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NO PAY? NO WAY - VIRTUAL
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NO PAY? NO WAY - VIRTUAL

By Diana Simmonds
May 20 2020

The Opera House season was cut short by the arrival of Covid19 and the cast and crew retired to lockdown. The end, everyone thought. But no: streaming live from each of their homes, the gang is reuniting to perform a full reading of the play.

Directed by Sarah Giles, starring Helen Thomson, Catherine Văn-Davies, Glenn Hazeldine, Rahel Romahn and Aaron Tsindos, (see above on their virtual stage and below in production shots from the stage season - all by Prudence Upton) will be doing it all again after a day of remote re-rehearsal, the virtual curtain will rise at 7.30 pm, Thursday 28 May on the entire play, complete with stage directions. 

Having taken part in something similar recently (The Sooterkin - my own work in progress!) I can tell you it's going to be the best fun and illuminating to the point of wonderment. Here's an except from the stagenoise review from the beginning of the year, to let you know what you're in for:

"In No Pay? No Way! working-class Milan is in uproar over job losses and rising costs. When already-inflated supermarket prices rise overnight by 30%, local women jack-up, help themselves and scarper with their shopping. The play opens with Antonia (Helen Thomson) and her reluctant co-criminal Margherita (Catherine Văn-Davies) arriving in a clatter of panic and “liberated” groceries at Antonia’s apartment.

NO PAY? NO WAY - VIRTUAL

"As good Catholic girls rather than urban terrorists, they are scared stiff they’ll be found out not only by the Carabinieri but also by their respectable Communist Party-stalwart husbands. When sirens blare Antonia’s loot goes under the bed and rather than be allowed to jettison her share, Margherita’s string bags are hung around her neck, her coat is buttoned and she’s suddenly pregnant.

"How this is explained to a suspicious cop (Aaron Tsindos) and to Antonia’s husband Giovanni (Glenn Hazeldine) is in the gloriously bonkers tradition of farce: the crazier the premise, the more earnest the actors must be. And there are few who can be so inanely solemn in the face of the improbable than Helen Thomson and Glenn Hazeldine."

In this virtual production, you'll hear Stage Directions from Shari Sebbens. Interval entertainment Charles Wu. The backstage magic will be from Stage Manager Todd Eichorn. Sound and Video Manager Ben Lightowlers. Sound and Video Supervisor Hayley Forward. IT Manager Alex Rutherford.

NO PAY? NO WAY - VIRTUAL

HOW TO ENJOY IT:

Pricing and ticket information - Event live stream: Thursday 28 May 7.30 pm. A recording will also be available on-demand: Friday 29 May - Wednesday 3 June. Approximate duration is 2hrs 20mins (including interval). Tickets will be available from the STC website for an appropriate ‘pay what you can’ price of $0, $5, $10, $15, $20 or $25. Tickets and more information can be found here: https://www.sydneytheatre.com.au/whats-on/productions/2020/no_pay_no_way_reading

 

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