JULY 20
July 20 - July 26

The fallout continues
Friday, July 20, 2007 and two days after Kookaburra removes scenes involving April from a performance of Company at the Theatre Royal, the media gets hold of the story. The Sydney Morning Herald breaks the dramatic news on page three, telling of how the cast of the show were "fuming" over the decision to chop up the show.

No announcement was made to the audience regarding the removal of the scenes, which happened following an ilness to cast member Christie Whelan.

July 20 becomes a day of drama at Kookaburra headquarters as the company tries to save face. Friday's Herald story quoted Kookaburra CEO Peter Cousens (pictured) as saying: "I was in Melbourne … I certainly didn't hear anything. I don't think anyone had a problem. I think people enjoyed the show last night [Wednesday]."

The apparent denial of knowledge of the cuts was over by Saturday, July 21 when the Herald was again on the case, this time running an unprecedented front page story.

"I instructed the director, musical director, cast and crew to make the cuts to the show, and of course it was my decision to keep the curtain up," Cousens admitted on the Saturday.

It was in the Saturday story that the Herald revealed composer Stephen Sondheim had threatened to pull the show unless a full scale apology was issued.

On Monday, July 23, the Herald's Bryce Hallet all but called for the resignation of Cousens.


This week's birthdays
July 23: Bert Newton. Starred in The Producers.
July 23: Stephanie Morrison. 2007 WAAPA graduate.