A Super Brady Cabaret

What fun we had last night at Chapel off Chapel for the opening night of A Super Brady Cabaret! If you have just arrived from another planet, or are under 15, you may not know who the Brady Bunch are…but for the rest of us this non-pretentious cabaret was an absolute hoot.

The basic premise is that the Brady Bunch are on their final tour…and stopping off in Melbourne to record their last ever TV Special. The year is 1992 – and things have changed since the 70s. Though the characters and the actors who played them are jumbled up – we’re at a stage where Mom Carol is sleeping with Greg; Dad Mike is out of the closet; oldest daughter Marcia still thinks she’ll be a Super-Model (well, she did make I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here); Middle son Peter (looking uncannily like the original) is a rampaging Stud; Jan is the forgotten middle girl with a name no-one remembers); Cindy is now in her thirties and drags on a fag (of the tobacco kind) but the years of braces didn’t cure her lisp, and Bobby…well he’s still adorable though he looks like a jockey in lurex pants. In the commercial breaks, the masks are dropped and we see all the backstage bitching. The idea of shows set “Live” and then Backstage is a little over-worked (I did three myself in the 70s and eighties) but the fact that The Brady Bunch DID do a series of TV specials means it works particularly well here.

The three girls all have stupendous voices and great stage presence. Sophie Weiss (Jan) is just fabulous and very funny throughout, managing to mask just how beautiful she actually is. Kathleen Amarant (Marcia) is an impressive talent – a triple threat who makes her mark on every entrance. Nicola Guzzardi (Cindy) is totally at ease on stage, and hilarious. Lauren Edwards is a terrific Carol/Florence Henderson…though without the same vocal chops as the others. She compensates with delicious comic timing.

The three boys are perfectly cast, though baby-faced Thomas Bradford (Greg) does seem a little slender and under-developed to be bonking his step-mom. Still, he’s a fine talent with great appeal. Giancarlo Salamanca (Peter) is just terrific and owns the role. Dylan Licastro (a BAPA graduate) is a great performer and totally adorable as Bobby. I suspect he’s stuck playing characters half his age for a while yet…but then, he does them to perfection. Paul Congdon (Mike) brings authority to his “Dad” role without over-camping it.

Drew Downing leads the band in some terrific numbers as well as choreographing the dance movement, which is crisp and perfect for the time. The only real glitch was excessive static and problems with the radio mikes, but that will be fixed already I’m sure.

There are some points worth constructive criticism, especially since I really believe this concept could have longevity. I know the costumes are hired but I suspect this will be a smash hit show and then the producers can afford to dress it, and that will add to the overall appeal. Peter’s white disco suit is at least two sizes too big, and the white drawstring cricket pants don’t really do the trick. Nevertheless, the show is daggy and kitsch enough for it not to matter. The song choices are also good…not too over-used. Only ‘Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps’ stands out like a sore thumb because it’s a 1940s song –and it’s also used in Strictly Ballroom (don’t ask!). There are so many great and more appropriate “pop” songs of the time that would be more appropriate that the young producers and MD may not be aware of.

There are several opportunities for potential gags which aren’t capitalised on – perhaps because the writers are so young….and several others that are set-up but never paid off. The show will no doubt grow and change over the years….YES, I do mean YEARS. Debuting between the MICF and the MCF – this show would fit neatly into either festival. More than that, it has a long shelf life, will not date, has audience participation, and could play hotels, regional theatres, corporate gigs and even RSLs and Interstate Leagues Clubs. With the right work on it – it could even play Las Vegas – like my friend’s show The Aussie Bee Gees, which is now in its third year. The sky is the limit with the right marketing. But for now…it is just 8 performances and you will have a great time for 65 minutes if you manage to make any one of them.

Coral Drouyn

Photographer: Belinda Strodder