A clever idea for a show and a perfectly timed Christmas presentation, sporadically funny new musical Love Actually? The Musical Parody falls short of its blue chip potential.
While Love Actually? The Musical Parody looks suitably glossy on the Athenaeum Theatre stage, presented as part of the new Christmas Showtime Festival, an odd aspect of production is that there is no program, neither in printed form nor online. The basic website lists no names involved in the production. Unfairly, the actors are not credited anywhere, nor are any of the creative team, not even the writers / composers of the show.
The following comments about the creative team and cast of Love Actually? The Musical Parody uses names from the press release.
Poking fun with the most popular and well known Christmas movie of this century is a terrific idea. Just like pop songs “Last Christmas” and “All I Want for Christmas is You,” hit romantic comedy Love Actually rolls around every year and is broadly familiar to basically all potential audience members.
The starry cast members of the movie Love Actually still shine brightly, so writers Bob & Tobly McSmith cleverly use those actors’ names for the parody rather than the far more forgettable character names from the movie. “Emma Thompson” is recognised for other key roles for her career, and “Alan Rickman” amusingly takes on the form of his iconic Harry Potter character Severus Snape.
Songs are mostly serviceable with a couple of exceptions. “Liam Neeson” and stepson Sam invoke “Johanna” from Sweeney Todd when singing about the dear departed Joanna / Sam’s schoolmate crush Joanna. In a modern touch, “Hugh Grant” as the English Prime Minister is visited by Queen Elizabeth in a pastiche of King George III’s “You’ll Be Back” from Hamilton.
The multiple threads of the movie are all visited upon by the six hard working cast members. Scenes are punchy and short but are almost entirely written without punchlines or buttons, meaning that the scenes just cut to black with an awkward pause before the next scene. The stop/start jerkiness of three-minute scenes over a 100 minute show completely kills momentum and actively works against the comedy of the show taking flight in any way.
Love Actually? The Musical Parody eventually gathers some steam in its finale, with “The 11th Hour Grand Gesture Number” deftly encompassing the climax to a number of threads. Had the whole show been like this sequence it would have been far stronger.
Under the direction of of David Venn, who also serves as choreographer and set designer, the cast members heighten the quirky vocal and physical attributes of the multitude of movie characters. Each of the six cast members plays a rather mind boggling number of roles, including multiple quick costume and wig changes. Costume designer Heidi Brooks successfully keeps outfits clearly recognisable as well as efficiently easy to switch.
Working a pre-recorded backing track, music director Daniele Buatti neatly continues the parody vocal characterisations into the singing, and group numbers are particularly strong.
Ian Andrew charms as Hugh Grant, Prime Minister of rom-coms, contrasting this crisply with love rat Colin who takes his sexy accent to America in search of hookups. Andrew also scores one of the films most popular scenes, as best friend of bride “Keira Knightley” who makes the already much-parodied cue card confession.
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Mitchell Groves has the perfect rubbery face for parody, ideally suited for Rufus, the painstakingly slow jewellery salesman played by Rowan Atkinson in the film. A strong singer, Groves amuses as “Colin Firth,” scoring extra laughs as the movie sex scene stand-in known cheekily as John the Humper.
Sophie Loughran delights as “Emma Thompson,” portraying the poignancy of Karen’s Christmas present disappointment as a tender moment amongst the laughs. Loughran also highlights the working class sweetness of junior staffer Natalie, soon-to-be love interest of the PM.
Belinda Jenkin brings a strong physicality to varied roles, most prominently a vapidly vague “Keira Knightley” and frisky Fosse-esque Mia Minge, office romance of “Alan Rickman.”
Jeremy Harland shows chameleon-like flair, immersing himself in a wide range of roles from “Alan Rickman (Severus Snape)” to aging rocker Billy Mac to US President “Billy Bob Thornton.”
Clearly a strong dancer, Massimo Zuccara plays a range of supporting roles and gamely draws attention to the predominantly white casting of Love Actually.
Die hard fans of Love Actually are the key audience of Love Actually? The Musical Parody. Watched with friends and a beverage or two, the parody is a novel way to experience the annual viewing of the much-loved movie.
Love Actually? The Musical Parodyplays at Athenaeum Theatre, Melbourne until 23 December 2024 as part of the Christmas Showtime Festival. For tickets, click here.
Photos: Nicole Cleary