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Above: Grace Driscoll as Eileen Evergreen, the self-proclaimed finest interpreter of modern dance in the world. Featured image : (left to right) : Catty Hamilton, Rob Mallett and Rose Shannon-Duhigg perform ‘I Got to Be There’. Images: Grant Leslie Photography.

Currently there is plenty of fine hooch and a hoot of a show to see down at that classic, quality speakeasy venue, the Hayes Theatre. ‘Nice Work If You Can Get It’ has been stunningly put together as part of the Neglected Musicals production initiative by Michelle Guthrie Presents.

Featuring music and lyrics from the team of brothers George and Ira Gershwin, and with an hilarious book by Joe DiPietro (of ‘I. Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change’fame), this assembly of songs by the Gershwins appeared on Broadway in 2012 following mixed reviews and workshopping prior to that under the title “They All Laughed”. The show under its current title has had an airing in USA , Melbourne and the UK.

Now at Hayes Theatre Co, this show, set in the prohibition era of the late 1920s,  is one well-packaged outfit. It has classic dames and downright funny guys performing with  exemplary comic timing. The show rockets along with slick dancing from frantic flappers,  boys with hot shoe routines and larger than life characters from both good and bad sides of the track. Characters range from crims to the not-so-squeaky-clean politicians and prohibitionists.

Above: (left-right) Adorah Olapu as Chief Berry, Rob Mallett and Jimmy Winter and Ashleigh Rubenach as Billie Bendix. Image: Grant Leslie Photography.

Winning Gershwin songs are to be savoured here. They have a charming lilt, constant rhymes, a gorgeous feel and cutting social satire to match di Pietro’s dialogue. Several of the numbers will be familiar to many due to their popularity as jazz standards.  The talented triple threat team supply a singing, dancing romp that will replace any energy that pandemic pallaver has sapped from you. It will have you grinning from ear to ear throughout.

This tale of bootleggers clashing with the upper class is sitcom magic, with visual and verbal gags bursting from the efficient, flexible set. Billie Bendix is played by Ashleigh Rubenach with smooth, vulnerable charm to match the string of Gershwin vocal standards allocated to  her character.  She is part of a gang selling and storing  cases of bootleg gin for the mysterious unseen crime boss Brown Beard.

Bille and gang stumble across an opportunity to hide their stash in the cellar of a house owned by rich playboy newly wed Jimmy Winter and his dancer wife Eileen. Billie falls for Winter, the dashing rich playboy, played with neat period finesse and with fitting velvet voice by Rob Mallett.

The stage chemistry between Billie and Jimmy is magnetic and successful here. They work so well together in serious and toungue in cheek moments alike.

Above: Ashleigh Rubenach and Rob Mallett perform the Gershwin classic ‘S’Wonderful’. Image: Grant Leslie Photography.

The pair displays an easy and warm delicacy of blend throughout. The smoothly phrased, hopeful delivery of classic songs such as the title number ‘Nice Work If  You Can Get It’ plus’Someone To Watch Over Me’, ‘S’Wonderful’ and the cute banter of ‘Let’s Call The Whole Thing Off’ are delicious moments.

These moments take place on the well lit stage which fluidly morphs from club to loading dock to playboy fun house. The set is capably  manipulated by the cast.

The swell situation of Billie and Jimmy’s secret love gets increasingly more absurd and complex. The bootleggers have to pose as servants to mask and protect their hidden hooch in Jimmy’s cellar. They must serve the affluent families prepare for the wedding of Jimmy to larger-than-life dancer Eileen Evergreen.

Above: Strong comic performances from Octavia Barron Martin (Duchess Estonia) and Andrew Waldin (as Cookie McGee) were a highlight of the many bold characterisations in this show. Image: Grant Leslie Photography.

The bootlegger-turned butler Cookie McGee is played by a true comic captain for this cast, Andrew Waldin. He delivers some classic, well-timed lines and keeps the crazy pace of visual gags and high-energy movement about the stage at a premium.

Also so wonderful and marvellous in this regard is Adorah Oloapu as the omniscient Chief Berry trying to catch the crooks. Her facial expressions are elastic on every entrance and vocally her singing matches the high standard on stage when we were able to hear it.

Octavia Barron Martin as the Duchess Estonia, with vice squad,  campaigning through song, haughty dance and in eventual vain against the ‘Demon Rum’. She commands the stage and many comic moments with the prescence of a fine farceur. This performer’s moments with Cookie McGee are priceless.

Sal Sharah, as the sober senator with a shocking past, brings his stage experience to this show with a well-chiselled contribution to this musical’s cavalcade of comic characters.

Above: Showgirl Jeannie Muldoon (played by Catty Hamilton) and bootlegger Duke Mahoney (played by Anthony Garcia) find love amidst the mayhem at Jimmy Winter’s house. Image: Grant Leslie Photography.

Grace Driscoll playing the senator’s daughter and ill-fated fourth wife of the dame-loving Jimmy is another consummate comic success. Her  wide-eyed expressions and sudden splashes of gesture make her performance one of the best caricatures on the stage.

The showgirl-meets- bootlegger romance between Jeannie Muldoon (Catty Hamilton) and Duke -not-noble-Mahoney (from tap dancing and clevery acted Anthony Garcia) is another believable couple to watch. Their excitement and unison energy is infectious.

‘Nice Work If You Can Get It’ is a very nice way to journey back in time, rediscover musical theatre, the songs of the Gershwins and the  writing of Joe DiPietro. This show’s engaging, entertaining pace is  like a welcome hit of the dreaded, much needed Demon Rum.

Its instant warmth and intoxicatingly fine song and Dance moments will thrill and the fun, madcap denouement is cliche but has classic  elements of farce and  surprise which are played out with consistent verve by this cast. Good job all round here – get it while you can!

‘Nice Work If You Can Get It ‘  plays at Hayes Theatre, Greenknowe Avenue Elizabeth Bay until December 4. For bookings go to:  https://boxoffice.hayestheatre.com.au