Lipstick Dreams
An Australian Comedy
Of musical proportions
By Simon Hopkinson &
Helen O’Connor
Directed by Fran
Kendall
From hairbrushes to
microphones, this bitter-sweet comedy is a delightful and
inspiring slice of Australian life. Four very different women
in a hairdressing salon share their hopes and dreams, fears
and regrets as they prepare for a local talent quest. Winning
the contest might save the failing Blue Heaven salon.
Jen Francis plays
‘Jo’, the distracted, disappointed, try-hard Salon Manager.
‘Jenny’, played by Kylee Legge, is her nervous
apprentice. ‘Jess’, played by Sam Dagasso, is the loud,
domineering character with plenty of attitude. The role of
‘Jan’ is played by Pam Campbell who represents the middle aged
sector in rural Australia.
Director Fran Kendall
says, “The humorous interplay of characters as they rehearse
for their musical act is beautifully balanced against the more
poignant moments where they attempt to free themselves of
their own inner programme regarding parochialism and
chauvinism”.
Through these personal
glimpses, shines a true triumph of spirit as the action
escalates towards a rousing musical finish.
Lipstick Dreams
was first presented in 1988 by the New England Theatre Company
and first shown in Sydney in 1989 at Belvoir Street. It has
been enthusiastically received wherever it has been
performed. It had a very successful run with the Central
Coast Theatre Company in 1996 in which Fran Kendall
played the role of ‘Jan’.
