Light entertainment: Gaslight will perform a Christmas show to wrap up this year’s Morning Melodies series in Geelong.
ERIN PEARSON
SPREADING Christmas cheer is more than just caroling for stage show producer Chris McKenna.
The festive season has more to do with making people chuckle and sing along with the cast of his Melbourne-based company, Gaslight.
The touring troupe will visit Geelong this month to perform its new show, Gaslight Christmas.
McKenna said the performance would combine traditional carols and contemporary Christmas songs “spiced” with humour.
“It’s a 100 per cent Christmas morning music,” he enthused.
“We love this time of the year. The seniors market that comes to the shows is the best crowd to play to.
“It’s going to be a great wind up to another successful year at Geelong Performing Arts Centre.”
Gaslight Company was the first group to perform for Geelong’s Morning Melody series, aimed to providing traditional sing-along-type entertainment for the region’s ranks of elderly residents.
McKenna said the group was looking forward to helping close the year with Christmas cheer.
“Geelong was the first arts centre outside Melbourne Concert Hall to ever start Musical Melodies and it was an instant success,” he said.
“We’re just as excited now to be part of the program as we were back when it started.
“The audiences keep us coming back time and time again.”
Gaslight will have a special guest on stage for the performing arts centre show, with Geelong Croatian folk ensemble HKUD Lado set to add its talent to the bill.
Arts centre general manager Jill Smith said the Musical Morning magic would continue in 2012.
“Season one begins in February with a stunning tribute to one of the country’s most accomplished performers in The Merry June Bronhill.
“In March, Australia’s favourite baritone returns when Donald Cant takes to the stage with a brilliant collection of new songs and old favourites, while audiences will swoon in April as Simon Gallaher sings The Great Composers; the consummate performer paying tribute to the greatest composers of the 20th century.”
Smith said Gaslight Christmas would complete the 2011 series in the performing arts centre’s Playhouse Theatre next Wednesday and Thursday.
