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| David Campbell and ensemble Photo: Brian Geach |
Directed by
Simon Phillips -Choreographed by Andrew Hallsworth
Musical
Direction by Daniel Edmonds - Set Design by Brian Thomson
Costume
Design by Tim Chappell - Lighting design by Paul Jackson
Sound design
by Michael Waters
Presented by
John Frost and Gilbert Theatrical
Sydney Lyric
until 27th November 2016.
Reviewed by
Bill Stephens
Although he
died at 37, Bobby Darin in his short turbulent life managed to make himself a
household name with his on-stage charisma, his swinging songs, his string of
hit records, and with his marriage to a screen sweetheart.
His story is
the basis of “Dream Lover”, originally a play by Frank Howson and his cousin,
John Michael Howson, but now transformed into an exuberant musical biography by
Frank Howson, Simon Phillips and Carolyn Burns, who’ve added more than 40
songs, either written or made popular by Darin, to the sugar-coated dot-points
of Darin’s short, turbulent life to come up with a highly polished show that is
continuously entertaining, and even unexpectedly moving.
Simon
Phillips certainly knows what makes a musical tick. His direction, both in the
storytelling, the musical construction and the visual realisation, is
impeccable.
Many of the
songs, cleverly re-arranged and orchestrated by Guy Simpson, are presented in medleys.
Others are interpolated into the storyline so seamlessly that they could easily
have been written for the show. Even Al Jolson’s “Mammy” gets a guernsey.
Tim
Chappell’s colourful costumes and endless parade of wigs, provide clever
indicators of the passage of time, while Andrew Hallsworth’s witty choreography
allows the energy and personalities of the ensemble to shine through while
cleverly capturing the delightful cheesiness of the nightclub and television
dancing of the period.
Brian
Thomson’s “Hollywood Bowl” setting, which has Musical Director, Daniel Edmonds,
conducting his taut, tight and terrific onstage big-band, seated at a baby
grand throughout, magically transforms into a series of different nightclubs.
Other interiors are indicated with appropriate furniture and props being
whisked on and off as required, enhancing the already slick presentation as each
scene blends into the next.
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| David Campbell and ensemble in "Mack the Knife" Photo: Brian Geach. |
The role of
Bobby Darin is huge, but David Campbell embraces every challenge with style and
confidence, as if born to play it. From
the moment he steps on to the stage in the stylishly staged, “Mack The Knife”, until his final moment of
self-recognition performing “As Long As I’m
Singing”, Campbell commands the stage with a world-class performance that is
truly dazzling.
He’s rarely
off the stage, performing around 30 of the songs, ranging through rock ’n roll
to romantic ballads… all superbly. He dances with panache in the production
numbers and incorporates exactly the right combination of brashness and
gravitas in his acting to be totally convincing in his romantic scenes, and
affecting in the more emotional moments, particularly when he singing “I’ll Be
There” to his young son, Dodd, following the break-up of his marriage to
starlet, Sandra Dee.
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| David Campbell as Bobby Darin - Hanna Fredericksen as Sandra Dee Photo: Brian Geach |
Hanna
Fredericksen also impresses with a lovely performance as actress, Sandra Dee,
particularly in her unflinching depiction of Dee’s struggles with alcohol
addiction as her own career begins to evaporate after her marriage to Darin.
Caroline O’Connor creates two memorable characterisations. Firstly, as Polly, Darin’s
homely, ex-showgirl mother leading a bevy of feather-clad showgirls through
“Life’s a Funny Proposition After All”. Later transforming into Darin’s sophisticated,
sharp- tongued, mother-in-law, Mary.
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| Kyle Banfield (young Bobby) - Caroline O'Connor (Polly Cassatto) Photo: Brian Geach |
Marney
McQueen plays Darin’s sister, Nina, providing one of many memorable highlights
when, following an announcement which drew audible gasps from the opening night
audience, she and O’Connor sang a beautiful version of “More” bringing unsuspected depth to the
familiar lyrics.
Bert La Bonte
as Darin’s father-in-law, Charlie, and Martin Crewes as his loyal and long-suffering
agent, Steve Blauner, both contribute solid performances, with Crewes getting
the opportunity to show off his song and dance skills sharing a terrific duet
with Campbell in “I’ve Got the World on a String”.
If you’ve
ever doubted that Australia has the skills and talent to rival Broadway in
producing first rate musicals, then get yourself along to the Lyric to enjoy
this outstanding production for yourself, not just for the engrossing story it
tells, but also for the brilliant way it showcases many of our most outstanding
performers and creatives.
“Dream
Lovers” is scheduled for a relatively short season in the Sydney Lyric. Don’t
miss it.
This review also appears in Australian Arts Review - www.artsreview.com.au
