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What is it with Men
25th June
2008
By Renée Maloney
Magnormos
Productions Presents:
“The Thing
About Men” is a new production written by the same people that
brought you “I Love You, You’re Perfect Now Change”. It features
around Tom (Chris Parker) - a creative director at a top advertising
firm. He's enjoying the benefits of being a 'bread-winning,
ass-kicking, porsche-driving, home-owning, lawn-mowing' man - but
he's also cheating on his wife Lucy (Laura Fitzpatrick), with
several different women.
The thing
about Lucy is... she's also cheating on Tom with artist Sebastian
(Liam Pedersen), who gives her the attention she so richly
deserves. But in Tom's world, what's good for the gander is
definitely not so good for the goose - so he moves out on Lucy and,
in disguise, moves in with her lover Sebastian... and hilarity
ensues…
I caught up
with Aaron Joyner from Magnormos Productions to find out about this
exciting new show from Jimmy Roberts and Joe DiPietro……
 TP:
What was the appeal of this show for Magnormos? Where did you first
come across this show?
AJ: I first
came across the work in a friends CD collection, and when I realized
it was by the writers of 'I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change' -
which I adore, I was eager to investigate it. I remember first
listening to it through headphones while working in an office - and
I kept spontaneously bursting into inappropriate 'out-loud'
laughter. Not just at the comedy in the songs, but in the imagery I
had of what would have been happening on stage at the same time. I
knew then I wanted to direct it, and I've just been waiting for the
right time to program it into the Magnormos season. Being a five
hander it is ideal for us, and it is a lovely contrast to our last
production Mary Bryant, which was a dramatic piece.
TP: What do you think are the highlights of the show?
AJ: The humor,
obviously, but there really is a genuine heart to this piece. And
of course - the cast. The five talents that will be creating this
premiere are outstanding to behold and will be creating magic by
opening night. This is not a musical that will change the world or
challenge your convictions, but it will definitely entertain!
TP: For those that loved “I Love You, You’re Perfect Now Change”,
what can they expect from this production to follow up this great
success?
AJ: A melodic,
tuneful score and witty libretto that all serve the story (well...
except for a couple of random bits of silliness that you just
couldn't do without) but most importantly - an original BOOK! Unlike
'I Love You,' which was a review style show, The Thing about Men
actually has an original book (script) based on a German film by
Dorris Dorrie. In a world of jukebox and review-style musicals, a
well executed original script is becoming quite the holy grail of
musical theatrephiles.
TP: What are the challenges for a company of doing a show that
isn’t well known and has a small cast?
AJ: Well for
those who saw our production of Flora The Red Menace, where we had
hundreds of set changes ingeniously manipulated by our cast... we
have a similar concept here but we only have two cast members that
can action the changes. So the challenge for them is remembering
what they have to do next! Other than that there are no other
problems with a small cast because the voices and performance energy
of these five individuals make it feel like the cast of an MGM
musical.
While the show
itself is not widely heard of, 'I Love You, You're Perfect, Now
Change' is so popular and well-loved, there is a comfort for
audiences that at least the writing will be of a high-standard. Magnormos
has previously produced 'unknown' international works... but like
'The Thing About Men' they have all had a well-known writer(s)
attached. Magnormos has produced Sondheim's first musical 'Saturday
Night', Kander & Ebbs' first work 'Flora the Red Menace' and Mel
Brooks' Broadway debut 'Archy & Mehitabel' - which he wrote with Joe
Darion (of Man of La Mancha fame) and George Kleinsinger. And our
first ever Magnormos production was Stephen Schwartz's 'Working'.
It can be a challenge promoting a work with an unknown title, but
our mission is primarily to produce Australian-written work, and key
international musicals (preferably ones that have not yet been
presented in Australia). With 'I Love You, You're Perfect Now
Change' closing Off-Broadway after a 12 year run, and the recent
renewed interest in producing it here in Melbourne - it really is a
great time to be producing this musical.
TP: You have a very talented and experienced cast. How long has the
rehearsal process been?
AJ: We've only
been rehearsing part-time for two weeks, and by the time we go up
we'll have rehearsed in total the equivalent of 10 days full-time.
But everyone is off-book, and this is still a fully produced
production (though the instrumentation is a little less than it was
done Off-Broadway). We go into the process incredibly organized,
with a thought-out creative plan and a cast that are capable of
pulling together a professional performance in that time frame. The
cast auditioned for their roles, and we had a tremendous interest
for this production which made the casting process very difficult.
The performers had the scripts for a month prior to rehearsals
starting to prepare for the rehearsal process.
TP: What can the audience expect from “The Thing About Men”?
AJ: In what
has become the Magnormos standard, this will be a slick, paced and
energetic production of a new work - by well loved writers. This is
bright and vivacious musical theatre - but contemporary.
It's how
musicals would sound if Jerry Herman was beginning his career today
(except the focus is heavily on the opposite gender) and is a
welcome break from the dramatic complexity of Jason-Robert Brown,
and even our dearly loved Sondheim.
“The Thing About Men” stars.....
 Chris
Parker
(Sideshow Alley and the Club)
as Tom
 Laura
Fitzpatrick
(My Fair lady, The Last 5 Years, Fiddler on the Roof)
as Lucy
 Liam
Pederson
(A Bunch of Ratbags, Nile Blue)
as Sebastian
 Nicolette
Minster
(Flora the Red Menace, City of Angels)
as Women
Lyall
Brooks
(TV’s The Mint and Dutch Courage)
as Man
July 3rd -
12th @ Theatreworks
Thur 3rd - Sat 5th 8pm
Sun 6th 4pm
Monday 7th 8pm
Wed 9th - Sat 12th 8pm
Get your
tickets through
Magtix
Director / Producer
Aaron Joyner
Asst
Director/ Movement Director Jessica Enes
Musical Director Sophie Thomas
Set
Design Erin Keleher
Lighting Design Lucy Birkinshaw
Costume Design Emma Kennedy
Stage Manager Katrina Fleming
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