Article: 'Bush' talent for Sydney

by Helen Musa

SYDNEY’S Tilbury Hotel has been basking for some weeks in the description of itself in The Canberra Times as “the mecca of cabaret”.

Now it seems the Tilbury is to be a real centre of pilgrimages, but what an unlikely bunch of pilgrims - Gery Scott, Kate Peters and Tony Magee, three of the stars of the Queanbeyan School of Arts Cafe have been invited to bring their musical entertainments to Sydney.

They are joined by a young group of outstanding talent - pianist Peter Casey and actor-singers Mark Fuller, Queenie van der Zandt and David Pearson will perform two recent successes, The Mere Male on Broadway and Three’s Company. School of Arts cafe maestro Bill Stephens can count this invitation a major coup.

Since 1986, the Tilbury has become a showcase for Australian theatre talent; its minuscule stage has seen the likes of Kerrie Bidell, Lorrae Desmond, June Bronhill and Toni Lamond.

Gery Scott, fresh from her current Cole Porter program, is a giant of a performer at any time. Magee is constantly in demand as a pianist and singer. And Peters, acknowledged Queen of Cabaret in Canberra, is flushed with the Canberra Southern Cross Club’s decision to run Noel and Gertie for an extra night tonight.

Originally published in The Canberra Times, February 29, 1992.

Review: Providence grant us the joy of more concerts like this

by Michael Foster

PROVIDENCE grant us the joy of more concerts like this. The Singing Waiters finish a Queanbeyan School of Arts Cafe season on Sunday. They are part of a flourish of jazz-oriented entertainment at the cafe.

Photo: Robert Roach

The Waiters are a male a cappella group drawn from Gery Scott’s Vocal Jazz Ensemble of the Canberra School of Music’s Jazz Studies Course. They are Nick Begbie, Andrew Bisset, Tony Magee, Dean Salonga, Craig Schneider, Greg Stott and Chris Woods.

Scott herself is singing Particularly Porter for six nights tonight, tomorrow and Saturday (February 20, 21, 22) and next week, February 27, 28 and 29. Tony Magee is to accompany Scott on keyboards.

Another very good Canberra talent, Linda Hansen has sung Empress of the Blues, “an evocation of the life and career of … Bessie Smith”, backed by the piano of Erol Richardson and bass of Roger Morelli.

Hansen’s background as a band, including rock, singer of covers and originals has led to jazz and blues. Belief that these better suited her voice and a fascination with The Empress inspired the show.

It is directed by Bill Stephens, costumed by Mark Glaser against a backdrop by Rose-May Swann with makeup by Lorraine Francis.

From The Canberra Times, Feb 20 1992