A Taste of Tinseltown

A Taste of Tinseltown is the second of two nightclub-style pilot productions by Free-Rain Theatre in two weeks, hot on the heels of its comic play The Art of Teaching Nothing.  Whereas the last production featured songs from Broadway stage productions, this production's numbers come from Hollywood films.  Although on this occasion several of the performers were probably better actors than singers, the singing was, as in the Nightclub's previous production, Buzzing Broadway,  by and large very good; and some was outstanding.  Again as in the previous one, the instrumental accompaniment was Griffin's electric-piano work (which, if it did finish two or three songs a little abruptly, nonetheless kept the entire show together.

The ensemble work, consistently marvellous, was a good choice for opening and closing the productoin.  The real surprise it delivered, though, was "Can't Help Falling in Love", which, though still a wonderful old song, Griffin's dynamic vocal arrangement brought to surprising new life.

Look out in particular for Louiza Blomfield, with her convincing presentation of "I'm Still Here" and her sublime performance of "Moon River"; and for Kirrah Amosa's treatment of "I Will Always Love You" with lovely, original ornamentation and a rendition of "Over the Rainbow" that's a complete knockout.

Skilful lighting did much to overcome the Courtyard Studio's inherent limitiations, and the actors' mingling with the audience as they sang often had the act expanding beyond the shallow stage.  If Free-Rain takes the show to other venues, as I think the show deserves, its programme could benefit by some minor revision.  Some acts belong in their own time, and the production's only slapstick number was one such.  I'm not certain that a couple of other songs were the best choice for a modern audience either; though they probably suited the singer as well as possible, they seemed to drag.  By and large, though, singing and stagecraft carried the numbers well, and the audience remained enthusiastic throughout.

John P. Harvey

Images: [Upper picture, L–R] Tim Sekuless, Louiza Blomfield, Kirrah Amosa, Amy Lapthorne, Fraser Findlay, Colin Milner, and Lexi Sekuless, and [lower picture, L–R] Colin Milner, Kirrah Amosa, and Amy Lapthorne, in A Taste of Tinseltown.  Photographer: Janelle McMenamin.