Phobia

Chamber Made

30 November 1999

presented by MOBILE STATES: Touring Contemporary Performance, Australia ...deliciously comic. Herald-Sun A story of feigned madness, love and deception, PHOBIA takes the audience into the beguiling world of film noir in a charming and hilarious hybrid of music, physical theatre, slapstick and the timeless craft of cinematic sound effects. Inspired by Hitchcock's classic thriller Vertigo, PHOBIA, brings together the absurdly talented band, Ennio Morricone Experience, with the pioneers of extreme physical theatre, desoxy, in a celebration of the great film noir soundtracks of the 50s and 60s. PHOBIA takes place on a stylised set where every prop becomes an instrument as performers weave a narrative of tension and intrigue through music. Sound brings the story to life - imitating the surrounds of an elegant restaurant, the click of high heels on a pavement or the agony of breaking bones! The wryly familiar dramatic clichés are all there - the femme fatale, the wily private eye, the endlessly ringing telephone, the distant scream... ...poetic, witty and endearing... the effect is that of Hitchcock or Chandler or Wilder reinvented by the surrealist Magritte. The Age Award-winning composer Gerry Brophy combines musical originality with a flair for the theatrical in this inventive and enjoyable production. PHOBIA employs a cast of multi-talented performers at the height of their powers; The Ennio Morricone Experience - Boris Conley, Patrick Cronin, David Hewitt and Graeme Leak and physical theatre duo desoxy - Teresa Blake and Dan Witton. Devised and written by Chamber Made's artistic director, Douglas Horton, PHOBIA is a unique example of his very original approach to theatre. Sound & Music: Gerry Brophy and ensemble Text & Direction: Douglas Horton Performers: Teresa Blake, Boris Conley, Patrick Cronin, David Hewitt, Graeme Leak, Dan Witton Design Co-ordinator: Jacqui Everitt Lighting: Gina Gascoigne Sound Design: Darren Steffen Toured by Performing Lines Preview: Wednesday 20 April @ 8pm Opening: Thursday 21 April @ 8pm Season: Friday 22 April @ 8pm Saturday 23 & 30 April @ 5pm & 8.30pm Tuesday 26 - Friday 29 April @ 8pm Tickets: $25 full, $20 PICA member, $15 S/P/U Chamber Made Opera Inc. is assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body. Originally produced by Melbourne's Chamber Made Opera, Phobia is the second show to be toured as part of Mobile States: Touring Contemporary Performance, Australia. Mobile States is a touring initiative of the Theatre Board of the Australia Council with participation from the Dance Board and the New Media Arts Board. Mobile States presenting partners are Performance Space (Sydney), Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts, Brisbane Powerhouse, Salamanca Arts Centre (Hobart) and North Melbourne Town Hall, with Tour Management by Performing Lines. As part of its national tour, Phobia will also be presented by Canberra Theatre Centre and Adelaide Festival Centre.