The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber
Devised and directed by Stuart Maunder
Musical Supervisor: Guy Noble
Venue: Canberra Theatre Centre
Dates: Season ends June 5, 2011
Bookings: Call (02) 6275 2700; buy your tickets from the Canberra Theatre box office, Civic Square, London Circuit, or online at: www.canberratheatrecentre.com.au
Theatre Review
By Rama Gaind
The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, which opened its Canberra season on June 1, was an engaging revue of both the classic and lesser known songs spanning the maestro’s 46-year career.
The master of musical theatre, Andrew Lloyd Webber, is prolific and intrepid. He has made a musical about cats, a rock opera about Jesus and a mysterious, disfigured musical genius in the phantom which also has a sequel titled Love Never Dies.
The show opened with the slow and dramatic ‘Love Changes Everything’ by Delia Hannah and Michael Cormick from Aspects of Love.
Performed over two hours by eight talented vocalists, one gem was ‘Don’t Cry for Me Argentina’ from Evita sung by Delia Hannah who performs a few of the poignant songs of the evening including ‘Memory’ from Cats, ‘Tell Me On A Sunday‘ from the musical with the same name and ‘With One Look’ from Sunset Boulevard.
Andrew Conaghan and Trisha Crowe had great stage presence while singing ‘All I Ask of You’ from The Phantom of the Opera.
Setting the tone for a fun evening was the lively song ‘Superstar’ from Jesus Christ Superstar.
The fabulous talents of Blake Bowden, Alinta Chidzey, Andrew Conaghan, Michael Cormick, Trisha Crowe, Delia Hannah, Kirsten Hobbs and Shaun Rennie, were on display as the team rocked the stage and held the crowd’s attention. The show featured songs from such hits as Cats, Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, Phantom of the Opera, Requiem, Sunset Boulevard, together with lesser known works like Woman in White and Whistle in the Wind.
The crowd also got a sneak preview with songs of Webber’s new musical Love Never Dies.
Spectacular visuals, with a big screen put in place behind all the actors, flash highlights of each performance.
This is one trip down memory lane that will have you toe-tapping and humming your way out of the theatre!
Andrew Lloyd Webber is the only theatrical composer to have been featured on the cover of Time magazine (1989); is the most successful British composer of musicals; and the only one to have had six hit musicals running simultaneously in London and three running simultaneously in New York.
With a wondrous array of successes under his belt, Lloyd Webber was knighted in 1992. His brilliance continues.
