REVIEW: Sharing Stories And Songs, PHILIP QUAST: THE ROAD I TOOK Reflects On A Memories That Made Up A Life On Stage

PHILIP QUAST: THE ROAD I TOOK

By: Mar. 22, 2023
REVIEW: Sharing Stories And Songs, PHILIP QUAST: THE ROAD I TOOK Reflects On A Memories That Made Up A Life On Stage REVIEW: Sharing Stories And Songs, PHILIP QUAST: THE ROAD I TOOK Reflects On A Memories That Made Up A Life On Stage

Monday 20th March 2023, 7:30pm, Ensemble Theatre

Philip Quast returns to the Cabaret stage to share more stories from his 40 plus years on stages around the world with Philip Quast: THE ROAD I TOOK. Following on from his 2021 show, IS THIS ALL THEN? Quast rejoins with pianist and musical director Anne-Maree McDonald to venture north of "The Bridge" for a more intimate night at the Ensemble Theatre.

Philip Quast is easily classified as international musical theatre royalty with his string of awards including three Laurence Olivier Awards for Best Actor in a Musical, three Mo Awards, a Helpmann Award, and two Sydney Theatre Critics Awards along with being appointed a Member of the Order of Australia. His theatrical credits covers musical theatre and drama shows in Australia, the UK including many engagements on London's West End and performing the role of Judge Turpin in the Lincoln Centre concert of SWEENEY TODD. While he claims that his turn as Benjamin Stone in the Royal National Theatre's production of FOLLIES was a perfect note to end his musical theatre career, Quast at least continues to share his wonderful vocal talents through cabaret. He is a master of cabaret and his ability to interpret a song is amongst the best in the industry, making this show not only a wonderful insight into his career but also a masterclass in connecting to the music and telling a story through song.

As with his previous cabaret show, Quast's delightfully self-effacing nature has him sharing wonderful stories from his life and his song selection is presented to serve the stories. He ensures that the songs are presented with a meaning that lifts them beyond the shows they were originally written for. The stage is currently set for Ensemble's mainstage production, RHINESTONE REX AND MISS MONICA, which is set in a living room which matches the tone of the cabaret perfectly as it does feel like Quast has invited the audience in for a intimate engagement of stories and songs, particularly when he offers up the opportunity for questions from the audience.

Quast's stagecraft has him utilize the full space, making use of the armchair that remained on stage, Miss Monica's lounge removed for the cabaret, while a Anne Maree's piano has been added to the 'room'. The addition of a stool and microphone stand add variation to the delivery styles and the doors of the mainstage set are also utilized. Quast's understanding of the artform of cabaret is something many could learn from. He knows the importance of eye contact and being able to see a singer's mouth as he treats the microphone as a tool to be used as and when required, not something to be hidden behind.

Anyone that appreciates a well told story, a song sung with understanding and connection, and a beautiful baritone with warmth and texture needs to secure a ticket to Philip Quast: THE ROAD I TOOK.

https://www.ensemble.com.au/shows/philip-quast/



RELATED STORIES - Australia - Sydney

1
REVIEW: Vidya Makan and Sonya Suares New Australian Musical, THE LUCKY COUNTRY Tells The A Photo
REVIEW: Vidya Makan and Sonya Suares' New Australian Musical, THE LUCKY COUNTRY Tells The Australian Stories Not Usually Seen On The Musical Theatre Stage.

Addressing the diversity of modern Australia with a song cycle of vignettes, Vidya Makan and Sonya Suares co-collaboration THE LUCKY COUNTRY is the Australian musical that we’ve been needing.

2
Sydney Chamber Choir Brings WINTER NIGHTS CABARET to The Neilson Photo
Sydney Chamber Choir Brings WINTER NIGHTS CABARET to The Neilson

Sydney Chamber Choir defies the myth that choirs sing only church music with a warm, seductive and very secular evening of beautiful balladry and melodies at The Neilson ACO Pier 2/3, Hickson Road, Walsh Bay, with two cabaret-style performances at 5pm and 7.30pm on Saturday 24 June.

3
Opera Australia Will Perform Five Sydney Opera House Premieres in Summer 2024 Photo
Opera Australia Will Perform Five Sydney Opera House Premieres in Summer 2024

Opera Australia (OA) has announced its 2024 Sydney Summer Season with guest Creative Director Lindy Hume presenting five Sydney Opera House premieres, having been invited by CEO Fiona Allan to curate the season.

4
 Sydney Opera House and Museum of Contemporary Art Australia Host PERFORMANCES ON THE QUAY Photo
Sydney Opera House and Museum of Contemporary Art Australia Host PERFORMANCES ON THE QUAY Series

From June to September, free performance art is taking centre stage with Performances on the Quay, a series of evening programs jointly presented by the Sydney Opera House and Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA), supported by the NSW Government’s Culture Up Late initiative.

Videos


#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# Do Not Go Gentle
Roslyn Packer Theatre (5/23-6/17)
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# Consent
Seymour Centre (6/01-6/24)
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# Scenes from the Climate Era
Belvoir St Theatre (5/27-6/25)
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# Benefactors
Ensemble Theatre (6/16-7/22)
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# The Hound of the Baskervilles
Genesian Theatre Company (5/27-6/17)
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# Sydney International Piano Competition – Preliminaries and Semi Finals
Sydney Conservatorium of Music (7/05-7/15)
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# Sydney International Piano Competition – Finals
Sydney Opera House (7/18-7/22)
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# WICKED
Sydey Lyric Theatre (8/25-9/24)
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# Black Sun/Blood Moon
Riverside Theatres (6/07-6/08)
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# Rabbits on a Red Planet
Flight Path Theatre (7/06-6/24)
VIEW ALL SHOWS  ADD A SHOW  

Recommended For You