Funny Business: the musical
Sat, 9 July 2011, 12:58 amDaniel Kershaw3 posts in thread
Funny Business: the musical
Sat, 9 July 2011, 12:58 amFunny Business: the musical, is produced under the banner of Blak Yak Theatre and is showing at the studio in the Subiaco Arts Centre until July 16. Directed by Lorna Mackie and musically directed by Matt Austin, this show is a semi-improvised musical dubbed ‘the office with music’.
Prominent UK Playwright Anthony Neilson recently wrote an article for the Guardian where he said, “boring an audience is the one true sin in theatre. We've been boring audiences for decades now, and they've responded by slowly withdrawing their patronage.” I think he is absolutely right. I refer to this because Funny Business did something that a lot of theatre productions fail to do: it didn’t bore me. It’s not high art or anything, in fact, the script doesn’t make a great deal of sense, but it was entertaining.
Although I wasn’t completely sure to what extent the piece was improvised, I felt that it created a rawness to the performances that made this show a success, where ultimately it could have been an abject failure. The actors completely sold a show that lacked, at times, in substantial written material. But I also believe that was half the fun of the production. I applaud Lorna and Blak Yak for taking a theatrical risk. I also I believe a lot of the patrons appreciated seeing something new, because they were engaged from the get go.
Funny Business boasts the best ensemble performance I have seen this year. Everyone had clearly defined characters, bought into the silliness of the show without hesitation and sung beautifully. To point anyone out would be a disservice to the rest of the cast. The choice to do Canadian accents in a neutral tone was an excellent decision.
The design of the show was simplistic, hosting a very basic lighting rig and having a spartan set, with two televisions flanking the stage. It was very refreshing to see a production not have to rely on props and set. I also appreciated the motivated use of multi-media and how they created another character out of the screen.
There were a few technical mishaps, the one door for entrances and exits was a bit annoying and the diction wasn’t great at some points, but overall, a great production that was not only enjoyable, but I daresay, quite accessible to a non-theatrical audience, especially if you’ve ever worked in an office.
On a closing note, I would like to commend Blak Yak for pulling themselves out of their rut recently and becoming once again, a formable player in the community theatre scene. Well done.
Tickets through BOCS on 9484 1133 or at http://www.bocsticketing.com.au/whats-on/480/funny-business-the-musical/. $26 full, $18.50 concession.
7, 8, 9, 13, 14, 15, 16 July. All shows start at 8pm.
Daniel KershawSat, 9 July 2011, 12:58 am
Funny Business: the musical, is produced under the banner of Blak Yak Theatre and is showing at the studio in the Subiaco Arts Centre until July 16. Directed by Lorna Mackie and musically directed by Matt Austin, this show is a semi-improvised musical dubbed ‘the office with music’.
Prominent UK Playwright Anthony Neilson recently wrote an article for the Guardian where he said, “boring an audience is the one true sin in theatre. We've been boring audiences for decades now, and they've responded by slowly withdrawing their patronage.” I think he is absolutely right. I refer to this because Funny Business did something that a lot of theatre productions fail to do: it didn’t bore me. It’s not high art or anything, in fact, the script doesn’t make a great deal of sense, but it was entertaining.
Although I wasn’t completely sure to what extent the piece was improvised, I felt that it created a rawness to the performances that made this show a success, where ultimately it could have been an abject failure. The actors completely sold a show that lacked, at times, in substantial written material. But I also believe that was half the fun of the production. I applaud Lorna and Blak Yak for taking a theatrical risk. I also I believe a lot of the patrons appreciated seeing something new, because they were engaged from the get go.
Funny Business boasts the best ensemble performance I have seen this year. Everyone had clearly defined characters, bought into the silliness of the show without hesitation and sung beautifully. To point anyone out would be a disservice to the rest of the cast. The choice to do Canadian accents in a neutral tone was an excellent decision.
The design of the show was simplistic, hosting a very basic lighting rig and having a spartan set, with two televisions flanking the stage. It was very refreshing to see a production not have to rely on props and set. I also appreciated the motivated use of multi-media and how they created another character out of the screen.
There were a few technical mishaps, the one door for entrances and exits was a bit annoying and the diction wasn’t great at some points, but overall, a great production that was not only enjoyable, but I daresay, quite accessible to a non-theatrical audience, especially if you’ve ever worked in an office.
On a closing note, I would like to commend Blak Yak for pulling themselves out of their rut recently and becoming once again, a formable player in the community theatre scene. Well done.
Tickets through BOCS on 9484 1133 or at http://www.bocsticketing.com.au/whats-on/480/funny-business-the-musical/. $26 full, $18.50 concession.
7, 8, 9, 13, 14, 15, 16 July. All shows start at 8pm.
SlothwanThu, 14 July 2011, 01:09 pm
Ok, full disclosure here, I
Ok, full disclosure here, I am the current president of Blak Yak so my opinion is usually going to say that all of our shows are great. I don't normally weigh in here but I had the rare chance to just be an average punter for this show as my involvement was very minimal due to "A Lie of the Mind" that finished last week.
I always trusted that director Lorna Mackie and MD Matt Austin where going to come through with the goods on this one as they have a proven history of working brilliantly together from their efforts with "Reefer Madness" last year. What I wasn't expecting was the sheer level of professionalism from everyone involved. I mean, MAN that show was tight!
I was blown away with each and every cast member. Having seen most of them in other shows in the past few years, I noticed that this show demanded a little more from each of them and they all rose to the challenge magnificently . With a much smaller cast than you would normally expect to be working with in most typical community theatre musicals, the increased level of vocal precision is evident and Matt should be congratulated for what he has achieved here.
Not only was the singing great, the characterisation was smashing. It's something that I often walk way from a musical feeling as though it was lacking but not in this case.
All in all, a bloody funny and well put together piece of work.
With 3 shows left, I think that I'll be sneaking back to the Subi Arts Centre to catch another glimpse of this one.
Well done soldiers.
Ads
TylerJSat, 16 July 2011, 01:23 am
I walked into FUNNY
I walked into FUNNY BUSINESS with one very big concern; I was yawning repetitively and struggling to stay awake. As I took my seat in the third row, my concern turned to panic…at this close range, the actors would surely see me nodding off, and perhaps consider it a fault of their performances rather than a byproduct of Tuesday’s Harry Potter midnight screening that I had not yet recovered from…
I needn’t have worried…after the first five minutes I was wide awake and having a blast! The amount of energy and enthusiasm pouring from the five performers onstage was overwhelming, and did not lull for a second between the bright, bouncy opening and the rousing finale. The show provided two hours of light, fun entertainment, with no demand placed on the audience other than that they enjoy themselves.
Sure, the writing isn’t genius…there is little depth to the characters or story, and only a few of the songs particularly stand out, but the performers throw themselves into the material with such gusto that these flaws become unimportant. Emmet Nichols anchors the show as the frantic and likeable Stuart, improvising with ease and building a great rapport with the audience, while Phoebe Jackson and Will Groucutt are adorably earnest as young lovers Brie and Jack. Casey Edwards revels in the chance to unleash her bitchy side as Diane, while Chuck McComb delivers a slick, sleazy, superbly-sung performance as salesman Marcus.
Each performer is given ample opportunity to display their vocal talents throughout the show, but it is when they come together as an ensemble that the musical numbers really fly. Kudos to Musical Director Matt Austin for ensuring all harmonies were executed with precision, and for playing the score from memory to add to the improvised feel of the show.
Director Lorna Mackie keeps the evening moving swiftly and the tone bright and fun. Also worthy of mention is the simple yet effective choreography, which made me wish there were more office-based musical comedies in which ruler routines could be employed.
Well done to the FUNNY BUSINESS team for a hugely enjoyable show. Guarantee yourself a fun Saturday evening and make it down to Subiaco Arts Centre for the final show TONIGHT!