Benji Riggs as Sebastian the Crab
Presented by Spark Of Inspiration
Reviewed 14 July 2015
Spark Of Inspiration is a company founded in 2009 by young Adelaide actor/singer/musical theatre performer Benji Riggs in order to educate primary school children about performing arts and, at the same time, raise monies for various charities around the world. So far, the organisation has raised over $20,000 in donations and helped support five Ugandan families for a year. Broadway 4 Kidz is the production that has brought about this monumental accomplishment.
Broadway 4 Kidz is a collection of songs from big Broadway hit musicals mainly directed at school age children (however, this version sees You Can’t Stop The Beat from Hairspray rear its head), and varies in content and cast size throughout the year. This incarnation sees songs from Seussical, Mary Poppins, The Little Mermaid, You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown, the aforementioned Hairspray, Frozen and Tangled (although these last two aren’t stage musicals yet, they are about to be), performed by a talented cast of 14 youngsters and young adults.
One item that this reviewer thought may strike a discordant note was a Wiggles segment (I’m not sure that they have even stepped inside a Broadway theatre let alone been on a Great White Way stage). However, this item was a huge hit with everyone, but especially the littlies – and the four boys: Lachlan Williams, Rory Adams, Luke Wolianskyj and Nathan Stafford were absolutely fantastic! They WERE The Wiggles – only scaled down.
Special mention must be made here to Nathan Stafford who, due to Riggs suddenly coming down ill halfway through the show, stepped into this segment, never having done it and with no rehearsal. He was note and action perfect. With a professional attitude such as this, Stafford will go far.
Riggs was the ideal Sebastian the Crab, with his nicely Jamaican accented Under The Sea, and showed his stage skill in the wonderful way he interacted with the children in the audience.
Lachlan Williams shone in everything he did, especially as Horton the Elephant and his beautiful duet with Montana Vincent, Alone In The Universe. Williams is definitely showing growing maturity along with very strong vocals. Stafford makes a great little fish and Georgia Broomhall seems to have the part of Mary Poppins stitched up to play when she is older.
The production is bright (aided by some fantastic costumes), peppy, fun and very entertaining.
We hear so much about youth and the horrible things they get up to, that it is so warming and pleasing to see that there are young people out there with not only tons of talent, but their hearts in the right place.
Reviewed by Brian Godfrey
Twitter: @briangods
Season: Ended
http://www.sparkofinspiration.org/
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