The Magazine of St Aloysius' College • 'Men for Others' • Issue XLVII ...

The production of Tommy proved to be one of the
most technically demanding ever staged at the College.
Fortunately notable amongst the Production Team were old
boys of the College Mr John Pappas (SAC 1997) and Mr
Cameron Hissey (SAC 2005). John is a young lighting
designer with an award winning career. He will be the
lighting designer for the coming 2008 Beijing Olympic
Games for both local TV station Channel 7 and the huge
American NBC network. Cameron is an acknowledged
IT and graphics specialist who is skilled in all aspects of
networking and ICT systems for business and theatre. It was
gratifying to see the involvement of these old boys of the
College in the production.
The Punks perform ’Pinball Wizard‘.
Matthew Osborn is surrounded by reporters.
By March 2008 the magnificent set design had been
completed by designer Adam Lindberg. The chosen design
concept was to be based upon a greatly extended,
reflective metal-skinned and heavily raked Great Hall stage
with three enormous full height screens suspended by huge
metal trusses. A key element in the design was to be a sate
of the art rear projection screen which was to provide,
through digital imaging, the setting, historical context and
‘atmosphere’ for each of the many complex scenes in this
musical. In order to transport the setting of Tommy to Sydney
in the 1970s - 1990s, Mr Peter Gough and Cameron Hissey
Reporters and fans.
created a digital image library of archival, still and video
images, (more than 200 in all). The technical specifications
also called for ‘live feed’ video of the action on the stage.
The image library for the production ranged from historic
shots of the Moratorium anti-war demonstrations of the
1970s (taken by Mr Roger Scott) to footage of Canberra
Bombers in action in the Vietnam War and included much
psychedelic imagery of the period. All projected on the
enormous centrepiece screen. This advanced technology
proved to be one of the ‘big hits’ of this production.
Rehearsals for principals and chorus were ongoing
throughout February to May and band rehearsals were
in full swing by the third week of term. Teams of costume
sewers ably led by Costume Coordinator Mrs Wendy
Wijetunge worked tirelessly for months: measuring, sewing
and at other times seeking at Op Shops and St Vincent de
Paul outlets the weird and exotic fabrics and retro costumes
required for this period production.
By May all was ready. The set was constructed, sound
design and system were completed by Loud & Clear Audio,
the lighting array, data projector and cabling installed and
tested. It was becoming clear by the time of the final dress
rehearsals that this production was going to be very different
from the average student musical. In the end, the cast, band
and crew worked magnificently to ensure that the tradition
of first class College musical productions continue. Tommy
was experienced by four near-capacity houses of more than
1600 patrons each of whom seemed in agreement that the
season was a rounding success.
The Principals
John Slaven – Narrator / Tommy (SAC Year 11)
Harry Power – Capt Walker (SAC Year 11)
Lauren Curtin – Mrs Walker (Monte Sant’ Angelo College)
Michael Curtin – Uncle Ernie (SAC Year 12)
Matthew Osborn – Cousin Kevin (SAC Year 12)
Alexandra Hogan – The Gypsy / Ensemble (Loreto
Normanhurst)
Jonathan Larach – The Lover / Local Punk 1 / Security
Guard 1 (SAC Year 11)
St Aloysius’ College
A Jesuit School for Boys _ Founded 1879 aloysiad / page 35