Flop

You may know Arthur Hull from his stints on The Voice, working with Guy Sebastian and Adam Lambert. His impressive bio includes winning First Place and the People’s Choice Award at the Australian National Busking Championships. He is a 2023 graduate of the famous Flying Fruit Fly Circus and recently performed with them at the Sydney Opera House and the Wanderer Festival.

Arthur describes his Fringe Festival show as a love letter to musical theatre, and it certainly was. “The best songs from the worst musicals ever written,” and he aims to “prove that every show can be proud of at least one song…maybe.” His one-man show included songs from Grease 2, Love Never Dies, King Kong, Diana the Musical, Cats (the movie version), Spiderman, Light Up the Dark, and other musicals you have likely never seen.

It was easy to tell which audience members were musical theatre tragics, laughing loudest at his witty musical theatre jokes. Arthur had some interesting facts for the audience: My Funny Valentine, a song covered by over 600 performers as a jazz standard, originated from the musical Babes in Arms, which opened on Broadway in 1937 and ran for 289 performances.

There was some audience participation, a volunteer from the audience, and everyone waved American flags during the Grease 2 song, Do It For Our Country.

A highlight was a medley of songs from Diana, the musical, based on the life of Diana, Princess of Wales. Arthur did a sterling British job singing as Prince Charles, Diana, and the Queen.

Arthur is a quadruple threat. He is an impressive singer, can tell a story, dance, and do acrobatics. King of Broadway from his favourite musical, The Producers, rounded out a fun show.

Review by Jane Court (who confesses she has seen all but two of the flops)