This production had dual casts in principal roles. In the interest of fairness to all we reviewed both casts. Allison Thomas reviewed the Steak Cast and Tegan Gully-Crispe reviewed the Sushi Cast.
Steak Cast
“I’d like to move it, move it.” sang the cast of Adelaide Youth Theatre’s “Madagascar, A Musical Adventure Junior”. They certainly did that! The exuberance and energy of the 40 or so performers on opening afternoon was thoroughly enjoyed by the mostly primary school age audience for the “Steak cast”.
From the pitch black introduction by King Julian, to the final song and dance, all the cast held us entranced. There was lots of clapping and cheering in appropriate places, and also some laughter, even though we had heard them before, based on the animated movie Madagascar. A great beginning to a fantastic show. Noah Magourilos and Riley Mobbs’ set was simple but functional, seamlessly changing from zoo walls to island paradise to jungle.
As you probably know, it’s the story of four animals, (and four plotting penguins!) living in New York’s Central Park Zoo, who were meant to be shipped to Africa. They arrive on the tropical island of Madagascar, meet King Julian, the foxy lemurs and scary Fossas. Their adventures are narrated at times by A cheeky monkey or by King Julian’s advisor, Maurice, and accelerated by the conspirational Penguins.
Patrick Moore, as Alex the psychotic lion, was flashy and carried his part well.
Marty the bored and indecisive zebra, (am I black with white stripes or white with black stripes?), was cunningly played by Marie Fong. She had great vocals, both singing and spoken, and excellent dance actions.
Gloria, the hippie hippo, character by Maisie Lewis, gives a feminine voice of reason when things don’t go to plan, which is often!
Ethan Anderson was droll and dippy as Melman, the hypochondriac giraffe, complete with yellow Elton John glasses.
King Julian was energetically played and danced by Alejandro Jimenez.
The four penguins were Olive Maycock, Steph Lister, Milly Lewis, and Laura Szoboszlai, who waddled in and out of the story, well costumed in black and white, looking like the Blues Brothers.
Noah Magourilos’ debut Direction beautifully created a fun and energetic experience for audience and cast, alike, assisted by Riley Mobbs.
Excellent choreography by Kyle Mobbs and all the excellent dancers who showed that lots of practice went into each dance number for them to be in step and in sync.
The Musical Director was Elliott Purdie, bringing the songs to life. However, the microphone sound was a bit patchy at times. I’m sure Elliott and Lucas Magourilas will fix that for remaining shows.
The costumes and props were a credit to Koroli Magourilos and her wardrobe team of Diane Kilpatrick, Kylie Mobbs, Catherine Kilpatrick and Heidi Allen; and her props team of Renee Swift and Nicole McFarlane, eg Alex’s curly wigs and gold suit, Marty’s luxurious fur, Melman’s giraffe suit, the lemurs’ furry onesies and the animal print of the Fossas’ costumes.
It’s a short season, well worth attending, especially for families.
Sushi Cast
Thomas White as Alex the lively lion was confident and commanded the stage with flair, perfectly capturing his character’s spirited nature. Joel Howis as Melman the hypochondriac giraffe brought a delightful mix of quirky humour and nervous energy, complete with quirky glasses that matched his awkward charm. Both White and Howis truly embodied the essence and movements of their characters and were reminiscent of the cartoon originals.
Sophia Genery portrayed Marty the curious and occasionally indecisive zebra with cleverness and charm. Her vocal skills, both in singing and speaking, were impressive, paired with expressive and sharp dance movements.
Chloe Day’s Gloria was both the calm and thoughtful voice of reason amid the chaos and showcased her sassy side, adding layers of personality and strength to her character.
Keira Wubbolts stole the show as King Julian with her brilliant comic timing, distinctive character voice, and energetic dance moves. Her vibrant performance kept the audience fully engaged and added a playful spark throughout the production.
The penguins Elaynah Magourilos, Steph Lister, Bethany Swift, and Rubi McFarlane made memorable appearances, perfectly dressed in their sharp black and white costumes, reminiscent of classic sneaky agents, delighting the crowd with their witty and well-timed antics.
There were many other memorable moments from the ensemble and featured roles, with everyone bringing energy and enthusiasm that lifted the entire performance.
