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Theatre Review: Athol Guy – The Seekers Story

One quarter of the hit group, The Seekers, Athol Guy, sets out to remind us 60s kids what a wonderful time the period was musically.

Athol-Guy-and-FriendsPresented by Country Arts SA
Reviewed 2 May 2015

The Seekers – Athol Guy, Keith Potger, Bruce Woodley and the lovely Judith Durham – was an Australian folk group, akin to America’s Peter, Paul and Mary, who came to international stardom from 1964 through to their shock break-up in 1968.

With hits such as I Know I’ll Never Find Another You, Morning Town Ride, A World Of Our Own, The Carnival Is Over and Georgy Girl (the title song from the 1966 film), the group was up in the charts with headliners such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Animals, Masters Apprentices and Dusty Springfield.

One quarter of the group, and its main creator, Athol Guy, sets out in Athol Guy – The Seekers Story to remind us 60s kids what a wonderful time the period was musically. He is hugely successful in his task.

Aided and abetted by his four ‘friends’ – Michael Cristiano (guitar), Buddy England (vocals), Jenny Blake (vocals) and Rod Hulls (keyboard) – Guy not only reminisces about The Seekers, but examines the musical influences, on the group and the music industry of the time: Blake performs a couple of Dusty Springfield classics; England, himself a chart topper of the 60s, performs two of his hits from yesteryear: Doll House and Movin’ Man; with lots more great folk and pop number thrown into the mix – and, of course, those fantastic Seeker classics.

The four are all great in their own right, but it is Guy who is the glue that bonds the show together. He is an unassuming, humorous man who captures the audience immediately. We feel that he is an old friend from the start.

With well selected video footage and fascinating anecdotal material (Did you know that the Bee Gees Massachusetts was offered to The Seekers first?) Guy brings back fond memories of a musical past that will outlive many others.

With the evident joy that music brings to these five performers, it is impossible not to be swept up for the ride.

Long may The Seekers live (in whatever form).

Reviewed by Brian Godfrey
Twitter: @briangods

Read our recent interview with Athol Guy

Regional SA Tour Dates and Locations:
6 May 2015 Middleback Arts Centre, Whyalla
7 May 2015 Northern Festival Centre, Port Pirie
8 May 2015 Chaffey Theatre, Renmark
Duration: 2 hours with interval
Tickets: $45.00 – $55.00
Bookings: Book online through Country Arts SA

 

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