10th Fabiversary Concert

10th Fabiversary Concert
Fab Nobs Theatre Inc. (Vic). 3rd – 5th August, 2012.

If there was an Olympic gold medal for great ensemble singing, Fab Nobs would win it hands down. This little theatre company, based in a warehouse in Bayswater, sets a standard in professionalism, enthusiasm and sheer talent that is hard to beat. What a pity they’re not also swimmers!

Last night marked the beginning of a short run 10th Anniversary Concert which was total joy from start to finish. With only a staggering three rehearsals, and ably directed by Sarah Somers, the cast performed major numbers from previous productions. To hear a cast (whose credits could, at best, be described as semi-professional) sing a capella five part harmony without anyone putting a note wrong is breath-taking. When a cast is uniformly this strong it seems churlish to single any performer out – but I’m going to anyway.

Julia Sutherland’s superb rendition of “Send In The Clowns” will stay with me for a very long time; Tony Burge is delightfully comic in every appearance, but especially so in “P.E” (Premature Ejaculation) from “A Slice of Saturday Night”. When he managed to slip in a sheepish “Hello Mum” to his mother at a stage side table whilst singing about a taboo subject, the audience erupted.

Nick Kong also has great comic instincts and his singing proved that he is definitely more than “just” a gifted young director. Karl McNamara is a charismatic presence with a great voice and innate knowledge of how to work an audience. He will direct Fab Nobs next production The Drowsy Chaperone in November and I, for one, can’t wait.

The entire cast numbers are so full of energy it’s infectious and so the whole audience was clapping and singing along to “We Go Together” from Grease, and “Play that Funky Music” from Disco Inferno (with great vocals and guitar playing from Stephen…or was it Steven?) - and when Jonno Sebastian led the ensemble in “Born To Be Wild” we all could have stayed and partied all night.

If you are all Olympicked out, and your eyes are square from watching the telly, get down to Bayswater for a night of totally engaging entertainment, Fab Nobs style. At only $20 a ticket it may just be the best value for money in Victoria.

Coral Drouyn

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