Forbidden Broadway

Forbidden Broadway is the brainchild of playwright and lyricist Gerard Alessandrini. A musical parodying musicals sounds like a lot of fun, but in order for a production like this to be successful, it is important that the characters, celebrities and musicals they are emulating be convincing and given that the humour derived from a parody is the lyrics, those words must be understood. Director Martin Barbary has brought together a host of Blackwood regulars with varying degrees of talent. Musical director Lauren Bannard together with pianist Sarah Klein do well to breathe life into familiar show tunes, but the volume of the piano drowned out many of the vocals.

Opening night was rife with technical difficulties. All performers were miked with headsets that when near speakers emitted a screeching feedback, this was both irritating and annoying because it happened for the entire show. The majority of singers screamed their songs into the microphones which highlighted the lack of experience and direction on stage. It was frustrating to not be able to hear songs clearly; they lacked the punch needed to make them riotous.

Staging was adequate and costumes by Ann Barbary were well thought through. Confidence came with ensemble numbers such as ‘Did you hear the people sing’ and ‘Ambition’, sending up Les Misérables andFiddler on the Roof. Standout soloists included Tiffany Barbary and Emma Kerr; their energy was at the right level and showcased experience and talent.

The old adage ‘less is more’ comes to mind when summarising this production. A focus on sharpening up vocals and microphones would benefit this show greatly and help the cast ease into their varying roles.

Kerrie Cooper