Irregular Productions. The Bakehouse Theatre - Main Stage. 17 Feb 2015
The stage is set. Four brightly coloured chairs and a piano. The players are already in place, chatting as if waiting for a rehearsal to start. The lights dim, and the players begin.
[title of show] follows the collaborative journey of friends, Hunter, Jeff, Susan, Heidi and Larry, as they try to create a musical in only three weeks for the upcoming New York Musical Theatre Festival. In lieu of an original idea, Hunter (the writer) and Jeff (the composer) decide to write a musical about two guys who are writing a musical about two guys who are writing a musical. The characters all play themselves… playing their character, that is.
This is a musical for the musical in-crowd. The show is billed as a comedy, and there are certainly some funny one-liners scattered throughout the script, but if you aren’t very familiar with the musical theatre genre then a lot of the in-jokes will be lost on you. Hint: read the glossary enclosed in the programme before lights out.
Hayley Horton directs the show, with Peter Johns as both musical director and in the role of Larry. Horton gives the show bucket loads of pace, and her players carry it off with consummate ease. But in that pace, comic timing gets a bit lost and many of the jokes are missing their laugh.
Non-stop for 90 minutes the entire cast are ‘on’. Both physically on stage and in their mental character focus. A better Adelaide amateur cast, Horton could not have wished for. Scott Reynolds, Rod Shultz, Claire McEvoy and Amy Nagesh sing the house down in this show. The odd note is out of range for some performers, but it doesn’t matter when this ensemble sings. They are the show, and they make the show.
Despite the awesome performances the script is about 30 minutes too long. The concept makes for a great musical, but beyond a certain point the show gets carried away with itself and ceases to be interesting or original.
The production is at its absolute best in 'What Kind Of Girl Is She’, the Festival ‘Montage’ and particularly in ‘Secondary Characters’. In terms of performance connection McEvoy and Nagesh take the cake when they sing together.
Tickets are selling fast. This is a well-publicised and highly anticipated show amongst Adelaide theatre audiences. If you know the show, or love everything ‘musical theatre’ then don’t miss it. But, do read that glossary.
Paul Rodda
When: 17 to 21 Feb
Where: Bakehouse Theatre – Main Stage
Bookings: adelaidefringe.com.au
