A Rhapsody in Red is one show that writer, director and choreographer Caitlin Beresford-Ord will never get sick of performing.
Now in its eighth year and starring The CoverGirls – Beresford-Ord, Sharon Kiely and Clare Moore – A Rhapsody in Red will continue in its 1960s music-themed quest for love at Connections Nightclub from January 26 to 31.
The evening of music and mayhem developed from a Sydney 60s band Beresford-Ord was in called The Beat Girls.
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READ NOW“When I moved back to Perth, I realised that I didn’t want to stop and I wanted to start my own group, but also to draw on something more theatrical,” the 1999 WAAPA graduate said.
“And the wonderful thing was, two girls I’d been at WAAPA with, who did musical theatre and I idolised, had both moved back to Perth around the same time. I was lucky that they both agreed and it’s been eight years of joy.”
Beresford-Ord said the basic premise was people should be able to shut their eyes and be transported back to the love songs of the 60s, open them and discover a bit of a twist.
“Just about every pop song ever written has been about love – unrequited love, love gone, love lost, love failed,” she said.
“It was such an extraordinary period of writing and when Motown was hitting its stride; the girl groups were massive with exquisite female voices.”
The mother of two said their characters Peggy-Sue, Mary-Jane and Just Betty were archetypal (think Mad Men) and started the show desperately wanting to find a man and ended the show happily single, without hating men.
“This really is about women starting to take control of their lives,” Beresford-Ord said.
“Our show references Germaine Greer and is definitely a bit of a cheeky nod to the less feminist qualities of the 60s.
“It starts at the beginning of the 60s with Love Me, Love Me, Love Me and finishes at the end of the decade with Respect.
“The guys get a lot of loving in the audience with a lot of audience interaction. Our show is a little bit naughty, even though I don’t love that word, it definitely is just that.”
THE ESSENTIALS
What: A Rhapsody in Red
Where: Connections Nightclub
When: January 26-27, 29-31
Tickets: www.fringeworld.com.au