Productions 2002 Australia | ||
Book David Atkins
Ignatius Jones Basis the Poem The Man from Snowy River, by Banjo Paterson Lyrics Lee Kernaghan; Garth Porter Music Bruce Rowland; Lee Kernaghan; Garth Porter Playwrights David Atkins, Ignatius Jones | ||
The Man from Snowy River: Arena Spectacular, based on Banjo Paterson's poem The Man from Snowy River, was a popular musical theatre production which toured Australian capital cities twice during 2002. Kevin Jacobsen and David Atkins were the executive producers for the show. David Atkins and Ignatius Jones were co-directors and co-writers. Extra dialogue was written for the show by Jonathan Biggins and Phillip Scott.
Contents
- Man from snowy river arena spectacular
- Awards
- Nominations
- Cast members
- Plot
- Act I
- Act II
- Interval entertainment
- Cast album
- DVD release
- References
The stage musical has no relationship to the 1982 film The Man from Snowy River, or the 1988 sequel The Man from Snowy River II, or the television series The Man from Snowy River.
All poetry narrated in the musical was written by Banjo Paterson, including the lyrics to the songs "Waltzing Matilda" (with music written by M. Cowan), and "As Long as Your Eyes Are Blue" (the music to which was "Clancy's Theme", which was written by Bruce Rowland for the film The Man from Snowy River).
Man from snowy river arena spectacular
Awards
Nominations
Cast members
Plot
On John Conroy's property, the 2-year-old colts and fillies are mustered and brought to the homestead for horse breaking. Two of the colts are of very good stock, especially the beautiful and spirited colt from the famous racehorse Regret (John Conroy says that the colt is worth a thousand pounds (£1000) and that he wants the colt to eventually be the stud horse for the property).
Jim Ryan arrives at John Conroy's property following the death of his father. When he and Conroy's daughter, Kate, see each other, it is love at first sight for them both.
Jim, however, finds resentment at his presence at the station, both from John Conroy, the owner of the property, and the station's stockmen and station hands, with Dan Mulligan (the leading hand), disdainfully commenting "We don't want any swagmen here". Saltbush and McGinness McGee also make disparaging remarks about Jim Ryan's horse, with Saltbush sarcastically asking Jim if he bought his horse from a Mark Foys catalogue, and McGinness McGee commenting that it was more likely that the horse had been saved from a glue factory.
John Conroy also comments that they have enough men working on the property already. Kate pleads with her father to give Jim a job at the property, and he finally relents, saying that Jim can help break the horses. John Conroy resents it when Jim Ryan says that he knows of a better way to break horses than the horse-breaking method being used at the property. However, John Conroy says that Jim could prove his expertise in horse-breaking by breaking the colt from Regret.
During the night, the Brumby herd gallops close to the homestead, and the colt from Regret breaks free from his tethers and joins them. John Conroy is furious at the loss of his prized colt, and unfairly blames Jim for what has occurred. Conroy decides to get all the crack riders (expert horse riders) from the stations near and far to muster at the homestead and hunt for the Brumbies, offering a reward of £1000, and angrily orders Jim to leave the property first thing in the morning.
The crack riders gather at the homestead the following morning, including Harrison, who made his fortune when Pardon won the cup (a reference to the President's Cup, a lesser known race held in Manindie, New South Wales). Another crack rider at the homestead was Clancy of the Overflow (who was a friend of Jim). Jim shyly turns up to join in the ride to hunt for the colt and Brumbies, but finds that, apart from his friend, Clancy, he is not wanted by anyone on the ride. Clancy convinces the others that, as both Jim and his horse were mountain-reared, they would be of great help in the ride.
The Brumbies are too quick for the riders and, when it becomes too steep and dangerous with Wombat holes (burrows, where a horse could break a leg), all riders stop short of the dangerous descent — apart from Jim, who continues to chase the Brumby herd - finally bringing the herd (including the colt) back to John Conroy's property.
John Conroy is delighted to have his colt back again, and gives his approval to Jim marrying Kate. A concert and country dance, as well as a superb equestrian pageant, are then held in celebration and recognition of Jim's deed, and all ends happily.
Act I
Scene 1 — Prelude
instrumental music: "Waltzing Matilda" (Traditional version) poem: "Prelude" (narrated by Steve Bisley)Scene 2 — Mustering the Colts
instrumental music: "Snowy River Suite"Scene 3 — The Homestead
song: "Spirit of the High Country" (sung by Lee Kernaghan) poem: "The Melting of the Snow" (narrated by Charles "Bud" Tingwell and Steve Bisley)Scene 4 — Jim's Entrance — The Man Arrives
song: "Southern Son" (sung by Martin Crewes)Scene 5 — Breaking the Colts
song: "Snowy Mountains Buckjump" (sung by Lee Kernaghan)Scene 6 — The Horse Whisperer
instrumental music: "Jessica's Theme" song: "The Rope That Pulls the Wind" (sung by Martin Crewes)Scene 7 — The Breakout
poem: "Brumby's Run" (narrated by Steve Bisley) instrumental music: "The Breakout"Scene 8 — The Confrontation — Jim's & Kate's First Kiss
song: "Kosciusko Moon" (sung by Martin Crewes and Georgie Parker)Scene 9 — The Cracks Gather — Musical Ride
instrumental music: "The Man from Snowy River Theme" song: "Boys from the Bush" (sung by Lee Kernaghan)Act II
Musical Entrácte
instrumental music: "Waltzing Matilda" (Queensland version) (sung by Lee Kernaghan) poem" "Daylight Is Dying" (narrated by Steve Bisley and Charles 'Bud' Tingwell)Scene 1 — Tall Stories
song: "Pull the Other One Mate" (sung by Lee Kernaghan, Simon Westaway, James Rutty and Steve Jefferys) instrumental "Eureka Creek"Scene 2 — The Man and Kate — A Kiss for Luck
song: "As Long as Your Eyes Are Blue" (sung by Georgie Parker)Scenes 3, 4 and 5
poem: "The Man from Snowy River" (narrated by Steve Bisley during scenes 3, 4 and 5)Scene 6 — The Concert
Scene 7 — Musical Ride
song: "Southern Son" (reprise) — (sung by Lee Kernaghan)Scene 8 — The Finale
instrumental music: "The Man from Snowy River Theme" song: "Spirit of the High Country" (reprise) — (sung by Lee Kernaghan)Scene 9 — The Swagman Returns
instrumental music: "Waltzing Matilda" (Traditional version) Epilogue: "A Singer of the Bush" (narrated by Steve Bisley)Interval entertainment
Cast album
The CD, which was released by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in 2002, won the 2002 Australian Record Industry Association (ARIA Music Award) for Best Cast/Show Album.
Bruce Rowland, who composed the instrumental music for both the 1982 film The Man from Snowy River film and its sequel 1988 film The Man from Snowy River II (American title: Return to Snowy River), composed special arrangements of some of his music for the musical. He received the ARIA award for Best Score for the soundtrack for The Man from Snowy River: Arena Spectacular.
Lee Kernaghan and Garth Porter wrote the music and lyrics for the country songs. Lee Kernaghan also sang some of the country songs (which he had already recorded on some of his albums), during the concert scene.
DVD release
The Man from Snowy River: Arena Spectacular was performed at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre in Boondall, Queensland, Australia, for both of its Brisbane runs (in 2002), with the musical being filmed, for DVD and videotape release, at the entertainment centre during its second run in Brisbane in October, 2002. Extra dancers and acrobats were hired for the finale of this recording. The DVD and VHS recordings of the musical were released on 26 January 2003 (Australia Day).