‘The Window Outside’ Makes Hard Choices On Euthanasia and Aging

‘The Window Outside’, a new full length play for the stage by Melbourne playwright Belinda Lopez, will enjoy its exclusive world premiere at one of Melbourne’s most prestigious and well-known venues for emerging independent theatre: La Mama’s Carlton Courthouse. Exploring issues of euthanasia, sibling rivalry and parental care through humour and insight, this is a love story between an elderly couple that neither age nor illness can damper. ‘The Window Outside’ opens at La Mama’s Carlton Courthouse from 10th – 21st October at 8pm nightly.

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Melbourne, Victoria (PRWEB) October 05, 2012

Melbourne playwright Belinda Lopez explores issues of ageing, sibling rivalry and parental care in her first full length play for the stage: ‘The Window Outside’. Presented in conjunction with Melbourne Writers Theatre for Melborn 2012, ‘The Window Outside’ will enjoy its exclusive world premiere at one of Melbourne’s most prestigious and well-known venues for emerging independent theatre: La Mama’s Carlton Courthouse.

‘The Window Outside’ is the tender love story of an elderly couple, Frank (Rick Burchall) and Evelyn (Carrie Moczynski).

Through humour and insight, ‘The Window Outside’ tackles a range of topical themes including euthanasia and aged care.

Adamant that the subject matter of her play is current, contemporary and topical, Belinda Lopez believes that ‘The Window Outside’ offers strong possibilities to generate positive community debate.

“The lifestyle transitions that confront the elderly couple and their offspring in this play will ring true for many that see it,” says playwright Belinda Lopez. “Despite the youth-orientated obsession of mainstream media, the fact is our society is aging at a rapid rate – and not just in isolation here in Australia. An aging population is a global phenomenon.”

Layered and ripe with conflict, ‘The Window Outside’ presents warm, relatable characters accessible thorough the manner in which they struggle to deal with the changing circumstances they find themselves in.

“Although an affectionate love story between two people who have lived a rich life and aged together, many will relate to the difficult and sometimes uncomfortable topics that the story delves into,” says playwright Belinda Lopez.

Parental descent into dementia and the financial decisions that come with the heavy responsibility of their ongoing care are issues that many in the community deal with daily.

Adding further emotional depth to the play, ‘The Window Outside’ does not shy away from an intense examination of euthanasia. While a controversial topic for many, it immediately taps into a discussion that is never far from conversation in the community and mainstream media.

“Although some in the audience may not feel comfortable with the choices made by the characters, I do hope that ‘The Window Outside’ contributes to and generates positive discussion within and among those that see it.”

Although ‘The Window Outside’ is her first full length play for the stage, Belinda Lopez has enjoyed a lengthy career in the creative arts, highlighted by stints as a performer in America within touring productions of 'West Side Story', 'Sweet Charity', 'Evita', and 'A Chorus Line' to name a few. She has also studied acting in New York. No stranger to start-up theatre productions, Belinda Lopez was an integral part of creating several new works with the renowned Teatro de la Esperanza and was Co-artistic director of the Potrero Hill Theatre Company in San Francisco.

Exploring issues of sibling rivalry and parental care through humour and insight, ‘The Window Outside’ is a love story that neither age nor illness can damper.

‘The Window Outside’ runs 8pm nightly from 10th – 21st October at one of Melbourne’s most prestigious and well-known venues for emerging independent theatre: La Mama’s Carlton Courthouse. Join us - tickets can be purchased online at http://www.trybooking.com/BVLU.

Presented in conjunction with Melbourne Writers Theatre and La Mama for Melborn 2012,

BOOKINGS:
‘The Window Outside’
La Mama’s Carlton Courthouse
10th Oct – 21st Oct
Wed to Sat 8:00pm / Sun 2:00pm
Tickets $20
Bookings http://www.trybooking.com/BVLU
Presented in conjunction with Melbourne Writers Theatre and La Mama for Melborn 2012

ABOUT ‘THE WINDOW OUTSIDE
Sharon doesn’t recognise her own children, Evelyn is digging up long dead pets, Frank is dancing in his wheelchair and Miranda’s visit home is more than she bargained for.

‘The Window Outside’ is a sometimes funny but tender story that explores sibling rivalry, parental care issues and making hard choices: but foremost it is a love story that neither age nor illness can damper.

Performed by: Rick Burchall, Carrie Moczynski, Nadia Andary and Mandie Combe

Written by: Belinda Lopez
Directed by: Liz Perry

Lighting Design: Richard Lyford-Pyke
Artwork: Krijstelle Liao

BELINDA LOPEZ, LIZ PERRY AND CAST ARE AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEWS. ACTORS BIO'S AND HEADSHOT'S ALSO AVAILABLE.

HOT QUOTES

  •          “An affectionate love story between two people who have lived a rich life and aged together, many will relate to the difficult and sometimes uncomfortable topics that 'The Window Outside' delves into.” -- Belinda Lopez, playwright.

  •          “Humour is sometimes a way of dealing with hard choices presented by situations that confront and unsettle us,” -- Belinda Lopez, playwright.

  •          "It is the secret of the world that all things subsist and do not die, but only retire a little from sight and afterwards return again. Nothing is dead: men feign themselves dead, and endure mock funerals and mournful obituaries, and there they stand looking out of the window, sound and well, in some new strange disguise." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

HOT LINKS

ABOUT WISE WORDS MEDIA
Wise Words Media has worked on marketing communications projects with national and international partners, including:

  •          Playwright Mark Andrew, ReAction Theatre (2011 Melbourne International Fringe Festival) and Birnam Wood Theatre (MelBorn 2011, La Mama’s Carlton Courthouse)
  •          Lounge Theatre, Jimmy Flinders Productions (2012 Melbourne International Fringe Festival)
  •          Actor Sharni Page (The Butterfly Club, 2006)

Jump Street Films, Melbourne Australia | ‘The Eclipse’

http://www.wisewords.com.au/Partners.php#Visionworks_Music

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Sean McIntyre
Wise Words Media
Media and Communications Solutions
ABN 60 363 406 503
M: 0011 61 0413 397 441
e: sean.mcintyre AT wisewords.com.au
skype: sean.wise.words.media
W: http://www.wisewords.com.au

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'The Window Outside' | Liz Perry, Director 'The Window Outside' | Liz Perry, Director

Having worked in Canada, the United States and Australia, Liz Perry’s career in the theatre arts spans more than 20 years as an actor, director, teacher and producer. Directing for over 10 years, Liz has brought life to such classics as 'Long Days Journey Into Night' by Eugene O'Neil, 'The Importance of Being Earnest' by Oscar Wilde, 'Arms and the Man' by George Bernard Shaw, the 'Talking Heads' monologues by Alan Bennett, as well as original works by Australian playwrights Francis Rouse ('Counting Icebergs'), Jeannie Haughton ('Salute the Man') and Stephanie Briarwood ('Junk Rooms'). She has a fledgling TV career including Neighbours, Triple Zero Heroes, APIA Insurance, and currently can be seen on TV in a fabulous pink shirt in the national K-Mart commercial, in the baby section!


Jasmine Lindemann | Stage Manager Jasmine Lindemann | Stage Manager

Whether acting, directing or stage managing - mostly through school and community theatre productions - Jasmine has participated in theatre in a myriad of ways throughout the years. She is currently focusing on stage managing, and loving it. ‘The Window Outside’ marks her second time working in the La Mama Courthouse. In 2011 Jasmine worked on ‘Razor Wire’ by Kerry Tucker, a production that concluded the winter season at the venue.


'The Window Outside' | Mandie Combe as 'Miranda' 'The Window Outside' | Mandie Combe as 'Miranda'

Acting for over twenty years, Mandie Combe has various television guest roles, short films and commercials to her credit. In 2002 she wrote and performed 'Will you be my Agent Showcase Extravaganza!' for the Melbourne Fringe Festival winning Best Newcomer in Comedy award for that year. Since graduating from the National Theatre Drama school in 2006 she has continued to concentrate on writing and performing her own work including the Theatre piece 'Death in a box...one pussy's tale' for the 2011 Melbourne Fringe Festival and 'Bulby the bulb' a short film made earlier this year about a woman who raises a light bulb as her child! Other Theatre credits of late include: ‘The Subtle Art of Flirting’ by Wayne Tunks for Pobblebonk Productions and 'The House of Bernada Alba' by Federico Garcia Lorca for Alterior Motive Productions.


Krijstelle Liao Krijstelle Liao | Artwork

A recent graduate from industrial design at RMIT University, majoring in interactive system design, Krijstelle has a great passion in user experience design through tangible interface and graphical interface. She is inspired by the concepts of 'design for the future' and 'people-centred design’. Curious and eager to learn, Krijstelle’s interests in design cover many different areas including animation, photography video-editing, creative programming and food design. She has worked with companies such as NDD Design Consultancy, Luzinterruptus and Melbourne French Theatre as well as a graphic designer and photographer for independant theatre productions.


Wise Words Media | Contact Us Wise Words Media | Contact Us

www.wisewords.com.au


'The Window Outside' | Belinda Lopez, Playwright 'The Window Outside' | Belinda Lopez, Playwright

Belinda Lopez has a long history in Theatre, which started with a Degree in Modern Dance from the University of California, Santa Cruz. She has performed roles in U.S. touring companies of ‘West Side Story’, ‘Sweet Charity’, ‘Evita’, and ‘A Chorus Line’, as well as productions of ‘Blood Wedding’, ‘A Taste of Honey’, and ‘Talking With’, to name a few. Acting studies in New York include the 2 year programme at Circle in the Square, HB Studio and the Stanford Meisner Studio. In San Francisco she was an integral part of creating several new works with the renowned, Teatro de la Esperanza, and was Co-artistic director of the Potrero Hill Theatre Company. Since moving to Melbourne writing has become her primary focus and she has had two short stories published in local anthologies, and a monologue performed by Baggage Productions in 2011. The Window Outside is her first showcased play.


'The Window Outside' | Rick Burchall as 'Frank' 'The Window Outside' | Rick Burchall as 'Frank'

From Grand Opera to Minstrel Shows, Rick has done it all in his career as an actor and singer. Shows like “A Little Night Music” and “Jesus Christ Superstar” and “The Sound of Music” saw him use his low notes to intimidate, while appearances on television in shows like “Cop Shop” and “Neighbours” saw him use his “villainous sneer” to advantage. Sometimes he got to play a nice guy – but he loves the baddies. An experienced director, Rick directs the current season of “SS Taggart Winter Cruise” at Taggart’s Theatre Restaurant appearing with Cindy Pritchard, Jenny Seedsman and Jan Hall. He has also been a guest lecturer in Voice Charles Sturt University and a convenor of numerous Music Theatre and Drama Workshops for Community Theatre (NSW).


'The Window Outside' | Carrie Moczynski as 'Evelyn' 'The Window Outside' | Carrie Moczynski as 'Evelyn'

Starting her career in London in the early 70s as a dancer for “Butlins” Holiday Camp, Carrie didn’t take up acting until much later in life when she moved to Victoria in 1995. Since then Carrie has worked in theatre (including theatre restaurants) short films, feature films, TVCs, role play and TV. With extensive training, Carrie continues to keep her skills and technique up-to-date when not working by attending short courses and workshops. Credits include: ‘Moby Dick’, ‘Neighbours’, ‘State Coroner’, ‘Customer Care’ (Aftbridge Theatre), ‘An Evening with Arthur Miller’.


'The Window Outside' | Nadia Andary as 'Sharon' 'The Window Outside' | Nadia Andary as 'Sharon'

A Performing Arts graduate, Nadia has a wealth of theatre experience – appearing in classic works from Shakespeare’s ‘Much Ado about Nothing’ to Oscar Wilde’s ‘The Importance of being Earnest’, as well as those of contemporary playwrights, performing at La Mama and Chapel off Chapel, amongst other venues. A professional singer, also, she has performed with various bands over the years, and been involved in musical theatre, presenting her own cabaret show at The Butterfly Club in 2008.


Melborn 2012 Melborn 2012

Melbourne Writers Theatre


Richard Lyford-Pike - Sound and Light Design Richard Lyford-Pike - Sound and Light Design

Since the age of eight Richard has been engulfed within the craft of creativity, music, film, lighting, theatre, design and architecture. He has been a practicing musician for thirty years, studied architecture, film, music, interior design, landscaping



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