Last night Sydney enjoyed another fabulous Mardi Gras parade despite the threat of rain. The 36th parade, under the theme Kaleidoscope, roared to life in its customary spectacular fashion with the Dykes on Bikes convoy and featured a giant puppet of Russian president Vladimir Putin, condemned for his anti-gay laws.
But the Mardi Gras season continues and audiences can still enjoy the cultural and artistic treats on offer this year.
Among them is the lively Broadway musical Falsettos, which kicked off the Darlinghurst Theatre Company’s 2014 season at the Eternity Playhouse on February 12.
This William Finn and James Lapine Tony Award-winning musical gem amalgamates two one-act plays written nearly a decade apart – March of the Falsettos (1981) and Falsettoland (1990).
In the first Act Jewish dad Marvin (Tamlyn Henderson) leaves his loving wife Trina (Katrina Retallick) and his adolescent son Jason (Anthony Garcia/Isaac Shaw) to be with his handsome male lover Whizzer (Ben Hall). Marvin’s wife Trina then finds love in the arms of family psychiatrist Mendel (Stephen Anderson) and together they all strive to co-exist as part of a new family unit.
The music, played live on stage, is excellent: kudos to pianist and co-musical director Nigel Ubrihien who is on stage throughout playing the live piano score. The lyrics are both funny and incisive as you hum along to a thoroughly modern story about a New York 1980s family.
There is a very distinct change of tone in the second Act, which tackles a very serious issue that would have resonated strongly in the 1990s. The extended family, now joined by neighbours Dr Charlotte (Margi de Ferranti) and partner Cordelia (Elise McCann), becomes aware of the spectre of AIDS as they confront the impact of the then-deadly illness on one of their own, Whizzer. This casts a gloomy shadow over them all as they also attempt to organise Jason’s upcoming Bar Mitzvah.
This second act is a touch too long and possibly has less impact now than it had when it was first written – the audience is now very familiar with the tragedy that AIDS presented and some mistakenly consider the problem now solved.
The cast is solid, under the guidance of director Stephen Colyer (Torch Song Trilogy, The Paris Letter). Henderson is a stand-out in his portrayal of Marvin and Anderson’s shrink Mendel is hilarious, but I particularly enjoyed Retallick ‘s thoroughly rousing aerobics version of “I’m Breaking Down”. Garcia is also excellent in the role of Jason on opening night.
You can catch Falsettos, in association with the 2014 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, at the Eternity Playhouse, 39 Burton Street Darlinghurst , until March 16. Book on 02 8356 9987.
