Episode 19 - Opening Night

Mirror Ball Finale

OPENING NIGHT. We made it. (and between you and me, we totally rocked the golf course three venue, Tracks event for the Darwin Festival.

We were all ready. Everything planned to the detail. Our pineapple and crocodile biscuits made by the real CWA arrived, (and the samples were very nice.) How lovely to have them on board again. I think they will become a fixture of Tracks' shows.  The show was sold out before starting. Tim and David washed down the chairs and made sure everything was to their liking. Opening night gifts were distributed and Bilha even had a surprise bunch of flowers form her son and daughter in law. The Front of House staff were ready, the Ushers were all in place. Mary and CJ and Kelly had preset everything, Tony had warmed the lights and checked levels. The cast was warmed up, given performance notes, rehearsed the Finale, and put their costumes (Ann Gibb is amazing) and makeup on. We found out that Ann's father, Erwin Lapitz, the crocodile man we based the show on, was coming to see the show tonight. Pressure on Yoris.

We walked across the golf course to our starting positions (Teddy ran back to get his correct shoes). And the show started, as the hurley burley of the market took over. The crowd responded well and we moved to Act 2 across the lake.

Market scene: All photos by Jason Lam

Then we got word that a generator that powered that site had gone down. Kelly and CJ magically pulled a spare generator  into place and the audience were only delayed by 7 minutes. I don't think they minded hanging out under the full moon (almost) and the stars on a balmy Darwin  dry season night. Julia and Yoris were put on an extended standby and thank goodness we are working with professionals who took it all in their stride and went on to perform unfazed. The crowd chuckled the entire way through, as we had hoped they would

Bilha Smith, head CWA, leads her girls on with the cocktails

 Then onto the third site. With over 200 people as audience we had them all in and seated well within the allocated time. The scene started and I had a smile on my face for the full 40 minutes. By the end the audience were buzzing, many of them commenting on how much they wanted to get up and dance at the end.

Samran (Julia) joins into a full cast version of the Madison done to Disco Inferno

You have to love a dance show that not only makes people want to dance, but also makes them think that they are able to, that it is within their capabilities.

Kyle as Crocodile Hunter

Kyle and Melinda in their duet of cultural difference

Then we went back over to the club rooms to have a party which was catered for by Then Knock About Chefs program run by the Chair of our Board, David Taylor, out of the Bakhita (supported centre for homeless men). It was all Thai styled food, and as one of the Thai cast members, Theeradet Suphannabutt, said: "it tastes like real Thai food, that peanut sauce is the best." So a great big thankyou to David and his team, especially Sylvester who did not stop dancing the entire way through service, and probably "hasn't stopped dancing yet"..

Close to you, Pineapple woman revels in her Thai dancing

Pineapple Woman and Crocodile Man dance at their engagement party

The Busby Berkly finale

All  photos in this Episode were taken by our official photographer Jason Lam. We will post more on our facebook page when the dust settles.

At this rate the show should sell out quickly. So book. (08 8980 3333)