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| Toby Breach and Elloise Reardon in "Nice Work If You Can Get It" |
Music and Lyrics by George and Ira Gershwin - Book by Joe Dopietro
Directed by Dave Smith - Musical Direction by Brigid Cummins
Choreographed by Kirsten Smith - Costumes designed by Jess Zdanowicz
Lighting Design by Jacob Aquilina - Sound Design by Telia Jansen
The Q, Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre 1st - 10th November, 2024
Opening night performance on 1st November reviewed by BILL STEPHENS
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| The ensemble in action during "Nice Work If You Can Get It" |
Though you could be forgiven for thinking that "Nice Work If You Can Get It!" is a vintage musical, especially because it features the songs of George and Ira Gershwin with a book written by Joe DiPietro but based on material by Guy Bolton and P.G. Wodehouse, it actually premiered on Broadway in 2012.
The Production Company in Melbourne gave it its first
Australian production in 2015.
Dave and Kirsten Smith were so impressed with "Nice Work If
You Can Get it!" when they saw the Broadway production while touring the US in
2013 that they persuaded Queanbeyan Players to produce it, even taking on the
roles of Director (Dave) and Choreographer (Kirsten).
It’s not difficult to see the reasons for their enthusiasm
because the show, a pastiche of a 1920’s musical, is crammed full of the Gershwin’s
most memorable songs, and while the storyline is disarmingly silly and
improbable it is also very funny, offering lots of delightful character roles which
this large talented cast embrace with enthusiasm.
Taking on his first directorial role Dave Smith draws on his
own formidable performance skills to deliver a sparkling well-cast production
in which his actors and creatives achieve an impressive balance between farce
and nostalgia.
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| John Whinfield (Duke Mahoney) - Luke Ferdinands (Jimmy Winter) - Anthony Swadling (Cookie McGee) in "Nice Work If You Can Get It" |
In the central role as Jimmy Winter, the dopey millionaire with a penchant for getting married to the wrong person, Luke Ferdinands offers a beautifully sung, confidently danced leading man performance that is both funny, charming and worthy of the adoration of the hordes of adoring females who constantly pursue him.
He is well matched by Sienna Curnow as the no-nonsense bootlegger Billie Bendix, who charms with an effervescent performance, delightfully phrased singing and especially her comedic skills.
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| Luke Ferdinands (Jimmy Winter) - Sienna Curnow (Billie Bendix) |
Anthony Swadling scores with his well-judged performance as Billie’s partner-in-crime Cookie McGee particularly when he finds himself unwittingly transformed from bootlegger to butler; while John Whinfield captures his share of the laughs with an inspired performance as Duke Mahoney who discovers a misunderstanding about his name attracts the attention of gorgeous gold-digger, Jeannie Muldoon (Kay Liddiard).
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| Anthony Swadling (Cookie McGee) - John Whinfield (Duke Mahoney) - Sienna Curnow (Billie Bendix) in "Nice Work If You Can Get It" |
Anna Tully is a constant delight as Eileen Evergreen, the world’s most celebrated modern dancer, while Lillee Keating as Duchess Estonia Dulworth, Steven O’Mara as Chief Bartholomew, Pat Gallagher as Judge Max Evergreen, and especially Fiona Hale as the formidable Millicent who unravels misunderstandings at the end with her surprising revelations, all add to the fun.
Among the delights with this production are the numerous
spectacular song and dance routines performed by the large ensemble which
features an unusually large male contingent and which are cleverly staged by choreographer
Kirsten Smith who possesses a particular talent for devising eye-catching movement
for non-dancers.
Also outstanding is the large orchestra assembled under the
musical direction of Brigid Cummins, which achieved an impressively disciplined
big band period sound which did justice to the superb musical arrangements
which constantly surprised with the
inclusion of references to Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue and several of his lesser
known classical compositions in addition to their well-known songs including
Someone to Watch Over Me, S’Wonderful and Fascinating Rhythm.
Elegant flattering period costumes designed by Jess Zdanowicz,
a serviceable setting, together with good sound and lighting by Telia Jansen
and Jacob Aquilina all contributed to a clever production destined to be
remembered as being among Queanbeyan Players best.
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| "Nice Work If You Can Get It". |
Images by Ben Appleton - PHOTOX CANBERRA
