‘Miscast’ review
‘A true celebration of musical theatre – and specifically student theatre – deserving to close out the year.‘
Returning this year with infectious enthusiasm and boundless energy, Hild Bede Theatre’s Miscast: The Annual Showcase is a thirty-three-song-long odyssey that operates on the premise of every theatre kid’s dream: what if you could play any part that you don’t fit the description for? Thread together by a plotline where the cast, Co-director, and Assistant Director (Charlie Holliday and Charlotte Blair respectively) deceive Hild Bede President and Co-director Harry Allderidge to indulge in miscasting shenanigans, the showcase operates like a jukebox musical, culminating in a blood-pumping ensemble rendition of ‘Revolting Children’ (Matilda the Musical) where he gets dragged offstage midway. The play-within-a-play brilliantly adds to metatheatrical miscasting as the creative team is thrust into acting roles. This extends to Musical Director Daniel Hicks – the constant star of the night – whose keyboard (and occasionally snappy wordplay) accompanies many of the songs. His character leans into the ruffled, overlooked musician, but his work with the actors can’t be understated – the ensemble performs beautifully across the board.
Seizing every song as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, they embody their miscast roles indulgently, tearing up and putting on voices as needed. The discrepancy between the show’s general comedic tone and their earnest performances make for an even more engrossing experience – Dara Amamor’s gorgeous take on ‘What Is It About Her’ (The Wild Party) and the sheen in her eyes had the room brimming with emotion. It’s immediately followed by ‘Sexy’ from Mean Girls, Jobe Hart’s Karen – with his great voice and great comedic timing – easily one of the most iconic characters of the night. Joe Butler-Smith is consistently electric in every part he plays, with ‘Sunday in the Park with George’, ‘At the Ballet’ (A Chorus Line), and ‘I Know it’s Today’ (a wonderful Shrek: The Musical three-part harmony sung alongside Ollie Cochran and Dylan Jimenez Morales) emerging as standout numbers. Cochran also compels with ‘Tell Me, Ernest’, in a performance that still rings in my ear this morning. Another favourite is Molly Bell’s Hades, her smooth, raspy voice imbuing ‘Hey Little Songbird’ (Hadestown) with a siren-like persuasiveness fitting of the king of the underworld.
‘Hey Little Songbird’ is one well-lit song out of many, utilising a backdrop of warm, glowing light bulbs hanging unevenly from the flies, reminiscent of Hadestown’s industrial aesthetic. Emotional shifts in the duet are accompanied by shifts in light, an effective method adopted across the production. Choreographers Poppy Harvey Wood and Midun Odunaiya should be applauded for their dynamic arrangements produced across a wide span of genres – from tap (which Connie Richardson and Lucy Rogers killed) to a fun handkerchief number for ‘Greased Lightnin’’ (Grease). Empty chairs and empty tables are brought on occasionally and integrated into the dances, a directorial choice that contributes to the quick pace and frenetic energy channelled by the show, and the wonderful tonal whiplash of each scene change. A couple of numbers also use audience interaction, actors winking, blowing kisses, and at one point, throwing candy bars during a sensational rendition of ‘My Unfortunate Erection’ (Spelling Bee). Likewise, the arrangement of the setlist should be commended – it’s a work of chaotic genius.
Produced by Emi Sharples, assistant-produced by Jemima Houwing, and production managed by Orry Gooberman and Johnathan Wilson-Downs, Miscast: The Annual Showcase was so enjoyable that I’m fully convinced everything should be miscast. At one point, a joke is made about Joe Butler-Smith performing a one-man rendition of ‘Toucha Toucha Touch Me' from The Rocky Horror Show and my one true critique of the night is that it never happened. ‘A true celebration of musical theatre – and specifically student theatre – deserving to close out the year.
By Ashley Zhou.