The movie (Florence Foster Jenkins) starring Meryl Streep and Hugh Grant inspired by the play was released to acclaim last year. In the 1940s the singer everyone wanted to see perform live in New York was the enthusiastic soprano Florence Foster Jenkins – “the first lady of the sliding scale”. Surrounding herself by devoted friends, almost as eccentric as she, this deliciously happy and delusional woman paid scant attention to her critics and would screech and warble to her audiences, most falling about with laughter.

This heart-warming comedy moves from Florence's charity recitals and lavish balls, through to her very odd recording sessions and her ultimate performance triumph at New York’s Carnegie Hall, incorporating her wonderfully colourful relationships along the way.

This play had its premiere in August 2005 at Birmingham Repertory Theatre. The production, starring Maureen Lipman as Florence, transferred to London’s West End in November 2005. The production opened to rave reviews and ran for six months and over 200 performances at the Duchess Theatre. 

The play was nominated for both the Theatregoers Award and the prestigious Laurence Olivier Award as Best New Comedy.  Since its London debut, the play has been translated into over a dozen languages and performed in 21 countries around the world.  In 2007, a new version of the play was created, using a cast of just three actors.

In this new version of the play, which will be on the Civic Theatre stage on Saturday, September 23, Diana McLean features in the role of Florence (best known for The Young Doctors, Number 96 and All Saints), Mitchell Roberts plays the role of Cosme McMoon and Felicity Soper plays multiple roles.

There will be two performances of this wonderful comedy; a matinee at 2pm and an evening performance at 7.30pm. 

Tickets can be booked online at www.civictheatre.com.au or directly from the Civic Theatre by phoning 6926 9688.

REHEARSALS are in full swing for Wicked – The Untold Story of the Witches of Oz. The cast is talented, and funny, and wonderful. Some of the people involved are very well known locally and have been in many productions. Other cast members are dipping their toes in theatrical waters for the first time. So the theatre has decided to introduce you to everybody involved in the production via their Facebook page (Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre). You’ll meet people like Jasmin, who is a Year 11 school student, Breanna who has an irrational phobia of unpolished wood, Abu who is double jointed and Kristil-Rae whose dog collects her mail from the postman.

They will each answer a question about what their life would be like if they were a witch, for example; if you were a witch who would you put a spell on? Or if you were a witch, what would you use as a cauldron? Or if you were a witch, where would you go on holiday?

Wicked will hit the Civic Theatre stage for ten performances from 4 to 18 November and tickets are selling strongly; if you’re planning on seeing the show you might want to get organised this week. Tickets can be purchased from www.civictheatre.com.au or from the Civic Theatre on 6926 9688.

*****

IF YOU haven’t finalised your plans for tonight, My Friend the Chocolate Cake will take to the stage at 8pm.

The band's collective musical influences are diverse and include: Penguin Cafe Orchestra, Irish and Scottish folk music, Joy Division, Arvo Pärt, and folk / pop / rock performers such as Billy Bragg, Talk Talk, John Cale and Michelle Shocked. 

Each album displays a range of styles from subtle chamber music instrumentals to atmospheric folk/pop ballad fusions through to full scale romps.

Somewhere within the unlikely union of kitchen sink piano tales, vivid chamber orchestration and hell-raising instrumental shenanigans, the Melbourne band has carved out a 28 year career including eight studio albums, two live albums and two retrospective albums, including the most recent release The Revival Meeting.

It will be a wonderful concert and tickets can be purchased online at www.civictheatre.com.au or the Box Office will be open 45 minutes before the show.