Nine @ Augustine's

“I want to be young, and I want to be old. I would like to be wise before my time and yet be foolish and brash and bold.”

Article by Antony Sammeroff | 10 Aug 2011

Guido Contini is a movie maker. In fact he writes the script, the score, directs and stars in his movies leaving little time to devote to his marriage. Amidst a midlife crisis clawing at his heels, he feels uninspired, but is contractually bound to deliver a new script to his producer. He takes his wife on holiday hoping to restore their relationship while finding inspiration in a new environment. Instead he gets deeply embroiled in official business and weighty love affairs, his mistress calls upon him hoping for a little more out of their romance, and he still harbours a flame from an old co-star of many years ago. The movie that Guido eventually makes takes the form of a semi-biographical Freudian Slip exposing his dishonesty and alienating his familiars.

Nine is a showcase for the talents Maury Yeston. He may not script, direct and star but he did birth Nine as an adaptation of the film Eight and a Half as well as writing the score and lyrics. The music boasts some very sophisticated contrapuntal and polyphonic harmonic lines and there are countless clever couplets within the lyrics. For this production Musical Director Charlie Wakely laboured with love to arrange the original orchestral score for two keyboards.

Gina Abbatt gives a quintessentially Italian performance delivering fiery passion and romanticism. Sian Spencer, as Claudia – Contini’s old flame, is immensely expressive in her body language with a powerful and penetrating voice.

Nine tells the story of an insecure ego that has risen so high that it is no longer safe to come down. Guido is measured against all the women that have played an importance influence on his life starting at the age of nine with his mother.

3-14th August 2011 @ Augustine's