Sondhiem threatens to pull Australia's Company.

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 7/20/07 at 8:30pm

This broke Thursday morning.

Australia's national music theatre company, Kookaburra, was forced to cancel a performance of its critically acclaimed production of Company last night, just 24 hours after cutting scenes from the show due to an illness that has struck down actor Christie Whelan.

Wednesday night's performance was shorter than usual after scenes involving Whelan's character April were cut, according to a report in The Sydney Morning Herald today.

The newspaper claims the cast were "fuming" over the decision. No announcement was made to the audience.

With Whelan unavailable last night, Kookaburra decided to cancel the performance but it is understood the show will return to the Theatre Royal tonight. It is unknown if Whelan will perform.

When contacted by the Herald, Kookaburra Artistic Director Peter Cousens claimed he was unaware of cuts to the Wednesday night performance.

"I was in Melbourne … I certainly didn't hear anything," he said. "I don't think anyone had a problem. I think people enjoyed the show last night [Wednesday]."

Kookaburra does not employ understudies and Company, its second ever production, marks the second time a performance of one of its shows has had to be cancelled because of an actor being unavailable.

The Herald also raises questions today in regards to Wednesday's cuts and if they were in breach of copyright.

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 7/20/07 at 8:32pm

The fall out Friday



So angry was composer Stephen Sondheim over Kookaburra's decision to cut vital scenes from Company on Wednesday night that he threatened to pull the plug on the show mid-season by withdrawing the rights.

The Sydney Morning Herald, the newspaper that broke the most dramatic theatre story in years yesterday when it revealed the role of April was completely removed from the show on Wednesday after actor Christie Whelan was too sick to perform, reports today that Sondheim threatened to remove Kookaburra's production rights unless a public apology - on the scale of a full-page newspaper advertisement - was issued.

In a statement to the Herald, Kookaburra Artistic Director and CEO Peter Cousens (pictured) said: "Kookaburra celebrates the work of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth and apologises for interfering with the integrity of their work."

Cousens also dramatically confirmed that he was the one who ordered the cuts to the show on Wednesday, despite what appeared to be a clear denial of this just 24 hours earlier.

"I instructed the director, musical director, cast and crew to make the cuts to the show, and of course it was my decision to keep the curtain up," Cousens said.

Cousens has also announced a charity performance of Company, with profits going to the Actors Benevolent Fund and Oz ShowBiz Cares, a charity nominated by Sondheim. People who attended on Wednesday are invited to the July 31 charity concert or "any other performance of their choosing".

There was no announcement prior to Wednesday's performance in relation to the cuts.

Earlier this month, Sondheim was in Sydney to attend the opening night performance of Company and participate in a special open forum labelled An Audience with Stephen Sondheim in which he was interviewed by Jonathan Biggins and asked questions by members of an audience that had paid $100 a ticket to attend.

While the latest drama is the most serious problem Kookaburra has faced since launching its debut production of Pippin earlier this year, it is not the first time eyebrows have been raised. Pippin received horrible reviews, while performances were cancelled due to unforseen circumstances that couldn't be catered for given the decision to not employ understudies. In addition, there was much said about the company's decision to play the National Anthem prior to performances, an initiative that was pulled when it came to Company.

Perhaps most sad about the latest controversy is that Company seemed to have pulled Kookaburra back into favour with critics and audiences alike, with the production extensively critically acclaimed. The production features one of the most outstanding line-ups of musical theatre talent ever assembled for a show. That cast is believed to be devastated by the latest developments.

Meanwhile, Kookaburra was forced to cancel Company for a second day in a row last night after another actor fell ill. It is expected that today's performances will go ahead, with Chloe Dallimore likely to replace Whelan after being rushed in to cover the role.

Both reports taken from Aussie Theatre.


http://www.aussietheatre.com/news.htm#company

[Johnnytoc]

Posted: 7/20/07 at 8:46pm

How could they cut the character of April...that would be so, so wrong to the structure of the show.

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 7/20/07 at 9:10pm

The Sydney Morning Herald.

As Kookaburra grovelled in apology to Sondheim, there was more drama last night when a performer, Pippa Grandison, came down with a migraine and the show was cancelled for the second night running.

It is understood Edwards and the cast were unhappy with Wednesday's directive from Cousens, delivered by phone from Melbourne, where he was attending the opening night of Sweet Charity. With no understudy for Whelan, he ordered two songs, including a bedroom scene and duet with the star, David Campbell, be removed. No explanation was given, and the show ended 20 minutes early.

Sondheim may be humming his song Send in the Clowns:

Don't you love farce?

My fault I fear.

I thought that you'd want what I want.

Sorry, my dear.

But where are the clowns?

Quick, send in the clowns.

Don't bother, they're here.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/arts/send-off-the-clowns/2007/07/20/1184560037427.html

[humbugfoto]

Posted: 7/20/07 at 9:16pm

Why on earth don't they use understudies????

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 7/20/07 at 9:27pm

I'd be pissed if they cut one of the roles from my show, too.

[gettinhep]

Posted: 7/20/07 at 9:28pm

All this bumbling is a shame.

I was most upset when Kookaburra, supposedly a National company, announced Sydney as its home. After such an inauspicious start to life, I am quite happy to live without the company's early works.

[sondheimboy2]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 2:11am

So, why didn't they just make an announcement and have the stage manager read April's lines. The only problems then would be having to turn "You Could Drive a Person Crazy" into a duet and what to do regarding "Barcelona"

[dramarama2]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 2:18am

Kookaburra don't hire understudies because then it would be too expensive. They are a non-profit organisation.
Pippin failed for that same reason. The don't have the money to have big sets and good costumes or even big stars. They are lucky that they have David Campbell as Bobby. The rest of the actors are pretty much unknown. No big names at all.

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 2:51am

Dramarama2,
Don't say that too loudly near the Tamsin fans, they think she's the same as "Patti" !

God like :)

[alterego]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 3:01am

Based on their production of PIPPIN, and now what has gone on with COMPANY, FLOYD COLLINS will need to be damn good if they're to be around in 2008.

Do they still have to take out a $100,000 ad in the Sydney Morning Herald as an apology to Sondheim?

[dramarama2]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 4:11am

"Don't say that too loudly near the Tamsin fans, they think she's the same as "Patti" !"

Well, obviously, she's not as good as Patti...

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 7:41am

While I'm a little surprised at the "no understudies" statement (only a little, having worked in regional theatre most of my professional life and seeing how rarely any of them have understudies as well), I have to admit I'm a little dismayed that Sondheim would be acting like this. Yes, it's upsetting when someone cuts a scene, but given the choice between that due to illness versus not having a performance at all, I'd rather see part of a show than nothing at all. Surely Sondheim has had enough productions of this works that something this relatively minor could continue on -- Lord knows there are far worse productions of the complete COMPANY (including a recent major one that shall remain nameless).

[Midnight Radio]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 8:50am

Why in the world would Sonhiem ever want an audience to pay big bucks to see a tainted version of his show that does not reflect his original intent?! You must be kidding.

[dramarama2]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 9:19am

"Why in the world would Sonhiem ever want an audience to pay big bucks to see a tainted version of his show that does not reflect his original intent?!"

Well, most of the audience go to the show to see David Campbell...

It's like the latest broadway revival of Company. Did you go to see Elizabeth Stanley?

[Midnight Radio]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 9:23am

This isnt a concert, its a musical. You SHOULD be going to experience the full production. And regardless of who people are going to see, it is NEVER acceptable to deface someone's body of work, ever.

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 10:27am

Alter,

I think the ad appeared in this mornings Sun Hearld ( as in Saturdays )

[humbugfoto]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 10:43am

On the understudies question - non-profit or not, if they're trying to be accepted as a professional organization, they should behave in a professional manner. Not having understudies is irresponsible and unprofessional. If it's a question of money, I'd be very willing to bet there are lots of college students and aspiring actors who'd be thrilled to be an understudy at Kookaburra for free.

[Flaunt It]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 10:58am

When I went to see NINE in London at the Donmar Warehouse in 1996, I walked up tot he theatre and there was a sign on the dootr that the week of performeances had been cancelled due to the leads illness and no understudy.

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 12:01pm

>> And regardless of who people are going to see, it is NEVER acceptable to deface someone's body of work, ever.

Oh please. If we're going to be this dogmatic about it, then I can think of *several* revivals that never should have seen the light of day.

It's theatre, guys. Nothing more, nothing less. It's not something that, a decade from now, anyone will really *care* about. I mean, I really doubt that, come 2017, we're going to be sitting here saying, "Gosh, remember how terrible it was when such and such company did *that* to (insert show name here)? How could (insert name of author here) allow that???"

[Enjolras77]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 1:38pm

How many performances does this show or other shows at Kookaburra run?

It is very common for professional theatres not to cast understudies in shows that only run for a couple weeks. The assumption is that why would you pay someone who most likely will never go on. The vast majority of the time this is the case. Kookaburra seems to just have really bad luck.

If the show is an extended run, however, then understudies are a neccessity, since over an extended period of time performers will need a "night off" here and there for various reasons.

I did go to a regional theatre production of The Secret Garden once where they were left without an understudy for Archibald Craven after the actor playing him left due to an emergency. Craig Schulman was supposed to go on as Archie that night, but left earlier that day to be with his daughter who was gravely ill. For the production that night, the actor who normally played Albert Lennox stepped in as Archie. He carried a script and did the best he could with the blocking and choreography. Due to the circumstances and the concerns for Schulman's daughter's health, the audience was very accepting and gave the actor hefty applause at the curtain call.

[Enjolras77]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 1:53pm

I just went to Kookaburra's website and it lists Company as running from June 26 -- August 4. Was the performance in question a preview? Even so, with a run this short it would definitely be the common practice not to hire understudies.

On a side note...I checked out the page on Floyd Collins (which has a much longer run: November 6 - December 15) and noticed that Artistic Director and CEO, Peter Cousens, will be playing the lead.

http://www.kookaburra.org.au/index.html

Updated On: 7/21/07 at 01:53 PM

[dramarama2]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 6:30pm

I don't think it was a preview. The previews, if they even did have them, would have only lasted a couple of days, like a lot of shows in AUS for some reason.

"This isnt a concert, its a musical. You SHOULD be going to experience the full production. And regardless of who people are going to see, it is NEVER acceptable to deface someone's body of work, ever."

I understand that. But, unfortunately, I would have given the show a miss if David Campbell wasn't in it. I'm sure it's the same with other people. David Campbell was simply amazing in the show.

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 9:04pm

This was not a preview, opening night was July 5th when Steven Sondhiem was in town.

For those in Australia Sunday 5th August ABC 5.00pm is the screening of "A Afternoon with Steven Sondhiem" that was taped the day after opening.

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 11:41pm

Most regional theatres across the country do not employ understudies, this is not considered unprofessional, it is highly regular, and generally cost effective as actors usually go on with the show unless it is absolutely necessary not to.