What’s neuro, pussycat? Can a musical about brain surgery be entertaining?!
The grey celled squad from Squabbalogic prove that it’s a no brainer with their energetic production of A NEW BRAIN at Sidetrack Theatre.
Penned by the team behind Falsettos, William Finn and James Lapine, A NEW BRAIN is the story of songwriter Gordon Schwinn, struck down by a brain malady while composing a new melody for children’s show superstar and impresario, Mr. Bungee.
A boyfriend, a girl friend, his mother, a bag lady, a skull capped surgeon, nurses and a padre all add to this brief of grief, played with a patina of light lyric and a pinch of pathos making palatable the preparation of the palliative- neuro fiddles while the home fires burn.
Gavin Leahy as the sconce stricken songster gives good lead with clear voice and characterisation and he’s given great support from a tight company.
Mark Simpson as the big male nurse, Richard, has a commanding and endearingly warm quality and makes the most of two of the best songs in the show; ‘Poor, Unsuccessful and Fat’, and ‘You Boys Are Going to Get Me in Such Trouble’.
As Gordon’s mother, Mimi, Beth Daly impresses with a couple of knockout solos, ‘Throw It Out’ and ‘The Music Still Plays On’.
Squabbalogic supremo Jay James-Moody literally has a spring in his step with his sublime characterisation of Mr. Bungee, a frenetic frog, a megalomaniac amphibian, who leaps, limbers and lurks, and ultimately gives advice against croaking.
Shondelle Pratt as Homeless Lady does some nice shtick and gives good throat in a couple of belters, while a sly comic sensibility shines from Laura Murphy in the dual roles of the wet waitress and the dry nurse, the latter showing a certain gory glee in cerebrum surgery and slight skulduggery in the skull digging.
Keira Daley, Blake Erickson, Garth Saville and Mark Sippel comprise the rest of the company and acquit themselves admirably in this cranio-musical comedy.
The company, both on stage and behind the scenes, are to be applauded for a nice night’s entertainment. The big musicals are attractive for their size and spectacle, but Squabbalogic prove with this production that ebullience and boldness can beat budget and present a class act.
I look forward to their new venture, Ordinary Days, scheduled for January 2012 at the Darlinghurst Theatre.
Squabbalogic’s production of William Finn and James Lapine’s music A NEW BRAIN opened at the Sidetrack theatre, Addison Road complex, 142 Addison Road, Marrickville on Thursday 27th October and runs until Saturday 12th November, 2011.
Tags: A NEW BRAIN, William Finn, James Lapine, Squabbalogic, Sidetrack theatre Marrickville, Beth Daly, Jay James-Moody, Shondelle Pratt, Laura Murphy, Keira Daley, Blake Erickson, Garth Saville, Mark Sippel, Mark Simpson, Gavin Leahy.