"The King and Guy" come to WGAC

by Bonnie Collings
Renowned Australian entertainers Teddy Tahu Rhodes and Guy Noble are set to charm audiences at the West Gippsland Arts Centre this Friday with their regional road trip show "The King and Guy".
Performing a cabaret style show filled with popular musical theatre show tunes and much loved opera arias, Teddy and Guy will provide a night of entertainment for music lovers both young and old.
Teddy said the styling of the show enabled the audience to connect with the performers on stage.
"This show is us, we're not in costumes or anything, we hope people get to know us, chat and have a good time," he said. "We do the show in an hour and a quarter, a quick entertainment block so you're not out for a long afternoon or evening. We try and take you backstage as well, we tell stories that you might not otherwise hear."
Different to a longer, multi-act show, "The King and Guy" caters for today's busy society by packing fabulous performances into an hour and 15 minute showcase.
"We've done a lot of traditional first half, second half shows, but we thought, why not just do a one hour and 15 minute show," Teddy said. "It's been really popular, people can come out for dinner first and they're still home relatively early. We're not trying to do anything clever, or introduce the audience to new songs, we want to provide some entertainment for those wanting to come along. When you come to a show like this, it's nice to hear the tunes you actually know. We're doing this show for the demographic we typically perform for and hopefully play all the songs they want to hear."
Having starred in opera companies across the globe, including Munich, Paris and New York, Teddy has now set his sights on regional Australia. Alongside his acclaimed accompanist, Guy, Teddy has travelled through regional Victoria and New South Wales, performing "The King and Guy" show.
"Guy and myself came up with the idea for the show around two and a half years ago," Teddy said. "We've been doing this sort of thing for a number of years but we've decided to really focus on the regions."
Teddy said while the makeup of an audience was generally similar wherever they performed, the atmosphere of regional centres is refreshing.
"Wherever you go audiences are the same, whether you're in a big city or a regional centre, those who come along just love music," he said. "But going to the regions, even just walking into your hotel on the first night, there's just a different vibe, it's so welcoming. A lot of music comes from the regions these days, a lot of the local theatres are booked up for months in advance. For us as performers, it's so lovely to play here rather than be in a non-intimate hall in a city."
A highlight of the show is the hidden talent within Guy Noble.
"Guy Noble has a little section in the middle where he not only plays but he sings, he is a hidden talent," Teddy said. "Without a doubt I would say that Guy is a highlight, not just because he sings, but because of what he sings, it's very cool."
For anyone wanting to dip their toes into the word of opera and musical theatre, the "King and Guy" show is an excellent first introduction.
The show will perform at the West Gippsland Arts Centre this Friday at 8:00pm. Tickets are available for purchase at https://sales.wgac.com.au/event/379:2357/379:3852/.