The Edinburgh festival 2003 -- Reviews -- Musicals and Opera 'A-Z'

(F-H) 3 out of 21

Rating Guide
None = Unmissable
= Unwatchable
Page number refers to the Fringe programme

Food – A Sixteen Course Musical. (Page 109)

Drams None!
Venue Metro Gilded Balloon Teviot. (Venue 14)
Address 5/2 Bristo Square.
Reviewer Fiona O'Hanlon.

So you thought the hunter-gatherer instinct was a thing of our barbaric caveman past? Sal Trapani begs to differ. His piece Food - A Sixteen Course Musical traces our culinary obsession from Eve's temptation to Fatty Yank's compulsive desire to find the perfect meal. However, as with Eve, the pleasure the overweight American derives from succumbing to his desire is short lived and his actions have serious emotional, mental and physical consequences.

Producer Bill Walton exploits every theatrical opportunity to create this satire of the American way. The youthful cast bubble with enthusiasm and oversized props are effectively used. The masterful costumery plays upon our contemporary notions of what it is to be American. A variety of subtle yet effective on-stage costume changes transform the cast from stereotype to stereotype- in one instance from restaurant waiters into models not unlike those in the Gap adverts.

Despite the restricted stage space, clever choreography makes the musical visually enticing. The live music directed by the energetic Jay Stollman completes the piece and enables the production to progress smoothly through its sixteen delicious courses.

So you're looking for a fringe show to satisfy your desire to be entertained? Take Fatty's advice to this paradise - give in to temptation. Go see the show and get more...more!
© Fiona O'Hanlon 4th August 2003 - Published on www.EdinburghGuide.com
Runs to 25th August, daily at 17.00, not 11th or 18th.
Company Aurora/WCSU.

Honk! (page 110)
Drams 0
Cast Marlon Moore (Ugly); Steven Crawford (The cat); Sharon Osdin (Ida); Damian Sandys (Bullfrog)
Producer Damian Sandys
Choreographer Hayley Otway
Venue C Too (Venue 4)
Address St. Columba's by the Castle, Johnston Terrace
Reviewer Mairi Anderson

This is an engaging story, charmingly told by this young, enthusiastic cast. Honk! won the award for best new musical at the 2000 Laurence Olivier awards and is a modern interpretation of the ugly duckling story.

The leads are strong, with good support from the rest of the cast. Steven Crawford in his portrayal of the cat is everything we expect from a clever villain - charming, deadly and very cat-like, shown to excellent effect during the Playing With His Food number. He moved with the langour and menace of a cat; striking make-up and costume added to the effect.

Sharon Osdin in the female lead role of Ida was superb, her gentleness contrasting with the cat's ferocity. Her vocal ability was by far the strongest of the group and shown to best effect in the moving Every Tear a Mother Cries.

Comedic highlights were provided in producer Damian Sandys's energetic and entertaining portrayal of Bullfrog and all of the three characters brought to life by Matt Osborne with such humour and enthusiasm.
Marlon Moore handled his role as Ugly confidently and sang particularly well on Now I've Seen You. He also succeeded in creating a very realistic swan-like sound (the Honk of the show's title), which was used to excellent dramatic effect throughout the musical.

Costumes were creative and effective, particularly those of the cat, the frog and the ducklings. The set was very simple, but appropriate to the small stage and lighting was particularly clever given the constraints of the venue. The small band was good and the sound well-managed.

The venue is very cramped for such an exuberent song & dance show, but Hayley Otway's creative choreography enables them to use the space well and most(!) accidents are avoided.

Hot Box Productions have come up with a winner with this funny, moving, entertaining musical which also succeeds in getting across the serious message that differences are good. Ugly the duckling sings Different isn't naughty. Different isn't bad. So why should being different make me sad? Why indeed?

© Mairi Anderson.03 August 2003 - Published on www.EdinburghGuide.com

Run: 31 July - 9 August 2003

How to succeed in business without really trying (page 110)
American High School Theatre Festival. Denver School of the Arts
Drams 0
Cast Jesse Johnson (Finch); Julie Almeria (Smitty); Sara Price (Rosemary); Chelsea LaFarge (Miss Janes); Briana McLean (Hedy LaRue); Gabe Ebert (Bud Frump); Colin McCue (Tackaberry); Alistair Matthews (Bratt); Dylan Ward (J B Biggley); John Beaty (Milt Gatch)
Music and lyrics Frank Loesser
Venue Church Hill Theatre (venue 137)
Address Morningside Road
Reviewer Mairi Anderson

This show was inspired by the novel by Shepherd Mead which satirised American corporate life in the 1950's.With a score by composer-lyricist Frank Loesser, The musical opened on Broadway in 1961 and won the Pulitzer prize for drama.The show was revised in 1995 and is brought to the Fringe by the Denver School of Arts. It is yet another extremely entertaining production from the stable of the American High School Theatre Festival and is of the high standard I have come to expect.

This musical comedy sends up every aspect of what they coin "the company way", from nepotism, through old-school ties, to office parties, politics and yes-men.The wit is biting and the delivery perfectly timed. Some of the song titles illustrate the changes which have occurred in women's roles. Happy to keep his dinner warm and A secretary is not a toy speak for themselves, but their inclusion is proof that these were live issues in the 1960's. Much of the content, however, seems very modern and translates well to the large organisation of today. One highlight is the song Coffee Break which depicts the total chaos ensuing from staff experiencing coffee break deprivation.

All of this youthful cast perform very well, dramatically and musically. They are well choreographed and work as a team. All of the leads are so good that it is hard to leave some out. Jesse Johnson as the male lead, Finch, is an excellent all rounder. Julie Almeria plays the role of Smitty with panache and wit and Sara Price as Rosemary maintains a consistently high standard of performance. Chelsea LaFarge as Miss Janes has excellent comic timing and Briana McLean is a very sexy and winning Hedy LaRue. Gabe Ebert
as Bud Frump is a natural clown, as is Colin McCue playing Tackaberry and they were the audience's favourites. Alistair Matthews as Bratt and Dylan Ward as J. B. Biggley succeed in creating very believable characters. John Beaty brings real presence and magnetism to the role of Milt Gatch and it would be very interesting to see him in a more demanding role.

Costumes and sets are appropriate to the era, as are hair and make up. Lighting and sound are good. The audience responded very warmly to this production. Entertaining, witty, enjoyable and with many a moral for today's world of business How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying is another excellent show from the American High School Theatre Festival.

© Mairi Anderson 9 August 2003. Published on www.EdinburghGuide.com
Run now complete

(F-H) 3 out of 21


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