IT took months of negotiations to secure the rights to the show, the musical score is complicated and the costumes are quite elaborate and more expensive than usual but when Singleton audiences finally see the Scarlet Pimpernel it will all be worth it.
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“The last show we did on the same scale as this was Les Miserable. I did that back in 2001 and everyone said I was crazy for wanting to do it,” Director, Jenny Blake said.
“But we did it and we did a great job. People that came from Newcastle to see it told us that it was equal to the performances they had seen there.”
Jenny, a retired teacher, has directed seven shows for the Singleton Theatrical Society (SATS) and has been a member for 18 years.
These days she actually lives in Wangi Wangi on Lake Macquarie but her love of musical theatre meant she was more than willing to travel back to Singleton and direct SATS latest production.
“It can be a very exhausting and stressful process, Mark Smith has done it for the past two years so I was more than happy to step up and give him a break,” she said.
Jenny said her not living in Singleton has actually turned out to be an advantage.
“Because I am not here all the time people in charge of different areas can’t rely on me as much and are really stepping up.”
However, it is still her job to make sure it comes together on opening night.
“I am the big umbrella over the production manager, set builders, costume people, props and all of that,” she said.
“I direct everything that happens on stage from communicating with the cast to the musical director, I am the one who knows the show.”
This year’s production is a show Jenny has wanted to do since being “blown away” after hearing the musical score five years ago.
“The music sends tingles down your spine, it’s an age old story set in the French revolution and it’s packed with adventure, excitement and even a love triangle,” she laughed.
“I grew up watching the black and white television and it was one of the first shows on television. I can remember Marius Goring sitting at a window with shutters and the words they seek him here, they seek him there, those Frenchies seek him everywhere.”
She said this production of the Scarlet Pimpernel covers a three month period during the revolution.
“It is after the beheading of Marie Antoinette and Louis and the pimpernel, an Englishman, sails with his men to France all the time to rescue people from the guillotine then he returns to England. So the French republic are trying to track down this pimpernel, they don’t know who he is,” Jenny explained.
“The audience will get to see two beheadings, a duel, a wedding and a rather hairy carriage ride.”
Production Manager, Sue Ferguson, said one of the most interesting things about this production is the leads, Kristy Hicks, Andrew Woo and Jonathon Vickers.
“None of them have had a lead role before but they all have fabulous voices which they will need for show,” she said.
“There are a lot of new cast members this year.”
So many that prior to speaking to the Argus both ladies had attended a SATS barbecue to welcome all the new faces.
“We decided to do this because everyone was getting in trouble for talking and trying to get to know each other at rehearsals,” Jenny laughed.
The cast, orchestra and crew will soon move their rehearsals to the Singleton Civic Centre which is where the show will be staged.
The show will open on Friday, May 30 at 7.30pm and there will be 10 performances in total.
Tickets are now available from Bloons&Blooms Florist at Town Square or phone 6571 2862.
Adults $25, Tertiary/TAFE $20, Child/Concession $18 and Family $70 (2 Adults and 2 children under 18).