The season will be October 19th – November 3rd 2012 at the Theatre Royal.

If you are 18 – 30 years old and interested in being on the list email graemepaine@netspace.net.au

Back to the 80′s is the story of a graduating year of William Ocean High School as they live through their senior year and experience the fun, the heartbreak and the loves of growing up. All set to the biggest hits of the 80′s:

Material Girl   * Walking On Sunshine * Centrefold * Kids In America * I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) *Love Shack * Total Eclipse Of The Heart. * Wake Me Up Before You Go Go *Don’t Worry Be Happy * Video Killed The Radio Star * Footloose * Girls Just Want To Have Fun* Mickey* Glory Of Love * Lets Hear It For The Boy * You Give Love A Bad Name * Nine To Five * * Man In The Mirror * Get Outta My Dreams (Get Into My Car) * Lost In Your Eyes* Never Gonna Give You Up *We Are The World * (I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life.

Set in the era when actors became American Presidents, when Bubble skirts were cool, when Atari was cutting edge technology and when mobile phones were as big as bricks. The play is from the era that brought the world the Rubik’s Cube, Max Headroom and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Throw in a Star Wars dream sequence, high-energy dance routines, the obligatory 80′s party scene, copious amounts of blue eye-shadow, twenty cans of hairspray and you have a musical that will delight and amuse audiences of any age.

This year the dinner will be held on Saturday 29th October at Salamanca Inn (click for map). 7pm for a 7:30pm start.

The theme this year is Hollywood!

Current Old Nick members are free. Guests are $50/head.

Note that this is an Old Nick private function, not a public function.

RSVP to laura.keegan@auroraenergy.com.au by 22nd October 2011.

Andrea performed in a number of Old Nick productions, as well as numerous productions for other theatre groups. Old Nick members will miss Andrea, and our thoughts turn to Andrew and Gracie.

A formal funeral notice will be in the Mercury tomorrow (Wednesday 17 August). The funeral will be held at St. Mary’s Cathedral at 2pm on Friday 19th August, followed by a gathering at the Theatre Royal.

Chris Hamley has spoken to Andrew and posted the following on the White Room page on Facebook. I’m sure he won’t mind me quoting it here for those who have not seen this:

“I spent a few hours with Andrew last night, he and Grace are surrounded with love and support, and Andrew asked me to pass on a few things.

If anyone would like to visit him, he would LOVE the company, so please feel ok about doing so, he’s not going anywhere

The funeral will be at St Marys cathedral on Friday at 2pm followed by a gathering at the Theatre Royal to share stories and memories. All, and he means ALL, are welcome.

He is determined that after this week, React will continue, bigger and better than ever, as Andrea would have wanted. He is also determined to continue with Richard the 3rd, as Andrea would have wanted, and to make it extraordinary. He is overwhelmed with the messages of support in all forms, and just wants to say a heartfelt thank you.”

The Old Nick Company is on the search for a creative, experienced and respected Director/s for the 2012 Uni Revue.
All applications can be sent to:

oldnick.secretary@oldnick.org.au or posted to

P.O. Box 180
New Town
TAS 7009
Australia

Applications close July 31st.

Something different, something … original.

Underground Magic

Mick and Lara

Here is the crit published in today’s (14 May 2011) Mercury. Not too bad at all. Well done Mick!

Larageddon (Uni Revue 2011)

Old Nick Theatre Company

Theatre Royal, May 13-28,

It’s been a big week for Lara Giddings. First there was all that work stuff. And now Old Nick are blaming her for the ending of the world.

First-time Revue director Mick Lowenstein hangs this year’s Uni Revue on an only-slightly tenuous notion that all the recent global natural disasters have coincided with Lara’s political career. An A-team, led by Will ‘the Hodgmanator’ Hodgman, is mobilised to save us all from Larageddon: The Ultimate Disaster.

Lowenstein structures Larageddon with a strong narrative through-line that’s more plot than theme, and the show hangs together well with still plenty of room for the familiar skit-based non sequitur sketches, jokes and songs. And there are the requisite groan-out-loud puns, running jokes, self-referential and meta comedy, nudie runs, cross-dressers, and North/South taunts and political and pop-culture references.

The humour’s sharp without cruelty, intelligent without weightiness, and, of course, bawdy without apology. It’s a script-based show – don’t expect flashy sets or huge song-and-dance numbers (though there are some middle-sized numbers, and the band, under Musical Director Craig Wood, contribute healthily) – and the writing is enjoyable.

Sophie Tyrrell (Lara) and assistant director Ben Paine (the Hodgmanator) deliver clean, confident performances with plenty of charm, leading a young ensemble cast whose zeal and sincerity make up for what’s occasionally lacking in polish.

I hope it brightened Lara’s weekend.

Anica Boulanger-Mashberg

Don’t be put off by the title.  Urinetown is an affectionate and gloriously funny musical that never stops taking the, um, urine out of itself.

It’s the sixth annual production of the Hobart Theatre Summer School, involving 60+ participants from nineteen different secondary institutions.

This is a fiendishly difficult and demanding show, and of course the young performers lack the technique of older trained actors.  Some of the acting is extremely broad, and many nuances in the dialogue scenes are difficult for them to bring off.

Yet the show is irresistibly engaging.  The vocal sound is rich, the choreography precise and joyous, and the feeling of achievement palpable.  Every single individual gives a committed, confident, tightly-executed performance.

There are several outstanding leads.  Rob Manion lends his beautiful voice and dashing Prince Charming demeanor to the hero role, opposite the equally sweet-voiced Grace Ovens, who also demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of style, especially in the first act.

Hannah McGown as Little Sally is a delicious.  And there’s Nelson Ohl.  Silky voiced, smooth, lanky and loose limbed, his is perhaps the most detailed characterisation.  As the narrator, he looks comfortably at ease on stage, and makes us feel welcome and in very safe hands.

This is a hard hard show.  But they did it.  They brought it off in an impressive display of talent.

Robert Jarman

On Paul’s instructions, this is to be a time for good memories and laughter. There will be no speeches, however, there will be an opportunity to share brief anecdotes and humorous stories. Keep them short – we need time for the celebration. Those wanting to contribute should see the MC (Graeme Paine) on the night.

There will also be a chance to make contributions of a more savoury nature. “Ladies please bring a Plate” as Paul would have said. To ensure the success of this loaves and fishes event please pass this on to Paul’s friends within your circle.

Be at SBBC, 6 Margaret St, Sandy Bay on Saturday for more of the good times.

Drinks at bar prices.

Soapy has been involved in many Revues, and co-directed Gray’s Miserables with Graeme Paine in 1989, and directed Little State of Horrors in 1991, and Big Brothel in 2006.

He also directed a number of other productions for Old Nick, including The Avon Lady, Let’s Murder Vivaldi, and No Room for Dreamers.

Paul has been involved in many other shows, and has served on the committee many times.

He will be missed.

Of course, the Mercury wouldn’t have got it wrong, would they? Old Nick appreciates all the hard work Mike has put into the company, but we do recall some other people directing Uni Revue. I think we need to get Mike and Graeme Paine into the same mud wrestling pit – winner take all!

To start with, and I’m trying not to be a downer here, but the Old Nick dinner is for Old Nick Members and their guests, and is not a general public event. In part, it’s a way for Old Nick to say “thank you” for all the hard work members have done over the last year. If you have any questions about this, please use the email contact below to ask any questions.

The dinner is 7:00pm for 7:30pm on Saturday, November 20th. Venue is the Salamanca Inn. Google map reference here.

Cost is free for current Old Nick Company members and life members. Members’ guests are welcome at $50/person, which covers food and drinks. Please pay on entrance on the night.

Please RSVP to the Old Nick Secretary by email. If you have any special requirements (vegetarian, etc) please include them in the email. We’ll try our best to accommodate you.

And remember, the theme is FANTASY, so let your imagination roam free!

Looking forward to seeing you!

This year it is on 7:00pm, November 20th, at the Salamanca Inn.

And this year’s theme is Fantasy! What does that mean? Well, it’s whatever you want it to mean. No restrictions! Time to be creative.

More details later….

It’s pretty easy work. Sell tickets, take tickets, profit!

If you think you can help on one or more nights, send an email to Julie Raphael.

Indicate the nights you would be able to help, and include your phone number so Julie can contact you directly and have a chat.