Review by Grace Swadling
Christmas is upon us once more and if you can’t believe it’s already December, you wouldn't be alone! But what better way to ring in the holiday season than with some good ol’ fashioned, musical theatre entertainment down at the Hayes Theatre, with Irving Berlin’s timeless classic ‘Holiday Inn’. Fan’s of the original 194 film with Bing Crosby, Fred Astair and Marjorie Reynolds will be pleased to know that the nostalgia and warmth evoked in the original transcends the silver screen to the intimate setting of the Hayes quite nicely.
Although albeit quite light on dramatic depth, this production exuded old Hollywood charm but also managed to have a mischievous, modern twist. For those not in the know, Jim Hardy (Nigel Huckle) is ready to quit show biz and settle on a farm in Connecticut to live the “simple life”. But when his fiancée Lila (Emma Feliciano ) runs off to be a star with their other dance partner Ted (Jacob Steen), Jim finds the simple life is not quite what he imagined. Along with his fix-it man Louise (Paige Fallu), sweet school teacher Linda Mason (Mary McCorry) and a rag-tag bunch of New York dancers, Jim soon discovers the true spirit of Christmas…and every other holiday in the calendar year!
Director Sally Dashwood makes her Hayes directorial debut and she has amassed an absurdly talented cast to bring this classic to life. The staging at times was quite ambitious, with the whole band present on stage as well as an ensemble of up to 6 dancers at any given moment - with high kicks! However what the production lacked in physical space it made up for in pure enthusiasm and talent. The tone of the production was immediately set from the opening number, where dancers interacted with the audience, drawing them in with infectious joy.
The plot is suitably predictable for a Hollywood holiday classic but the cast masterfully take the audience on a musical romp through some classics as well as a sweet version of White Christmas. There were a few opening night hijinks, including the stage right door which just refused to stay close, but for me this added to the charm and fun of it all. The set was quite sparse but Brendan de la Hay’s costume design managed to bring enough pizzazz and sparkle through the many dance numbers.
Huckle’s Jim was boyishly charming with a beautiful voice that made up for some of his character’s flaws. McCorry played Linda with a lovely, gentle softness but also allowed her independence and strength to shine through with surprising comedic timing. McCorry has a phenomenal voice perfectly suited to this era of musical theatre and the couple’s romance was entirely wholesome, if not entirely unsurprising.
Jacob Steen stole the show as the suave and narcissistic Ted, channeling Gene Kelly in some incredible tap moments and brimming with chemistry with almost every single cast member he interacted with. Feliciano showed impressive dancing skills as well as an enjoyable portrayal - à la Lina Lamont - of the fame and wealth obsessed wannabe-starlett Lila.
Special mention must go to Fallu for her powerhouse voice and fantastic comedic relief, as well as Matt Hourigan who milked every ounce of their Hollywood agent Danny. Rounding out the ensemble were Niky Markovic, Chloe Marshall, Jamie Reisin and Zohra Bednarz, who, with the help of Veronica Beattie George’s choreography, completely leaned into the old Hollywood “schmacting” fun of a dance ensemble. The 5-piece band also did wonders with the limited space and managed to make the swoony romantic songs feel like a whole orchestra was playing them.
It might not be the most hard-hitting production you’ve ever seen but if you’re looking for a nostalgic and loveable night of easy-to-enjoy fun in the lead up to the silly season, ‘Holiday Inn’ is sure to get you in the holiday spirit.
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