Bryce Halliday is a charming and confident entertainer who graduated from the Australian Institute of Music (AIM) in 2011. That makes him a very young performer and it is very impressive that he tackles weighty issues (marriage equality, conspiracy theorists), sings well, plays the piano, writes and maintains an amusing and informative patter during his fifty minute show, THE BRYCE IS RIGHT.

The hyperactive Bryce has an amazing level of self awareness .He is very funny in his impression of George Costanza and Woody Allen telling him to chill.

He sings political songs and it is easy to agree with his proposition that if he was a politician he wishes he was Berlusconi, obviously for the parties and the girls rather than involvement with the machinations of government. There are also songs about religious nutters and Facebook stalking. He laments that he was taught trigonometry at school but not how to deal with much more significant issues such as bereavement or the end of relationships of his own or of his friends.

This short season of four shows was this young man’s first solo show. I felt privileged to witness one of the four performances of THE BRYCE IS RIGHT. I expect Bryce to improve as a singer and pianist. At times it is such a manic performance that he loses some control in these departments. This does not significantly detract from an overall funny and entertaining evening.

Co-producer and director Troy Alexander has given Bryce a simple and effective structure to work in. Amanda Jessup’s lighting enhances the cabaret feel of the evening.

THE BRYCE IS RIGHT played the New Theatre, Newtown July 25th to July 28th.

© Mark Pigott

29th July, 2012

Tags: Sydney Theatre Reviews- THE BRYCE IS RIGHT, New Theatre Newtown, Bryce Halliday, New Theatre Newtown, Troy Alexander, Amanda Jessop, Australian Institute Of Music, Sydney Arts Guide, Mark Pigott.