Julie Andrews’ cardboard cutout is the only thing that can be described as stiff and flat in this uplifting cabaret.
What Would Julie Do? is billed as “self-help with showtunes”, and what this framing provides is an excuse for five brilliant singers to go out on stage and have a ball. The self-help narrative and Andrews-worship serve as more than just filler between dynamic musical numbers, providing some of the biggest laughs of the night and giving the production a great sense of momentum.
Throughout, Julie Andrews’ cardboard standee is perched at stage left keeping a watchful eye over proceedings. Her influence is felt across the evening in both the song selections and as a focal point of the show’s narrative: in a series of very 21st century problems, what exactly would Julie do? This particular show is subtitled “Feed the Birds”, referencing Walt Disney’s favourite Mary Poppins song, and also serving as a metaphor for self-care.
Between numbers, the characters discuss their own approaches to maintaining wellbeing, peppered with saccharine Julie Andrews quotes (“Perseverance is failing 19 times and succeeding the 20th”) that are thankfully presented with plenty of tongue in cheek (“what happens if you fail on the 20th?”).
Importantly, you don’t have to be a Julie Andrews fan to enjoy the show, with its musical performances standing on their own merit and some delightful wordplay in Rosie Williamson’s reworked showtunes. Special mention must go to Wendy Carr’s powerfully operatic performance, showcased beautifully in an opening mash-up of Lady Gaga’s Bad Romance and Showboat’s Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man.
More understated, but equally impressive, is Rhiannon Moushall’s crystalline diction, effortlessly picking out notes and rhythms both when performing solo and as part of the company. The singers unite to belt out the more effervescent numbers, with Feed the Birds in particular oscillating powerfully between haunting falsetto and operatic might. Throughout the evening, our pseudo-cabaret hall is filled with rich, silky harmonies from all five singers.
At times, some of the comedy can fall flat, and the show’s middle suffers from a run of similar-feeling songs. But with such talent onstage, who are so obviously having a hell of a time, the audience is happy to forgive these falters. The show climaxes with a run of great songs showcasing all five Julies’ vocal talents, and goes out on a real high with a medley of showtunes and pop hits.
It would have been so easy for this production to take five great singers, plonk them on a stage with some music-hall tunes, and be done with it – and based on tonight that would still be a pretty good show. What Would Julie Do? sets itself apart by imbuing each singer with a unique personality, and smashing these together with some exciting arrangements and reworkings of music both young and old. The result is a buoyant, exultant experience that it’s easy for the audience to get lost in.
A spoonful of showtunes really does help the medicine go down
Reviewer: Ben Breen