Catch Me If You Can

http://www.sydneyartsguide.com.au/willoughby-theatre-company-presents-catch-me-if-you-can-at-the-concourse-chatswood/ is what I thought for Sydney Arts Guide Live in living colour Willoughby Theatre Company have pulled out all the stops in their magnificent production, the NSW premiere of this bright , bold musical that is incredibly based on a true story. Readers might be familiar with the book and/or the movie starring Tom Hanks and Leonardo DiCaprio. It is the astonishing tale of Frank Abagnale Jr. who, before his 19th birthday, successfully scammed millions of dollars’ worth of cheques using various identities as a Pan Am pilot, doctor, and legal prosecutor. Musical aficionados will probably pick up fleeting references to Chicago, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Rent, City of Angels, Company, Grease and others.Adam Hayne’s direction of this fast paced glitzy show is assured. Simon Greer’s set designs were fluid, bold and colourful. The wonderful orchestra hidden behind a screen at the back was enthusiastically led by bubbly musical director Alex Ash who was bopping along to the music. Set in the 1960’s the show is narrated by Frank in flashback as he is arrested at the airport and we see FBI agent Hanratty on his tail pursuing him across the country for his crimes. The chameleon like Frank Jnr was brilliantly played by suave, sophisticated Shaun Young who had the audience eating out of his hand in a multi faceted, accomplished performance of great panache. At one moment Young is singing soft, romantic ballads – Seven Wonders , in the next moment he is the exuberant leading man, deliciously hogging the limelight- the Pinstripes Are All That They See or Jet Set. Young also had the audience in the palm of his hands delivering the show’s closing ballad. We also follow his at times rather awkward relationship with his parents – Don’t Be A Stranger, in particular his tangled relationship with his father – Butter Outa Cream. There is also Frank Jnr’s relationship with his nemesis Agent Carl Hanratty , superbly played by bespectacled mustachioed Peter Meredith. Hanratty is played sort of as a cross between a bumbling detective and a hard boiled private eye. His Don’t Break The Rules and The Man inside The Clues are show stoppers. Hanratty also has a bumbling team of agents; Cod, Dollar and Branton who are mainly played for laughs. We also see Hanratty and Frank Snr have things in common, in particular dealing with overbearing fathers, so well expressed in their duet Little Boy Be A Man. The snappy choreography by Janina Hamerlock is tight and precise yet explosive where necessary. At times the stage felt a little overcrowded especially in a couple of the mega production numbers, however really cares when a show is so good! In style, the show is mainly a combination of jazz and showbiz a la Jerry Robbins and it also includes Latin-American ballroom, Rockette kicking and showgirls and snippets of hip-hop and tap. Brenda Strong, Frank Jnr’s love of his life, is delightfully played by Lexy de Zwart as a blonde all American princess. Her showstopping number is Fly, Fly Away and it had the audience in raptures. Her wealthy apple-pie American parents were wonderfully played by Julianne Horne and Craig Scott who lead the company in Our Family Tree which brought the house down. The Jet Setters, the gorgeous chorus line of Pan Am girls for Frank Jnr, are simply stunning, and the doctors and nurses in Doctor’s Orders sizzle in their skimpy nurse uniforms. The choreography in this scenes is excellent. What is rather neatly ironic is the twist at the end where we learn eventually Frank becomes an FBI agent, utilising his knowledge of fraud and forgery and ends up living the American Dream. As well we find out yes he actually did legitimately study for his law exams. This was an absolutely dazzling production that interweaves drama, comedy, drama, dance, straight acting, banter with the audience, and scenes of pathos. This show makes us reflect yes, most definitely, sometimes truth is much stranger than fiction. Running time 2 hrs 45 including one interval. The Willoughby Theatre Company’s production of CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, directed by Adam Haynes with musical direction by Alex Ash, is playing at the Concourse, Chatswood until May 29.