The Wild Party

Nicki Alchin
19th Nov 2018

The Wild Party –16 November 2018, Seymour Centre

Riding the crest of the cabaret/burlesque wave currently sweeping Sydney, Little Triangle once again delivers a robust, entertaining example of this genre in the form of The Wild Party directed by Alexander Andrews and produced by Rose McClelland. This cabaret style piece of musical theatre is based on the poem by Joseph Moncure March, and adapted for the stage by Michael John LaChiusa and George C Wolfe with music and lyrics created by Michael John LaChiusa. It first appeared on Broadway in April 2000.  

Future attendees of The Wild Party will be pleased to know that the salacious, scantily-clad dancers are not relying on titillation or appearance factors alone. You will be witness to a fanciful fusion of charming ensemble performers donned in authentic costumes of the 1920s era and rock-solid song and dance skills (all steps choreographed with attention to detail by Madison Lee) to create a glitzy sexy vibe that all cabaret shows seek but do not always find. Expertly accompanying the audacious singing and dancing is the jazz styled band of Conrad Hamill on cello (also music director); Alexander Mau on piano; Oliver Shermacher, Abi McCunn, Chris Higgins, and Kali Green on reed; and Tom McCracken and Nick Lee on drums. The set has been rigged in period glamour by Christopher Starnawski, and the lighting is done with panache by Blake Connor.

We fall into the show biz world of a 1920s NYC vaudeville dancer Queenie (played seductively by Georgina Walker), a blonde bomb shell with all the moves and a crazy lifestyle that includes a controlling boyfriend called Burrs (acted with menace by Matthew Hyde). A decision is made by the pair of them to throw a wild party, one to beat all previous parties. Anyone who is anyone in the vaudeville world is invited as well as past and current friends and enemies. Gin is the popular drink of choice. It is consumed with gusto and swagger. Debauchery is second nature with this crowd, it is present for all to see. Old wounds come to the surface with each gulp of alcohol. Some relationships will lie in tatters never to be reconciled while others with the help of forgiveness can be mended. What is universal though is that nothing will ever be the same again at the conclusion of The Wild Party.

The ensemble cast back the two main players all the way. The stand outs for me are as follows. Victoria Zerbst plays an inspired Dolores, an ageing vaudevillian dancer who was someone back in the day, and isn’t taking too kindly to the fact that she is practically a laughing stock now. Jack Dawson takes on the role of debonair Jackie with flair, striking a pose wherever he goes. Andre Drysdale is the handsome, mild mannered gigolo type that hangs around with Madeline, Queenie’s long-time friend and rival who has made the big time. Prudence Holloway flaunts Madeline’s success with finesse. You’ll be entranced by the bickering, the squabbling, and downright bitchiness that engulfs each and every connection. Every performer plays their part authentically with bite. You’ll be taken in by the party atmosphere where song and dance are second nature for the attendees given the story is based around vaudeville performers. You’ll be wondering till the very end where the train wreck will land and what the collateral damage will be.

Go see this vibrant cabaret now playing at the Seymour Centre from 15 to 24 November 2018. Tickets can be purchased at:

www.seymourcentre.com/events/event/the-wild-party/