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 MerriIee 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.

Tracks 2003

Artistic Directors: David McMicken and Tim Newth
General Manager: Suzanne Fermanis
Dance Animateur: Julia Quinn
Book-keeper: 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)