When I was asked to put together my 10 favourite Melbourne Theatre Company shows, my first response was to say “no”. Just imagine how many members of the theatre fraternity would I insult if I didn’t list the show they wrote, directed, acted in, lit, designed? However, having been discrete for 18 years, it’s probably time to break free so let’s be bold. The one thing I haven’t done is put them in any order because each was as good as the other for different reasons.
1. Henry IV, Part 1 by William Shakespeare directed by John Sumner
This was the first MTC show that I saw. It was part of the Perth International Arts Festival and one of the shows that opened the Octagon Theatre on the campus of the University of Western Australia in 1969. I was a teenager and won a ticket to see it. I had a centre aisle seat and has absolutely thrilled to see Robin Ramsay star of TV’s Bellbird live on stage. It was a show that stayed with me for years even though I had no idea it was an MTC production until I joined the Company.
2. Summer of the Seventeenth Doll by Ray Lawler directed by Robyn Nevin
Much as I enjoyed Neil Armfield’s production of the Doll this year, I still have to put Robyn’s version in my Top 10 list. Set in Tony Tripp’s wonderful naturalistic set, the performances by Genevieve Picot, Frankie J. Holden, Steve Bisley, Valerie Bader, Sophie Lee, Lois Ramsey and Fred Whitlock were compelling. I remember going to a dress rehearsal with low expectations: an old play, I thought, and one that I knew. But like every generation that discovers the emotional and lasting power of the Doll I was blown away.
3. A Little Night Music by Stephen Sondheim directed by Roger Hodgman
Roger worked with Tony Tripp (designer) and Jamieson Lewis (lighting) on many shows but this was the one that absolutely captured the heart of the play and the audience. It had an extraordinary cast including Ruth Cracknell, Helen Morse, John O’May, Pamela Rabe and Greg Stone. The show sold out within days and we eventually transferred it to the Princess Theatre where the production looked as if it was made for that elegant old space.
4. Julius Caesar or Comedy of Errors or The Tempest or Richard III or Hamlet by William Shakespeare directed by Simon Phillips
Yes, I know. That’s cheating. But Simon is such a brilliant director of Shakespeare that I just can’t decide. What’s your favourite?
5. Inheritance by Hannie Rayson directed by Simon Phillips
MTC has produced over 200 Australian plays and this was a commission. Simon asked Hannie what she really wanted to do and she said “write a big play”. He said yes and she did – a cast of 12. Hannie spent months researching the state of the land in regional Victoria and created a sprawling, vibrant play that audiences adored.
6. Dinner by Moria Buffini directed by Julian Meyrick
It’s a battle for dinner table moments between this production and Simon’s Festen. And it’s an equal battle between Pamela Rabe in this one and Jason Donovan in Festen. Ultimately it came down to the way the Fairfax was used in Dinner with the audience on every side, sharing the meal.
7. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee directed by Simon Phillips
I went to see this musical in New York reluctantly. It contained all the elements that I loathe – adults playing children and audience participation and about a subject that doesn’t appeal – spelling. And I walked out of the theatre with a spring in my step and a smile on my face. Next day, I raced into the writers’ agent to ask for the Australian rights. On returning back to Melbourne, I presented Simon with a fait accompli: it had to be in our next season and he had to direct it. Having not seen it, he was reluctant but succumbed. And the result was smiles all around as the season ran and ran and ran.
8. Metamorphoses adapted and directed by Mary Zimmerman
Usually, we get the rights to a show and then give to an Australian creative team to develop a new production. In the case of Metamorphoses Mary Zimmerman, an American writer/director, had created such a magical work that we asked her and her team to come to Melbourne and re-create her great vision with a group of young Australian actors. We created a shimmering pool of water in the VCA’s Space 28, provided towels for the audience members in the front row so that wouldn’t get too wet in the middle of winter and let the tales of Ovid speak for themselves.
9. Bombshells by Joanna Murray Smith directed by Simon Phillips
Caroline O’Connor has the trifecta: she can dance and act and sing. Under Simon’s encouragement, Joanna Murray Smith created six wonderful characters full of life, warmth and humour for Caroline to play. With the exception of one night (Opening Night audiences are sometimes too knowing for their own good), Caroline played to standing ovations – In the initial season; in the return season; in Edinburgh and London too.
10. Sylvia by AR Gurney directed by Roger Hodgman
For those who didn’t see it, Sylvia is a play about a dog. I’m more of cat than dog person but I fell in love with Sylvia, realised to perfection on roller skates in the initial season by Rachel Griffiths. We invited lots of vets to see the show and the word spread wide and fast about what an engaging production it was. Two years later, it toured all over Australia with Genevieve Morris and Mary Coustas playing Sylvia and I saw audiences fall in love with that very special dog in Alice Springs and Sydney, Toowoomba and Hobart.
The shows that I had to leave off this list go on for pages but in case you were wondering, my next 10 would be:
Angels in America Parts 1 and 2 – for its power and currency
Private Lives – for capturing Coward’s essence so well
The Sapphires – for its exuberance and heart
August: Osage County – a great narrative
Cyrano de Bergerac – a profoundly poetic adaptation by Andrew Upton and a stunning performance by David Wenham
Don’s Party – Peter Evan’s production made the story sing over 30 years on
Sweet Bird of Youth – Guy Pearce acting his heart out in silk pyjamas
The Drowsy Chaperone – a cast to die for
Songs for Nobodies– Simon’s idea to combine the writing skills of Joanna Murray Smith and singing skills of Bernadette Robinson
The Importance of Being Earnest – as the words of Wilde found a new audience.
And I should confess to the one that I hated the most….
During the process of creating the 2007 season, I read Martin McDonagh’s The Pillowman. Whilst I admired the sheer genius of the writing, I loathed the content and said to Simon Phillips that if he programmed it, I was going to take a very very long cruise to avoid having to see the playAs it turned out, I didn’t get my extended holiday because my mother came to the rescue. She had a fall and I spent weeks travelling to and from Perth and in the process managed to miss the dress rehearsal and miss the previews and miss the opening night and miss the closing night and never did get to see what people assured me was a great production. Even now, there are people who suspect that I actually caused my mother’s fall just to have an excuse to avoid the Pillowman.
This list doesn’t contain any of our Education shows, our Lawler productions or shows that we bought in from other companies but that’s for another day.
