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The Man from Snowy River: Arena Spectacular |
| The Man from Snowy River: Arena Spectacular |
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| Original cast recording for the musical The Man from Snowy River: Arena Spectacular |
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| Music | Bruce Rowland Lee Kernaghan Garth Porter |
| Lyrics | Lee Kernaghan Garth Porter |
| Book | David Atkins Ignatius Jones |
| Based upon | the Poem The Man from Snowy River, by Banjo Paterson |
| Productions | 2002  Australia |
The Man from Snowy River: Arena Spectacular, which was based on Banjo Paterson's poem The Man from Snowy River, was a very popular musical theatre production which toured Australian capital cities twice during 2002.
Kevin Jacobsen and David Atkins were the executive producers for the show.
David Atkins and Ignatius Jones were co-directors and co-writers. Extra dialogue was written for the show by Jonathan Biggins and Phillip Scott.
All poetry narrated in the musical was written by Banjo Paterson, including the lyrics to the songs "Waltzing Matilda" (with music written by M. Cowan), and "As Long As Your Eyes Are Blue" (the music to which was "Clancy's Theme", which was written by Bruce Rowland for the film The Man from Snowy River).
The screen images, photographed by Ross Dunstan, were provided by Australian Geographic Pty Ltd and are featured in their book The Snowy Mountains.
The 'crack riders' (expert riders) in the musical wore Akubra hats and Driza-Bone riding coats.
Contents |
Green Room Awards (2002)3
For the full cast list see The Man from Snowy River: Arena Spectacular (DVD)
On John Conroy's property, the 2-year-old colts and fillies are mustered and brought to the homestead for horse breaking. Two of the colts are of very good stock, especially the beautiful and spirited colt from the famous racehorse "Regret" (John Conroy says that the colt is worth a thousand pounds (£1000) and that he wants the colt to eventually be the stud horse for the property).
Jim Ryan arrives at John Conroy's property following the death of his father. When he and Conroy's daughter, Kate, see each other, it is love at first sight for them both.
Jim, however, finds resentment at his presence at the station, both from John Conroy, the owner of the property, and the station's stockmen and station hands, with Dan Mulligan (the leading hand), disdainfully commenting "We don't want any swagmen here". Saltbush and McGinness McGee also make disparaging remarks about Jim Ryan's horse, with Saltbush sarcastically asking Jim if he bought his horse from a Mark Foys catalogue, and McGinness McGee commenting that it was more likely that the horse had been saved from a glue factory.
John Conroy also comments that they have enough men working on the property already. Kate pleads with her father to give Jim a job at the property, and he finally relents, saying that Jim can help break the horses. John Conroy resents it when Jim Ryan says that he knows of a better way to break horses than the horse-breaking method being used at the property. However, John Conroy says that Jim could prove his expertise in horse-breaking by breaking the colt from "Regret".
During the night, the Brumby herd gallops close to the homestead, and the colt from "Regret" breaks free from his tethers and joins them. John Conroy is furious at the loss of his prized colt, and unfairly blames Jim for what has occurred. Conroy decides to get all the crack riders (expert horse riders) from the stations near and far to muster at the homestead and hunt for the Brumbies, offering a reward of £1000, and angrily orders Jim to leave the property first thing in the morning.
The crack riders gather at the homestead the following morning, including "Harrison" (who "made his pile" [fortune] when "Pardon" won the Cup), and "Clancy of the Overflow" (who was a friend of Jim). Jim shyly turns up to join in the ride to hunt for the colt and Brumbies, but finds that, apart from his friend, Clancy, he is not wanted by anyone on the ride. Clancy convinces the others that, as both Jim and his horse were mountain-reared, they would be of great help in the ride.
The Brumbies are too quick for the riders and, when it becomes too steep and dangerous with Wombat holes (burrows, where a horse could break a leg), all riders stop short of the dangerous descent — apart from Jim, who continues to chase the Brumby herd - finally bringing the herd (including the colt) back to John Conroy's property.
John Conroy is delighted to have his colt back again, and gives his approval to Jim marrying Kate. A concert and country dance are then held in celebration and recognition of Jim's deed, as well as a superb equestrian pageant, and all ends happily.
Scene 1 — Prelude
Scene 2 — Mustering the Colts
Scene 3 — The Homestead
Scene 4 — Jim's Entrance — The Man Arrives
Scene 5 — Breaking the Colts
Scene 6 — The Horse Whisperer
Scene 7 — The Breakout
Scene 8 — The Confrontation — Jim's & Kate's First Kiss
Scene 9 — The Cracks Gather — Musical Ride
Musical Entrácte
Scene 1 — Tall Stories
Scene 2 — The Man and Kate — A Kiss for Luck
Scenes 3, 4 and 5
Scene 6 — The Concert
Scene 7 — Musical Ride
Scene 8 — The Finale
Scene 9 — The Swagman Returns
Bruce Rowland, who composed the instrumental music for both the 1982 film The Man from Snowy River film and its sequel 1988 film The Man from Snowy River II (American title: "Return to Snowy River"), composed special arrangements of some of his music for the musical.
Lee Kernaghan and Garth Porter wrote the music and lyrics for the country songs. Lee Kernaghan also sang some of the country songs which he had already recorded on some of his albums, during the concert scene.
The CD, which was released by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in 2002, won the 2002 Australian Record Industry Association (ARIA Music Award) for Best Cast / Show Album.1
"The Man from Snowy River: Arena Spectacular" was filmed at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, during its second run in Brisbane during October, 2002. The DVD and VHS recordings of the musical were released on 26 January 2003 (Australia Day).
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