Hungerford Club 3000 Facebook post by John Hungerford 25 Nov 2019 regarding wife Fay IR333spouse2
1.
Our Dear Fay loved playing roles in Stephen Sondheim’s musicals, the songs were ‘Show Stopping’ and challenging.
In 1986 she played the part of Sally Durand Plummer in Stephen Sondheim’s glittering musical “Follies”.
A lengthy review in the “Theatre Club” magazine described her “...interpretation of Sally Durant Plummer as convincing... managing the vocally demanding and challenging role...well met...”
The review was also complimented by numerous cards of congratulations and praise from the audience, fellow cast members and Clop luminaries.
#folliesmusical #clop #musicaltheatre #faybrown #1986
Jennifer Zwiers Wait-- So how did you meet, those many years ago?
Newlyn Antiques & Nursery Jennifer Zwiers Wait-- Hello Jennifer, Fay worked with my sister at HBA.
Jennifer Zwiers Wait Newlyn Antiques & Nursery--thanks
2.
24 Nov 2019 (Same venue)
1985 saw our Dear Fay with the Rosebud Astral Theatre Society playing the lead role of Mimosa San, the Geisha, in the Musical titled ‘The Geisha’.
It was, again, a triumphant production with many glamorous traditional Japanese costumes as the musical comedy explored the relationship between ‘the Geisha’ and a United States Naval officer.
#thegeisha #rosebudastraltheatresociety #mimosasan #1985
3.
21 Nov 2019 Same venue
1984 Saw our Dear Fay playing the part of ‘Ruth the Pirate Maid’ in the Peninsular Light Opera Society production of the Gilbert & Sullivan musical theatre ‘Pirates of Penzance’.
A rollicking production, with lots of glamorous ‘pirate’ costumes and promotional ‘photo shoots’ on the historical ‘Polly Woodside’ on the waterfront.
Fay remembers the production well as being ‘... lots of fun...’
And lots of cards complementing her on her performance in the production.
#piratesofthecaribbean #pollywoodside #plos #1984 #musicaltheatre
4.
The rest are all the same venue.
17 Nov 2019
It seems that our Dear Fay’s singing and acting drew accolades even in small productions. In Autumn of 1982 the Southern Peninsular Players presented a production of the murder mystery play ‘Person Unknown’ in which Fay played the part of Joan Canning, the Warden of Marlow Hall. The management team was rife with strife. The presenter ‘withdrew’ shortly before the production was due to go to stage. The play’s season was drastically shortened. Yet Fay drew great praise from both the audience and critics, with many receiving many cards thanking her for her performance. She also received a personal letter from the ‘Rosebud Times’ Theatre Critic thanking her for ‘... holding the show together...’
5.
9 Nov 2019
One of our Dear Fay’s great theatre memories is of working with Cid Elwood, who was the Director and Musical Director in the 1982 Peninsular Light Operatic Society’s presentation of the Rogers and Hammerstein musical “Carousel”.
CID Elwood spent most of his professional life in theatre in particular at the Tivoli, Her Majesties and the Palais. He was a close associate of Gladys Moncrieff and he recognised, encouraged and urged her to become a ‘professional’ performer in theatre and television.
She declined as she treasured her ‘job security’ above the uncertain life within the ‘acting world’.
Her talents were natural, she had no formal training as a singer or actor.
In Carousel she played the part of ‘Nettie Fowler’ and her presentation of “You’ll Never Walk Alone” was regarded as a ‘Show Stopper’.
The number of cards of appreciation sent by admirers for this performance were many and despite the passing years her memories of this performance remain foremost in her memory.
Even today, when prompted, she still is able to ‘slip’ into the role and sing with conviction and love...
Top Fan
Christine Hosie-- Hi john how r u both going since u moved?xo
Newlyn Antiques & Nursery-- Hello Christine, Fay has been struggling with 'the Parkinsons'. Spent a month in hospital. She loves the house & garden which is much smaller, though safer than our newlyn home. Visitors are most welcome. love, John & Fay.
6.
7 Nov 2019
Having a fine singing voice is not enough to ‘carry’ a talented artist through a dramatic acting role.
In 1974 our Dear Fay drew critical praise for her ‘extraordinary voice and presentation’ as Marsinah, the daughter of the poet Hajj, in the Debney Park Theatre production of the Arabian Nights production of Kismet.
It also required simultaneous dramatic acting and movement while singing.
It also led the critics to pose the question “How could such a low budget , part time, theatrical group stage such a polished production?”
The answer may have been in the talents of the cast.
#theatregroup #kismet #1974 #debneypark
7.
1 Nov 2019
One of the most challenging and exhilarating roles played by our Dear Fay, was as the leading actor in the 1974 Debney Theatre Company production of “Lola Montez”.
Lola Montez stormed and captivated the Gold Rush City of Ballarat in the late 1860s.
As an entertainer and in her private life she was volatile, emotive and sensuous. She arrived in Ballarat presenting herself as a noble Contessa from Europe, but in reality she was from a ‘Bog Irish’ background and along with her provocative theatre presentations she provided ‘special favours’ to well financed miners seeking ‘female companionship’. At one stage she ‘horse whipped’ the editor of the Ballarat Advertiser for printing ‘unfavourable’ stories of her past.
Our Fay was brought up in Housing Commission Essendon. She was a shy girl who left school aged 14 and worked as an Office assistant at the Commonwealth Serum Laboratory.
She enjoyed singing and with her ‘first day at school’ friend and Yvonne, who is still a close friend near 80 years later, and another, formed a singing trio.
Yvonne needed a ‘alto’ for a choir.
Fay was reluctant, but when assured that she would ‘only be in the choir’ agreed.
But once on stage and in costume she found she was ‘free’.
She was ‘hooked on singing, dancing and acting on stage...’
Lola Montez was exhilarating, publicity photographs at Soverign Hill, entrance to the Ballarat Theatre stage from a, frightening, platform dressed in a provocative Spider costume... Lola Montez was on stage, in Ballarat again in 1974...
8.
31 Oct 2019
Our Dear Fay was certainly in demand, in theatre circles, to play the role of Dolly Levi, in productions of Hello Dolly during the 1970s.
Leafing through theatre programs of the 1970s I found a 1974 Nova Theatre production of Hello Dolly with Fay Brown in the leading role.
What is of interest is that in each of the productions the demands of the Show’s producers and directors were at least subtlety different and yet the different reviewers unanimously acclaimed her as being “... the real Dolly...”
9.
30 Oct 2019
Over the years our Dear Fay performed in at least two productions of the Rock Musical, Bye Bye Birdie.
The first was in the 1971 Lyric Theatre production where she played the role of Mrs McAfee and then in the 1991 with the Bendigo Theatre Company acting and singing in the role of Mae Petersen.
This was a grand production presented in the Capitol Theatre.
The Bendigo Advertiser critic credited her with stealing the ‘acting laurels’.
The Bendigo production was to be her last ‘big stage’ performance as we became more involved in the Antique and Nursery trade.
When we moved to Newlyn she contacted the Creswick Theatre folk and the ‘key’ folk with the Company, at the time said that they “... may be able to fit her into the chorus...”
Being ever polite she came home add said “... I have done the chorus, I do not really think it is the Company for me...”
Thus for 17 years she devoted her ‘theatre experience’ to organising and presenting the Newlyn Community Carols.
10.
25 Oct 2019
If there is one role that our Dear Fay loved singing and acting in it was the role of Dolly Levi in the 1987 Peninsular Light Operatic Company production of “Hello Dolly”.
It played to packed houses and the reviewers said that she “really was Dolly...”
We are fortunate that daughter Raechel put together two albums of her acting and singing performances and that Christine A’Bell the shows producer recorded an extravagant video recording of her performance.
11.
22 Oct 2019
Fay is now back at home after spending near four weeks in the Bendigo Hospital after a fall.
The hospital folk said that she was one of their ‘favourites’.
She was not quiet playing and singing the role of “Grand Duchess Anastasia” as she did in the Lyric Light Opera Society production of the Student Prince in November of 1965, but she managed to bring ‘happiness’ to the rehabilitation ward
Where many of the folk were struggling with unexpected dramatic changes to their lives.
The ‘ring in’ photograph which was taken her wedding day, just before she ‘left for the church’.
12.
12 Oct 2019
The things you find when unpacking after moving.
This would have been one of Dear Fay’s earliest shows.
She loves “Brigadoon” but she was not the ‘leading lady’ in this Lyric Light Opera Society’d production of “Brigadoon” in early 1964. All that was to follow.
In this production she was one of the ‘Townsfolk of Brigadoon’.
This morning she was performing in the Rehabilitation Ward of the Bendigo Hospital.
A little brighter than last week, but not yet up to ‘planning an escape’.
She will be there for a ‘little while yet’ as I notice that The Physiotherapists and the Occupational Therapists have filled her ‘activity’ chart until next Friday and perhaps a little longer.
She appreciates all of the Facebook greetings and may be just hoping for the call of “encore...”
13.
30 Sep 2019
Our Dear Fay will be in the Bendigo Hospital for longer than I expected following her fall on Saturday.
She was excited that Richmond won the AFL premiership, though she would have preferred Essendon.
The reception was not 100% in the emergency room of the Bendigo Hospital.
She was overwhelmed when I told her of the number of folk leaving messages of goodwill and love on Facebook.
The accompanying images are from 1964 when she was playing the ‘leading lady’ in the Lyric Light Opera Society’s production of “Paint your Wagon”.
At that time she was ‘Fay Brown’, a much shorter name.
Love to you all.
Note: Her husband John sent three more photos/reminiscences that are inserted here - out of sequence timewise.
14.
The 1989 Peninsular Light Opera Society presentation of the musical vaudeville ‘Chicago’, was another example of our Dear Fay’s versatility as an singer and actor. Her ‘show stopping’ rendition of ‘When you’re Good to Mama’ playing the role of Matron won both critical and audience acclaim, with many cards of appreciation.
Thirty years later she remembers ‘the show’ as ‘... one of her best...’
#chicago #plos #musicalvaudeville #musicaltheatre #1980s #faybrown (Originally submitted 3 Dec 2019)
15.
In mid 1988 our Dear Fay featured in the Peninsular Light Opera Societies production of ‘Give my Regards to Broadway’. A glittering musical extravaganza production with Arch Dyer as musical director and Christine A’Bell as director and choreographer. Christine had been on stage in numerous London West End productions including “Show Boat” and “West Side Story”. Christine and Arch were massively enthusiastic about Fay’s talents.
And I might note Arch On another occasion mesmerised the guests at our wedding reception with his impromptu Piano renditions. It became a Wedding reception like no other with the many guests joining in joyful Theatre Hall performances in the Mentone Church Hall.
In the ‘Give my Regards to Broadway’ production Dear Fay featured as a soloist with songs from the 1940s (Oklahoma and Carosel) and from the 1960s (West Side Story) along with the full Company in songs from the 1950s, 1970s & 1980s.
#plos #givemyregardstobroadway #1980s #lightopera (Originally submitted 2 Dec 2019)
16.
One of the amazing things about our Dear Fay is thus, aged in her mid 80s, effected by a disabling Parkinson’s Disease and near deaf, she remembers all her shows and the lines.
Shuffling through her memorabilia were a couple of photographs and scrappy notes.
“What theatre company were you with when you did theses shows” I asked. After having to ask the question in a few different ways, because she could not hear, she replied, “They were ‘one off’ performances. Around the Mornington Peninsular there were a number of theatre groups that had fabulous costume wardrobes, that was great because I only had to learn my lines and not search for costumes... that one was a one off performance... A Fruity Melodrama, I was playing the part of ‘the maid in distress’” and then she ‘dropped’ into the part “... I am only a Mill Girl...’ don’t throw me into the snow... Then went on to detail the plot, the cast, the script...
The other photograph was from when the ensemble she was with represented the Chinese National Theatre at an Arts Ball. The costumes were so large and ensemble had to be transported in a furniture van, (in costume). They were awarded the First Prize for their performance.
Comments
Marg Bruechert Oh! Fay these are such wonderful memories for you and amazing that time hasn't interrupted them. Your passion was so great. X????
Jennifer Zwiers Wait It's been proven that music can stimulate and retain memories despite having dementia.
Vicki Wilson Fay is a treasure ??
Submitted by Richard Hungerford at 10:51 AM on November 27, 2019.