“There’s a time for sowing and there’s a time for reaping.”
"There's a time for sowing and there's a time for reaping."
“There’s a time for sowing and there’s a time for reaping.”
SUMMER OF THE SEVENTEENTH DOLL
HER MAJESTY’S THEATRE
18 Nov – 20 Nov
TICKETS
From $60*
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Tickets
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Concession + Under 30 pricing available.
Based on Ray Lawlor’s 1955 Australian play of the same name, this chamber opera tells the story of a long-standing tradition at the end of the sugarcane season, in which cane-cutters Barney and Roo travel south to Melbourne for their annual fling with two city girls. But this year, the seventeenth year, is different. Gone are the larrikin summers of their youth. Instead, their reunion is full of tension, silence, and awkward attempts to hold onto their past. One girl has married; all of them struggle to come to terms with what their futures hold.
Lawler’s play is considered to be the most significant in Australian playwriting, marking the first time the authentic Australian voice was depicted on stage. So too does Mills and Goldsworthy’s opera express, at its heart, something heroic, fragile, and utterly moving.
The opera was commissioned by the Victoria State Opera and premiered in 1996. Opera Australia subsequently presented the work in 1999.
PRE-SHOW TALKSPROGRAM DOWNLOADPRE-SHOW DINING + DRINKS
SHOWS YOU MAY LIKE
CAST
Olive Antoinette Halloran
Pearl Dimity Shepherd
Emma Elizabeth Campbell
Roo Joshua Rowe
Barney Paul O’Neill
Bubba Desiree Frahn
Johnny Dowd Nicholas Cannon
Adelaide Symphony Orchestra
CREATIVES
Conductor Richard Mills
Director Joseph Mitchell
Design Simone Romaniuk
Lighting Design Trudy Dalgleish
Suitability
PG
English
Hearing Loop
Accessible Venue
WATCH + LISTEN
SOCIAL
Does anyone else remember their first opera experience? Artistic Director, Stuart Maunder shares his below.
"One’s love of opera has got to start somewhere.
This is my start, my 'Road to Damascus’ moment.
Ingmar Bergmann’s 1975 film of Mozart’s The Magic Flute.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=l17SQeytHN8
Yes, it’s in Swedish, but to my 18-year-old ears that was just as foreign as German. And there are subtitles."
Comment below to share your opera starting point!
I worked as halbadeer in DON CARLOS IN 1966 SAW MARIE COLLIER IN TOSCA WIT TITO GOBI AND DONALD SMITH HOOKED LOVE OPERA.
Les Hugenots in Sydney in the 1980s. It’s a wonder I ever attended another opera. But I did and continue to do so.
As a Supernumerary in Lucretia Borgia with Joan Sutherland 1977..
I'd performed in two, Handel's Agrippina led to her death, a staged cantata, and the festival production of Pygmalion by Rameau, semichorus, before I saw one for the first time. AO's Rosenkavalier in HMT 1972, with Liz Osman. growing up I heard lots of opera on the BBC, and must have seen some. I bought the score of Rosenkavalier a few years ago to work out how the trio does what it does. none the wiser I'm happy to say.
Australian Opera toured Fliegender Holländer and Tannhäuser to Adelaide in the 1960s. Brian Coghlan took his German students along. Lifetime addiction!
Tosca 1974, I was in the kinder-chor of the Opera Australia production at the Adelaide Festival Centre. Magic!
2006 State Opera production of a Nabucco for me. The sound of the artists and orchestra blew me away. Not to mention the exploding walls and blood drop from the fly gallery- had me hooked!!
A late bloomer I saw Saul in the Adelaide Festival with the State Opera Chorus and have never stopped searching for that same thrill. We’re so lucky to have such brilliant musicians and artists in South Australia!
Verdi’s Aida did it for me - fabulous production and heaps of fun. Of course he also writes beautiful parts for mezzos, too!🎶🥰🥰
I was a 17 year old exchange student in the Netherlands. My host family took me on holidays to Italy and I saw Aida at the Arena di Verona, complete with elephants! 🐘🐘
Just hearing “The Pearl Fishers”
State Opera of SA Countess Maritza...and then 1986/7? SWEENEY TODD!!!! Nancye Hayes as Mrs Lovett...that was IT! I was hooked...
Manon with my mum on a holiday in Belgian while i still lived in the Netherlands in the 70s, listening to her singing areas from Faust and La Traviata while doing dishes and movie of Porgy and Bess with Sydney Poitier. Lots of operettas which were my dad's favourites.
State Opera is committed to supporting the talented singers, artists, and creatives who reside at the core of this company, and assures you that these wonderful people will be back on our stages and in our productions as soon as possible.
We know we can count on our audiences, partners and broader community to support each other at this time.
Good on you Stu. Keep punching. Love. Barry and Anke
Well said Stuart!
Lovely message Stuart- hang in there.
When this is over, the first thing I'll do is go to an opera. Hopefully, that opera is Sweeney Todd in October of this year, but regardless, I look forward to seeing your shows again when it's possible. 🙂
Thank you Stuart, looking forward to post Covid 19. Stay safe and happy.
Our beloved State Opera will continue to inspire and delight us in the times ahead with the magic of this wonderful art form. Thank you Stuart!
Sending best wishes to you Stuart 🙂 🙂 🙂
State opera will be better than ever once this is all over. I am so proud to be a part of this wonderful company again x
Since we're not together at Carmina Burana, the State Opera Staff decided to invite you to share a glass of Shingleback & Red Knot Wine with us as we knock off from a week of hard work in isolation. As you can see we are not yet the masters of Zoom!
No mechs. Jess Nash😪
I see the Brady Bunch reference - Thanks for the virtual knock off drink
Thanks State Opera. Watched Carimina Burana on YouTube in stead. Keep well everyone.
All good enough at Zoom to know not to be in the toilet. 😆
Wow that’s great. I’m sorry I missed out😯
Gorgeous ❤
Love it!!!
cheers!
It would have been a perfect night at Memorial Drive tonight. Cheers to everyone!
That is cool!! See you on the other side.
So sad not to be singing tonight, but this is fabulous! Cheers! ❤❤
Great idea!!
Wonderful! Thinking of everyone at SOSA ... fingers crossed I’ll see you in October xx 😘
thanks guys!! Missing y’all!! ❤️🥂
Thank you!
So cool stay safe everyone cheers 🥂 😘
Claire Edmonds-Wilson Kathryn House This should have been tonight 😢
🍷 🍷
Great effort!
This is brilliant ❤
Cheers to our favourite opera partners! Stay safe please & let’s all enjoy the small pleasures. Including that end-of-day glass or 2. Salut! 😊❤️🍷🍷
What...? No lip syncing?
So very clever and funny - thank you for sharing 😀
Did you miss Stuart and Desiree chatting with Peter Goers on ABC Radio Australia on Monday?
You can listen to the full interview here: www.abc.net.au/radio/adelaide/programs/evenings/evenings/12061534 (start – 40:30).
