Tawa gem to narrate `Rocky'

GINETTE MCDONALD: a 'treasure'.

  

MIKE EDWARD: Cast to play Rocky.

JONATHAN NEALE: A phantom.

Source: Waikato Times print edition

22 April 2005
By LUCY REED

"Lyn of Tawa" will play one of the lead parts in a Hamilton production of Rocky Horror Show later this year.

Ginette McDonald has been cast as the narrator in the show to be produced by Hamilton Operatic Society. She goes on stage with more than a dozen other actors in October.

Show director David Sidwell yesterday announced all but one of the castings. The actor to play the role of Dr Frank N Furter is still being negotiated.

Other castings announced yesterday included Morgan Fairhead, who will play Janet, and Mike Edward from the TV series The Strip as blond muscle hunk Rocky. Fairhead played Sandy in the society's production of Grease last year.

Brad will be played by James Shaw, Riff Raff by Nick Wilkinson, Magenta by Sam Ware and Columbia by Tammy Martin.

Brendon Weatherley will be Eddie as well as playing the part of a phantom. Scott Young will play Dr Everett Scott. Falstaff Dowling-Mitchell, Hayden Middlebrook, Jonathan Neale, Lisa Wiles, Gayle Williams, Stephanie Christian and Zoe Stevens will also play phantoms.

Of the 16 actors already cast, all are professional actors from this region apart from the three "imports", Edward, Shaw and McDonald.

Mr Sidwell said he was aware of some concerns over the choice of McDonald in the role of the narrator, a part also previously taken by Sir Robert Muldoon and Richard Long. Mr Sidwell defended his choice of McDonald as "his national treasure".

"I believe Ginette is a superb actor as well as an icon," he said. "She has a wonderful stage presence, and of course in that role we were looking for someone who had national identity . . . and an actor of repute."

As for Dr Frank N Furter, Mr Sidwell has his sights set on an actor who fits the role, but he is already contracted for another show which clashes with the Hamilton season. Despite two weeks of negotiations, Mr Sidwell said he hoped he would be able to secure the actor.

No one at the auditions held locally in March was right for the part.