Reviewed by Barry Lenny, Friday 10th June 2018.
Bosom Buddies brings together two of Australia's greatest musical theatre stars,
Nancye Hayes and
Todd McKenney, who take us on a journey through their individual lives and their joint ventures in the performing arts. Photographs and videos are displayed on a large screen behind them showing iconic moments from their shows and, yes, even their baby photographs. They occasionally perform along with or take over from the videos.
Hayes got her big break playing the title role, Charity Hope Valentine, in Sweet Charity in 1967, and McKenney got his playing
Peter Allen, in The Boy From Oz, although he already had an extensive career behind him. Hayes can claim 55 years in the industry, and McKenney boasts 35 years in his own career. You name it, and they have probably done it.
McKenney had actually expected to play
Peter Allen when the production was transferred to America, but
Hugh Jackman was awarded the role and, although this disappointment still shows in the telling, he makes use of the experience in a humorous performance of
It Had to be Hugh (You).
Through their reminiscences, we hear so much about the history of Australian musical theatre, with plenty of song and dance numbers along the way, as well as learning how it began for each of them. Hayes had a tumour removed from her leg, and was encouraged to dance to help with the recovery. McKenney's mother had a dance school and, with a shortage of boys in her classes, he was expected to be a feature of all performances by the students.
There are moments of hilarity, moments of sadness, some wonderful song and dance performances, and a wealth of fascinating stories and anecdotes. There were plenty of laughs at the snippet of the video when, as one of the judges, he gave his adjudication on Pauline Hanson's dreadful efforts in her appearance on Dancing with the Stars, and a hush as he sang a duet with a video of
Peter Allen, singing
Tenterfield Saddler. She dances with her much younger self and duplicates the performance perfectly.
Staging is simple, a pair of director's chairs with their name on, facing the screen, and a pair of more comfortable armchairs to the side of the stage where they sat to chat, the band placed on the opposite side of the stage. For two such consummate performers, that is more than enough of a set.
I understand that this is a shortened version of a longer production so we can only hope that we get to see the extended version at some time. You really can't get enough of
Nancye Hayes and
Todd McKenney. It hardly needs mentioning that the entire audience gave them a standing ovation.
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