By Cal
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAswUa6_dbI
Available until: December 13th,
probably 7pm.
Content warning: Mentions of suicide, murder,
drugs. Could cause offence.
Okay, so this was interesting.
If you want a moving story with
likeable characters, deep emotions and at least a tiny bit of morality, I
recommend you don’t watch this one.
If you’re happy with a slapstick
comedy, upbeat music and a few nice dresses, you might enjoy this quite a lot.
Tina is a very talented eight year old girl who wants to star in musicals. Her mum Judy adores her and is proud of her talent. The whole neighbourhood seems to adore Tina and if she does make the odd tiny mistake, well, that’s just cute. But Judy has a few reservations. She’s not sure she wants her daughter to have a life that’s entirely devoted to showbusiness.
If she ever had a chance of convincing
Tina, this seems to go right out of the window when the glamorous Sylvia
breezes into their lives and declares she will make Tina into a star.
Some of this musical is very
predictable. You can see certain things coming a mile off, but that’s okay.
It’s that sort of show. But the show does still shock you – it doesn’t so much
push the boundaries as kick them to pieces. It goes to places you don’t usually
expect a musical to go, especially not when there is a child onstage. If you
examine it too closely, it’s immoral and it’s wrong and it invites us to laugh
at terrible things which really aren’t funny. If you do feel upset or offended
by this musical, it’s understandable. It definitely isn’t for everyone.
I will say in defence of the musical
that I really don’t think it intends to offend anyone. It’s a satire and the
humour is very dark and not exactly appropriate, but if you are able to
overlook things and just enjoy it on the surface and not think too much about
the rights and wrongs, it is a very funny musical. But you do have to be the
right person and in the right mood.
If Joel Paley’s book is…
questionable, he has produced some great lyrics and Marvin Laird’s music is
ear-catching and a lot of fun, though towards the end you realise that perhaps
it isn’t all that varied.
This production was on at the Arts
Theatre in 2018, directed by Richard Fitch, who doesn’t attempt to hide from
any of the darkness in the script. Rebecca Howell has produced some great
choreography in several styles, including tap, and the routines are flawlessly
executed. Jason Gardiner plays the very glamorous Sylvia and has some gorgeous
costumes to wear. His performance is a lot of fun, his dancing and singing are
brilliant and although the characterisation is shallow (it’s meant to be), he
makes Sylvia into the most interesting character in the show. He makes a really
serious (and very good) attempt at playing a woman too.
Tina is played by Anya Evans and she
is incredible. Her dancing is outstanding, her voice is childlike but powerful
and while you’d forgive her for being a slightly weak link in a cast of adults,
there is nothing weak about her performance at all. She’s right up there with
the rest of the cast as far as talent is concerned and she’ll have a big future
if she wants one. (If any musical is going to put you off showbusiness, it
might just be Ruthless!!)
Kim Maresca, who has previously
appeared in the show Off-Broadway, is great in the role of the sweet,
cookie-baking Judy and her reaction when her life completely changes is
well-executed. Lara Denning makes a strong impression in a small role before
returning as the ambitious Eve. Tracie Bennett is fun as Tina’s play-hating
grandmother Lita, and the amusing Harriet Thorpe, in the role of Miss Thorne,
doesn’t quite put me off the idea of being a teacher.
It was fun, but I am very glad that
not all musicals are like this.
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