Old Time Music Hall. Canberra Repertory directed by Rosemary Hyde at The Playhouse, June 16-25, 8pm
The 31st Old Time Music Hall is traditional. There are no surprises, but plenty of good performances. Though an old friend, who has seen many of these annual celebrations of an almost antique kind of theatre, thought that this year's fare was less varied than the best, I came away satisfied, if not satiated.
Master of Ceremonies Russell Brown, in his 30th performance in this role, took a little while to warm up on opening night, but I felt this was not a disadvantage. It gave the show less of an over-the-top feeling than I've had in some previous years, giving time for the evening to find its feet with more surety and even a little subtlety. Brown's jokes were as execrable as ever. One was even excretable, which got the biggest laugh and loudest groan.
The cast has an excellent team feeling, each person working well when in unison and with humorously played individual characters in group and solo sections. The traditional male Harmony Quartet became an octet, which allowed an excellent range of voices and variety of attitudes to come to the fore. Among soloists, I thought Sheena Smith, Jamie Swann and Helen Perris stood out not just for their singing voices but for the warmth of their communication with the audience, and their ability to play the comic and the straight.
As always, Jeanette Brown's expertise as Manager of Wardrobe shines through every costume. Pauline Sweeney, pianiste extraordinaire, percussionist Ron Tito and Andrew Kay, for the 30th time directing the music from his piano, form a wonderful team who keep the show moving along in tune with the singers and dancers. Their work is certainly no less vibrant this year.
This is the first year I have seen choreographer Anne Supple's work. The measure of quality is the variety of dance, the suitability for the numbers and the confidence of the dancers - the whole cast. The women's tap dancing with farming tools in Run, Rabbit, Run was a particular delight. On all three points the choreography measures up, and with the music makes the show so coherent that two hours and a half pass very smoothly and pleasantly.
© Frank McKone, Canberra
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