The Marvellous Wonderettes

The Marvellous Wonderettes presented by Primadonna Productions at Mandurah Performing Arts Centre, was a joyous celebration of a show, expertly directed by Carole Dhu and performed with expertise.

When Springfield High’s Songleaders are offered the chance to perform at the Super Senior Prom, we follow the performance of this fledgling girl group as they perform hits of the fifties, learning details about each girl along the way. Act II sees the girls reunite for their high school’s 10 Year Reunion, no longer girls, but young women, and we discover what has happened in the years between. Featuring dozens of familiar songs which are performed beautifully by these very accomplished singers, this show is great fun throughout.

Caris Read was a delight as sweet overachiever Missy, secretly harbouring a crush on their singing teacher, and the glue that holds the group together. Siân Wake is gorgeous as dizzy Suzy, a role which makes the most of Siân’s comedic skills and great physicality. Gemma Little is great fun as birthday girl Betty Jean, a beautiful foil for the machinations of supposed best friend Cindy Lou, played with mean girl perfection by Bella Langford. This quartet have a wonderful rapport with beautiful harmony both as singers and actors.

The first time that The Marvellous Wonderettes has been performed in Western Australia, this feel-good show was a great choice for our times and a wonderful antidote to winter blues. An excellent production.

Kimberley Shaw