Brisbane review - The Boy From Oz: a hugely entertaining production
By David Wilson
Music and Lyrics by Peter Allen
Book by Nick Enright
Original production by Ben Gannon and Robert Fox
Director Lachlan Dodd
Choreographer Jennifer B Ashley
Music Director Nate Stevens
Brought to you by Beenleigh Theatre group
At the Crete Street Theatre until Saturday 22 February 2025
Adult tickets $35, concession $30
The Boy from Oz is the musical biography and tribute to the late great Peter Allen. It is the most successful Australian musical of all time and the first to make it to Broadway.
Peter Allen was born in the outback Australian town of Tenterfield in 1944. He made his entertainment debut at the age of 5 impersonating Al Jolson. As a teenager he became a pop star and then toured Asia. There he met Judy Garland who took him to London where he met and become engaged to her daughter Liza Minnelli. In the US, Peter enjoyed the highs of success by winning an Oscar, selling out performances in Radio City Music Hall, and receiving adulation when he returned to Australia. There were also plenty of lows … breaking up with his wife, staging a Broadway flop, the death of his partner and his own battle with illness
In telling the amazing story, The Boy from Oz shifts between three timelines of Peter Allen’s life: his childhood in Armidale, his early years as a young artist defining his own unique style and sense of self, all anchored within an amazing in-concert performance filled with energy, glitz, glamour and razzmatazz
The creative team at Beenleigh Theatre Group has done a fabulous job of telling the story of this iconic Australian in a way that reflects much more than the songs, music and flare instantly associated with Peter Allen - it has captured the personal element of his life wonderfull
The very appreciative opening night audience was treated to the staging of an electric, high-energy concert performance, complete with outstanding band on stage (led by Nate Stevenson), excellent costuming, wonderfully tight choreography by Jennifer B Ashley and confident direction by Lachlan Dodd. The combined efforts of this very strong creative team laid a great platform for the talented cast to give it their all - every performer delivered on the night, with the confidence to push their own boundaries which added significantly to the quality of the production and the enjoyment of the audience.
The undeniable star of the show is the wonderfully charismatic Jaya Fisher Smith who was simply magnificent as Peter Allen. From the amazing opening to the incredible finale, Jaya delivered a powerhouse performance with great nuance. Jaya’s vocals were both powerful and full of feeling, and their characterisation was wonderful. Jaya’s stage presence is undeniable, with abundant physicality and stagecraft. It is wonderful to see such a talented performer given license to perform at full throttle, and equally wonderful to see a cheeky individuality brought to the confident and compelling performance. Fabulous.
While this was very much the Jaya Fisher Smith show, there were a number of very significant contributions to the overall success of the production, particularly effective in revealing much about Peter Woolnough the person and Peter Allen the performer.
Sarah Lea was outstanding as the legend Judy Garland. Lea’s stage presence was commanding, and her characterisation perfectly captured the sensitive, vulnerable yet strong willed character. Lea balanced Garland’s large personality with a wonderful warmth in capturing the relationship between Garland and Allen, and her vocal performance throughout was wonderful, particularly in “All I Wanted Was The Dream”.
Ashleigh Mitchell was dynamic as rising star Liza Minelli, Judy Garland’s daughter and Peter’s wife. Mitchell delivered a powerhouse performance, with outstanding energy, wonderful physicality and magnetic stage presence. Her relationship on stage with Fisher Smith was very well done, and their performance together of “I’d Rather Leave While I’m In Love” a highlight.
Janice Hancock was terrific as the down-to-earth Marion Woolnough, Peter’s mother and life force. Hancock added a wonderful warmth to the role, and her performance showed great range, showcasing wonderful comedic delivery and heart. Her work alongside young Peter was excellent, and her performance of “Don’t Cry Out Loud” particularly moving.
Patrick Lockyer was excellent as Greg Connell, Peter’s long term companion. Lockyer brought a wonderful tenderness to the stage, capturing the warm, dependability and selflessness of the role. Some of the scenes between Lockyer and Fisher Smith were beautifully done, and their performance of “I Honestly Love You” was memorable.
On opening night, Young Peter was played by the very talented Jeremiah Rees who did a magnificent job of capturing the bravado, ambition and strong sense of self synonymous with Peter Allen. Excellent characterisation, terrific timing, great vocals and wonderful stage presence, not to mention fabulous tap dancing skills, suggest a very bright future for Rees.
Peter Allen’s back-up girls The Trio were played by Phoebe Imberger, Anna Ryan and Ruby Thompson who were excellent and appropriately glamorous throughout, with heir talents showcased best in “Bi-Coastal” and “She Loves To Hear The Reason”.
A quality ensemble added wonderfully to the depth and scale of the production, particularly evident in “I Still Call Australia Home” and “I Go To Rio” which were both showstoppers
I encourage you to see The Boy From Oz, a hugely entertaining production by Beenleigh Theatre Group.
Tickets can be purchased now and start from $30. Season runs until 22 February 2025.
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