“It’s clear that Looking Through A Glass Onion has stood the test of time and can be called now a classic piece of Australian repertoire”. Sydney Gig Guide Dec 10, 2011 **** 4 stars
In 1992, John Waters and Stewart D’Arrietta took to the small stage at the Tilbury Hotel, Woolloomooloo, Sydney with their debut production of “Looking Through A Glass Onion”. What was an initially a one week booking quickly sold out and extended into a six week, sell out season. Thus the original seed of “Looking For A Glass Onion” was born.
Fast forward, after a massive 137-date tour in 2010/2011/2012, John and Stewart are returning with their “up close and personal” 2 man show in 2014 whilst gearing up toward launching the production Off Broadway in New York.
“It began its life as a small venue piece with just Stewart D’Arrietta and myself on stage at the Tilbury Hotel in Sydney. I made my entrance from a kichen and climbed over patron’s laps to scramble onto a tiny raised platform in the corner of the room. The audience and I were inescapably intimate with each other from the very start, and I kinda like that. Not every venue we play this time around can be exactly like that, but it’s the feeling I want to create – to take the show back to its roots” says John Waters.
The National Tour of “Looking Through A Glass Onion” commenced in November 2010 at the Sydney Opera House, with a sell out 2 week season the production quickly extended throughout 2011 and 2012 taking in over 65,000 ticket sales nationally to be one of the ‘highest selling Australian Artist tours in recent years’.
“Its been fantastic the response the show is receiving, especially from the younger audiences that are coming along, some of whom were not even born when Lennon and The Beatles were recording and releasing their music, it’s a testament to the legacy of the man and his music that still excites and intrigues people to this day” says Waters.
“It never ceases to amaze us how many people still request to see the show, even after our last lengthy tour, we’re constantly getting emails and messages asking when is the show coming back, so its great that the demand and interest is always there”, says Waters.
A homage to the music, mystery and memory of John Lennon.
The show is not a cut-and-paste biography of Lennon or an emulation of the original recordings. On stage, with shadows from the lighting arrangement fluttering over his face as he explores the essence of the man through song and spoken word. Waters, becomes synonymous with Lennon. He shies away from imitating the artist, but so emotive is his performance, it lulls the audience into believing anything is possible.
It’s part concert and part biography, though it doesn’t seek to tell the full story of Lennon’s life.
“Rather than to impersonate, I wanted to evoke his honesty, bitter-sweet humour, self criticism and disdain for pretentiousness and pomposity”, says Waters.
“The song Glass Onion was John Lennon’s postscript to The Beatles. It had such a strong image of crystal ball-gazing and peeling away the layers that it inspired the format for this show – a kaleidoscope collage of song, word, emotion and image”, agrees D’Arrietta with Waters.
For the audience this is either an emotional trip down memory lane or a wonderful introduction to the life and times of one of the most fascinating icons of our time.
With 31 songs performed including to name a few, ‘A Day in the Life’, ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’, ‘Revolution’, ‘Lucy In the Sky with Diamonds’, ‘Woman’, ‘Jealous Guy’, ‘Imagine’ and more, this is a show for all ages.
“a remarkable celebration of a unique talent… Waters does it brilliantly” THE SPECTATOR, LONDON
“John Waters encapsulates the essence of Lennon.” CAPITOL RADIO, LONDON
“The humour, the pace, the crisp intercuts of light and sound, the emotional texture of music and narrative, and the insights add up to a stirring celebration of genius.” SYDNEY MORNING HERALD
“Part bio, part great concert, totally excellent.” THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH
“Angry, wired and wiry…..a powerfully recalled lament.” LONDON GUARDIAN
www.johnwaters.com.au
2014 TOUR DATES
The Harbour Agency Presents
John Waters – Looking Through A Glass Onion
Up Close & Personal
Starring John Waters and Stewart D’Arrietta
Friday, 3 January 2014 – Manning Entertainment Centre – TAREE, NSW
www.gtcc.nsw.gov.au/bookonline / Video Ezy Taree: (02) 6552 5699
Saturday, 4 January 2014 – Glasshouse – PORT MACQUARIE, NSW
www.glasshouse.org.au / (02) 6581 8888
Sunday, 5 January 2014 – City Hall – LISMORE, NSW
www.norpa.org.au / 1300 066 772
Friday, 10 January 2014 – Caloundra Event Centre – CALOUNDRA, QLD
www.theeventscentre.com.au / (07) 5491 4240
Saturday, 11 January 2014 – Twin Towns Services Club – TWEED HEADS, QLD
www.twintowns.com.au/showroom.html / 1800 014 014
Sunday 12 January 2014 – Sawtell RSL – SAWTELL, NSW
www.sawtellrsl.com.au / (02) 6653 1577
Friday, 17 January 2014 – Frankston Arts Centre – FRANKSTON, VIC
www.artscentre.frankston.vic.gov.au / (03) 9784 1060
Saturday, 18 January 2014 – The Palms at Crown – MELBOURNE, VIC
www.ticketek.com.au / 132 849
Sunday, 19 January 2014 – Lighthouse Theatre – WARRNAMBOOL, VIC
www.lighthousetheatre.com.au / (03) 5559 4999
Saturday, 8 February 2014 – Wangaratta Performing Arts Centre – WANGARATTA, VIC
www.wangarattapac.com.au / (03) 5722 8105
Sunday, 9 February 2014 – The Capital Theatre – BENDIGO, VIC
www.thecapital.com.au / (03) 5434 6100
Saturday 15 February 2014 – Wendouree Centre For Performing Arts – BALLARAT, VIC
www.wcpa.com.au / (03) 5338 0980
Sunday, 16 February 2014 – Geelong Performing Arts Centre – Drama Theatre – GEELONG, VIC
www.gpac.org.au / (03) 5225 1200
Friday, 21 February 2014 – Illawarra Performing Arts Centre – WOLLONGONG, NSW
www.ipac.org.au / (02) 4224 5999
Saturday, 22 February 2014 – Illawarra Performing Arts Centre – WOLLONGONG, NSW
www.ipac.org.au / (02) 4224 5999
Sunday, 23 February 2014 – Illawarra Performing Arts Centre – WOLLONGONG, NSW
www.ipac.org.au / (02) 4224 5999
Tuesday, 25 February 2014 – Queensland Performing Arts Centre – Cremorne Theatre – BRISBANE, QLD
www.qpac.com.au / (07) 3840 7444
Wednesday, 26 February 2014 – Queensland Performing Arts Centre – Cremorne Theatre – BRISBANE, QLD
www.qpac.com.au / (07) 3840 7444
Thursday, 27 February 2014 – Queensland Performing Arts Centre – Cremorne Theatre – BRISBANE, QLD
www.qpac.com.au / (07) 3840 7444
Friday, 28 February 2014 – Queensland Performing Arts Centre – Cremorne Theatre – BRISBANE, QLD
www.qpac.com.au / (07) 3840 7444
Saturday, 1 March 2014 – Queensland Performing Arts Centre – Cremorne Theatre – BRISBANE, QLD
www.qpac.com.au / (07) 3840 7444
Sunday, 2 March 2014 – Queensland Performing Arts Centre – Cremorne Theatre – BRISBANE, QLD
www.qpac.com.au / (07) 3840 7444
Friday, 7 March 2014 – Orange Civic Theatre – ORANGE, NSW
www.ticketek.com.au / 132 849
Saturday, 8 March 2014 – Dubbo Regional Theatre – DUBBO, NSW
www.drtcc.com.au / (02) 6901 4378
Sunday, 9 March 2014 – Capitol Theatre – TAMWORTH, NSW
www.capitoltheatretamworth.com.au / (02) 6766 2028
Friday, 14 March 2014 – Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre – MOUNT GAMBIER, SA
www.countryarts.org.au / (08) 8723 8741
Saturday, 15 March 2014 – Hamilton Performing Arts Centre – HAMILTON, VIC
www.hamiltonpac.com.au / (03) 5573 0429
Friday, 21 March 2014 – Albury Entertainment Centre – ALBURY, NSW
www.alburycity.nsw.gov.au/whats-on / (02) 6043 5610
Saturday, 22 March 2014 – Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre – WAGGA WAGGA, NSW
www.civictheatre.com.au / (02) 6926 9688
Friday, 28 March 2014 – Parklands Resort – MUDGEE, NSW
http://www.visitmudgeeregion.com.au/online-store/event-tickets#.Ul8Sm9KB92A / Mudgee Visitor Information Centre 02 6372 1020. A dinner and show option is also available.
Saturday, 29 March 2014 – Cessnock Performing Arts Centre – CESSNOCK, NSW
www.cessnock.nsw.gov.au/cpac / (02) 4990 7134
Friday, 4 April 2014 – Club Sapphire – MERIMBULA, NSW
www.clubsapphire.com.au / (02) 6495 1306
Saturday, 5 April 2014 – Canberra Theatre, Playhouse – CANBERRA, ACT
www.canberratheatrecentre.com.au / (02) 6275 2700
Friday, 11 April 2014 – Rooty Hill RSL – ROOTY HILL, NSW
www.rootyhillrsl.com.au / (02) 9625 5500
Saturday, 12 April 2014 – Laycock Street Theatre – CENTRAL COAST, NSW
www.laycockstreettheatre.com / (02) 4323 3233
Saturday, 19 April 2014 – Milton Theatre – MILTON, NSW
www.miltontheatre.com.au / (02) 4455 3056
Sunday, 20 April 2014 – Milton Theatre – MILTON, NSW
www.miltontheatre.com.au / (02) 4455 3056