If you have not yet seen The Choir of Man at the Playbox, Arts Centre Melbourne, then don’t miss this joyful, inspirational theatre experience which closes on February 11.
On arrival, audience members are invited to join cast members onstage in The Jungle pub for a chat and complimentary glass of beer. This conviviality is so pleasantly orderly and low key that I wondered how the show would get going.
Wow! It sure did. With patrons seated and lights up, the four-piece band positioned on a platform above the bar commenced their musical smorgasbord, from pub anthems and folk melodies, to Broadway hits and rock classics. A show-stopper is The Voice.
Nine multi-talented, down-to-earth blokes from the UK generously share their remarkable acting, vocal, dance and instrumental skills to convey stories of the importance of pubs – places where men have somewhere to go, where they can joke, talk, share problems and, most of all, celebrate friendship and life.
The men also share their own real-life stories, and discuss serious topics such as suicide prevention and view diminishing pubs as sad casualities of time. In contrast, there’s fun audience participation.
Band members include Angus Burchall (drums), Kyla Matsuura-Miller (violin), Marcus Kurban (guitar) and Craig Newman (bass).
The Narrator (Poet) who introduces the characters, was portrayed at the performance I attended by Alistair Higgins (in other shows by Connor Going), and the Romantic was played by Bradley Walwyn (Jordan Donnelly).
Matthew Campbell (Maestro), Rob Godfrey (Beast), Nathaniel Morrison (Barman), Aled Pennock (Bore), Will Silver (Hardman), Christian Tyler-Wood (Joker) and Ethan Vijn (Handyman) with his spectacular tap routines, represent this exceptional group of individuals who engage and entertain their audience for 90 minutes .
Direct from a season in London’s West End, created by Nic Doodson (also director) and Andrew Kay, successes enjoyed by this hard-working group are well-deserved, as are the standing ovations and resounding applause received from Melbourne audiences.
Performance Season: Until February 11
Venue: Playhouse, Arts Centre Melbourne

• Review by Cheryl Threadgold