Before we start, this is not a criticism of The Last Ship, which I have not seen but has had
some good reviews, nor of the Glasshouse Theatre, which many people love.
It’s a comment about pricing, demand and scheduling. I believe the record
shows that I am very pro-theatre and pro-musicals.
Are there “learnings” to be had from The Last Ship, the Sting musical that has been playing to less-than-full houses and has had to dramatically reduce its ticket prices? (More about that here.)
I’m not sure I know all the answers, but the questions include: Did Brisbane really need the new 1,500-seat Glasshouse theatre at QPAC or were the current facilities adequate? Should a new venue have been built somewhere else (at the still-empty Regent site, for example)?
Does an extra theatre at the same complex inevitably and unfairly put good shows in competition with each other, creating an embarrassment of riches that forces theatre lovers to make difficult decisions?
How many people opted for a pretend Michael Jackson singing songs they know and love over the real Sting singing songs they don’t know and a story they are not invested in? (Especially when the full-price seats for MJ were much cheaper?)
And how many would-be theatregoers are instead saving up for future musicals, including Book of Mormon, Beetlejuice and Fiddler on the Roof?
Meanwhile, one commenter on my social media feed suggests that theatre audiences are dwindling because some of the shows simply don’t have enough popular appeal.
Which raises another hypothetical: Would a jukebox musical of hits from The Police and Sting’s solo career have packed them in?
Local boy done good
A quiz over at my other substack, The Wrinkle, inspired a correspondent to remind me of a largely unsung* Queensland talent.
The quiz includes questions about Suzi Quatro, Pat Benatar and Tina Turner, who all had hits written by Nambour’s own Mike Chapman.
His list of hits written with Nicky Chinn under the “Chinnichap” moniker include Quatro’s Can the Can, Devil Gate Drive and 48 Crash, Mud’s Tiger Feet and Lonely this Christmas, The Sweet’s The Ballroom Blitz and Blockbuster, Racey’s Some Girls, Toni Basil’s (Hey) Mickey (originally a Racey song called Kitty), Smokie’s Living Next Door to Alice, and Stumblin’ In, which Quatro recorded with Chris Norman.
Chapman, who was educated at Churchie, also co-wrote Turner’s (Simply) The Best, Benatar’s Love is a Battlefield and Blondie’s Heart of Glass.
There’s a Chinnichap playlist on Spotify here.
And here’s an interview Chapman did with Richard Fidler for Conversations on ABC Radio.
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P.S.
Mumbrella reports that the Kyle and Jackie O Show director, Bruno Bouchet, has been made redundant. I wonder if that means the former Brisbaneite is now available to revive the idea he and I once had during an Octoberfest session to create and star in a “reality” dating show called Bruno or Brett? I suppose his wife might not approve.
*See what I did there?
Disclaimer: Brett Debritz used to be an entertainment reporter and theatre critic.