The Big HOO-HAA - Broadway musical night
Sat, 16 Oct 2004, 04:03 amcrgwllms2 posts in thread
The Big HOO-HAA - Broadway musical night
Sat, 16 Oct 2004, 04:03 amOkay, technically I'm not supposed to be reviewing this show seeing as I played a small part in it, but under the circumstances I feel justified...
Claire Hooper (very comfortably handling the role of MC) and myself (occupying my usual seat at the announcing mic and playing the odd small bit of synthesized guitar) were the only two regular Hoo-Haa players involved tonight, the show being handed to 2 teams of four, plus 3 musicians, from the 'Wonderkids'... 3rd year students from the WAAPA Musical Theatre course.
These performers have obviously been working hard to create a slick ensemble, and their total familiarity with the style and substance of Broadway-style musicals allowed them to masterfully present an entire evening in that style, while totally sending it up at the same time.
Without exception their musical skill was impeccable, and their sense of showmanship admirable; but I was most impressed with the strength of the narration, allowing them to sustain some surprisingly long scenes of continuous musical numbers without ever losing the plot, the audience, or their energy. A highlight was the players improvising several songs based on suggested words from the audience, the audience voting for their favorites, and each team returning after a short interval to present an entire 10 minute musical based upon those choices...('Bert Newton daytime television addicts', or 'the land where dancing's illegal'...I was hard pressed to pick a favorite, they were both outstanding!).
But it was by no means only musical skill. There was terrific physical comedy, great characters, and strong narratives, as well as a section relying only on quick wits and comic delivery...a totally slick package of value-for-money comedy. If they were nervous it didn't show, what we saw instead was all of them having great fun and totally being there to assist each other and share responsibility for a night of thorough entertainment.
I don't think anyone in the crowd, Hoo-Haa veteran players included, could go home tonight without some jealousy of these talented newcomers.
Thanks to: Noni McCallum, Beck Corley, Matt Withers, Lexi Fishman, Jenny Peers, Alex Lewis, Chris Bishop, and Callie Gray; and to the musician team of Nick McMahon, Amelia Cormack, and Zoe Gertz on piano, violin and percussion.
It's a shame for us they're about to graduate and we're going to lose most of these guys back to the eastern states...I'm sure they'll be in demand wherever they end up.
Thanks also to Chrissie Best, who has been teaching improv at WAAPA, and obviously knows how to produce great results. Chrissie used to be a regular player at the Hoo-Haa, and is fondly missed.
One of the most totally entertaining nights of comedy I've seen for a while...and I've been racking up a few.
Cheers,
Craig
The Big Hoo-Haa continues, the first Friday of the month at Rosie O'Grady's in South Perth, and every other Friday at the Freo Hotel...and keep your ears peeled for details of our new venue opening very soon...
Claire Hooper (very comfortably handling the role of MC) and myself (occupying my usual seat at the announcing mic and playing the odd small bit of synthesized guitar) were the only two regular Hoo-Haa players involved tonight, the show being handed to 2 teams of four, plus 3 musicians, from the 'Wonderkids'... 3rd year students from the WAAPA Musical Theatre course.
These performers have obviously been working hard to create a slick ensemble, and their total familiarity with the style and substance of Broadway-style musicals allowed them to masterfully present an entire evening in that style, while totally sending it up at the same time.
Without exception their musical skill was impeccable, and their sense of showmanship admirable; but I was most impressed with the strength of the narration, allowing them to sustain some surprisingly long scenes of continuous musical numbers without ever losing the plot, the audience, or their energy. A highlight was the players improvising several songs based on suggested words from the audience, the audience voting for their favorites, and each team returning after a short interval to present an entire 10 minute musical based upon those choices...('Bert Newton daytime television addicts', or 'the land where dancing's illegal'...I was hard pressed to pick a favorite, they were both outstanding!).
But it was by no means only musical skill. There was terrific physical comedy, great characters, and strong narratives, as well as a section relying only on quick wits and comic delivery...a totally slick package of value-for-money comedy. If they were nervous it didn't show, what we saw instead was all of them having great fun and totally being there to assist each other and share responsibility for a night of thorough entertainment.
I don't think anyone in the crowd, Hoo-Haa veteran players included, could go home tonight without some jealousy of these talented newcomers.
Thanks to: Noni McCallum, Beck Corley, Matt Withers, Lexi Fishman, Jenny Peers, Alex Lewis, Chris Bishop, and Callie Gray; and to the musician team of Nick McMahon, Amelia Cormack, and Zoe Gertz on piano, violin and percussion.
It's a shame for us they're about to graduate and we're going to lose most of these guys back to the eastern states...I'm sure they'll be in demand wherever they end up.
Thanks also to Chrissie Best, who has been teaching improv at WAAPA, and obviously knows how to produce great results. Chrissie used to be a regular player at the Hoo-Haa, and is fondly missed.
One of the most totally entertaining nights of comedy I've seen for a while...and I've been racking up a few.
Cheers,
Craig
The Big Hoo-Haa continues, the first Friday of the month at Rosie O'Grady's in South Perth, and every other Friday at the Freo Hotel...and keep your ears peeled for details of our new venue opening very soon...