, Peter Stannard. (Sadly, he passed away only a few months ago.)
This production has attracted a stellar cast. Apart from Krizak who is a multi-award winner, Paul Mercurio is providing choreographer, while Red Symons and Peter Cousens play leading roles. It’s a script-in-hand presentation, with only Krizak in full costume and projections to indicate the setting, however it will feature a full orchestra and a lot of enthusiasm – and you’ll be able to join the company for drinks after the show.
Jun 2. Riverside Theatre, Cnr Church & Market Streets. $68.90-$74.90+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.riversideparramatta.com.au
By Rita Bratovich.
