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Platform
Presented by: BuSTCO
Venue: Phoenix Theatre, Deakin University, Burwood
Reviewer: Julia Roper
Date Reviewed: 5th June 2008
Have you ever been on a train, looked at those around you and
wondered what they’re thinking about? This simple question forms the
basis of BuSTCo’s latest variety show, Platform.
As the house lights began to fade, the mood was fittingly set with a
couple of brief announcements you’d expect to hear at Flinders
Street Station – although the content of these announcements were
anything but conventional (I particularly appreciated the
instruction to leave annoying children in the tubs provided).
Then it was time to buckle up as the band’s opening bars launched
the full cast of 24 young performers onto the ‘platform’ – complete
with the yellow safety line – to create a rush hour-style
Pandemonium (25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee).
With a tight rehearsal schedule of only 7 weeks, Director Emily Hall
and Assistant Director Kate Warner should be proud of their efforts.
Not only did the overall concept work well but where necessary, the
context of the songs were treated to subtle changes, resulting in a
better focused show and a smoother ride for the audience.
As well as putting the yellow safety line to good use, the cast also
had the interior of a train carriage to work with – simple, static,
practical and a credit to design Doug Donaldson.
Musical Director Malcolm Fawcett provided a tight band as always and
he should also be commended for the ensemble singing throughout the
show. Ensemble numbers on the whole were enthusiastic, vocally
balanced and some of the best numbers of the night.
A
few individual performances worth noting were Anastasia Giannakis
and Joseph Bootten’s very public argument in Therapy (Tick Tick
Boom), Sean Butler and Luis Rivera’s If You Were Gay (Avenue
Q), Josie Pulitano’s poignant Christmas Lullaby (Songs for a
New World), and Lauren Shell’s Forget About the Boy (Thoroughly
Modern Millie).
But the stand-out performance was Luisa Tascone’s moving rendition
of Your Daddy’s Son (Ragtime). Watch out for this talented
young lady.
Congratulations to all involved in the show. It’s always encouraging
seeing up and coming performers with so much energy and enthusiasm.
Julia has been an on-stage performer for many years and has also
undertaken roles in vocal training and Musical Direction. Drawing
from a professional background in media, journalism, marketing and
events management, Julia made her debut as a Director in 2006 and
hasn’t looked back since! |