Bitingly bittersweet and timelessly tender, Elegies: A Song Cycle enthrals with a top flight cast and lovingly inventive staging.
Heralding the auspicious arrival of brand new company Clovelly Fox Productions, Elegies: A Song Cycle benefits from the creatively insightful, emotionally intelligent direction of company founder, Tyran Parke. With a touch of magical Wonka-esque sparkle in his eye, Parke proudly and warmly greeted the opening night audience on stage, a practice he intends to maintain throughout the season.
Premiering in 2003, Broadway composer Williams Finn’s Elegies: A Song Cycle is a highly personal collection of subtly woven songs playing tribute to an eclectic range of people he held dear. Being a song cycle, there is no formal narrative but there is a climax, where the individual stories of loss expand to the far broader spectrum of sorrow experienced by New Yorkers, and around the world, on September 11, 2001.
Finn’s lyrics are deftly spare, painting a vivid picture and engaging the listener as soon as each set of lyrics is underway. Finn’s mother Barbara Finn is featured more than once, and he occasionally returns to figures mentioned in “Mark’s All-Male Thanksgiving.” The majority of numbers are stand-alone stories, with each new song inviting the audience into a world of characterful, melancholic, and occasionally humourous reminiscences.
Incorporating suitably simple musical staging by Freya List, Parke’s direction produces an organic, comfortable vibe, as though the songs are unfolding spontaneously and naturally. The warm support shared by the ensemble cast of five serves to invite the audience to embrace the shared recollections.
Accompanying the performance on grand piano, musical director Vicky Jacobs is an honorary sixth cast member, imparting emotive musical expression to perfectly complement the beautifully prepared vocal performances.
In an abstract setting by Mikailah Looker, the five singers uncover memories beneath dusty sheets in the atmospheric, warehouse-like space of fortyfivedownstairs. Parke interprets Finn’s musical tributes as a way to keep each person’s name alive, highlighting each mention with the projected name overhead. Martyn Coutts and Lara Gabor’s unobtrusive projection design also includes evocative black and white photos by Trent Parke.
The structure of Elegies gives every cast member a number of opportunities to shine. The five generous performers in this production have an easy grace with each other, and there is a shared joy in the combined power of their storytelling through song.
Nadine Garner brings a depth of maturity and wordly presence. “Only One,” about a school mistress’ reflections as she nears the end of her life is an early movng highlight from Garner.
In characteristically rich voice, Anton Berezin expressively leads “The Ballad of Jack Eric Williams.” Berezin brings a final tear to the eye of each audience member with Twin Towers reflection “Looking Up.”
Kerrie Anne Greenland demonstrates her range with both powerhouse and delictae vocals. Greenland takes the audience on a vivid ride with “Passover.” Working together as a driven writer and a distracted reader, Greenland and Garner delight in “Dear Reader.”
Marty Alix conveys poignant vulnerability with his lovely voice and gentle presence. Alix is adorably with charm song “My Dogs,” later supporting Garner with the deeply moving recollection of neighbourhood, “14 Dwight Ave., Natick, Massachusetts.”
Charismatic performer Glenn Hill charmingly brings to life the characters of “Mark’s All-Male Thanksgiving.” Hill later takes the audience on a solemn yet inspiring journey with “Venice.”
Boasting luxurious casting and affecting performances, Elegies: A Song Cycle is highly recommended for lovers of more serious musical theatre.
Elegies: A Song Cycle plays at fortyfivedownstairs, Melbourne until 21 July 2024. For tickets, click here.
The Elegies: A Song Cycle program can be read online.
Photos: Ben Fon