The Keystone Cops in Mack and Mabel playing at Hayes Theatre. Photograph by Lightbox Photography.
Mack and Mabel is dynamite; sheer theatrical magic. Directed by Trevor Ashley, this is a magnificent production of the 1974 Broadway musical that was regarded as a flop at the time yet has developed a cult following and is best known perhaps for Mack’s song ‘I Won’t Send Roses’.
With book by Michael Stewart and music and lyrics by Jerry Herman, the plot involves the stormy romantic relationship between silent film Hollywood director Mack Sennett and Mabel Normand (in the musical she is a waitress from a deli ‘discovered ‘by Sennett). Most of the conflict is between the two main characters – Stewart became one of Sennett’s biggest stars, his major muse and inspiration. Told in a series of freeze frames and flashbacks, Sennett as narrator describes the glory days of the Keystone Studios from 1911, when he discovered Normand and cast her in dozens of his early ‘two-reelers’ (as distinct from longer feature films) through to his creation of Sennett’s Bathing Beauties and the Keystone Cops to Mabel’s death in 1930.
Mack and Mabel is full of pizzazz and stylish, zippy choreography by Cameron Mitchell. Bursting with exuberance, there is wonderful comic timing with the slapstick numbers – the extremely detailed tightly choreographed bits in ‘Look What Happened to Mabel’, and the pie-in -the face scene for ‘I Wanna Make The World Laugh’ plus the Keystone Cops segment in Act 2 were dynamite. The Bathing Beauties scene rivals that of Busby Berkley and Ethel Merman and yet there was more with giant full cast production numbers.
Costumes as designed by Angela White are stunning. Lauren Peters’ movie studio-inspired set design creates the atmosphere immediately and allows for the many fluid, flexible scene changes. The band, hidden at the back, vibrantly directed by Bev Kennedy, were splendid and played exuberantly.
As Mack Selleck, tall and charismatic Scott Irwin is fabulous. Seemingly gruff and cold – a tyrant obsessed with his work – dominating, stubborn and often abusive where Mabel is concerned but he captures Mabel and our hearts with ‘I Won’t Send Roses’. Despite sizzling chemistry between the pair and a mutual need, Mack eventually drives Mabel to leave, in a search for artistic integrity and self development, and she ends in a downward spiral without much support. Irwin’s warm, luscious baritone leads the audience through the show in reflective monologue and song, Irwin as Mack Senneck emanating a deep sense of love and regret.
As Mabel Normand, Angelique Cassimatis is luminous, setting the stage alight. She dazzles and delights, stealing our hearts from the opening number ‘Look What Happened to Mabel’ . She is simply enthralling in all her numbers revealing her enormous emotional range and acting and vocal versatility (not to mention her unforgettable dancing) ‘Wherever He Ain’t’ is furious and defiant, ‘Time Heals Everything’ sadly aching for example and her disintegration towards the end is sadly charted.
Shaun Rennie charismatically plays the suave, sophisticated villain of the piece, William Desmond Taylor, a rival director of serious films, luring Mabel away from Mack and gets her hooked on drugs and booze. Her involvement in his death trips Mabel onto dangerous side of scandal and notoriety. As Lottie Ames Deone Zanotto is superb wowing us all through the show but especially when leading the Big Time number in Act 1 and ‘Tap Your Troubles Away’ number in a gold fringed outfit.
Frank Wyman, an actor/writer, and later a director, one of Mack’s team, was sensitively played by Adam Di Martino and Fatty Arbucle was enchantingly played by Stephen Valeri .
With great flair and a cavernous heart hidden under a seemingly gruff exterior this show will enchant. Run and book now if you haven’t already.
Rating: 5 stars out of 5
MACK AND MABEL
Book by Michael Stewart
Music by Jerry Herman
Based on an idea by Leonard Speigelglass
Director Trevor Ashley
Choreographer Cameron Mitchell
Musical Director Bev Kennedy
Set Designer Lauren Peters
Costume Designer Angela White
Lighting Designer Gavan Swift
Sound Designer Neil Mclean
Casting Director Lisa Campbell
Producer Wendy Richards
Production Manager Laura Daniels
Stage Manager Gints Karklins
Starring Scott Irwin and Angelique Cassimatis
with Deone Zanotto, Stephen Valeri, Kuki Tipoki,
Adam Di Martino, Shay Debney, Sally Hare, Caroline Kaspar,
Mikayla Williams, Jessica Voivenel, Zachary Webster and Shaun Rennie.
Mack and Mabel runs at the Hayes Theatre 18 November – 18 December 2016
