The new musical of Strictly Ballroom is one of the most anticipated events on the Australian stage. Jane Albert catches up with the Baz Luhrmann, the man behind the phenomenon.
It is always a thrill being in Iona, the family home of Baz Luhrmann and his wife and creative partner Catherine Martin and their two children Lilly and William. Doubling as the offices of the couple's production company Bazmark, the elegant, spacious old home in Sydney's Darlinghurst breathes creativity and a touch of magic. When the magician himself appears, padding quietly down the sweeping staircase and dressed casually in a plain t-shirt and jeans, he looks tired, the aftermath of a function he hosted at Iona the night before. Luhrmann calls for coffee and an electric fan - it is a humid, oppressive summer's day - and we settle into large, comfortable armchairs to chat.
It is little wonder Luhrmann is feeling weary. Late night soirees aside, he has come straight off the manic four-year rollercoaster that was The Great Gatsby into the awards season, and hurtled headlong into Strictly Ballroom The Musical. Despite one being a Hollywood blockbuster of gargantuan scale and the other a homegrown musical with a more modest budget, it wouldnít be overstating things to say the musical adaptation of Strictly is one of the most anticipated local productions in recent memory. There are countless Australians who feel an undeniable sense of pride and ownership of the film and who will be watching this adaptation with a particularly close eye. But the person for whom this story is the most poignant and personal is Baz Luhrmann himself. In fact Strictly has brought Luhrmann home, in more ways than one.
Read the rest of Jane Albert's article in the April/May issue of Dance Australia. OUT NOW!
