By Mikayla van Loon
Upper Yarra residents are invited to see performers return to the stage at the Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre for the first production of the year, with the opening of A Gentlemen’s Guide to Love and Murder.
Director Alan Burrows said it was a joy to finally stage the show after a six month delay and to receive such a warm welcome back from the crowd.
“It was just wonderful last night (Thursday 17 February), to see the audience reaction to what the actors were doing because we have a very talented cast in the show,” he said.
The romantic comedy musical is brought to life by 11 actors and actresses of exceeding musical talent.
Actor Daragh Wills plays nine roles within the show, changing in and out of character constantly throughout the performance.
“It’s definitely a challenge. The nine different roles are all very diverse and I have to unlock different parts of my personality, voice and presentation of myself as an actor and in life as well,” he said.
As someone who would normally perform in three or four shows a year, Mr Wills said it has been a struggle to get ‘show fit’ again but he has enjoyed getting back into doing what he loves.
“Over the last two years, community theatre has not been happening at all and was almost completely decimated by lockdowns and restrictions, including capacity limits.
“So to be able to get to a place where we are able to perform in front of an almost full audience is a really fantastic thing.”
Based on the Tony Award winning musical, Mr Burrows said this was the first time the show has been performed by a non-professional theatre company in Australasia.
The show presents the story of Monty Navarro, a middle-class Englishman who learns he is in line for an earldom but he must remove eight other earl’s preceding him for the title.
“As the story unfolds, those eight people meet mysterious deaths. You can’t help but love the rogue and the way he goes about it. It’s got a couple of love stories woven into it as well,” Mr Burrows said.
“Given the audience reaction last night, it was a constant stream of applause and laughter because while the murders keep happening, they happen in such funny ways that the audience literally rolling in the aisles.
“I would describe it as the ultimate fun night out in the theatre and it is just what audiences need coming out of Covid. It’s just a joy to be there observing it.”
Mr Wills said having already attended some stage shows himself, he can appreciate the joy a live performance can bring an audience particularly after two years of being unable to.
“After the last two years or so, not only is a bit of comedy and humour and an injection of those things needed in everyone’s lives but just the connection that people get from live theatre is something that’s really important,” he said.
Mr Burrows and Mr Wills said they would encourage people to see the show over the next three weeks and there are plenty of opportunities to do so.
“If people are looking for a show to return back to theatre, community theatre is up and running again,” Mr Wills said.
“This show is a perfect getaway for an evening to forget about everything else that’s happening in the world, and to just come and laugh and have a bit of fun.”
A Gentlemen’s Guide to Love and Murder will be shown until 5 March in Lilydale before heading off to Malvern Theatre to perform there.
