Arts

Theatre Review: Seize The Day – Music Theatre Camp 2018

Over the past few years Pelican Productions have run, in January, what they call Music Theatre Camps. These occur over two weeks, with children and teens from 8 to 19 having intensive training and instruction from professionals and experts in the field of musical theatre, all culminating in a showcase at the end.

Presented by Pelican Productions
Reviewed 18 January 2018

Over the past few years Pelican Productions have run, in January, what they call Music Theatre Camps. These occur over two weeks, with children and teens from 8 to 19 having intensive training and instruction from professionals and experts in the field of musical theatre, all culminating in a showcase at the end. These performances are, of course, attended by the participants’ parents, siblings, grandparents, uncles, aunts and family friends. But they shouldn’t be the only lucky ones to see up and coming talent. Those outsiders who just want to see a great show, should also attend – because that is what you will get.

This year’s offering is entitled Seize The Day, featuring songs from ‘oldies’ such as Hair and Hairspray, to ‘newbies’ such as Broadway hit shows NewsiesAnastasia and Charlie And The Chocolate Factory.

The Production Team this year reads like a ‘Who’s Who’ of Adelaide talent; with Ross Burford, David Gauci, Rosie Hosking, Libby O’Donovan, Katrina Ryan and Tania Savelli providing vocal coaching; and choreography being taken very good care of by Adelaide Clark, Joe Meldrum, Aidan Kane Munn, Martine Quigley and Bec Schembri. Let’s not forget a very classy Broadway sounding band led by Martin Cheney.

The cast reviewed were the Disney Cast, but by some of the recognisable names in the other three casts (over 450 performers all up this year) – Hollywood, Broadway and West End – the standard of excellence should be just as good.

Everyone of the Disney Cast deserved to be there, but just to give one the idea why they should perhaps see this wonderful showcase, here are some very memorable highlights: the incredibly strong, goose-pimple inducing eleven senior boys’ choir performing Vaults Of Heaven (from Whistle Down The Wind); the powerful vocals of Erin Sowerby leading a beautifully voiced cast in Raise Your Voice (from Sister Act) which they most certainly did, making the man in front of this reviewer want “MORE!” (and I agreed with him); Brooklyn Twelftree and Allycia Angeles both making their mark with their ‘Anastasia’ and ‘Moana’ solos respectively; and Jerome Javier, looking remarkably like his animated Moana counterpart, Maui, bopping supreme with You’re Welcome.

Some fun comedy moments were more than provided for by Joel Castrechini as a very put upon Santa, and Henry Hasler and Ellie Swan as Augustus and Mrs Gloop from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Great accent, Ellie!).

All the extremely talented young performers, no matter their age, up on stage opening night certainly seized the moment and should have no problem in seizing the day further along in their individual futures.

Reviewed by Brian Godfrey
Twitter: @briangods

Venue: Westminster School, Marion
Season: !8 – 21 Jan 2018
Duration: 2 hours including interval
Tickets: $25 -$35
Bookings: https://www.trybooking.com/book/sessions?eid=328258

 

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