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A Gay Escapade - Qtopia, Sydney (NSW)
Music by John Kander. Lyrics by Fred Ebb. Presented by Little Triangle. Conceived and directed by Alexander Andrews.
Inventive, witty and paying full tribute to the musical material at hand, Little Triangle's latest is a joyous romp into musical theatre
Reviewed by Juliana Payne
The Loading Dock, Qtopia, Darlinghurst, Sydney
Until 31st August, 2024
A Gay Escapade is a rip-snorting, full-throated joyous romp through the brilliant songs lifted from the musical theatre productions by Kander and Ebb. People will be familiar with Cabaret and Chicago, but back in the day they had many shows on Broadway with big names like Barbra Streisand, Liza Minelli, Chita Rivera and Lauren Bacall. This production gives us the welcome chance to hear many of the forgotten gems they composed. As an even better bonus, this production also reworks and transposes the standard hetero musical theatre duo trope into a wonderfully uplifting LGBTQI+ melange.
This is a fitting rearrangement of these songs. Kander and Ebb themselves were at the cutting edge of musical theatre, moving the dial a bit further on social commentary than the cheesy musical of the early twentieth century. Rodgers and Hammerstein had often dealt with controversial plots and themes, but these could often be masked or lost in the production spectacle and bright technicolour productions. Kander and Ebb, and their contemporary Stephen Sondheim, kept pushing that envelope, and this troupe of highly talented performers from Little Triangle have picked up the baton and danced away with it.
The cast of Little Triangle's 'A Gay Escapade' (2024). Images: Annabelle Radford
There was more energy in the tiny Loading Dock Theatre than at the Democrats National Convention last night. Gavin Brown, Nina Carmen, Jayden Castle, Juliette Coleman, Izzy Hanly, Clara Harrison, Sebastian Nelson and Allegra Wilson flung their whole hearts, souls and voices into the performance.
...inventive, witty and stylish, with the performers being talented, versatile and utterly captivating
It started in the bar, with Wilson giving us 'When You’re Good to Mama' before we even went in, and the intensity and enjoyment did not let up until they flew off the stage to thunderous applause. With Aaron Robuck providing the piano accompaniment, the company took us through the Kander and Ebb repertoire with skill and flair. Each developed their own stage persona, hilarious or heartbreaking, and the mini-dramas they created blossomed and flourished throughout the show. With a line of Fosse chairs (of course) their only props, they created worlds of emotion for us on the tiny stage.
The direction by Alexander Andrews was inventive, witty and stylish, with the performers being talented, versatile and utterly captivating. Best of all, they paid full tribute to the brilliant material they worked with.
Long live the songs of Kander and Ebb, and thank you Little Triangle for this marvellous recital.
Duration: 95 minutes with no interval
Production warning: This production contains theatrical haze and some adult themes
Season details:
A Gay EscapadeThe Loading Dock Theatre by Qtopia Sydney (301 Forbes St Darlinghurst)
21 - 31 August
Run time: 90 minutes in one act
CAST:
Gavin Brown (he/him)
Nina Carmen (she/they)
Jayden Castle (he/they)
Juliette Coleman (she/they)
Izzy Hanly (she/they)
Clara Harrison (she/they)
Sebastian Nelson (he/him)
Allegra Wilson (she/her)
with Music Direction by Aaron Robuck (he/him)
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