Book by John
August
Music and
Lyrics by Andrew Lippa
Directed by
Tyran Parke.
Choreographed
by Cameron Mitchell.
Musical
Direction by Luke Byrne
Designed by
Anna Gardiner
Presented by
RPG Productions in association with Hayes Theatre Company.
Hayes
Theatre Sydney until 14th May 2017.
Reviewed by
Bill Stephens OAM.
A director’s
worst nightmare! Your leading man loses his voice on opening night, so what do
you do ? You provide the voice yourself of
course! And when the director is the silver-voiced, Tyran Parke, it’s the
perfect solution. On this opening night it worked a treat, turning potential
disaster into triumph, and providing the first night audience with one of those
gold-plated, “I was there the night …….” experiences.
Despite
being deprived of his singing voice, but with Parke singing for him sidestage, Phillip
Lowe, was still able to provide a thoroughly engaging central performance as
the often-absent father, Edward Bloom, who regales his adoring son with fantastical
stories of his exploits with witches, mermaids, giants and unlikely heroics, to
explain his absences. As the son grows older, he becomes frustrated by his
father’s refusal, or inability, to separate the real world from the fantasy. What
the son discovers, as he delves further into his father’s life, provides the
impetus for this thoroughly captivating little musical, for which Parke has
drawn pitch-perfect performances from his entire cast.
Among them,
Katrina Retallick, in another of her memorable creations as the perfect loving
wife, Sandra Bloom, whose sunny disposition masks a hidden sadness? Her comedic
gifts given full reign in the cleverly choreographed trio, “Little Lamb from
Alabama”, then heart-breaking in the superbly staged “I Don’t Need a Roof”.
Sam Wood,
who alternates with Brendan Godwin, in the role of Young Will, charmingly
captured Young Will’s growing frustration with his father’s evasiveness. Adam
Rennie brought a handsome presence and splendid voice to the role of the adult,
Will Bloom, whose marriage to Josephine, charmingly portrayed by Alessandra
Merlo, becomes the catalyst for a confrontation with his father. His
performance of the big ballad “Stranger” was truly thrilling.
Kirby
Burgess, as the mysterious Jenny Hill, managed to invest the character with an
intriguing other-worldliness, while Brendan Lovett in a series of cameos,
Brittanie Shipway as The Witch, and Seth Drury as Karl the Giant, each provided
stand-out performances among the hardworking ensemble.
Parke’s
clever use of shadows, simple, well-executed illusions, imaginative costuming
and inventive choreography combined to transport his production into a
seductive world of whimsy and fantasy transcending the confines of the tiny
Hayes Theatre, and magically in tune with Andrew Lippa’s glorious score, which
was splendidly sung and played under the musical direction of Luke Byrne.
PS. If
Phillip Lowe sings as well with his own voice as he did on opening night with
Parke’s, then a second visit to this production is definitely warranted.
Photos by Kate Williams Photography
This review also appears in Australian Arts Review. www.artsreview.com
Photos by Kate Williams Photography
This review also appears in Australian Arts Review. www.artsreview.com