Rumours (1979 - )

McMurdo, Don: Jennifer Barry as the Transistor Girl in Part 2 of Graeme Murphy's 'Rumours', Sydney Dance Company, 1979

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Graeme Murphy's three part work, Rumours, premiered at the Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House, on 28 March 1979. What became the second part of the full-length Rumours had been staged as a one act work the previous year for the Ballet '78 festival at the Opera House. This one act piece, also called Rumours, was a witty comment on the obssession for nude bathing that had developed in Sydney, especially at Lady Jayne Beach. Its success inspired Murphy to expand the piece into a evening length work.

Each of the three sections of the full-length Rumours explored different facets of Australian life. Part one, called 'Week-Day Dreaming', dealt with the Australian preoccupation with outdoor life, enjoyed to the fullest on the weekend with sunshine, sailing, tennis and night cricket. The second part, the nude bathing sequence, was called 'Bare Facts and Fantasies'. Part three looked at growing old and the relationships between generations. It was called 'Last Dreams' and featured a moving duet between Murphy and Robert Olup as the Old Couple.

Rumours was designed by Alan Oldfield and was performed to four separate compositions by Barry Conyngham - Sky for part one, Five Windows for part two and Snowflake and Ice Carving for part three.

Bibliography:

Alan Oldfield's designs for Rumours are held by the National Gallery of Australia.

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Other resources

Find more about Rumours in:

• Internet - Google
• Articles - New York Public Library Dance Collection
• Pictures - Picture Australia