Reviewed by Rob McKinnon
The Rep presents a masterfully executed traditional melodrama with Adrift In New York that requires the usual audience participation and is a thoroughly entertaining night at the Arts Theatre.
This style of melodrama emerged in France in the early nineteenth century and rapidly spread throughout the world becoming the favourite form of theatrical performances for the following century. A great number of plays were produced in this genre containing the staples of a love interest, moral conflicts, exaggerated acting in a fast-paced plot with music and happy conclusions. The audience is required to aah and ooh or boo and cheer and sing to the familiar songs if they want.
This story is set in the 1890’s and begins in the Weston family’s farmhouse where Aunt Sarah Weston (Jude Hines) and Martha Weston (Abigail Papps) are discussing the arrival of a letter for Nellie Weston (TJ Baker) from the villain Francis “Desperate” Desmond (Dylan Haar). Silas Weston (Russel Ford), Martha and Nellie’s father, announces that the wealthy Mr. Willoughby has been murdered and robbed. Nellie enters and it is discovered that Desmond has offered to take Nellie to New York to make her a great singer. The hero Jack Merriwell (LA Foale) arrives then Desmond and as the events unfold Desmond’s plot to steal the love of Nellie and to take over the farm which he believes has underground oil is revealed. The twists begin as the battle between good and bad engages.
The second act is set in a Bowery music hall then the conclusion in the third act is back at the farmhouse. The audience is superbly entertained at the start and end of each act with vaudeville sets by the wonderful chorus, including the hilarious balloon dance. There is also a segment where the audience can sing the classics, “Give My Regards to Broadway”, “A Bicycle Built for Two”, “Down by the Sea” and others.
Director Rose Vallen’s experience comes to the fore in this excellent production containing all the elements of a successful melodrama as the cast move seamlessly around the stage extracting the mandatory audience participation. The set design is minimal but effective. The music from the band, Sandi McMenamin and Rowan Dennis, is perfectly performed and holds the show together.
The cast is outstanding, Jude Hines expertise shines as she both masterfully handles the role of Aunt Sarah and guides the audience in eliciting the required responses to the hero and the villain. Newcomer Abigail Papps, in only her second production, has a first-rate grasp on the necessary exuberance required for a melodrama performance sparkling in the role of Martha. TJ Baker and LA Foale are similarly excellent, and Dylan Haar is terrifically dastardly as the villain. The rest of the cast and chorus are also marvellous, especially the scene stealing Penni Hamilton-Smith.
While a traditional melodrama may not be to everyone’s taste this production of Adrift in New York executes the genre expertly and is a great fun night for those who want to boo the villain and cheer the hero and sing to old favourites.
