‘Happy As Gary’ a sell-out show ...
ANDY Carolan is so chuffed with his latest theatre production, he’s as ‘Happy as Gary’ and was excited to announce on Friday that the premiere show was a ‘sell-out’.
“It’s very exciting, a lot of people have come out in support of local theatre. It’s wonderful.”
The local playwright, actor and producer has been living and breathing the character of Gary Tucker for months in preparation for the performance, which will be presented by Dubbo Theatre Company on July 26.
“He now feels like my alter ego,” Mr Carolan laughed.
“I feel like I have known him for 20 years. There are times when I actually think ‘what would Gary do?”
It’s been a long production period for Mr Carolan and his crew, but all the hard work has paid off.
“It was one of the longest by far,” he told Dubbo Photo News.
“Writing was a good six months and as a writer, once you have the script, you need to get it produced. On this one, we decided, let’s not wait around for someone else to produce it, let’s just do it.
“Once the script was finished on December 26, we announced that ticket sales would begin on January 26, Australia Day.”
It’s surely the favourite holiday of fair dinkum Aussie ocker Gary, who was inspired by Mr Carolan’s own dad, grandparents and assorted nursing home residents.
“He’s almost my father, he is a mixture of the fatherly figures in my life. And not just the male figures – the way he recollects is loosely based on how my grandmother would tell stories. I am from a family of storytellers, we all tell stories, they know how to spin a good yarn.”
Mr Carolan hopes the Dubbo audience will enjoy the story of Gary, the ‘happiest bloke in all of Dapto’.
“Australians, particularly out here, can really laugh at themselves,” Mr Carolan said, explaining that folks will be able to really identify with the central character.
He’d also love to take the show on the road sometime in the future.
“I’d like to get it happening in other areas. It’s definitely the type of show you can easily pack up and take with you.”
During promotion of ‘Happy of Gary’, plenty of local identities have made cameo appearances and some will feature in the show.
“You will get to hear and see some of them, all of them were willing to participate which was good.”
As for final preparations, Mr Carolan said “it’s all in hand”.
“The dialogue’s all down, it’s just smoothing and polishing now. We are definitely on track.”