ABI Brother arrived by train and tram and with Phyllis at the wheel, me as driving advisor and my brother and Kosov in the back seat, we headed towards Geelong, with a stop off for nourishment at service station.
It was to see my niece Jo perform onstage in the musical Anything Goes, the children's version. Sister told me Jo had a couple of songs to sing in the musical. She undersold her. Jo had the lead role as Reno Sweeney, and sang many songs and she was brilliant on stage. Sister said Jo cried a bit on the way to the theatre. When asked why, she said Ray, my late partner, won't be there to see me. I minorly cracked up when Sister told me. Then later, among the various family members who were there, Hippie Niece mentioned Ray, and how he would have loved to have seen Jo as the lead in the musical. Auntie Andrew cracks up again.
Oh my God. Jo was fantastic, shone above every other performer in the role of Reno Sweeney.
You may not know the show, but I am sure you will know some of the music.
I saw Jo performing last year at the same venue, the Belmont Secondary College. The school auditorium is good, but it is not airconditioned and the seats are awful. I can live with the latter because it is a school theatre but it is a disgrace that the venue is not air conditioned in this day and age. I am going to become an activist about this. Five years after Melbourne Boys' Grammar completed its fantastic new building no doubt with air con, another fantastic new building is being, a school subsidised by Australian taxpayers.
Last year at Belmont Secondary, with a temperature of 38/100, sweat just rolled off us. This year at 23/74, it was uncomfortably warm and stuffy.
If you aren't familiar with Anything Goes, I'm sure you will know the song Anything Goes, and perhaps You're the Top, I Get a Kick out of You, It's De-Lovely and Blow Gabriel Blow.
A photo that will disappear soon, taken at when the performers come out to have photos taken with friends and family. Jo even nailed an American accent. Her costumes were fabulous. This one was not her best. Most were more tight fitting and blingy. I cropped Auntie Andrew out of the photo. I said to Bone Doctor, Sister's wife, you must be so proud of your daughter. Oh yes, I am, she replied.
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Are you talking about little Jo who came to you for some days and Ray liked her so much ? Wow what a nice girl she has become and I am glad that you could enjoy her performance even if had to be without your "better half" !
ReplyDeleteYes Ingrid. She is now a grown woman. Ray had a lot of influence on her life and he loved her dearly.
DeleteI know several of those songs. What a thrill to see her do so well. A star in the family.
ReplyDeleteBoud, I think she may go on to be a great on stage talent. She also performs in a punk rock band.
DeleteBravo! It's so much fun to see a family member perform in a musical and see them do well.
ReplyDeleteDeb, I think she is nearly to the standard of being a profressional stage performer. We'll see in the next year or so.
DeleteShe is very beautiful and obviously very talented too.
ReplyDeleteJayCee, I agree of course, but I am heavily biased.
DeleteJo shining in her moment, Ray’s love felt in the wings, and you witnessing it all with a full and generous heart
ReplyDeleteI cannot say it better. Hugs, my dear.
DeleteThat's very sweet Roentare.
DeleteThanks Darla.
DeleteYou must be so proud of her as well.
ReplyDeleteOh yes Pixie. I am brimming with it.
DeleteIt is a continuing disgrace the amount of tax payers money that goes to private schools, at the expense of state schools
ReplyDeleteI know, I know, J. This Labor government with a huge majority could cut it right back now.
DeleteShe has captured the look of the time perfectly. A bittersweet occasion but how proud Ray would have been.
ReplyDeleteMerlot, don't make me tear up again. You understand.
DeleteIf people don't know the show, I'm hoping they at least know the great Cole Porter song of the same name.
ReplyDeleteKirk, I was surprised that I knew every song, bar one, which was quite boring. I've probably seen a full production of it at some time in the past.
DeleteThree cheers for Jo! It takes guts to do what she did - as well as talent. It's disappointing that you cropped yourself out of the picture but no doubt you did it to avoid causing distress to small children and pets.
ReplyDeleteYP, she has talent aplenty and has worked hard at the craft. I hate being reminded of how old I am in photos.
Deleteshe looks like a movie star Andrew. You must have swelled with pride to see her in the show like that.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, Strayer, and Ray and I had something to do with her talents.
DeleteWhat an exciting future she has ahead. Thrilling for you to be there to share and enjoy her success.
ReplyDeleteFunt60, I do really think she has a future in theatre. She has learnt a lot of behind the scenes skills as well. She may go to a tertiary performing arts school next year.
DeleteI vaguely remember the song Anything Goes, but have not a clue about Reno Sweeney, who or what is that? Of course Jo was brilliant, she always has been. But congratulations to her. And yes, be activist about getting the place airconditioned.
ReplyDeleteRiver, this time she really shone as a professional. Her outfits as a nightclub person were fantastic.
DeleteOops, I got mixed up. Reno Sweeney is the character Jo played in the play Anything Goes.
ReplyDeleteShe is beautiful and so talented.
ReplyDeleteWith some bias Linda, I agree.
DeleteMy how Jo has grown into a beautiful women. Good on her, a talented lass and you too are very proud of her.
ReplyDeleteMargaret, I am very proud of her. It will be interesting to see how she goes in life.
DeleteJo is a gorgeous young woman and she obviously has worked very hard to develop her talent.
ReplyDeleteIt's sad to know Ray wasn't there but you can be sure he contributed
Kylie, thanks. Indeed we, especially Ray, contributed a lot to her early life.
DeleteOh my, she is a young adult. When you write about the kids, I think of children. She is ready to pave her way in the world, with remarkable talent and sensitivity.
ReplyDeleteTP, she is indeed now a young woman. Where will she go?
DeleteWhat a lovely evening out. Jo must have been on cloud 9 by the end of it, notwithstanding her sorrow that Ray was absent. Her experience will give her confidence and the ability to handle auditions, if she proceeds in that direction. Performing certainly seems to be in her future, one way or the other.
ReplyDeleteShe is quite good academically JB, but I really think the arts is the best direction for her.
DeleteSchool musicals are almost successful. Sometimes they might show some talent that may lead to future career options. And sometimes they are just a great opportunity to have fun away from Maths and Chemistry. Well done niece
ReplyDeleteHels, she's had years of performing with plenty of voice training, singing and dance classes. She was the only performer who could speak with an American accent. She's trained in makeup, costumes, lighting and writing. She can play a couple of instruments and plays in a punk rock band.
DeleteOMG little Jo is all grown up and lovely!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jackie.
DeleteWhat a beautiful lady she has become! I love how your family all comes out to support her.
ReplyDeleteDebby, no tall, but most of the family were there. Thanks.
DeleteI wonder if she will go into theatre as a career? It sounds like she has a lot of talent, Andrew.
ReplyDeletePat, I believe she will. She has the talent but of course it is very competitive. See my remarks to above to Hels.
DeleteWonderful for you to see this great performance Andrew and of course, it hits you in the heart when you hear Ray's name (and his support) for your niece.
ReplyDeleteI was in such shows myself in prehistoric times and I can tell you the rehearsals are brutal (singing, dancing, movement, all of it) so well done and Brava to Jo 🙌👌
WWW, I know very well how hard Jo has worked on this performance and those where she had a lesser role but still shone. Nevertheless, both Mrs' Worthingtons encouraged and supported their daughter's theatrical efforts, and I am sure will continue to do so. Thank you.
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