State Fair
By Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II
By arrangement with Warner-Chappell Music
Season October-November 1998
Venue Belconnen Theatre
TheStory
The action takes place over five days in late August of 1946 on the Frake Farm in Brunswick, Iowa and at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines.
Abel and Melissa Frake truly enjoy each other and have a playful time tested relationship. They are vital farm folk who are not reticent about being affectionate to each other. If Melissa is a bit of a worrywart and tends to be a little highly strung, it's because she cares so much about her family's well being. And although Abel may seem gruff and preoccupied at times, he's a big hearted man who never fails to come through with the emotional support his wife and kids have come to rely on.
Margy is discovering what she doesn't want and is on the verge of doing something about it. It's what she does want that confuses her.
Pat is a newspaper man whose combat experience, both in World War 2 and with women has made him a cynic. But like Margy, he is on the brink of change.
Wayne is actually more naive than his younger sister. He's inexperienced and insecure although he thinks he has his life all figured out. When a sophisticated knock-out like Emily Arden appears out of nowhere and befriends him, his whole world is turned upside down.
Emily is not a villain. In a story about a naive young man and a worldly woman who breaks his heart it is easy to blame her for everything. Although there have probably been many Waynes in her life she is no less hurt than Wayne when they eventually fall apart.
Tom Briggs (Extracts from the Author's note July 1997)
ProductionTeam
| Director | Fran Bosly-Craft |
| Musical Director | Sally McRae |
| Choreographer | Jenny Hill |
| Assistant Choreographer | Amanda Clarke |
| Production Manager | Ian Davenport |
| Stage Manager | Myles Leon |
| Assistant Stage Manager | Alex Hildyard |
| Set Design | Fran Bosly-Craft, Ian Davenport, Roy Scamp, Bob Morris |
| Costume Design | Janet Wheeler |
| Lighting Design | Travis Harpley |
| Sound Design | Steve Herczeg |
| Crew | Rebecca Smith, Conrad Farrell, Derryth Nash, Derek Crook, Nick Leon, Alison Reardon, Eve Everard and Lorenzo Strano |
| Props | Frances Murphy and Emily O’Brien |
| Publicity | Ian Davenport |
| Poster and Programme Design | Kelda Mcmanus |
| Audition Choreographer | Jenni Mersiades |
Cast
| Margy Frake | Libby Warren |
| Pat Gilbert | Steve Herczeg |
| Melissa Frake | Pamela McManus |
| Abel Frake | Ian Davenport |
| Emily Arden | Katrin Hingee |
| Wayne Frake | Adrian Gilmore |
| Dave Miller/Hoop-La Barker | Bob Morris |
| Eleanor | Erina Brunt |
| Harry | Rodwell Faulkner |
| Gus/Judge Heppenstahl | Terry O'Brien |
| Fair Announcer/Charlie | Richard Niven |
| Confectionary Barker | Roy Scamp |
| Test your strength Barker/Roustabout | Justin Warnock |
| Balloon Barker | Jayne McLaren |
| The Astounding Stralenko | Jayne McClaren |
| Vivian | Emma Blake |
| Jeane | Melissa Blake |
| Hank Munson | John Van de Graaff |
| Lem | Frank Farrell |
| Chief of Police/Clay | Kit Collins |
| Judge | Judy Hayes |
| Judge's Assistants | Eileen Boyldew, Anna-Maria Forster, Jayne McLaren |
| Mrs Boxhorn | Megan Bolitho |
| Mrs Mosely | Judith Everall |
| The Fairtones | Linda Gledhill, Annette Brady, Sarah Williamson |
| Violet | Anna Johnstone |
| Mrs Edwin Metcalf | Margaret Franks |
| Lafies of the Chorus | Megan Bolitho, Jenna Linehan, Kirsty Linehan, Tanya Bacic |
| Dancing Animals | Rhiannon Jones, Penelope Clarke |
| Boy | Andrew Palmer-Allen |
| Girls | Julia Dunne, Becky Franks |
Orchestra
| Trumpet | Jackie Brown, Rose Holcombe |
| Trombone | Amy Windsor |
| Clarinet/Saxophone | Andrea Clifford |
| Bass Guitar | Peter McDonald |
| Keyboard | Sally McRae |
| Drums | Alastair Kerr, Michael Knight |
Awards
Canberra Area Theatre AwardsNominations |
|
| Best Actor in a Musical | Steve Herczeg |
| Best Actress in a Musical | Libby Warren |