Geraldene Morrow: 81 years in showbusiness and still singing

Backstage of the Palais Theatre, in a dressing room down an unglamorous hallway, Colette Mann, Merlyn Quaife and Evelyn Krape apply their stage makeup. Thick reams of foundation, heavy blush and dark eyeliner, everything that’ll keep under powerful stage lights for Follies’ final performance.

Geraldene Morrow is already resplendent. At 83, Geraldene calls herself the “grandma” of the company and yet, on stage, she is dancing and singing alongside athletic showgirls generations younger.

“You have to psych yourself up. It doesn’t matter how you’re feeling, you’ve got to get up there and perform, and that’s what showbusiness is all about,” she says.

If you attended Victorian Opera’s limited run of Follies, you’d recognise Geraldene as Hattie Walker, the powerhouse behind the iconic tune ‘Broadway Baby’. Her peers would recognise her as a mainstay of Australian theatre. But despite her legendary standing, Geraldene is humble, genuine and became quickly known around the Victorian Opera office as the nicest woman in showbusiness.

Victorian Opera’s Follies was Australia’s first fully staged production of Stephen Sondheim and James Goldman’s hit musical. But Geraldene Morrow has a long history performing Sondheim’s works.

Before Follies, her most recent musical was Melbourne Theatre Company’s Into The Woods some 27 years ago. She also featured with Jill Perryman and Batholomew John in the Australian cast recording of Side By Side by Sondheim. It is this recording that VO Artistic Director Stuart Maunder credits with launching his love affair with Sondheim’s work.

“I heard [Stuart] has our recording of Side by Side by Sondheim. He must have heard I was still singing. I was so surprised he asked me to perform in Follies, but also very touched,” Geraldene says.

She can now add Follies to an impressive number of Australian premiers in her 80-year career.

In 1959, at age 17, she became the understudy of Eliza Doolittle in Australia’s first ever production of J C Williamson’s My Fair Lady, only a few weeks after moving to Melbourne from her home in Perth. When the lead Bunty Turner was struck down by laryngitis, Geraldene performed in the role for a week.

Her career continued to soar. She moved to London and began working immediately, including in the title role of Cindy on the West End – a modern retelling of Cinderella. A young Cameron Mackintosh was her Stage Manager.

“I was very lucky. I did a lot of theatre and a couple of BBC television productions. When you’re in your 20s, you’ve got energy.”

As she recounts her years in London, Follies’ cast member Jack Van Staveren (Young Ben), costumed up in a singlet and suspenders, enters with hand-written cards for the ladies in the dressing room.

“This is a wonderful company,” she says, pocketing his card. “Everyone is so helpful to me. I get on stage and there’s always a hand reaching out to me, the old woman,” she says.

After her years in London, she performed opposite Johnny Farnham (as he was known then) as Charlie in the musical Charlie Girl; as Philia in the Australian premiere of A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum; and as Madame Giry in the Australian premiere of Phantom of the Opera alongside Marina Prior in her breakout role.

As a young performer, Marina says she would look to Geraldene for guidance and inspiration during Phantom of the Opera. 

“She was utterly adored in the company. Her work ethic has always been exceptional, and this time around in Follies she is the same,” Marina says.

“She knows all her material on day one, and is endlessly supportive and fun. She is the youngest 83 year old I have ever known, and her voice is still marvellous. I am so grateful to reconnect and work with such an extraordinary woman.”

Geraldene says the biggest highlight of her career was performing as part of a concert at the Sydney Opera House for the then-Prince Charles.

“I had never thought for one minute I’d ever be singing there. We all had to line up and meet him afterwards,” she says.

For Geraldene, showbusiness was a family affair. Her parents were ballroom dancers in Perth who taught Geraldene to dance as soon as she could walk.

“As far back as I can remember I wanted to dance and sing. I had my first concert when I was two. I did a duet with a little boy. He was a lot older, he was five.”

“Ooh, an older man,” Colette Mann chimes in from her corner of the dressing room.

At age three, Geraldene sang ‘Alice Blue Gown’ on stage, her first solo performance.

“Because it was my mother’s performance and she was a singer and a professional, she wouldn’t allow me to do it unless I was singing in tune,” she says

Geraldene still finds solace in the company of her mother, Renne Esler, especially ahead of performances.

“I believe in prayer, so I talk to my mum. She was my great inspiration, and she still is.”

After a thriving career filled with history, glamour and hard work, does she have advice for rising performers?

“Work hard, put your heart into it, and never give up.”

You can find Gerladene performing across Melbourne in her singing group, Merry Melodies.

Anthea Batsakis, Victorian Opera Content Editor