Actress Christine Mercante, who will represent one of the seven deadly sins on stage.
By Alesha Capone
WERRIBEE actress Christine Mercante will soon take to the stage in Sunshine, as a cabaret character representing one of the seven deadly sins.
The young performer and her fellow cast members are set to wow crowds in the show ‘Obsession’, which will be on as part of the Melbourne Fringe Festival.
The production is being presented by the Moving Theatre group, which was founded by young adults Pauline Agius and Sean Moran, with the aim of bringing arts to youth in the West.
In ‘Obsession’, Ms Mercante, who is also an assistant producer, plays a character based on the sin greed, while the other actors are lust, envy, vanity, anger, sloth and gluttony.
The cabaret is billed as a “tale of seven lives, seven sins and one decision that changes it all”.
Ms Mercante, who is also a talented singer, will perform Madonna’s ‘Material Girl’ during the show.
“My character’s the most flamboyant, with a Dame Edna-type personality,” she said.
“I’m not like her at all, everyone who knows me knows I’m a pushover and I never stand up for myself.
“I guess when I play her, I get to be a person I’m not, which is fun.”
Ms Mercante said Moving Theatre also hoped to also take ‘Obsession’ on the road to the Adelaide Fringe Festival later this year.
“At times we have the biggest laugh in rehearsals, but when it’s time to perform, it’s time to perform,” she said.
“In our group, everyone’s there to have fun and because they love it, they don’t take it too seriously. We’re all good friends.”
In addition to working full time and rehearsing ‘Obsession’, Ms Mercante is also a singer with the punk-rock band Your Local Hero, which has just recorded an EP.
‘Obsession’ will be on at The Euro Masonic Hall, 93 Hampshire Rd, Sunshine on 30 September and 2, 7 and 9 October. Friday and Saturday shows at 7pm, Sunday shows at 6pm.
See www.melbournefringe.com.au/fringe-festival/show/obsession/ to book tickets.
