Produced by Michael Durkan – Co Produced by
Ciaran Olohan – Musical Direction by Claire Crehan – Choreography by Pippa
Holliday – Audio by David Fitzgerald – lighting by Andrew Moore – Wardrobe
supervision by Miranda Ryan.
Canberra
Theatre 22nd May 2022.
Reviewed by
Bill Stephens.
Towards the end
of an extensive tour of N.S.W and prior to touring Queensland, Tasmania and
Victoria before moving on to New Zealand, “The World of Musicals” presented its
only ACT performance to an enthusiastic capacity audience in the Canberra
Theatre.
Offering an
equally fast-moving musical tour through the hit-songs of no fewer than 23
popular musicals, and performed by an ensemble cast of 12 hard- working British
performers, six women and six men, the show featured choreographed ensemble
items, together with solos, duets, trios and quartets which follow each other
in rapid succession, most enhanced by projected screen images and colourful
lighting design.
Performing
to good quality pre-recorded backing tracks, the show was at its best with the well-sung,
excellently arranged vocal ensemble numbers, particularly the opening Bohemian Rhapsody from “We Will Rock You”,
Where Eagles Fly from “On Eagles Wing”
and a particularly moving rendition of I
Still Call Australia Home from “The Boy From Oz”.
Other
highlights included a lovely rendition of What
I Did For Love from “A Chorus Line”, a cheeky presentation of Mein Herr from “Cabaret”, both items performed
by members of the ladies ensemble, and a tightly choreographed medley of songs
from “Jersey Boys” performed by four of the male ensemble.
While the
recorded backing tracks worked fine for the ensemble numbers, they tended to
expose the soloists as excellent ensemble singers but not really up to the
demands of the big solo numbers, so that when deprived by the arrangements of very
little room for individual nuance, tended to compensate with over-dramatic,
contrived emoting. One exception however, and the vocal highlight of the night,
was Jack Trinder’s passionate rendition of Maria
from “West Side Story”, which drew an enthusiastic response from the
audience.
A major disappointment
with this show however was the costuming which appeared to have been assembled
from various sources with little attention to fit or appropriateness. It is an
area which took the gloss off an otherwise well-presented show and one which
hopefully will be given more attention for future return visits promised by the
amiable host and co-producer, Ciaran Olohan.
This review also posted in AUSTRALIAN ARTS REVIEW. www.artsreview.com.au
