Starring Heather Barnes (The Good) and Adam Price (Cotton Sidewalk) as the local teenagers and Jenny Barnes (Opera Australia-Madame Butterfly) and Allon Silove (Adventures of Grubble) heading the world of the Gods. The production also features Peter Bird (Aroldytes Revenge), Paul Chegwidden (Oklohoma), Ron Haryanto, Marissa Saroca (Rent), Iolanda Merillo (Don Giovanni), Nathan Faulkner (Childern of Eden), Julie Wilson, Bernadette Lannen (Erin), and Luke Price and a strong cast of ensemble.
It is not often you can go to a good opera and a great rock concert on the same night, in the same theatre, but ‘Shining Isle’ effortlessly blends the two in a series of very exciting layers .
The two acts of ten scenes are action-packed, vocally sensational and musically strong.
The didgeridoo played by Englishman Kev Howard opens the rock opera, then the music played by ‘The Good’ band members builds into an opening reminiscent of ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’, but totally original.
The chorography by Andrew Shaw has the audience gasping, and is downright dangerous for the performers. It is obvious they have rehearsed over and over, because the moves are flawless and the action very real. Curving through this are traditional Aboriginal members from several ‘mobs’ or tribal groups bringing The Dreaming into opera.
Seasoned opera performers such as Jenny Barnes (who has performed with Opera Australia), and her daughter Heather, who has grown up in a musical environment give very strong performances. The depth of experience of Julie Wilson, Bernadette Lannen, Iolanda Merillo and Merissa Saroca makes for a very professional production, and blended with these voices are the rich Islander tones of Ron Haryanto, Mary Ann Hawson, Paul Chegwidden and Nathan Faulkner. All the members of the support cast have a wealth of musical and dramatic experience.
There are many emotions portrayed that young people can relate to, especially in the disco scene based in a Newcastle nightclub. I could say it is a young people’s opera, but that is not correct. People with life experience can really read a lot into the story. The farm scene is very topical, while the Island scenes combine the cultures of the Navajo, Aboriginal and Hawaiian peoples. The costuming is beautiful.
In fact each facet that goes to make a good performance cannot be faulted. ‘The Good’ can be seen playing stage left (to our right) up on a tiny stage, but hidden behind speakers and equipment so that only their heads are illuminated, except at one part where Gareth Hudson, who wrote the music, unclips the guitar, is handed another and comes down the stairs playing, then leaping about the stage among the dancers.
The Playhouse is an intimate little theatre that allows for audience interaction with the performers, as they go up and down the stair aisles.
It does help to buy the $5.00 programme, which gives a rundown on each act and the advance knowledge of what to gain from it. So many current topics have been melded seamlessly into the plot.
I am not going to give away the story, except that sharing sacred knowledge can ‘let humankind live in harmony with nature and each other’, yet it is a very violent and exciting rock opera. A real opera that rocks!
Gareth Hudson and Nick Higginbottom are to be congratulated on a most original and professional new opera, and The Good balanced their music extremely well with opera singing, dance scenes and dialogue without ever overpowering.
Director Jason King made a most difficult job of blending genres appear easy, and the sound and lighting were top class.
Allon Silove was truly evil, with lots of heavy breathing grunts throughout that instilled fear rather well, and a very rich baritone. He and Heather Barnes had great stage presence, and at no time was Heather, as Adenah, overpowered by the strength of his character.
Heather plays the epitome of the self-sufficient young modern woman, while the very slight, blonde Adam Price is a perfect foil to her character as Evan; a somewhat wimpy young man who gains strength through love. Don’t get me wrong, this is not a soppy love story, but a story of many loves.A special mention should be made of the dancing of 14-year old Ebonie Foote as Changing Woman Dancer whose dance sequence was truly elegant, as she flowed down the stairs and around the actors. Often, in ballet scenes we are too conscious of the effort of each move, but Ebonie ‘cracked it’.
Thanks to the inconspicuous head mikes worn by all the performers, and good audio management, each voice could be heard, which gave the opera a modern sound.
It would be a crime not to see the ‘Shining Isle’ go on tour. It can transpose to the big stage just as easily, and perhaps I will not have to hold my breath each time the performers move across those high platforms at the back and to the left of my view, which was a clever way of bringing the performance to those in the high seating.
This is a very strong cast and each is so talented that it is too difficult to single just one out for praise. Excellent casting has successfully put together a blend of individuals who do just what the story intended, bringing many cultures together in harmony, and great harmony it was.
I came away so full of music, action and drama that the ‘Shining Isle’ has stayed with me.
Eunice C. English
----- WHAT THE SHOW'S ABOUT -----
From the producers of the sell-out season of RENT comes the locally written production of THE SHINING ISLE to rock the Civic Playhouse in October.
Using the energy of a live rock show, and the sentiments of an opera, the Shining Isle is an action, adventure, and love story about the battle between the forces of creation and destruction.
From local writers Gareth Hudson (from The Good) and Nick Higginbotham, the musical shows a collision between the normally invisible world of the gods and the lives of today's Newcastle teenagers. The collision is all the more explosive because the gods are powerless to protect the innocent youth from one of their own immortals.
As the story opens, Baba, and evil forces, breaks free from an underworld prison, thirsting for revenge, and seeking a young woman he must possess to re-create his own clan of murderous half-humans.
Legendary Navajo and Hawaiian gods, and an Aboriginal ancestor (Dingo), join forces to try and stop Baba from capturing Adenah, a Newcastle teenager.
When Baba arrives in the Great Southern land to track his prey, a teenage boy, Evan, foils his attack, and helps Adenah flee into the countryside. Together the two teenagers begin a perilous journey through Australia to escape Baba and find the Shining Isle--their ultimate refuge. And that's only Act 1.
Binding a compelling story with highly charged rock music and ballads SHINING ISLE promises to be an experience similar to Tommy, Hair, Godspell, and Jesus Christ Superstar......................
Presented by JJK Productions, Shining Isle is directed by Jason King (Rent and Children of Eden) and musically directed by composer Gareth Hudson.
The Shining Isle - Rock Opera's Friend Space (Top 20)
Hey guys! It's been a long time but the album is finally being mixed and we are kicking off our first gig back before it comes out! It's guna be a wicked show, we just need you there!!! Come along and bring friends. Can't wait to see you!
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i was just going thru my diary for this year, and happened to discover that we started rehearsals for the Isle way back in May. First cast meeting was on the 16th. That was almost 5 months to the day we worked on that baby before it opened. ohhh, nostalgia.
YES..... return season. Or.... let's go on tour???? Any rich theatre companies out there willing to invest???? Maybe we could start a jelly wrestling film company and sell footage on the net to raise funds????? You in Marissa??????
We reckon Luke is Danni; Emma is Sandy; Heather is Riso; Adam is Kenicki; Cheg is most definately Vince Fontane; Nick has to be the coach; and all other roles are up for audition....
YES! Im totally up for shining isle too. i mean two. You know, when you think about it, my demon, and Petes demon, never got "healed", because they wernt there for that glowy orb thing becuase we were our other characters. Now, you may see where im heading with this, BUT, what if, we, somehow, lead the story on as us two opening a chinese fortune cookie bakery, and for reasons of revenge for being battered around as well as our demonic natures in general, we trap Changing Woman inside one of the cookies and set off to the entrance to the underworld under the guises of girl guides, with the evil plan of casting her into the fire and brimstone for all eternity. Then, Baba, who has been living with Evans mob, but been experiencing inner conflict and anxiety due to the fact he tried to have his way with his own granddaughter, and wipe out the human race, learns of this, and sets about on a race against time to get Changing Woman back, ofcourse with a little help from Evan and Adenah, as well as the rest of the gods.... Or something like that.
I know, its a little cliche, but with a bit of work... i dunno, there could be something there...
Sounds good. But you already know what I think about the next show. As long as Hina gets some hot sailor action (I get to sit in on casting, mind you) I will be in. xx
Feeling very sad remembering all our Tuesday nights together!!! I reckon' we should get together at the Nags next Tuesday night for a couple.... anyone in? We could discuss plot ideas for Shining Isle II.
