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Falsettos
Presented by: SHooSH Productions
Venue: Cromwell Road Theatre
Reviewer: Gavin Dean
Date Reviewed: Thursday 28th Jan 2010
Falsettos is a musical by William Finn that ran on
Broadway in 1992 and 1993. The play is actually the second and third
parts of a trilogy: the first show is called "In Trousers", the
second is "March of the Falsettos", and the third is "Falsettoland."
Each were produced singularly as one act plays before the second and
third were put together as acts one and two of Falsettos.
SHooSH productions
have bought together an amazing cast to bring us this rarely seen
musical.
Nathan Firmin and
Brad Fischer have done a great job of getting the nuances of this
show just right. The cast moved and sang tirelessly, even though the
temperature in the small theatre would have been breaching the high
30’s. The set flowed and was moved by the cast the entire show. It
was great to see the cast do this, rather than stage hands.
The cast all
looked like they had stepped out of a 70’s/80’s fashion catalogue,
the costumes and hair were a highlight!
Minnna Ikonen had
a firm control of the band and had obviously drilled the cast very
thoroughly in their harmonies. Falsettos is entirely sung and it’s a
big sing for the 7 cast members. The sound was flawless and all
credit must go to Marcello Lo Ricco who did the sound design and
operated the sound desk.
Shaun Kingma
headed up this amazing cast, I was interested to see what Shaun
would do with the complex role of Marvin, and he did not disappoint.
The two numbers at the end of both acts were the highlights of the
show for me.
Andrew Strano a
fairly new comer to Melbourne’s theatre scene played Marvin’s
partner Whizzer. Andrew has a strong command of the stage and also
his voice.
Carla Gianinotti
has a huge voice and with a role like Trina you need one. Trina is
Marvin’s ex wife. Carla handled the role with grace and ease, even
though she was having a breakdown half way through Act 2.
Anthony Sheppard
is going from strength to strength with his portrayal of Jason son
of Marvin and Trina. He was a joy to watch. Anthony’s rendition of
‘My Fathers a Homo” was hilarious.
As the family’s
psychiatrist Mendel, Cameron Thomas used his comic timing very well.
Cameron has a great stage presence and a voice to match.
That only leaves
the lesbians from next door! Natasha Bassett as Dr Charlotte and
Cathy Kohlen as Cordelia are only in act 2 but really bring the show
together. I really loved their duet ‘Something Bad is Happening’
where Cordelia worries that she gave her lover something that is
making her feel unwell, while Dr Charlotte tells us the real reason
for her uneasiness. If you want to find out what it is, you’ll have
to go and see the show!
A special mention
to Christian Cavallo for the great little program.
Shoosh have once
again given us a tremendous piece of work that this reviewer will
remember for a long time to come.
Falsettos will be
playing at Cromwell Road Theatre, 27A Cromwell Road South Yarra
Until Sat Feb 6. For Bookings call 9471 4432
Gavin has been involved in theatre for the past 26 years, reining
from Geelong where he played such roles as Jud Fry in Oklahoma! Juan
Peron in Evita, he moved to Melbourne over 10 years ago and has
performed in "Into the Woods as the Baker, Jeffrey in Godspell and
Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof. Having performed in over 30
productions, Gavin went onto direct Hot Mikado for Nightowl
Productions for which he received a Guild Judges award. Gavin has
also directed several productions for Loyola Musical Society and was
in MLOC's Production of Beauty and the Beast featuring as Cogsworth
the clock last year.
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