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| Natalie Abbott (Muriel) and cast of "Muriel's Wedding - The Musical" |
Book by PJ Hogan – Music and Lyrics by Kate
Miller-Heidke &
Keir Nuttall
Directed by Simon Phillips – Sets, Costumes and
Projections designed by Gabriela Tylesova
Musical Direction by
– Daniel Puckey - Choreographed by Andrew Hallsworth
Presented by Global Creatures in association with
Sydney Theatre Company
Lyric Theatre Sydney 4th July until 8th September, 2019.
Sydney Opening Night performance reviewed by Bill
Stephens
Originally premiered in Sydney in 2017, this
Australian stage musicalisation of the popular 1994 film of the same name,
garnered a host of awards for its stars and creatives during its premiere
season. The book for “Muriel’s Wedding –
The Musical” is by PJ Hogan who wrote and directed the original film, and closely
follows the storyline of the movie, focusing on the plight of social misfit,
Muriel Heslop, who spends her life in Porpoise Spit listening to ABBA songs
and planning her glamorous wedding.
Masterfully directed by Simon Phillips, with dazzling
over-the-top sets and costumes by Gabriela Tylesova, and witty, effervescent
choreography by Andrew Hallsworth, the musical retains the songs originally
written for ABBA by Benny Andersson, Bjorn Ulvaeus and Stig Anderson woven
through a terrific new score by Kate Miller-Heidke and Keir Nuttall which provides
an inner voice for Muriel and the pulse for the show.
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| Natalie Abbott (Muriel) and friends. |
The role of Muriel is a star-maker. It made a star of
Toni Collette who played her in the film. Maggie McKenna, who played Muriel in
the original Sydney production, is now touring the US in “Dear Evan Hansen”.
Newcomer Natalie Abbott is making her professional debut as Muriel, this time
around, and if the reaction of the Sydney first night audience to her
performance is any gauge, we’ll be hearing a lot more from Miss Abbott in the
future. Her voice and smile fill the theatre. Funny, heartbreaking and
completely believable, she manages to keep the audience rooting for her happy
ending despite her unfortunate propensity for lying and stealing. Stefanie Jones, as her tragic bestie, Rhonda,
also makes a strong impression.
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| Stefanie Jones (Rhonda) - Natalie Abbott (Muriel) |
While some of the original cast from the Sydney
premiere season remain, most of the principal roles have been recast. David
James is excellent as Muriel’s overbearing father, Bill Heslop. Pippa
Grandison, playing Muriel’s loyal down-trodden mother, Betty gives a
well-judged, moving performance, especially in the second half, and Chelsea
Plumley is a stand-out as Bill Heslop’s drop-dead glamorous mistress, Deidre
Chambers. Laura Murphy, recently seen at the Q in Queanbeyan as Princess Fiona in Free Rain Theatre's production of "Shrek - The Musical", gives an eye-catching performance as Muriel’s hilariously
malicious nemesis, Tania Degano.
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| Dave Eastgate (Ken Blundell) - Stephen Madsen (Alexander Shkuratov) - Natalie Abbott (Muriel) |
In addition to providing impressive eye-candy, Stephen
Madsen gives a delightfully tongue-in-cheek performance as the Olympic swimming
hunk, Alexander Shkuratov, who actually does marry Muriel, supported by a very
funny performance from Dave Eastgate, as his coach, Ken Blundell.
However, despite all its colour and razzle dazzle, it
is the graceful, perhaps subversive, handling of the scenes involving issues of
suicide, depression and inclusivity, that surprises most by staying in the memory
long after the curtain has gone down.
Photos by: Jeff Busby
This review first published in CITY NEWS on 8th July 2019
