The curtain falls on a Broadway stage, the star comes forward to receive her applause. Melina Mercouri, sex symbol and Cannes award-winner, tells her New York audience the truth about events unfolding in Greece. A military coup has taken place, and lives are at stake. What can one woman do? This new drama, set to music and song, transports us to 1967. When one woman stood up to the Greek army from a stage in New York, and lived to see the consequences.
This uplifting cabaret invites us into the heart and mind of the film siren known as the ‘Greek Goddess’, Melina Mercouri. Originally from a socialist family in Athens, this moment in history turns her from a Hollywood-bound starlet to an activist for her country. Expelled from Greece by the military junta, she refused to be silenced.
Award-winning music theatre star Maria Mercedes (Taxithi, Nine, Zorba, Chicago) conjures the flavours and textures of Melina Mercouri’s world, with this captivating cabaret based on the life, work and passions of an actor, singer, activist, politician and icon of Greek popular culture.
Dive into her majestic world through the stories and music of her life. Experience love songs, traditional Greek songs, protest songs, songs from her films and comedy songs – in English, French and Greek, all accompanied with live music from talented musicians on piano, guitar and bouzouki.
Acclaimed cabaret theatre director Terence O’Connell (Reviewing The Situation, Around the World In 80 Days, Kitchen Sink) and musical director Andrew Patterson (Taxithi, Eurobeat, Blood Brothers, Guys and Dolls) present an original piece of captivating theatre.
“What I love most in the world is Greece. But the Greek sea, the Greek hills, the Greek sun, the reflection of the Greek sun on those Greek hills are not for me to see. I am not permitted to return to Greece, this is why I’m here, speaking to you tonight.” – Melina Mercouri
Greek Goddess
Black Box Theatre – Burrinja, 351 Glenfern Road, Upwey
Performance: Wednesday 28 June 2017 – 8.00pm
Information and Bookings: www.burrinja.org.au
Gasworks Theatre, 21 Graham Street, Albert Park
Performances: 29 June – 1 July 2017
Information and Bookings: www.gasworks.org.au
Image: Melina Mercouri