Words and Music by Jon English and David MacKay
With collaboration from John Dallimore, John Coker, Greg Henson, Keith Kerwin, Tony Mitchell, Graham Matters and Roger Dallimore.
Stop Press – See pictures of Jon English in Paris and read fabulous reviews.
The sensational double CD of Paris - with five new tracks - is now available on all good Music Theatre CD sites in Australia, United States, UK, Germany and through David Spicer Productions. Special DSP price $35 AUD including postage and handling in Australia and New Zealand. Visa card or cheque is acceptable. Email david@davidspicer.com for bookings.
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PARIS NEWS
Paris the Musical. Laycock St Theatre 2003. NSW Australia.
"Inside Outside" Return season April 11-19. 2008. Book on 02 43 233 233.
As you can see from the above picture, PARIS had its world premiere in Gosford on NSW Central Coast in 2003. Now after a sell out season there will be a return season at the Laycock Street Theatre.
David Spicer Productions has
formed a new pro-am theatre company called SOUTHERN CROSS MUSICALS to stage
the production from April 11 until 19, 2008
Directed by Stuart Smith, Musical Direction by Andrew Swan
The much loved musical has been substantially updated and edited since its premiere with many new songs and dialogue added. Stuart Smith and Andrew Swan have been entrusted by Jon English and David Mackay to produce the updated edition and are bursting at the seams to showcase it with a first class orchestra, cast and a special guest celebrity in a main role.
The simultaneous world premiere of Paris took place in October 2003. Its has been staged by Rockdale Regals (Sydney), Laycock Street Theatre Gosford, Stella Entertainment Melbourne, Palmerston North High New Zealand, St Peter's College Adelaide, North Shore Music Theatre Auckland, St Francis Xavier College ACT, Ipswich Grammar School, Guildford Young College Hobart, Starlight Theatre Brighton England and Rockhampton Venue and Events Theatre Queensland
Read reviews and features about Paris:
Paris is an ancient Greek myth, based on the story of Helen of Troy. It was first produced as a double CD/cassette concept in 1990 becoming the most popular original Australian music theatre recording ever. It is an epic musical with fantastic music and wonderful chorus opportunities.
The time line is approx. 800BC (bronze age). The story is a compilation of Homer's Iliad, Virgil's Aeniad, and various other classics. Like most popular myths, references are still in use today. 'Achilles heel', 'Trojan Horse', 'Cassandra Complex etc. Names like Hector, Ulysses, Cassandra, and of course Helen of Troy are all familiar in contemporary knowledge. All play a part in Paris.
THE STORY:
Essentially it is a love story, the original 'Star crossed lovers' are Paris and Helen.
ACT 1.
Paris is the youngest son of Priam, King of Troy. He goes on a voyage of discovery - Nothing’s Going to Stop me because I’m heading straight ahead - and is shipwrecked on the island of his enemy...Sparta a powerful Greek Province. He is washed up on the shore and there he meets and falls instantly in love with Helen of Troy. Face to Face Heart to Heart She is the wife of his enemy - Menelaus the king of Sparta a (powerful Greek province). They escape and sail back to Troy. Menelaus is furious He has Just stabbed me right in the heart. Back in Troy the lovers get a luke warm reception Who the hell is she? Helen is permitted to stay but the Trojans are nervous. There’s bound to be a war.
Audio
Files:
Track 1 Overture:
MP3
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Media (WMA)
Track
6 Perfect Stranger: MP3
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Track 16 Hell
or High Water: MP3
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ACT 2.
As feared a huge armada of Greeks are preparing to invade. No turning back. It’s survival the only law. Paris and Helen reaffirm their love amid the looming bloodshed. I’ll love you for better or for worse. Ten years of war follows. The Greeks device a plan they’ll construct a giant horse and put soldiers inside. Two bumbling drunk soldiers are volunteered for this dangerous operation. We’re inside outside waiting to get inside..it’s a bloody big hack..there’s room in the back so hop in for a ride. The Trojans think the horse is a gift from the Gods and move it inside. With this fatal mistake the war is lost. Menelaus can exact his revenge... So many have died for the pride of a fool. Helen weeps for her slain lover. Sleep now my love, we’ll never part...Love has power.
Audio
Files:
Track 11 Inside
Outside: MP3
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Track 14 Finale:
MP3
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HOW TO STAGE IT - A WORD FROM JON ENGLISH
Theatre originated in ancient Greece, and it is to those roots I suggest you borrow in order to stage this production. Traditionally the actors would mime the action while commentary was delivered by a 'chorus' who would describe what was happening.
The stage was a semi-circle amphitheatre, chorus up the back and actors down the front. Paris is roughly designed to be presented in this style. This is an epic story involving oceans, storms, huge battles, Gods, and basically anything George Lucas or Tolkien could come up with!! To try and literally perform these scenes is fraught with danger. I suggest that the story is strong enough to simply 'make reference' to the larger scenes by perhaps using shadow play, (i.e. '96 Olympics opening - Devised by Rick Birch and YES he has heard Paris hmmmm!!) and minimal references to say, a ship by simply using scaffolding and a mast. The mast for example could double as the internal structure for the giant wooden horse in the second half.
Projection screens and lighting effects are also a cheap but effective way to change scenes.
For example, the ocean, the beach, the campfires, and the Trojan walls, not to mention the shadow-play battle scenes. Perhaps visible PS and OP are two statues or symbols to Aphrodite (goddess of love and passion) and Athena (goddess of law and order). Perhaps a Dove and a Sword or even two large revolving Helms or masks that could become other scenery pieces when they are turned. Making reference to the 'head versus the heart' which is an underlying theme of the whole piece. The rest is all down to 'people power'. The more the better. Singers, dancers, and hopefully acrobats and martial artists will help enormously.
CAST:
THE TROJANS
PARIS...Youngest son of Priam - Prince of Troy.
PRIAM....King of Troy. Father of Paris, Hector and Cassandra.
HECUBA...Wife of Priam.
HECTOR...Second in line to the Trojan throne - Warrior and Master of the Trojan Defences.
CASSANDRA...Princess of Troy, and Prophetess - doomed to see all her prophetic warnings ignored.
ANEAS...Trojan Noble and Sea Captain, Second in Command to Hector.
LAOCOEN....High Priest of Troy - the only one who truly listens to Cassandra.
HELMSMAN.
OPENING NARRATOR.
THE GREEKS
HELEN...Wife of Menalaus - Queen of Sparta.
MENELAUS - King of Sparta - Husband of Helen.
ACHILLES..Prince of the MYRMIDONS in THESSALY - strongest warrior in the known world, and almost invulnerable due to a blessing from the Gods. But like most divine Blessings has a fatal flaw.
PATROCLUS..confident and only true friend of Achilles.
AGAMEMNON...Elder brother of Menelaus and King of MYCENAE. Commander in Chief of the Greek forces at Troy.
ULYSSES..King of ITHACA - Intelligent and Brave. Also Blessed and Cursed.
HANDMAIDEN...Helen’s personal slave
FISHERMAN...Old Friend and confidant to Helen.
SINON..Inept press ganged volunteer, Greek Soldier.
THERESITES and TALTHYBIUS...two reluctant, bumbling and inebriated Greek Soldiers.
AJAX...Greek Businessman.
DIAMEDE...Greek Businessman
Minor Roles/Chorus:
Citizens of Troy, Greeks, Soldiers, Gods, Sailors, Warriors.
ORCHESTRA: Rock band and full symphony orchestration.
ROYALTY: Code A.