Freaky Friday musical production an absolute success
Posted on May 20, 2024
Taking on the challenge of a Disney production is overwhelmingly daunting - one that may feel almost like an out of body experience.
Expectations run high. Set design must meet immense expectations. Singers need to sing their heart out - while dancing at full energy. Musicians are required to make the score soar without overshadowing the glitz and glamour of the stage show. Ultimately, anything by Disney remains a menacing task of layered challenges without much - if any - of a safety net from discerning audiences.
Yet again, the Macleans College musical lived up to and exceeded all of these expectations and challenges for those in the Colin Prentice Theatre throughout its sell-out run of Freaky Friday. Ably directed by Ms Burnett, the staging of the play transformed not only the theatre itself through excellent lighting and stage craft, but also the two lead characters of Maria Sur (Mansfield House) and Kate Buchanan (Rutherford) as they switched places / bodies / experiences for the majority of the production.
Those with a knowledge of the film will know that, through the power of magic, a mother and daughter manage to switch places for one dramatic and action-packed day. Add to that the complexities of organising (and catering for) a wedding and dealing with a city-wide treasure hunt, and you have the makings of one quite mad and highly entertaining sequence of events.
A cast of students drawn from across all year levels - accompanied by a remarkably talented orchestra under the directorship of Dr Miles - presented the Disney classic with enthusiasm, fun, and wonderful humour. The comic timing of Maria Sur was a real standout, as was the excellent choreography routines and brilliant singing, but each of the central characters in the small ensemble certainly had their chance to shine on stage.
A wonderful homage to the unappreciated life as both a teenager and a parent, Freaky Friday was an absolute success for the college and celebrates some of the best that Macleans performing arts has to offer. Outstanding.
