It’s Only Life: A New Musical Revue Featuring John Bucchino – Adelaide Fringe Review        

Theatre One at The Parks Theatres, Tue 20 Feb. [THEATRE/MUSICAL THEATRE – AUS/USA] Award winning Broadway composer John Bucchino delighted the opening night audience with a musical revue that soothed souls and touched hearts at The Parks Theatres. Timeless melodies and poignant lyrics came together to create a show that highlights the human condition through a selection of songs exploring love, loss, regret and lives undone. The show presents two ensemble casts, with the opening night ‘John’ cast absolutely committing to their respective ‘roles’. A few early nerves notwithstanding, the talents of Fahad Farooque, Carly Meakin, Katie Packer, Lindsay Prodea and Joshua Angeles were given the opportunity to shine, both vocally and in terms of conveying the emotionality of each essentially standalone musical piece. High praise needs to go to Angeles for his utterly beautiful Grateful, and Faroque for a touching rendition of If I Ever Say I’m Over You. Both numbers received the greatest audience reaction however the rest of the cast were as equally impressive. Director and Davine Interventionz founder David Gauci has managed to craft a flowing performance in a revue with no discernible narrative beyond the thread of human emotion that gives these songs a sense of commonality. Staging was managed deftly with single furniture pieces representing those shared spaces that all human beings inhabit – bars, bedrooms, office spaces and kitchens – adding another layer of human connections that bring the show together. Projected animations continued the symbolic associations as locked suitcases and caged birds finally find their freedom as we discover that ‘love is what we are’, and all the other stuff - well, “It’s Only Life” after all. This is a smart and well produced musical revue that embodies not only the beauty of human emotion but the joy that is local theatre done impeccably well. 4.5 stars Rosie van Heerde It’s Only Life continues at Theatre One at The Parks Theatres, at various times, until Sun 25 Feb. Book at FringeTIX on 1300 621 255 or adelaidefringe.com.au. Click HERE to purchase your tickets. #ADLfringe