Jolene's a one-woman show

By Jodie Minus
Updated November 5 2012 - 5:51pm, first published July 29 2008 - 11:40am
All Saints actress Jolene Anderson in Wollongong yesterday ahead of last night's national premiere of Tell Me On A Sunday at IPAC. Picture: ANDY ZAKELI
All Saints actress Jolene Anderson in Wollongong yesterday ahead of last night's national premiere of Tell Me On A Sunday at IPAC. Picture: ANDY ZAKELI

She won the audience's heart on It Takes Two, now All Saints actress Jolene Anderson faces the biggest challenge of her career as the star of the one-woman Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, Tell Me On A Sunday.Speaking to the Mercury hours before the Australian premiere of the production at Illawarra Performing Arts Centre last night, Anderson said she hadn't had much time for nerves."I have had no time, because with All Saints you go to work before the sun comes up and you get home when it is well and truly down," Anderson said. "I think we are well and truly prepared, but honestly I haven't had too much time to think about it."The musical was written by Lloyd Webber and Don Black for British actress Marti Webb in 1979. Adapted by Kookaburra, this is the first time an Australian company has brought the show to the stage. The story follows Our Girl (Anderson) as she arrives in New York from London and experiences highs and lows while looking for love. It is a demanding performance for an actor as Anderson is the only cast member. She must keep the audience engaged for an all-singing 50-minute block before interval."It is quite a challenge, no treadmill can prepare you for a show like this," she said. "All I do is run from one side of the stage to the other, changing costumes and singing and changing costumes while singing on stage, it is full on."There are six shows until Saturday, including a Friday night free drinks session starring understudy Christina O'Neill.

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