Search
Sponsors
User login
Latest Auditions
-
Mockingbird Theatre
-
SLAMS
-
Eltham Little Theatre
-
ARC Theatre
-
Ignition Entertainment
Anyone Can Whistle
Date of Show:
Monday, 4th October 2010 (All day)
Venue:
Melbourne Recital Centre Pared back to a concert script, Anyone Can Whistle is a virtual Sondheim hit parade.
Magnormos’ ambitious Sondheim Triptych came to a close with the tuneful but curiously absurd Anyone Can Whistle. A new concert version of the script, in which four narrators zip the story along, highlighted the rich, melodious songs. While three musicians were not really enough to do justice to the score, a powerhouse cast and a large ensemble sang it beautifully.
A love story at heart, Whistle tells the somewhat surreal tale of desperate Mayoress Cora Hoover Hooper who is happy to save her town with a fake miracle. Queuing to see the water gushing from the rock, cookies from the Cookie Jar asylum mix in with the local residents. Townsfolk, medical staff and leaders all question the sanity of themselves and each other while attempting to restore order.While the reduced script allowed a pacy, entertaining concert, it could be argued that some of the quirky colour of the show was stripped away. Cora’s cohorts lost some of their character and the key conflict about whether to destroy the patients’ medical files was diminished with the emphasis on the romance of the songs. Overall, a distinctive tone prevailed, setting Anyone Can Whistle apart from mainstream musical comedies of the mid 1960s.
Music Theatre students from APO Arts Academy were a major asset in this production as the storytelling benefitted from having such a large number of cookies and townsfolk. Dressed in black pants and brightly coloured t-shirts, their choral singing was glorious and was a highlight of the Triptych. The fact that they could learn the music properly as part of their studies was a bonus as it meant that they weren’t bound to their scripts like the principal cast. Several students also acquitted themselves admirably in cameo roles.Anne Wood was reliably electrifying as Cora. From the moment she stepped on stage, she commanded attention, dazzling in sequined black evening wear and moving gracefully with the four dancing narrators. In excellent voice, Wood made deceptively easy work of the most complex material in the score.
Similarly impressive were Patrice Tipoki as Nurse Faye Apple and Dan Humphris as Jay Bowden Habgood. Sharing palpable chemistry, Tipoki and Humphris were the heart of the show and held the audience’s affection. Tipoki successfully displayed a wide range of styles, from powerful in ‘There Won’t Be Trumpets’ to coy and playful in ‘Come Play Wiz Me’ to touching in ‘Anyone Can Whistle’ (charmingly accompanied by accordion), finally bringing the house down with ‘See What it Gets You’. Humphris acted confidently, giving a stirring rendition of ‘Everybody Say Don’t’. Humphris and Tipoki’s final duet, ‘With So Little To Be Sure Of’ was affectingly beautiful.Robert Grubb, Don Bridges and Mark Doggett provided strong support, with Bridges clearly delineating the two roles he played. Director Aaron Joyner kept the staging simple and the action focused. The narrators drove the plot efficiently and character work was sharp from all on stage. Overhead projections assisted with the locations, not to mention providing French translations for the ‘Lady from Lourdes’. Tamara Finch provided some stylish and effective choreography, particularly for the narrators and Cora in ‘Me and My Town’.
Magnormos should feel justifiably proud of all that they have achieved over the past three weeks. The Sondheim Triptych has been a focal point for Melbourne fans to celebrate Sondheim’s 80th birthday and to share their anecdotes, memories and passion for his work.
Photos: Sebastien Arnold
State:
VIC