| By Lauren Mitchell - Bendigo Life
Cats is the cream
When the sun goes down and the night sounds call, a group of Bendigo Health staff shed the shackles of their working day and head straight for View Street. It’s rehearsal time.
They begin to stroke their whiskers and twitch their tails as alter egos take hold.
Dancing shoes are tightened, singing voices warmed up and lines swim in their heads as they slink from their offices and wards.
No longer are they health professionals but
cats on the prowl.
Michelle Watt, Bernie Street, Sharon McGowan and Loretta Gibson are four of the many locals putting their best paws forward for CTProduction’s version of Cats.
More than 800 people have already booked seats to see the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical at The Capital from April 12 to 19.
CTProductions president Loretta said being granted permission to stage the spectacular is a huge coup for Bendigo and the lucky locals about to strut their stuff on stage.
Here, we unveil the secret life of three of these cast members ...
Michelle Watt
Cats was the first production Michelle Watt saw.
She remembers sitting up the back of the theatre, perched on a Yellow Pages, so she could see over all the heads in the audience.
“It was the early ’80s and I was really little,” she said.
It was enough to spur the young dance student to dream of taking her talents to the stage.
The dancer and speech pathologist has now turned full circle and couldn’t be more excited about her role in the local version of the famous musical.
Michelle recently moved to Bendigo from Melbourne for work and joining CTProductions seemed the perfect way to pursue her hobby, and get to know the locals.
“I wanted to extend my social networks and thought this was a way of making new friends,” she said.
“It’s been great; they’re a really good group, you get to focus on your performance but also enjoy a chat and a glass of red wine at the end of the night.”
The cast is rehearsing two to three nights a week at present but they expect that to increase as opening night draws near.
“It’s fine, I love to be busy,” Michelle said.
Bernie Street
Behind the clipboard and the corporate tie, Bernie Street is your classic exhibitionist.
The clinical director of Geriatric Medicine at Bendigo Health admits to having an alter ego but rest assured it stays safely put until the spotlight comes on.
“I’ve always had an interest in theatre,” Bernie said.
“When I was a medical student, a friend of ours was a drama teacher and it was a different life, a different perspective to medicine.
“I’m probably a bit of an exhibitionist, my alter ego can come out on stage and I can play up.”
Cats will be the 10th CTProductions show Bernie has been involved in – a passion that has occupied the past 10 years of his life.
Of the many memorable roles he has scored there’s been the sorcerer in The Sorcerer, the Mikado in The Mikado and Father Malarchy in Once a Catholic.
Playing Reverend Collins in Pride and Prejudice was a favourite for Bernie.
“He throws himself at Elizabeth and is quite a sleazy character,” he said.
But he has perhaps been no better suited to a role than that of Gus the theatre cat.
“He is a cat who has played many parts in the theatre over the years and now he’s very old ... I can relate to the character,” he laughed.
Bernie is now looking forward to following in the footsteps of some of his admired thespians who’ve played the part.
“Cats is a great play; all the Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals are just wonderful spectaculars.
“Cats is quite an honour, we really asked for this one.”
Loretta Gibson
As Bendigo Health’s public relations manager, Loretta Gibson is used to singing the praises of the hospital but it’s on stage where she really lets her voice loose.
This veteran of the local theatre company has spent most of her life acting up for the entertainment of others – and for her own sanity.
“It’s very cathartic, singing, it’s good for the soul,” Loretta said.
As president of CTProductions, Loretta said Cats will be one of the amateur company’s biggest productions yet.
“It’s just enormous, it’s the next major production since Les Miserables in 2000,” she said.
“Cats is such a well-known show, everybody knows it, not just traditional theatre lovers.
“We’re one of the first regional Victorian groups to put it on.”
While harmony singing and character acting is Loretta’s forte, it’s the adrenaline rush of acting that drives her.
“I guess I particularly like the ad-libbing and the sense of not knowing what’s going to happen,” she said.
“I like the improvisation that often happens on stage when unexpected things happen.
“That buzz, that adrenaline and excitement of being on stage when the part you’re playing evolves into a real life story.
“Because just like in real life, things happen and things go wrong.”
She said CTProductions is a community within a community; one of like minded souls who help each other out and who can appreciate a good chorus line.
“Community theatre is such a team effort.”
For more information on the show, phone The Capital on 5434-6100 or visit www.thecapital.com.au
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