Lynn Belvedere

FACES THE MUSICAL @ THE FUSE BOX, FACTORY THEATRE MARRICKVILLE

 

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FACES THE MUSICAL tells the story of five young people, searching for ways to improve their world, interlinked with a second storyline related to the history of one of their grandfathers.

Four friends, Mia (Bethany Taylor), Yin (Soohan Jennifer Yoo), Farid (Eamon Moses), and Rya (Ethan Taylor) come to help their friend Ethan (Adam Bowes) sort through Ethan’s dead grandfather’s things in the attic of the family home. Ethan is searching in particular for his grandfather Arthur’s (Nicholas Gledhill) penny whistle, which he remembers from his childhood, but in the search the friends find far much more than just the penny whistle.

Their lives will change forever because on this stormy Saturday night they will all  be embarking on journeys of self-discovery, aided and abetted by the ghostly spirit of Arthur.

As they search for the penny whistle scenes from different times and places allow the characters to explore their beliefs and desires for a better world. In the end a secret which has been kept for forty years is revealed, and melds the themes of injustice in the grandfather’s past with the injustices faced in the present day by the group.

FACES is part mystery, part comedy and part exploration of themes of justice and hope. The tunes are bright, the lyrics of the songs inspired. The play’s world is brought to life by a talented cast, well supported by a strong ensemble. Perhaps there was a little too much of the “soap box” in a couple of scenes, but this new and youthful Australian musical, delivered an upbeat entertaining experience.

FACES THE MUSICAL has clever choreography that rises above, to become more than just the music, and often caused laughter with uncontrollable goosebumps, making for a genuinely fun theatrical experience.

FACES is a new and youthful Australian musical, and delivered an upbeat entertaining experience, with a cast of fresh voices many with an impressive voice range and excellent  voice control.

Duration 120 minutes, including one interval.

Directed by Kyle Stephens
Music Directed by Kailesh Reitmans
Choreographed by Natasha Window
Set Design Riley Cope
Fill in Musical Director Andrew Freeborn

Book by Carmelita Lees
Songs by: Carmelita Lees, Jim Shipstone, John Roy & Stewart Peters
Script Consultant: Isaac Owen

Cast:-
Nicholas Gledhill ………….Arther Fielding
Adam Bowes ………………..Ethan Fielding
Bethany Taylor …………….Mia
Soohan Jennifer Yoo ………..Yin
Eamon Moses ……………….Farid
Ethan Taylor ………………Ryan
Sammy Jayne ……………….Leah Feilding
Jessie Baker ………………Miriam/ Ensemble
Sasha Cole ………………..Refugee boy/Ensemble
Bea Low …………………..PA/Ensemble
Kyle Stephens ……………..Toms Boss/Ensemble
Mitch Thornton …………….Ensemble
Maselina Metcalf …………..Lilly

Band
Kailesh Reitmans ……………..Keys/Musical Director
Noa Kidd …………………….Guitar
Edward Hampton ……………….Bass
Amy Graham …………………..Flute/Sax/Tin whistle
Trish Daviszz ………………..Reed
Jason Murray …………………Drums

FACES THE  MUSICAL played the Fuse Box at the Factory Theatre between the 11th and the 23rd October 2016.

 

 

Published by Lynn Belvedere

Once we were old enough, my parents took the whole family to the Sydney CBD cinemas every week. Thus began a lifetime interest, in going to the cinema every week, and became a passionate cinephile by watching all those very heavily edited ''Australian Film Censorship Board'' true cinéaste versions of brand new release ''Cinematograph Films''. Greater Union always gave my father (who worked in Cinema Distribution Exhibition) guest double movie passes, to every first-night ''red carpet Opening Night'' at The State Theatre Cinema at 49 Market Street. Up until his death, my dad always received ''two house seats'' for every Opening Night performance events at the Theatre Royal SYDNEY and at Her Majesty's Theatre SYDNEY. As a child, when mum choose not to go, I often went with him, to those live performance events. As a young child, I remember being taken for each new show, at both The New Theatre at 60 Sussex Street, and the Phillip Street Theatre when located at 150 Elizabeth Street, and for classical music concerts at Sydney Town Hall. = = = ★★★★★ = = = Being happy is a choice, and I have always viewed my life, as material ready be made into a series of amazing tentpole movies. My New Years Resolution is kept every year: ''Get to see/review five new live theatre shows each week, and get to see/review six new cinema movies each week'', plus is one of the Australian Cinema Pioneers, and apparently have seen far too much already, but always wanting to experience more and more each year. I am also able to do almost everything that I enjoy doing. Yes, I do have a great daytime job in I.T. as ''Software Design Project Manager'', PLUS each evening until quite late - - - Australian Cinematograph Films historical censorship consultant - product-placement consultant - mystery-shopper consultant - playwright, writer, author, director, producer, photographer, cinematographer, color-grader, subtitles proofreader - arts/ drama/ music/ film critic and judge, journalist, member FIPRESCI & FCCA & AFCA, member AACTA accredited film reviewer-critic-writer, accredited IMDB.COM critic-reviewer-author, projectionist, plus an innovative iconoclast - - - ★★★★★ LYNN BELVEDERE ★★★★★ - - - [usr 5] - - -