“Head Over Heels” opened it curtains at Civic Theatre Ipswich and it was a hoot of fun! This gay romp musical combines elements from the Renaissance with modern, cheeky performances, amazing dance numbers, great voices, and a story full of twists and turns. While the first act left me wondering what was going on, by the second act, I was completely invested in this mad production. I loved it; it was a lot of fun to watch.
The show is produced by THAT Production Company, an adventurous independent theatre company based in Ipswich. Elodie Boal, a successful playwright who operates Mira Ball Productions, worked hard to stage this production. She should be proud of what they’ve achieved, especially given the impressive cast and crew working with a limited budget.
With lots of queer overtones, great songs, and boundless energy on stage, complemented by creative backdrops and a live band, this love story had a lot to say. The audience got to bop along to great tunes like “We Got The Beat” and “Our Lips Are Sealed.” and many other musical songs.
The production is directed by Timothy Wynn, with choreography by Jennifer B. Ashley and musical direction by Nicholas House.
The cast features 17 amazing local Brisbane performers, including Meanjin-based drag superstar Freya Armani, who was terrific and looked amazing. The lead cast members, Aurelie Roque and Henry Kafoa, shone as the Queen and King of Arcadia. Rising star Erika Naddei, who recently appeared in “Bananaland” (one of my favourite shows staged in Brisbane last year), has one amazing voice alongside with Ella Jaz Macrokanis. Josh Whitten, who just finished a tour of Dogman is a standout here as well as Nykita O’keefe, and not to forget William Kasper who just about stole the show.
Big applause to all in this production; it’s a feast of great talent and this production would benefit to tour to other regional towns.
Caroline Russo
