SMA Productions Pty Ltd.,
Canberra
Theatre Playhouse 28th February 2015
Reviewed by
Bill Stephens
The
lovechild of “Human Nature” and “Jersey Boys” proved an apt description of “The
Boys in the Band”, a slickly produced entertainment which played just one concert in the Canberra Theatre
Playhouse following its performance the previous night in Taronga Park Zoo as
part of the zoo’s Twilight series.
Featuring a
cast of four handsome and talented young men, Hugh Barrington, Tom Sharrah, Leigh
Sleightholme and Tom Struik, who, between them, have already notched up some
impressive theatre and television credits, the show turned out to be
fast-moving, high energy concert of hit
songs associated with some of the most successful boy bands of the last fifty
years. Included among them are Frankie Valley and the Four Seasons, The
Beatles, The Jackson Five, The Beach Boys, The Righteous Brothers, The
Backstreet Boys, The Bee Gees and even,
surprisingly, Simon and Garfunkel.
Dressed in
neat suits and ties, the talented quartet, backed by an excellent four-piece
ensemble, The Players, presented a potted history of boy bands. They worked
their way through well-chosen medleys of the hit songs associated with each of the
various groups commencing with Oh What a
Night and Sherry Baby in the
style of Frankie Valley and the Four Seasons, through Smoke Gets in Your Eyes and The
Great Pretender a la The Platters, through The Beach Boys Good Vibrations, a stylish version of
the Bee Gees You should be Dancin and
dozens more.
Most of the selections
were presented with tightly choreographed movement reminiscent of the various
groups, often cheesy but with the look of authenticity, and performed with
energy, panache and precision by the singers. The harmonies were spot on, with the
energy level maintained throughout. Connecting
narration was shared among the singers, with each singer having the opportunity
to shine in solos and duets.
 |
| Hugh Barrington |
The
possessor of a lustrous soaring falsetto, Hugh Barrington charmed the audience
early on with a superb performance of “Unchained Melody”. Tom Sharrah got his
opportunity in a lovely arrangement of Simon and Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over
Troubled Waters” and again in duet with Hugh Barrington, “Scarborough Fair”.
Tom Struik provided another highlight with an excellent version of Michael
Jackson’s “Ben”.
The only
blights on the performance were the segment involving an unfortunate audience
member being hauled up on to the stage for some embarrassing participation, and
the constant “Are ya havin’ a good time?”. This show is too polished and professional to
include these corny time-wasting ploys. When you have four excellent singers
available, surely another showcase solo would be a better use of their talent.
That said,
Boys in the Band provides an excellently produced, superbly sung, performed
and constantly entertaining dash through
the colourful history of boy bands. Watch out for them when they come your
way.
This review also appears on the Australian Arts Review website www.artsreview.com.au