And that’s definitely true of the Blake family in the South Canterbury Drama League’s coming production of Disney Freaky Friday, a new musical.
The musical is centred on Ellie and Katherine Blake and their family, giving us a hilarious reminder of that basic truth in a highly entertaining production, ideal for the whole family.
Disney Freaky Friday will open in just over two weeks. South Canterbury audiences are bound to fall in love with this stage family and enjoy the upbeat music and its heartfelt message of understanding.
To daughter Ellie, mother Katherine is overbearing and critical; to Katherine, daughter Ellie is irresponsible and lazy. A day in each other’s shoes, quite literally, leads to mayhem but eventually a new understanding between them.
Based off Mary Rodger’s classic 1972 novel of the same name and the subsequent 1976 and 2003 film adaptations, Disney Freaky Friday tells the tale of a widowed mother, Katherine, who swaps bodies with her 16-year-old daughter, Ellie, after a magic hourglass malfunction, the day before her wedding. The race is on to get things back to normal in just one day.
For director Alice Sollis and her team, musical director Catherine Anderson and choreographer Jane Bowen, it has been a pleasure to work with this talented group of performers.
"Suzan Anderson and Hannah Harris, playing mother and daughter respectively, nail the challenge of swapping characters, with hilarious results," Sollis said.
"The show is fast-paced, funny and often thought-provoking and so much fun."
Playing the two lead characters has been a welcome challenge to Anderson and Harris.
"Not only have I had to portray the young, stroppy, energetic 16-year-old character of Ellie Blake, but also the polar opposite in Ellie’s mother — the calm, tightly strung and charismatic Katherine.
"Exploring the contrast between these two characters has made this process equally challenging and exciting," Harris says.
"If you enjoy fast-paced, contemporary music theatre and are feeling like you need a good hearty laugh, then book your tickets."
Anderson is a huge fan of all things Disney and has loved the fantasy of this story from childhood, watching the Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis film.
"It’s great as a middle-aged mother and woman to let my inner teen shine through after the magical switch," Anderson says.
"To be able to let loose and show exactly what you think through eye rolls, dramatic body postures and actions is freeing and fantastic fun!
"Ironically my biggest challenge is playing the middle-aged mother with reserve and control."
Disney Freaky Friday runs from July 26 to August 10 at The Playhouse, Timaru and is suitable for the whole family.
A fun scavenger hunt has been running over the last few weeks around town with entries in the draw to win complimentary tickets to Disney Freaky Friday.
Tickets can be bought online at iticket.co.nz or in person at Newmans MusicWorks or the Timaru Information Centre.
