Studded with hit songs and telling a truly inspiring story, hit bio-musical Tina, The Tina Turner Musical finally plays Melbourne, arriving in peak form.
Wondrously warm and vocally superb, the powerhouse lead performance by Ruva Ngwenya is a key attraction of Tina. On stage almost the whole time and singing basically every song, Ngwenya captures audience affection the instant she appears, holding the audience firmly in her palm for the whole rollercoaster ride of success, abuse, despair, love, and, finally, even greater success.
Portraying decades of her life, Ngwenya captures Tina Turner’s resilient joie de vivre, dances with nimble flair, and brings down the house with soaring vocals. Having the audience stand and dance for a concert finale is pretty much de rigueur for a bio-musical and yet the outpouring of joy at the climax of Tina feels especially cathartic.
The road to that thrilling finale is a long one, with Tina running for a bloated 170 minutes (including interval). Penned by Katori Hall, with Frank Ketelaar and Kees Prin, the book for Tina plays more like a bio-movie, including myriad scenes and characters as it chugs along through the years. Each of the background elements coalesces in Tina’s ultimate success but there are some long, generally humourless book scenes, particularly in the slow coverage of Tina’s early life and the middle of act two, in which the importance placed on the death of Tina’s mother does not feel earned.
To the credit of the writers, the show does not shy from the distressing horrors of racism and domestic abuse. A powerful point is made about racial slurs, having the hateful term that is heard in the South later used with casual cruelty by a high powered recording executive. Less assured is the act one climax which has the audience cheer Tina’s response to monstrous Ike Turner’s abuse with cartoonish violence of her own; Ike’s later slide into obscurity is a far more satisfying comeuppance.
Collaborating closely with set designer Mark Thompson, lighting designer Bruno Poet, and projection designer Jeff Sugg, director Phyllida Lloyd delivers a musical in near constant motion. Seamless cinematic transitions help the story flow across time and place, with the stunning flip to the final concert scene being a particular highlight. Local resident director Leah Howard keeps energy levels high, drawing sharp, compelling performances from the cast.
Choreographer Anthony van Laast respects Tina’s own choreographic sensibilities, contributing dance that supports character and storytelling rather than simply being decorative.
The killer combination of Thompson’s costumes and Campbell Young Associates’ wigs are an attraction in their own right, capturing the vital essence of each period with heady theatrical style.
Blended into a cohesive score by orchestrator Ethan Popp, Tina’s extensive musical catalogue is heard at its best under the leadership of musical director Christina Polimos. Offstage for most of the musical, the sensational band fittingly appears on stage for the climactic Brazil concert that ends the performance on a high.
In a fiendishly difficult role, American actor Giovanni Adams brings authentic integrity to Ike Turner, gamely and believably leaning into the man’s worst traits.
Deni Gordon infuses Gran Georgeanna with tender warmth. Jayme-Lee Hanekom is an absolute delight as Alline Bullock, devoted younger sister of Tina.
Experienced musical theatre actress Nadia Komazec does her best with the underwritten role of road manger Rhonda Graham.
Mat Verevis brings an uplift of fresh comic energy with the act two arrival of “stone the crows” Aussie hitmaker Roger Davies. Matthew Hamilton pulls off a neat contrast with suitably creepy record producer Phil Spector and earnest songwriter Terry Britten.
On opening night, Zoe Desmier won audience acclaim with her plucky confidence and belting vocals as young Anna-Mae (young Tina). Cindy Chitenhe delivered her own adorable presence as young Alline.
A welcome chance for local fans of the legendary Tina Turner herself to reminisce and pay homage to an extraordinary woman, Tina, The Tina Turner Musical shines through its slick production and excellent cast.
Tina, The Tina Turner Musical plays at Princess Theatre, Melbourne. For tickets, click here.
Photos: Daniel Boud