CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, book by Terrence McNally, lyrics by Mark Shaiman and Scott Wittman, and music by Marc Shaiman, is the new production at the Hayes Theatre.
This is the musical which was an ‘offshoot’ of the book published by the protagonist Frank Abagnale Jnr which also spurned the movie of the same name, made in 2002, directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Leonardo DiCaprio.
This is the story of a master conman who started coning people as far back as his old school days. His forte was forging cheque and taking on different identities. His journey of deception included bank fraud, world travel as a co pilot, time as a hospital paediatrician, and a district attorney in Louisiana.
It isn’t long before the FBI is on his trail with Detective Carl Hanratty tasked to ‘bring him in’ before he does any further damage.
The show’s main highlight is the cat and mouse game which develops between Abagnale and Hanratty. At one point Abagnale just rings up Hanratty for a friendly chat.
Director Cameron Mitchell’s take on Abagnale’s psyche, which comes through in the show, is that his crime spree was in response to his parents breaking up, after which it was much harder for him to spend quality time with his father whom he adored.
Mitchell’s direction impressed. The lead performances were good; Jake Speer as Frank Abagnale Jnr, Tim Draxl as Carl Hanratty, Simon Burke as Frank Abagnale Snr and Roger Strong, Penny Martin as Paula Abagnale and Carol Strong, and Jessica Di Costa as Brenda Strong.
A strong Ensemble cast included Jordan Angelides, Jarrod Draper, Joel Houwen, Hannah McInerney, Monique Salle, Erica Stubbs, Riley Sutton and Stacey Thomsett,
Kelsey Lee designed the compact set, Christine Mutton did the costumes, David Bergman did the score, and Jasmine Rizk lit the stage well.
Anthony Cutrupi was the show’s Musical Director. A crack four piece band, Amanda Jenkins, Tom McRacken, Michael Napoli and Abi McCunn played Marc Shaiman’s pulsating music.
CATCH ME IF YOU CAN is playing the Hayes Theatre, 19 Greenknowe Avenue, Potts Point until Sunday 18th August, 2019.
Featured photo- Simon Burke and Jake Speer in ‘Catch Me If You Can’. Production photography by Robert Catto.