h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Went to see Cabaret today - when I was in year 12 I studied the movie and it's become my favourite, so I may be just a little over critical . Sally Bowles was played by a girl who played Maria in Sound of Music, and was previuosly the darling of Australian television, so it was hard to see her as the tough tarty character portrayed so well by Liza Minelli. It wasn't until the second last song of the whole show (Cabaret) that her strength came through and she began to own the character...up until then I just saw her as the pale imitation. It was in this number that her emotions started to show, as well - until here she was justa happy-go-lucky posh pom (going by her accent), which doesn't fit the part at all. She was still far too sweet to be a realistic cabaret singer.

The supporting cast were brilliant - the orchestra doubled as stage hands and actors and were fantastic, the set was great, the sound really good...and the MC was unbelievable. He was *perfect* for the role, just superb. As good as (if not better than) Joel Grey - he shone throughout the whole show...there wasn't a thing he did that wasn't the MC. He's originally from Human Nature, a boy band who've been big with the teenage girls, so this role is such a change for him - he was the ideal perverted sleazy man who prowled the stage - he orchestrated the whole thing so well...

'Tomorrow Belongs to Me' deserves a special mention (of course) - first played on a scratchy gramaphone, sung by a young boy, with the MC leering over the top of it, and as the finale of the first half...very powerful stuff.



I also saw the play Oliver a week or so ago - it was phenomenal! The choreography was exceptional and the sets amazing, but what really impressed me were the kids. I saw Annie a while ago, and the little girls had bad diction and so were hard to understand and not all that convincing - in Oliver the boys were all very clear and absolutely spot on with their actions - they all moved at exactly the same time - unbelievable. They must have spent *hours* going over it with them! The costumes were great and the way they used the stage was awesome.