When The Stars Come Out To Play

Coral Drouyn has some thoughts to wrap up this year’s charity fund-raiser – Twisted Broadway.

Where were you Monday night? I looked all over the Arts Centre for you but you weren’t there. How could you miss the one and only performance of Twisted Broadway’s 5^th anniversary concert? Mind you, you would have had to stand in the aisles of the Playhouse as every seat was taken, but you might have persuaded Geoffrey Rush to move, he is a true gentleman.

Before I tell you what you missed, promise me you’ll buy your ticket for next year EARLY, so that you don’t miss out on the most enthralling night of Musical Theatre you are ever likely to experience. There were no fancy sets, just a big stage with a brilliant 10 piece band led by Trevor Jones; some incredible lighting from star designer Jason Bovaird, great sound by Josh White and more talent than is actually decent on any one stage on one night. Brilliantly brought together by Director Christopher Parker (who is already being press-ganged into next year’s concert), extra cheers must go to Producers Kate McDonald and Daniel Benge who came up with this dazzling format to support Oz Showbiz Care/Equity Fights AIDS charity.

Now I know you are cursing “Damn, Dash and Bother” but wait until you hear what you missed talent wise….the expletives will become much bluer. There’s a full cast list attached to my previous piece, and space is tight, but every single item was a winner, and I mean EVERY one. The depth of talent in Music Theatre is simply absurd in the best possible way; and since the audience was filled with like-minded “Tragics” we all tried to out cheer and outscream each other. It was our luck that most of the current shows are dark on a Monday and we all know that performers would rather be on stage than having a well earned rest….so there they were at the Playhouse for one night…after 3 months of on and off rehearsals…a staggering achievement.

Though every artist gave 110%, some things are bound to stay in your memory more than others. These are the moments that will tide me over until the next Twisted Broadway.

Virginia Gay…. A fabulous compere and just brilliant in her gender swap number “Sweet Transvestite” (I’ve been a fan since her days at WAAPA).

John O’Hara and some brilliant dancers in the opening number “All that Jazz.” What a way to start!

Euan Doidge….OMG…with an F thrown in there for good measure. Marius is a somewhat lack-lustre role in Les Mis….so he decided to go for broke with Cassie’s “The Music and the Mirror” from A Chorus Line. Who knew he was a GREAT, classically trained dancer? Well, obviously hundreds of people…but not me. I needed my companion to pick my jaw up off the floor…simply brilliant talent and we gave him a standing ovation (not to mention the cheers when Ms Gay suggested the dance break could go into the middle of “Empty Chairs at Empty Tables”).

The entire male ensemble from Les Mis gave us a medley from “Dreamgirls” complete with “Supremes” style moves; brilliant, funny and vocally stunning.

Esther Hannaford sang “The Streets of Dublin” and made me yearn to see A Man of No Importance…somewhere…sometime…soon.

Queenie van de Zandt took Sondheim’s “Being Alive” (my all time favourite Sondheim song from my favourite show Company) to an unimaginable new level;

Martin Croft….oh that wonderful voice… showed Streisand how Dolly Levi should be sung in his version of “Before The Parade Passes By”; and Trevor Ashley gave a perfect master class in being a Diva and Superstar as he sang the pants of “As If We Never Said Goodbye”. ALW never sounded half so good.

It was a night of sheer magic and to think it was going to make a difference to people through the charity was the icing on the cake.

So…where were you? And aren’t you sorry now you weren’t there? You should be.

Images: Kurt Sneddon, Blueprint Studios.

Earlier coverage and full cast list.