{"id":155230,"date":"2024-03-24T20:25:09","date_gmt":"2024-03-24T10:25:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/?p=155230"},"modified":"2024-03-25T07:50:38","modified_gmt":"2024-03-24T21:50:38","slug":"zombie-the-musical-hayes-theatre-musical-theatre-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/zombie-the-musical-hayes-theatre-musical-theatre-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Zombie! The Musical (Hayes Theatre) &#8211; musical theatre review"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is 1999 and the clock is ticking down to the opening of a new production for a community theatre company.\u00a0The pompous, misogynistic director fawns over the only paid member of the troupe, the leading man \u2026 and derides everyone else.\u00a0The leading lady longs for a different role.\u00a0An understudy who sees the good in everyone can\u2019t see herself stepping up.\u00a0A veteran actress still yearns for the limelight.\u00a0And then, horror of horrors, with just four hours until the curtain is due to rise, the key \u201ctalent\u201d pulls out, having landed a gig in a professional musical.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_155235\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-155235\" style=\"width: 560px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-155235 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/rsz_lowres__60a0524.jpg?resize=560%2C374&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"374\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/rsz_lowres__60a0524.jpg?w=560&amp;ssl=1 560w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/rsz_lowres__60a0524.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/rsz_lowres__60a0524.jpg?resize=272%2C182&amp;ssl=1 272w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 560px) 100vw, 560px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-155235\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photos by John McRae<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With the Y2K bug about to strike, what to do?\u00a0The director is beside himself, but things are about to take a turn for the worse as a zombie apocalypse descends upon the small theatre.\u00a0No-one is safe. One after another, the bite is put on each member of the company \u2026 and yet the show must go on.\u00a0What, if anything, can turn the tide? Even scientists are at a loss.\u00a0Is musical theatre the unlikely answer? Let\u2019s suck on a Fisherman\u2019s Friends lozenge and ponder that.<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-155234 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/rsz_lowres__60a0500.jpg?resize=560%2C374&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"374\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/rsz_lowres__60a0500.jpg?w=560&amp;ssl=1 560w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/rsz_lowres__60a0500.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/rsz_lowres__60a0500.jpg?resize=272%2C182&amp;ssl=1 272w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 560px) 100vw, 560px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This zany, spirited, hilarious show is the brainchild of writer and composer Laura Murphy, whose star is shining brightly.\u00a0It is a tribute to the tropes of musical theatre and cult-classic zombie films, as each member of the troupe confronts their inner demons.\u00a0I couldn\u2019t praise the result more highly. The musical numbers are instantly catchy and ear pleasing. The script is off the wall, but relatable.<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-155233 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/rsz_lowres__60a0368.jpg?resize=560%2C374&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"374\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/rsz_lowres__60a0368.jpg?w=560&amp;ssl=1 560w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/rsz_lowres__60a0368.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/rsz_lowres__60a0368.jpg?resize=272%2C182&amp;ssl=1 272w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 560px) 100vw, 560px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As exaggeration abounds, the performances are mighty, led by the mellifluous, full throated vocals of Stefanie Jones.\u00a0There is not a weak link among the nine strong cast, who individually and collectively sing up a storm.\u00a0Drew Livingstone\u2019s affectations as the theatre director from hell is worthy of special mention.\u00a0Natalie Abbott is superb as the perpetual understudy Sam, while Tamsin Carroll revels in her role as ageing diva Carol.\u00a0Ryan Gonzalez is head turning as a zombie, while Monique Salle adds spark in multiple roles.\u00a0Nancy Denis channels a kick butt action hero and Chelsea Dawson is doting as lead actor Dave\u2019s (Gonzalez) devoted girlfriend.\u00a0Adam Di Martino makes his presence felt as feted theatre critic Nathan Arnsley.<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-155231 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/rsz_lowres_zombie-_27a0230.jpg?resize=560%2C374&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"374\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/rsz_lowres_zombie-_27a0230.jpg?w=560&amp;ssl=1 560w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/rsz_lowres_zombie-_27a0230.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/rsz_lowres_zombie-_27a0230.jpg?resize=272%2C182&amp;ssl=1 272w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 560px) 100vw, 560px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Laura Murphy has thrown the kitchen sink at this one, with liberal references to other musicals throughout, delighting an appreciative audience, who roar their approval.\u00a0The set and props (the set designer is Nick Fry) give Zombie! The Musical an intimate, community theatre feel, in which everyone is expected to pitch in.\u00a0A series of posters on the wall referencing some of the all-time great musicals goes down a treat.\u00a0Costuming from Esther Zhong and wig, hair and make-up from Hayden Tee add authenticity.\u00a0The sound design by David Grigg and lighting and projection from Verity Hampson draw us even closer to the action.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Skilfully choreographed by Chiara Assetta, director Darren Yap and musical director Damon Wade have knocked it out of the park.\u00a0A single visit to Zombie! The Musical isn\u2019t anywhere near enough for, make no mistake, this is one glorious, energetic and electrifying hoot.\u00a0It is playing at Hayes Theatre until 6<sup>th<\/sup> April, 2024.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Alex First<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It is 1999 and the clock is ticking down to the opening of a new production for a community theatre company.\u00a0The pompous, misogynistic director fawns over the only paid member of the troupe, the leading man \u2026 and derides everyone else.\u00a0The leading lady longs for a different role.\u00a0An understudy who sees the good in everyone&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":155232,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[804,801],"tags":[7819,332,9965,8123,9964],"class_list":["post-155230","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-music","category-theatre","tag-darren-yap","tag-hayes-theatre","tag-laura-murphy","tag-stefanie-jones","tag-zombie-the-musical"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Zombie! 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