‘I GET THE MUSIC IN YOU, currently playing as part of this year’s NIDA Independent program, is a vehicle showcasing the considerable talents of one of our leading music theatre artists, Queenie van de Zandt.

Van de Zandt devised the show, along with colleague, veteran actor and writer, Tony Taylor. The show is built around de Zandt playing eccentric New Age Dutch music therapist and teacher, Jan Van De Stool.

Jan van de Stool comes on stage to tell us she is teaching her music classes out of a local scout hall where a senior judo session has just finished. We witness her intensive one night music workshop with her students, including giving voice lessons, telling anecdotes, delivering put-downs and bits of her own philosophy, teaching students about their chakras, and sharing some strange jokes.

Features of the show were Queenie’s warm, easy going stage presence and flair for ironic comedy, together with many playful interactions with the audience. Some of her impersonations of a few of her thankless students were treasures.

An extra treat was that sometimes Queenie came out from under cover and showed off her powerful, resonant voice.

The audience had definitely got their money’s and their laughter’s worth by the time one of the most bizarre music workshops ever undertaken came to a close.

This show is the return season for a show that was performed in 2006 at Kirribilli’s Ensemble Theatre and played seasons in Canberra, Adelaide and Melbourne.

An Amazon Woman Enterprise production in association with NIDA Parade Theatres, I GET THE MUSIC IN YOU- an evening with Jan van de Stool, accompanied by Andrew Worboys on piano, opened on Wednesday 5th December at the NIDA Parade Theatre, 215 Anzac Parade, Kensington and runs until Friday 14th December, 2012.

(c) David Kary

6th December 2012

Tags- Sydney Theatre Reviews- I GET THE MUSIC IN YOU, NIDA Parade Theatre, Jan van de Stool, Queenie van de Zandt, Tony Taylor, Andrew Worboys, Sydney Arts Guide, David Kary