1990

La Cage Aux Folles. Shedley Theatre, Elizabeth, until March 24. This flight of fancy didn't manage to get off the ground.

La Cage Aux Folles is a musical comedy of errors about a Mediterranean nightclub of the same name famous for its transvestite chorus line. Owner Georges lives above the club with his male lover of 20 years, Albin, better known as ZaZa, star of the show. Their life of never-ending shows, wigs and makeup is happy until their "son'', Jean- Michel, announces he is to marry Anne, daughter of anti-gay politician, Eduard Didon. When papa wants to meet Jean-Michel's parents, the confusion begins.

Maybe it was first night nerves, but the comedy of La Cage Aux Folles never really shone through. Although the local amateur group did its best, lots of costumes and glitter failed to make up for shortfalls in dancing, singing and general gender discomfort.

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Little Shop of Horrors

HERE is a carnivorous musical comedy with “cult success” written all over it.

Northern Light Theatre Company's should boost its coffers as patrons return to see Little Shop of Horrors for their second, third and fourth time.

Director Michael Pole has produced a polished, vibrant and entertaining show that will appeal especially to the young.

The rock musical by Howard Ashman and Alan Menkin is a gentle send up of 1950s horror movies, and the whole premise of the show brings to mind flicks like Attack of the Crab Monsters and The Blob.

Meek shop assistant Seymour (played by Mark Gulliford) acquires a strange and interesting pot plant after a "sudden, unexplained eclipse of the sun" and takes it back to his Skid Row flower shop.

The plant becomes a novelty, business booms and the hapless orphan Seymour become famous overnight.

Seymour is adopted into the business by the greedy Jewish shop owner Mr Mushnik, played by David Winston in a piece of perfect casting. What Seymour really wants is the love of the sweet yet vulnerable Audrey, who also works in the shop.

But the plant has a large appetite for human flesh, and Seymour is forced into feeding it at the threat of being returned to destitution. The ending is typical of the 1950s horror genre - annihilation of the show's main characters and the warning: "Don't feed the plants!"

The company could not have found a better leading couple - the talented Mark Gulliford and choreographer Sue Pole are thoroughly convincing as Seymour and Audrey. And Matthew Byrne steals the show with his over-the-top performance as Audrey's sadistic biker-dentist boyfriend, Orin.

Musically, the show is an absolute treat. A great five-piece band is led by highly talented musical director Steve Vallen, who doubles as the voice of the plant.

Performances continue at 8pm, Fridays and Saturdays, until July 21, with a 2pm matinee this Saturday, July 14.

The SA premiere of The Little Shop of Horrors undoubtedly blossomed into the heart of an appreciative audience.

If you've seen the movie, the musical will more than satisfy the hunger of any curious theatre-goer. On the whole, it was good fun.....foot stomping stuff.

SA director Mike Pole put together an ensemble of local talent to present the stage play here for the first time.

The original stage script was updated with some of the soul and feel of the movie soundtrack arrangements.

The near capacity crowd opened up to the power of Steve Vallen as Audrey II's voice.

His refreshing portrayal breathed that extra life into the show. And Matthew Byrne as Orin the gas-sniffing dentist was a definite "high" light.

The "Leader of the Plaque" stole the show with his incessant laugh and irrepressible style. I say, eat your heart out Steve Martin.

Mark Gulliford was impressive as the whimpy Seymour, his portrayal developing in a professional manner.

Aside from choreographing the show, Sue Pole plays the female lead, Audrey. Her musical number Suddenly Seymour was sung in a strong effective manner.

And the experience of old-hand David Winston as Mushnik added to an extremely pleasing performance all round.

This production was hard to fault, apart from a few misplaced mics and a few nerves here and there.

The Northern Light Theatre Company certainly delivered in a funny, moving and enthusiastic way.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Shedley

PRODUCER Matt Byrne has served up a sizing smorgasbord of entertainment delights in his revue, 'A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Shedley'.

Easily eclipsing the standard of his first revue last year at The John Edmund Theatre in the city, his Elizabeth production is bigger, brighter, snappier and more polished.

There is nothing new in the material - a showcase that includes Monty Python and Peter Cook and Dudley Moore skits, Broadway production numbers and old singalong favorites. But the talent Byrne has marshalled carries it off with more pizzazz than before.

Several members of the big cast will be well-known faces to Northern Light Theatre Company subscribers; many will not. But you can bet you'll be impressed by their talent.

In the comedy department, Peter Flatman and Andrew Batty could beat the pants off any university revue with their hilarious Book Shop skit. Or try the one-legged Tarzan routine by Andrew Batty and Terry Allen.

Anyone with an eye for great tap-dancing will enjoy Sue Pole and Rose Smith leading the tap class sequence, to a mechanical version of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Song and Dance theme.

For something more balletic, Jenny Wyatt Smith is a joy to behold in a dance-dramatisation of the Beatles' 'She's Leaving Home', sung beautifully by Darren Slann. And the show is blessed with good singers. Sue Poles rendition of 'Ain't Misbehavin' is delicious.

Brothers Glenn and Steve Vallen sing an earthy but mellow acoustic version of the Eagles hit 'Desperado'. Charissa McCluskey could move anyone to tears by singing 'The Rose'.

Helen Coleman is impressive in the 'Fever' song-and-dance routine. And Lesley Main and Linda Brooks almost bring the house down with their emotive duet 'I Know Him So Well'.

Prose and poetry also feature. Fran Edwards can do no wrong with the Pam Ayres ditty about the hedgehog. And Sheila Gee is commanding with her old woman's advice about picking more of life's daisies.

The group's song-and-dance numbers, although sometimes lacking vocal strength, are a big plus - from the hilarious 'Saturday Night Fever' send-up to the finale of' New York New York'.

Some items don't work. Kerri Seager, Charissa McCluskey and Linda Brooks should forget about singing the Wilson Phillips hit, 'Hold On'. Their voices do not combine well.

And on opening night, Alan Taylor seems ill-prepared for his skit as the church handyman, delivering the jumbled sermon from the top of a ladder. But for the most part, you'll be thoroughly entertained by this fruity pot pourri of music, song, soliloquy, dance and comedy.

Cheers to Mike Pitman and the excellent band who keep a tight hold on the show from start to finish.For a good nights entertainment, you couldn't do better than get to the Shedley Theatre before 'A Funny Thing' finishes on November 10.