Presented by HIT Productions and QUT Gardens Theatre is the classic Australian story written for the stage - The Sapphires. This story may be known to audiences through the film of the same name, but it did all start on the stage and you should very well find out why. The Sapphires is a unique tale that looks at four talented Yorta Yorta women finding their way to stardom by singing soul for the troops in Vietnam. Whilst audiences may naturally compare the stage play to the feature film, it is important to recognise what a theatre setting does for the story as well as for the audience involved.
With plenty of laughter involved, The Sapphires included heaps of fun moments that audiences of all ages could enjoy. Starring Matilda Brown, Mindy Kwanten, Lorinda Merrypor and Ngaire Pigram as the quartet of Sapphires it was a fantastic show in which each woman had their moment to shine and express their character through song, as this is of course a musical at the end of the day. Written and directed by Tony Briggs, this tale brings to life a powerful and moving story that encapsulates the magic of storytelling through a myriad of soulful numbers.
With the live band bringing such an energetic and upbeat vibe to the show, it’s safe to say that the musical direction was handled superbly by Nathaniel Andrew. Mike Smith as Dave Lovelace inspired plenty of laughs and this was due to the fact that he brought a dorky but honest aspect to the character. Each of the four women sang with such passion and emotion that it was truly something to witness, and most definitely worth seeing this show in person. In order to experience and appreciate the feature film we must go back to the roots, and see where this story came from. Where did it all really start?
Before we talk big budget feature film, we talk a smaller budget theatre play that still has an honest ring to it regardless of the format. It’s the honesty of relationships, group dynamics and the harsh reality of war. It’s the solo between Cynthia’s character and Jimmy, the connection between Gail and Lovelace and the girls finding their balance in the Sapphire quartet. It’s all these aspects that ultimately make a good show and it is the intricate layers that make such a story exciting, interesting and watchable. It’s worth seeing The Sapphires so you can enjoy this story in its original form.
19th - 20th March
QUT Gardens Theatre, Garden’s Point Precinct
Joanna Letic