It is the show that just keeps on going.
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Renowned Australian actor/musician John Waters first toured his John Lennon tribute, Looking Through a Glass Onion, back in 1992.
With another tour early in the new year, which includes a return visit to Taree’s Manning Entertainment Centre (MEC) on January 6, it has most definitely stood the test of time.
“It lodges in people’s hearts,” said John. “It’s not just a cover act”.
The show’s concept takes you inside Lennon’s head and his stream of consciousness as his life flashes before his eyes when he is shot dead in New York City.
“I include the songs and the monologue of thought.”
It talks about his life as a Beatle and his life philosophies, Lennon being someone who spoke out for a generation of youth.
“He was also a damaged person with anger and sadness (relating to his mother).”
“First of all he was a neglected child.”
He was sent to live with his aunt when he was five.
“He got to know (his mother) and his mother died when he was 17 when she was hit by a car driven by an off-duty policeman.
“It informed a lot of his life and his emotional intensity.”
Lennon: Through a Glass Onion is created and performed by John Waters and esteemed singer/pianist Stewart D’Arrietta.
They took the show international five years ago, including to New York, and it has received a great reception.
It even has the approval of Lennon’s wife, Yoko Ono, who sent John a letter and photograph.
“I think my feelings were of extreme joy that I’d come up with a concept and Yoko liked it. It’s rewarding that she feels warmly about it,” said John.
She has licensed other shows about him for Broadway, however John describes their show as a “small theatre piece” that is “left of centre and tells a story in a unique way”.
Speaking from his five acre property, 750 metres above sea level, in the Southern HIghlands of NSW (he moved out of the city two years ago), John said he is looking forward to taking the show on the road once more.
“January is a good time to tour towns out and about in New South Wales.”
“The MEC is a great venue for us and particularly this time of year, I’m looking forward to it.”
The show itself is constantly evolving.
“We’ve added a new song and a new piece...we fiddle with it. I wanted to include more of the monologues.”
John describes the show as something he “inhabits”.
“A new audience brings a new energy. It is the beauty of live theatre.”
As they continue to tour he said the show is being introduced to new generations.
“The baby boomers who were around at the time and now they are bringing their children and their children’s children.”
Lennon’s songs are universal and John said the iconic song Imagine is still as relevant today as the time it was written with violence, war and fundamentalism.
“Let’s get above all that and love. A human being is a human being and when I sing that song...it feels very pertinent.”
John was born in England and was into the British rock music scene of the 1960s.
“It ignited my life and in my early 20s I was playing in a band.”
His life was music and he said there was a lot of intensity and political activists among the rockstars of the time.
“Music really affected lots of people. Like the anthem of Imagine and a great many other songs.”