Show celebrating MARJORIE LAWRENCE returns to Winchelsea

Wendy Grose and Len Vorster are returning to Winchelsea, Sunday July 29 at 2pm, with their production A Different Hat, which celebrates the life of Marjorie Lawrence.

“Our Marj”, the girl from Deans Marsh, Victoria, won the Sun Aria in Geelong in 1928 and conquered the operatic world in Europe and America, becoming the highest paid Prima Donna at the Paris Opera, the world’s first horse-riding Brunnhilde and a stunning dancing Salome.

Struck down by polio at the very peak of her career, Marjorie fought back and resumed her career, singing better than ever, although she was wheelchair bound for the remainder of her life. She was a gregarious and inspiring woman with an insatiable appetite for life and an enormous passion for hats!

The show begins at the point in Marjorie’s career where she was asked to begin teaching.

Addressing the audience directly (as if they are a prospective student), Marjorie moves back and forth through the highs and lows of her life, taking the audience with her on a journey.

Through the use of text and song, Marjorie illustrates the qualities a singer requires in order to pursue a singing career.

This is a technique from when Wendy and Len performed the show to a sell-out crowd in the Globe in 2007.

The Globe Theatre reverberated with the music of Marjorie Lawrence on that Saturday afternoon.

Soprano/actress, Wendy Grose presented her production, A Different Hat, in celebration of the anniversary of Marjorie Lawrence’s birth in Deans Marsh.

Marjorie Lawrence was born on February 17, 1907.

The audience enjoyed the performance which captured special moments and musical highlights of “our Marj’s” life.

In spite of the heat, Wendy was in fine form raising the roof with her melodic renditions of old favourites such as “My Ain Folk”, “Danny Boy” and selections from Wagner’s “Ring Cycle”.

“We were treated to fine piano accompaniment and characterisations by renowned pianist Len Vorster, who recently returned from South Africa,” Wendy said.

As Wendy told the tale of Marj’s life, she donned many hats representing a lifetime of hat loving and collecting.

The tale is told from the perspective of being born in Deans Marsh, growing up there and in Winchelsea through to her amazing successes internationally.

The production sends the audience on an emotional rollercoaster, being reduced to tears with some of the tragic parts of her story and then to roars of laughter as her stoicism and enthusiasm for life itself and singing are shown in humorous manner.

Some of the audience in 2007 continued the celebrations at the Winchelsea Tavern with a feast featuring Rabbit Pie, one of Marj’s favourite meals.

This is a special opportunity to be entertained and also discover more about the local “girl made good”.

Bookings can be made online at trybooking.com/WUAV.

The Globe Theatre is on Willis Street, Winchelsea.