Music / “The World of Musicals in Concert”. At Canberra Theatre, May 22. Reviewed by IAN McLEAN.

WITH 37 songs from 23 musicals featured in just two hours, this show needed to be a slick and rapidly moving production. It was! 

“The World of Musicals” has been on the road in an Australia-wide tour for some months so is well rehearsed and smooth running. The UK production is presented in concert format with no set pieces, but is enhanced by colourful and effective lighting and appropriate projected screen images.

Cast leader and co-producer Ciaran John Olohan was warm and sincere in his introduction and this created a happy and relaxed atmosphere that prevailed from the opening well-balanced harmonies of “Bohemian Rhapsody” right through to the “One Day More” from “Les Miserables” finale. 

It was the ensemble numbers that were the highlights and major strengths of the evening. The 12-member cast were at their best in “The Blues Brothers” and “Oklahoma” with well balanced and accurate harmonies and clean, well-constructed choreography. 

The guys on their own were strong and tight in “The Jersey Boys” medley while the women were charming in “What I Did for Love” from “A Chorus Line” and a “South Pacific” medley. All were most competent chorus singers but some lacked sufficient vocal attributes to be commanding soloists. 

“If I was a Rich Man” and two “Pirates of Penzance” songs lacked conviction and characterisation, while “Memory” from “Cats” was sweet but lacked necessary soaring emotion. Those shortcomings are in no small part attributable to the necessity to use backing tracks. It is obviously not feasible to tour a complete orchestra, and, while the recordings were of good quality, they lacked light and shade and the ability to allow spontaneity or emotional variation. 

Consequently, some solo work sounded contrived. This was not the case with Jack Trinder who raised the roof with his interpretation of “Maria” from “West Side Story” and Milly Stevens who commanded the stage each time she appeared as a solo.

Dancing was tight and most varied in style. The females in “Mein Herr” from “Cabaret” were appropriately sassy, while young male dancers Samuel O’Shea and Harry Planck were energetic, enthusiastic and exciting in every appearance. 

Some oddities existed in the costume department. A vast array of costumes were utilised with many rapid changes demanded but the uniform for the Major General was completely out of period and it was strange seeing the downtrodden Fantine singing “I Dreamed a Dream” in a glittering white ball gown. Some of the men’s costumes, particularly formal jackets, were ill fitting and this did detract from the overall professionalism of the production.

Despite some imperfections the large crowd present enjoyed a wide variety of terrific songs from the world of musical theatre. A fine, full cast interpretation of “I Am Australian” brought this bright, bubbly and engaging concert to a happy and pleasing conclusion.