Entertainment
1 October, 2021
Songs for Nobodies - a total musical masterpiece
The Rondo Theatre in Cairns was buzzing last night (Thursday September 30). A sell-out opening night, in fact a sell-out season for Joanna Murray-Smith’s Songs for Nobodies.
So popular were the ticket sales, as a reviewer, I was placed on the waitlist to obtain my ticket to last night’s opening. Without sounding callous, I am relieved someone could not make the performance freeing up the seat I needed to witness an amazing production.
By far the best local production of 2021, beautifully brought to the stage by Kevin and Narelle Shorey along with a cast of 5 amazing women.
I must say up front, this play is technically a musical masterpiece written by Murray-Smith specifically for Bernadette Robinson. One sensational performer playing 10 parts and recreating the music of five female divas of the past 80 years. Judy Garland, Patsy Cline, Edith Piaf, Billie Holiday and Maria Callas. Five big voices traditionally played by one equally big and versatile voice.
5 amazing and vocally talented local ladies to bring this incredible production to life
The producers knew they could not match the brilliance of Bernadette Robinson with one equal voice in Cairns. Instead, with the blessing of the playwright they cast 5 amazing and vocally talented local ladies to bring this incredible production to life.
Maria Turner (Judy Garland), Kathy Carruthers (Patsy Cline), Cath Willacy (Edith Piaf), Alice Bredlauer (Billie Holliday) and Patrice Hogan (Maria Callas).
Each performer played two roles, a nobody who is touched by a star, a chance encounter, just one moment in time where their future changed. A nobody and a somebody, sharing the bond of a personal encounter as well as the music of the day.
It was not an impersonation of the artist, but an interpretation of the time and moment. A fictitious encounter based upon true life events captured so beautifully and brought to life by 5 incredible vocalists and actresses.
‘Over the Rainbow’ was totally mesmerising and pitch perfect
Maria Turner’s rendition of ‘Over the Rainbow’ was totally mesmerising and pitch perfect. Turner set the level for the night and threw down the gauntlet challenging her fellow cast members to rise to the occasion and create a spellbinding 90 minutes of memorable theatre.
The music lifted with the second ‘scene’, Patsy Kline and Pearl Avalon, an usher at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall in Kansas City, March 5, 1963. The night Kline along with Grand Ole Opry members, Cowboy Copas and Hankshaw Hawkins all died in a plane crash after finishing their performance earlier at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall.
A true performer, she worked the stage, totally at ease with the audience
Kathy Curruthers has the perfect voice for Patsy Kline, a country-rock chick, dig-down-deep and lift the room kind of gal. Amazing Grace, Stand by your Man, Crazy, and Rose of San Antone, all classic Kline and wonderfully recreated by Curruthers. A true performer, she worked the stage, totally at ease with the audience and treated us to a moment that changed a nobodies’ life.
Perhaps the most audience anticipated performance followed. Cath Willacy bringing the “Little Sparrow’ to life with her tale of how Edith Piaf saved her father, assisting him to escape from a German prisoner of war camp. Willacy’s interpretation of the Piaf classic ‘Non, je ne regrette rien’ was sublime.
the Piaf classic ‘Non, je ne regrette rien’ was sublime
The fourth ‘scene’, a struggling sassy fashion reporter, Too Junior Jones, played by Alice Bredhauer, meets Billie Holliday. The most successful Afro-American female artist of the era, a ground breaker and tough assignment for this struggling reporter. The smokey-blues sound of Holiday’s ‘Strange Fruit’ was powerfully projected and recreated perfectly.
incredible rendition of Vissi d’arte
It's interesting the final ‘scene’ an Irish Nanny, Orla McDonagh’s encounter with Aristotle Onassis and channelling Maria Callas’ incredible rendition of Vissi d’arte. Patrice Hogan lifted the performance to an incredible conclusion.
Songs for Nobodies whilst it may be the title proved to be Songs for Everybody last night. Something in it everyone. Fully sold out and deserving of a triumphant season. I hope the producers can reprise this production in 2022 and give it a longer run. This production was first-class and deserves greater prominence.
Well done to Narelle and Kevin Shorey and cast. You have delivered a musical memory and total delight.
