Above Vidya Makan in Sydney Theatre Company’s BLOOM. Pic Daniel Boud
As we took our seats and waited for the action to begin, I noticed that one of the patrons in the row ahead was playing scrabble, no doubt putting himself in a relaxed, comfortable state of mind for the show.
BLOOM, with book and lyrics by Tom Gleisner and music by Kate Weston has form. Itwas a big hit in its premiere Melbourne Theatre Company production at the Arts Theatre in inner city Melbourne.
The play, with its very optimistic title, is set in Pine Grove, an inner city nursing home. The narrative is driven by the burgeoning conflict between killjoy manager Mrs McIntyre on one side and on the other side the unhappy residents, their two caring nurses and a young resident university student on the other side. The question becomes, will the group be able to topple their horrid boss?!
Kate Weston’s score, featuring fourteen songs, was a healthy mix of solo number of solo numbers with intricate company numbers, aided by Andrew Hallsworth’s equally intricate choreography.
Gleisner’s writing worked best in the witticisms and comedy. A great cast, all with good voices, revelled in playing their very recognisable characters.
Christie Whelan-Browne excelled in the pivotal role of Pine Grove’s horrid manager, Mrs Macintyre, recently appointed to the position. Macintyre saw her only mission in her position was to cut as many expenses as she could, a one person razor gang that even Elon Musk would be proud of.
Evelyn Krape gave another great performance as the very feisty Rose who had only recently become a resident at the Grove. An ex music teacher, she tries to get Finn to take his Finn to take his musicianship seriously. Ruby is the only person who seems able to stand up to Macintyre.j
Slone Sudiro played breezy young university student Finn who in return for receiving free accomodation has to spend ‘quality’ time with the residents. Sudiro does well in conveying his character’s journey from being very slack and ambivalent to the residents to becoming far more caring.
Maria Mercedes was great Betty, motoring on and off the stage in her scooter replete with stuff sh has hoarded. Betty’s character is defined by her kleptomania as well as her forever telling all and sundry that one of her relatives was going to visit her any day soon, which of-course no-one believes. Mercedes was also great playing Pine Grove’s very overweight and grumpy chef whose goal was to give the residents as sparse as meals as possible.
Eddie Muliaumaseali’i was wonderful and mercurial in his four roles; the morose Sal, a Sargeant Shultz kind of nursing home inspector, a news reporter and a guy called Trev.
John O’May was great as ‘past it’ thespian Roland who still thinks that he is on stage. It is a role that I am sure he could have played in his sleep which I also felt was the case with John Waters in his role as handyman builder Doug who, having more of a grasp of reality, knows that his days as an able handyman are long gone. Gleisner includes a bit of a romance between Doug and refined, gentle, art lover Lesley, well played by Jackie Rees.
Well respected director Dean Bryant, especially in the music theatre format, helmed the production well, and his work with his design produced great results.
The work of music theatre choreographer Andrew Hallsworth, who collaborated so well with director Simon Phillips on many of his finest productions, as always, impressed.
Dann Barber’s outstanding multi functional set design was a highlight.
Nick Walker covered the sound design impressively as was Amelia Lever-Davidson’s lighting design.
Costume designer Charlotte Lane astutely captured the distinctive looks of each of the characters.
There was a terrific band positioned at the back of the stage, behind a scrim. They featured Daniel Billing on guitar, Gen Campbell on bass, Kali Gillen on reeds, Janean Lee on cello and Cameron Elliott Reid on drums with
To close, I wasn’t a big fan of the narrative which felt too schmaltzy at times, and it was the terrific cast that made this show a winner.
A Sydney Theatre Company production, BLOOM is currently playing the Roslyn Packer Theatre, Walsh Ba Arts Precinct.
Www.sydneytheatre.com.au
