Review: Dark And Twisty, HERRINGBONE: A VAUDEVILLIAN GHOST STORY Is An Artfully Expressed One Man Show

Wednesday 23rd January 2019, 7:30pm, KXT Theatre

Tom Cone's cabaret musical HERRINGBONE: A VAUDEVILLIAN GHOST STORY draws the audience into a tale of twisted show business 'history' meets horror story. With music by Skip Kennon and lyrics by Ellen Fitzhugh, the one man show under the co direction of Jay James-Moody(also performer) and Michael Ralph is artfully expressed in the intimate space of Kings Cross Theatre.

HERRINGBONE is one man's account of his life, tracking back to being an 8 year old child in small town Demopolis Alabama in 1929, the start of the Great Depression, when the stock market crash left many, including the Nookin family, strapped for cash and hoping for a winfall. Young George's parents Arthur and Louise and grandmother are all hoping to end their financial worries either from the death of a rich relative or from young George's efforts in a speech contest. The contest connects them with former vaudeville performer Mr Mosely who was one half of "Chicken and Frog", a famous duo before Frog's untimely death but as George's father decides to exploit their shy son's talents with the aid of lessons from Mr Mosely, the child seems possessed by the vengeful spirit of Mosely's diminutive former partner Lou/Frog and he takes on a new moniker based on the weave of his show suit.

Connecting the work to it's showbiz source, set and lighting designer Benjamin Brockman has created a central carnival style circular stage adorned with simple bulb footlights to sit within KXT's traverse stage. The only set pieces comprise a small writing desk and stool which James-Moody manipulates around the space, including the lower floor around the podium. Brockman's lighting design helps reinforce the story, from the red white and blue footlights of Not President, Please to the dappled light of Herringbone's nighttime escape from a demanding father into the uncertainty of night, led by the mysterious force of Lou/Frog. He allows an ease of transition between the stories being recalled, often presented as a vaudeville act would be in the spotlight and moments where Herringbone breaks the fourth wall to speak directly to the audience. Pam Schultz's costume design captures the early 20th century aesthetic along with the impression of ghosts interacting with the audience as James-Moody and the band are each presented with ghostly white and deathly dark shadows around the eyes and mouth.

This work is a combination of musical and cabaret with a range of 15 songs that draw on the carnival and vaudeville sound all sung by James-Moody and supported by Herringbone's band of Thumbs Dubois (Natalya Aynsley- piano), Slim (Amanda Jenkins - Double Bass) and Tom McCracken (Patty - percussion) with musical direction by Benjamin Kiehne. James-Moody's vocals are strong and textured as he shifts between poignant pieces to more rousing or mysterious songs. He brings a good degree of cabaret styling and stage craft that ensures that he connects with the audience whilst also exhibiting a good range and expression of the underlying mystery. He gives the work a wonderful movement through Michael Ralph's choreography that sees him dance, swim and run as the various characters, often exhibiting new characteristics in the blink of an eye.

This work shifts between comic to absurd and at time poignant as it presents a insight into the world of Depression era struggle. There is adoration for his mother and a fear of his father and a terror at the things Lou/Frog wants to do with the young boy's body now that the long dead entertainer has found a corporeal vessel in which to carry out his life that was cut short. Whilst the story does at times struggle with a purpose and underlying meaning James-Moody's performance is an amazing feat as he bounces between the 11 characters, each with their own voice and physical attributes expressed with physicality rather than any significant change in costuming.

HERRINGBONE: A VAUDEVILLIAN GHOST STORY is intriguing, entertaining and also somewhat disturbing. This Australian Premiere production is a fine example of Jay James-Moody's talent and skill and an artful expression of an unusual story and is of particular interest if you enjoy dark twisty stories and rarely performed musicals.

http://www.kingsxtheatre.com/herringbone

Photos: David Hooley

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