Mario

MarioFollowing rave reviews at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival, One-Eyed Man Productions in association with Hayes Theatre Co present the Sydney Premiere of Mario – a tribute to one of the biggest musical stars of the 1950s for a limited season from 9 July.

For a short while the American tenor Mario Lanza was the greatest star of the 1950s. One of the first superstars, his records topped the charts, he was the darling of Hollywood, and everyone fell for his charm and that beautiful voice. Ten years later, Mario was all washed up, dying mysteriously at the age of 38. What happened? What changed the smiling kid from Brooklyn into the diva that MGM sacked? Were the Mafia involved in his death?

Blake Bowden, previously seen in South Pacific sings up a storm as the stormy Lanza, while writer/satirist/pianist Phil Scott fills in the gaps, playing various characters in the singer’s life. Directed by Chris Parker, this show re-creates an era of memorable music, murderous mafiosi, and Louis B Mayer.

Blake Bowden won the ANZ Trustees Rob Guest Endowment Award in 2011, and went on to leading roles in The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Moonshadow. He was most recently seen leading the cast of Opera Australia’s South Pacific as Lieutenant Cable in the 2013/14 national tour.

Phil Scott has been performing solo cabaret at the piano since 1983 and has appeared in all major Australian cities including several previous visits to the Adelaide Cabaret Festival. Since 2000 he has co-written and co-starred in the annual political satire The Wharf Revue for the Sydney Theatre Company.

“With Phil Scott’s skilful piano playing and the beautifully crooning voice of Blake Bowden, Mario is an enjoyable and educational journey through the life of one of the greatest tenors of all time” – Glam Adelaide

Mario
The Hayes Theatre, 19 Greenknowe Avenue, Potts Point
Season: 9 – 12 July 2014
Bookings: (02) 8065 7337 or online at: www.hayestheatre.com.au

For more information, visit: www.hayestheatre.com.au for details.

Image: Blake Bowden and Phil Scott