Image by Ludicrous Display
Malcolm MacArthur was an ideas man, with a keen eye for business opportunities and a charismatic leadership that built the company of MacArthur’s Markers into the writing supplies powerhouse of the modern day. Having died just as the competition was catching up, he leaves son Marcus MacArthur in charge of the company, a young man more comfortable with sales than with business development. The firm finds itself in need of an ideas man, just as irrepressibly creative Felix MacArthur finds himself in need of paid employment. What should be a powerful combination is undermined by bitter family history, politics and the conniving schemes of the company lawyer, accountant and research manager.
Madeline Crofts plays Alexandra Fratelli, the company lawyer and head of human resources. Crofts nails her depiction of a high functioning alcoholic with excellent forward-planning skills. Her barstool musings take us along the path of the narrative with humour and compelling storytelling, interspersed with clear, strong vocals. James Cohen as Marcus and Sven Ironside as Lewis Chapman the accountant, bring romance to the piece, in a sweet depiction of hidden mutual devotion. Ironside emotes well, sharp jealousy clear in many of his actions, but played with a light touch. The developments between Ben Thomas as Felix and Amy Fortnum’s Erica Bradley the R&D manager are cheesy and pleasantly played, reassuring in their capture of musical theatre conventions, complete with harmoniously delivered duets. Olivia Everett presents the scheming mother with glee, relishing her hoodwinking of naïve Felix and standing up to Marcus’ suspicious disapproval.
Jackson Griggs’ music stays closely in touch with narrative developments. Live musicians demonstrate versatility between instruments and work well with the performance as a whole, their dynamic levels responding to the needs of the singers, most of the time. Cleverly written lyrics are delivered clearly throughout to allow comprehension and appreciation of snappy gags as well as character and plot details. Thomas Drake-Brockman’s lighting design is fairly simple, but useful in distinguishing between the narrator in the bar and events unfolding at the company. Nina Heymanson’s costumes are appropriate for each character, particularly effective in tracking the professional developments of Felix and his mother. The simple set designed by Thomas Owen has enough substance to allow a typography sight gag to work and dance routines to be performed at various levels while keeping scene change time to a minimum and avoiding the common musical theatre misfortune of running over the scheduled performance time.
Ludicrous Displays impress with this production – while they have only formed this year, Perth’s theatre scene anticipates many more tightly performed productions from them.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
How We Ruined MacArthur’s Markers
Book and lyrics by Thomas Owen and Cal Silberstein
Music by Jackson Griggs
Director: Thomas Owen
Music Director: Jackson Griggs
Costume Producer: Nina Heymanson
Lighting Designer: Thomas Drake-Brockman
Stage Manager: Genevieve Davidson
Music performed by Jackson Griggs, Benjamin Hogan, Scott Collinson, Gwyneth Gardiner and Rosie Taylor
Performed by Ben Thomas, James Cohen, Amy Fortnum, Olivia Everett, Sven Ironside and Madeline Crofts
Subiaco Arts Centre
24 – 27 June 2015
Independent Theatre Festival
