For a great night of musical theatre get to Hornsby Musical Society’s production of City Of Angels. The Tony Award winning musical with music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by David Zippel, and a book by Larry Gelbart is not often seen in Sydney so this is a great opportunity to catch this stylish mix of film noir, snappy dialogue and catchy songs performed by a talented cast.
Set in the late 1940’s in Los Angeles, the musical opens with an exciting dance sequence and shifts to a hospital bed where private eye Stone, played with suitable tough guy image and a hint of sleaze Toby Rowe, lies remembering a case from a week ago. His secretary Oolie, defensive and caring for him, played by Laura Bromfield brings in a beautiful, potential new client Alaura played with deception in her eye by Bronwyn Dyer.
We then skip to a different section of the stage where Stein, played with great frustration and angst by Max Waterson is attempting to adapt his detective novel to a screenplay for Hollywood film producer-director Buddy Fidler played by Kris O’Ryan with much blustering and arrogance.
Thus, we have the set up for this clever musical that switches between the two stories, the writing of the screen play with all its complications and battles, and the detective story with its twists and turns, over zealous law men, lies and killings, plus love stories in both tales.
Not only do the stories blend and meld but many of the actors cross seamlessly between the two stories. Laura Bloomfield is also Donna working as Buddy Fiddler’s assistant, and Kris O’Ryan is Irwin S Irving in the detective story. Other talented cast members playing their dual roles are Sarah Paull as Gabby/Bobbi, Bronwyn Dyer as Carla Haywood/Alaura Kingsley and Caitlin Parr as Avril Raines/Mallory Kingsley. This swapping of parts creates an even greater connection between the two stories.
The other cast members work beautifully together to form detailed pictures of life in the two stories. James Denton, Kevin Rodrigueza, Jess Knight, Maddi Campbell, Benjamin Gibiec, Charlie Goddard, Paul Mepham, Ethan Beattie, Andrew, Mel McPhee, Ben Khoury and Dylan Flynn and Max Waterson (Stone alternate) and Victoria Alfieris (Oolie alternate). Rounding out the cast is the rest of the excellent ensemble of Georgia Boon, Emma Derbidge, Simone Dyer, Finn Fabiansson, Cam Gower and Ricky Lin.
Director Logan McArthur, choreographer Lauren Oxenham, music director Aiden Smith and John Goggin production design have done an amazing job bringing this exciting musical to life and having it flow smoothly despite its complicated nature. Much of the clarity of shifts between stories relies on the lighting effects which are expertly carried out with perfect timing. The orchestra sets the scene and leads us deep into the streets of LA, bars and back again. Costumes highlight the characters’ roles and the deft working of the stage crew keep the scenes moving quickly along.
CITY OF ANGELS is playing at the Pioneer Theatre Castle Hill till 26 October. Highly recommended.
