Baz’s ballroom magic
IN 1992 Baz Luhrmann’s movie Strictly Ballroom became a smash hit in Australia, grossing more than $80 million at the box office, and winning awards and fans overseas.
Now Luhrmann, who directed and wrote the film, is repeating the success with the big-budget musical version, Strictly Ballroom The Musical, which had its Melbourne premiere on Saturday, January 17 at Her Majesty’s Theatre after a successful seven-month season in Sydney.
At the heart of the musical is the inspiring story of a championship ballroom dancer who defied all the rules to follow his heart, and it features dazzling dancing ranging from classic ballroom to the energetic tango and paso doble. Plus there are toe-tapping numbers including Love is in The Air and Time After Time.
The creative minds behind the musical are Luhrmann as director and co-writer; his wife Catherine Martin, a four-time Oscar winner, as set and costume designer; choreographer John O’Connell, who has worked with Luhrmann on most of his movies including Moulin Rouge!, Romeo + Juliet and The Great Gatsby; and Craig Pearce as co-writer.
The cast features rising stars Thomas Lacey and Phoebe Panaretos in the lead roles alongside seasoned performers including Drew Forsythe, Robert Grubb, Heather Mitchell, Mark Owen-Taylor and Jewish performer Natalie Gamsu.
Gamsu, who was born in Namibia and worked in South Africa and the United States for many years before settling in Sydney in 2003, is thrilled to be part of the hit show, playing the role of a Spanish grandmother, Abuela.
Gamsu says that when auditions were announced in 2012 she was not sure if there would be a role for her.
“I am not a dancer, but then I remembered there was a Spanish grandmother and thought that role was for me,” she recalls.
“I prepared in Spanish and it was one of those golden audition experiences. I was so thrilled when I got the role. Baz has the gift of making every person feel valued.”
Gamsu says the role of Abuela – which means grandmother in Spanish – is a small one, but “beautiful with lots of heart”.
On the eve of the Melbourne season getting underway, Gamsu talked excitedly about the show.
“It was hard work because it was a new show, but it has been so much fun. There’s so much joy on the stage,” she says.
“You don’t often have the opportunity of being part of a new show and adding your input. And it’s a wonderful Australian story.
“Melbourne will love Strictly Ballroom and I hope we will have an extended run here.”
Gamsu is enjoying being part of a large-scale musical; she has performed in big-budget musicals including Mary Poppins and Dr Zhivago, as well as starring in numerous cabaret shows.
“I love the intimacy and freedom of cabaret, where I get to choose what I will sing – and I have done cabaret around the world during the past 30 years – but in a large-scale musical you form incredible friendships and relationships among members of the big company,” she says.
Gamsu studied drama at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. On graduating, she established a cult following on the South African cabaret circuit.
From 1992, Gamsu moved to New York to focus on her cabaret career and worked there for 11 years before settling in Sydney. In 2001, Gamsu released her first CD, Weave, and a decade later – in 2011 – released her second album, Misfit.
Strictly Ballroom The Musical is at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Melbourne.
REPORT by Danny Gocs
PHOTO of Thomas Lacey and Phoebe Panaretos in Strictly Ballroom The Musical.
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