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BUSTCo’s 21st Birthday Showcase
Presented by:
Bustco
Venue:
Deakin University
Reviewer:
Renée Maloney – Theatre People Editor
Date Reviewed:
Friday 28th August 2009
Last Friday I took the very short trip to Deakin University to see
BUSTCo’s 21st Birthday Showcase. The foyer had a lot of
excitement in the air and was dressed like any 21st
birthday full of balloons and banners. Patrons were eager to get in
the door (as it was unallocated seating). After quite a late start
the show began with a number from FAME (2002) – “Pray”. I felt that
this was a very interesting choice to open the show as it wasn’t
your usual glitz and glamour opening but nonetheless was executed
well. Moving straight into “I Hope It Get It” was where the
explosion came from. Excellent choreography, strong voices and an
abundance of people on stage!
It
was a showcase of the productions that BUSTCO had done in its 21
years of existence which I always love to see. It is great to learn
about the histories of theatre companies in these types of variety
shows. However, I didn’t really learn anything about BUSTCO. I would
have liked to see a more chronological approach or something to tie
it all together for example a narrator or the flyers for each show.
There was no mention that the first three shows were actually
produced under the banner of the Burlesco Troupe and when it changed
its identity.
There were many songs and comedy sketches within the show. One of
the highlights was “Ease on Down the Road” from the Wiz (1990).
Vocally the song was excellent; the choreography was interesting,
costumes wonderful and energy high. Well Done to Jemima Eva, Kate
Wilkinson, Erica Harvey and Lauren Shell. Another highlight was
“Rhythm of Life” from Sweet Charity (2003). This song demonstrated
excellent vocalists and entertainers. There wasn’t much choreography
but the performers oozed such experience that they sold the song
with their vocals and their presences’. Congratulations to Julian
Campobasso, Gulcan Gulen and Dave Barclay (who spent the rest of the
show conducting the band and on Keys). Special mention must be made
to Dave’s jacket made from ties – it was amazing!! Other standout
performances were Whitney Johnson in “Hard Candy Christmas” from
Best Little Whorehouse from Texas (1991), Jacqui Swallow in her
rendition of “These are my Children” from Fame (2002) and Josephine
Pulitano’s “Christmas Lullaby” from Songs for a New World which was
featured in the 2008 Concert ‘Platform’. These ladies all have
excellent voices and been given songs that highlighted the strengths
in their vocal ranges.
We
must not forget the Comedy sketches that were scattered throughout
the show. Comedy revues have been an annual occurrence at BUSTCO
since 2005 when they debuted with “Ka Pow” and most recently with
“Insert Witty Name Here”. There were some very funny sketches that
had the audience rolling in fits of laughter. Just to mention a few
was “Female Drill Sergeant” from Insert Witty Name here (2009) and
“Gender Stereotypes” and “Lifeguards” from Spin Off (2006) and “Drag
Queens” from Ka Pow (2005). These all demonstrated the excellent
comic timing of these actors. Special mentions must be made of Kate
Wilkinson, Shane Savage and Dylan Cole – 3 of the funniest people I
have seen onstage in a long time. Well Done!
The
sound was good for most of the show except the big rocky numbers as
the band was so close to the audience no microphone was able to get
above that. The program was VERY interesting it was put together as
a FACEBOOK page. The costumes were interesting but I felt at times
that they were inappropriate for the numbers and that the ensemble
didn’t match. The lighting was very simple yet effective and
enabled each cast member to be seen. Well Done!!
Congratulations to BUSTCO on a very successful 21 years – all the
best for the next!!
Renée has over 20 yrs experience in professional and
non–professional theatre. She has choreographed/directed/produced
and performed in several shows for various companies including; Les
Miserables, Annie, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Anything
Goes and Guys & Dolls, Annie get your Gun and Gypsy. Renée
directed/choreographed "All the New Stuff" and "Sondheim to
Schwartz" for Phoenix Theatre Company and was nominated for Best
Director in Variety show Lyrebird Award for both productions. She
co-directed The Full Monty for PTC last year as well as the Lyrebird
Awards Ceremony. Later this year she is Choreographing “Nunsense”
for Phoenix Theatre Company. Renée is the Junior TP Editor for
Theatrepeople and a secondary school Dance/Drama teacher at Yarra
Valley Grammar.
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