DISCO FEVER HITS SYDNEY
HAT’s newest production breathes life into Shakespeare, disco
Disco Nights opening Tuesday at Highland Arts Theatre.
Mixing Shakespeare with disco may sound like an odd combination but from March 13-18, the Highland Arts Theatre plans to do just that with its latest original production, “Disco Nights.”
For writer Wesley Colford, who will also be acting (and dancing), it’s not that strange, especially after he wrote and produced “Dream,” based on Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” but set in the 1950s.
“It occurred to me that Shakespeare comedies are so heightened and there’s so much ridiculousness to them — even though we think of them as serious classical art — that at the time, they were silly. They lend themselves to this musical comedy genre so disco is even more of a perfect match because you have such flair and theatrics.”
This time, Colford paired 1970s disco music with the lesser known comedy, “Twelfth Night.”
“I reread it and I was shocked at how funny it was — less about the plot and more about a series of really ridiculous circumstances which coincides very well with disco in the 1970s and
style of musical theatre that was popular then. All those things came together quite quickly and now we’re doing this show.”
Those who attend the production will see a show quite unlike any that the Highland Arts Theatre has done before. While most shows feature between 100 and 150 lighting cues, this show will feature more than 750 such cues and plenty of familiar music.
And then there’s the dancing. “My very good friend and often collaborator Cynthia Vokey is the choreographer and her strengths really play for disco,” said Colford. “What’s great about setting a show at a disco is that you have an immediate excuse at any moment for all the characters to start dancing.”
Lesley MacLean will be leading them. At age 20, MacLean
has been dancing since she was five and participating in major local productions for the past four years, including in the role of Belle in “Beauty and the Beast” at the Savoy Theatre in Glace Bay earlier this year.
“This is one of the first major roles that I’ve had though,” she said. “I’ve been involved in a lot of productions but this one is my biggest one for sure. It’s a full musical so there’s singing, dance numbers and singing and dancing at the same time. “It’s a challenge.” Balancing a job, university studies in business and rehearsals is no easy task but MacLean
says the rehearsal process has been efficient and the material is fun and familiar.
“There’s amazing lighting and there’s songs that I think everyone is familiar with, it’s a great cast and I think everyone is bringing so much energy to it and I think the public will really enjoy it because it’s a fun experience,” she said, adding she plans to keep taking part in productions like this for as long as she can.
“Fun and exciting are all I can think about when I think about doing the show.”