Councillor donning short shorts for musical theatre

Andrew Fraser will be singing, dancing and acting in a physical education teacher role in Gore...
Andrew Fraser will be singing, dancing and acting in a physical education teacher role in Gore Musical Theatre's theatre restaurant Alphabet Soup, opening November 14, at Gore Town & Country Stadium. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
Gore Musical Theatre’s theatre restaurant this year stars an unlikely player: Gore District councillor Andrew Fraser.

Mr Fraser will be playing a PE teacher in the theatre company’s school-set Alphabet Soup, opening Friday night at the Gore Town & Country Stadium.

The councillor and tractor salesman told The Ensign it was his second production, having played a non-speaking guard role in Jesus Christ Superstar in 2011.

"I had to crucify him and everything," he said.

In the upcoming dinner show, he will be adding singing and dancing to his repertoire, something he is less confident in than his wife, musical director Cheryl Anderson.

His close proximity to the theatre company let him know it was in need of some "grumpy old men", so he and Sunbeam Swingers’ Jason Harvey put their hats in the ring.

"You do what your wife says," he said.

As a councillor, he was unsure of how the public would view his involvement in something so unserious, but he was happy to support Gore Musical Theatre.

The theatre company was a great organisation, and its latest show continued to show off the talents of Gore’s younger generation.

The show stars Gore not-so-newcomer Billy Weeks fresh off his performance as Fonzie in the theatre’s Happy Days musical and Taylor Thomson from Lumsden.

Ms Anderson said Taylor sang, danced and was a "real stand out" in Alphabet Soup.

Mr Fraser said the theatre piece was loosely set in a school with parents, teachers, students and songs that rolled into each other with a few skits as well.

"I won’t give anything away, but it’s extremely funny."

Wearing exaggerated workout gear costume, singing and dancing were not the only things in the show that were outside of his comfort zone, he said.

"I've got the shortest pair of shorts you've ever seen."

Alphabet Soup starts at 7pm on November 14, 15, 21 and 22, at the Gore Town & Country Stadium.

The show and dinner is $75 per adult and $600 for a table of eight. Tickets can be found on iTicket.

ella.scott-fleming@alliedmedia.co.nz