Director: David Sidwell Musical Director: Nick Braae Orchestration: Jeremy Mayall Written by: David Sidwell, Nick Braae, Kyle Chuen, Jeremy Mayall Starring: Kyle Chuen, Scot Hall, Nic Kyle, Julia Booth Venue: The Meteor, 5-13 February 2021
Achieving gesamtkunstwerk (gesamt (total) + kunst (art) +werk (work)) should be the paramount objective of any performance. Every cog in the wheel from the cast to the band to the technical team and backstage crew all need to do their jobs to ensure the goal of producing a total work of art is delivered. However, without development and refinement of an initial concept, each cog becomes redundant.
The first act of ‘Mum’s Kitchen’ premiered in 2019. Following that successful debut, director and composer David Sidwell joined forces with Nick Braae (music director and composer), Jeremy Mayall (orchestrator), and Kyle Chuen (writer and actor) to complete the two-act musical. The narrative is based around three brothers who gather at the family farm after the passing of their mother. Their relationships with each other alongside individual issues are explored.
Billed as ‘an original intimate musical about the tension and memories of home’, the storyline was multi-dimensional and unpredictable.
Nic Kyle (Frederick) was utterly convincing as the successful brother living the high life in the UK. His voice has a rare purity, and his enunciation was incredible. Kyle’s star is on the rise globally and this show provides the ideal opportunity to see him perform before he returns to the international stage.
Kyle Chuen’s depiction of the complex Rueben was sublime. The smallest nuances, the slightest gestures, and his extraordinary voice all combined to deliver a performance that was heart-warming even when the story was heartbreaking. The audience was completely spellbound into absolute silence during his reprise of Just Another Morning. You could have heard half a pin drop.
Scot Hall (Martin) was fearless on stage. Hall can always be relied on to embody challenging personality traits. His physical comedy was outstanding as he portrayed absolute exasperation at his sibling’s views. Furthermore, Hall’s harmonies were impeccable throughout.
In the second act, Julia Booth brought a delightful energy in her role as Missy, Martin’s wife. Booth’s relaxed and warm presence and her beautiful vocals were an excellent addition to the post-funeral storyline.
Aaron Chesham’s lighting design was genius in its subtlety. The understated transition from cool blue evening light to the gradual glow of dawn each day was perfection. The lighting was completely in keeping with a farmhouse kitchen, and it added to the overall experience of observing the emotional upheaval of the family.
Super talented Nick Braae multi-tasked by conducting and playing the piano. It was such a delight to have a bassoonist in the band, particularly in ‘We’re Gonna Miss This Place.’ Jeremy Mayall’s orchestration was flawless, and the band executed the score professionally.
It was a relief to see that the cast were mic’d as microphones are often the first item to be cut which can lead to poor sound. Ben Mannell’s sound design appeared effortless even though he had multiple levels to maintain between the cast, band and sound effects. Mannell tied it all together with admirable skill.
It is on this point that Mum’s Kitchen had all the trappings of a professional touring show. The casting was excellent, and it appeared that no expense had been spared to produce a set and props that would have worked in a movie studio. So often shows are staged before being ready for public performance. This was not the case with Mum’s Kitchen. This is a fully realised product, ready for distribution.
Sidwell is recognised as a leading director of musical theatre. Many people do not know that he has a brilliant sense of humour too. This shone through particularly in lyrics, ‘Who Does The Eulogy?’ Sidwell was able to draw on his vast experience to punctuate intensity with light relief through direction. Awkward moments between the siblings were counterbalanced with Kiwi humour, made up of classic family and farming references alongside contemporary jokes about Netflix and the TikTok smash ‘I’m an accountant.’
Hamilton, Mum’s Kitchen is for you. Written by, produced by and mainly featuring Hamiltonians (by birth and adoption) in the wonderful Meteor Theatre, if you don’t know someone involved, you will definitely run into someone you know in the audience.
Aucklanders, get in the car and drive 1.5 hours down the road. Come and see ‘chaos and love in this kitchen.’
Mr Sidwell, I can confirm that gesamtkunstwerk was achieved.
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