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CALPURNIA DESCENDING

She wants to be alone, but when a golden chance arrives to resurrect her career and reputation, Beverly Dumont will do what Beverly Dumont does best - scheme, scam, and scream her way to stardom. Amidst gangsters and chorus girls, between depression and delusion, Paul Capsis embodies all the faded razzle dazzle and touching pathos of a woman whose time has been, but whose life isn't over.

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In the wings stands Violet St Clair, with cheekbones that cut glass and a body to hold on to. Is she a starry-eyed ingenue or a calculating careerist? So far, no one can tell. But she'll be the talk of the town before the curtain descends.

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THE SISTERHOOD:

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Performed by PAUL CAPSIS, ASH FLANDERS, SANDY GORE, and PETER PALTOS.

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Created by ASH FLANDERS & DECLAN GREENE

Directed by DECLAN GREENE

Set & Costume Design by DAVID FLEISCHER

Sound Design & Composition by JED PALMER

Additional Composition by STEVE TOULMIN

AV Design by MATTHEW GINGOLD

Animation by MATT GREENWOOD

Lighting Design by KATIE SFETKIDIS

Stage Manager: LISA OSBORN

Assistant Stage Manager: AMY BURKETT

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Malthouse Theatre and Sydney Theatre Company production.

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AWARDS:

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WINNER - GREEN ROOM AWARDS - BEST AV DESIGN & ANIMATION (Matthew Gingold & Matt Gingold)

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NOMINATED GREEN ROOM AWARDS - BEST PRODUCTION

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NOMINATED HELPMANN AWARDS - BEST PLAY

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REVIEWS:

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'A deadly sharp commentary on the commodification and commercialisation of queer culture. [...] Undeniably queer, relentlessly, surreally funny, and deeply intelligent.' Aussie Theatre

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★★★★ 'A live cinema experience that projects the anxieties of ageing onto a broader historical field. [...] Paul Capsis is in exquisite form as decrepit diva Beverly Dumont.' The Age (Melbourne)

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★★★★ 'More frantic and wildly dangerous than [Sisters Grimm's] previous offerings. [...] The show belongs to Capsis, who gives a glorious performance as the vulture-like, faded diva. [...] The impact is undeniable.' Daily Review (Sydney)

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'Surprise is key to this production's success... Calpurnia doesn't descend so much as swan dive into a hysterical multimedia nightmare.' Sydney Morning Herald

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★★★★ 'Commendably mad; a revue show with main-stage polish, but one that still manages to retain the raucously unpredictable spirit of the wine cellar.' The Brag (Sydney)

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★★★★ 'The work is jam-packed with truly bizarre and subversive moments. [...] Outstanding and as obnoxious as it is clever, Sisters Grimm should be congratulated on bringing theatre kicking and screaming into the present.' The Music (Melbourne)

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'Calpurnia Descending allures, ensnares then disorients, till you're not sure you're even in the theatre / on Planet Earth / in this dimension any longer. [...] It pisses on the sanctity of theatre.' Concrete Playground

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SEASONS:

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9 OCTOBER - 8 NOVEMBER, 2014

WHARF 2 THEATRE

SYDNEY THEATRE COMPANY

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12 - 30 NOVEMBER, 2014

MERLYN THEATRE

MALTHOUSE THEATRE, MELBOURNE

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