A Bowls Club Wedding - The Grey Panthers
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Darwin Bowls Club, Fannie Bay, Darwin
Aug 14-16, 21-24, 2003
Darwin Festival
A world war of dancing
'A Bowls Club Wedding' was conceived by David McMicken and Merrilee Mills. Over many years of work with the Grey Panthers, they came to a rich appreciation of the ‘friendly rivalry’ that exists between these women and their teams (bowling, softball, golf). David and Merrilee decided to take this just a little bit further!
Do you remember a time when things were a little simpler? A time when the biggest worry was who might win the next tournament or even what to wear to your best friend’s wedding? Who thought that ‘team spirit’ could lead us to the brink of a world war of dancing?
Tracks Dance Company invites you to the wackiest wedding of the year, a celebration of love sparked by rivalry in the twilight years.
Jack and Kitty, the bride and groom, are long-standing members of feuding bowls clubs, the Top End Terrors (snakes in the grass – bowls with bite) and the Mindil Monitors (prickly with a nasty tongue). They are mavericks in a world where team acrimony festers through generations of ardent supporters. Tribal loyalties run so deep that such a union is an outrage!
The Top End Terrors
Oh, we’re the Top End Terrors
We put up quite a fight
The other teams
Are old has beens
Coz we’́re the team with bite. BITE!
The Mindil Monitors
We are the Mindil Monitors
We rule the bowling green
We’re hard and fast We’́ll kick your grass
We’re slick, we’re quick, we’re mean.
Can Jack and Kitty prove that true love later in life conquers all?
'A Bowls Club Wedding 'was the ‘hit of Darwin Festival 2003’. It featured the fabulous Grey Panthers, accompanied by local comedy legends Gail Evans and Yoris Wilson and Tracks’ male youth dancers who displayed a funky ballroom style.
As parochial as Dimboola and as zany as Crackerjack, 'A Bowls Club Wedding' shared the passion of Romeo and Juliet with the fury of a footy grand final!
Creative Personnel
Director, choreographer: David McMicken
Co-Director and designer: Tim Newth
Co-Conceiver and Musical Coordinator: Merrilee Mills
Choreography: Julia Quinn, David McMicken
Writer/text: Gail Evans
Lighting Design: Neil Macknight
Additional Costume Construction: Louise Rieck
Sets and Props: Janice McEwen
Flowers and Decorations: Betty Newton
Production and Promotion Personnel
Technical Operator: Elka Kerkhofs
Stage Hands: Alex Bennet, Guy Bannister
Promotions: Suzanne Fermanis
Publicist: Sue Camilleri
Front of House Manager: Heather Richards
Sound Engineer: John Hammat
Poster Image and Design: Mark Marcelis
Performers
The Top End Terrors
Gail Evans – Lori the MC
Julia Quinn – Flower Girl
Kevin Gould – Jack The Groom
Friends of the groom: Margaret Glowacki (Maid of Honour), Lucy Aylett, Beryl Darben, Kathleen Harding, Crena Hemmings, Elaine Marlow, Greta Quong, Jacquie Williams, Josh Mu
The Mindil Monitors
Yoris Wilson – Gil the MC
Audrey Gorring – Kitty the Bride
Friends of the Bride: Betty Ballinger, Barby Barclay, Kay Brown, Adie Bruce, Bette Chapman, Val Clark, Jan Hastings, Lois Penman, Shirley Somers (Bride’s Maid), Marko Taopo, Byron Low
Scenario
- Prologue – The Arrival
- Act 1 – Trying to be Nice Interval
- Act 2 – The Attraction/The Art of Playing Bowls
- Act 3 – Rivalry Out of Control
The Grey Panthers are a unique group of Territory women, predominantly over 60. The group was formed in 1988 (under Sarah Calver). With over 1,200 collective years of wisdom, they dance, they sing, they act, they write, perform drill marching and poetry, and they ride on the back of Harley-Davidson bikes in street parades. There is very little these women don’t do!
They perform regularly for special events, especially for older adults, women, and health-specific organisations.
A note from Director David McMicken.
I found the timing of this show to be very pertinent, when in the world the USA had invaded Iraq, and George Bush said that you were either 'a friend or the enemy', nowhere in between. We utilised this idea by dividing our audience on arrival into two opposing teams, gave them war cries, and plenty of opportunities to see their rivals as enemies. It was surprising how, night after night, it would take only a few minutes before our audiences were raucously egging their team on while putting their opponents down. It is always fascinating to me how easy it is to divide and how important it is to unite.
Tracks 2003
Artistic Directors: David McMicken and Tim Newth
General Manager: Suzanne Fermanis
Dance Animateur: Julia Quinn
Bookkeeper: Heather Richards
Publicist: Sue Camilleri
Office Administrators: Heather Richards (Jan - Feb), Janice McEwan (March - April), Rukshana Ramachandran (June - August), Jolene Mooney (September -December)
Committee Members: Jackie Wurm (Chair), David Taylor (Vice-Chair), Glenn Bernardin (Treasurer), Kyleigh Hindson (Secretary/Public Officer), Ken Conway, Donna Quong, Jill MacAndrew, Kay Brown (Ordinary Committee Members), David McMicken and Tim Newth (Ex-Officio Members)
Photos
Videos
Explore Further
Older Adults Home Page
Iconic Tracks Works
SOME AUDIENCE FEEDBACK
Mark Bunnet: What a great slice of Territory Theatre
Lizzi & Mark: Absolutely delightful a fantastic night out. Go you Terrors!
Jean & Richard Payne: Very clever. Brilliant idea, great choreography.
Chris Millawich & Colin Freeman: Just keep the great shows coming.
Mark Johnson & Kula Maria: Full of surprises, we had great fun. Thank you!
John Farrell: Energy Plus - stroke of genius
Beryl Green: The way the young men seemed to fit in so well with the older ladies was unique and such a joy to watch.
D Farrell: Fantastic community event.
Rice Family : We could have danced all night. Congratulations on a marriage in dance heaven.
Russell Knight: Thank you for the opportunity. We appreciate what you have done for the community and for the Club.
Mauren L: What a delightful, happy show- a blend of youth and seniors -perfect.
Marie-Louise Pearson: Fabulous show. The blend of young and old was just great. Excellent location.
Don D: Darwin needs more of these entertainment.
Sue Gleed: Fantastic - fun - uplifting. Good on ya!
Jill Southcott: Best thing I’ve seen in years. Call Steven Spielberg!!!
Lyn Mounsey: Great to see the young and the old all enjoying themselves. We need more shows like this. Well done, everyone.
Palmerston Bowls Club: Brilliant. We need more of this.
Y Forrest: Oh, what memories! Oh, what legs! A most wonderful evening!
Jeremy Conlon: Wow. What a blend of everything. No boundaries, no bars held, fantastic!
John Bennett: All great. Thanks for a great show - very Darwin.
Dixi Joy: Great cultivation of Oz culture and great fun, Grey Panthers.
Media Response
"Darwin audiences have recently been thrilled and uplifted by 'A Bowls Club Wedding' a recent production of TRACKS Inc. Featuring the Grey Panthers, this raucously amusing theatrical entrepot of song, dance and music enjoyed a sell-out season during the 2003 Darwin Festival.
The combination of pulse and verve of these young dancers juxtaposed the grace and charm of the Grey Panthers to create a work where dance, in various genres and forms, took centre stage…
However, it was the contrast between young and old - dance of the past and dance of the present – that gave A Bowls Club Wedding its edge of distinction. With comedy and wit, the coming together of different generations through the dance styles that mark their times, conveyed the continuum of dance as a social form of expression and enjoyment. 'A Bowls Club Wedding' was received by Darwin audiences with heartfelt pleasure. The "dancing grannies" combined with the "grunge ‘n groove grandsons" made a potent cocktail that left its audience with a mellow afterglow." Joanna Barrkman, Real Time