The Boy From Oz

Every production of The Boy from Oz hinges on the performer playing Peter Allen, and Ignatians scored a coup when they cast Dale Pengelly in this iconic part. Bringing a ton of professionalism to the role, Pengelly sang, danced and sparkled his way through this popular bio-musical and even managed to make his asides to the audience seem like fresh bon-mots.

Angela McIntosh was a convincing Judy Garland delivering “All I Wanted Was the Dream” in a big-voiced tremolo, with Jessica Papst matching her as a driven Liza Minnelli.

Marie Hughes’ portrait of Allen’s mum Marion was sympathetic and real, and when it came time for her big number, “Don’t Cry Out Loud,” she more than held her own.

But the revelation of the performance was Liam Wigney as Young Peter. His vocals were spot-on, his tapping was terrific, and his enthusiasm was infectious. He’s one of the best kids I’ve ever seen play the role.

Shaun McCallum as Allen’s lover Greg was the only cast member to let the side down. His shaky and off-the-note warbling of “I Honestly Love You” ruined a key emotional moment in the show.

Anne Manton’s costumes were appropriately flashy and looked good on the hard-working chorus, while Jenny Usher’s choreography worked well with its occasional nods to Bob Fosse’s style.

Ben Murray’s musical direction at times could have been tighter, which was also a fault with Catarina Hebbard’s direction. Too often key performers were lost in shadows in a lighting plot that was messy. But it was Allen’s songs that carried the day, and the ones that the audience loved; “I Go to Rio,” “I Honestly Love You,” “Don’t Cry Out Loud,” and the song that keeps nudging “Waltzing Matilda” as our unofficial national anthem, “I Still Call Australia Home.”

Peter Pinne