Director of “Funny Money”

 

 

 Joan Stalker Brown, director of "Funny Money"

Joan Stalker-Brown is originally from Sydney and moved to the Gold Coast in 1987.

 

Joan Stalker -Brown has been involved in all aspects of theatre for over 40 years. “Funny Money” is the 49th play that she has directed and the second play for Phoenix. “ Hotel Sorrento” was performed last year. Some of her more memorable directing achievements include:  “Noises Off”, “Cold Comfort Farm”, and   “Who Killed Agatha Christie?”

Joan is an accomplished actress, having trained under Doris Fitton at the Independant Theatre, Sydney for 3 years and has worked professionally in the Sydney Independant Theatre, the Ensemble Theatre, and Q Theatre.

Joan has also had various film and television appearances with speaking roles in “Winds of Jarrah”, “Umbrella Woman” and a leading role in a Japanese funded film titled “The Wedding”.

 

 

 

 

The play takes place on a spring evening at the Fulham home of Henry and Jean Perkins in the present

 

This brilliant farce enjoyed a spectacular run at the Playhouse Theatre, London, starring Sylvia Sims, Trevor Bannister, Henry McGee and the author himself as the hapless Henry.

 

 

"Farce -lovers are in for two

and half hours of inspired,

demented bliss" - Sunday Times

 

 

 

Stage Manager

Gabriella developed an interest in Amateur Theatre in 1989 whilst living in Coffs Harbour.  Gabriella’s theatre credits include appearances in “Man of La Mancha”, “Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” and “Anything Goes”.   Gabriella prefers to work behind the scenes and has been involved in Phoenix productions of “Oklahoma”, “Pirates of Penzance”,  “Calamity Jane” and “Sailor Beware”. Gabriella has stage-managed “Wait Until Dark”, “Cosi”, “La Cage aux Folles” and “Godspell”. She has directed “Annie”, “The Crucible” and “Stepping Out”.

 

Gabriella Field

Lighting and Sound

Paul has been a member of Phoenix ensemble for 2 years and has sung and acted in a number of musicals. He recently performed in Phoenix’s season of “Les Miserables” where he sang the role of Javert.   He is a guitarist, clarinet player and singer in Covers band Oddz ‘n Annz and is an A grade Rugby Union Coach with Brisbane GPS clubs. He is delighted to be able to support his fellow Phoenix members in the stage crew role.

 

Paul Green

 

 

        JEAN PERKINS.........Janice Hancock........... HENRY PERKINS.........Brett Edwards..........BETTY JOHNSON.........Sue Mately..........VIC JOHNSON.........Alex Milosevic.........DAVENPORT........Grant Ebling..........BILL........Andy Gollege..........SLATER...........Rob Macfarlane...........PASSER-BY........Miller Zivkovic

 

 

Brett Edwards

Brett is a Drama Teacher at Helensvale High School. His 15 years experience in professional and community theatres has brought many successes including “Threepenny Opera”, “Christie in Love”, “Hamlet”, “Noises Off”, “On Golden Pond”, “Two Weeks With The Queen”, the mega hit “Cosi” and the Australian classic, “Away”. This is Brett’s first time acting for Phoenix and his umpteenth collaboration with the woman who gave him the ‘bug’, Joan Stalker-Brown. He is pleased to be working with Joan again and is enjoying the demanding role of Henry.

Grant Ebeling

Grant has been found on stage for many years and one day will be caught acting. Grant has been seen at Phoenix in many Cooney Farces the last one was when he played George a Parliamentary Private Secretary for a prominent MP who was caught in a compromising situation in “Out of Order”. He was last seen on stage performing the role of Luther Billis in the Gold Coast Theatre production of “ South Pacific”. Grant is a versatile performer and has been in musicals as well as cabaret and straight plays.

 

Janice is a Publicity Officer with Windaroo Valley High School. Playing a challenging role like Jean takes a considerable amount of research, unfortunately she can't remember any of it.....you'll find out why!! She was previously directed by Joan  in “Hotel Sorrento” for Phoenix last year playing the role of Hilary which was also demanding, but in many different ways.Calamity in “Calamity Jane” and Ma Hood in “Sherwoodstock” are two other roles with Phoenix of which she is proud. Over the last 5 years she has played many and varied roles in plays and musicals and has been cast in other areas of performance too, mainly television commercials and film extra work.

Janice Hancock

 

Alex joined Phoenix two years ago and has performed in five productions and has also been involved in set artwork and stage management. He has most recently been seen in the Australian play by Louis Nowra “Cosi” playing the role of Roy. Other roles include Ovington in the musical “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying”, and of Mutton in “Dimboola” .Other musicals performed were “Godspell” and “La Cage aux Folles” For ten years Alex was a performing member of the Serbian Folklore Dance Group ‘Kosovka’ and the Folkloric Dance Group of St Nikolas Church.

Alex Milosevic

Sue Matley

Sue migrated to Australia from England in 1991 and has over 20 years experience in stage and theatre. A former school athletics champion, she has appeared in musical productions of West Side Story, Carousel, A Chorus Line, High Society, The Merry Widow, La Cage aux Folles, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and Les Miserable. Sue works at Moreton Institute of TAFE organising and managing events. Funny Money is Sue’s second play, having performed in the role of Julie in Cosi for Phoenix earlier this year. Sue finds acting challenging and is enjoying developing her skills in this area.

Andy Gollege

"Where to guvs? The theatre? I’ve been involved with that for a while, since I emigrated back in ‘96. Started acting for Phoenix in “Hotel Sorrento” with that Stalker-Brown lady. Took a bit of pressure to get me to 'tread the boards', know what I mean? Thoroughly enjoyed it, very nice. Since then I’ve been in “Dimboola” and “Cosi”. Always wanted to do comedy, now’s me chance. ‘Ere we are then. Thirtyseven pounds fifty thanks. Fifty  pound note? Smashing I don’t carry any change!"

Miller Zivkovic

Miller Zivkovic, Executive Chef of a prominent Brisbane Hotel, makes his debut appearance at Phoenix as Mr Big.  Miller has a background in music and folkloric dance. Miller hopes the cameo role as the drug lord Mr Big will lead to future roles in other productions.

Rob Macfarlane

Rob is a high school teacher at Springwood State High School and has appeared at Phoenix in the musicals “Oklahoma”, “Calamity Jane”, “La Cage aux Folles” and “West Side Story”. He also has played major roles in “Wait Until Dark”, “Out of Order”, “It Runs in the Family”, “Dimboola” and “The Other Side”. Rob’s preference is for character parts in comedy. Rob when not acting is also involved in set construction, lighting, stagecrew and prop construction for Phoenix.

 

Crew Director.................Joan Stalker-Brown Stage Manager.......Gabriella Field Backstage Crew......Maureen Jackson Prompt..................Colleen Newlands Sound & Lights.....Paul Green

Set Construction   Cast & Crew Set Artist...............Ray Aubrey Poster Design........Heather Scott Programme............Janice Hancock Photography..........Janice Hancock Banners.................Ray Aubrey Publicity................Tonya Koot Front of House......Glynis Aubrey

 

Acknowledgments and Thanks

Grant Ebeling & Janice Hancock for Props and Furniture

Gabriella Field

Web Page by Annie and  Wal

14^th November, 2000

 

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