If you think that Heath Ledger’s all time best performance was when he serenaded Julia Stiles across the high school bleachers, this show is for you!
Brisbane Powerhouse is open and COVID-safe, welcoming back audiences for the long-awaited premiere of 'There’s Something About Music'. Think early '00s fashion (ie. plaid, knee-high socks, lilac, lavender, and plenty of pink), well-choreographed dance numbers (that seemingly come together out of no where), and iconic quotes that you didn’t realise you still knew ("I'm just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her"). 'There’s Something About Music' celebrates the best and worst parts of our favourite genre of film in a movie-length show, featuring the soundtracks we fell head-over-heels for including 'Notting Hill', 'My Best Friend’s Wedding', '10 Things I Hate About You', 'Pretty Woman', 'When Harry Met Sally', 'How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days' and more.
Whether you’re a rom-com tragic, forced to sit through them because of the rom-com tragic in your life, or you’re just a massive Hugh Grant fan, there’s something in Naomi Price’s newest production for everyone! 'There’s Something About Music' is made up of a dream cast of Australian theatre sweethearts including Luke Kennedy ('The Voice Australia', 'Swing On This'), Lucy Maunder ('Charlie And The Chocolate Factory', 'Matilda'), Naomi Price ('Christmas Actually', 'Sweet Charity') and Mat Verevis ('Beautiful: The Carole King Musical', 'RENT').
If you’re looking for strong vocals, exceptionally performed renditions of classic soundtracks, and duets that will give you goosebumps, the cast have you covered. Particular standout performances included Maunders’ spectacular take on 'Somewhere Only We Know', and Verevis’ solo jaw-dropping performance of Des’ree’s 'I'm Kissing You'.
However if it’s well-executed punchlines and hilarious banter that you’re after, unfortunately the cast fell short in this show. While some lines hit right in the nostalgic feels, others fell flat. A little disappointing, but it didn’t take away from the excellent renditions of the rom-com soundtracks, which is why everyone was there.
The real highlight of the show was the band behind the cast. Throughout the night we found ourselves falling in love all over again with the world’s most enduring romantic comedy soundtracks that were brought to life by Mik Easterman (Drums), Scott French (Guitars), Michael Manikus (Keys), Jason McGregor (Guitars), OJ Newcomb (Bass). The band’s almost non-stop performance was flawless, and so well executed, complete with the feature of a double bass, and a beautiful take on Yann Tiersen’s 'La Valse d’Amélie'.
'There’s Something About Music' transported us back in time for 90 minutes, pulling on all our nostalgic heart strings, with the nice addition of an interactive twist towards the end. The show was evidently catered towards a broad range of audiences, as people from all walks of life were on their feet for the rom-com medley that concluded the performance. Whether you’ve seen every rom-com since the era of 'Pretty In Pink', or have opted for the more recent 'Bridesmaids', 'There’s Something About Music' is a night out that you and your squad do not want to miss.
