Just So (2010)
by Stiles and Drewe
”Just So Good!” is the first thing that springs to mind as a catch phrase to describe this year’s St Kilda Road Middle School musical Just So, an adaptation, by new musical theatre sensations George Stiles and Anthony Drewe (Honk!, Mary Poppins), of the famous stories by Rudyard Kipling. ”Loose adaptation” might be a better phrase, given the witty modernity and sophisticated and stylish presentation of the original fables about how the animals came to be as they are. The consistently tuneful score and often incisive lyrics meant that there was plenty here for adults to enjoy as well, and the human condition was explored through the animal behaviours in ways Kipling might not have envisaged. There was plenty of contemporary edge, and the whole production revelled in this, thanks to the savvy of the brilliant young singers and actors, and the insights of the directing team.
The production was truly complete in all aspects. The singing was a marvel, and it is difficult to recall a more polished musical performance at any level; there was great depth in the soloists and a range of captivating voices, while the harmonising and choral moments were simply outstanding. The choreography was sharp and varied, well within the scope of inexperienced movers, but never simplistic. Every number, and hence mood, was made distinctive and thrilling. The design, with its central podium and rear walkway, and some evocative images on the cyclorama (and a stunning jungle backcloth), admirably assisted the audience’s imaginative journey. To cap it off, the costuming was inspired, creatively linking the animal and human worlds.
Individual performers and the ensemble didn’t lose their focus for a moment. To sustain nearly two hours of musical theatre without interest flagging at any point is an achievement at any year level. Some individuals have to be mentioned, though in doing so it is worth stressing that no one on stage looked like they didn’t belong there. At the centre of all this magic was the Eldest Magician, a kind of Creator figure who was the glue holding things together dramatically. In the highly accomplished Nic Davey-Greene, the show found its fulcrum; his stage presence, experience and charisma ensured that all around him would keep their heads (to borrow from the finale, an engaging musical interpretation of Kipling’s famous poem If).
No less captivating were Lachy Bagnara and Jazzy Bade-Boon as The Elephant’s Child and the Kolokolo Bird, the characters whose quest we join and whose emotional adventures drive the plot; both sang and acted beautifully. They carry the action, and the purity of their voices and the charm of their characterisations made their stage alliance deeply affecting for the audience. You really did care what happened to them. Joining them some distance into the show were Cynthia Wells and Meg Duncan as Giraffe and Zebra respectively, svelte animals in search of decent outfits. Their characterisations too were gorgeous, as were their accents and vocals, while their impromptu tap routine was a stunner. And in pursuit of these delicious meals on legs were Jaguar and Leopard, played with a great sense of fun, with some extremely stylish singing thrown in, by Kareem El-Ansary and Jake Colman. This quartet of the pursuers and pursued showed what rich talent was available at all levels of casting. And in one of the play’s more esoteric comic interludes, Helena Duniec displayed some remarkable vocal skills as a Parsee cook (ably backed up by a crooning Stove, rendered in two part harmony by David Ellinghaus and Jacqui Patishman).
The cameos throughout were a continual source of delight and amusement. James Robinson did a great turn as a tunefully self-analysing Rhino, and his number was a stand-out; Andrew Joel was a dinkum Aussie Kangaroo, rambunctious and over-bearing; Callum Coker was an eccentric (and somewhat exhausted) Dingo; four students led by Chilli Anderson worked in beguiling unison as Pau Amma, the troublesome Crab; Tim Grant had a brief but astounding vocal moment as the Crocodile (such big jaws, and what a voice!); while the Wildebeest hung around entertainingly in the background looking only ever mildly curious about unfolding events (nicely evoking their reputation for being rather tedious migratory animals). The Elephants, headed by Clayton Waddell and Tansy Gorman, were wonderful too, and led some stirring choral singing (without too much trumpeting).
As naturally talented as the cast proved to be, their abilities needed to be harnessed and directed, and the professional expertise and experience of the adult production team was everywhere in evidence: Clare Cooper and Nathan Armstrong (Directors), Sarah Patterson and Peter Foley (Musical Direction), Carolyn Ramsey (Choreography),Tony Scanlon (Design) , Sabino Del Balso (Lighting and Sound), and Stephanie Des Barres and Jill Welch (Costume Design) pooled their prodigious talents and aeons of experience (pre-dating even the Eldest Magician) to deliver a Just So comparable to anything staged by the ATC in recent years.
Program
Photo Gallery
