Cabaret Festival

Shane Warne The Musical – 2013 Adelaide Cabaret Festival

 

Shane Warne The MusicalPresented by the Adelaide Cabaret Festival
Reviewed Wednesday 5th June 2013

Love him, hate him, or just want to text him, we cannot deny that Shane Warne is a living Aussie legend: perhaps, nowadays, more known for his exploits off the pitch rather than on, but a legend nonetheless.

Shane Warne The Musical is a look at the man through Eddie Perfect’s very clever, extremely funny and wonderfully poignant music, lyrics and book. We follow Warney through his rather eventful life from a not-so-good teenage footballer to his success as a bowler, and through his (Liz) hurly burly antics such as the betting scandal, the famous text messaging episode (“What An S-M-Mess I’m In”) right up to the recent Elizabeth Hurley hurl to a Western Australia journalist ‘Why don’t you just (expletive) off?’. Simone Warne’s ‘Dancing With The Stars’ appearance even gets a bashing, via an hilarious and physical routine from Perfect and Lisa McCune.

This production hits sixes all over, from Simon Phillips’ fluid, pacey direction to Geoff Cobham’s highly theatrical and dramatic lighting through to Musical Director Iain Grandage’s stirring orchestrations of Perfect’s music and the very strong Adelaide Orchestra (with a stunning guitar solo by an unmentioned musician) – and to (green) cap it all off, the marvellous cast: Eddie Perfect (Keating The MusicalOffspring), Lisa McCune (Blue HeelersSea Patrol), Shane Jacobson (Kenny), Verity Hunt-Ballard (Metro StreetMary Poppins), Christie Whelan Browne, Andy Conaghan, Jolyon James, Amy Lehpamer, Mike McLeish and Rohan Nichol.

The cast are the show – working well as an ensemble, making props such as beer cans and pizza boxes magically appear and disappear, and all with wonderful voices and tireless energy. McCune, in particular, seems to bound around with the endless power of an Energizer bunny and captivating the audience as Simone Warne, especially with her beautiful rendition of “What About That Shane?”

Everyone has highlights, but of particular note are: Jacobson as mentor and sage Terry Jenner giving very nice compassion to “Piss It All Away” and “Pick Up Shane”; Jolyon James hilariously playing the character of Indian John extremely stereotypically and sleazily; and Whelan Browne channelling Elizabeth Hurley so well that even Hugh Grant wouldn’t be able to pick the difference.

As the man himself, Perfect is perfect! Bearing an uncanny resemblance to Warney, Perfect makes us laugh with and at him, hate him and really sympathise with him. The gleam and spark in his eye make us believe in true Aussie heroes once more. Perfect is a showman, with a great voice, a nice likability and can certainly move as evidenced by his focus and attention to detail in the number “That Ball” portraying Warne’s famous bowling movements, but in slow motion.

I am not a cricket fan at all (I’d rather watch paint dry – it’s quicker) but I loved every minute of Shane Warne The Musical. If you like cricket or very good musical theatre or both, this is the show for you.

As it only has a short run (up), don’t get left in the change rooms. Go out and get bowled over by this extremely entertaining piece of theatre.

Reviewed by Brian Godfrey

Venue: Her Majesty’s Theatre, 58 Grote Street, Adelaide
Season: 5 – 9 June
Duration: 2hrs 10mins (incl interval)
Tickets: $54.90 – $79.90
Bookings: Book at BASS

 

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