THE NEW ZEALAND OPERA SOCIETY
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Dead Man Walking in SydneySubmitted by NZ Opera News on May 22, 2007 - 03:05.
 Teddy Tahu Rhodes Starring — Teddy Tahu Rhodes, Catherine Carby and Kirsti Harms A Dramatic Musical Event based on the True Story & Novel by Sister Helen Prejean. In 1982, Sister Helen Prejean was the spiritual advisor to the convicted murderer of a teenage couple. Dead Man Walking is her moving account of their incredible emotional journey while preparing for his execution in Louisiana, USA. As a best-selling novel it remained at number 1 in the New York Times Best Seller Lists for 31 weeks, and as a film starring Susan Sarandon and Sean Penn it won an Oscar and earned several other nominations. When Dead Man Walking first opened in the US it became an overnight sensation — the fastest selling opera production in recent history. At its Australian opera debut in Adelaide it met with standing ovations and packed houses, winning it no less than four Helpmann Awards. Now Dead Man Walking comes to Sydney in a brand new production led by the extraordinary Teddy Tahu Rhodes, whose portrayal of a death row inmate shot him to international stardom. Why has Dead Man Walking been such a success? Drawing on opera, jazz, and negro spiritual it wrenches our emotions and intellect exploring the limits of human compassion in a compelling human way. It is both epic and deeply personal, telling an extraordinary ‘love’ story between a nun and a convicted rapist and murderer — the true story of Sister Helen, an unconventional nun, who accompanies Joe de Rocher to his death. It is a story that has moved people and played to packed houses ever since the opera made its sensational premiere in San Francisco in 2000. In this brand new Australian production, directed by Nigel Jamieson (“Honour Bound”, Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, Jose Carreras at Angkor Wat), and created especially for the Sydney State Theatre stage, our perceptions of opera are further stood on their head, with a fifty five piece orchestra vertically stacked around the action on an extraordinary five tiered set, on to which graphics and specially commissioned film sequences are projected. A stellar cast of over fifty performers sees Teddy Tahu Rhodes joined by Stephanie Acraman, Jud Arthur, Anthony Callea, Elizabeth Campbell, Catherine Carby, Kirsti Harms, Alan Jones, Tiffany Speight and Hayden Tee.
This true story starts with the murder and rape of two teenagers who are engrossed in the pleasure of each other’s company. It then follows Sister Helen’s journey into the intensely emotional psychological territory of the murderer and his redemption, as well as the suffering of the bereaved parents. As Joe is given his lethal dose at the end of the opera, he wishes that his death will bring comfort to the parents of his victims. Sister Helen, never giving up on Joe, makes certain that the last thing he sees in this world is her face, smiling back at him with love and compassion. Dead Man Walking is not designed to make any political statements, but rather asks the questions — Is there a moral difference when the State kills as opposed to an individual, and should justice be determined by the notion of an “eye for an eye”? Produced by Andrew McManus, usually associated with rock n’ roll events, and Alexander Productions, Dead Man Walking is a major development in the presentation of opera and outstanding music theatre in Australia, reaching out to new audiences and challenging perceptions of how and where opera can be produced. Dead Man Walking will be a compelling and unforgettable night in the theatre. Performance DetailsState Theatre, 49 Market Street, Sydney. 10 performances only. Thursday 27 September at 8pm |
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