'My Fair Lady' last show for Julie Blumsky

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33803, 27 March 1975, Page 5

'My Fair Lady' last show for Julie Blumsky

The producer of the Christchurch Operatic Society’s production of “My Fair Lady,” Julie Blumsky, believes the continued success of the musical comedy is because it is the kind of attractive, un-sexy love story that never loses its appeal.

The opening night of the Operatic Society’s production' of the musical on April 5 is I. almost booked out. But it has a three-week run| which will provide ample; opportunity for the public to; see the first local production of the musical, which because of copyright reasons, must use costumes and sets made to the original Cecil Beaton designs. The rights for the produc- ; tion to be performed by an amateur group were only released last year, which is why it has never been produced in Christchurch before. The Operatic Society’s production may be the first of “My Fair Lady” for Christchurch, but it will be the last for Julie Blumsky, for some time at least. She is taking a break for an indefinite period because of family commitments.

Julie Blumsky has done much for amateur theatre in her 14 years as an actor and producer and still has its weL fare at heart. She believes it is time operatic societies were recognised by arts councils to give the actors a better deal.

“As it is the actors still work for love while the backstage people are paid and then looked after by unions in what is now becoming big business,” she said.

Her theatrical career began because of a “competitive mum” who dragged her off to talent shows and auditions all over the country. She does not regret her mother’s help and, in fact, learnt a lot during that time, she said. BLUFFING

Her first experience with producing was in Oamaru 14 years ago when she was asked to do “White Horse Inn.” She admits to bluffing her way through that one but during repeated processes of trial and error added to a

natural instinct for communicating across the footlights to the audience, became a respected producer. Her most recent production was “Fiddler on the Roof” for the Operatic Society last year. The day after this finished she acted in the Court

; Theatre’s production of “Long Day’s Journey Into Night.” She produced “Camelot” in 1971, which, incidentally, had the same two leading actors, Diane Low and Graham Robinson, as “My Fair Lady.” She did “Sound of Music” in Masterton and has also been involved in children’s theatre.

Mrs Blumsky has been in Christchurch five years but has acted all over the country. She was with the Nelson Repertory for 10 years. WHITE-OUT One of the worst moments in her theatrical career was during the opening night of “Sound of Music.” One of the children in the production was fiddling with the dry ice machine which would produce the required misty mountain atmosphere when he sent a billowing cloud of “mist” out on to the stage obliterating the mother superior in the middle of her rendition of “Climb Every Mountain.”

All other opening nights were her good moments in spite of nervousness, she said.

“My Fair Lady,” which is costing $30,000, is the most expensive production she has worked on. The cost has been increased by the copyright restrictions which stipulate

that the sets and costumes have to be made to exact 1 specifications and follow the . original designs. The sets and 1 costumes were made in i Hamilton. ;

Much of the appeal is in the sets and costumes but Julie Blumsky believes it is the romantic element that still does something to people after ail this time.