Harvey’s big Call: Sunday Herald Sun

Paul Stewart writes

Before you book anything at this year’s Melbourne Arts Festival, put Call Girl the Musical at the top of your wish list.

Hundreds of talented international performers will be in Melbourne for the festival, but Call Girl the Musical is a homegrown show starring Melbourne actors and musicians in a Melbourne story.

The production is the brainchild of the inimitable Tracy Harvey.

As members of the classic country cabaret act the Whittle Family in the late 1970s, Harvey was at the vanguard of a cabaret scene that generated the likes of Wendy Harmer, Mark Trevorrow and Trevor Marmalade.
She stars in the new show with Neighbours veteran Alan Fletcher and entertainment heavyweights Steve Vizard and Bert Newton.

Also on the show’s talent list is former Hunters and Collectors trumpet player jack Howard, who acts as musical director, and script editor Doug MacLeod, of Kath&Kim fame.

As well the show stars cast members Laura Burzacott, Ralene Ibester, Jeremy Hopkins and Trevor Major.

Harvey has appeared in theatre and films, and on television shows such as Hey Hey It’s Saturday, Denton, The Comedy Company and The Gillies Report.

Call Girl the Musical features 23 new Harvey songs and is set in a call centre.

“Customer contact centres are the factors of the future – and that’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it’s not necessarily a good thing either,” Harvey said.

“The show was conceived during a six week stint I had working at one of them. While there, I thought the place would be an ideal location to set a musical.”

Fletcher is thrilled to be a participant, as he is a “big Tracy Harvey fan.”

“She is such a great talent, has boundless enthusiasm and also actually has a very good voice, so I am more than happy to be involved,” he said. “I sing a lot of the show, including two big solo numbers – Super Super Salesman and a great ballad Why Oh Why.”

Such is Fletcher’s belief in the new show, he would act in it “for next to nothing”

“Yes, at this stage, it is mainly a love job, but I expect thing to happen with the show in the future,” he said.

“I am also soon doing Mame for the Production Company, which will be a lot of fun, but I am also very fortunate to be in a great newly written and produced Melbourne show.”

Entertainment veteran Newton is also a long time Harvey fan.

“I can remember seeing her back in the ‘70’s and thinking even back then, ‘This girl has got it’,” he said.

“I have also worked on several television shows with her now and know first hand how good she is.”

“The fact that Call Girl the Musical is a new Australian production is even better.”

“I think is a terrific achievement that Tracy has got it up and running.”