HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL

HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL

Vivid Jnr at Brentwood Theatre

16.07.16


High School Musical – a follow-up to Honk for Vivid Jnr – is directed by Amy Newland and Emma Jane Sweeney.
This popular spin-off [writers uncredited in the programme] has a derivative, well-worn storyline which will be familiar even if you don't know the Disney original – a holiday encounter recalled back in school, a show to put on, rivalry between Thesps and Jocks, and here, Brainiacs and Skater Dudes.
It's simply staged in Brentwood, with lockers and vending machine either side. Some good choreography – the basketball moves, the animated frieze behind Start of Something New.
Despite the heat, it would have been nice to have a little more physical enthusiasm from the young cast. Too often characters seemed awkward and lost on stage. Some of the dialogue, and even the lyrics, were obscured by the underscore and the backing track.
The star-crossed lovers - “typical jock meat-eater” Troy and cerebral Gabriella were played by Harrison Hall, looking slightly worried, and Rebecca Miller, perhaps a little too glam for the Science Decathlon. They sang sweetly together, but there was little chemistry – Drama Teacher Darbus, confidently characterized by Fern Harrison, will have her work cut out with her Juliet and Romeo musical.
Jonathan Wellers was a well-spoken team coach, Charlotte Hayward held things together as the news announcer.

But it was left to the Boyd sisters, Lara and Amy, playing villains of the piece Rian and Sharpay, to teach East High about engaging with the audience, acting with the eyes and making the best of the banal. As Darbus says after their What I've Been Looking For duet, “... very polished!”

SPREAD A LITTLE JOY

SPREAD A LITTLE JOY

Vivid Theatre Productions at Brentwood Theatre

20.09.15

Ian Southgate pans for musical theatre gold in this fund-raiser for Brentwood Theatre, directed by Emma Jane Sweeney. Broadway and off, West End and fringe yield a fascinating haul: many of the numbers on offer will be fresh even to aficionados. Excellent singing throughout, and not a microphone to be seen.

The theme is happiness, symbolized by colourful balloons. Andrew Lippa's title song, which opens the first set, comes from the jinxed Betty Boop; it neatly leads into Pulled from The Addams Family, beautifully interpreted by Katie-Elizabeth Allgood. If I Didn't Have You – an odd couple/sunshine boys number from Monsters Inc – is impeccably done in relaxed style by Ben Martins and Bob Southgate.

Summertime has a bedtime story background, before the kids kick off the quilts to give us Naughty from Matilda.

Schadenfreude [bursting other people's balloons] from Avenue Q, then a revivalist conga from Bat Boy to end the first half.

Highlights of the second hour include Kerry Cooke's Good Times from The Little Mermaid, There, from the musical revue Closer Than Ever, with Emily Funnell giving the couple The Secret of Happiness from Daddy Long Legs. And a lovely a capella octet from Once.

It's amazing how much of this has something to say even out of its dramatic context. But the Juke Box Musicals have all the best tunes these days, and, as a spoonful of sugar to those who are waiting for something they recognize, two numbers from Carole King's Beautiful. Then, with trumpet obbligato from Becca Tofts, the joy balloons spread out into the audience and toes tap along to a couple of Disney hits.

HANSEL AND GRETEL

HANSEL AND GRETEL
at Brentwood Theatre

14.12.13

Mike Kenny's clever re-working of the old tale is a family show in every sense.

Its ingenious form takes a nuclear family of four, and has them tell the story, slipping in and out of the familiar characters. Quite intelligent enough to entertain the most sophisticated of grown-ups. Quite magical enough, and comical enough, to delight the kids.

Director Joseph C Walsh uses the family's kitchen as a chameleon setting for forest and gingerbread house, and the four versatile young actors are convincing both as the modern family and the woodcutter, his wife, and his two hapless children. So Charlotte Bradford plays both mothers, as well as the Wicked Witch; Paul Tonkin is the fathers and the enormous dormouse who overcomes his fear to help defeat the evil child-snatcher. Stephen O'Riain is Hansel, easily distracted by food, and Hannah Douglas is a feisty Gretel – it is her initiative that finishes the tale, giving it that all-important jazz hands happy ending.

The catchy little numbers [Andrew Dodge] – Time for A Treat either side of the ice-cream interval, What I Really Enjoy is a Boy a splendid anthem for the Witch – have witty lyrics, and both punctuate and illustrate the narrative, making for a uniquely enjoyable blend of story-telling and musical theatre.

production photography by Carmel Jane

NEXT !

NEXT !

Vivid Musical Theatre at the Brentwood Theatre

12.05.13

In they troop, clutching their dots and their resumés, holding hands, the young, and not-so-young, hopefuls on their way to audition.

This compilation concept album from Vivid showcased a range of talented performers, in numbers that were often witty, sometimes wise, and always well sung.

This is Chorus Line country, of course, and that show was well represented, notably by Sian Hopwood [Sing] and Juliet Thomas [What I Did For Love]. And again in the specially arranged, ingenious encore medley that blended Les Mis and Night Music, South Pacific and Sweet Charity.

Sondheim's Follies is another rich seam, and we heard a great Still Here from Mandi Threadgold-Smith, and a bubbly Broadway Baby from Katie-Elizabeth Allgood [the Runner in the audition scenario] with the whole company.

The Panel had their moments, too, with [director] Emma Jane Sweeney comforting one hapless hopeful with Carrie Underwood, and [MD] Ian Southgate duetting with Juliet in a number from Once, now garnering starry notices at the Phoenix.

Intriguing to hear some less familiar fare: Die Vampire Die, from the weirdly named "{title of show}", the amusingly done Alto's Lament, Stephen Gurshon's energetic rendering of Joe Papp, from William Finn's Elegies, and the number that opened the show, Cathy's lament to her father from The Last Five Years. Now there's a show I'd pay good money to see ! What do you say, Ian and Emma Jane ?

Next! was an original concept by Emma Jane Sweeney and Ian Southgate, presented to raise funds for Brentwood Theatre.

PETER RABBIT AND HIS FRIENDS

PETER RABBIT AND HIS FRIENDS

at Brentwood Theatre

15.12.2012

More tales from Beatrix Potter at the Brentwood Theatre; an intimate, innocent world of talking, singing animals, where the only humans are the grumpy McGregors, little Lucie and Miss Potter herself – Deborah Luery this year, writing her stories at the side of the stage, sketching her friends, "the wild ones, the tame ones", and showing us the pictures right at the end.

The tiny acting space is cleverly extended by using upper levels to suggest the countryside; Potter's own artwork adds authenticity. The adaptation, by Adrian Mitchell with music by Stephen McNeff, manages to be sophisticated and charming whilst keeping some very young children entertained. Some of the songs, in particular, were pleasingly ambitious – I liked the Blackberries song, and Mr McGregor's number, very well sung by Andrew Nance. Mia Keadell gives three lovely characters, including a pipe-smoking Mrs McGregor, Sophie Farquar plays a couple of insects and a sleek White Cat. Jackson Pentland drags up for that "excellent clear-starcher" Mrs Tiggywinkle, and Peter himself is played with energy and panache by Nicholas Rutherford. I should also mention the various cuddly puppets [Liz Southgate] who spy on the action, offer their advice, and join in the choruses.

Peter Rabbit is directed by Ray Howes, with Ian Southgate in charge of the music. It is a Brentwood Theatre Production, co-produced by David Zelly and Vivid Musical Theatre.