A man. A microphone. A piano. The voice.
Directed by Chris Parker, this sensational show is an intimate cabaret-style celebration of the life and music of Italian American popular movie and opera star, Mario Lanza.
The set is mostly bare except for a mic and a piano, some clever atmospheric lighting and a most effective use of shadows. In some ways it is similar, but also quite different to ‘Who Killed Mario Lanza?’ that I saw at Riverside a couple of years ago.
In a jukebox musical style we follow Lanza’s life from scholarship at Tanglewood, his military service, rocky marriage, womanising, drinking, yo–yo weight problems, diva behaviour while filming The Student Prince and, of course, his popular hits.
Tall, thin and toothily handsome with a glorious smile, Blake Bowden as Lanza exudes the aura of a clean-cut American kid of the 1950s. And can he sing!! (Bowden was recently seen as Lieutenant Cable in the Sydney production of South Pacific). He effortlessly ranges from full classical opera, for example in ‘Your Tiny Hand is Frozen’; to Rodolfo from Puccini’s La Bohème, here sung in English, wittily flirting with a female audience member as his Mimi; to popular hits such as ‘Mama’, ‘Grenada’, ‘The Loveliest Night of the Year’, ‘With a Song in My Heart’ and ‘Be my Love’. His is a glorious, riveting performance that sets the theatre alight and has all the audience swooning.
Satirical musical wizard Phil Scott (of ‘Wharf Revue’ fame among other things) brilliantly plays all the other male characters including Stravinsky, Meyer, assorted voice and exercise coaches, radio announcers, theatre managers and Mafioso. He performs brilliantly on the piano too, dealing fluidly with all the rapid style and genre changes at the flick of a page. He has great fun with the numerous costume changes.
The ending is perhaps a bit rushed, but very wittily done. Scott attempts to resolve the assorted rumours about Lanza’s death – was he poisoned by the Mafia? You decide.
For the glorious finale we are treated to a superb rendition of ‘Nessun Dorma’ from ‘Turandot’ that gives you goosebumps. You could hear a pin drop, before tumultuous applause explodes.
Rating: 4½ out of 5 stars
Mario
Conceived and performed by Blake Bowden and Phil Scott
Written by Phil Scott
Directed by Chris Parker
Hayes Theatre, Potts Point
www.hayestheatre.com.au
9-12 July
