Forbidden Broadway - Greatest Hits Volume 1

Rarely do you see a cabaret production that is as rapturously received as Forbidden Broadway, currently being performed as part of Pride Fest, at the State Theatre Centre. The audience adored this slick, expertly performed production, giving it a very enthusiastic standing ovation - and deservedly so.

Forbidden Broadway is an off Broadway revue that has been playing since 1982. This version, available to perform around the world, is a “best of” version. While some of the references are now dated, all the people and shows featured are familiar to a theatregoing Perth audience, and while Opening Night certainly attracted a “theatre crowd”, this would still be a great show to watch if you don’t understand the jokes. Sometimes with satirical productions, production values and performance quality can be sub-par but in this case all performance values are absolutely superb, and this quartet certainly can sing.

Four performers - Elethea Sartorelli, Peter Cumins, Rachel Monamy and Callan Kneale - perform some sensational send-ups of our favourite shows. Hilariously funny, but sung with excellence and expert comic delivery, they are accompanied by Sammy McSweeney on grand piano. We enjoy a grand opening number, before looks at a plethora of shows and stars. 

Highlights include Elethea as Liza Minelli and Idina Menzel in Wicked, Rachel’s washed up orphan Annie and fabulously accurate Carol Channing, Callan’s frequently reappearing Phantom of the Opera and Peter’s wonderful ensemble member from Cats. The audience responded particularly well to shows we have seen locally recently, including looks at Into the Woods and Mamma Mia! The look at Les Misérables is an absolute joy.

This is a must-see for Musical Theatre tragics and frequent theatregoers, but you would be hard-pressed to see a better show, even if you don’t know the difference between Sondheim and Lloyd-Webber. Funny, fabulous and thoroughly entertaining.

Kimberley Shaw

Images: Deprimo Photography