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A Toast to Melba
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Wikipedia article
'A Toast to Melba' is a 1976 Australian play by Jack Hibberd. A biography of Dame Nellie Melba, Hibberd described it as:
Another 'Popular Play' like 'The Les Darcy Show'. Using the Epic Theatre techniques of Bertolt Brecht (without politics), the play encompasses the life of diva Nellie Melba from childhood in Melbourne to her death in Egypt (alleged dying words: "I never did like Aida.")... The actress who plays Melba must be able to sing a few arias and parlour songs. There is a selection of recorded music that is essential to the work.[http://jackhibberd.com/plays/a-toast-to-melba "'A Toast to Melba'"], jackhibberd.com, accessed 30 July 2013
The play is one of Hibberd's personal favourites.[http://www.stagewhispers.com.au/articles/193/spotlight-jack-hibberd "Interview with Jack Hibberd"], 'Stage Whispers', accessed 30 July 2013
1980 TV adaptation
The play was adapted with Robyn Nevin in the title role by the ABC in 1980 as part of the Australian Theatre Festival.Scott Murray, 'Australia on the Small Screen 19701995', Oxford University Press, 1996, p. 154 [https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1300&dat=19800731&id=MOdUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=sJIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3268,7351168 "Dame Nellie Melba in counterpoint"] by Jane McCredie, 'The Age', 31 July 1980, via Google News. Accessed 15 May 2022
Alan Burke's direction won him a Sammy Award. The production was much praised and was sold abroad.
References
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