RENT is one of those musicals I never got around to seeing when the professional production toured in 1999. Even though it had a 12 year run on Broadway, won a Tony Award and even had the story of the intriguing unprompted death of the creator, Jonathan Larson the night before the off-Broadway premiere I still didn’t’ madly dash out to see RENT, it just never really appealed to me.

Chatswood Musical Society’s production of RENT introduced me to the world of the mid 90’s drug addled, disease struck struggling avant-garde artists, in New York’s, Manhattan.

For a local, amateur group, CMS can boast a line up of great young talent including Hayden Barltop who played ‘Angel’, Barltop was extremely fitted for the part(s) and a duck to water in platform heels! Liam Whan played the lead role of ‘Roger’, image wise I didn’t think he really looked like a ‘struggling artist’ but vocally he was extremely on top of his game. The two strongest vocalists were Amy Toledano and Fiona Hamilton who play ‘Maureen’ and ‘Joanne’ respectively. These two women were the most professional and obviously have the broadest experience. Another superb vocalist who deserves a mention is ensemble artist Victoria Mahy who sings with the power of an African-American black soul singer, just a sensational vocal talent!

The choreography needs work, the movement for the performers looked unnatural and didn’t seem to sync with this particular style of musical, however the band were great and pumped out the hit numbers including: ‘I Should Tell You’, ‘Seasons of Love’, ‘Take Me or Leave Me’, ‘Goodbye Love’. The band were well positioned on the set, tucked under the upper section, sometimes the music was sucked into the set rather than reaching the audience, but the musicians played really well led by Musical Director Steven Kreamer.

Matt Cater deserves credit for his direction of this production of RENT for Chatswood Musical Society, he has chosen a strong group of performers who deliver with energetic execution and thoroughly entertain audiences!

JOHN & JEN
Sidetrack Theatre
Sydney Fringe Festival 2011

I never quite know what a show at Sidetrack is going to serve up, I’ve been to various performances there and sometimes I enjoy them and sometimes I find myself containing and squashing internal yawns.

Luckily for me, John and Jen was one of those shows you just engage with and enjoy from beginning to end. The story takes us on a ride of emotions as we follow the lives of a brother and sister. The story is deeply focused on the sister, Jen and the bond she has with her younger brother, John. John goes off to fight, presumably in Vietnam, he get’s killed and Jen never quite recovers. She carries this desperate loss right through to when she has her own son and calls him John. It’s a beautiful piece about loss, relationships and regrets but it’s not mellow and dark, it has a delightful lightness and fullness to it which is quite heart warming and optimistic.

Naomi Livingston plays Jen and she is absolutely suited to the part, she is able to generate emotions ranging from loss and sadness to funny and jolly. Edward Grey fitted the part of John (both Johns) like a glove, not only could he play the younger brother who starts out at 7 years old believably but he could also embody the part of a brother who grows up and goes to war and then as a son to Jen. He is able to diversify himself when he is actually playing to the same character Jen who stays the same in a linear sense throughout the story. The voices of Linvingston and Grey just gel beautifully.

The band is visible onstage and they are excellent, I really thought they should’ve bowed at the end, as the show wouldn’t be possible without them. The set is minimal and somewhat strange and resembles different environments throughout the show. The actors pivot the wooden structure around in a circle and stand on it to create different levels. It’s very well utilised and the director has used it well, I just wasn’t a real fan of it.

Performances of this quality should get more airplay,  I recommend you get yourself there!

I started out as a Glee virgin and now I’m a Glee fan. How did this happen? In about 90 minutes.

I ventured along with my friend to the The Glee 3D Concert Movie at the Event Cinemas on George St. A crowd of eager teens and young adults were waiting to see the concert featuring the stars from the hit TV show. How could I have missed this phenomenon? Maybe I’m just getting old…

To get us in the mood for the night there were cheerleaders and dancers on the way in and we were offered everything from choc tops, lindt balls, glow sticks and popcorn. Once sat down a guy in the audience stood up and started singing the opening lines from ‘Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey which seems to be a real theme song for this whole Glee thing, then all these dancers appeared down the front underneath the cinema screen and danced along to the song. I found this was all rather amusing and I was wondering how this concert was going to pan out but my inner cringing turned to outward grinning…

The concert was just so much fun! It really was just pure, positive clean fun! I felt like I was back in my mid teens watching a Spice Girls concert! This was like S Club 7 for a new era! It was honestly an absolute hoot! Glee as most people will be aware is a hit TV show about a Glee Club and features a cast of talented guys and girls. The show has touched the hearts of millions across the globe and inspires people to “embrace their inner Gleek”. It’s all about being individual, no matter who you are or where you come from.

The concert movie features many favourites from the series (which I haven’t seen) but as most of the songs are covers I was happy either way! I was “glee-fully” humming along to Slave for You, Silly Love Songs, Born This Way, New York, Don’t Rain on My Parade and many many more! The cast including all the famous characters (who were all new to me) like Blaine, Rachel, Finn, Brittany, Artie and Quinn really are superb, they must have scoured every corner of the states to find these incredible dancers and singers and it truly is a feast of fun!

I suppose the only annoying part of the concert movie was the spliced excerpts from Glee tragics. These fans really take Glee mania to another level, to them Glee is almost like visiting a therapist. The love for Glee and its characters are like some sort of religion that allows these people to feel at ease with their lives and allows them to ‘fit in’ with society through what they’ve learnt and felt from the characters stories in the show…I just hope they fully realize…that, umm, Glee and the characters are…fictional! Anyway, if it helps them on their journey then go them!

I absolutely recommend you check this movie out if you want a fun, sing along night out. It’s completely G-Rated and just so positive and uplifting you can’t really go wrong. It’s honestly just a bunch of young people having a jolly old time! Some people may find it’s more cheese and less glee but if you don’t take it too seriously and remind yourself of just how much fun it is to sing and dance, you’ll have a lot of fun with Glee 3D

GLEE 3D is out today in selected cinemas!

What were your thoughts? Are you a Glee fan?

Jesus, Christ, Super Star, Do you think you’re what they say you are? We all know the words and every musical theatre fan knows the timeless tunes of iconic Andrew Lloyd Webber’s songs.
Lloyd Webber truly is ‘The Man’ when it comes to musical theatre hits! What more do you need other than a live band, live singers, lights, and the show tunes that have stopped the hearts of thousands.

THE MUSIC OF ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER playing in Sydney and then Canberra before heading overseas serves up an extraordinary array of songs from all the classics like Cats, Phantom of the Opera, Jesus Chris Superstar, Sunset Boulevard and Evita.

The show also includes songs from some of the not so well known shows like Tell Me on a Sunday, The Woman in White and Love Never Dies which is currently playing in Melbourne. Lloyd Webber’s music touches your heart and the lyrics whisk you away to a land of love and fantasy.

The eight singers taking the stage at the lyric are: Blake Bowden, Alinta Chidzey, Andrew Conaghan, Michael Cormick, Trisha Crowe, Delia Hannah, Kirsten Hobbs and Shaun Rennie. For me the stand out was Alinta Chidzey, she absolutely shines, especially when she sings the beautiful ballad ‘I Don’t Know How to Love Him’ from Jesus Christ Superstar.

The set consisted of three gigantic screens displaying either a mood-enhancing scene or the name of the musical. At times, even the man himself, Sir Lloyd Webber would be beamed onto the screen, sharing insights into what it’s like being him and how his shows have remained loved the world over even after all these years.

It was a highly enjoyable evening, taking us on a great journey and reminding us of the sheer enormity of his repertoire. If you love Webber’s wonderful music, be sure to head a long to this sensational night of song.

Anyone who was a die-hard fan of the Disney movie-musical Mary Poppins starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke, will remember the timeless songs including Chim Chim Cher-ee, A Spoonful of Sugar, Jolly Holiday, Feed the Birds and of course the famous Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, well the stage version blew in to Sydney last week with a standing ovation from the opening night audience, however you better get in quick because it may only stay until the wind changes…

Verity Hunt-Ballard plays the prim and proper, ever so ‘spit-spot’ Mary Poppins, what an absolute knock out performance from Hunt-Ballard. So many people have grown up absolutely adoring the movie-musical led by Julie Andrews, the pressure to perform this part and rise to the expectations of the audience would be a weight on anyone’s shoulders, Hunt-Ballard has it, she absolutely carries us with her on the journey as Mary Poppins.

I remember back in 2005 I saw this show on the West End, Mary Poppins was played by Laura Michelle Kelly and I recall being somewhat put out that she wasn’t Julie Andrews and in my head I wanted someone to be just like Miss Andrews, however with Hunt-Ballard you don’t even think of the movie, she just transports you into her world and really becomes Mary Poppins.

Jane and Michael, the child characters were performed superbly by Ashleigh Ross and Cameron Holmes respectively, these kids clearly had their characters and dance and singing numbers down pat.

Other famous musical faces include Matt Lee who plays Bert, Marina Prior who plays a very convincing Winifred Banks, The Birdwoman (who sings Feed the Birds) is played by Debra Byrne and Judi Connelli who plays a minor but powerful role as Miss Andrew.

Act I is definitely superior to Act II mainly because it includes the famous songs you’re waiting to see. It moves quickly, the story is engaging and you’re really carried on the journey. The stand out song for me in Act I was Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, set in Mrs Corry’s shop, Mrs Corry played by Leah Howard is an engaging, energetic all-in-orange, larger-than-life character which reminded me a bit of the character of ‘Killer Queen’ in the musical We Will Rock You’. An absolute stand out moment is as the song speeds up the sharp, staccato choreography speeds up and the whole number just accelerates, then it switches from being in the set of Mrs Corry’s shop to having a curtain come down, footlights on and the word Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious projected onto the curtain, they continue the song and dance in real vaudeville style – I loved it!

Thinking back to the film, you may recall when Mary and the children meet Bert they jump into a painting and are transported into the world of the painting, of course being onstage this is difficult to do, so the park transforms into the painting, however there were some ‘statues’ which then proceed to magically ‘come alive’ and do ballet and I would’ve preferred it if they didn’t. There were too many pas de chats and not enough stretched feet. I was not overly amused with these statues and rather surprised that the level of balletic ability was not higher.

The magical elements of this musical are captured in songs like A Spoonful of Sugar set in the kitchen after the cook has left and the children and the servant end up crashing and smashing things by accident, Mary Poppins comes in and magically puts everything back in it’s place. The set is cleverly mastered so the elements of magic are possible.

The most magical part and the moment when all the children in the audience will be wide eyed and mouthed ‘like a codfish’ is right at the end. I wont spoil it, but it’s very impressive and someone told me after ‘that was my favourite part’, you’ll have to just get yourself a ticket to find out what all the fuss is about, before the wind changes.

Todd McKenney is Peter Allen! He has a mass of energy, he’s super-fit and he’s right on the mark with his sense of wit, tenderness and showmanship. I was a teenager when I last saw this show and to be honest I wondered how McKenney was going to be ten years on and he totally nailed it! He really syncs into the role with such ease. There’s also a genuine respect and kinship you can tell he has for the star he is playing.

This production is not like your traditional musical – it’s biographical and a dash cabaret but it’s definitely not a tribute. Part of the reason it has this less musical and more cabaret feel is because McKenney breaks the fourth wall. He speaks to us, shares with us and includes us in the journey, you almost expect he will come down into the audience and sit on someone’s lap. I love this. It makes us feel like we’re part of the show, his show, and we’re being carried along.

There is virtually no set apart from a non-descript staircase leading up to a platform which, when the stage is lit up, looks like some sort of strange scaffolding. This is not a good look. For the majority of time the back curtain has a spray of little lights that change colour. The actors carry on props that give meaning to scenes – this works quite well but I still think that this stand-out cast deserves more. I don’t really understand why there was no constructed set apart from the bare black stairs and platform. It looked a bit like a tech run.

The songs go off and the one’s everyone hangs out for include the sensitive, poignant Tenterfield Saddler, raucous and ritzy I Go To Rio and the classic ‘Qantas anthem’ I Still Call Australia Home which were all fantastic!

McKenney never disappoints and his energy just does not drop even for a moment. Stand out performers were McKenney of course, Robyn Arthur playing his mother, Christen O’Leary playing Judy Garland and Fem Belling playing Liza Minnelli. The quality of the performers really carries this show. There’s quite a large ensemble so you get some great classic kick lines and a fun, upbeat Rio finale with a generous serve of sequins, feathers and those famous puffy sleeves – definitely channeling Carmen Miranda.

Hurry along to see this show as it’s only in town for 3 weeks and it’s Mardi Gras season!

DOCTOR ZHIVAGO
Directed by Des McAnuff
Music by Lucy Simon
Choreographer Kelly Devine

“Front and Centre.” Yes, as in front row, dead centre, behind the conductor is where I was seated to witness this new musical. I saw every wrinkle, every drop of sweat and every genuine tear. It was truly remarkable to be so close to all the action!

Doctor Zhivago is set in an intense and turbulent time and focuses on a deep and rich love story. It follows the journey of young Lara and the older, wiser Doctor and Poet, Doctor Zhivago. Lara’s radical pro-communist husband, Pasha Antipov played by Martin Crewes is extremely well cast in the role; he has a great voice and the right look and characterization plus an element of wit, which offers a dash of lightness to this fairly heavy show.

Lucy Maunder (Lara) gives a refreshing and raw performance, her voice has a kind of innocence in its timbre, and you could imagine this voice in a Disney movie. Anthony Warlow (Doctor Zhivago) and Maunder have developed their characters with great depth and generate an intense chemistry onstage. Warlow’s voice truly never disappoints. The rest of the cast complemented these two leads, but none of them particularly stood out. I also found it odd and amusing that Doctor Zhivago’s ‘son’ appears to be played by a girl and then when Lara and Zhivago have a daughter, this ‘son’ then plays the ‘daughter’ (I think they’re relying on the fact most people aren’t sitting front and centre!).

Memorable moments were Anthony Warlow and Lucy Maunders duet, performing the signature song “Now” and the incredible duet between Lucy Maunder and Taneel Van Zyl who plays Zhivago’s wife, Tonia. They sing in the Library, where they lament and sense a common link over their love for Doctor Zhivago.

With the recent events of Egypt in my mind this musical couldn’t be covering more relevant issues if it tried, the problem however, is, if you’re sketchy on your Russian political history you may be wondering what’s going on.

The musical is based in the early part of the twentieth century, a time when there was deep unrest within the Russian people. The ‘Bolsheviks’ or the ‘Reds’ believed the Czar needed to be jettisoned in order for a more cohesive, fair society to exist, this generated a revolution as ‘the workers’ rose up and had the aristocrats overthrown. Just to give you the heads up!

The set is absolutely nothing to write home about, an array of broken chairs, drab columns and a bland chair and table. This no doubt captures the essence of the time, however for a musical I expected more. Plus there is this quite outrageous use of a black and white image over a curtain of Lara undressing. Lara is singing about her past and this image is meant to symbolize this but it was just so naff, it was distracting from the singing and completely unnecessary. The costumes are dull, understandably this type of show does not allow for much colour or razzle dazzle but I still wanted something more interesting.

There’s really two sides to this show, on the one hand it’s grey, drab, and oppressive to look at and on the other hand this intense energy makes the show powerful, thought-provoking and incredibly moving. Director Des McAnuff
has done a superb job with frequent scene changes which are quite fast paced, seamless and unpredictable allowing us to stay engaged, keep our energy focused and keep up with the story.

Doctor Zhivago is not for those who love an all singin’, all dancin’ sequin sparklin’, toe tappin’ show. This is for those who no doubt loved musicals like Phantom and Les Mis. This is not my favourite kind of musical, however I did find it incredibly moving, extremely well cast with consummate performances and it made me want to brush up on my Russian history. I do recommend stepping outside your comfort zone if you normally don’t go along to these types of musicals and checking it out, it will definitely enlighten, excite and engage you, even if you’re not sitting front and centre.