Terry Larder comes face-to-face with…
On a cold, bleak and windy Friday afternoon, (unseasonable for October and especially unreasonable for Pride month), I entered Subi Hotel, at the agreed time of 1pm. My distinguishing mark was a battered, sun-bleached UWA cap. Amid office workers celebrating the boss’s retirement, patrons chattering away in an endless spiral of noise; ladies of an advanced vintage seeking shelter from the relentless wind… I came face to face with 1472!
His face was exactly how I had wanted it to look, unadorned, tanned and fresh as any 24 year-old Adonis could look. The CD cover was right – here was gorgeous personified, for the face belonged to Anthony Callea or as I had greeted him with my welcoming hand-shake, ‘Hello 1472! (1472 was the number he wore on his jeans for his first Australian Idol audition).
This year has been somewhat of a rollercoaster for Callea. In the past he had previously denied being gay and refused to discuss his personal life. Despite the denials, the rumour mill on his sexuality was in overdrive. Regardless, he sailed through the competition, eventually finishing in second place.
But it became make or break time when in March this year, an accidental on-air ‘outing’ by radio announcer Vic Larusso of Sydney radio station Edge 96.1 mentioned that he had met Anthony and his partner Paul at a party the previous weekend. He later claimed that he didn’t realise Callea’s sexuality was not common public knowledge. To Callea’s credit, he came out publicly and also apologised to his fans on his web site for not having previously done so…Three days later, Australian High Court judge Justice Michael Kirby described Callea as an ‘admirable Australian’ for coming out. Callea later expressed regret, for his earlier denial explaining that ‘I guess I just didn’t want to be judged as “the gay contestant†in the 2004 Idol series’.
The media frenzy that surrounded the outing has long gone however, as Callea explained ‘After that process of coming out, I have now put that all behind me to concentrate on the things that I enjoy most, and that is singing. I have now never felt happier or more contented, and I can now look forward to the demands of future projects’.
This month WA fans will be able to touch base with their idol, as he will be playing the coveted lead role of Mark in the Yellow Glass Theatre production of Rent at Subiaco’s Regal Theatre. ‘I’ve always enjoyed the freedom of performing on stage, singing my songs and doing covers of others, so now to play the lead role in a musical, it’s a bit like “Walking the Tightrope‒, he said.
The new role isn’t without its challenges, with Callea confiding that ‘The acting demands in this production are huge! The other day, director Chris Kabay and I went line by line over each song as a way of understanding the piece and yet in my head I was somehow tinkering with the idea, now what would Mark be thinking right now?! Songs have to be sung in the key in which they were written, phrased accordingly, and yet still I have to remember lighting cues, stage blocking, conductor cues and then more importantly, sing songs that somehow reach out and hold the audience’s attention!’
With a cast line up that also includes Tim Campbell, Nikki Webster and the glamour gal seen everywhere in Perth recently, the delicious Shane Jenek (Courtney Act), this one-off Perth-only production is sure to be one helluva show. At this stage however, there is unfortunately nothing in the wind about recording a cast album, (definitely a missed opportunity I think).
As one door shuts another opens though, so new projects including working/or duet with Natalie Bassingthwaighte (Rogue Traders) were hinted at, so stay tuned when Callea returns to the recording studio in 2008 for his third and most eagerly anticipated album.
Rent is showing at the Regal Theatre from November 9. Tickets available through Ticketek, www.ticketek.com
