CHICAGO
Mon, 23 Oct 2000, 05:24 pmlynn5 posts in thread
CHICAGO
Mon, 23 Oct 2000, 05:24 pmReally wonderful musical, at the Don Russell centre.
If you miss it you will be sorry.
RE: CHICAGO
Wed, 25 Oct 2000, 05:21 pmWalter Plinge
I must admit that was incredibly sceptical when I heard that a new group of young performers was putting on Chicago. After getting the thumbs up from Kimberley Shaw I decided to make 40 minute trip out to Thornlie and I am glad that I did.
The cast was young, vibrant and multi-talented. Especially Julia Jenkins, who played Velma Kelly. This young lady can only get better and better. She has a terrific belt voice and is an excellent actress and accomplished dancer. She was also 50% responsible for the direction and choreography. Grant Capriotti was responsible for the other 50% and also performed the role of Billy Flynn. Natalee Husk, who portrayed Matron "Mama" Morton was also the Musical Director.
Chicago was well directed and the excellent choreography was well executed. It was obvious that everyone involved had worked very, very hard. The set was a simple black rostrum with a set of central steps but it was all the production needed. The lighting, designed and operated by Neil Husk & Don Allen, was technically spot on and used artistically to great effect. The costumes by Liz Capriotti and Margaret Huff were absolutely fabulous but this brings me to my first reservation.
Many of the cast, as talented as they were, appeared to be far too young for this musical. Some of the girls looked barely sixteen and they were wearing tiny leather bras and playing sexy vamps. The sexuality of the show was lost because of this.
The sound was generally quite good but I thought that using a professional recording of the show (for chorus numbers) and having the cast sing along to it was distracting and wrong. I also felt that either live piano or backing tapes should have been used and not both.
I observed, however, that most of Tuesday night's audience seemed to think that Chicago was perfect. Many excited theatre-goers gave the performers a standing ovation which is something that you don't often see in amateur theatre (or even professional theatre for that matter).
An excellent debut for Act One Scene One and I look forward to seeing their future performances.
The cast was young, vibrant and multi-talented. Especially Julia Jenkins, who played Velma Kelly. This young lady can only get better and better. She has a terrific belt voice and is an excellent actress and accomplished dancer. She was also 50% responsible for the direction and choreography. Grant Capriotti was responsible for the other 50% and also performed the role of Billy Flynn. Natalee Husk, who portrayed Matron "Mama" Morton was also the Musical Director.
Chicago was well directed and the excellent choreography was well executed. It was obvious that everyone involved had worked very, very hard. The set was a simple black rostrum with a set of central steps but it was all the production needed. The lighting, designed and operated by Neil Husk & Don Allen, was technically spot on and used artistically to great effect. The costumes by Liz Capriotti and Margaret Huff were absolutely fabulous but this brings me to my first reservation.
Many of the cast, as talented as they were, appeared to be far too young for this musical. Some of the girls looked barely sixteen and they were wearing tiny leather bras and playing sexy vamps. The sexuality of the show was lost because of this.
The sound was generally quite good but I thought that using a professional recording of the show (for chorus numbers) and having the cast sing along to it was distracting and wrong. I also felt that either live piano or backing tapes should have been used and not both.
I observed, however, that most of Tuesday night's audience seemed to think that Chicago was perfect. Many excited theatre-goers gave the performers a standing ovation which is something that you don't often see in amateur theatre (or even professional theatre for that matter).
An excellent debut for Act One Scene One and I look forward to seeing their future performances.