This production had dual casts in principal roles. In the interest of fairness to all, we reviewed both casts. Brian Godfrey reviewed the Flash Cast and Alan Shepley reviewed the Bang Cast.
Flash Cast
The story of Arthur Kipps started life in 1905 with “Kipps: The Story Of A Simple Soul”, a semi-autobiographical novel by H.G. Wells. In 1963 it was turned into the musical “Half A Sixpence”, book by Beverley Cross and music and lyrics by David Heneker, as a star vehicle for the then famous pop singer Tommy Steele. In 1967 the musical became a film starring Steele. In 2016 the musical was revamped and renamed “Kipps: Half A Sixpence”. Cameron Mackintosh got his “Mary Poppins” team of George Stiles, Anthony Drewe and Julian Fellowes involved. Leaving some of Heneker’s original songs in, Stiles and Drewe added new songs and music, with Fellowes writing a whole new book based more on Welles’ novel. This production is the South Australian premiere of the reincarnation.
NOW Productions have presented a light, bright, good old fashioned musical but Opening Night saw a couple of overall niggles. Sound balance, as with many companies (Community and some professional), was an issue – admittedly not as bad as in past productions. The show runs at 3 hours with a 20 minute interval included – this tended to drag in places, possibly because there were some quiet places where either lines may have been forgotten or it was an ‘acting silence’. If it was lines, they will probably not occur again, but if it was ‘acting’ they need to be shortened substantially. One big costume niggle from this reviewer was Kipp’s boater – it was in reality a girl’s college hat (rounded top not flat) and was, for me at least, quite distracting.
Joe Russell understands this kind of traditional musical well and his direction shows that. Musical Directors Robert Young (Vocal Coach) and Cameron Walker (Conductor) have produced some great vocals and musical sounds. Walker is only young but handles both the orchestra and singers well. Young also makes a nice little cameo as Foster, the Butler. Choreographers Mandy Russell and Maisy Jo give us joyful dances and movement especially in the big numbers – some reminiscent of the big numbers from the film version.
The ensemble are lively and committed to everything they do, but need to be a little quieter when exiting the ‘pub’. At one stage the leads’ dialogue was lost because of the background noise.
I reviewed the “Flash” cast, where eight of the 27 named cast have been doubled. Ava Heintze (Flash Cast only) as Young Kipps and Kasidey Ryan (Flash Cast only) as Young Ann set up the storyline beautifully and charm the audience straight away.
Kaylee Vincent (Flash Cast only) (Flo), Jordan Pitt (Sid), Owen Fagan (Pierce) and Thomas Baker (Buggins) are all very impressive as the Apprentices and Kipps’ mates. There is a wonderful believability that this gang hangs out all the time and get along famously.
Sally Oster as high socialite Mrs Walsingham plays ‘snooty’ to the hilt and has us in fits of laughter with her crying scene, worthy of any Grand Dame’s death scene in an opera. As her son, James, Bryce Young is equally as ‘hoity’ but with a nice touch of ‘sliminess’ as well.
Darren Oster makes his stage debut as actor/director/playwright Chitterlow with a great entrance. His voice is just right for Citterlow, enunciating perfectly – but he just needs to speed up his dialogue and entrances.
As the two women in Kipps’ life, Lilly Marr-McGuire (Flash Cast only) (Helen) and Lucy Oster (Flash Cast only) (Ann) give strong performances. And each have beautiful powerful voices. Lucy’s version of “Long Ago” in particular is stunning.
Though singing and playing music for years, Joel Ewens (Flash Cast only) is making his musical theatre debut as one of the best male lead roles ever, Arthur Kipps. This young man is absolutely great and delightful to watch. He has the character down pat. The only thing that gives him away as not having played a role before is the fact that occasionally his eyeline drops quickly to the conductor – but I’m sure that he will soon learn the little tricks involved in covering that. A great performance and please keep appearing in more shows.
All in all, this is a Flash! Bang! Wallop! of a show.
Bang Cast
I saw the “Bang” cast perform on Friday evening. I thought the team of apprentices in Shalford’s Emporium comprising Flo (Lily Cotton), Sid Pornick (Jordan Pitt), Pierce (Owen Fagan) and Buggins (Thomas Baker) worked notably well as a team in both Acts (1) and (2). Of this quartet Cotton, as Flo Evans, was vocally assured and her character well drawn and consistent. The duet “A Little Touch of Happiness” with Ann Pornick was sweet and memorable. Likewise Pitt, as Sid Pornick, maintained a strong character as the growing social activist and delivered his “edicts” to great effect.
Sally Oster ( Mrs Walsingham) was a most believable matriarch, haughty and brim full of awareness of her social standing. Similarly Bryce Young, as her son James Walsingham, looked every part the cad he proved to be. Emily Cumming (Lady Punnet) also proved to be an effective addition in the “snobbery stakes”! Darren Oster as Chitterlow was an effective carrier and observer of the narrative throughout. He added just the occasional hint of flamboyance, tempered with common sense, to the proceedings. And Abby Hall, as the somewhat hapless Helen Walsingham, had the unenviable performance task of being the expendable pawn in this game of “good” marriage and better fortune. I thought she carried it off quite well and her duet with Kipps “Just a Few Little Things” revealed a voice good and true and worthy of working on.
Arthur Kipps (James Hester) displays no real appetite for his propulsion into the world of the wealthy. Hester’s Kipps was personable and self effacing. I thought his acting strength was his obvious comfort on stage. He certainly looked the part and he displayed a natural propensity for movement. Hester was at his best leading the production number “Flash, Bang, Wallop”. His vocal projection was OK and he demonstrates promising stagecraft potential. However a little more work in articulation would not go astray (and that comment might well be applied to all other young participants too). We need to hear words clearly! I was impressed with the vocal potential of Teresa van der Hoek who played Ann Pornick. Her voice is clear and true as demonstrated in her solo “Long Ago” and merely needs the combination of maturity and confidence for her to attempt more substantial musical theatre roles. I will conclude by saying the chorus work with regard to both choreographed movement and vocal delivery was a highlight.
