Operatic Society takes sad Sennett story to stage

Press, 9 March 1988, Page 22

Operatic Society takes sad Sennett story to stage

DIANA HALES

The man who produced the side-splitting humour of the Keystone Kops, Mack Sennett, and his leading lady from the silent movie era, Mabel Normand, are the subjects of the Christchurch Operatic Society’s, jubilee production, “Mack and Mabel.”

But, in contrast to the slapstick comedy movies for which Sennett is best remembered, his own story I is enough to move one I to tears of sadness. The musical revolves round the director and his studio, his discovery of Mabel, “a hash-slinger with enormous potential," his love for her and his losing her to another director, William Taylor. Taylor introduced her to drugs and she died of an overdose, aged 30. Sennett not only lost his heart but eventually his studios and his (fortune when he refused to accept the replacement of J silent movies with talking pictures; ' | j Peter Simmonds, who portrays Sennett, said, “It is a tragic musical. If you do not come away with a lump; in your throat then you have missed out.” “Mack and Mabel” was a non-stop theatrical experience which cleverly adapted the cinematic

“flash-back” technique to ; theatre, he said. ’ iThe story begins with a defeated Sennett, aged 58, 1 losing his studios. His I reminiscences take thie i story back to his early I days. The older Sennett 1 occasionally steps out cjf < the action to converse with the audience. | < The Operatic Society 1 has assembled a large s cast — almost 80 strong i —- and sets have beein i hired from Napier. j i Because the actiqn j centred on SennetCs ' studios, there was the opportunity to create ja I diverse number of sets, - Simmonds said. | I There are 13 scene j changes — eight within , the first act — these ( keeping pace with the ; song and dance routines, s Simmonds said one of the . highlights was a tap-ballet j featuring Sennett’s famous ( b.athing beauties. | Rehearsals had gone ; "frighteningly smoothly, < but we have, a great cejst <

and everyone is working well together.” Lynda Milligan, who plays Mabel, said that their first full rehearsal really pulled the show together and everyone believed it could be a success. “Being the jubilee production we all want it to be something really special for Christchurch audiences. And I think it is,” she said, The original "Mack and Mabel” was performed on Broadway in 1974. The Operatic Society’s production is directed by Julie Hopkirk, who also produced the society’s version of “Fiddler on the Roof.” She also choreographed the ensemble chorus routines. Di Honeybone is responsible for the ballet choreography and Terry McGowan is the music director. The musical will open at the Theatre Royal on Saturday and run until Saturday, March 26,