Reviewed by: Katya Ewing

Starkid, a musical theatre company founded in 2009 by a group of Michigan university students, have long given us hilariously quirky musicals. ICAC, directed by Hannah Crompton, rose to the occasion, exploding with contagious vitality and joy in their side-splitting interpretation of Starkid’s The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals.

The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals launches us into the world of corporate rule-follower Paul (Hal Porter) who cannot stand musicals. A frequenter of Beanies Coffee Shop, Paul soon finds a kindred spirit in ‘latté hotté’ Emma (Isobel Whitehead) as they discover their mutual hatred of musicals. However, when a meteor hits Hatchetfield, Paul’s worst nightmare comes to light.

Suddenly people start to jazz hand, leg kick, uniform dance and sing their way through the streets. Hatchetfield has been hit by none other than an alien musical takeover! Paul and his frumpy corporate gang – concerned and attentive Bill (Kenneth Chai), sleaze ball Ted (Grace Dwyer) and the sweet dowdy Charlotte (Dempsey Doyle) – attempt to avoid the musical bug and bring an end to this musical apocalypse. They meet some interesting characters on their way – namely Emma’s ex biology teacher, the velvet clad, doomsday survivalist Professor Hidgins (Oli Craig), Charlotte’s musical infected police man husband and the ‘Coffee trio’ – an ensemble of singing baristas whose phenomenal high notes brought new meaning to the caffeine high.

Lighting was used extremely effectively in this performance. With only limited set the stage was transformed from office to newsroom to streetscape in a magical collaboration of lighting by Allira Smith, set design by Naomi Newman and Lydia Colla’s impeccable sound design. Projections provide a bright bluebird sky with colourful story book houses for the first musical apocalypse scene giving way later to a moody purplish forest projection. An office space with window projections and a few well-placed chairs shifts to a
bustling street with a swift closing of the middle curtain and raucous New York Street sounds. Warm lighting and jazz hands at the front of the stage then transport us to a newsroom which Paul turns off with a television remote, seamless and immersive. However, the magic does not end there.

Costuming by Tara Scott along with hair and makeup by Hannah Sinclair transformed Charlotte into frumpish schoolteacher with polka dot skirt and pink cardigan, a simple penguin corporate suit gives us a straightlaced Paul and Ted in blue shirt and brownish tie helps to lower the tone. An eye-burning fuchsia pink coat and scarf on Mr Hidgins hint at the ultimate reveal as the doomsday science teacher is ultimately unmasked as the flamboyantly waltzing, dancing villain of this production.

Credit must go to the cast for bringing vitality and a vibrant joy to this musical. The underpowered vocals of the first dance number were left behind as the musical gained momentum and powered home with an invigorating and infectious explosion of talent and energy. The entertainment was non-stop, even during scene changes as the cast helped drag chairs of stage accompanied by quirky segues from the onstage band.

The police scene was a particular joy. Expertly wielded lighting marked the police forces arrival, as the curtain opened to reveal the ensemble led by Jeremy Gray in ‘V’ formation in what can only be described as a grease lightning, break dance, Pitbull mash up number. This climactic scene included almost every cast member and was a highlight of the night.

Casting was spot on with Porter as the sheepish but loveable Paul providing on every note from constant embodiment of the awkward and endearing Paul to his pitch-perfect singing in the final scene. No crumbs were left! Whitehead as Emma brilliantly embodied the downtrodden, frustrated community college student and provided some much-needed reality and a foil to the hilarity and froth of the rest of the cast. Dwyer as the corporate sleaze bag Ted utterly convinced, fully embodying the finance bro walk and arrogant confidence of her character. Doyle as the dowdy school-teacherish Charlotte hit the high notes and dialled up the hysteria while Chai gave us sweetly caring and concerned Bill. Craig as Professor Hidgins was entertaining as dramatic pink jacket clad villain. Totally committing to the character – limp and all, it quickly became apparent why they were wearing this pink checked blazer as they unveiled the piano and broke out into a jazz handed, leg kicking fanfare around the stage. It felt like they were having complete fun with this scene. A complete showstopping number! It was thoroughly enjoyable.

From the cast to the lighting, costumes to set and stagecraft this performance was a joy. Paul said it best. As this exhilarating show closed and the bows were taken, he screamed ‘I actually love musicals!’

The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals played on May 16th-18th at the Union Theatre.

The Dialog is supported by Union House Theatre.