Reviews

The Secret Garden, this year’s main-stage production by Griffith Musical Theatre’s graduating class was exquisite musical theatre. With fine and robust performances, striking set and costume design, and an orchestra that brought depth and subtlety to Lucy Simon’s score, it was worthy of Broadway. In actual fact I enjoyed it better than the original Broadway production because Ian Good’s direction clarified the rambling narrative and brought a warmth to the piece that I found missing in the original.

You know the lovely emotional piano riff that used to introduce Australian Story? That was originally part of a larger piece written by Jan Preston, who nowadays has a huge following in jazz and folk circuits as Australia’s Queen of Boogie Woogie. Adventures in Pianoland tells the story of how Ms Preston went from being a classically trained pianist of noted talent, to finding that very specific counter-culture niche. Jan Preston’s lifelong obsession with the piano has led her to some wild and sometimes difficult places.

Sending your babies out into the world – or even as far as “the Woods” – is something every parent must do -eventually. Co-directors Leiz Moore and Allan Jeffrey chose Into the Woods as the graduating project for the Musical Theatre Crew Senior Ensemble. There are 25 kids in the senior group – twelve graduating students who have been with MTC for up to 6 years.

Death of a Salesman is Arthur Miller’s most famous and powerful play, premiering in 1949. Its title role has been played by everyone from Dustin Hoffman to Brian Dennehy. Even at 50 years old it ferociously analyses conflict in a family, in particular the relationship of father and son, together with the larger issues of capitalism and the demise of the American Dream.