Can musical theatre save Sydney from a zombie apocalypse?
Zombie The Musical a world premiere new musical by Laura Murphy and developed through Hayes Creative opened tonight at the professional specialist musical Hayes Theatre. In the audience of 111 seats many were Australian musical theatre stars. Which was appropriate because this side splittingly hilarious show actually references many musical theatre shows - from Rocky Horror Show and SIX to Wicked and more. Musical theatre buffs will recognise musical phrases from show tunes sprinkled liberally throughout this original score. There are wonderful theatre, arts funding, and pop culture quips bouying the uproarious laughs too before a bubble gun appears to do its magical job in the grand-musical-style show-stopping finale.
Zombie! The Musical is hugely clever and enormously entertaining, that's for sure. But you don't need to know the history of musical comedy or even the difference between a zombie and a ghoul to enjoy this stage production. My horror loving companion #+1 loves both horror and musical theatre. Me, horror not so much. Her housemate, horror but not musical theatre. Yet #+1 declared this would be a musical that would thrill all, even her housemate. We call it. Everyone! will immensely enjoy Zombie! The Musical.
The stage is set (by Nick Fry). A theatre within a theatre. Lighting and video production (by Verity Hampson) screams both 1999 and 2024. The whole show needs to be watched to appreciate the full spectrum of costumes and changes (by Esther Zhong). A big part of the effects achieved here were the extraordinary wig, hair and makeup design (by Hayden Tee, themself a big star of musical stage). Like the ranges in musical styles within this show, the variations in choreography (by Chiara Assetta} were an integral part of its success. Director Darren Yap who "was equal parts excitement and gratitude" to be working back at Hayes and for the first time with Laura Murphy, has with cast and creatives delivered the earthly goods. Zombie! The Musical is brilliantly outstanding!
Strong casting presents a complete performance from each triple threat, each personality extremely different in the portrayal: Natalie Abbott, Tasmin Carroll, Chelsea Dawson, Nancy Denis, Adam Di Martino, Ryan Gonzalez, Stephanie Jones, Drew Livingstone, Monique Sallé. The cast, like the show, are outstanding. Natalie Abbott as Sam spans her range of anger and vigour with honed finesse and muscular humour creating somewhat of a spotlight on her fighting role. Abbott's presence takes that spotlight from femme fatale to savage slayer and beyond. The many faces of Dave played by Ryan Gonzalez were particularly impressive. And the complexities of an ageing star were elegantly portrayed by Tamsin Carroll who gave an astonishing and commanding and believable performance. Take a look in the mirror, as our fears from within surface under crisis. And what would a crisis be without Hope (Chelsea Dawson).
We learn that the live band on stage survived the zombie attack. Or was it the pandemic? Watch for the toilet paper rolls in the supermarket scene. Set in 1999, perhaps it was actually Y2K that gripped us with so much fear?
hayestheatre.com.au/event/zombie-the-musical/ performing at Hayes Theatre Co. until 6 April.
