Falsettos hits the high notes of modern family

DARLINGHURST Theatre Company will start its 2014 season with the hilarious and touching, Tony Award-winning musical drama Falsettos, presented as part of the 2014 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.

The show will preview from February 7 and open on February 11 at the Eternity Playhouse.

Award-winning director and favoured son of the Darlinghurst Theatre Company Stephen Colyer was thrilled to have assembled a dream cast for what he believed was a rarely-seen gem, and praised his cast.

“Each of (the performers) have been firmly established as a versatile, dynamic star of the Australian stage capable of the unique blend of pathos and comedy that Falsettos demands,” he said.

Colyer spoke to the Star Observer about his campaign to bring Falsettos to the stage: “I love the show since I first encountered it over 20 years ago now.

“I have been pitching it to theatres over a number of years. I think the success of the other shows for Darlinghurst Theatre Company added some persuasion to the idea of doing it for Mardi Gras. It really is the best time to do a revival of the landmark musical.”

Falsettos is a quirky yet tender tale about a family, growing up and what it means to be a man. Marvin has left his wife and son for a male lover. Meanwhile, Trina ends up with the family psychiatrist. Among all this there’s a Bar Mitzvah to organise. Funny lyrics accompany a live piano score in this touching musical about the original modern family.

Katrina Retallick plays Trina, a mother that is not at all coping. It would be Retallick’s first performance since she won the Judith Johnson Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Musical at the Sydney Theatre Awards for her work in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.

Colyer praised her: “We are very lucky to have Katrina in Falsettos”.

The director also heaped praise on the Eternity Playhouse, situated in a 126-year-old former Baptist church that was recently refurbished.

“The beautiful new playhouse is majestic,” he said.

“It is an incredible luxury to rehearse here. One I haven’t had before – it just doesn’t happen . This building has so much atmosphere and character. Falsettos playing here is a marriage of the a piece and a space.”

Colyer’s career highlights include the Torch Song Trilogy and The Paris Letter. Tamlyn Henderson leads a stellar cast including Retallick, Stephen Anderson, Ben Hall, Margi de Ferranti, Elise McCann, Anthony Garcia and Isaac Shaw.

INFO: Falsettos is on February 7 – March 16. For details click here.

Falsettos is presented in association with Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. The Star Observer is a proud media partner of Mardi Gras.