Perth Reviews

This is a major work running at two and a half hours, with interval. That said, there is a lot to enjoy – lavish choreography, wonderful staged scenes, beautiful costumes and the sheer energy of a youthful and talented troupe of artists.

Described as a love letter to Australia’s theatrical past, Tivoli Lovely is written as a tribute to the golden age of travelling variety shows. Writer Eddie Perfect says: "Tivoli Lovely was inspired by a desire to create a new work of music theatre that strengthens our connection with Australia’s theatrical past. America had vaudeville, Britain had music hall, and Australia had the Tivoli." Director Dean Bryant adds "Eddie has written a hilarious, wild, new Aussie dance musical. It's been a treat to develop it over three years with the students, and audiences are going to see something truly original and exciting."

The story is introduced in present time and harks back to 1954, when variety shows were at the height of their popularity in a circuit of theatres throughout Australia. In Tivoli Lovely the initial scenario is the interaction between former Tivoli dancer Kitty aged 85 and Charlotte a somewhat jaded 15 year old schoolgirl who is tasked to interview Kitty as part of as school assignment. Kitty is played by Caroline McKenzie and Charlotte by Zoe Davidson-Wall, both are excellent anchors for the show. This is a clever start to proceedings as it allows numerous flashbacks to production numbers featuring song and dance numbers as they were once staged.

The original Tivoli was truly an exceptional show featuring revue skits, opera, ballet, singing, acrobats, jugglers, clowns, a tight rope dancer, whistlers, comics, magicians, musical comedy, performing dogs and seals, whip crackers and puppeteers. Literally something for everyone! At the height of their popularity, the performers traipsed a well-worn circuit around Australia and were among the highest paid entertainers in the business. With the advent of television and staying home rather than going out, the Tivoli tour suffered a sad decline.

Kitty reminiscences about her time on the Tivoli circuit and her participation in the outrageous Eleven Kevins dance act.

The show I saw was the opening night of a short season of a work written by WAAPA graduate Eddie Perfect, workshopped and performed by WAAPA students over three year period.

There is a strong set of songs, also written by Perfect, which provide clever links to the action and glamorous song and dance numbers. The show progressed through a wide variety of settings. Under the direction of award-winning director Dean Byrant, with music direction by Zara Stanton, Tivoli Lovely takes us down memory lane and pays homage to the hard working entertainers that performed live staged variety shows from 1893 to 1960s.

It was a rare treat to see a cast of 40 on stage – this is a big show! All were versatile, lively and in excellent voice – a truly “all singing and all dancing cast”. Exceptional highlights were the ensemble tap dancing numbers, performed with verve and panache. The entire cast sang beautifully and the songs of MC Sebastian Cruse in particular were terrific.

The set was cleverly constructed as a reversible proscenium arch – that, and a few basic items of furniture were sufficient for the performers to change the settings with a minimum of delay. The costumes also deserve special mention. Firstly the cast of 40 requiring multiple quick changes and the elaborate scene settings. Particularly amusing was the number featuring Australian shearers in Drizabone coats and Akubra hats rounding up a fetching group of flirtatious sheep.

The capacity audience reveled in the tongue in cheek humor, gently pointing out the staged “corniness” of the big numbers. Seated in the Circle, I was surrounded by an appreciative audience among whom was a large contingent of young fellow showbiz aficionados who rose to give a well-deserved standing ovation to the cast.