Tina Cross’s musical show covers five eras

Press, 11 October 1982, Page 18

Tina Cross’s musical show covers five eras

Although the audience sipped blackcurrant juice in place of red wine, and cold tea instead of sherry, their response to Tina Cross and Chic Littlewood's performance on stage was as genuine as the crystal fruitbowls in front of them. The 1980 s show that was being recorded was one in Tina Cross’s new television series. “Nothing But Dreams" — five shows set in different eras.

The audience, an integral part of the show, had arrived at the television studios two hours before recording began, to be made ready for the part. Except for the 24 members of a local 1890 s club, who had turned up in full period costume, most had come wearing a token gesture towards 1890 s dress, with perhaps a shawl or hat. But by the time the wardrobe department had finished with them, the heads that turned towards the stage were a sea of top hats, bowlers, and large bonnets adorned with floppy roses or drooping plumes.

On the tables at which they sat were crystal decanters, best English crockery, crystal fruitbowls dripping with plastic grapes, and candles flickering in silver candelabra. A waiter wandered among the crowd, serving more “wine” but was barely noticed, so intent was the audience on the action on stage. The illusion was convincing — the studio had the feel of a real music hall.

During the rehearsal the audience were encouraged to join in and "by the time we got to the take, they were really rip-roaring along, getting into the show, and understanding what we were trying to achieve,” said the show’s producer, director and choreographer, Ricky Stratful.

For each of the shows in the series, a different audience is used, appropriately dressed and made up. A band

is included in each set, with the band style and size varying according to the era — a brass section to give the Charleston feel to the 19205, an orchestra featuring strings for the 1890 s, and plenty of guitars for the 19605. All the music is entirely in period for each show.

The series will be screened in c

hronological order —'the 1890 s. 19205, 19405, 1960 s and the 1980 s.

The concept of the show was a joint effort between Ricky Stratful (who was responsible for the. Ray Woolf and Suzanne Lee series this year) and the show’s musical director, Carl Doy. Doy has had a long association of working with Tina Cross and wrote her winning entry for the South Pacific Song Quest in 1979, “Nothing But Dreams,” which was the inspiration for the show’s title, and is the opening number each week. "We are looking for a show that would give Tina a chance to show off her tal-

ents and versatility." said Stratful. Melodramatic sketches are included in each show.

The day after Tina Cross recorded the last show, she just had time to view the first two shows before catching the aeroplane back to Australia. Her reaction to the shows: ‘Tve seen a lot of things done by Television New Zealand, but this series has got to take the cake. With the different set. different costumes, different everything, it really knocked me out. To be ’ perfectly honest when they came up to me and told me they had this adventurous little idea they wanted to try, I thought it would be a bit hard to capture the era, but the ones I’ve seen, the 1890 s and 19205, have really captured the authenticity of the period.”

Tina Cross felt that the novelty of the complete change in the programme each week would appeal. "I’d like to think that once people knew that it was set in a different era each week,

they'd say. I wonder what's on next week',” she said.

Ricky Stratful hopes that the show “with all the colour and costumes will attract a large cross section of the public — mums, dads and kids." He included children because “although some of the material is old. all of the songs are standards. There is not a song in the series that is not known." he said.

• “Nothing But Dreams" will be screened on Wednesdays at 7.30 p.m. on Two.