Review #3: DFoA: Zanna, Don't! presented by DULOG
"This musical theatre production is a hugely entertaining and uplifting spectacle, punctuated by political asides and pop culture references"
The script, written by Tim Acito in 2002, is undoubtedly a key proponent to its success. The opening lines immediately set out the premise of the ‘fairy tale’ world in which it occurs: one where gay couples are the norm, and heterosexual couples so unheard of that they border on the stuff of myth.
The production follows the glitter adorned, magic wand-bearing Zanna as a fairy Godmother of sorts, acting as cupid for his friends as he attempts to help them find love. One line in the musical, ‘there’s no such thing as too many sequins’ characterises it as a whole, as the musical is festooned with comic moments, and its camp and shtick is reminiscent of John Waters’ Hairspray. At times, it also bordered on Panto, with Zanna’s breaking of the fourth wall, all of which was to its benefit, creating a delightful hymn to the musical theatre genre.
The role of Zanna was played marvellously by Joe McWilliam, who encapsulated both the mischievous match maker and heartbroken third wheel. Also to McWilliam’s credit was his interaction with his wand, which truly appeared to have a life of its own. He was vocally capable, holding some impressive notes, and his rendition of ‘'Tis a Far, Far Better Thing I Do’ was very touching.
All principal roles should be commended for their performances, especially Amy Barrett as Roberta, whose characterisation as the demanding and somewhat masculine girlfriend balanced well with that of the hopeless romantic. Having previously starred in HBT’s Rock of Ages, it was unsurprising that her vocals were impressive.
True to first night tradition, some of the other vocals started off a little patchy, but were to go on to more than redeem themselves.
Indeed, the ensemble featured many familiar faces from previous Durham Student Theatre, and was consequentially adept in both singing and dancing. Nevertheless, there were occasions on which projection could have been greater, and diction was a little lost in faster songs such as the aptly named ‘Fast’.
One of the strong suits of the performance was its comedy, and featured two standout comedic duos. That of Candi (played by Sophie Forster) and Arvin (played by Edward Hislop), the drama club leader and her sidekick, relied upon perfect comedic timing, and their personalities played off each other well. Another was that of Tex and Bronco, who had members of the audience in hysterics at their jigging. Whilst Annabel Dickson and Daniel Thomas played relatively minor roles, their hyperbolic performance in the opening scene set the bar high.
The musical was also choreographically strong, with complex routines well suited to each number. Numbers which stood out as highlights included ‘Ride ‘Em’, which featured everything you could wish for in a wild west infusion of sparking pink cowboy hats, high kicks and a pommel horse dressed up as a mechanical bull. Particular focus should also be brought to the performance of ‘Be a Man’, and the staging of a play within a play in which the already slapstick nature of the musical was heightened.
Costuming was sometimes askew, with Zanna’s costume being a little underwhelming. On the other hand, that of Mike was spot on, depicting the Chess Player stereotype to the t.
A slightly rogue element of the play was the sporadic appearance of Cindy the bird, who was lowered from the ceiling in a rather jolted manner. Initially this detracted from the action, but was to become another integral element of the tongue in cheek comedy.
The rather simplistic set design lent itself well to the frequent location changes, and highlighted the on-stage presence of the orchestra, who accompanied each song exceptionally well.
Director Andrew Shires should be applauded for his very clever staging of both a chess match and American football game, both of which allowed a focus on the spectators, where the action truly lay.
Zanna, Don’t! is the perfect antidote for any end of term blues. It is sure to leave the audience with a laugh or two: well worth a watch.
Photograph by DULOG
