A huge hit at the inaugural Sydney Fringe festival - "Van Park" starring John Paul Young, Steve Kilbey and many more – will play for two weeks at Chapel Off Chapel theatre in Prahran during March, as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
This musical farce is about a group of washed up rockers who wind up in a Caravan Park. Amongst these battle hardened creatures a sensitive young boy come of age. Enter the love interest and let the music begin. It's theatre you might actually enjoy!
Just as his 1975 chart-topping song Yesterday’s Hero lamented a star’s fall into obscurity, JPY’s character in Van Park faces a similar fate – albeit one with a few more vices gleaned from the rock ’n’ roll lifestyle.
Van Park also stars another legend of the Australian rock scene – The Church’s singer, lyricist and bass guitarist Steve Kilbey, who’s character, interestingly, spends much of the show with a (cough) unusual phallic enhancement.
Van Park is written and produced by Greg Appel (Spontaneous) – who was one of the directors behind the very successful ABC documentaries Long Way to the Top and Bombora - the story of Australian surfing both were made with Paul Clarke who also collaborated on early stages of this musical. Van Park also features a live-on-stage soundtrack via King Curly, known among fans for their quirky and highly original sound.
Van Park is many things rolled into one. It is as much a touching story of an unconventional childhood as a critique on the excesses of hard living. But, ultimately, it’s a rollicking musical full of larrikin humour that’s plugged into an amp with the volume set to high.
If you want someone to play a washed up rocker who better than yesterday’s hero?
"Van Park was undoubtedly one of the highlights of the Fringe, and one of the successes of our first year. It sold fantastically well, to the point that we were turning audiences away at later performances. Greg has clearly hit on something that has broad appeal." CATHY MCABE The Telegraph (Sydney)
Venue: Chapel off Chapel, 12 Little Chapel St Prahran
Dates: 21st March – 1st April (not Mondays or Tuesdays), Preview 21st March
Tickets: $ 45.00 Full, $ 39 Conc
Times: Wednesday to Saturday 8.00 pm, Matinees Saturday 4.00pm,
Sunday 6.00 pm
Bookings: Chapel off Chapel.com.au (03)8290 7000
