Take-Off at Last! Zooming with Legends of the Skies (LOTS) Theatre Inc. - 11am, Saturday, 28 August 2021
Zoom Review
Take-Off at Last!
Zooming
with
REVIEW PART ONE
by
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Mentone Public Library hosted a
Zoom Author Talk on Saturday 28th August
with the writers, performers and production team of
Legends of the Skies (LOTS) Theatre.
Mentone Public Library President
Graeme Johnstone and Elsie Johnstone
for gifting their timeslot to LOTS.
August was initially to be the Johnstones’ author talk,
with LOTS originally scheduled to appear live at
Mentone Activity Hub in July.
With Lockdown 5.0,
this became unworkable.
As an appetiser for their return in 2022,
Graeme and Elsie gave rousing renditions
of a recent poem each:
Graeme read the title poem from his poetry anthology
Chardonnay Socialist & Other Radio Poems,
while Elsie read “Me Knees Have Gone”
from her as yet unreleased poetry anthology Old Girl to complete her Girl poetry anthology trilogy.
It was like catching up with old friends again.
It would be the same feeling in the case of
the LOTS presentation.
Graeme was called back to speak on behalf of the library as president, to update Zooming patrons on Mentone Public Library’s flurry of planning progress
behind the lockdown scenes.
The library would receive a physical rejuvenation: a repaint and refurbishment in the months to follow lockdown.
All in keeping with the re-envisioning of the library
as a Readers & Writers’ Centre.
Graeme then introduced LOTS in poetical style
with a nod to aviation celebrating
‘How to fly a plane when grounded’.
Julia, in character as Dutch flight attendant
Lottie van Lots Neun, strengthened by the steadfast
technical support of Mentone Public Library
Events Volunteer Molly Slack,
lay down the Zoom-keeping etiquette
for the journey.
LOTS director Maggie Morrison announced this
with footage of the opening scene
from their 2020 production filmed at
The Australian National Aviation Museum
at Moorabbin Airport.
Our screen was filled with a
spectacular assortment
of aeroplanes from the past.
LOTS band members Peter Funke and Ray Higgins
provided the indigenous musical soundtrack
to this opening montage with their masterful
didgeridoo-playing.
It was even more interesting hearing the intricacies of their skilled playing, as I hadn’t heard the broad musical spectrum capable of a didgeridoo before.
With COVID-19 lockdown across Victoria
grounding live theatre for much of last year,
Maggie, as director, re-envisioned the
production concept for 2020.
After much deliberation, the revelation came
it would find its way back to its audience via Youtube;
a visual framing and filming of selected aviation stories
as a ‘best of’ story compilation
from the past seven live productions.
Stories such as that of Friedrich W. "Fred" David,
‘the wandering refugee’
who designed the boomerang aircraft and
who flew out of Moorabbin Airport,
and the incredible Gertrude McKenzie,
would make their Youtube debut.
Two local school students told of their
positive experiences acting in LOTS.
Year 7 student Abigail said LOTS had provided a place
where she could be some of the many versions
of herselfthat she was still exploring.
Fellow Year 7 student Jessie told how it was magical
seeing something you’ve put so much work into come to life, and seeing the joy of the audience
in live performances.
Cast and crew all aim to return to live theatre in 2021
for the last two weeks of October
to deliver LOTS: Series 9
as part of this year’s
Maggie said that Legends of the Skies exists
to both keep great stories of Australian aviation alive,
to publicise the Museum and make the audience think about the great achievements our country is capable of.
It was a fascinating and inspiring Zoom talk
showcasing the breadth of what is on offer
from this unique company.
I am looking forward to the live
LOTS: Series 9 performance later this year.
Though we were unable to have the August session of
in person as originally planned,
we were still able to enjoy hearing about how
Legends of the Skies (LOTS) Theatre Company adapted
to the COVID-19 environment, and we were privileged
to see footage of their recorded performance from 2020.
Maggie enthusiastically recalled what processes
they all had to go through.
We also heard from some of the cast and crew.
Musician and singer Colin was animated as he told us about
the challenges of practising on Zoom,
particularly as they were geographically separated.
There were many technical issues (such as sound lag).
It was also challenging to not have the energy of an audience.
Despite these difficulties however, they were grateful to be able to perform at all, given how much COVID-19
had affected the arts industry overall.
There were strict guidelines to follow,
but they got together at the
National Aviation Museum in Moorabbin to film
their production.
Kerry, who played Gertrude McKenzie, said that emotions weren’t being exchanged as much as they would be for a live performance, but it was interesting to hear her recollections of pre-COVID rehearsals at Maggie’s house -
as it was originally Gertrude’s property.
Maggie revealed that Gertrude was in fact the inspiration for creating LOTS, as a result of discovering she had bought a house on land formerly owned by Gertrude McKenzie.
This amazing lady was Mayor of Mordialloc in 1958,
and in the 1940’s and 50’s ran and owned her own flying school for pilots at Moorabbin.
Kerry remarked the cast could feel her spirit in the room.
At the end, we were lucky to see footage of
playwright-author-actor Alison Knight
performing her original play recounting the demise of
World War II pilot officer
The Zoom audience were easily able
to feel the emotions she was conveying,
heightened by the powerful lighting design
of Graeme "Hanksie".
Maggie indulged us in a theatrical performed
reading of a poem that playwright-author and
Mentone Public Library volunteer
Geri Colson had written about LOTS.
As a light-hearted conclusion for the Zoom audience,
Maggie put a lot of gusto into singing
an alternative version of their signature
Legends of the Skies song,
with COVID taking the pilot seat!
A fitting end to a fascinating journey of
determination, resilience and creativity.
LOTS: Series 8 is available to view now on
Legends of the Skies Theatre Inc.'s
official Youtube channel.
Click: HERE
To keep up to date with LOTS, Series 9
and join their mailing list, please visit their official
Facebook page or My Community Life page:
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