The Man from Snowy River: Arena Spectacular (film)
# The Man from Snowy River: Arena Spectacular (film)

The Man from Snowy River: Arena Spectacular was a musical theatre production based on Banjo Paterson's poem The Man from Snowy River. The production was filmed at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, during October 2002, and was released on DVD and VHS in Australia on 26 January 2003 (Australia Day).

The musical was presented by Jacobsen Entertainment and David Atkins Enterprises.

The creative team for the show were David Atkins (co-creator, co-writer, director and executive producer), Ignatius Jones (co-writer and director) and Kevin Jacobsen (executive producer). Extra dialogue was written for the show by Jonathan Biggins and Phillip Scott.

All poetry narrated in the musical was written by Banjo Paterson, including "Waltzing Matilda" (for which the music was written by M. Cowan).

Bruce Rowland, who composed the instrumental music for both the 1982 film The Man from Snowy River and its 1988 sequel The Man from Snowy River II (American title: Return to Snowy River), composed special arrangements of some of his music for the musical. He also conducted the orchestra.

Lee Kernaghan and Garth Porter wrote the music and lyrics for the country songs. During the concert scene, Lee Kernaghan also sang some country songs which he had already recorded on some of his albums.

The screen images, photographed by Ross Dunstan, were provided by Australian Geographic and are featured in their book The Snowy Mountains.

The "crack riders" (expert riders) in the musical wore Akubra hats and Driza-Bone riding coats.

## Awards and nominations for the musical

### Awards

* Winner: 2002 ARIA award for The Man from Snowy River: Arena Spectacular (Original Cast Recording) for Best Original Show/Cast Album (2002)
* Winner: ARIA Award for Bruce Rowland for Best Score for The Man from Snowy River: Arena Spectacular (Original Cast Recording)
* Winner: David Atkins and Ignatius Jones for Direction and Staging
* Winner: Conrad Helfrich for Musical Direction in a Musical Production
* Winner: Morris Lyda for Technical Design

### Nominations

* Nominee: Peter Milne for Projections/Set/Designs
* Nominee: Wyn Milsom for Sound Design
* Nominee: Martin Crewes for Male Artist in a Leading Role

## Plot

On John Conroy's property, the 2-year-old colts and fillies are mustered and brought to the homestead for horse breaking. Two of the colts are of very good stock, especially the beautiful and spirited colt from the famous racehorse Regret (John Conroy says that the colt is worth a thousand pounds (£1000) and that he wants the colt to eventually be the stud horse for the property).

Jim Ryan arrives at John Conroy's property following the death of his father. When he and Conroy's daughter, Kate, see each other, it is love at first sight for them both.

Jim, however, finds resentment at his presence at the station, both from John Conroy, the owner of the property, and the station's stockmen and station hands, with Dan Mulligan (the leading hand), disdainfully commenting "We don't want any swagmen here". Saltbush and McGinness McGee also make disparaging remarks about Jim Ryan's horse, with Saltbush sarcastically asking Jim if he bought his horse from a Mark Foy's catalogue, and McGinness McGee commenting that it was more likely that the horse had been saved from a glue factory.

John Conroy also comments that they have enough men working on the property already. Kate pleads with her father to give Jim a job at the property, and he finally relents, saying that Jim can help break the horses. John Conroy resents it when Jim Ryan says that he knows of a better way to break horses than the horse-breaking method being used at the property. However, John Conroy says that Jim could prove his expertise in horse-breaking by breaking the colt from Regret.

During the night, the Brumby herd gallops close to the homestead, and the colt from Regret breaks free from his tethers and joins them. John Conroy is furious at the loss of his prized colt, and unfairly blames Jim for what has occurred. Conroy decides to get all the crack riders (expert horse riders) from the stations near and far to muster at the homestead and hunt for the Brumbies, offering a reward of £1000, and angrily orders Jim to leave the property first thing in the morning.

The crack riders gather at the homestead the following morning, including Harrison, who made his fortune when Pardon won the cup (a reference to the President's Cup, a lesser known race held in Manindie, New South Wales). Another crack rider at the homestead was Clancy of the Overflow (who was a friend of Jim). Jim shyly turns up to join in the ride to hunt for the colt and Brumbies, but finds that, apart from his friend, Clancy, he is not wanted by anyone on the ride. Clancy convinces the others that, as both Jim and his horse were mountain-reared, they would be of great help in the ride.

The Brumbies are too quick for the riders and, when it becomes too steep and dangerous with wombat holes (burrows, where a horse could break a leg), all riders stop short of the dangerous descent — apart from Jim, who continues to chase the Brumby herd - finally bringing the herd (including the colt) back to John Conroy's property.

John Conroy is delighted to have his colt back again, and gives his approval to Jim marrying Kate. A concert and country dance, as well as a superb equestrian pageant, are then held in celebration and recognition of Jim's deed, and all ends happily.

## DVD

### Special features

* Outside the Arena — Behind the Scenes (The Making of The Man from Snowy River: Arena Spectacular)

    Narrated by David Atkins (includes interviews with members of the cast).
* Opening the Stable Door

    Names and information about the horses in the show — and about Jana the Border Collie (Banjo's dog).
* Wood Chopping — intermission entertainment:

    Woodchoppers: Sean Harper, Lindsay Hewill, Peter Windley and Mal Windley (who was also the co-ordinator)
* Cast and crew biographies
