musical

Tick, Tick… Boom!

TickTickBoom

TickTickBoom Rating

★★★★★

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Presented in under 6 weeks, Limelight Theatre has shown that diamonds are made under pressure. Tick, Tick… Boom! is a slick and polished performance in all elements of production.

Telling the story of the life of RENT composer Jonathon Larson, this show is full of heart, humour and a healthy dose of reality.

Jordan Richards leads the cast as Jon, offering an authentic and heartfelt performance with strong vocals throughout. Though his voice did seem fatigued towards the end, I feel it served the character well as it mirrored his emotional arc.

Ellie Coburn shines as Susan, genuine and caring, working well with Richards whilst also showing her own vocal prowess. Best friend and artist-turned-businessman Michael is given life by Blair Price-Morgan – albeit a little young for the character – he too, was consistent throughout.

While this show is typically played out with trio, this particular production was rounded out with a small but sharp ensemble that filled out the wealth of smaller roles with great enthusiasm, each putting their all into their overzealous caricatures.

 

TickTickBoom
TickTickBoom

Personal favourites included Aliesha Archer’s talent agent Judy Wright, and Jake Battle as Jon’s father – both a great laugh. Georgia Goff enjoys her moment in the spotlight as Karessa Johnson singing a beautiful (duetted) rendition of ‘Come to Your Senses’.

Caleb Stevens’s choreography (which also doubles as ensemble) is simple but effective. It adds just the right amount of movement to build up moments without distracting from the main story.

But the testament must also go to the cast and the band, who are clean and concise under the guidance of Jasper Cruden.

I was also a big fan of the lighting design (Matthew Roberts) built into the cubic set. It was a fun and welcome surprise and added great flare to the otherwise simple brick set design.

Overall, I was highly impressed with the quality of this production from start to finish and highly recommend you snatch up a ticket to the remaining performances.

To book tickets to TickTickBoom, please visit https://www.taztix.com.au/limelight/

For Phone Bookings TAZ Tix @ 9255 3336

PERFORMANCE DATES:
FEB 27, 28, MARCH 1, 2*, 6, 7, 8
Recommended MA 15+

Times:  Evenings at 7.30pm, *Matinees at 2pm

Tickets:  $37 Adult, $32 Concession (seniors/students),
$30 Members, Groups 20+ $32 each
processing fees apply

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Fresno: The Musical

Fresno

Fresno Rating

★★★★★

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Let’s cut to the chase. If you like musical theatre, this is a must-see. It’s fun, it’s well-paced, and it’s imbued with the kind of effortless charm that you want to find at your friendly local pub.

Set in an Irish-American bar, Fresno explores a slice of life of young bartender, JJ (Jackson Cross) and the ragtag bunch of bar flies that surround him. While the themes and situations in the show weren’t uniquely American, the American setting gave it a distinctly “sitcom” feel and helped establish the stakes and the journey across the evening.

From the moment you walk into Chapel Off Chapel’s Loft, the world is established with a functional set and clever use of neon signs to define the locations. The Loft is the perfect home for this show, allowing the creative team to use the black box aesthetic of the room as an asset rather than a hindrance. I’ve definitely been in bars and pubs like this!

Fresno
Fresno

The music feels like a love letter to musical theatre, with clear nods to Jonathan Larson and Sara Bareilles, amongst others. The use of varied musical styles is well-considered, with a familiarity that lets you know what you are supposed to get from that number. Similarly, the book leans heavily on strong character archetypes and recognizable tropes, making it easier to invest in the characters early, knowing exactly who they are.

The cast makes the most of these archetypal characters, especially in the comedic moments and, for my taste, that’s where they shine. So much of the writing is laugh-out-loud funny and the cast settled in quickly to find the pace and timing that the audience responded to. There was an engaging sense of camaraderie and chemistry on the stage that was very appealing. Special mentions to Lachlan Edis and Antoinette Davis for some truly memorable comedic turns throughout the show.

Leading the cast were Jackson Cross, Douglas Rintoul and Naomi Leigh. Cross delivered an impressive balance of heart, comic timing and powerful vocals. He was paired perfectly with Rintoul’s charismatic acting and versatile singing. Leigh, playing an aspiring pop singer, brought a poignancy and authenticity that helped the music shine and made me long to hear this show recorded so I could listen to it on repeat.

Fresno
Fresno

Daniel Tusjak (keys), Eve Pinkington (drums) and Cody Leggett (guitar) formed a tight and responsive band and the sound was well-balanced, allowing the audience to revel in the music and engage with the text.

Dealing with themes of found family and the value of community, the writing is light touch with enough heart to keep you emotionally invested but not so deep that the comedic pacing is jarring.

Fresno is a fun evening out that brings all the best elements of “comfort watching” your favourite tv show. Hopeful, life-affirming and genuinely funny, Fresno confirms that Australian original theatre is alive, well and deserving of all the love we can give it. I think we can all drink to that.

To book tickets to Fresno, please visit https://chapeloffchapel.com.au/show/fresno/

Photographer: Shane Palmer

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Light Up The Stage Musical Review

Light Up The Stage

Light Up The Stage Rating

★★★★★

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NOW Productions continue to demonstrate their commitment to developing the next generation of theatre stars—both on stage and behind the scenes! This time, they took on a brand-new challenge a full-blown Musical Revue. Thoroughly entertaining and a fantastic way to spend an evening watching the young cast do what they love.

What a brilliant way to let young performers and tech crews shine by giving them the creative freedom to bring some of the most iconic musicals to life. With such a selection of incredible musicals to choose from, it must’ve been a challenge to narrow it down, the selection allowed for a mix of large ensemble numbers and solo performances, which gave those with more experience and/or confidence, the opportunity to showcase their talents, whilst making it a safe and enjoyable show for those that are perhaps just stepping out.

Split into two acts featuring four musicals each, the show was the result of months of hard work. The show was put together in a relatively short intense rehearsal period, with rehearsals lasting little over a month, demonstrating the commitment and hard work to execute such an outstanding show.

The cast was a fantastic mix of ages and experience levels, and their energy was absolutely contagious! Everyone gave it their all, and the enthusiasm was undeniable. There were some standout performances, of course, but every single performer brought something special to the stage. With just a little more refinement in mic work and vocal blending, those already impressive group numbers will be even stronger in the future.

 

Light Up The Stage
Light Up The Stage

The costumes and props were simple yet effective, and you could tell the cast was having an absolute blast stepping into such a variety of roles. The show was cleverly structured so that each “Item” featured a selection of songs from a particular musical, with every performer taking on multiple roles throughout the night.

Act I kicked things off with numbers from Matilda the Musical, The Pirates of Penzance, Dear Evan Hansen, and Mary Poppins.

Act II brought even more magic with Come From Away, The Sound of Music, Into the Woods, and Les Misérables. And oh, that finale—One Day More from Les Misérables was breathtaking, showcasing the sheer talent and passion of this group. It was a goosebumps-inducing, heart-soaring moment!

So often, curtain calls feel like an afterthought, but not here. The cast came out in their respective musical groups, each with a uniquely choreographed moment that gave the audience a final glimpse of the show’s incredible range. It was such a clever way to ensure that all cast members were given their moment to receive applause.

With effective lighting, a well-planned (and quick-changing!) set, and a cast that clearly loved every second of being on stage, this Musical Revue was an absolute triumph. Bravo to all involved.

For more information about NOW Productions, please visit https://nowproductionssa.weebly.com/.

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Javeenbah Theatre Presents: The Man Who Doesn’t Like Musicals

The Man Who Doesnt Like Musicals

The Man Who Doesnt Like Musicals Rating

★★★★★

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The Woman who loves musicals found herself kicking off 2025 with Javeerbah’s production of “The Man Who Doesn’t Like Musicals.” I didn’t know what to expect with this one but I was not disappointed.

Directed by Fiona Mumford, with choreography by Charlotte Carozo and musical direction by Alex Angus “The Man Who Doesn’t Like Musicals” is set in Hatchetfield, where everything seemed normal until people began singing… Then, they began dancing… And now, a musical pandemic is sweeping the entire city. Whilst this doesn’t seem like a huge problem to me, Paul (A man who doesn’t like musicals) is determined to stop this musical apocalypse and fight for humanity’s future.

The cast and crew of Javeenbah never cease to impress me with the level of professionalism that they put into their productions. From the acting and choreography to the set design everything was of the highest quality for a community theatre production.

Whilst the title of the production might sound whimsical just be aware that this one does come with a content warning: This production contains strong language, depictions of guns & gunshot sound effects, mature themes, audience participation, and the use of slime. It is also set to music (if you hate musicals) so viewer discretion is advised.

The Man Who Doesnt Like Musicals
The Man Who Doesnt Like Musicals
The Man Who Doesnt Like Musicals

Having said that though, if you are a fan of Schmigadoon or are just looking for an exciting night out then I would highly recommend heading down to Javeenbah, support local community theatre by checking out “The Man Who Doesn’t Like Musicals.”

Javeenbah Theatre is nestled on the corner of Steven and Ferry Street in Nerang, overlooking the Gold Coast skyline. There is ample parking onsite or on the street, and the theatre serves drinks and a small selection of snacks for patrons to enjoy before or during the show.

The theatre is on ground level, surrounded by grass and gravel, but there are no stairs to negotiate for theatre access if you use a mobility aid. The theatre is quite intimate, with excellent views of the stage from any seat in the house, comfortable chairs and ample legroom.

If you are looking for a fun evening on the Gold Coast, I highly recommend attending this show.

To book tickets to The Man Who Doesnt Like Musicals, please visit https://javeenbah.org.au/product/the-guy-who-didnt-like-musicals/

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