Reviews

When I fist reviewed The Tap Pack it was back in 2014 and it was only the pack’s second gig. I found them super talented, full of energy and commitment, enthusiastic but still looking for that element which would enable them to put their stamp on a genre that had all but died out.

Seven years later, they have found it, without losing the magic that made them fresh and innovative in the beginning. They know exactly who they are and are now free to pursue excellence. With talent in spades, that’s not a hard journey.

Something magical occurs when performers put their all into a show. Everyone in the room feels it as a form of energy exchange. In Collision Casus Circus and Mad Dance House have combined their skills to bring you that magical energy in bucketloads. They’re astounding audiences at the New Benner Theatre at Brisbane’s Metro Arts’ shiny new West End location until July 18th.

This 1970 rock opera only appeared on the Broadway stage because of the success of a concept album that had been released earlier. Basically, the musical is sung through and is loosely – very loosely – based on the final week of the life of Jesus as told in the Gospels. The concentration is on political and interpersonal struggles between Judas Iscariot and Jesus. The interpretation of that history as shown in this musical upset so many people and it is easy to see why.

What a school this is! Based on the 2003 film, this musical follows Dewey Finn, an out of work rock singer and guitarist who pretends to be a substitute teacher at a prestigious prep school. Naturally he has no proper training but he discovers amazing musical talent in his students. He breaks a few more rules to form a band of fifth-graders in an attempt to win the upcoming Battle of the Bands. What an entertaining musical journey the audience follows.