I
would say the 80’s are back but I’m not sure they ever went away
judging by the enthusiasm with which the audience greeted this
particular showing of La Boite’s new musical The Year Nick McGowan Came To Stay.
Based on local author Rebecca Sparrow’s prequel to The Girl Most Likely, The Year Nick McGowan Came To Stay
is an affectionate musical ode to growing up in Brisbane in the 80’s.
The show traces one year in the life of Rachel Hill, a 17-year-old
prefect whose perfectly ordered life is thrown into disarray by the
arrival of Nick McGowan, a beetroot-loving teen spunk who boards with
her family while he works through some mysterious personal issues.
Rachel
soon develops a crush on her laconic house guest and while she grapples
with the complexities of being “normal” and middle class (not to
mention a closet Huey Lewis and The News fan), Nick McGowan is dealing
with darker issues – cue Simple Minds.
This
energetic musical exploration of teen angst in the time of the tube
sock is pure kitsch. From the inventive Rubik’s Cube set complete with
Warhol-esque floor prints of Madonna and Rick Astley, to some rather
alarming references to all things 80’s (It’s a Knockout anyone?), The Year Nick McGowan Came to Stay taps into a decade that is coming to define Brisbane.
The
show is billed as “the 80’s hairbrush musical” and that’s just what the
audience gets. With not a tap shoe in sight, it’s more karaoke than Chorus Line
and benefits from the considerable talents of composer Tyrone Noonan
who has put together a poppy line-up of nostalgic “best of the 80’s”
tracks delivered with great energy by the cast.
It’s
held together by a spruce script full of one-liners and popular
references to Brisbane in the 80’s and moves along at a cracking pace.
Director Sean Mee keeps it light and bright and elicits enjoyable
performances from his talented ensemble cast, most of whom do
double-duty in minor roles.
As
over-achieving prefect Rachel Hill, Neridah Waters is terrific. Her
uptight Rachel is the perfect foil for Nick, who is played with
measured cool by Tim Dashwood. Hannah Levien is wickedly funny as
Rachel’s sex-obsessed best friend Zoe, the kind of girl we all knew
would get us into trouble at school.
Bryan
Proberts unleashes the inner dag in a crowd-pleasing performance as
Rachel’s gleefully embarrassing dad while Elise Greig channels Olivia
Newton-John as mum and works the leg warmers and shiny tights look with
hilarious conviction.
In the end The Year Nick McGowan Came To Stay is
enjoyable, lightweight stuff. Due to popular demand the season has
already been extended until 9 June and it’s the kind of agreeable
musical that will probably enjoy renewed outings on many a Brisbane
high-school stage in the future.
As the cast took it home with a moment straight out The Breakfast Club it put this reviewer in mind of that favorite 80’s lolly, the fruit tingle – sweet, fizzy and fun while it lasts.
A La Boite Theatre Company Commission Rebecca Sparrow's – The Year Nick McGowan Came to Stay World Premiere
Venue: Roundhouse Theatre Dates: 17 May – 9 June 2007 (Previews 15 & 16 May) Times: Tue & Wed 6.30pm, Thu-Sat 8pm Opening Night: 17 May 8pm Matinees: Wed 16, Tue 22 & 29 May 11am, Sat 2 June 2pm. After Show Discussion - 25 May Tickets: $22 - $55 | Group Discounts: $35 for 10+, $19 for school groups. Booking fees apply Bookings/Info: www.laboite.com.au
The Hypocrite | Melbourne Theatre Company
Outstanding among the actors is Garry McDonald, who blasts on to the stage with a tempestuous energy, sweeping the play along in a torrent of words.
Read more
I
would say the 80’s are back but I’m not sure they ever went away
judging by the enthusiasm with which the audience greeted this
particular showing of La Boite’s new musical The Year Nick McGowan Came To Stay. 
