Crazy For You

WAAPA’s most public showcase is probably the annual “big” musical. Presented for the first time at His Majesty’s Theatre, Crazy For You has a classic musical feel that is a great match for this large and ornate venue. Well polished, with excellent production values - this is a lovely showcase, not only for Second and Third Year Musical Theatre Students and Music Students, but for the Production and Design Students who have shaped this production very well.

The show looks gorgeous, thanks to some spectacular costume design, with a lovely feel for both era and character by Elyse McAuliffe. The dynamic set design is by guest artist Matthew Raven, lit with flair by guest artist Lucy Birkinshaw, but students dominate the creative team, including Production Manager Holly Ballam, a Stage Management team led by Nitya Garesh with Emma Stirling and Alexander Kiely and excellent sound design by Madison Warnes. The production is very clean, and the pace very slick.

Tim Cunniffe has returned to Perth to musical direct and leads a very strong orchestra - predominantly present WAAPA students.

James Mac Alpine leads the cast with a very loveable performance as Bobby Child, creating a believable, likeable character and singing and dancing with panache. He works beautifully with lovely leading lady Chloe Malek, who is a sweet Polly Baker. Great work also from “other woman”, an elegant Amber Scates, and Kyle Hall as the famous producer Bela Zangler.

It’s impossible to mention everyone in this 40 strong cast, but stand-outs included Tom Lerk as ‘bad-boy’ Lank Hawkins, Lachlan Obst and Paige Fallu as the travel writing Fodors, and Gus Noakes playing older as Polly’s father Everett. Emily Svarnias makes the most of her brief appearances as ‘Mother’, Juno Sertorio is a lovely Tess and Sam Maloney, Kyle Colburn and Sammy Allsop are deserved audience favourites, showing great teamwork as cowboy trio, Moose, Mingo and Sam.

Choreography from Jayne Smeulders is executed with precision and pizazz, and the energy reaches the gods. Singing is simply lovely.

Sweet and charming, Crazy For You is a lovely showcase of Australia’s emerging musicians, theatrical creatives and musical theatre performers.

Kimberley Shaw

Photographer: Stephen Heath