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A biblical stage rock musical based on the Gospels, Man of Sorrows was first produced in Melbourne under the title The Jesus Christ Revolution. The name was changed to Man of Sorrows, for the Sydney season, which began in June 1972. Under this title it also played in New Zealand (1932 and 1973) and in Edinburgh, Scotland (1972).
Although the 1971 production predated the arrival in Australia of Jesus Christ Superstar and Godspell, and was described by at least one reviewer, Michael Symonds of the The Sydney Morning Herald, as 'the most likeable of the three Jesus musical's [currently] in town' (13 June 1972), Man of Sorrows nevertheless succumbed to the publicity hype surrounding the two international productions. The Melbourne season lasted only three weeks. The musical fared well in New Zealand, however,. It still considered one of the country's most popular rock musicals of the 1970s. Man of Sorrows also won the award for best new musical at the 1972 Edinburgh Festival.
Notes
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After returning to Australia in 1971 following some two years overseas working for the Rudas Organisation, Enzo and Peggy Toppano and close friend Lorrae Desmond began writing their musical. Harry Wren (J.C. Williamson's) had heard that the Australian production of Jesus Christ Superstar was imminent and wanted to get his show out before it arrived. The libretto and music was subsequently completed in six weeks.
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The cast of the 1971-72 Melbourne season included John Paul Young (later one of Australia's most successful pop singers of the 1970s).
The 1972 New Zealand production featured 22 year-old Rob Guest in his first lead role. Another high profile New Zealander associated with Man of Sorrows was composer/musician/ music director and conductor Gary Daverne
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New Zealand promoter William Forbes-Hamilton is reported in the New Zealand Herald of 30 November 1974 as planning a revival of Man of Sorrows as an outdoor production. It is unclear if this went ahead.
Production Details
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1971: Comedy Theatre, Melbourne; 29 December 1971- Jan. 1972 [3 weeks]
- Producer Williamson-Edgely Theatres Ltd (in association with The Jesus People).
- Cast incl. Betty Lys, Doug Smith, Erl Dalby, John Paul Young.
1972: Pitt Street Congregational Centre, Sydney; 6 June -
- Director John McLeoad.
- Cast incl. Ron Stevens (Jesus), Erl Dalby (Judas), Colin Croft (Herod), Jennifer Bailey (Mary), Tony Andre, Rick Burchall, Seam Cullip, John Davison, Christopher Field, Gordon Lawson, Leonard Lee, Gregg Patten, John Ryall, Maria Sanson, Max Steiner, Sonja Tallis and Rev. Clive Way.
1972: Auckland, New Zealand; ca. November-December.
- Producer William Forbes-Hamilton (Victoria and Albert productions).
- Cast incl. Rob Guest, Gary Daverne, John Lees, Grant Bridger.
1972: Edinburgh, Scotland
- Director Deryk Gould.
- Company Onstage 66 [amateur].
1973: Auckland, New Zealand (revival); ca. December.
- Producer William Forbes-Hamilton.
