THE BURLESQUE HOUR & More Set for fortyfivedownstairs's Upcoming Program, Melbourne

fortyfivedownstairs have announced their Summer program will include productions of UNCLE VANYA, THE BURLESQUE HOUR and more.

Theatre: Uncle Vanya
Hotwire Productions
17 May - 3 June

A cast of 9 has been assembled for this new production of Chekov's great play – written 115 years ago, Chekov's unparalleled insight into human nature and its frailties is both recognizable and relevant today. Uncle Vanya has been described as "a study of unfulfilled longing". Like so much of Chekov's writing it hovers between laughter and tears – a bit like all our lives really.

Directed by Laurence Strangio; and featuring Richard Bligh, Don Bridges, Uschi Felix, Peter Finlay, Brenda Palmer, Sarah Ranken, Louise O'Dwyer and Bruce Woolley with Tom McCathie

dates: Thursday 17 May - Sunday 3 June
preview: Wednesday 16 May
times:Tuesday to Saturday 8pm, Saturday 4pm, Sunday 6pm
tickets: Preview $15, Full $38, Conc $25, School groups 20+ $15

Theatre: The Burlesque Hour: The Glory Box
Finucane and Smith
7 June - 1 July

News just to hand! Meow Meow, who was such a hit in The Burlesque Hour last year (and then went on to a two State sell out season of The Match Girl) loved her time at fortyfivedownstairs so much that she's returning to join the inimitable Finucane and Smith production again this year – but for two weeks only: the feline sensation is only here from June 7 – 17!

…She was mobbed in Mexico…
….Detained in Tokyo …
… Pursued in Paris as she boarded a luxury liner…

The world loves her. The world wants her. But Meow Meow dug in her claws "I want to go BACK to The Burlesque Hour" she purred. Book now or you'll miss out and then the fur will fly!

Meow Meow joins the line up: Ursula Martinez' infamous red hanky strip, Literary legend Christos Tsiolkas, Miss Behave sword swallowing, Gasp inducing Harriet Ritchie in She-Wolf (not in sheep's clothing!), Anna Lumb sharp-suited-killer-heeled trapeze, Holly Durant Robot Love, Kitten Ko aerial catfight, Maude Davey rock god meets showgirl, and of course Moira Finucane is Medusa!

dates: Thursday 7 June to Sunday 1 July
times: Thurs 7pm, Fri/Sat 7pm and 9.30pm, Sun 5.30pm
tickets: Catwalk: Full $66, Conc $56; General: Full $56, Conc $46; Peanut Gallery: all $25

Theatre: The McNeil Project
Wattle We Do Next Productions
6 - 29 July

The McNeil Project presents two of Jim McNeil's best-known plays penned in the Parramatta jail over 30 years ago: The Chocolate Frog and The Old Familiar Juice.

Funny, moving and ever provocative, McNeil's award winning plays put a spotlight on a world acknowledged, but rarely revealed, and highlights the hypocrisy between 'them' and 'us'.

Directed by Malcolm Robertson. Featuring Cain Thompson, Luke McKenzie, Will Ewing, and Richard Bligh.

dates: Wednesday 4 to Sunday 29 July
previews: Wednesday 4 and Thursday 5 July
times: Tues - Sat 8.00pm, Sun 5.00pm
tickets: Preview $30, Full $44, Conc $36

Both galleries: Allan Wolf-Tasker
Wye River and Coastline
8 - 19 May

Allan Wolf-Tasker draws inspiration from the Otway Coast in his latest series of landscape paintings from the country he loves and knows so well, including Freshwater Creek, Mt. Defiance, Point Sturt as well as Wye River itself.

'This recent work continues my obsession with aerial perspective….a sort of "out of body' view of the world.'

Allan Wolf-Tasker studied sculpture and printmaking at R.M.I.T. graduating in 1966. He has exhibited in group and solo shows in Melbourne, Perth, Sydney and New York.

Bookings for all fortyfivedownstairs shows: www.fortyfivedownstairs.com tel (03) 9662 9966