Submitted by Ian Nisbet on Sunday, 29th May 2011
Production photos from Babirra's West Side Story - playing until June 11!
About the Author
Ian holds a master's degree in musical theatre, a bachelor's degree in drama, and an AMusA in flute performance. His honours thesis was entitled "Transposition in Jonathan Larson's RENT," and his master's examined Jason Robert Brown's early-career compositional techniques. Ian has been a performer, musician, chorus master, and musical director for a number of productions including Jesus Christ Superstar (Flute); Chicago (Mary Sunshine); Oklahoma! (Chorus Master); Finian's Rainbow (Flute/Piccolo); The Sound of Music (Flute/Piccolo); Barnum (Ringmaster, for which he received a Music Theatre Guild of Victoria commendation); Hook: The Pantomime (Flute); RENT (Musical Director); and Into the Woods (Musical Director). Most recently, Ian was MD for WATERDALE's Victorian premiere of Jason Robert Brown's Parade (Donmar Warehouse Version) and is currently MDing Altona City Theatre's Sweeney Todd to be staged in September.
I am gobsmacked by this set.
I am gobsmacked by this set. Haven't seen the show (and HATE, HATE, HATE West Side Story) but might be tempted. Congratulation, Jeremy -- I don't know you, but I am a huge fan after Anything Goes at Whitehorse last year.
West Side Story
I got to screw a few bolts together one Saturday morning in the early stages of set building, at Fliegner Hall. Seeing all this timber spread out, taking up a huge amount of space, I could not visualise how it was going to fit on the truck, let alone what it would look like in the theatre.
Week after week (and sometimes night after night), Jeremy (designer and inspirational visualiser) and Warran (incredibly talented builder and team leader) and the set building team, turned up to turn out this mamoth, multi-pieced work, the form of which made absolutely no sense to me.
But come opening night when I first saw it deployed, to say I was gobsmacked was an understatement. I could glibly say that the set is the stand out feature of the show. But that would be totally unfair to the incredible talent on the stage, the sheer hard work of the crew and wonderful effects of the lighting.
But I will always admire people who can visualise a concept and then make it work. Jeremy, in his design, has done this, and has complemented in every way the talents of Paul Watson and that energetic, fit, beautiful and musical cast.
I travelled from the country
I travelled from the country to watch this show. What a wonderful story and brilliant performances by all those who take the stage. Maria has a voice out of this world and her dramatic acting in the final stages of the show has an impact that leaves you with tears in your eyes and stunned. Tony is fabulous also and the connection between them seems so real. A show not to be missed and the whole cast and crew should be very proud. I am glad I made the journey.