Noah the Musical *****

Gordon the Optom | 12/07/2006 - 22:38

Perth | Musical Theatre | Theatre Reviews

‘Noah the Musical’ is enjoying the World Premier at the Stirling Theatre, Morris Place, Innaloo each evening at 8.00 pm until Saturday 29^th July. There are also Sunday afternoon shows at 2.00 pm.

Forget the image of the school musical where you are dragged along to watch your embarrassing offspring, or to see a performance that even a doting parent would find hard to enjoy. Under Christine Ellis direction this show sets new standards for teenage musicals.

This British musical, written by Ian Gower and Rob Alderton, has plenty of catchy tunes and humour to make the show bob along. Under the musical direction of Liz martin and Alex Morris the youths really put heart and soul into every line, without exception their cheery smiles and enthusiasm was soon passed on to the audience.

Noah (Justin Edwards) and his family, despite taunting from his nemesis (Brendan Ellis) set about building an arc – and an admirable one results. Under the guidance of the Angel and storyteller (14 year old Liana Hallam) the whole rescue plan comes to fruition.

Who said never work with children or ‘animals’? Peta Flanigan’s choreography was simple but delicately performed, and with Fran Gordon’s colourful costumes was delightful. The antics of the animals were hilarious.

The theatre’s available lighting equipment was limited but used skilfully to the full, with special effects like the falling deluge.

So often songs are projected from petrified, emotionless faces of children, accompanied by occasional mechanical or robotic movements. In this musical there were solos, close harmonies, contra harmonies and even a bit of gospel singing thrown in. The songsters smiled, and enjoyed every moment as their clear singing rang out. There was a sad and beautiful duet from the two unicorns left behind to drown.

No I don’t have any relatives in this show.

This is wonderful musical for the school, holidays, full of colour and fun. Highly recommended.

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Noah

Author: Miriam Swaffield (not verified)
Date: 13/07/2006 - 00:56

Ian Gower is a genius xxx

Noah

Author: Floody (not verified)
Date: 15/07/2006 - 10:41

Agree with everything said by Gordon the Optom. Stirling Players Youth Group (SPY) came of age with this all youth group show. It was a show where i can say i really enjoyed every song, that's rare.
This show could have been performed on the larger stage too, the confidence in the cast on opening night was awesome!
A special thank you to Director Christine Ellis and everyone involved for their wonderful effort.
You made us sing and 'zing'!!

CheersChristine Ellis

Author: Christine Ellis
Date: 15/07/2006 - 17:13

Thank you Gordon and Floody for your comments.
We have really enjoyed putting together this great show and the cast are really shining.
Opening night had a rapt audience who were full of great comments.

Cheers
Christine Ellis

Noah the Musical (My kids rate it ****)

Author: stinger
Date: 17/07/2006 - 11:11

I don't have any relatives in this show either, but I did take one or two with me to give a youth perspective on it. I suspect they only docked it the one star because they felt a bit envious. By the way, I believe this is not the world premier of this show, but the first production outside the UK.

This is the tale of Noah and his family, whose faith in God spares them (and numerous animals) the fate of their sinful neighbours in the great deluge. The word of the Almighty comes to Noah via a shimmering angel, who also doubles as narrator.

With almost the entire narrative set to music, it is more an operetta than a mere musical. On that score (if you'll pardon the pun), I would have loved to have seen and heard a live muso or three. Surely they are not that scarce these days?That may have given more 'soul' to the singing as well.

The movement was great, especially the animals as they strutted their stuff on their way in to the ark. The pas de deux (?) between the raven and the dove as the flood receded was delightful.

The design was also well done, although it would have been great to have a pictorial backdrop of some kind (rather than basic blacks) before the Ark is eventually unveiled. From the start, I loved the costumes, for the humans, ethereals and later the animals. The 'living rainbow' of the finale was indeed the crowning glory of the show.

In all, a most enjoyable theatrical experience and I hope it inspires more young people to perform - and more community theatre groups to encourage them.

Ssstinger>>>

World premier?

Author: Gower
Date: 17/07/2006 - 17:55

Stinger is quite right this is not the world premiere but the SPY show is the rest of the world premiere!

It is also the second ever showing as the first was our own in September last year. Noah is now off to the USA and has further more showings in the UK later this year.

Glad every one is enjoying the show.

Re musicians you'd need 16 to do it live not 2 or 3.

Look forward to reading more in the future, thanks for all the feed back down there.

Cheers

Ian Gower

I agree with Miriam, Gower

Author: Lauren Sugden (not verified)
Date: 20/07/2006 - 20:08

I agree with Miriam, Gower is a legend..so's Rob!!! Not to mention everyone who was i the World Premier in Tring!!! You did great Guys! Good Game Hit the showers!!

Noah

Author: :-) (not verified)
Date: 28/07/2006 - 04:43

Rob Alderton is a genius... And THE musical mastermind! X

www.noahthemusical.co.uk

Author: Gower
Date: 28/07/2006 - 17:46

Have a look and listen here - Noah, Tring, UK Sept 2005.

www.noahthemusical.co.uk

Saw Noah at the Court

Author: ~Katrin (not verified)
Date: 27/08/2006 - 22:16

Saw Noah at the Court Theatre in Tring, UK, last September and LOVED it! Eye-wink
Some photos: http://www.sailor-marinero.com/noah.htm

Noah the Musical *****

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