Melia Naughton, one half of the beloved sister act Scarlett Affection, joins the cast of the Bangalow Theatre Company for their upcoming production of The Drowsy Chaperone, the BTC’s adaptation of this very clever and hilarious musical is sure to win hearts with the original script hailed by New York magazine as ‘the perfect Broadway musical’.
‘It’s a musical set in the 1920s,’ says Melia. ‘It’s a great licence for all things, but that sort of humour for musicals in that day and age. The MTC put it on with Geoffrey Rush as ‘man in chair’. It’s like a comedy within a musical; man in chair is the narrator who talks people through his favourite musical. It’s a lovely device – the whole show comes alive around him.’
Before she was a singer/songwriter, Melia Naughton was an actor. ‘I went to the VCA where I studied acting for three years, and did a lot of theatre in Melbourne before I moved here and reconnected with my sister and music. Prior to moving here theatre was my world. I haven’t done a professional musical for years! I am a trained actor and musician. This is great because in this show I can do a bit of everything. It’s a local production where I get to act an
d sing!’
‘The Drowsy Chaperone (my character) is world weary, desperate to fall in love, clinging onto the spotlight, a cynic and essentially a charismatic and scene-stealing gorgeous alcoholic! Supposedly she’s meant to “oversee” and “chaperone” the younger Janet but, frankly, champagne sounds more deliciously interesting! It’s quite refreshing to play an older / wiser / saucier role – my last stage performance in 2014 was as a very young naive religious girl from the south of America in the Mullum Drill Hall’s Five women wearing the same dress, written by Alan Ball.
‘It’s my character’s job to guide the lead character – Janet Vandergraffe; she is a fantastic dancer and singer, the ultimate 1920s showgirl. This is played by Sarah Jarvis, mother of three, who runs a performing arts school in Mullum. She is a tap-dancing and high-kick starlet!’
Of course, as a showgirl once herself, can the counsel of the Drowsy Chaperone be trusted? Like a lot of women of that era, the talented Miss Vandergraffe must choose between love of the stage or love of a man.
Ironically the theme is echoed in the cast, and the theatre company in general, comprising predominantly Mums returning to the stage.
A mother now herself, Melia reflects on the challenges of balancing motherhood with a creative career. (She and Nerida, the other half of Scarlett Affection, are on a hiatus while they bring up their kids.) Being in a group of other mothers has been a lot of fun.
‘You don’t realise how lovely it is until you are in this mix of a room and they are like you; it’s very supportive, it’s a huge undertaking.’
The founders of the company are Anoushka Gammon and Adrienne Lester: Women Melia describes as ‘passionate and creative. Their idea was to create a theatre company for Bangalow because we didn’t’ have one. Anoushka is a choreographer and Adrienne is producing.
The show also has some impressive directorial talent at the helm.
‘Jo Franklin is one of the directors. She is a performing arts professional and has worked as a theatremaker, teacher and director in America, UK and Australia. Philippa Williams-Brett also is directing and she has directed and performed at the Globe Theatre in London among other international credits.’
Melia is excited about being part of a show with ‘great choreography and lots of dancing – ensemble dancing… we haven’t seen anything like this for ages!’
With a cast of 20, this is some enormous feat to get to stage with dancers, actors and musicians all taking to the stage.
‘It’s been a Broadway classic and been staged in New York, London, Japan, Toronto and Melbourne, and now Bangalow!’ says Melia, who is enthusiastic about her involvement with this fledgling company. ‘The BTC is a not-for-profit organisation passionate about creating performance opportunities in Bangalow and the broader community. BTC aims to foster local talent and to create acting and performance opportunities – nurturing the performing arts of the region. Actors come from Bangalow, Byron, Brunswick, Mullum, Lennox, Ocean Shores and Lismore.’
The Drowsy Chaperone, set in the 1920s against a backdrop of glamour, glitz, eccentric celebrities, aviators, producers and gangsters disguised as pastry chefs. ‘It’s hilarious but also poses questions: Why do we enter the theatre? How are we entertained?’
Tickets for The Drowsy Chaperone are just $25 per person and are available now from BTC website (bangalowtheatre.com.au/tickets). The performance commences at 7.30pm with pre-show drinks and canapés available from 6.30pm.
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