Chaos, comedy and charm: Free-Rain Theatre’s Lend Me A Tenor
19 September 2025This article by Vincent Samaras was first published by Canberra Daily on 1 Sept 2025.
Free-Rain Theatre is bringing a dose of glamour, chaos and laughter to the stage with Lend Me a Tenor, Ken Ludwig’s beloved fast-paced farce. Directed by Cate Clelland, the production will run at ACT Hub in Causeway Hall, Kingston, from 17–27 September.
Set in 1934, the play follows the mayhem that ensues when world-famous tenor Tito Merelli is due to perform in a hugely anticipated production. In true farce fashion, everything that can go wrong does, at breakneck speed.
“It’s a fun, fast-paced comedy with snappy dialogue and a lot of heart,” says actor Maxine Beaumont, who plays Maggie. “It’s very much a ‘go out for a laugh’ kind of show.”
Maxine says stepping into the role of Maggie is a joy, a character who is warm, adventurous and a romantic at heart.
“She’s romantic, fun, maybe a little silly at times, but very good-hearted,” Maxine explains.
“She’s looking for adventure and doesn’t quite get it the way she expected, but she learns a lot about herself along the way.
“What I love about her is her charm and openness to others.”
Maxine says it was the sharp dialogue and playful chaos that first drew her to the role.
“The dialogue is just brilliant. When I first read the script on a plane, I was literally laughing out loud and thought, ‘I have to do this show,’” she says.
“There’s also great physical comedy for Maggie, with her hiding in closets, doors slamming and even catching wine bottles. It’s just so much fun to play.”
Though the play unfolds with wild abandon, Maxine says staging a farce is anything but haphazard.
“Although the play looks wild and chaotic on stage, there’s actually so much precision, choreography, and rigour behind it,” she says.
Maxine says that working alongside such a talented team has made the experience especially enjoyable.
“It’s great to be back with ACT Hub and working under director Cate Clelland. We have such a strong and talented cast, including names audiences may recognise like Sally Cahill, Christine Falzon and Michael Sparks,” she says.
Maxine grew up in Canberra and cut her teeth at Canberra Youth Theatre, which she credits as being formative in her career.
“While the theatre community here is small, it really packs a punch,” she says. “The more support we can give it, the more opportunities there are for artists to stay and create here rather than having to move away. Community theatre is where so many people get their start, and it creates meaningful, interesting work that audiences genuinely want to see.”
Above all, Maxine hopes audiences walk away with sore cheeks from smiling.
“I hope people come along and just have a wonderful night out,” she says.
“Lend Me a Tenor is smart, witty, fast and fun, but it also has a lot of heart. If you want to laugh, be entertained, and escape for a while, this is the show for you.”
Lend Me a Tenor runs from 17–27 September at ACT Hub, Causeway Hall, Kingston.
Visit freeraintheatre.com for more details. Click here to buy tickets.