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Now Productions is a relatively new company in the Northern Suburbs of Adelaide but this is no way reflected in their productions. This performance of Beauty and the Beast was slick, fast paced and didn’t let the audience down. Co-directed by Bianca Woods and Chris Brown, the cast were tight and well rehearsed. Choreography by Mandy Russell was well executed and the vocal training received by Robert Young and Amber Rusby was dynamic. All the cast had a role to play whether a principal or chorus and this was done exceptionally well with no bunching or hidden members which can happen with larger casts.
Jemmah Rattley played the role of Belle with insight far beyond her years. Her vocals were clear and clean throughout and often brought the audience to tears. Axel Flynn who played Gaston was so brash and cocky you could not help but to love him which many of the young female audience members obviously did, given the comments and whistles that ensued every time he stepped on stage. Aidan Good who played Lumiere had the audience in stitches more often than not with his comedic antics and Kane Mobbs as Cogsworth was the perfect foil for him with his hand-wringing. Standout vocals from Saphron Giannos as Mrs Potts were a joy to listen to. Her performance of Beauty and the Beast in the second half was truly amazing. Zachary Baseby as Lefou, Rhys Young as Chip, Madeleine Riggs as Babette, Taylah Knight as Madame de la Grande Bouche, Jade Watson as Maurice and Perry Robertson-Terranova as Monsieur D’arque rounded out the principal roles admirably. With an additional 41 ensemble members this was a large production by anyone’s standards and was a joy to watch. Sadly there were only two performances and the sound was a major issue on opening night so not a lot of time to get it right. As much as I hate seeing a sound desk in the audience, there is a case for the technician to be right there hearing exactly what the audience hears and being able to adjust accordingly. Again as there were only two performances it would have been hard to get tickets given Opening was near to full and I can only imagine Finale would have been the same. If you missed it, get in now for their next production of Les Miserables in July. The Theatre Association of South Australia By Jacqui Wall - March 2, 2020 |
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Recently I saw the newly badged Youth Theatre company Now Productions’ interactive movie Agent Percash in the Hewett Community Hall. And the experience was a great testament to the energy and ability of the company’s director, Joe Russell, and his cast, crew, and the large enthusiastic audience. In its earlier iteration the company has been active since 2013 in the Northern suburbs, Gawler and the Barossa, providing a dynamic youth theatre school and a variety of live and filmed productions. Agent Percash, while not strictly speaking live theatre, did have elements of that. The plot was basically Government agents vs crooks, set in a number of identifiable Gawler and Barossa venues. On many occasions during the screening the action stopped and we were asked to vote for one of several possible plot options, by holding up one of the coloured cards– provided on our seats – which matched our choice of options. A young member of the company, Cordelia Ferguson, ably hosted the screening, calling on the audience to vote when asked and sensitively judged the results. The movie showcased the skills of a number of skilful young performers, indicating the work they have done in the company’s classes. Lauren Pullan was splendid in the title role. Not only did she handle the extraordinarily large role very capably, but often had the job, on screen, of posing the audience questions about the next course of the plot. Her use of gesture – especially facial gesture – was subtle and compelling. Others to impress were Zavier Ludborzc, who had a natural flair as Andy Astrid, Libby Harding who played Agent Fitzgerald with real spark, Kane Mobbs who was an enigmatic Chief, and Aidan Good who made the most of his comic lines as Nicky Sisco, the Mafia boss. Joe Russell devised, wrote, filmed, directed and edited the entire film. He used clever techniques for special effects, the passing scenery while characters drove in vehicles and rotating ‘Game Over’ signs if the audience made a wrong plot choice. While some of the background sound FX occasionally overpowered dialogue, the film held up well for its technical competence. This is a growing and energetic youth theatre enterprise which, from the adoring audience response to this movie, is clearly serving the Northern communities well. It is a delight to see the arts developing so effectively in this way. As the cast and crew justifiably did at the end of this screening, take a bow, Now Productions!
The Theatre Association of South Australia By David Smith - 4th November 2018 |
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***NOTE: This production features an alternating cast. The review which follows is of the Bang Bang cast***
For several years, under the direction of Joe Russell and Bianca Woods, Now Productions have been providing ample opportunities for the youth of the Northern suburbs to perform on stage in quality productions and musicals. After the previous success of Now Productions' shows Wizard of Oz, Oliver!, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, and most recently Sound of Music, Now Productions return in 2019, with their production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and it is their best one yet. Filled with catchy dance numbers and a stellar cast, it is a show which can be enjoyed by the whole family, and will be a hard show for Now Productions to beat in the future. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is the famous and award winning musical with music and lyrics by Richard and Robert Sherman (famous also for music and lyrics for Mary Poppins) and book by Jeremy Sams. This family-friendly show is a fun show based on the beloved 1968 film of the same name, and follows the journey of eccentric inventor Caractacus Potts and his two children Jeremy and Jemima. When Potts purchases an old race car from the scrap heap, he transforms it to its former beauty, and discovers it to have magical proprieties, which later save them from the troublesome Vulgarians. Axel Moen and Indianna Rumsby are suitably cast as the tyrannical rulers of Vulgaria, Baron and Baroness Bomburst, respectively. Moen conveys the Baron's childlike, immature and whining nature well, while Rumsby effectively portrays the overly dramatic personality associated with the woman who hates children. Both actors also present and maintain a believable Vulgarian accent throughout. The comedic, dim-witted, oaf henchmen to the Baron and Baroness, Boris and Goran, are also well played by Aidan Good and Kane Mobbs, and provide much comedy to the show. Mention should also be made of Libby Harding, whose body language, facial expressions and characterisation, ensures that The Child Catcher is portrayed as one who is most terrifying. Rhys Young and Ava Hughes, are simply adorable as Caractacus Pott's adventurous and imaginative children, Jeremy and Jemima Potts. Both actors provide an appropriate innocence and curiosity to their characters, and are joyful to watch. |
Caractacus Potts is played by Michael Hardy, and he has been very well cast. In perhaps the most significant and challenging role of the show, Hardy is excellent; he has appropriate characterisation, charisma, and an excellent stage presence, always commanding the stage well. Hardy also managed well when the orchestra struggled to keep in time to his position in a song, and this is a testament his several years of stage experience, he is to be most commended for this. Potts' love interest, Truly Scrumptious, is played by Chloe Seabrook, and she is a true delight to watch and listen to. Seabrook suitably encapsulates the assertive, strong and independent, but also gentle quality of Scrumptious, and one could believe that Seabrook is an adult performer. However, at only 12 years of age, Seabrook displays both an acting and singing talent which is well beyond her years. She has an incredible future ahead of her in musical theatre, should she continue to pursue it, I would highly recommend that she does. Choreography by Mandy Russell is simple but fun, and easy for the actors to learn, and costumes by Kate Harding are of exceptional quality, and fit the era well. However, the true star of the show is Chitty herself, a prop lovingly donated by Pelican Productions. This car is an almost identical replica to the professional touring production, and features a flotation device, working headlights, and large extendable yellow and red wings, exactly as featured in the film and professional stage production. She is a true beauty to behold, and is well deserving of the thunderous applause when she is first revealed to the audience.
Sometimes it can be so easy to forget that producing a quality musical takes much time, hard work and effort, and requires teamwork from all involved; it is no easy feat. When Joe Russell, producer for Now Productions, had the dream of producing Chitty Chitty Bang Bang for Now's first musical production for 2019, he knew it was going to be challenge, and will take lots of work and effort from his team, but it is obvious that hard work and effort has been invested into this production, and it has paid off. This production demonstrates therefore that "teamwork can make a dream work, if you're not afraid to try." Joe Russell was not afraid to try, and I look forward to seeing what Now Productions will produce in the future.
Weekend Notes
By Thomas Day - 5th April 2018
Sometimes it can be so easy to forget that producing a quality musical takes much time, hard work and effort, and requires teamwork from all involved; it is no easy feat. When Joe Russell, producer for Now Productions, had the dream of producing Chitty Chitty Bang Bang for Now's first musical production for 2019, he knew it was going to be challenge, and will take lots of work and effort from his team, but it is obvious that hard work and effort has been invested into this production, and it has paid off. This production demonstrates therefore that "teamwork can make a dream work, if you're not afraid to try." Joe Russell was not afraid to try, and I look forward to seeing what Now Productions will produce in the future.
Weekend Notes
By Thomas Day - 5th April 2018
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"Just watched the Wizard of Oz at Golden grove art center with our 3 years old. We all enjoyed it very much. Costumes were great, older kids were humorous and did a great job. Younger kids looked like they had fun, and followed along quite well.
Highly recommended taking kids along to these community shows. Extra special moment when my Daughter met her favorite character "the wicked witch of the west." Audience Member By Nicole Burford - 8th Apil 2017 |
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"It was a great show! Congratulations to everyone involved."
Audience Member By Nikoly Richardson |
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Oliver!
"Congratulations, Joe Russell, Mandy Russell and Bianca Woods on yet another wonderful show. In such a short space of time you bring together a cast full of energy and passion. It's wonderful to see them all so clearly enjoying themselves on stage . Thank you for giving all your time and energy to make this happen." Audience Member / Parent By Elizabeth Ferguson - October 2017 |
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