Electric Dreams, Nov 20, 2019 **1/2

MUSICAL THEATRE

Written and composed by Drew Lane, based on movie by Rusty Lemorande, by Music Theatre Melbourne at Gasworks, until Nov 24, 2019 

Reviewer: Kate Herbert 

Stars: **1/2
 Review also published in Herald Sun on Fri Nov 22, 2019. KH 

Madeleine Featherby & Tom Green, pic Teresa Madgwick

This original, Australian musical translates to stage Rusty Lemorande’s 1984 cult movie, Electric Dreams, but is only partially successful in its execution.

In 2019, nobody thinks twice about talking to their phone, computer, GPS or home artificial intelligence unit. However, in 1984, Alexa and Siri did not exist.

Following Lemorande’s Sci-Fi romantic comedy and set in San Francisco, Drew Lane’s musical is about Miles (Tom Green), a geeky architect who buys a computer after pressure from his friend, Frank (Stephen Mahy).

Miles’ entire life changes: he meets his beautiful neighbour, Madeline (Madeleine Featherby), a cellist in the San Francisco Orchestra, and his computer, Edgar (Owen James), develops artificial intelligence, starts talking and composing music.

This is a quirky conceit for a musical narrative and Lane colours the story, characters and relationships with 22 songs ranging from love ballads to rock numbers.

Several tunes are highlights, including the satirical Classical Hasselhoff that draws a parallel between Bill (Anthony Scundi), the orchestra’s Lothario, and 80’s sex symbol, David Hasselhoff.

Make It Happen is a lively ensemble number, while Mahy and Angela Scundi as Millie, are sassy and saucy singing the duet, Play With Me.

Green and Featherby have attractive voices and, although the cast’s acting is uneven, Mahy’s performance is a stand-out with his professional, easy style and warm voice.

While Lane’s script and music were developed over a long period, some dialogue, lyrics and characters are patchy, requiring further development. Act One is the more successful, but songs become repetitive in style and content in Act Two.

There are several problems: direction (Roman Berry) is unimaginative with slow cues and scene changes; and, on opening night, microphones malfunctioned and the sound level of band and voices was unbalanced.

New Australian musicals should be encouraged and, while this show is playful and diverting, when the most memorable song is the1984 hit, Electric Dreams, it is clear that the production needs more work.

by Kate Herbert 

Director -Roman Berry

Tom Green - Miles

Madeleine Featherby- Madeline

Stephen Mahy - Frank

Angela Scundi - Millie 

Owen James - Edgar

Anthony Scundi - Bill

Sophie Loughran, Zak Brown, Courtney Smyth and Aidan Nairros