Dazzle

A little known, but very funny parody of Star Trek, charts the voyage of the starship Sunburster One on its highly important first mission under the control of dashingly handsome Captain Sarn Galactic. Ordered by Sekurikor the President of Homeworld  to transport her daughter Dazzle Star to her finishing school, Captain Sarn and his gallant crew are just tucking into a Chinese takeaway, space style, when they learn that Dazzle Star has been kidnapped by Slimebag the Haemorrhage, an Astral Pirate!  We meet a host of amazing characters including Big Olga, the Bolshies, the Slimeys and (after ingesting the capsules provided) endure a time warp back to the 1960s where Sue Zuki and the Greasers are waiting.  Of course, all is well at Journey's End. 

The cosmically excellent score by Andrew Parr, matched by John Gardiner's script is packed with lunar-tic lyrics and clever  one-liners many of which, I am afraid, were lost on some members of the audience as they came so thick and fast. 

The music and lyrics were great fun and, although new to me, very catchy.  Some excellent routines choreographed by the incomparable Jess Clifford and equally good musical direction by Katy McCormick were dealt with competently and enthusiastically by this young cast.  I was particularly impressed with Greasers Gavotte and Gotta Give a Guy a Helping Hand and Come the Glorious Evolution with Big Olga and the Bolshies was great fun.

The star ship crew members Aidan Bayfield (Mr Speck), Samantha Stringer (Alura Link), Joseph Hall (Mohammed McToxic), Rhiannon McBan (Pearl Pacemaker), Harry Jones ((Mr Suey), Elizabeth Ritsema (Lolita Laser) and Ewan Bryson (Mr Paddy) were all called upon to maintain a dialect or accent and this they all did extremely convincingly, especially Ewan Bryson whose Irish accent was exceptional. (I’ll probably be told he is Irish now!).  They were all also in very good voice.

Aaron Peart and Emily Bowman in the two lead roles did a fine job and we were kept ‘on course’ by Eddie Mitchell as DJ Gary Gemini and Maddy Stewart as the Consolidated News reporter.  There was great opportunity for some nice cameo performances too.  Impressive was the diminutive Elize Collins as Big Olga,  Olivia Stevens as Sue Zuki, Emily Brightly (the President of Homeworld) and Joseph Beach (Slimebag the Haemorrhage).  

It is always good to see young performers coming through and building on their experience.  Diction is an important thing and I thought everyone did very well in the main, speaking clearly and not too fast.  In fact there was no doubt that members of the cast gave this show their best efforts with obvious enjoyment and it showed.  

With this type of show there is requirement for a myriad of sound and lighting cues and effects and these were dealt with extremely well (apart from a couple of ear-splitting feedbacks).  Compliments and mention must also be made to those involved with the excellent costumes, hair and make-up.  This show was as big a challenge off stage as it was on.

Jamie Maguire made his solo directorial debut with this show assisted by Ebony Chamberlain King and I am sure he is justly proud of his cast and support team.  Dazzle was an excellent vehicle for this young and talented cast who all understood both the genre and what they were doing. Congratulations to all involved with this ‘Dazzle-ing’ evening.

 

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