The World Goes Round

As director Cameron Mitchell points out in his notes for The World Goes Round, Kander and Ebb’s songs are a gift for Triple Threat performers. This production of some of their best songs is a wonderful showcase for WAAPA’s Third Year Musical Theatre Students, and this young, talented cast embrace the opportunity.

Playing in front of a strong 8-piece live band, under the Musical Direction of Craig Dalton, vocal performances, without exception are strong and impressive, with choreography, from director Cameron Mitchell, vibrant and superbly executed.

The show kicks off with the (almost) title song “And the World Goes Round”, performed by Ellen Ebbs, who sets a high standard - which her cast mates follow with panache.

Fabulous work in ensemble numbers, with the whole cast fantastic in numbers such as “Coffee in a Cardboard Cup”, ‘All That Jazz’, Cabaret and ‘New York, New York’. Ben Goldsbrough beautifully embodies the MC from Cabaret in a full-cast performance of ‘Money, Money’, and a segment from The Rink, featuring Blake Douglas and Ben Goldsbrough, is simply a showstopper and a fabulous way to end the first act.

The second act also starts with a bang, with the cast supporting Geena Hutton in a gorgeous rendition of ‘Ring Them Bells’ - superbly characterised. Other great characterisations include Jake Binns’ loveable ‘Sara Lee’, Sarah Bowers with Sam Austin’s ‘Arthur in the Afternoon’, Jayda D’ Agostino and Lucy Lalor’s cleverly languid ‘Class’ and Adam Pavis very sympathetic as Amos in ‘Mr Cellophane’.

Lovely groupings of songs such as Harry Butcher’s ‘I Don’t Remember You’ transitioning beautifully into Harrison Ion’s ‘Sometimes a Day Goes By’ and the excellent trio made up of Jayda D’Agostino’s ‘Only Love’, Sam Austin’s ‘Marry Me’ and Sophia Matthews’ ‘A Quiet Thing’. Taye Grant’s optimistic ‘We Can Make It’, beautifully introduces Emma Caporaso’s showstopping ‘Maybe This Time’ and Katie Green’s strong ‘Isn’t This Better’.

Great variation in emotions from Tabitha Galluccio’s search for contentment in ‘Coloured Lights’, the heartbreak of Madison Randl’s ‘My Colouring Book’, the optimism of ‘How Lucky Can You Get’, led with panache by Asha Kerr, through to Kathryn Desmier and Lucy Lalor’s subdued envy in ‘The Grass Is Always Greener’.

The performers look fabulous in co-ordinated outfits, with excellent use of colour, performing on a backstage themed set facilitated by Bryan Woltjen. Strong lighting choices from designer Isla Kerridge enhance the emotion, while Michael Fletcher’s sound design serves the show well.

A great way to display the talents of these triple threat performers - and a thoroughly entertaining evening for the audience.

Kimberley Shaw

Photographer: Stephen Heath