Marie Clark Musical Theatre. Arts Theatre. 21 Jun 2025

 

Was there ever a more beautiful, uplifting and exquisitely-toned music emanating from the orchestra pit of the Arts Theatre! Conductor Serene Cann with a nine-piece orchestra is currently performing Frank Wildhorn’s jazzy score for the musical Bonnie and Clyde. It has a 1930s ring, a Duke Ellington spirit, and shades of American bluegrass. 

And it is peerlessly played under Cann’s baton.

 

So the Marie Clark mob is off to a flying start with this production. No wonder the Saturday matinee house was so good.

They were in for a terrific show with a terrific cast.

 

Its huge, glossy program reveals the mighty team of volunteers who rallied with all manner of expertise to mount such an ambitious, big-cast, musical bio-drama.

 

From the spectacular murderous opening with the two protagonists shot to bits in their notorious 1934 Ford Deluxe V-8, the show soars along with brilliantly expedited violence and some touching tales of love and loss and Depression-era deprivation in America’s South. As devised by Ivan Menchell with its lyrics by Don Black, it embellishes the criminal couple’s tale with a bit of fictionalisation but sustains a healthy true-crime mood.

 

The sets are eminently serviceable and the set changes are smoothly executed.

 

The onstage car is masked and the tale begins at the beginning with Bonnie and Clyde depicted in childhood, thus providing family and cultural context. Able juniors from an alternating child cast deliver the Picture Show opening number in confident talent show over-sing style. The score enables this, albeit the long vowels are mercifully more muted from the adult cast. It is not a competition. It is a musical and an otherwise creditable directorial debut by one Lucy Trewin. 

 

Kristian Latella really grows on one in his role as Clyde Barrow. One looks forward to seeing more of his work.  Ava-Rose Askew is an absolute winner as the ravishing redhead, Bonnie Parker. She is funny, simpatico and can sing up a storm.

 

Then there is Caroline Fioravanti who gives a sublime performance, powerful and heartbreaking, as sister-in-law, Blanche Barrow. Lovely voice, too. David MacGillivray can be depended upon as a strong stage presence and here is another fine, generous performance. Then there are the myriad other good players:  Zachary Baseby as the lovelorn cop, Rodney Hrvatin as the revivalist preacher, Claire Birbeck as Mother Parker, Merci Thompson as Cumie Barrow, Ben Todd, Dawn Ross, Jamie Wright, Jarrad Prest, Tom Moore, and Darcie Yelland-Wark. The cast is numerous and all of good quality and focused. 

 

Thanks to choreographer Deborah Joy Proeve, there’s a great big showstopper dance routine, and thanks to teams of costumiers, there are myriad effective period costumes, especially those upon Bonnie and Clyde.

 

The accents are good. The lighting is good. The sound is good.

And good onto the power of Marie Clark which seems to be operating at a wonderful peak of enthusiasm, support and ability.

 

Quick sticks, Adelaide audiences. Fire up and see a murderously beaut. show.

 

Samela Harris

 

When: 20 to 28 Jun

Where: Arts Theatre

Bookings: mcmt.net.au