Free Rain
Theatre
The Q –
Queanbeyan until March 22nd.
Reviewed by
Bill Stephens
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| Some of the cast of "Forbidden Broadway |
For those
who love Broadway musicals this show is sheer bliss. But even if you couldn’t
care less about Broadway, there is still much to enjoy in the clever
performances, the witty costumes and the spot-on choreography of this wicked,
affectionate send-up of the Broadway musical genre.
“Phantom of
the Opera”, “Les Miserables”, “Wicked”, “Cats” and “A Chorus Line” are among the
Broadway shows skewered with hilarious accuracy in this brilliant, fast-paced, constantly
entertaining show.
The clever
decision of director Anne Somes to expand the cast to twelve highly talented performers
allows each to shine. There are many highlights, too many to list here, but
personal favourites included Georgia Pike, as a wonderfully garrulous Ethel
Merman, treating David Spence’s Phantom of the Opera to a singing lesson. Pike
again, as Rita Moreno, triumphantly out-diva-ing the plucky Chita Rivera of
Halimah Kyrgios, in their marvellous duet “America”, or Kyrgios striding the
stage as a sequined Liza Minnelli in cabaret mode, belting out “Liza One Note”.
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| Georgia Pike (Rita Moreno) Halimah Kyrgios (Chita Rivera) |
Tim Dal
Cortivo brilliantly nails the excesses of Mandy Patinkin in “Somewhat Overindulgent”,
and Jean Valjean in “Les Miserables” complaining that “It’s Too High”.
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| Tim Dal Cortivo in "It's Too High" |
“Forbidden
Broadway” is packed with such marvellous moments; all presented in an appropriately
colourful setting featuring revolving doors which allow the cast to move quickly
and seamlessly between numbers.
Seated
centre-stage at a white baby-grand piano, Nick Griffin’s accompaniments
brilliantly capture the requisite Broadway feel; however over-amplification of
the voices meant that some of the all-important lyrics were unintelligible on
opening night, providing the only blemish on an otherwise brilliantly executed
production. Highly recommended.
This review appears in the 13th March print edition of CITY NEWS and also the digital edition.