[COMEDY/MUSICAL THEATRE ~ SA]

Live From Tandanya – Tandanya Theatre, Thu 14th Mar.

South Australian musical comedy group George Glass once again returns to the Adelaide Fringe with the latest version of their show Scientology The Musical, after previous runs at the Melbourne Comedy Festival and Edinburgh Fringe in 2018.

Presented more as a play with songs, the show seems like a work in progress or at the very least a staged workshop. Consisting of two acts, the troupe of talented musicians and performers deliver the first half as if they’re giving a presentation to potential Scientology recruits, while the second act focuses on the core belief of the church’s creation myth of intergalactic aliens.

When it comes to Scientology, there is much to be mined for comedy. From the billion-year contract members sign, the belief that humans evolved from clams or literally anything about the church’s founder L. Ron Hubbard, who made a living as a science fiction novelist before moving onto self-help books and creating a religion.

Collectively over the past decade we have come to know so much about the secretive religion through documentaries and reality shows, which is why it’s all the more puzzling so little of its strange beliefs and quirky characters are not utilised to their full potential in Scientology The Musical.

The musical numbers are well constructed and at times witty pop/rock songs, with much of the style and sound reminiscent of religious rock musicals of the early ‘70s. However, it is evident there is still work to be done. The show does have real potential but is in need of a strong writer or dramaturge that can finesse the book, rewrite some lyrics and construct a clearer overall narrative.

3 stars

Robert Tompkins

Scientology The Musical continues at Live From Tandanya – Tandanya Theatre from 9:30pm until Sun 17 Mar.

Book at FringeTIX on 1300 621 255 or adelaidefringe.com.au. Click HERE to purchase your tickets.

#ADLfringe

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[COMEDY/MUSICAL THEATRE ~ SA] Live From Tandanya – Tandanya Theatre, Thu 14th Mar. South Australian musical comedy group George Glass once again returns to the Adelaide Fringe with the latest version of their show Scientology The Musical, after previous runs at the Melbourne Comedy Festival and Edinburgh Fringe in 2018. Presented more as a play with songs, the show seems like a work in progress or at the very least a staged workshop. Consisting of two acts, the troupe of talented musicians and performers deliver the first half as if they're giving a presentation to potential Scientology recruits, while the second act focuses on the core belief of the church’s creation myth of intergalactic aliens. When it comes to Scientology, there is much to be mined for comedy. From the billion-year contract members sign, the belief that humans evolved from clams or literally anything about the church’s founder L. Ron Hubbard, who made a living as a science fiction novelist before moving onto self-help books and creating a religion. Collectively over the past decade we have come to know so much about the secretive religion through documentaries and reality shows, which is why it’s all the more puzzling so little of its strange beliefs and quirky characters are not utilised to their full potential in Scientology The Musical. The musical numbers are well constructed and at times witty pop/rock songs, with much of the style and sound reminiscent of religious rock musicals of the early ‘70s. However, it is evident there is still work to be done. The show does have real potential but is in need of a strong writer or dramaturge that can finesse the book, rewrite some lyrics and construct a clearer overall narrative. 3 stars Robert Tompkins Scientology The Musical continues at Live From Tandanya – Tandanya Theatre from 9:30pm until Sun 17 Mar. Book at FringeTIX on 1300 621 255 or adelaidefringe.com.au. Click HERE to purchase your tickets. #ADLfringe

The Clothesline Rating...

Robert Tompkins

Religious rock musical with intergalactic aliens.

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