Top director abandons troubled musical

THE future of the beleaguered “Broadway-style” musical, “Winging My Way to the Top”, is in doubt after distinguished Sydney director Rodney Fisher pulled out of the locally written show after only two weeks in the job.

“Work on reshaping and strengthening the script had been progressing well but, in the end, sheer lack of time meant that an amicable parting of the ways became inevitable,” Fisher told “CityNews”.

One of Australia’s best-known professional directors, Fisher’s departure follows that of the initial director, Stephen Pike, who stood down for health reasons. Fisher had begun rewriting some of the lyrics and had told “CityNews” ahead of his resignation that the show had dramaturgical problems.

The show, written by Karen Strahan and Jill Walsh, is due to open for a fortnight season at The Q, Queanbeyan, on May 8.

Fisher’s departure is another setback in an already beleaguered production, which as previously reported in “CityNews”, achieved only $4311 of its $30,000 crowd-funding target and has so far seen one principal cast member and the original director withdraw. ArtsACT has committed $34,452 to the show, which had an original budget of more than $120,000.

As Fisher told “CityNews” last night: “Unfortunately, with performance dates already announced, Karen & Jill have decided that a postponement would be prove expensive (however advisable it may be). They plan instead to proceed with the show in its original state.”

However, the theatrical wisdom is that the show’s May season may have to be cancelled.

Fisher had previously told “CityNews” that while “writing songs for other people to sing” had been the forte of “the girls”, members of the cabaret group The Marvellous Mizdemeanours, their experience of theatre writing and production was negligible and that there were dramaturgical problems in the story of the three Diamond sisters making their way into showbiz that raised questions such as: “Who does this and why?”

He said he had recommended the introduction of a chorus and the excision of at least one main character. He had also commenced rewriting some of the lyrics.

While he was very busy writing a film script, he had agreed to direct the show because he was moved by the enthusiasm of Strahan and Walsh and wanted to help them achieve their dream. He said he now wished them “all good fortune in their endeavours”.

“Winging My Way to the Top”, at The Q, Queanbeyan, May 8-17. Bookings to 6285 6290.    

 

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