Vicki

Hats off to the Lane Cove Theatre company for giving one of their loyal members, Rodney Stewart, a chance to revive a musical he penned 40 years ago. At the time (1973) investors splashed out on a fully professional staging of the work under the title Nuclear and lost their dough. The musical lay in the bottom drawer until Rodney dusted it off a decade ago.

The revival production was staged in Lane Cove’s home turf – a hall at the back of a church on Sydney’s north-shore - with a basic set of a double bed, table and computer.

Vicki is a curious title for this musical. It is the name of a robot, who is one of four inhabitants of an underground bunker after the bomb has dropped. Also inside the bunker is the scientist Val, and a randy young couple Michelle (a poet) and John (a painter).

You might think that surviving a nuclear holocaust would make you a little depressed? But no, John and Michelle’s libido has not been diminished at all by the fall out. Sexual longing is a major theme of the musical. John, being the only man in the room, beds his girlfriend (Bucci) and also flirts with the robot (Cerise Kofoed) and the sexually repressed scientist (Lucy Nielson).
Sadly the music in this production came across at times as an intrusion into the narrative, not helped by rather elementary backing tape and some inconsistent singing. Several of the songs had memorable lyrics though – how could you forget the title of one: “There is a bomb in my bum.” 

On the bright side, there was a standout performance – Zach Selmes, as the painter, was recruited into the production just 12 days before opening night, when the former leading man walked out.  

Learning such a large role with new music in a short space of time was very impressive. He ended up being the best actor on stage and presented a credible charismatic performance.  After 40 years the show must go on, even if it just for three performances.

David Spicer

Photo: Cerise Kofoed (Robot) and Lucy Nielson (Scientist).