CLOSER THAN EVER (Playlovers)
Sat, 17 Feb 2001, 03:30 amjassep6 posts in thread
CLOSER THAN EVER (Playlovers)
Sat, 17 Feb 2001, 03:30 amShow: Closer Than Ever
Authors: David Shire (Music) & Richard Maltby jr. (Lyrics)
Company: Playlovers, Inc.
Director: Gillian Binks – Musical Director: Caroline Badnall
Venue: Hackett Hall, Draper St. Floreat
Bookings: 0415 777 173
Reviewed: 16 February 2001 (Opening Night)
Season: February 16, 17, 23, 24, 25, 28 March 02, 03 @ 8pm (except 25/2 @ 7pm)
Tickets: $17/$15
Playlovers have done it again! Just when you thought this company could not go further in creating excellence in musical theatre, up comes another wonderful addition to an enviable track-record.
‘Closer Than Ever’ is a difficult show to pigeon-hole. It is at once a cabaret and a concert without ever really being either. It could also be described simply as a collection of excellent songs. However, it is more than just a simple potpourri of random music.
To my mind, ‘Closer Than Ever’ can be, for the audience member, an intensely personal journey into relationships lost, found, destroyed and imagined. And each member of the audience is invited to create their own meaning out of a show alive with both the possibilities and the regrets of life; possibilities and regrets that we all share simply by virtue of our shared humanity.
‘Closer Than Ever’ could so easily be dismissed as a simple bit of froth and bubble (which on the surface it surely emulates); there is no preaching or didactic rhetoric. There is simply a presentation, through song, of modern life and its daily trials and tribulations. And it is this simplicity that gives the show its inherent power.
The power inherent in a show like ‘Closer Than Ever’ is the power of possibility – of being able to transcend ourselves and try on the shoes of others’ predicaments for a brief, engrossing moment; the possibility of being able to accept our common humanity and rejoice in our all-too-human foibles and face the apprehension that thoughts of the future can bring.
That ‘Closer Than Ever’ manages to work the way it does through such simplicity is in no small part due to the skilful direction of Gillian Binks (who also performs as one of the small ensemble of six singer/actors) and Musical Direction of Caroline Badnall.
Each member of the cast has several solo songs which are each, in themselves very good musical theatre songs, but for me the heart-breaking moment came in Gillian Binks solo ‘Life Story’; a song rich in regret and sorrow and so masterfully sung by Gill that it was difficult to imagine a person in the house who remained unmoved. So powerful was her rendition, it moved from simple song to confession to catharsis in under three minutes!
Having said that, however, the rest of the cast had many wonderful moments in which to shine and kudos to must go to Alex McLennan, Melanie Robinson, Hayley Binks (who IÂ’ve never seen do solos and I hope to see much more of in the future), Paul Whiteley and David Gardette (whose vocal power has developed to almost an overwhelming level). They, along with Gill, were the glue that held this seemingly simple concept together and made it much, much more than the sum of its parts.
My only small criticism of the shows structure is simply that in the second half there seemed to be an imbalance which saw one or two whispy ballads more than I would have liked – I was really hanging out for a show stopper at one point!
On the whole, this is a show I hope Playlovers will get many people along to see. ItÂ’s a difficult concept to market, but it is well worth both the time and effort to get along to see.
Jason Seperic
Authors: David Shire (Music) & Richard Maltby jr. (Lyrics)
Company: Playlovers, Inc.
Director: Gillian Binks – Musical Director: Caroline Badnall
Venue: Hackett Hall, Draper St. Floreat
Bookings: 0415 777 173
Reviewed: 16 February 2001 (Opening Night)
Season: February 16, 17, 23, 24, 25, 28 March 02, 03 @ 8pm (except 25/2 @ 7pm)
Tickets: $17/$15
Playlovers have done it again! Just when you thought this company could not go further in creating excellence in musical theatre, up comes another wonderful addition to an enviable track-record.
‘Closer Than Ever’ is a difficult show to pigeon-hole. It is at once a cabaret and a concert without ever really being either. It could also be described simply as a collection of excellent songs. However, it is more than just a simple potpourri of random music.
To my mind, ‘Closer Than Ever’ can be, for the audience member, an intensely personal journey into relationships lost, found, destroyed and imagined. And each member of the audience is invited to create their own meaning out of a show alive with both the possibilities and the regrets of life; possibilities and regrets that we all share simply by virtue of our shared humanity.
‘Closer Than Ever’ could so easily be dismissed as a simple bit of froth and bubble (which on the surface it surely emulates); there is no preaching or didactic rhetoric. There is simply a presentation, through song, of modern life and its daily trials and tribulations. And it is this simplicity that gives the show its inherent power.
The power inherent in a show like ‘Closer Than Ever’ is the power of possibility – of being able to transcend ourselves and try on the shoes of others’ predicaments for a brief, engrossing moment; the possibility of being able to accept our common humanity and rejoice in our all-too-human foibles and face the apprehension that thoughts of the future can bring.
That ‘Closer Than Ever’ manages to work the way it does through such simplicity is in no small part due to the skilful direction of Gillian Binks (who also performs as one of the small ensemble of six singer/actors) and Musical Direction of Caroline Badnall.
Each member of the cast has several solo songs which are each, in themselves very good musical theatre songs, but for me the heart-breaking moment came in Gillian Binks solo ‘Life Story’; a song rich in regret and sorrow and so masterfully sung by Gill that it was difficult to imagine a person in the house who remained unmoved. So powerful was her rendition, it moved from simple song to confession to catharsis in under three minutes!
Having said that, however, the rest of the cast had many wonderful moments in which to shine and kudos to must go to Alex McLennan, Melanie Robinson, Hayley Binks (who IÂ’ve never seen do solos and I hope to see much more of in the future), Paul Whiteley and David Gardette (whose vocal power has developed to almost an overwhelming level). They, along with Gill, were the glue that held this seemingly simple concept together and made it much, much more than the sum of its parts.
My only small criticism of the shows structure is simply that in the second half there seemed to be an imbalance which saw one or two whispy ballads more than I would have liked – I was really hanging out for a show stopper at one point!
On the whole, this is a show I hope Playlovers will get many people along to see. ItÂ’s a difficult concept to market, but it is well worth both the time and effort to get along to see.
Jason Seperic
RE: Huge Thanks!
Sat, 3 Mar 2001, 09:34 amHi Gill
I didn't get to see the show, but i truly appreciate and applaud your sentiments.
> Our audiences may have been small, which I admit upset me
> at first, but I have realised that it was definately worth all the
> hard work. Just to share what I believe to be a very special
> show with an incredible cast/crew and an appreciative
> audience, who may never have had an opportunity to
> experience the music or show otherwise, feels really special.
I think that it's a huge mistake to value work purely on the size of its popular appeal. Ultimately artists have to be true to themselves. It sounds very much as though you and the company of Closer Than Ever have been and have reaped the very personal rewards of a job well done.
Take a leaf out of Malcolm's book. He's doing something he passionately believes in. It may not have huge popular appeal, but it is filling small venues.
Big events may attract large crowds, but these same crowds are sometimes as indifferent as some of the performers. Follow your passions and you'll find an audience that shares your committment.
Cheers
Grant
I didn't get to see the show, but i truly appreciate and applaud your sentiments.
> Our audiences may have been small, which I admit upset me
> at first, but I have realised that it was definately worth all the
> hard work. Just to share what I believe to be a very special
> show with an incredible cast/crew and an appreciative
> audience, who may never have had an opportunity to
> experience the music or show otherwise, feels really special.
I think that it's a huge mistake to value work purely on the size of its popular appeal. Ultimately artists have to be true to themselves. It sounds very much as though you and the company of Closer Than Ever have been and have reaped the very personal rewards of a job well done.
Take a leaf out of Malcolm's book. He's doing something he passionately believes in. It may not have huge popular appeal, but it is filling small venues.
Big events may attract large crowds, but these same crowds are sometimes as indifferent as some of the performers. Follow your passions and you'll find an audience that shares your committment.
Cheers
Grant