Review: NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT

The Production Company produced one of its finest shows in recent memory with George and Ira Gershwin's Nice Work If You Can Get It. As the production notes state "This bubbling 1920s-era musical sparkles with extravagant dance numbers, glittering costumes and a delicious love story between a wealthy playboy and the feisty bootlegger who melts his heart." And sparkle it does. The production team excel with the material. Roger Hodgman's direction is slick and his use of space is particularly clever and inventive, filling every morsel of it with his talented cast. Also maximizing the abilities of her cast is chorographer Dana Jolly. Her choreography is sympathetic to the era but with a contemporary edge and is truly a feature of the production. Orchestra Victoria, under the precise baton of musical director John Foreman, bring the Gershwin classics to life with fervor and grace. Also absolutely nailing the period and style is Isaac Lummis' costume design which is a visual smorgasbord and completely highlights the period.

The power of a Gershwin score cannot be underestimated with many a musical or musical revue employing their tunes. Nice Work If You Can Get It doesn't necessarily extend the story, and the musical numbers are quite predictable, but their melodies are pleasing to hear even if they don't exentuate the predictable script. The show is long and could easily be trimmed but this is a minor flaw in a light, frothy evening of musical comedy.

Rohan Browne as Jimmy Winter establishes himself as one of Australia's true leading triple threats , with effortless vocals and charisma. Esther Hannaford as Billie Bendix has the audience captivated with her realistic presence. Her folk sounding vocals contradicted the Gershwin score, however, it was a refreshing, haunting, contemporary interpretation, matching the style of choreography.

Christie Whelan-Browne is riotous in her role of Eileen Evergreen, bringing the house in her bath tub number, notably one of the highlights of the evening. Gina Riley as Duchess Estonia Dulworth is a comedy highlight with her polka faced delivery, however, her performance is let down by her vocals which are noticable weak amongst the strength of those around her. Nicki Wendt as Millicent is heaven. She steals the show with her entrance at the end of Act 2 and has the most perfect energy tying up all the loose ends that have been thrown up throughout the evening. Rounding out the principal cast is George Kapinaris is perfectly cast as Cookie, the quick, funny, sharp, bootlegger who has the audience in stitches with his comic stich.

Nice Work If You Can Get It is a brilliant show. It has everything you want in a musical comedy plus more, because it has the most luscious score accompanying it. With the limited rehearsal time, it is truly remarkable how a show of this quality can be produced,however, The Production Company have constructed a master work on the back of a dynamic production team and a remarkable cast. It's a show not to be missed.

Nice Work If You Can Get It

The Arts Centre Melbourne

Until August 23 2015

Tickets: ticketmaster.com.au

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