13

What a sheer delight this show is. Jason Robert Brown’s catchy pop score coupled with clever and witty lyrics together with a strong book and the novelty of an all teenage cast are elements that Director Debbie Keyt has capitalised on to make this colourful production a resounding sucess.

True, on the day I saw the show the sound system suffered a technical meltdown which the operator was powerless against, but the cast ploughed on, determined to give their all, and by the time the sound was perfected in the second half, we had all well and truly been won over.

As Evan, the Jewish boy uprooted from the Big Apple to the sticks without friends to attend his Bar Mitzvah, Mitchell Hurrey is charming and delightfully Geekish. Whilst he has a good voice, he was pushing for power without the radio mike, but more than made up for it once fully miked, and his acting and understanding of the role couldn’t be faulted. Lucinda Pezzimenti (Patrice) is a real find as the geeky girl who falls for Evan. The nuances and subtleties of her acting were worthy of someone older and far more experienced and her voice, already good, will only get stronger with time. She’s a tiny figure with a very big stage presence.

James Crothers is wonderfully over-the-top as the crippled Archie and has all the best comic moments which he really capitalises on. He doesn’t miss a laugh; it’s an endearing and funny performance. Gabe Cali as Brett, the school Jock, is “devilishly handsome” (as the programme notes tell us, and has enormous potential as an actor. It’s hard to believe that he is only 13, but his age probably accounts for why his voice is currently ‘caught in the cracks’ between registers. Time will take care of that and I can’t wait to see what he plays next. Crystal Krause (Lucy – the Bitch) brings subtlety and dimension to her role as the conniving best friend/enemy with her own agenda; and Aynsley Mitchell shows her ballet background and is suitably delightful as “good girl” Kendra. Liam O’Neill (Malcolm) and Sam Johnson (Eddie) are hilarious, especially in their rap style ‘Hey Kendra’, and the remaining cast are all solid and impressive.

Prolific percussionist Keith Morgan – who has done more productions than anyone else in the country – drives a very strong band under the direction of Rhonda Vaughan, and Mandy Lay’s choreography is fresh and appropriate (as well as witty) throughout. The colourful set (Chris Churchward and team) and colour co-ordinated costumes (Jenny Osburn and Maddy Baker) are a treat for the eyes. Ultimately, though, the final praise must go to Debbie Keyt for bringing out the best in her young cast and pulling the show together into a delicious two hours of entertainment. It’s community theatre of a very high standard.

Coral Drouyn