As Bairnsdale Production Line Theatre Company’s upcoming production of & Juliet prepares to open at The Forge Theatre on Friday May 1, audiences will see two much loved performers return to the stage in roles that bring both humour and heart to this re-imagined classic.
Taking on the dual role of Nurse and Angelique is local teacher Skye Smith, a long established member of the company whose contribution to Production Line spans well beyond performance.
From serving as Secretary between 2009 and 2015, to directing Beauty & the Beast, and delivering standout performances in The Wedding Singer, Mamma Mia!, and a much talked about turn as Velma in Chicago, Skye
brings a depth of experience to the production that East Gippsland audiences have come to expect.
In &Juliet, Juliet’s long-suffering Nurse is reimagined as Angelique, a character who steps out from the sidelines to claim her own story.
Bold, humorous and unexpectedly heartfelt, the role offers both comic timing, emotional nuance and some powerhouse vocals.
“It’s such a fun role to play,” Skye said.
“Angelique gets to be bold and a little bit cheeky, but there’s also real heart there.
It’s been lovely to revisit a character audiences think they know and give her something new.”
“She’s been in the background for so long, getting the chance to step forward and tell her own story feels really special.
There’s a lot of humour in it, but also some tender moments with Juliet, and Cohen Baylis (as Juliet)
has been a joy to work with”, Skye said.
Joining Skye on stage is another familiar face to Production Line audiences, with Hugh Pemberton in the role of original character Lance, a French father whose strict, military background shapes his expectations of his son, François.
Since first appearing as Barnaby in the company’s 2009 production of Hello Dolly, Hugh has taken on numerous roles, most notably as the Beast in Beauty & the Beast.
When not on stage, he admits to practicing his singing out in the paddocks with his sheep, a captive audience, in more ways than one.
Complete with a thick French accent and a touch of swagger, the role adds both humour and a bit of middle-aged passion to a show
that features a mostly
younger cast.
“Lance brings plenty of authority and comic bluster, but there’s also a softer, more sentimental side to him as well, especially his connection with Angelique”, Hugh said.
As rehearsals continue, the chemistry between these two experienced performers is adding another layer to a production filled with colour, humour and reinvention.
In & Juliet, second chances aren’t reserved for just Juliet – Nurse, as Angelique, gets one too.
& Juliet opens at The Forge Theatre on Friday May 1, running for three weeks and concluding with a Sunday matinee on May 17.
Further information is available via the Bairnsdale Production Line Theatre Company and The Forge Facebook and website pages.
